Brotherly Bonding

Finishing off the last touches of my food from my breakfast, I looked out across towards the chef herself, Ingrid. She was beautiful, curvaceous and busty, with a pretty face and smooth pink hair pulled back into a loose braid. Effortless and natural, that was the best way to describe her beauty. The clothes she wore were also simple yet didn't detract from her looks either as she continued washing up.

Feeling a nudge at my side, I turned to see Issei looking at me with a knowing look, head-nodding towards Ingrid, a lecherous smile coming onto his face. Lips twitching up, I nodded my head and Issei's smile widened.

Honestly, it was good to see things didn't change. While I couldn't stand Issei as the main character, I think he would have made for a very decent and memorable side character. And well, to be honest, I'd say that just like everyone else, he acted like a perverted anime teenager. It was a breath of fresh air because people like that, anime characters I could handle.

I understood them better than I did normal people which everyone else in this world seemed to act like. And well, let's face it, with a stepmom like Ingrid it was no surprise that Issei had developed fantasies.

His entire childhood and early teenage years were the makings of a porno. A father that was at work all the time, a nanny turned stepmom that was a housewife. And he, a hormonal teenager, I wouldn't be surprised if Issei had tried on more than a few occasions to put himself in a situation where he would be caught by Ingrid and hope that she might offer her 'help.'

"What do you two intend to do then today?" Ingrid asked, finishing off the last touches of her washing up as Issei in turn finished off his breakfast.

Both me and Issei shared a look and honestly, I had no clue. The school year at Kuoh had already begun apparently so Issei would be at school as of tomorrow whereas I wasn't starting for another two weeks as a late transfer. I had only just returned to Kuoh and considering my 'past' it was decided that I would have a few weeks to adapt to being back home.

And in response to her question, we both shrugged. "I have work this afternoon," Issei spoke up and that caught me off-guard, that was not what I expected to come out of Issei's mouth. "But I'm free for the rest of the morning, I could show Mikoto around town?"

The last part was directed towards me and I could detect a hint of hopefulness in his voice. Something that shocked me, I had never really met anyone in my life that wanted to spend time with me all that much. Issei was the first, as a young baby, he followed me around constantly, cried when we weren't in the same crib and all around was just my shadow. Yesterday when I returned home he pestered me a great deal but seemed to have sensed my frustration and while still talking to me, no longer bombarded me with questions.

It was a strange feeling, to have someone want to spend time with you in a way like that. And it made me wonder, is this what it was like to have a brother? If so, I guess it was nice.

"Sure, I haven't been in this neighbourhood for a while and my memories still a little fuzzy in places. I'd also like to see where you work, you never told me yesterday." That seemed to get a big smile from Issei, though he hides it behind a cough a light flush upon his cheeks at how eager he was.

Standing up, I took my plate and my empty glass, Issei doing the same as we placed them upon the counter, Ingrid smiling at us as we left. To be completely honest with you all, this is nothing like I expected living here would be like and I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

Whatever it was, I needed to hit something because I didn't handle not knowing things very well. I wonder if Kaede can organise me a fight anytime soon, it would certainly do me wonders in sorting out my frustration with my new family, they were nothing like I expected.

-X- Line Break -X-

"You know, I hate that you're a pretty boy." Issei grouches as he trudged along beside me, passing another group of young teenagers around our age, each of which stared at me with blushes before bursting into peels of giggles. Is that how normal teenage girls acted or is that just anime? If it's the former, that's another thing I wasn't used to.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be," I replied entirely freaked out by the reaction from those girls and those before them. This was not what happened around older women like Rino, Kaede, Arisa and Misako. Hell, not even my teenage neighbours acted this way, though they did stare quite a bit? I knew they had been checking me out but I had dismissed it, I knew I was a good looking guy.

Issei didn't share my sentiments as he scoffed. "If I had your looks I'd be one step closer to my dream!"

"Oh yeah, and what's that?" And I instantly regretted it as I saw the lecherous smile once again take form upon his face. The looks women, old and young gave him were one of pure disgust, almost as if they could tell what he was going to say before he had said it.

Wait, don't tell me he's going to say what I think he is, and certainly not exclaim it?

"To be a Harem King!" He exclaimed loudly and I just came to a halt, staring at him in utter bemusement as more than a few glares of disgust were directed towards my brother. He'd done exactly what I expected and I didn't know how to react, shocked was the best way to describe me. A common emotion I was beginning to become accustomed to ever since returning to Kuoh.

But eventually, I couldn't help myself, letting out a light chuckle as I once again followed into step beside Issei. "Well, at least you've got lofty goals," I responded and Issei laughed manically.

"I do, good sir, I do." He agreed, nodding his head sagely. "And I officially declare you as my rival. With your pretty-boy looks, there is no greater rival than you. And I shall emerge victorious, not only as the Harem King, but also as the greater sibling."

"Technically I was born before you and as the older brother, I'm naturally the better sibling."

"Gah! We're twins, it doesn't count that you came out of the womb first!" I smirked, entirely disagreeing with his statement. No matter what, I'd become the strongest in this world and I'd gain a harem of my own while I was at it. Issei wasn't going to beat me, no matter how hard he tried.

"Then I guess you'll have to work hard. I hold the high ground."

"Don't sprout the holy words of Kenobi at me, asshole!" Issei raged and I could almost envision the flames of determination burning brightly. "I will beat you and I will win."

"Well, one can dream I suppose." Back and forth we traded barbs as we wandered down the street, Issei showing me a number of shops, even leading me directly towards Kuoh school. I paused, looking at it and a feeling of apprehension gripped me. In there would be my first challenge, the stick upon which I would measure myself. Rias Gremory and her peerage, depending on where I stacked against them would determine where I stand in the overall rankings of this world.

I may not possess Magic, but I did have years of dedicated hard work and martial arts experience from dozens of masters and fights. Not to mention I had undergone the Gu Ritual, a ritual that I only truly discovered the purpose of and what it did after conquering the Inside.

The Gu Ritual was where apprentice Martial artists would enter inside and fight to the death. Its chamber doors would remain closed until only one remained, or all were dead. The various enchantments and spells surrounding it gathered all the energy, the Ki, Chi, Chakra or whatever else you wanted to call life force and gifted it to one vessel.

Every time a person was killed, their life force would be gifted to their killer, empowering them further. I had the life force of dozens of martial artists within me giving me physical prowess far surpassing any normal human. Unfortunately, it had not unlocked my Magic, nor had it revealed the possibility of a Sacred Gear.

Which told me I didn't have one.

That was fine, with or without one I'd succeed.

Besides, I quite liked the idea of a rival. Issei with that Sacred Gear of his could prove to be a perfect choice and considering he was holding down a job without needing to, he might be able to be a good one. Rivals were essential in life, without one to challenge you, the chances of reaching your full potential are limited. You needed someone to challenge you, to make you strive for new heights and I think Issei would be a good start.

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure his Sacred Gear doubled his power. A pretty overpowered ability and one that would make Issei a perfect rival for me. But I'd need to wait for him to unlock it before anything like that happened.

"So what was it like modelling? You know with all those hot babes and whatnot?"

"Nothing like you expect," I answered honestly because I had actually done photoshoots a few times. Sure having beautiful women hanging off your arm was great, but most were pretty vain and arrogant. Not all admittedly, but the vast majority of models I had experience with were like that. I told Issei as much but he didn't seem overly interested in my description of the model's personalities.

"What about Rino? Is it true that you and she are, y'know?" He flicked his eyebrows up, making little teasing noises with his throat.

I shook my head. "No, she always saw me as a younger brother. Think of her as the over-affectionate sibling and she never stopped acting that way. Even when I got older and wanted her to do more. The amount of times I got blue-balled is ridiculous."

That made Issei laugh. "So my rival isn't as gifted with the ladies as I first feared."

"And you're still a virgin." I shot back and Issei spluttered.

"No, I'm not!" He argued and I rolled my eyes.

"Issei, anyone that denies being a virgin in that way, is a virgin."

There was a moment of silence, Issei's mouth opening and closing in an attempt to defend himself before eventually his shoulders slumped in defeat. In a small amount of conciliation, I patted his back in pity as we came to a stop outside of a small café named, Hidamari.

"Well, this is where I work." Looking inside I noticed that it was relatively busy, two beautiful young women, one with red hair and the other with purple-black hair moving around in tight-fitting waitress outfits. No wonder Issei wanted to work here, this was every teenager's wet dream.

Hell, I'm almost jealous of Issei, with Ingrid, Arisa and her daughters as well as the Hayasaki siblings, he was already in look. But now with these girls working with him, I'm not totally unsurprised that he became a shameless pervert.