It was night time, after the meeting at Issei's house Ryu was walking home alone. Akeno had to help Rias with something, so those two left and Koneko went home as well.
Ryu walked along the dimly lit street, observing his surroundings. This vigilance was something that came to him naturally, sometimes he would do it without even realizing it. Ryu rubbed his face with his hand, and took a deep breath before letting the air out of his lungs.
Today was great, hanging out with Issei and Saji, then going to Issei's house, having fun there... Issei's embarrassed face when his mother brought out his pictures, Ryu chuckled at that thought.
Back then, he probably wouldn't even dream about having this kind of life, and having friends who cared about him, instead of enemies who wanted nothing more than to crush him. Understanding adults who wanted to help him, instead of crazed maniacs who wanted children to fight each other to the death for whatever sick and twisted reason
"God, please let me keep living this life..." Ryu muttered while looking at the moon.
He stood there for a minute or two, before a phone call interrupted his thoughts, he slid his ginormous hand in his pocket, and took it out.
"Oh? Unc's calling?" He muttered before he accepted the call. "Hello?"
"Hey there kiddo, How've you been?" He heard a familiar voice coming from his phone.
His eyes widened upon hearing it, this voice belonged to a man who he knew very well, a giant smile crept up on his face.
"Uncle, it's been quite some time... I'm doing great, what about you?"
"Just peachy, I'm calling because I'm in Kuoh. Come visit, I'd rather talk face-to-face."
"Really? Alright, send me the address and I'll run over right away." Ryu said excitedly, he hadn't seen his uncle in over a year, so he was naturally pretty excited.
"Alright kiddo! I'll make sure to start a timer, just to see how fast you are."
"Is that a challenge? You might have to erase the memories of the bystanders then." Ryu said while a smile slowly crept up his cheeks.
The voice on the other end chuckled, before giving the address (I don't have to come up with one right?) "See you soon, Ryu."
As soon as the call ended, Ryu started running, his speed was terrifying considering his size and weight, he was running as fast as an Olympic sprinter, not because that was his top speed but because he shouldn't run faster, because of numerous reasons.
He had absolutely no talent in magic, none. Akeno and Ryu tested this some time ago. Believe it or not, Ryu's talent in magic was even worse than Issei. The only thing he could do was the bare minimum, that one magic that allows the user to understand and speak every language, and his magic reserves were just high enough that others could teleport him using magic circles, that's about it. However, we all know that Ryu doesn't need magic, his abnormal body and combat skill was enough to survive in the harsh and unforgiving supernatural world.
And now that Ryu found out from Ddraig that he had Red Dragon's blood flowing in his veins, Ryu's worries had evaporated. At first, he was worried because after overcoming his limits, his growth stunted in Strength, he was unable to progress that specific attribute any further, as for Speed and Endurance... well, Ryu needed a little more experience in Speed, and he would be able push through it.
Ryu soon arrived at the designated location, he panted for a bit before regaining his breath, looking up at the very luxurious and expensive looking building, he sighed.
"Rich people..." Ryu muttered before going inside the building, the interior was breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that Ryu was embarrassed for daring to step in, he wasn't dressed appropriately at all.
He quickly located his uncle's apartment and rung the doorbell, the door was opened immediately by a tall middle-aged man sporting a goatee, he also had black hair, with golden bangs that fell on his forehead, the man broke into laughter and hugged Ryu, who returned it.
"Come in! Come in! Let your coolest uncle get a better look at you." His uncle said while walking in his apartment, Ryu followed in quickly.
The apartment was filled with paintings that looked to be drawn by hands of the divine, very detailed figurines molded and shaped to utter perfection, it was as if stepping into a museum of art.
"My gosh, have you grown even bigger? Jeez, are you eating entire cows or something?" his uncle said looking up at him.
"Not entire cows, but I do eat quite a lot of burgers and meat in general."
"Really? I couldn't figure that out, I for sure thought you were a vegan."
"Real funny, you should try stand up comedy sometimes."
"Bah, a Fallen Angel doing stand up comedy is unheard of, my colleagues wouldn't let me hear the end of it." He dismissed the idea by waving his hand.
Ryu chuckled before taking a seat on the couch, which was even more comfortable than his own bed.
"Where the heck do you buy these things?" Ryu questioned.
"A friend of mine manufactures it." His uncle shrugged, and took a seat next to him.
"That's some serious talent your friend has, this thing's more comfortable than my own bed!"
"For real? I'll commission some furniture and a bed for you then, and a queen sized bed right?"
"Make it King sized, not enough space for two people." Ryu said while sighing.
"Oh? Two people? Who's this mysterious second person? A girlfriend? A boyfriend? C'mon tell me, you've gotten me curious." uncle threw a barrage of questions without waiting for an answer.
"Calm down uncle don't get so excited at your age, your heart might not be able to take it." Ryu joked.
"Hilarious, now answer the questions."
"No, she's not my girlfriend...yet, but there are obviously feelings there." Ryu answered, looking at the ground while unconsciously a smile crawled up once more.
"Oh? And who's this... mystery girl?" His uncle asked.
"Akeno Himejima." Ryu answered.
His uncle was surprised at the name, "Small world we live in..." He said outloud.
"You know her?" Ryu questioned
"A daughter of my friend, their relationship is a bit... strained to say the least. It isn't my place to talk further about it."
"Is your friend Baraqiel by any chance?" Ryu asked.
"How'd you know?"
"Well she might've mentioned his name once, asked me if I knew him other than that, I know nothing and I won't pry into it, If she feels comfortable talking to me about it, then I'll do my best to help." Ryu said.
Uncle chuckled, "You're a kind boy, much kinder than you look at least."
Ryu clicked his tongue, "What's with you dissing my looks anyway?"
"Let's see... You look like a thug."
"Our hairstyle and beard is similar? Don't that make you a thug too?"
"Nah, it's the eyes nephew, the eyes."
"Oh shut up."
"Right! Show me them teeth boy." Azazel asked him,
Ryu opened wide, and displayed his canines.
Azazel whistled, "Oh, that's quite interesting."
"By the way, I might be half dragon or something, you know that kid I mentioned? Issei? He's the Red Dragon Emperor, and the dragon Ddraig told me that I had a red dragon's blood, or something."
"Really? That's great news! You'll live as long as me and the others now!" Azazel was genuinely happy about it.
"Yeah! And I'll also get much much stronger."
"Right, that too."
The two goofed around for a tad bit more, before they turned serious again.
"Your dad told me to tell you that he's very proud of you, and to say thank you for calling him 'father'. A shame He isn't here, He would've been very happy to hear about this." Uncle said with a smile turning his gaze to the roof.
"Yeah... where is dad anyway? Last I saw him was a year ago, when you guys put me on the airplane and got me to Japan, I still don't get why I had to take a plane though, could've just teleported me."
"A kid should experience flying by a plane once at least."
"Still don't get it."
"Don't worry about it then. As for Him, well I don't know either. He had some business to take care of in Europe, haven't heard from him in a while."
"The least he could do is write a letter or give us a call, I'm worried that He died in a ditch somewhere."
"Haha! Don't worry about Him kiddo, trust me when I say that He wants to see you as well, If it weren't for his duties He'd have come to Kuoh with you, even if it meant clashing against the Satans."
Ryu let out a sigh and leaned back in the couch, he remembered the first time he met the two, his uncle, and his adoptive father who gave him his name, a reason to live, and showed him that in this wretched world, there are still things to look forward to.
"I just... miss him, I guess."
"I understand, I understand that feeling all too well kiddo." His uncle said while getting up, "No use worrying about it, let's have a drink or two, a child should have his first drink with his uncle!"
"Pretty sure they should have it with their dad first."
"Nah, you're having it with me."
Ryu snorted, "Alright I'll drink a cup or two, I have school tomorrow so I can't get hammered."
"Boooring."
"For a someone who is older than earth you sure act childish."
"It's better to be childish, unless the situation calls for it. Trust me on that."
"Alright, Alright Let's just drink."
"YEAH! NOW WE'RE TALKING!"
The two drank happily, and the part about not getting hammered? Yeah that was a lie, how he made it back home is a mystery that not even Sherlock Holmes can solve.