Haru ran across campus ground, tracking two energy signatures that were headed for one location. Kuoh Academy College Division.
[Who'd you piss off this time? I hope it wasn't your cousin again. She specifically told you what would happen if you peeped on the Kendo Club one more time] a voice boomed inside his head.
Haru slowed down to a jog as he heard it.
"Ddraig? You're awake! " Haru said happily. "I had another nightmare that we'll talk about later. Right now, I need to look at something."
Hearing a seriousness that was normally uncharacteristic of his hosts' voice, Ddraig silently agreed.
[I'll stay awake just in case you need me okay?] Ddraig said.
Haru nodded in appreciation as he turned a corner.
Continuing his run, Haru took a shortcut through the park and after a few minutes, saw the ORC a few meters ahead. Hiding behind the corner, Haru watched as the original girls said goodbye to Rias and Akeno but there was something odd about it.
When did they start accompanying them? Do they need to do something here or is it something else? Haru thought as he peeked from around the corner.
Out of sight and a few feet behind them, Haru started to follow Rias and Akeno into the campus. Ddraig had been quiet for the past few minutes. As a Dragon Emperor, he had been alive for nearly a few million years. Experience was something he had in spades and if being alive that long has given him anything, it was the sense that something was about to happen. Something that would break his host.
Haru ran up to the massive gate and on the other side of campus, he saw a massive building and many other smaller buildings which he guessed were either the dorms, sororities, or fraternities. There were no students on campus at the moment so getting in was the easy part. Upon entering, he saw the backs of his two targets. He followed them at a quiet, but leisurely place making sure to suppress his power so as to not be sensed. He followed behind the two women as they expertly crossed the campus. He walked past statues which he assumed to be founders or important teachers. He noticed one of them was Rias's father, Zeoticus Gremory. On the path, many trees adorned the path he was walking on. He couldn't identify them and silently wished that he paid more attention to Ruby's lectures during class. Maybe botany was his calling after he was done with everything.
The buildings looked similar to that of Ivy League universities such as Cambridge when he was looking at their campuses for possible universities to apply to. He mentally laughed at the thought of getting into an Ivy League. While he wasn't as smart as his twin sister, Naru, Haru wasn't stupid so he might have a chance. Maybe the founders were inspired? Snapping out of his dreams of being Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, he saw the building getting larger and saw Rias and Akeno enter. A few students were exiting the building for what Haru thought was to spend the weekend out. It was 5:00 PM after all and most of the students had already left campus.
Walking in, he followed Rias and Akeno who were talking to each other. He wasn't able to make out what they were saying but the way they looked from time to time made him suspicious of what they were saying. The very fact that he wasn't noticed was beyond him as he wasn't the most subtle member of the peerage. That record went to Koneko. He watched as they crossed towards a massive staircase that seemed to span the entire room. Reaching the top, they made a left turn and stopped at a door. Haru, still at the edge, peeked out and saw the words, Student-Faculty in bright gold letters in a wooden frame. Someone had spent money on this. A creaking sound of a door opening brought him out of whatever pyramid scheme he was planning. He saw a man step out. He was tall, maybe six feet, a bit taller, with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. His physique showed that he did sports and to Haru's guess, it was martial arts or something along the lines of a combat sport. His eyes told Haru a different story. Haru perceived him as a threat not in matters of actual power, but something else.
Haru continued to watch the man as he talked to Rias and Akeno. After a few minutes, he invited them in.
[I don't like this partner. Something about this isn't right.] Ddraig said after being silent for the entire walk. The man unnerved him. Not in the sense that he was a danger. More in the sense of what he was.
"I don't like it either, Ddraig, but I have to find out what's happening. Why are they being so damn distant," Haru said.
Ddraig stayed silent praying to whatever god that what they'll find out won't mess his partner up.
[But still, something about him isn't right. You should leave while you still can. I have a feeling that things will get ugly with that guy] Ddraig said, trying to convince Haru.
"C'mon. There's nothing to worry about, this guy is weak. Probably low class or weaker," Haru mentally replied, "Just a peek and then I'll ask them at the door. Okay."
Haru looked in and saw the room. The room was beautifully decorated. There was a luxurious looking couch and the desks of the members of the faculty were arranged in a square formation with the president's desk at the head. Shelves lined the walls and were filled with various books. However, it wasn't the room that took Haru's breath. It was what he saw and heard.
He watched as Rias and Akeno were leaning on the man. He had a smile and a heavy blush on his face. Rias and Akeno's eyes were filled with happiness, warmth, and want. It was the same look they used to give him when Haru saved Rias from her arranged marriage with Riser Phenex and when Haru helped Akeno overcome her issues with her father and accept her Fallen heritage.
Ddraig's eyes grew wide upon witnessing the act. He hoped what he was seeing was just some sort of sick illusion created by a wraith or something. The dragon checked on his partner's state. He found nothing. Not a shred of emotion or conscience. It's as if his partner just shut down. Ddraig tried to enter his mindscape but was forcefully ejected.
[This is not good ] Ddraig thought.
He tried again only for the same thing to happen over and over again. He turned his gaze back to the situation. Just what happened in the past five months. He had been busy recovering power and consoling Haru after every nightmare he had. Just what was going on. Ddraig needed answers.
Haru watched as Rias and Akeno wrapped themselves around him. He saw them hug him lovingly on each side, making a sandwich.
"Rias, Akeno. Look, I know you two like me but can we not do this here. We have papers to sign off-handed to us by the professors and the dean," the man said, still blushing, "We can do this tomorrow. I promised to take you both out after all. And besides, what if someone catches us?"
Even as he said those words, he wore a smile on his face. A smile filled with pride and accomplishment. How could he not? Here he was sitting with the two most beautiful women in the entire school and they wanted him. All he could imagine was how heavenly the sex would feel.
"Hmmmm", Akeno said, finally breaking the silence. "You know you want this just as much as we do, Ruto-kun," she said, her voice oozing seduction and sex appeal. She traced her finger across his chest as she blew lightly into his ear. Ruto's face grew increasingly redder by the second.
"What the hell Akeno! We agreed that we would do this together and here you are trying to seduce him in front of me!" Rias yelled hotly, crossing her arms in anger. She glared at her queen who simply giggled at her reaction.
"Ara ara Rias-chan. What are you talking about? It's obvious he wants me right now," Akeno said, pushing out her chest and making it jiggle. Ruto's eyes were firmly glued to their hypnotic motion.
"And secondly, you're right! It's so fun to see you get so riled up. I wonder what will happen if I do this," Akeno said as she began to nibble on Ruto's ear.
Rias' blood boiled. Akeno loved doing this to her even when they were with Haru. She marched over to the two and held Ruto's face.
Ruto leaned towards Rias and kissed her deeply while Akeno pouted and Haru watched with silent horror.
No, no no no! Haru thought as tears streamed down his face. Why? Why was this happening? Every second he watched was like a stab in the heart. He felt his very soul being eroded by the action that was happening before him. Why would they do this to him? Hadn't he done enough for them? Was dying for them on more than one occasion, not enough? Was fighting the Apocalypse Beast not enough for them!?
The kiss became heated with their tongues clashing for dominance but soon ended. Akeno was even more daring than Rias that was for sure. Haru swore he heard her moan a couple of times. Ruto and Akeno broke apart and looked at the clock still dazed from the kiss.
5:30 PM.
Oh shit, he thought. There were only 30 minutes left until the deadline. He saw Akeno and Rias were thinking the same thing and began to file papers.
Haru ran out of the campus. He just needed to get out. It didn't matter where he went. Just somewhere far away from that horrible scene. It replayed itself over and over inside Haru's head, each time being worse than the last. Haru tripped and fell face first. He groaned as he got up.
His eyes widened as he recognized the place. It was the park. The park where Raynare killed him and it all began.
W̶̹̻̘̖͙̼̳͂͜į̵͓̯͍̬̖̲̞̦͈̘͉̣̄͐͗͜͝l̴̝̏͐̊̍̂̅ͅl̸̡̺̘̖̤̩̱̲̻̞̩̼̐̆͋͒̈̑ ̴̛̯̙̲̅̍̈͆̈̅̉͠y̷̛͇̮̩̼̠͙̰̹͊̍̉̀̑̈̌̀̇̃̇̂̇͜ò̴̢̺͚͔̖̗̯̖͕̮͙͇̃̈̇͋̃͒͗̂͜ͅu̷̡̟̳͓͕̜̹̭͚̣̅̌̆̽̌̈̿̌͒̿̾̐̇͝ ̸̨͙͉͖̪͖̺̻͆͛̅͝ḑ̸̨̪͕͖̞̙̻̱͇̺̫̑̄̏͋̓̎̕͠͝͝i̵̡͔͈̼̪͍̥̭̗͓̯͚̜̾͋͌̾̚͠͝e̸͈̫̻͙̩̪͐̂̉̀̄̋͝ ̵̧̠̞̠̯̮͍͇̫̗̯͖̱̯͑͋̈̀̇̏͗̓͊̏̚̚̚͜͠͝f̵̟̱̲͈̠̄̅̀͆̓̏̉̄̈͆̀̉̄͠͠o̵̧̢̦̻͕̘̖͍͍̖̰͈̯̮̖̐̓͗̓̉̔̃̇͛̓r̶͈̗̠͚̠̹̤̗̰̹̬̮͎͉͂̄̀̓͑͋̃ ̷̘͔͒̋͆̎͋̉̒̉̌̈̚͝͠m̶̞͇̠̯͚̤̥̹͈̜̼̎͆̄͜ͅe̵͍̓̉̏̒̐͘?̴̡̛̟̥̘̆̈̓̓͗͗̾̏̄̕͝͠ͅͅ
Haru began to hyperventilate as her words came back to his mind. He gripped his head in agony as the memories of Raynare killing him overlapped with Rias and Akeno's betrayal.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Haru chanted to himself. He stopped when he heard a voice inside of his head.
[—rtner! PARTNER! SNAP OUT OF IT!]
" Ddraig?" Haru called out hopefully.
[Thank the dead God you can hear me! Haru, if you can still hear me, move your left hand] Ddraig ordered.
Haru stared blankly at his left hand as he brought it up to his face. There was a flashing green light.
[Fuck. Haru, I need you to listen. Whatever happened inside triggered something to happen to your pieces. I detected a residual piece of Loki's curse and some of Trihexa's corruptive energy that has latched onto your pieces. Now I don't know how the Maou made these but I do know that it reacts in a manner similar to an ant whenever it is sick. It's destroying itself to save you! It managed to do so to Loki's curse but Trihexa's energy, it only amplified it. The pieces are now fully corrupted by the energy and have switched to sapping your life energy!
[Another thing is that there is a strange energy in your blood that is reacting to the energy inside your pieces. It's tearing you apart from the inside out! We need to get you somewhere quiet so you can stabilize] Ddraig urged.
Haru nodded mutely as he tried to stand. When he did, an immense pain flared inside of him, causing him to fall to his knees.
W- What? Haru gasped out silently in pain as his hand flew to his chest. His heart. It felt like it was going to explode.
"Haru!"
Ddraig thanked whatever higher power was looking out for his host. In the distance, he was a girl that looked like the female version of Haru running up towards them. She had the same golden eyes, her hair was slightly lighter red than Haru's and reached down to her back, and she had a sexy yet athletic build that was cute at the same time.
"Naru…" Haru rasped out as he gripped the end of the fountain.
"What happened!?" Naru yelled as she supported Haru to his feet.
[I'll explain later. Right now, we have to get Haru somewhere quiet so I can work on stabilizing him] Ddraig said.
Naru nodded and prepared a magic circle.
[Wait! I don't know how teleportation will affect him. You'll need to help him walk] Ddraig said.
Naru frowned and dispersed the circle. She looked at her twin in worry. Naru had come running immediately when she felt pain erupt inside her chest.
"Baby steps, Haru," Naru said as she helped Haru walk.
Every step he took was utter hell. It felt as if his every muscle, vein, and tendon were ripping themselves apart. The entire walk home was the greatest pain Haru ever felt. Naru saw the gates and pushed them open. Hyoudou Manor was not what one would expect to find in a suburban area. It had been remodeled by the Gremory Family into a mansion with a dirt path leading up to the house. The twins made their way up to the door, the pain becoming more unbearable with each step Haru took.
Naru helped Haru up the stairs and to his room, where Haru collapsed onto his bed.
"I'll go get Asia," Naru said as she ran out the door to retrieve the blonde nun.
Haru just sighed and sat up after a few minutes. The sounds of birds chirping outside of his window did nothing to soothe the pain that he felt.
After a moment of nothing, Haru began to sob quietly.
*Cough!*
Haru spat out a massive glob of blood onto the floor. He stared at his own blood as tears streamed down his face.
Why? What did I do to deserve this? Was it because I was naive? Because I was stupid? Because I was a pervert?
[Stop right there partner. None of this is your fault. I don't know why those filthy devils did this but I know it wasn't because you were kind.] Ddraig said to his partner.
" Then why? Why were they saying those… things? Why were they with that fucker!" Haru yelled.
[I don't know. But what they said about you isn't true. Sure, you aren't the most intelligent and are a pervert but those can be fixed. No one is born perfect after all. You can become more intelligent. You can tame and dominate your perversion. And all those other things, well, you'll just have to show them why dragons are the most feared and respected beings among the supernatural.] Ddraig said to him.
Haru smiled a little. What Ddraig had said lifted his spirits. If only a bit but that bit was all Haru needed to take his mind off things.
"Thanks, Ddraig. I needed that."
[Anytime, Partner.]
The moon rose and Naru returned with Asia and Kiba. Deciding to let Haru simmer down, Asia healed Haru and detected the same thing Ddraig did. An abnormality in his blood and his pieces malfunctioning. Naru tried to call Ajuka, Sirzechs, and Azazel but she was sent to voicemail almost immediately.
"Look, let's call tomorrow. I'll try and sleep whatever this is off," Haru said.
"Nii-san," Asia said as she looked at him worried.
"I'll be fine," he said.
"Are you sure?" Kiba asked.
"Yeah," Haru said.
"Remember. If you need us, just give us a call," Naru said.
Haru nodded and the three left the room, leaving the door slightly open so that they could rush in if Haru needed help. Haru laid down on his bed and pulled the covers over and closed his eyes.