Red and White IV

Valerie Lucifer (Present Day)

"I ran...like a coward."

Tiamat didn't respond to my self depreciating words. I'm thankful for that.

"That is...quite unfortunate. I don't blame you, and I'm sure Issei doesn't either. He's quite mature." 

I chuckled at her, "Yeah, he's too mature, sometimes." 

"But...you just took the story in the opposite direction of romance. I assume you met again in similarly peculiar circumstances?"

It took me a moment to digest her words. "I don't know if they were similar or not but...he had changed so much." 

"Hmm? Just how long did it take for you to meet again?" Tiamat was slightly confused. Well, any sane person listening to this would assume that it took me a few months at most to return back to him. 

"I only returned to him in a vulnerable state, last year."

"Last year?! But that's...!"

"Yeah, it was 4 years later."

...

...Four Years After Reiji's Death...

...Somewhere in the Underworld...

It's been years since I've seen Issei.

It's honestly pathetic.

I'm one of the strongest beings in the world, and yet I'm thinking about a human boy daily.

Albion has assured me that he didn't go into Juggernaut Drive, but that still doesn't ease my guilt.

How could I lose my control against a kid...

Since then, I've been doing mission after mission. I've built a team and fought numerous strong opponents. To be honest, I should just forget about the Welsh Dragon until it's time for us to fight properly, but I can't.

"Hey! Valerie! Here you are!" 

Azazel walked in with his hands full of alcohol. He doesn't know what happened between me and Issei, but he does know that I'm not normal.

As a result, he's been trying to get me to drink away my sorrows. Utterly ridiculous. 

If alcohol was the solution to everything, then the Greeks would rule the world. 

"I brought this from Ireland! It's called Poitín and is supposed to be the strongest bottle from that country. I had it tuned with magic so it affects Supernaturals. It's 89% alcohol! Let's drink it together!" He had stars in his eyes as he explained to me his terrible hobby. 

Haa...normally I would never do this, but its been really long since I drank anything. 

Moreover, maybe he's right. Maybe this will actually help me get over that incident. 

"Fine, pour me a glass." I ordered the fallen angel. 

He had an evil glint in his eye as I agreed, but it disappeared before I could notice it properly. 

It's not like I'm actually going to get drunk. 

I put my lips on the glass and slowly tasted the liquid. 

"Tasty..." a murmur escaped my mouth, and Azazel smirked in return.

"I know, right? Now, let's finish all these bottles."

I looked down and saw 12 containers. A heavy sigh was released from my mouth as I gulped the entire glass in one go. 

He filled it and I chugged it again. Glass after glass, I didn't realize when we had gone through half the stack. 

My cheeks were red from all the drinking, and my vision was blurry. 

Was I drunk? 

I don't know, I've never been drunk before. 

But I do feel tipsy. 

I turned around to ask my drinking companion for another glass. It was then that I saw something I never wanted to see.

Azazel had taken me in as a lost child, given me a home, and raised me. I considered him my adoptive father, and even joined his faction with my team. 

I never thought he would do something like this.

There was a hand on my shoulder, pushing me towards the male next to me.

"What...? No..." 

"Valerie, you're so beautiful and cute when you're drunk. Now, let's have some fun!" He said as he leaned in to kiss me.

I tried to resist the best I could. My hands were hitting him, but he just kept moving forward.

I should be stronger than him, but he's a lot more used to Alcohol than me.

"No...No! Get...away from me!" My voice was weak, like a prayer. 

I don't want this!

I thought it was a lost cause. His lips were so close to mine that I could feel his breath. I was about to give up, when my Sacred Gear appeared.

The wings shattered the table along with the remaining alcohol, and pushed the fallen angel away.

[Try that again, you stinking crow, and I will mutilate you.]

"Al..Albion..." I sighed in relief as I was saved. 

Ahh...my brain...did that really just happen?

I can't think...

I heard a soft whisper from across the room...

"Tch...this is the problem with Longinus Users...I should've..."

He kept speaking, but I couldn't hear anymore. All I could do was glare at him.

[Valerie, I've tuned your magic circle. Activate it and teleport away.]

Thankfully, I heard Albion's words clearly enough to act on them.

A blue and white light enveloped the room as my body and soul were carried across the realm, to somewhere in a human city.

I was on a road, staring at a house in front of me. 

It was small, too small to belong to a significant person, I think.

I saw a black haired man jump from the window and land near me. 

Even though I hadn't done anything physical, I was tired. Too tired. 

I didn't know who this man was, or if he meant me harm. 

But somehow, his presence was more comforting than anything I had ever experienced. 

I closed my eyes and let go, my body collapsed almost instantly and I fell into slumber.

...

My eyes feel heavy. 

The bed is soft.

The sun is forcing me to wake up.

Where am I?

I raised my chest and looked around. I'm in a Japanese-style room with one bed and a desk. 

Then, I noticed that my clothes had been changed. 

I panicked and readied myself for a fight. My hungover brain had immediately sobered upon the thought of someone forcing himself onto me. 

Azazel...that bastard! I'll kill him!

The sound of footsteps came from the hallway, and I turned myself to the closed door. I was ready to blow him away.

[Wait, calm down, Valerie. This place is safe.]

'Albion? What do mean safe?'

I did relax myself upon hearing his words, and was slow to react when the door was opened. If they meant me harm, I would've been harmed already. 

But they, he, just stood there, staring at me with open eyes. 

He was tall, slender but fit. His black hair was longer than it should be, I want him to cut it. He was handsome, and had a mature air around him. 

I looked into his eyes, and my memory was jolted...

My eyes widened as I blurted out, "Issei?"

His surprise turned into happiness, and he gave me a gentle smile.

Is...is this really Issei? 

He's not a boy...he's a man! A very attract-I mean he is man!

It's like 10 years had passed for him when only 4 had passed for me.

He looked like in his 20s, like he had already felt a woman's touch. 

Suddenly, he closed the distance between us and pulled me into a hug.

"Hu-Huh?! Issei! No, who are you?! Let go of me this instant!" I screamed, but he just guided my face to his chest and held it there.

Then, in a gentle and soothing voice, he spoke.

"It wasn't your fault, Valerie."

I...

I don't know if he was referring to the accident that happened 4 years ago, or the horrifying event in the Underworld.

The memories of me killing his best friend, and getting assaulted by the man I had considered my father, all came back to me at once. 

The feelings of guilt, sorrow, rage, helplessness and frustration, all blended in and threatened to break my heart. 

But then he said it again. He didn't say that it was okay, or that he forgives me, or that he'll protect me. Instead, he just said...

"None of it was your fault."

Shit...!

Why are my eyes wet?

Why am I clutching him so hard, like he's going to disappear?

Why...

...am I crying like a baby in his arms.

.

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