"Hate me all you need to, Shuri."
He tightened his hold over her. Be it the pressure of the gods, Akeno's safety, or Igor's displeasure, he was willing to bear all of it. Because above all, he loved Shuri too much to let her suffer any further.
[Let me carry that burden.]
She was the light that gave him hope, hope to a failed man who had fallen from grace.
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|DxD|- Chapter 63- The Last Day
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12/Feb/1997- February 14, 1997, Friday, Kuoh Town, Japan
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The town of Kuoh was embalmed in the white haze of winter. The snow left no stretch of ground unsullied by its powdery form. From naked branches to tarred roads, the once colourful orange of Autumn was replaced by white all around. Some snow fell on lines of parked cars by Kuoh Academy, slotting themselves beneath windshield wipers and gaps in the hood.
The streets near Kuoh Academy were packed. The school housed all grades and sectors from elementary to college education. Its massive buildings were beautifully carved with European architecture and vast grounds to complete it. This school was only a few years old, yet many students from all over Japan and even foreigners flocked to it for none other than its high level of education.
Kuoh Academy occupied many streets, and one street lined with rows of trees belonged to the elementary division. It was nearing two in the afternoon. Children from six to twelve would soon pour out through the majestic gates.
Akeno was one of those children, even though she wished she wasn't. Deep inside the prison called "school", her eyes remained on the clock. Each second ticked at an agonizing pace. Several months in and she still didn't like it here.
[Come onnnnnn….]
She moaned inwardly. There was too much energy in her to be sitting like this. Her body was shivering from being cooped up in this suffocating air.
"Akeno?"
Akeno looked over at her greatest enemy. It was an older woman with greying hair and stern eyes.
"Focus on the lesson, please. School is not out yet."
"Yes."
"Yes who?"
"..."
Akeno wished she could zap her to death.
"Yes, Mrs Tanaka."
"Good girl."
[Hmph.]
Hiruko Tanaka, her greatest enemy in the world. Akeno had long since wanted to give her the greatest electric shock of her life. That would teach the grumpy woman to keep them in class until the last second.
[Don't do it, Akeno. Mama told you not to.]
She clutched her hands beneath her desk. She made a show of paying attention, but was already zoning out. Once she left here, she was definitely flying home.
Thankfully and mercifully, the bell rang after another round of agonizing minutes. Before the bell's shrill scream stopped, Akeno took her bag and burst her way out through the door.
"Akeno!!"
[Nywe~!]
No way was she going to do those boring greetings. Hiruko's scream passed over unbothered ears. Akeno sprinted across the hallway to the stairs at the end. She flashed past classrooms and soon reached the end.
Her shoes echoed on the tiled steps, each jump making her bag bounce on her back. She skipped step after step until she reached the reception area. Students were absolutely not allowed here, but it was a shortcut.
She sprinted past the open office door, speeding up just a little more than human speed when she heard clacking heels near.
"Who's there?"
The voice faded behind her. She came out of the building and sped for the open gates. A security guard glanced up when he heard shoes thump against stone paving. He glanced over his shoulder and when he saw who it was, he looked away. He did not get paid enough to handle her.
"Hi, Mr Security!"
"H-Hi…"
He stammered not because of her, but because of a seemingly kind teenager standing head and shoulders above other parents and pedestrians.
"Apu~!"
Little Akeno ran and Kenji gulped. Igor von Dimori was the boy's name, one he'd never forget. Beneath that puffy jacket was an absolute physique. He still remembered how Igor easily flung a man over his shoulder two years ago. He'd solemnly sworn from that day that anything involving the Himejima girl would be avoided. The school would fire him at worst. That boy would visit his home.
"Apu~! Apu~! Apu~!"
Akeno excitedly called out to her big brother. Unabashed by the gazes of other people, she jumped into his waiting arms. In one smooth motion, she was scooped up.
"Hi, Akeno."
His smooth melodic voice made her breathe even faster. She happily glanced around, almost wishing to brag aloud at how amazing her super strong brother was.
"Let's go. We're picking up Issei and Irina as well."
"Really?"
Akeno excitedly asked.
"That's cool! We're going to play with them, right? Right?"
"Of course, Akeno."
"Yay~!"
And so carried by her brother, he walked away from the school. Akeno was very energetic, her mind swarmed with countless thoughts of what they'd play once she met her friends.
"Stop swaying, Akeno. Or else I'll drop you."
"Nooo~."
She clamped her arms around his head. Her mother already refused to carry her. She wasn't about to lose her last mode of transport.
"I'm not getting down that easy."
She arrogantly stated, confident in her grip.
"You'll have to at some point, Akeno. I can't carry you forever, you know?"
"Noo! I want—I ask big brother to carry me forever and ever."
She spoke seriously, but Igor knew she was just that lazy.
"I'll stop carrying you once you turn nine."
"Not fair, Apu~. Aren't you super strong?"
"I am, but…"
Igor paused, thinking of how to say it. But he ended up chuckling helplessly.
"You'll understand when you grow older."
"But I'm already old, Apu~."
"You're only seven, little chick, over half my age."
"Oh yeah? Then how old are you?"
Igor proudly proclaimed.
"Sixteen, little chick. I'm much older."
"Not fair. And I'm not a little chick, Apu~!"
"We'll see about that once you turn sixteen. If you have four wings by then, I'll give you a new name."
"Deal!"
Akeno boldly agreed. Having four wings would mean she was mid-class. And since stinking Igor was mid-class now, there's no way she'd fail.
[Hmph! I'll definitely have you call me little—no, big eagle!]
Akeno happily stewed in her thoughts, imagining the day she turned sixteen. As long as she won the bet, Igor definitely would have to carry her for a thousand years. It was the perfect master plan.
[As expected of me. I'm the best.]
A finger-flick to the forehead pulled her from her dream land.
"Owie!"
The stunning pain forced her eyes open.
"What was that for?"
"I didn't like your smile."
Igor replied with a gentlemanly expression. It reminded Akeno too much of her mother's smile before she suddenly took off her shoe.
"Hmph. I think my smile is pretty."
She grumbled those last words out, no longer wishing to entertain her infuriating brother. One day, she'd absolutely trample him to death.
"See if you like it then…"
"..."
"..."
Akeno realised she unintentionally said her thoughts out loud. She looked down and sure enough, Igor's smile was eerily similar to her mother's.
"I-I didn't mean that."
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Her stupid mouth got her in a bad situation.
"Get ready, Akeno. We're about to move very fast now."
"Huh?"
It was only now did she realise they'd gone into a quiet part of the street. Her embarrassment was instantly replaced by excitement. She always loved it when Igor blurred through the town.
"I'm ready, Apu! Do it~! Do it~! Do—"
Akeno could barely complete her words when everything suddenly shifted. The world blurred like a movie on fast-forward. The heavily forested school district quickly shifted to high-rise buildings and intersections.
There was a moment where a car was right in front of them. A breath had caught in her throat, thinking they'd be run over, yet the view continued to shift.
Pause. Shift. Pause. Shift. Pause. Shift. The scenery flickered endlessly. The dense town centre faded to the other side of Kuoh where trees were more sparse. A few schools were in this part of town as well.
Her last view was of a very thick tree next to a home with high walls before a bubble popped around her. Now, she could hear the sounds of honking cars and a dog barking. Not a single strand of her hair was out of place.
"Yay~!!! Do it again! Do it again, Apu~!"
"We'll do it later, little chick. For now, let's go pick up Issei and Irina."
"Yes!"
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AN: Looks like Igor is planning to see everyone before he leaves. It's giving big brother vibes. I'm looking forward to seeing how his relationship with Issei goes.
Chapter 63
END