The alley was quiet now, the storm of bullets and demonic energy long dissipated. Rain dripped from the crumbling rooftops, sizzling faintly on the cracked asphalt, and the residual mana haze lingered like a whisper in the early morning air. Aki's body had gone slack against the wall, unconscious, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. The Gun Devil fragment within him still pulsed faintly, its power throbbing with the rhythm of his heart, though it was barely contained.
Above, the Occult Research Club had arrived, drawn by the lingering energy of his battle. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and a few others watched from the shadows of a nearby rooftop, cautiously descending as they approached the unconscious figure.
Rias's crimson eyes were sharp, her posture taut with both curiosity and caution. "I've never felt mana like this before in Kuoh," she murmured. "Whatever he is… he's dangerous. And yet…" Her gaze softened slightly, acknowledging the signs of exhaustion and pain in the young man before them.
Koneko moved first, leaping down silently to catch him before he could slump fully to the pavement. She cradled his weight effortlessly, noting the shallow rhythm of his breathing. "He's barely conscious," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "We need to stabilize him before the Gun Devil fragment burns out or triggers again."
Akeno, silver hair cascading like water in the rain, knelt beside them, eyes assessing the faint injuries and aura burn marks along his torso. Even through his unconscious state, she could sense his potential, the dangerous rawness of his Gun Devil-infused system. "This man… he's not ordinary," she whispered to herself, brushing her fingers over his drenched coat and tattered shirt. "But… he's beautiful. There's something magnetic about him."
Rias's eyes narrowed. "We don't know if he's a threat, Akeno. That aura… it's overwhelming. If he wakes here, uncontrolled, Kuoh could be at risk."
Koneko, stoic as always, frowned. "We shouldn't act recklessly. Let him recover first. Observation, not interference."
Akeno ignored the tension. "I can help him recover faster," she said, a soft smile curling her lips. She rose slightly and, without hesitation, began to channel her healing mana into his body. In the DxD world, devils could heal flesh and energy by direct contact, and the act often required proximity — sometimes complete nudity — to maximize the mana's effect. Akeno's aura enveloped him in warmth, slipping along his skin and binding his torn muscle and energy disruptions.
The system inside Aki shuddered faintly as it integrated her mana input, calculating the rate of stabilization and the energy transfer. Slowly, the Gun Devil fragment pulsed more evenly, integrating with his body instead of straining it. His shallow breaths began to deepen, the faint color returning to his lips.
Minutes passed, and the rain outside softened to a drizzle. His unconscious form stirred slightly. Akeno's hand rested over his chest, guiding the flow of energy, and a part of her ecchi nature noted his vulnerability. She adjusted subtly, channeling mana efficiently while preserving modesty as the system recorded every reaction.
Rias observed from a distance, arms crossed. "We may have a problem. If he fully awakens like this… uncontrolled, the balance could tip. He's no longer just a human hunter. That fragment makes him something else entirely."
Koneko, keeping her tail flicking in silent concern, added, "But if he remains unconscious, we risk the fragment destabilizing. He could die. It's a delicate balance."
Akeno leaned closer, her silver hair brushing against the wet pavement, her eyes soft yet calculating. "Then let me ensure he lives. Trust me. It's my job." She murmured softly to herself as she worked, smoothing the subtle pulse of energy into his torso and limbs.
Aki's eyelids fluttered. He felt warmth, a gentle pressure along his chest, a soft pull guiding his ragged energy back to equilibrium. His system flickered, detecting foreign mana but interpreting it as stabilizing. Slowly, he blinked.
The first thing he noticed — warmth, unfamiliar, intimate, pressing against him. His body registered the subtle heat of Akeno's form pressed close; her aura flowing into him, healing him directly. He opened his eyes fully, awareness flooding back.
"Wha…?" he whispered, voice raw. His vision focused on silver hair glinting in the pale sunlight, eyes soft and inviting, and he registered with a jolt that Akeno was… naked.
She smiled faintly, tilting her head. "Morning," she murmured, voice low and teasing. "You've been through a lot. I thought a direct channel of healing would be… faster this way."
Rias and Koneko watched silently from the shadows, tense and alert, but Akeno's calm aura dominated the scene. Her healing energy was weaving seamlessly with his Gun Devil fragment's stability, bringing him back from the brink of collapse.
Aki's pulse raced, system whirring as it adjusted to the mana influx. His body felt like molten metal being reforged, muscles knitting, pain melting away. He tried to sit up, but Akeno's hand pressed gently on his shoulder.
"Stay still," she said softly. "You're not fully stabilized yet. The Gun Devil fragment… it's volatile. One wrong move, and you could tear yourself apart again."
He nodded weakly, exhaling slowly. "I… I owe you."
Akeno's smile deepened, leaning just close enough for her silver hair to brush his cheek. "You don't owe me anything," she whispered. "But… you're alive. That's what matters."
The system in his mind buzzed faintly. Analysis: Healing protocol successful. Power fragment stabilized. Core body functions normalized. Mood and stress levels elevated (Akeno proximity detected).
He felt heat, not just from the healing mana, but from Akeno herself. It wasn't threatening; it was comforting, intimate, and yes… dangerously alluring.
Rias broke the silence. "He's awake… and you're… directly influencing him?" Her voice was sharp, calculating.
Koneko's tail flicked in disapproval. "This is… inappropriate. Even if it works."
Akeno glanced over her shoulder, silver eyes meeting theirs. "This is how devils heal. Body, mana, energy all intertwined. He's alive because of this. You can observe, but don't interfere."
The system chimed softly in Aki's mind, detecting the unusual synergy. Healing Factor Boosted by External Mana — Integration Successful. He exhaled, closing his eyes briefly, letting the warmth and energy flow through him.
When he opened them again, he met her gaze. She was smiling gently, mischievous, confident. "You fought hard last night," she murmured. "But you need rest. Fully rest."
Aki nodded, voice still raspy. "Right… rest."
He lay back, allowing her proximity to continue the stabilizing process, noting the unusual intimacy and the strength it lent to his recovery. His aura, still tinged with the Gun Devil fragment's edge, settled into a quieter rhythm, now in sync with her mana.
Rias, watching silently, shifted uneasily. "He's… more than I expected. This level of power, combined with that fragment… we may have underestimated him."
Koneko scowled. "Underestimated him? He's unstable. Too much raw energy."
Akeno's voice was softer now, almost conspiratorial as she traced her hand along his side, subtly adjusting the mana flow. "He's not just raw energy. He's a fighter. A predator. And…" She glanced at him, silver hair brushing his temple. "…he's worth the risk."
The morning sun continued to rise, the rain softening to a drizzle. Kuoh City was quiet, oblivious to the forces stirring in the alley. Aki, stabilized and resting, allowed the healing to finish, the Gun Devil fragment now pulsing gently beneath his skin. His heartbeat slowed, system reporting all vitals back to nominal.
Finally, Akeno leaned back slightly, her hands still resting lightly on him. "There. You're safe. For now."
Aki opened his eyes fully, gazing at her, the intimate scene already etched into his mind. He didn't speak — only nodded, gratitude and something else mixing in his chest. The system detected emotional fluxes, tagging her influence as "significant."
Rias stepped closer, a frown softening slightly, though her eyes remained sharp. "We'll monitor him. Carefully. That fragment… that power… it's not something we can ignore."
Koneko simply observed, protective yet wary. "He's alive. That's what matters right now."
Akeno smiled faintly, brushing her silver hair from her face. "He's more than alive," she whispered. "He's waking up to his full potential."
And in that quiet alley, between dripping rain and faint traces of battle, Aki lay recovering, the warmth of Akeno's mana and her presence stabilizing his body, his fragment, and… something deeper, something that would shape the course of his future.