Scarlet 16

Scarlet 16

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Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

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Congratulations, Taylor Hebert, you’re a man now!

Ddraig has been repeating the same phrase for fifteen minutes, and has shown no signs of stopping. Why would he, when it was a perfect turn of phrase to use to salt my metaphorical wounds, while I did my best to get a grip on my current situation.

Rias Gremory hanging off my arm.

Asia gripping my wrist with a pout.

And, everyone else in the diner wanting my soul extracted from my body and fed to a psycho-clown version of Jack Slash.

So, just Jack Slash. 

You lost your first kiss, and nearly more, to a Princess of Hell in a mystical forest, and all you got from the human lover chasing after you is an apology for her saving herself until marriage. What kind of male friend would I be, if I didn’t roar to the heavens your achievements?

A good, decent friend, especially since he knew my… several consecutive moments of weakness in the forest has utterly messed with my future plans. It’s one thing to leave a behind Kuoh for power with a princess pining for me. It’s another thing entirely to bed that aforementioned princess, even in a fit of deranged passion, and leave Kuoh and her behind. The first is a knight leaving after his victory, off to chase another ideal in the distance, and the latter is taking a princesses’ heart, something very cherished, and running away without any intention of taking responsibility whatsoever. 

Needless to say, I was sitting in cookie-cutter, fast-food restaurant desperately trying to come up with a way to get out of the mess I’d landed myself in, and the only one who could help me was acting like a broken soundboard.

Congratulations, Taylor Hebert, you’re now a man!

Case. In. Point.

The food arrived and the various dishes ordered by Asia and Rias arrived, along with my request for a pitcher of ice water. I didn’t even manage to get it, before I found out that I was planning for a future that wasn’t even set in stone yet, because there was already another battle erupting in front of me between Asia and Rias. 

Both had different sets of food in front of them for the purposes of feeding me with. Asia ordered a salad too large for her to finish on her own, with a small side of pasta that I was sure would affront her Italian heritage a fair amount, if she wasn’t so nice. Rias, meanwhile, had two sizzling plates of meat and vegetables, as well as several buns to be buttered. Their divergent goals were obvious. 

Asia wanted to feed me a nice, healthy meal.

Rias wanted me recovered and ready for another round.

Naturally, I opened my mouth to try and put a stop to the nonsense, but the two leveled looks at me in unison. Asia’s impassioned, desperation was filled with determination, as she steadfastly offered me a bite of leafy vegetables, a crouton, and some healthy dressing. She laced her fingers between my own and gave a little, needy mewl as a she offered the bite. Rias’s look, meanwhile, was heavy and smoldering as she leaned into my arm with her chest, and mimed opening my mouth with her own lips. 

Every path besides one was closed, so I took the least terrible option.

Bwahahah, you actually ate both! You’re already getting housetrained!

“That… that is the first and last time I’m doing that.” Alright. That’s it. No more. Regardless of the extraordinary series of events that took place, and how I’ve got something fantastic set on my lap, I’m standing up for myself. If only to shut Ddraig up. “Rias. Asia. We’re discussing this like people.” Even with how strange my new life is, it isn’t a Romcom. It’s dangerous, there’s many consequences, and I’ve got express interests in keeping my soul mine, since I’ve got proof that it exists. “Rias—

“I think that would be wonderful, Ise-kun.”

“H-hey, I-Ise-kun is my nickname for him.”

“Oh, and I like it very much, Asia-chan. It’s very nice and cute!”

“Oh… t-thank you!”

I did my best to whether the conversational deluge that erupted whenever I couldn’t control the conversation. If I didn’t take control, everything would devolve to a series of events that would end with both girls somehow getting along, on either of my sides, and doing something that earned me more ire from the local populace. Even thought avoiding that series of events seemed like a bad idea, I couldn’t work on my original plans to get more power to survive what was coming ahead.

As important and amazing handling the current, amazing situation is, after years and years of having to handle my body’s freakish drive towards anything vaguely feminine, I needed to solve the issue of surviving the various powers of the world that know I exist and want a piece of me.

I think you forgot to mention that you really like what’s happening to you, and how it hurts you just thinking about leaving it. Or, is that what you meant by repeating “amazing?” 

That was the implication I was going for, yes. 

“Rias, I appreciate what happened, and I really like you, but I’m currently not ready for a relationship.” Gah. The words. They’re true. They relay what they need to relay, but they hurt so much to say. Can men feel real, physical pain when telling hot, buxom, and enthusiastic redheads with open minds that they can’t be together? Or, did I just get a defective, male body upon my reincarnation? “You know that I’m going to travel the world for more power. It will be dangerous… and I can’t risk you going with me—

“Oh, then you just need to sign a contract with me. A permanent one… that makes me your one and only Devil.” Oh. So, this is what temptation really is. It’s a fiery-haired, blue-eyed bombshell in a very disheveled uniform designed by a man who convinced a schoolboard that vest-corsets and button-up blouses are perfectly fine uniforms. “I can even bring Asia-chan along, after we have our fun!”

I never knew Japanese could sound so beautiful, yet instead of prostrating myself and worshipping those words, I stay silent, so that I don’t utterly destroy my future plans.

Having someone like Rias around all the time is the opposite of what I need—

“Ummm, ah… I know it’s against God’s teachings for me to allow such things… but you’ll be far safer, if you have someone you can trust always ready to help you, Ise-kun!” Asia. Why are you doing this to me? I’ve taught you a little here and there, so that I you know how to approach problems practically. Why are you using those words to justify me making a permanent contract with a Devil who’s decided my right arm is supposed to be trapped in her bust at all times? “If you truly wish to travel the world for power, so that you can protect everyone you care about… maybe you should consider Rias-senpai’s offering.”

Asia groaned at her own words. The blonde, excommunicated girl let loose a little whine of displeasure, before shaking her head, and gripping more tightly on my hand.

“Please, Ise-kun, you must take care of yourself. You’re strong, but you should always be able to get help, if you need it!” 

Asia didn’t hesitate to use either logic and endearment to get her way. Though she’s probably not using the latter intentionally, she was most certainly appealing to my sensibilities in regards to how the supernatural would should be treated. If at all possible, I needed to take as many things possible into account. Accept Rias’s contract and the… payment stipulated with them… will allow me to call upon help, as well as remove any chance of being hunted down by her family for running away after touching her. 

Multiple times. Mostly on the lips, but your hands definitely went other places—

Shut up, Ddraig.

It was a compliment!

“Consider it an additional reward for your… services, Ise-kun.” Taylor. You know exactly what’s happening here. You are being entreated by a very attractive woman, so that you’ll do as she asks, because she’s promising many pleasant things in exchange for your agreement. Your new body is weak and far too willing, so you need to approach this situation with your mind and spirit. Wow, her boobs are really, really soft, she’s also super nice, and pretty. Can I keep her forever and beat up everyone who tries to take her away from me? Damn. “Instead of lonely nights, won’t it be better to have me around. Right. When. You. Want. Me?”

“Glfrk.” An odd, squeaking sound left my lips, instead of an answer.

Partly because Rias Gremory was doing things to the Japanese language that was probably illegal. Mostly because the aforementioned Devil felt that she was being too subtle, and further trapped my right arm, by burying my hand at the meeting point between two thighs and two sets of stockings. 

For the sake of my remaining sanity, my brain decided to simply go on auto-pilot, and handle the situation properly.

No more think.

Just do, nod, and desperately suppress male desires.

…

I had everything planned out. Given the fact that I was already set to leave Kuoh in year, it wouldn’t have been strange at all for me to leave, and return once I amassed enough power and reputation to deter anyone from sticking their nose into my business. Though the requirements were relatively high, I had Ddraig and more than a few favors to call on, so it would’ve only been a matter of fighting the right people, making the right connections, and having no fear in regards to dealing with threats. 

Then, I could go back to having as ordinary of a life as I possibly could. 

I was packed, ready to go, and pursue mysteries all over Japan, so that I could gain some national recognition in the supernatural side of things. 

Instead I’m now I’m back home with Rias sitting to my right and Asia to my left. It was similar enough to the diner that I couldn’t lower my guard, but we thankfully didn’t share the same half of a booth, so I had little to fear from either immobilizing my body, mind, and spirit. 

And, Rias was handling my upcoming, supernatural trip with grace and dignity that I didn’t know was possible.

“Yes, indeed, my parents have been very pleased with Ise-kun’s efforts at school, as well as his work outside of it, so they’ve offered him an internship that will be very beneficial to him!” I’d planned on leaving a letter to my parents regarding the situation, telling them as much as possible without implicating them, and letting Sitri protect them. They had more than enough money to live comfortably the rest of their lives, and I had plenty to use for my own ends as I travelled, so all they had to worry about was me. Now, that was being handled. “He will be going all over the world with me, as I will be taking over my household in the future, and we will be meeting with various businesses my family has connections to all over the world!”

Rias had suggested altering their memories.

However, even while struggling with debilitating hormones and male desire, I shot that line of thought down, and told her in the diner that if she wanted to help me, she’ll do it in a way that didn’t involve touching the memories of anyone involved. It took her less than a few minutes to come up with the current, better idea, because it was just a slight alteration to the truth. 

I’ve accepted her help and “gratitude,” but there’s lines I’m not going to cross, even with Rias Gremory now my “one and only” Devil and me now her official, only “summoner.”

I’d considered refusing her offer, even with the bevy of things that came along with it. However, between confronting the fallout from helping her with her help, and without her help?
The choice was easy, even if I wasn’t thinking too clearly. 

“That’s wonderful, Issei! I’m so happy for you!”

“That’s my kid! Ahaha!”

The praise from both my mother and father wasn’t a surprise, since they were happy to praise me whenever they could, but appreciated all the same. While I wouldn’t hesitate to separate myself from them to protect them, if the option presented itself to allow me protect them while staying in contact, I’d gladly take it. I’d lost one family already, so I had no intentions whatsoever of losing another. 

Rias must’ve noticed my little, happy moment, so she immediately went on the offensive.

“And, of course, I’d like to ask you for permission to be romantically involved with your son!” Rias stood and curtsied to both of them with a thousand-watt smile that took my parents aback, as I tried to find my ability to speak. Asia did better than me, but all she managed was sputtering sounds, as the scarlet-haired Devil stepped behind me, and embraced me right into her bosom. My weakness… how did she… wait… she’s been paying attention to my gaze and reactions to everything she did this entire time! “I may be two years older than him, but I would very much like for your approval to date him—

“Go with our blessing!”

“My son will make you happy, without a doubt!”

The two of you really need to be a little more cautious! I’m sure that I have goofy, stupid grin on my face because of Rias’s current actions, but as parents, you need to be considerate of my future! Just handing me away to a woman you met today, and who you’ve only known for half-an-hour is incredibly irresponsible! If your son’s brain isn’t functioning due to very pert, bouncy, and bountiful objects, you need to use your own brains!

“Would you like me to teach you all his favorite dishes? Or, maybe, you want to see his room to get rid of all his porn?”

MOM, PLEASE NO—

“Say the word, Gremory-sama, and his fetishes will disappear from the world forever!”

DAD—

“Oh? Ise-kun has fetishes? What are they?”

“Don’t answer that question, Dad!”

“Sly, cool, or pure girls! For body-types, he’s open-minded!”

“MOM!?”

“I see. That’s very good news!”

Rias obliterated my thoughts by somehow pressing against me more, and continued to address my parents. Somewhere along the lines, as she grilled my parents for information that they were VERY happy to provide, Asia started asking questions as well.

Which they also, happily answered.

Apparently, even though I can take on Fallen Angels, Devils, and Superhuman Exorcists, I lose to boobs!?

Boobs!?

They’re amazing and great, but… boobs!?

I want a new, male body, because this one’s obviously defective!