Chapter 159: Attempted Murder

–

"Can you, please, die for me?"

Yuma asked Issei in a still sweet voice, making the boy slowly blink while not understanding the question.

"Hmm? Sorry, could you repeat please, Yuma? There must be something wrong with my ears…"

Issei asked while still confused and thinking that he had heard wrongly. Yuma approached Issei while still smiling and put her mouth near his ear.

"Can you, please, die for me?"

Yuma repeated her request, just this time with a more sinister voice, shocking Issei. He had not heard her wrong. She had just asked him to die for her. As Issei had an expression of shock on his face, Yuma started to laugh like a maniac. She then went back a few steps and her body started to transform. Issei watched in horror as the clothes that Yuma was wearing disappeared and a skimp black-leather outfit took its place. Issei would get horny while watching it if it was not for the weirdness of the situation that he found himself in. But the more strange for Issei was not Yuma's sudden skimpy outfit, it was the pair of black-feathers wings that appeared on her back. The sudden change in outfit could be explained by some quick-change trick. Issei had seen them being used before on television shows. But a pair of black-feathers wings? That was something that Issei had never seen on television. At least not out of a kids' show or some fictional movie, and that was only after some heavy computer's graphic edition was done.

"Although our time together was short, it was fun to play date with you, a naive child."

'Yuma' said to Issei, interrupting his thoughts.

"I will treasure the souvenir that you bought me."

'Yuma' continued to say while playing with the hair tie on her wrist. Issei had bought it for her early as a token of their first date.

"So, please, die for me."

'Yuma' said again while putting one of her hands forward.

"Yuma?"

Issei managed to say before being interrupted by the show of light that happened. Before his eyes, a yellow-reddish spear that appeared to be made of light materialized in front of 'Yuma's hand. The girl, that was now looking more mature, took the spear of yellow-reddish light in her hands and took an instance to pierce Issei with it.

"Die for me."

'Yuma' announced and pounced at Issei. The boy's mind started to run very fast with death approaching him fast. Yes, he would certainly die if that light spear pierced him. Like a slow-motion movie, Issei saw the light spear approaching his body, ready to pierce it, and saw the smile that was on 'Yuma's face while doing it. The sweet smile of the girl that he had gone with on a date early was nowhere to be seen. The only thing that Issei could see was a maniac smiling while ready to kill him.

*BOOM*

And then Issei heard the sound of an explosion. The boy blinked and he saw 'Yuma', with her pair of black-feathers wings, with her hand extended, yellow-reddish spear in hand, piercing the concreted ground. At the place of impact of the spear with the concrete was a small crater that Issei was certain had been the origin of the explosive sound. He would be for sure dead if that thing had hit him. Issei blinked again and saw 'Yuma' getting a confused look on her face. She then looked around until she saw where Issei was. But the maniac smile of someone ready to kill a person was not present anymore on her face. It had changed quickly to a shocked one and quickly changed again to a serious expression. 'Yuma' then assumed a defensive stance with her spear of light still in her hands.

"You! What is the meaning of this?!"

'Yuma' asked in a heated voice. It was only then that Issei noticed that he was not alone anymore. On each side of him was a cute teenage girl with blond hair that was wearing a gothic-looking dress.

"You are not in a position to ask any questions, crow. You had just tried to kill a human inside a territory governed by Devils. You must have some balls of steel to do that. But then, if you had, I would be seeing them because of your sluty attire."

The girl on his right said haughtily. Issei could feel the superiority in her voice as she talked to 'Yuma' together with the burning meaning behind her words. Incredible enough, he could not sense any malice when she called 'Yuma' a 'crow', something that within the situation, could be interpreted to be an insult of some kind.

"You little Devil slut! I will kill you!"

'Yuma' said as prepared to jump and attack the girl on his side while feeling the burn of the blond girl's comment.

"You will do no such thing, Raynare."

A rough male voice suddenly was heard, freezing Yuma/Raynare in place. Yuma/Raynare looked in the direction that the rough male voice had come, making Issei and the two cute blondes look too.

"L-Lord Barakiel!"

Yuma/Raynare exclaimed while her face was now showing a hint of fear on it. It seemed that this 'Barakiel' guy was someone stronger than her, and stronger than the two cute blondes at his side if them taking a more defensive position was any indication of it.

"Stay quiet, Raynare. I'm here to bring you and your cell back."

Barakiel ordered Raynare, who hastily nodded her head meekly and assumed the position of a kid that had been caught with the hand in the cookie jar. The spear of yellow-reddish light that was in her hands was now slowly dissipating in motes of yellow and red light.

"Lord Barakiel, what is the meaning of this?"

Issei heard the cute blond by his right side ask the rough-looking and tall man. Barakiel looked at the blonde girl and smiled.

"Hi, Valerie. Don't worry, Erik will explain it all to you all later. There had been some internal Grigori matters that we are solving now, that's why I am in your territory."

Barakiel said to Valerie, who visibly relaxed at the answer. If Erik Ravenclaw knew of his presence here, then it was enough for her to have no more problems with it. As someone that was 'raised' and educated in The Nexus, she had complete faith in Lord Ravenclaw's judgment.

"I understand, Lord Barakiel. I will wait for Lord Ravenclaw's explanation."

Valerie replied to Barakiel, who smiled and then looked back to Raynare. The smile had then disappeared from his face.

"Let's go Raynare. The General Governor is waiting for us."

Barakiel said to Raynare, who visibly palled after hearing that and walked to where Barakiel was standing. Issei could see by her reaction that she knew that she was in trouble. Not even a second later, a yellow-bluish magic circle appeared over the ground. Seconds later, Barakiel and Raynare disappeared in between the light, leaving behind only fading motes of yellow and blue light.

As the silence and tranquility of the night returned to the park, Issei watched as the two cute blonds turned to look at him.

"Issei Hyoudou. We will take you home now."

Valerie said to Issei, who blinked in confusion. He still was not understanding what was happening, but, for the first time, he looked at the face of the cute blonde that had just talked to him and another look aside the one of confusion appeared on his face. One of recognition. Issei recognized the cute blonde in front of him.

"Wait, I know you! You are Valerie Tepes, the princess of the first year at school!"

Issei exclaimed while sputtering the girl's unofficial title. At Kuoh High School, some of the more prominent students had titles of their own. Valerie Tepes was one of such students with the title of First Year's Princess due to her golden blonde hair, her mannerism, beauty, and foreign origin. She was always seen with Gasper Vlad by her side, a male/trap student that would always wear a female's uniform due to it looking cuter than the male's one. It was then that Issei looked at the other cute blonde and saw that it was indeed Gasper Vlad.

'His trap's powers are incredible, I almost got bamboozled!'

Issei thought within his head as some imaginary cold sweat ran down his back. Valerie then smiled at him.

"Indeed, I am. Gasper, if you could, please, transport us?"

Valerie replied to Issei and turned to ask Gasper. The trap boy nodded his head and closed his eyes for a moment. Issei watched in fascination as a circle made of red light appeared above the ground. Inside it, were some strange symbols together with a bigger one in its center. Issei continued to watch as the world around him got consecutively more bright, making him close his eyes to protect them.

For anyone watching from the sidelines, they could see the three teenagers disappear in the middle of motes of red light, returning the park to its truthful peace.

–

When Issei felt that it was again safe to open his eyes, what he saw made him again shocked and confused at the same time. He was in front of his house!

"What? How?"

Issei dumble asked while looking at his house and then at Valerie. The blonde girl just chuckled at the vision of Issei's confused and shocked face.

"Keep your questions for tomorrow, Issei Hyoudou. Someone will get you at the end of classes tomorrow. All your questions will be answered then. Until there, try to rest a little."

Valerie said to him. She seemed to fully know that he would not manage to sleep well after today's happenings. She then turned to walk away, walked some steps, and then turned back to face Issei.

"Oh, by the way, don't be surprised if no one remembers 'Yuma Amano' tomorrow at school."

Valerie said again, warning Issei. She then turned to walk away again.

"Come on, Gasper. Our King is probably waiting for us."

Valerie said again, prompting the other 'cute blonde' to move from 'her' place. Issei watched as Gasper gave him a small bow and ran after Valerie in a very girly way, crossing arms with the blond girl as he reached her. When they passed by a shadowy place in the street, Issei watched as both of them disappeared as if merging with the shadow itself. Even with the incredible feat of disappearance that Issei had just witnessed, only one thing was inside his head at the moment.

'The trap power is strong in that one!'

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Issei turned and tiredly walked to his house. He would let tomorrow's problems for the Issei of tomorrow.

–

Inside a lavishly decorated office that looked more like a lounge room, Rias Gremory was sitting together with her peerage. A concerned look was on her face as she heard Valerie and Gasper's report of the night's occurrence.

As she had asked from them, both of her bishops had kept an eye on Issei Hyoudou during his date with the Fallen Angel, and, as expected, she had tried to kill the boy because of his dormant Sacred Gear. Fortunately and as asked, Gasper had used his own Sacred Gear's power to save Issei Hyoudou's life at the last second. What she had not expected was the appearance of 'uncle' Barakiel. Akeno's father was one of the top officers of Grigori, the Fallen Angel's faction, and his sudden presence inside a territory governed by Devils could not spell good things, even if his daughter was in the governing body of said territory.

"Have 'uncle' Barakiel told you when Lord Ravenclaw would explain to us what was happening?"

Rias asked Valerie while chewing into one of her nails. Valerie just shook her head negatively in answer, while Gasper was 'busy' cuddling to her side on the sofa. The room dived into a silent atmosphere while wild thoughts ran through almost everyone's heads. The silence was only interrupted by a knock on the door. Rias frowned at that. She was definitely not expecting anyone, even more at that time.

"Enter, it's open."

Rias said while Akeno got up from her seat and walked to her place by Rias' side. The five Devils in the room watched as the doors opened and Erik Ravenclaw entered the room/office while being followed by Sona and her Queen, Tsubaki.

"Good night to you all."

Erik said, greeting Rias and her peerage. A look of relief passed by all the Devils' faces at that.

""Good night, Lord Ravenclaw.""

All Devils replied in unison to him.

"Sona."

Rias simply said while looking at her friend and rival.

"Rias."

Sona replied to Rias. Not many words were necessary there.

"Well, take a sit, Sona, Tsubaki. The conversation will be a moderately short one."

Erik said to his little sister and her Queen while conjuring an armchair for himself with a wave of his hand and making himself comfortable. Sona and Tsubaki didn't wait for another invitation and took a seat on the other empty sofa.

"Well, it all started four months ago…"

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