DXD: A Shidou Koujiro's

"Well everything but bigfoot," said Irina. "We're pretty sure it's just an urban legend Americans made up, but yes…everything's real.

The stories you read when you were a kid about gods and magic, monsters and myth…they're all real. "

"And I'm…what, a demon?" asked Kouji.

"We think so," said Irina. "The Church has a working theory that you were a human child who was kidnapped by a dying demon clan and experimented on before their extinction.

The pumped you full of demon blood and carved their magic into your soul. You're as good as demon but you're also a human.

You're…You're the first of your kind. The Church calls you a nephalem.

"

He knew that word. Somewhere in the corners of his mind, Kouji had seen or heard that word before.

"Isn't that…the child of an angel and a human?" asked Irina.

"You're thinking of nephillim," said Irina. "Those are very, very, very rare cases but there hasn't been a nephillim in centuries.

A nephallem is a child of a demon that isn't fully demon. You're the first of your kind so we have no information to go off of.

"

Kouji took a second to process all of the information he had just been presented with.

"W-Why didn't you tell me?" asked Kouji. "You…dad…Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I…We didn't know how," said Irina. "The Church wanted to kill you, Kouji.

They thought you were a danger to humanity and the world. They wanted to kill you on the spot…but dad fought for you.

He fought for the right to take you in and raise you as a human. The only condition was-"

"He had to keep tabs on me and report to the Church," said Kouji. "And if I was ever deemed as a threat again…he'd have to kill me himself because he's reponsible for me.

"

"Yeah…" Irina took his hand. "But it doesn't matter.

Kouji, you are my brother. It doesn't matter whether or not you share our blood.

We were raised together, we laughed together and we cried together. Blood doesn't make a family, it's memories.

"

"I know…" Kouji forced a smile. "But then…back at the concert…what happened to me?"

Irina let out a deep breath. "The seal that the Elders placed on you was powerful.

It completely locked away all of the magic used on you and made you human. For the past 10 years you've been human…but whatever they did to you has finally fully awakened.

Your magic is stronger than the Elders anticipated. It's breaking the seal and fully unleashing all of the magic you've been suppressing away.

I…I don't know what will happen. "

"And that's why Aespa wanted to kill me," said Kouji. "Because they were afraid of me.

Who were they anyway? No way they're just an idol group. "

"They work for the Grigori," said Irina. "Think of them as the police between the major factions of the world.

They keep the balance between Heaven, the Underworld, and Earth. "

"So there's a Heaven…and a hell," said Kouji. "That…is a lot yeah.

"

Irina smiled. "You'll get used to it.

"

"So I'm guessing that magic is why I was able to block those lightsabers," Kouji looked down at his hands. "And that mask…"

"We think that mask forms whenever your in danger," said Irina. "Dad and I have been doing research on what demon clan toyed with you but the information is technically under the domain of the Underworld.

We can't just ask them for it or else they'll know that there's a demon loose on Earth. "

"And they'll want to kill me too," said Kouji. "So either way…I'm going to die.

"

"No," Irina's voice turned serious. "I don't care what happens Kouji, I am not going to let you die.

You're my brother dammit. "

That…was new. He had never heard Irina swear before.

Sure she got mad, who doesn't, but she had never swore before. "Damn" was as close as she ever got to swearing and she rarely ever did.

"Okay," Kouji smiled. "Okay I trust you.

But what the hell do we do now? What happened with Aespa? They're not gonna come after me again, are they?"

"They know you're under the protection of the Church," said Irina. "They won't hunt you again unless they want a war.

As for you…We'll have to wait for dad to come home before making any plans. He'll be back tomorrow morning so we'll figure something out then.

"

Somehow, Kouji was sad. He wanted to meet Aespa again.

Even if they were trying to kill him, it was an otherworldly experience getting to meet his favorite idol group. He was probably the only person in the world who got the attention of all four of them so fast.

"Wait a minute," said Kouji. "What the hell happened to everybody at the concert? What happened to King?"

As if on queue, the doors to their house burst open. He could hear hurried foosteps coming up the stairs and before long, King stumbled his way into Kouji's bedroom.

He was covered in sweat, wearing a black headband holding back his curly brown hair. His white T-shirt was completely soaked as he panted.

"Oh my god…you're up!" cried King. "Thank god you're okay!"

Before he could hug Kouji, Irina pulled his collar and growled at him.

"You think you can just hug him?" asked Irina. "I told you to look after him! Why would you take him to a place as crowded as a concert? I had to find out because I came home early and you guys weren't home?"

"I…I'm sorry!" King dropped to his knees and pleaded. "You know how much we love Aespa…I just wanted him to have some fun! How was I supposed to know there was a gas leak?"

Gas leak? Was that the cover story for what happened? It seemed pretty smart seeing as everyone besides Kouji was knocked unconscious by Aespa's spell.

"It's fine Irina," said Kouji. "And yes I'm fine King.

If anything my head just hurts from sleeping for so long. Sorry to scare you.