Issei had been planning every detail of the date meticulously ever since Yuuma had asked him out. He didn't really know her, but she was incredibly sweet, and cute as a kitten. She didn't even care about his reputation, if she knew about it.
In hindsight, that should have been his first warning, but Issei was so over the moon that he did not see it.
The date, for its part, went off without a single hitch, happening almost exactly how Issei had planned it; Yuuma seemed to enjoy herself, and Issei managed to be on his absolute best behavior, keeping all his lecherous thoughts under tight control.
So there they stood, within the secluded courtyard, no one else in sight as the late afternoon sun laid a golden glow down on the two.
"Issei..." Yuuma said, her voice kind. "Would you mind doing something for me?"
Issei felt a burst of excitement race through him at what he thought was coming.
"Yeah, sure? What is it?" he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
She turned to face him, smiling.
"Would you die for me?"
For several seconds, Issei did not move an inch, what she had said simply not registering.
"...what? Yuuma… I don't… I don't think I heard you right..."
Oh?" she said, tipping her head. "I asked… would you please die for me?"
Then, Issei saw the impossible.
Two black wings erupted from Yuuma's back.
Issei was completely frozen; whether it was shock or fear, he would never be able to say for sure.
"I had a lot of fun these last few days…" she said, giggling. "You're a real sucker, you know that? Made my job easier, though."
She raised her arm so that it was parallel to the ground, her palm facing down.
Within the grasp of her palm, what could only be described as solid light began to appear.
After a heartbeat, it began to change shape, taking the form of a spear.
Only at that moment did Issei's legs unfreeze. He tried to turn, tried to run away.
He made it no more than three steps before the impossible spear pierced him through the chest. For a moment, Issei stayed on his feet, his chest numbing.
Then, the pain hit him in a wave of indescribable agony. And with that pain, Issei immediately fell to his knees. An instant later, his upper body followed, leaving him sprawled face-down on the cobbled stones. His blood poured from the gaping wound, staining the paving a deep crimson.
Ears ringing, he could only just make out Yuuma's words to him.
"If you want to blame someone for this, blame God. After all, he gave you the Sacred Gear."
Yuuma's visage suddenly appeared before him, her adorable face twisted into a cruel sneer.
"Good-bye, Issei Hyoudou."
Then, she was gone.
For a moment, Issei's mind was so thoroughly lanced by the brilliant torment that he could not even begin to think. Only when his chest started to go numb did his mind begin to work correctly again.
Issei was not a religious person by any means. His belief in any god was essentially nil, and he had never bothered attending a single service for any faith.
Yet as he lay there, his mind began to give his own last apology. Just as with the pain, even years later, he could not explain why his mind had gone in that direction.
If… if anyone's listening… I'm sorry… I don't ask for… another chance. I've messed up too much in my life already… not that I wouldn't take one, but… just know that I'm sorry… I never gave my thanks for what I had… just cared about being a lech… I'm so, so sorry…
Even as the thoughts escaped his mind, Issei's vision began to fail him. Millimeter by millimeter, his eyesight began to turn completely black, willpower meaning nothing when faced with blood loss.
It was only moments before his sight was swept into oblivion that he saw the light form a few meters away from him
As soon as the Seraph called Gabriel stepped from the cross, she got a clear view of just what had caused the halting, somewhat stammered prayer she heard ringing within her mind. The one that had seemed… louder than most.
Gabriel was no stranger to bloodshed, and her stomach did not turn at all at the sight of the gutted young teen before her.
Her heart, however, was washed in pure sympathy for him.
Unflinchingly, she walked over to the poor boy's body, noting the enormous wound in his chest and storing the information in her mind.
A moment later, she knelt down next to the dying teen, laid a hand on his body, and murmured a blessing under her breath. She did not bother to try to keep her white robes dry, and they ran scarlet with the boy's shed blood. Sadness coursed through her, both for what had happened to the boy and being unable to provide him any comfort in his last breaths.
Gabriel knew the brutality of the world better than most, but she still held deep convictions towards the suffering of innocents. And in her mind, there was nothing that the teen lying on the ground before her could possibly have done to deserve such a violent end.
After finishing the blessing, she pulled her fingers back and slowly, very slowly, and moved to rise from her kneeling position.
She was stopped, however, by the booming voice that crashed into her ears.
"Wouldn't have been my first choice or my fifth, but I suppose I can't be picky."
It was a voice she had last heard centuries ago, but Gabriel knew she would never forget it.
"What are the chances?" Gabriel murmured.
"Ah, Gabriel. I felt that aura and I thought it might be you. Let's not waste time with formalities. I want you to keep my host on the mortal coil. I know you possess the strength to do so."
"And why would you want that, Red Dragon Emperor?"
"I heard his prayer. He deserves better than to die here."