You ever wonder what it was like before all this?

Before all what?

This, you know, life and air.

I don't really like thinking about that.

I mean, what? You think it was just pitch-black or was there something that existed before all of us?

Like I said, I really don't like thinking about that kind of stuff. Anyway, can you just get back to cracking the vault?

"I am sorry, Ms. Hyoudou, I just don't understand what is happening to him," the man in the white coat explained, "it is a medical and scientific anomaly."

"Doctor, this is the third time this month!" The woman was in her thirties, sitting on the opposite side of the table from the doctor. Sitting outside of the room, waiting patiently, was a nine year old boy. Twiddling his thumbs, he didn't quite understand what had happened, one second he was outside during recess playing soccer and the ball was coming right for his face; suddenly, he is in the school nurse's room.

He knew that there was something wrong with him, some say a virus or disease while others argue that it might be something supernatural. He had often heard his parents discussing it, but never when he was in the room with them. They would always be yelling or screaming at each other.

"He's a problem child! A mistake!"

The boy would just cover his ears and attempt to block them out, another thing he understood about his condition was that his parents hated each other because of it. He would often think it would be better if he would just run away from home, or even die. The conversation just about finished.

"Maybe, Ms. Hyoudou, you should seek a specialist or go to a hospital?" the doctor suggested. "I know that money isn't exactly a commodity but this is your son we are talking about"

"Thank you, doctor," the woman stood up, "I'll consider it."

She stepped outside, "come on Issei, let's go home."

The boy followed her to her car, he knew what would happen tonight. 'They are going to fight again.' The car ride was silent, the radio wasn't on and Issei dare not be the one to break the eerie quiet.

"Mom," he spoke up, "you don't need to take me to a special guy, I am fine."

She said nothing.

This would always happen, with every doctor. No one can explain what is happening with the boy, all doctors say that it is the strangest phenomenon they have ever seen.

'It's as though his own body is trying to kill him'

'It would be a miracle if he even lived passed the age of ten.'

She had heard it all, she had heard it all too many times.

'Is there really no way?'

She pulls up to the driveway and see the other car, her husband's car. Yet, standing by the front porch is man but not her husband. He looked to be a salesman.

'Probably trying to shove another vacuum cleaner down our throats.'

Walking up to the door, her husband was already finishing their conversation and the salesman was leaving.

"What was that about?" She asked.

"Just some sales phoney trying to shove another service into our lives."

...

"Hm," they all stepped inside. The parents don't act like they used to, the boy remembers how they were before very clearly. For one, they actually used to look happy to see each other, but now it seems like all they do is just ignore each other. They have all become very isolated and, although the parents would never admit it, it was apparent to the boy that this was all his fault.

They would go off and do their own thing right now and not speak to each other. Issei learned at a very young age how to cope with loneliness, crippling self-doubt and anxiety. Although this would seem strange to most children his age, this is something he grew up with.

'I've been a problem to my parents since I was born.'

When he was born he had to stay for another few months because of abnormal fluctuations in his body and throughout his childhood he would often end up in the emergency room or at the doctor. This, obviously, was very costly and cause a huge stress on his parent's marriage- fighting more and becoming more isolated from each other.

It would just take night time for them to start arguing again.

"I can't stand it anymore!"

"He's our son, we have to do something!"

"Every single person says it's hopeless."

"You remember what they said right..."

"How can I ever forget?"

"I... I just feel like there is nothing we can do anymore..."

...

"...there is one thing we can try."

"What?"

"The man who came today, he did say something about... it was weird but I think we should see him."

"The salesman?"

... ...

"It's a longshot, but at this point anything would do, right?"

"I suppose so but what did he say?"

"He said he had heard about Issei's problem and that it may not be something that can be cured by humans, but rather it must be cured spiritually."

"Ok, I get it, maybe I am being too hard on you, maybe we should just head to bed."

"No, no, I am serious! Just the amount of information that they knew about our family was quite ridiculous, he was talking about our medical records and previous illness from our family tree. Maybe this can work..."

"That sounds too good to be true..."

"It's either this or spend thousands on medical services that we know don't work. At least try it?"

"Tomorrow, we'll at least try it."

... ... ...

The next day was awkward, I could feel the silence in the air, I was picked up early from school and we headed toward what my parents said was another hospital. Although when we arrived there it wasn't quite like the large hospitals that I have been to before, this was much smaller; more like a small pharmacy.

My dad looked over at my mom and he grabbed the handle opening the door, there was a quick breeze of cold air. The atmosphere felt dark, the rooms were quite dimly lit, there was no other human here and you could feel this chill everywhere you walked.

We walked into what we assumed was the waiting room, the receptionist didn't seem bothered by the cold or dark or anything it seemed like, infact she didn't even seem to notice us until we walked up to the desk.

"Hm, last name, please?" She spoke, not even bother looking up from her computer.

"Hyoudou," Father answered, "do you need to see our medical information?"

The receptionist looked up."That won't be necessary, the doctor will see you right now," the receptionist handed my father, "please head down to the third room on the right."

I follow my parents towards the room when she called out to us, "I am sorry if I wasn't clear but the doctor requires just the boy, you two can wait here."

"We'd like to be with our son," Mom answered.

"Yes, I understand but it is quite necessary," the receptionist glared at us, "you must realize that this is not an ordinary check-up."

There was something wrong with this receptionist, it is hard to describe, she is talking yet her body and the way she moves is like a person who is asleep; her eyes would glare, she would hang her arms low,and the way she moved looked very sluggish and slow.

My parents looked at each other very concerned and mumbled some words between each other. It was obvious that they didn't feel comfortable doing this, I didn't feel comfortable doing this.

They both looked at me, "Issei, go on ahead to the third room on your right." They both walked back to the waiting room and took a seat.

I walked down the large corridor, 'third room, third room.' I sat in the chair, waiting for the doctor. I walked into the right room and sat. This wasn't the first time I was in a doctor's room all by myself. It was small little room with the usual stuff I would see in a doctor's room, yet again this room also had the creepy atmosphere that seemed to be exclusive to this hospital.

I heard the door open and the doctor arrived, "Hello, are you Issei Hyoudou?"

'The doctor, she's... wow. I was expecting a male.'

"Nice to meet you, I don't usually get young boys, my name is doctor Amano." She walked to her chair and sat down, it would be an understatement to call her attractive. She looked very young, yet the doctor's attire gave her that mature and elegant aura.

'She is very pretty.'

"Well let us see, we are here for just a basic check up?"

I nod, 'she was tall, she had really long hair, and her chest... wow.'

"Alright, let's start with your heart," she took the stethoscope and pressed it against my chest. "Hm, a bit unnatural, are you scared?"

'B-B-B-B-Boobs...'

"Alright then, now we can check on your actual status," she smiled down at me, "please lay down."

I slowly lay myself down, "alright now say 'ahh'." I open my mouth and-

... ... ...

'I feel like a total perv for doing that to a little boy.' Raynare pulled away from the sleeping boy. She was almost jumping with excitement.

'Yes! I have hit the jackpot! Who would have thought, I have truly been blessed. I didn't even think this was possible, yet Azazel had announced that there was a huge disruption in the flow of powers and someone powerful had been born, but to think that I would be the one to find him.'

The boy laid on the bed, resonating enormous amounts of energy almost glowing red and white.

"and the heat... my god, the boy with the two dragons! Oh I am so getting promoted for this."

'I'll have to bring him to Azazel and fast, had I know that he was that important I would not have used this method of detection. We could get attack any minute!'

The building rumbled, like an earthquake had began to occur, "Shit, looks like we have less time than I though!"

... ... ... ...

Floating at a fair distance from the small building, the man born of Phoenixes stood. Conjuring up large fireballs, blasting them at the small building.

'Not so eager to get involved in human affairs but the readings went off the charts so fast.'

A purple spear ripped through the sky, flying right towards the man. He narrowly avoids getting decapitated, 'Fallen angels... this is gonna be fun.'

Out of the flaming rubble more spears came flying out, 'these aren't some amateur's spears either, I must eliminate whoever it is and fast.'

Clasping his hands he sends forwards two more fireballs much larger than the last, 'just obliterating the whole place would be the fastest and safest method.'

The shockwave was powerful, anything in the area should have been decimated immediately. There is human activity coming in, loud sounds and red trucks.

'It'll take more than pressurized water to kill these flames.'

The man floated down the the debris, letting the flames hid him from the human. There was nothing that could survive that kind of attack, even a high ranking Fallen Angel.

'Yet, I want to make sure.'

The whole building was blown open and it was easy to pick apart the surroundings, 'two human corpses and a puppet.'

It was just as he had feared, he should have acted more quickly and destroyed the building faster.

'Now that power is in the hands of the Fallen Angels, and I am going to be in a shit-ton of trouble.'

... ... ...

'Holy crap, bastard devils send the Phenex brat in mere seconds!'

Raynare had barely managed to get out of there, the damage that the fireballs were doing wasn't very impressive so Raynare had assumed a weak devil had appeared but when the those two gigantic orbs were conjured Raynare had began to panic

.

Issei had awoken during the attack and she barely managed to get out before the blast burned everything. Her body was quite burnt and the coat was nothing but a crisp.

'Whatever, I am just glad I got the kid-" she looked down at Issei.

"Mom... dad..."

'Ah, crap, he saw his parents get... shit I should have been more careful.'

"Hey, hey, hey," she moved closer to him, "don't worry they are fine, this is just part of the check-up."

The boy didn't respond, he couldn't respond. Just silence...

'Crap, I guess I should just take him to Azazel, he'll know what to do. I really don't care that much for some kid's psychi.'

"Come on, up you get," she helped him up and lead him forward, "we are gonna go down to meet Azazel."

... ... ...

"... you expect me to believe all this?" Azazel spoke, the room was filled with high ranking officials. I was also invited, not as an official, but just to come witness.

It was quite the tale and coming from someone who was quite the low rank it should have been expected, yet I don't believe she is lying. I do see the doubts in most of the committees eyes and the small mutters had already began, but both the boy's fate and hers' will depend on Azazel's demand.

Muttering became yelling, with committee members targeting opposer's personal ideas and the formal debate was falling apart fast. This is to be expected, there hasn't been a war in years, yet there is some serious tensions between the angels and devils and talks of another great war are arising.

Heaven has sealed off all communications so assumptions are that they are preparing for war, us fallen angels and devils have begun to stockpile weapons of our own. There is very little intel on what the devil's' side is preparing and Heaven has ordered eradication of any unholy being upon their gates.

There has also been talk of spies among us as well, we are unsure who to trust now-a-days, but if what Raynare is saying is true then we can acquire an immensely powerful trump card of our own.

"Silence," not even requiring to yell, Azazel silences the members, "Raynare what you are saying is quite unbelievable, I must say, and it sounds too good to be true. What is the general verdict?"

An anonymous voice spoke from behind the rows of fallen angels, "we are in unanimous that we dismiss this case and order a memory wipe of the boy."

Raynare's eyes flared in fear and she was beginning to panic, even though it isn't stated by the committee, it is obvious that this will also result in a deranking. She glanced over at me, 'what, you expect me to intervene.'

I had know Raynare for some time now and, wouldn't consider her a friend but more like a well versed acquaintance.

'Please!'

She mouthed to me.

I sigh, 'I guess it would be unfair to just dismiss this away.'

"I do believe we should atleast give it a chance?" The committee's eyes were all on me, 'I just remembered that I am not good with crowds.'

"Maybe a demonstration of power, there must have been something that made Rayn- this soldier," I can't make it seem like I am doing this because of a personal relation, "Ahem- realize that this person is special."

"Yes, and according to her report, it also got her attacked immediately and it cause the death of the boy's parents," a member of the counsel spoke.

The boy seems very dazed out during all this, he doesn't seem to even be listening and it seems like he is just tuning out the whole conversation.

"Yes but I am sure that they would think twice before assaulting our main base head on," I am very confident in our ability to defend, "we have focused most of our efforts on defense."

"Yes but how can you guarantee this isn't some scheme to expose our weaknesses?"

'Crap...'

"Zorrok, should anything go wrong, would you be willing to take on the responsibility and damage that Raynare would bring upon us?"

'Damn, Azazel, always going straight to the point,' I looked to Raynare and she slightly shook her head, gesturing that it wasn't worth it.

'Heh, I guess this is my chance to look cool.'

"I do..."

'Collective gasp, heh, I wish it had such a comedic turn.'

"Very well, then, Raynare, demonstrate how you learned of this boy's power?"

She looked at me bewildered, "Y-Yes!"

Recollecting herself, she passes her open palm pass the boy's face and instantly knocks him out. He wasn't resisting in anyway, I am fairly sure he wasn't even aware of what was going around him. She gently lay the boy across the ground and brought her face closer to his.

'...Perv...'

She pulled away and what followed was something completely unimaginable, it was like a burst of energy flowing from his body. Flames erupted from his body and two serpents flowed out of his body, encircling each other.

We watched in awe as the two dragons met and burst out two powerful gears on the boy's body. Two small sprouts of wings and a claw that just covered up to his palm.

"Divine Dividing and Boosted Gear..."

"Both of them..."

"Are two gears even possible?"

"Yes!" Azazel couldn't contain his excitement, he raised his hand forward and mist shot out, canceling Raynare's technique.

"I can't believe it, even I doubted my readings were correct," Azazel almost ran down his seat onto the main floor, "he is able to possess both gears, yet just barely."

"According to his previous medical records, his heart wouldn't be able to withstand the power and give out at the age of ten; I figured it was because that is when the sacred gear fully develops onto the user," Raynare spoke.

"Hm, I have an idea, and we will also get to use that item that was discovered," Azazel stood up with the boy in his arms and began to walk out, "I asked our many departments to make sense of the item and we didn't get much, although we did understand that it has a means of extraction."

We exited the room, both Raynare and I, following Azazel down towards the research and medical wings, "the departments combed through countless books to try and find a hint about it and we eventually we found a book. Although I would hardly call it a book, more like a mad-man's scrawlings, and it matches the item that you had found."

"If this item turns out to be the real thing, we could have just gotten ourselves a very powerful trump card."

... ... ...

"So, does this mean that the meeting is adjourned?"

"I guess, I mean, everyone else is already heading back."

... ... ...

"Here lies the problem," the trio entered a large facility within the base, "the siphoning device seems to be in some sort of shutdown. I have had many dedicated people working hours and hours to try to figure out a means to open it and all they come to me with is more frustrations."

The recently promoted fallen angel, Raynare, and the leader of a small fallen angel squad, Zorrok, didn't exactly know how to feel. They weren't exactly the type that would get the scoop in the latest of fallen angel's world devastating plans.

"I am sorry, I know this is a lot but I am in a very good mood and I needed to express this to someone, right away," the two looked at each other with confusion and concern. "Now how can I explain this without leaving you nothings but steam?"

"Let me put it this way, do you believe in balance? The human concept of Yin and Yang? The idea that everything in this universe must remain at balance. Well that concept isn't a lie, it is true. It is as if our universe is this omnipotent being that does not allow one being to become too powerful, so it creates another to match that being. I believe that this is the reason that this boy was allowed possession of two gears."

Raynare was beginning to understand what their leader was saying, "so does that mean that there is another being that is on level with a dual gear user, one that has both the dragons!"

"...Yes," Azazel said hesitantly, "and I believe that the one of the two factions are in possession of it. I don't know exactly who, but it would most likely be Heaven, it would best explain why they are being so secretive."

"Even in the recent meetings between realms, Heaven often has no representative," Zorrok spoke, beginning to comprehend what Azazel is saying.

"But, because of this boy, we can possess both the Heavenly Dragons!" Azazel walk became a stride towards the door.

The door shifts open, behind it in a containment glass is a long encrusted staff, the bottom is looks to be a speartip, a sharp one at that, the top of the staff had a large empty glass container with gold borders. The whole staff was a weary golden and it's age showed yet it still resonated with power.

"That is the siphon," Azazel walks towards it, ordering two others to open the containment for him, "it reacts to power and it is used to seal large powers away. Originally, we were going to use it as a means to capture the other powerful being, but that was very risky as we barely know anything about how it works. But watch..."

Azazel brought the sleeping Issei closer to the staff and it began to resonate more powerfully, yet it didn't seem to be enough for the thing to fully open.

"... I figured as much..."

Azazel walked out of the room, "that is why you two are here," Azazel handed Zorrok the sleeping boy, "He will need to train to be able to fully harness the power of the dragons, as he is now the siphon will not leech him, and I am leaving that to you two."

"I... I didn't sign any contracts," Zorrok answered.

"You signed you life away when you beared those black wings," Azazel smiled, "you two best get to learning about each other because you are going to be spending a lot of time together."

... ... ...

Azazel exited the room, "as expected of Azazel, to leave us which such a burden," Raynare spoke.

"Listen, if we are going to play family with the next Shiva, destroyer of worlds, I am going to have to ask you for your full cooperation."

"And you will get it."

"We are going to have to train this kid hard."

"Yes, very."

"And that can be very... stressful."

"I suppose..."

"Can I rely on you to relieve that stress?"

"Are you asking to have copulate with me?"

"You can't answer the question with a question!"

"Oh please, you could barely even keep up with me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No, a statement, now come on, the sooner we start the sooner we can acquire the weapons."

... ... ...

It didn't take long for Issei to wake up and when he did, he could not remember a thing. Why he was here, who brought him here, all these questions and not a single answer. He smacked his head in frustration.

'Did I hit my head?'

"Hey, kiddo, you finally awake?"

An unfamiliar voice, at this point this man could be his father and he wouldn't know, there is a man standing at the door.

"Alright, you should be able to move right?"

Issei got up off the bed, was this his room? He wasn't even sure anymore.

"Good, come on, let's' get to training!"

"Are you my dad?"

The man froze in place and didn't answer, Issei wasn't feeling any fear around these people. Why? Why couldn't he remember anything?!

"Yea, now daddy is saying you must go train!"

The man grabbed Issei by his hand and dragged him forward, "train for what?"

"It... um... wow you ask a lot of questions."

Issei remained quiet the rest of the day spend with the man.

... ... ...

Training the boy was much more difficult than I thought would be, I wasn't very well versed in Sacred Gears, that was more of Raynare's speciality, so I was in charge of physical training.

"I don't know who is getting the workout, him or you," Raynare snarky comments, this was just the start of who-knows how many months of training.

"Shut up, it's your turn anyway," Raynare was standing up, "by the way, I told him I was his dad and you should probably play the mom role, it would just go much smoother."

"Wow, you are really driving this family-play home."

"Just do it..."

No response and she left, finally time for myself.

"Zorrok, sir, you are requested for debriefing."

'Kill me.'

... ... ...

'I... I just hate...'

The meeting was about the kid and the gears, basically all the things that Azazel had already discussed with me. I felt myself drifting off constantly, the man giving the briefing was so boring. A general named Baraqiel was giving the debriefing and let me just say that there is not a single other person they could have chosen that would make this more boring than he does.

It was all stuff I had already heard, plus my squad is being deployed on some missions soon, which will mean more work. There are some important people here, high ranking officers, I am even getting some dirty looks.

"...and that will be all, thank you all for coming out," the people all start to stand up and exit out, "hm, yes Zorrok, I will be expecting daily reports from you about the boy."

"Yes, sir."

'I hate you!'

I exit out and they are awaiting me, my squad, "so, Zorrok is now too important for us!"

She was a cheery little thing, this girl, she was our flank and our center piece. Her name was Genela and she was very young, I was very hesitant to take her in the squad but she is definitely holding her all and we often plan some attacks based solely around her attacking methods.

"Don't upset the leader," the angst looking guy is Morrison, our forward, he puts out a lot of damage fast and has decent recovery abilities.

"Besides, we are to be deployed soon so we best be preparing rather than bother Zorrok," that is Angela, she is our main recovery and support.

I am usually the one taking the brunt of the fire, mainly because I studied a lot of defensive arts, we aren't the best squad out there nor do we plan on being. I am just happy that we can survive missions.

"Hm, yea, we should be deployed soon, it is an investigation on some abnormal readings in some backwater location on earth, hopefully it won't take too long."

"You seem very tired from all the babysitting," Genale stated.

"Yea, you have no idea, my whole body aches."

"Maybe you should get some rest, we don't want you cramping up on us in the middle of battle."

"Yea, yea, now go do your own things, I have stuff to do."

They all took leave, I didn't mean to just send them off but I am just feeling very cranky.

... ... ...

"Maybe that kid's mindwipe wasn't such a good idea," Raynare came in while I was writing the report, well more like slamming my head into a desk over and over again, "it is interfering with him being able to bring out even one gear."

"Shouldn't that be expected?"

"I know... it's just frustrating..."

"Oh, you're stressed?!"

"Please, I don't need someone to put my life in perspective..."

"Well, atleast tell me how your part went, I need to start writing daily reports."

"It was quite easy at first, the boy is obedient and didn't ask many questions, he was fairly good at channeling and mind techniques. His education is about average to what should be expect of a human male his age. The problem was that he didn't know how to visualize something precious or something that he cared for, so I just called the training off and told him to try to imagine something precious for tomorrow."

"Hm, ok... how do you spell 'techniques'."

Raynare gave me a very quizzical look.

"I'll just sound it out."

... ... ...

"I heard that you are being deployed soon," Raynare asked, after a long silence,

"Yea, that's why I need to hurry with my physical training and build him up fast before I deploy in about two weeks."

"Good, cause I wasn't going to do both parts."

"I made a very intense schedule of diet and training he should follow, it also will cut into your time a bit so-"

"Whatever, that is just more free time for me."

She seems happy about that, "anyway, it will also mean that you should also start squeezing some time of your own and... yeah..."

The silence was building again, I distracted myself with some writing. It was quiet, very quiet, I left the tap dripping. They say that is an instinct that humans developed a long time ago, in their earlier days and that some more evolved beings still possess it, it's a very weird common between all us races. If God was still around, I would love to ask him these questions.

I can hear Raynare kicking her legs back and forth on my bed. I stopped writing, it was too painfully obvious that she wanted to ask me something.

"Yes?"

Please, stop that mumbling and talk to me normally.

"What was that?"

"I said, I was wondering if... that offer was still available."

"What... offer?"

"Are you really going to make me say it outloud, you imbecile!"

'I, seriously, have no idea what she is talking about.'

"I am sorry, I have no idea what."

"The one about... stress relief..." Her voice got smaller and smaller as she tried to finish that sentence.

"Really," ok I was not expecting her to call back on that, "uh, I wasn't being completely serious."

"Oh... hm..."

Silence...

"If you really want, I can, um-"

She didn't need much more of a confirmation.

... ... ...

That was a nice night, I woke up early to get a headstart on that training, realized that Raynare had already left. Maybe she left last night, if she did that is seriously going to damage my pride very badly. Anyway, morning routine.

I walked to the kid's room, he was already up aswell.

"Well, look at you, are you anxious to get started on your new schedule?"

The boy looked up at me, he was quite hard to read.

"Yes, I changed up you physical training schedule quite a bit so we have a very hard day ahead of us, I also submitted to your lunch providers what to give you so you should also be fine on that," we had already started walking toward the grounds, "let's get started!"

...

The kid looked like he was going to pass-out any minute now, I can smell the sweat from here.

'Shit, I guess I forgot to take the kid's own will into the account.'

He is desperately trying to stand up but the 5 miles we just sprinted might have just done the job, I can see his legs shaking.

"Hey, if you want to take a break you can," I mean I did push him very hard and expected some pretty high results but he is a kid after all, "don't push yourself, we don't need to keep going."

Hearing those words, his body collapsed on the dirt. I swung him around onto my back, it would be best if he got some rest before Raynare took over.

'Maybe a shower as well.'

"Mhm... I am... sorry."

"Huh," guess he isn't unconscious, "don't sweat it kid, I was pushing you pretty hard, so it is partially my fault."

"But, then, I can never be part of your squad..."

'What?'

"You want to join my squad, who even told you I was in one?"

"I heard from some people, in the hall..."

"You think I am training you-"

'What am I supposed to tell him, that I am preparing him for getting his spirits ripped out. It would be for the best to keep going with this.'

"Well, I didn't want to tell you right away."

Silently, we walked over to his room and he quietly dismounts off of me.

"... I won't tell you down again..."

"Heh, that's what I like to hear!" It was best if I just leave him now.

"...dad?"

Those words stopped me dead in my tracks, I felt the sudden drop in my heart.

"Y-Yes?"

"...goodnight..."

"Y-yea, you too..." I almost bolted out of the room, speedwalking.

"What are you so happy about?"

'Raynare, not now, I can't deal with her right now, too many emotions.'

"He's resting, give him a couple of minutes..."

I closed the door behind me, 'I don't know what to do, why, why did that feel so real?!'

That was so surreal, it is something so small. Kids probably say that to their fathers all the time, it isn't something that uncommon, I know I did.

Nostalgic thoughts flooded my head.

'I wonder if that's how he must have felt when I would say these things...'

I hadn't even realized until now that I have been smiling the entire time.

... ... ...

Training has been continuing for about 5 days now, he has been improving on both ends of the spectrum. Raynare says he has been cooperating very well with her, she recently got him to project a finger of what is assumed to be the finger of the Boost Claw. Due to certain circumstances, the boy believes that I am training him to join my squad later on, I allowed him to believe that because it would be less questions from him and more cooperation.

Although, I did have a very strange encounter happen during this training.

"... one, two, one, two, keep it up."

THUD

I turned around, he was down on the ground breathing heavily, obvious signs of muscle fatigue but he should have gotten enough rest last night if he followed the schedule.

That's exactly it, he hasn't been following the schedule, "you have been doing extra haven't you."

No answer, just grunts of him trying to get up, "there is no point in this training if you aren't able to even train, there is no point in pushing yourself, it will only make an enemy of you in the end! You'll never join my squad like that."

"...I can't..." he is pushing himself to get up but I can see his body screaming for him to just fall, "... I can't just join your squad, that... can't be the end!"

"I have to go beyond, I can't just follow the schedule to join the squad, joining it will make you proud!"

"...yes, it would!"

"Well then I don't just want to make your proud once, I want to keep making you proud!"

"That's why..." he is wobbling as he stands up, barely able to keep his balance, "that's why I will have to work harder than just that."

'That smile is coming back.'

"Because both you and mom are trying so hard, I must go beyond!"

'Heh, this kid...'

"Alright," he wasn't going to be able to keep that up for long, "I'll make some adjustments to your schedule then..."

His eyes flutter and his body does not have the energy to support him any longer. I quickly grab him and carry him back over to his room.

'Better tell Raynare he is out for today.'

It was strange experience and I did change up his schedule to be much more rigorous and bone-breaking. This is actually something I am beginning to enjoy, and maybe you should consider him for squad-work. He would be extremely efficient and if he even has one of the gears then he would be considered a force to reckon with.

This is the day 5 report from Zorrok.

... ... ...

"Mission briefing begins in five more minutes, all chosen squads report to the briefing room."

We were the last to walk into the room, he was again in charge of the briefing, and we took our seats.

"The mission is very simple but has the potential to be extremely dangerous. We have been tracking a very mysterious cult of sorts for quite some time now, we do not know their motivations or their names but we are very sure that they have something to do with this problem."

Some of the high-ranking squads we well aware of the situation, while those left in the dark seemed to pique up much more. This group was very under the radar and wasn't really a problem until recently, they have become much more bold and, when a lot of strange anomalies would occur, they would always be tied to it in some way.

We really do not know anything about them but they know about us, for most of the spies we have sent have not returned. They are powerful enough to deal with supernatural beings.

"... this anomaly however has been the strangest yet, a lot of our theologians are saying that they have opened up some sort of portal and it is giving off energy like we have never seen before. We have asked the devils and angels to look into it but they seem to be staying far away from it."

"We do not want to risk any more pressure than what is current, so we are going to send in our men to annihilate this group's plans and make sure that they never try anything again. We will be deploying in the next thirty minutes, you are all debriefed, get to your posts."

... ... ...

It's never easy preparing for missions, I never know what to expect. They all look so nervous, the rookies; for a lot of them this is their first real mission and with the whole 'simple but extremely dangerous' idea in their minds they are much more scared.

"Ever mission is a dangerous mission now-a-days..."

"What?"

"Nothing just talking to myself."

"Sir, you give off enough crazy vibes as it is," Genela always opening her mouth, but it's good. Her cheeriness keeps everyone calm.

"Would Zorrok please report to General Baraqiel."

"Sir?"

"Don't worry, it's just my report probably," I don't consider myself one to get attached to people but these guys are quite good. "Morrison, you take leader roles." A simple nod as a response.

'Hm, I really should not have been so wordy in my report last night, hopefully Baraqiel is in a good mood.'

... ...

"Excellent come in, have a seat."

Zorrok walks to his commander's desk and sits opposite of him, "I must say, Zorrok, I am surprised that these reports are coming in so consistently."

"Looks like you are also taking a strong initiative with this child as well," he looks through the multitude of reports that have been sent to him by Zorrok, "I have had some of the specialists check up on him from time to time and the fact that he has enough energy to manifest the entire hand of the Red Emperor is very, very impressive."

Zorrok nods, "thank you sir."

"I send these into Azazel and, although he did praise you for your work, he did tell me remind you of something."

Zorrok knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, what was coming.

"This is something I am believing to be true as well, Zorrok, you should not get too attached to that child; you know full well what is going to happen when he is prepared."

He knew full well alright, he just didn't want to admit it. Zorrok could move on, he felt like he could do it but a cold, empty feeling would appear in his stomach every time he would think about it.

"His chances of survival are low but," Zorrok barely kept his emotions down, "they are still there, you must believe that you can save him, be with him; train him, if we extract those dragons he can live a normal life."

Baraqiel smiled slightly, "I know you can do it, I have known you since you were just a kid, just come back from this mission. I am not promising anything, mainly because we don't fully understand how that siphoning device works, but I have some changes in his routine we can make so we can increases his chance of surviving."

Zorrok did not know what to say, "I, um, don't-"

"You don't need to, just keep your head high and you will be fine, now go on you deploy in five minutes."

... ... ...

'Shit!'

Zorrok sprinted through the halls, 'goddamn it, I hope they wait for me!'

...

"Zorrok!"

"We thought you were not going to make it," Angela was doing some last second preparation.

"Alright, I made it, Morrison, get us to the location."

...

"Sir, aren't you scared?"

"That's seems odd coming out of your mouth, Genela."

"I... I know I act like I am not scared but I still feel it."

"Yes, we all have emotions and it is ok to act on them, you aren't wrong to be scared."

"But are you?"

"...Yes, but I know I must make it back."

"Because?"

"Because, I-I have someone to save."

"I am glad, you always seemed like you were lost or lonely."

"Hmph."

"I have a reason as well."

"Oh?"

"Yes, this... this cadet, we have been seeing each other for a while."

"How provocative..."

"Sir!"

"Sorry, go on."

"He is a very good guy and I think, I know people just toss this word around like it's nothing nowadays but... it feels like... love."

"Sorry, you lost me on 'he'."

"Sir, I will kick you!"

"I am glad though, it's good to have a reason to return, it keeps you going. Angela has a family, and that thought reminds her to live on, but Morrison is dedicated full time to his job and that's what worries me."

"Sir, we aren't a bunch of pushovers, I am very certain that we will return for this."

"It's always good to have some sorts of beliefs; something worth fighting for, I am just glad you found yours."

"Here is to finding ourselves!"

"Yes, to finding oursel-"

... ... ...

'It was a massacre, no survivors from the first wave and only three out of the fifty something squads have returned. We have gained no significant intel and the people that did make it back have an extremely low survival rate. Needless to say that this mission was a complete failure.'

The voice the pierced like ice over the PA, everyone is rushing to the emergency rooms and docking bays in hopes that their loved ones made it.

"Excuse me, has anyone seen Genela, has anyone?!" The young man desperately asked in the large crowd of people. "Anyone?!"

Nothing.

...

A man with two kids waits patiently in the emergency room waiting for a response, just something to put his mind at ease.

Finally, after so long a doctor walks out of the doors, the look on his face was all the answer he needed.

'The sinking feeling in your heart, the pull from holding back the tears, everything was so painfully.'

...

'... wehavenochoice... cutthem... itstoolatetosavethem...'

The world was passing Morrison so fast, a time lapse.

Bright lights... the sounds of hacking and sawing... it didn't hurt... he didn't even know what the word meant, to hurt...

... ... ...

Raynare heard the announcement, yet she was just sitting in her room. It was just another day, it would be her turn to take care of the kid soon. Maybe she should go and check, or maybe she just doesn't want to check. She doesn't want to think about it.

It should almost be time, she made her way through the halls. The halls was filled with sobbing and worried looks, she quickly made her way to the kid's room.

She knocked gently, no answer.

She opened the door, the boy was still asleep, her hands balled up and she held her breath in.

"... no..."

... ... ...

Months have gone by, I eventually heard that Zorrok and his team were the first to arrive at the scene of the massacre that was the first wave. The second wave didn't have many survivors, Angela and Morrison made it back and were operated on, Angela didn't survive. Morrison had to have his legs amputated and suffers for severe post traumatic stress disorder. Genela and Zorrok were announced dead on the battlefield.

It was a bit tough at first but I assumed full authority of Issei, I have been in charge of training him and it has been going well. Infact he seems to have a very clear synchronizations with the Red Emperor but not so much with the other dragon. He has been able to fully manifest the Boost Claw but still can barely manage a full set of wings.

But all of that doesn't matter now, today is the day... the day that we get to see if it was all worth it. The device is ready we are ready to extract the two today... hopefully... maybe... I can give Issei back what I took from him those months ago.

... ... ...

Next chapter soon, will be large like this one.