The gears of realisation clicked in his head. Issei swivelled so far strands of brown hair swept like tassles. His eyes locked onto Irina, an uncomfortable truth dawning on him.
"Irina's a girl!?!?!"
.
..
…
|DxD|- Chapter 59- A Shared Connection
…
..
.
What is innocence? What does it mean to see a sight so endearing it brings you to tears? Igor's heart felt so warm a smile involuntarily spread for this spectacle.
Issei was so shocked his eyebrows threatened to launch to the skies. Irina flushed a deep crimson, her cheeks painted with awkwardness and rage.
"I knew it! I always said you're a dummy! You're a dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy, dummy!"
Each word came with a crushing stomp of her boots on the snow and puffed cheeks swollen with embarrassment.
"No way…"
Issei whispered, still flabbergasted. He stood with his hands on hips, trying to compute this new discovery. His best friend, his best bro, was actually a girl.
"So you don't have a willy?"
"Of course I don't!"
A momentary pause before Issei spoke back.
"You sure? Check quickly. Maybe it's there—"
"I don't have a willy, Issei! I'm a girl!"
Irina was on the verge of crying. She felt immense shame and regret. Because not only did Issei react badly to her being a girl, he probably wouldn't play with her anymore.
"Don't cry, Irina. Come here."
Igor beckoned her over and plopped her on his lap. He pulled her to the crook of his neck and gently rubbed down her arm.
"Look, Irina. Issei was just surprised and didn't mean anything bad. Isn't that right, Issei?"
Igor secretly winked and Issei was quick on the uptake and nervously spoke.
"Yeah, Irina. I was just surprised. That's all. I didn't mean to be bad about it."
"You hear that, Irina. Issei doesn't mind that you're a girl. And I'm sure he'll still play with you. Right, Issei?"
"Definitely! Irina's my best friend."
"There. Now doesn't that make you happy, Irina? Doesn't that make you smile? Hm?"
Igor craned his neck and saw her forcing the corners of her lips down.
"Is that a smile I see? Is that smile, Irina?"
He nudged her chin, but she pressed it firmly to her chest.
"Don't hide your smile, Irina. Let us see it. Issei. Is she smiling?"
"Um…"
Issei tried to get a look, but Irina buried her face into Igor's jacket. Still, it was too late.
"Aha! I saw it! I saw it, big bro. She's smiling!"
"I knew it. But since she still wants to hide, let me help her a bit."
Igor dragged his hand over her stomach and found her sensitive spots. He then started tickling her.
"Come on, Irina…"
She twisted and turned, but his ministrations went past her woolly jacket.
"S-Stop…*pfft*"
But Igor didn't stop. Rather, he became more energetic. His tickles grew frantic and slips of joyful laughter escaped Irina. No amount of dodging could free her. Pressed and urged forward by his encouragement, she laughed.
"Hihihihihi~! Hahahahahaha~!"
"There we go."
Igor had a small smile of his own. There was always a joy he took in hearing a child's laughter. A part of him always felt so…whole.
"Look at how happy you are."
"Hihihihi~! St—Stop it~!"
Igor stopped, but the damage was done. There was no way she could continue sulking now.
"Hmph."
Irina hopped off Igor's lap and playfully slapped his thigh.
"You're mean, big bro."
"You're partially right, Irina."
He briefly smiled at her before looking up. He saw two people walking to them. At a glance, it was obvious they were Irina's parents.
"Uncle Touji!"
Issei ran off and grabbed Touji by the arm.
"Come on! Come on! I want you to meet my big bro!"
Issei dragged the strict man who was looking at Igor with veiled alertness. There was a steel in his gaze that Igor met. Killers recognised killers.
[That aura…light?]
Igor didn't shrink beneath it. But he also didn't challenge it. This Touji was far stronger than him. He could feel it.
"Hey, big bro! This is Uncle Touji. Uncle Touji. This is big bro!"
Issei happily introduced them, unaware of the slight undercurrents. One young, one mature, both recognising the blood on their hands.
[He's killed more than a few.]
The depth in Igor's eyes reminded Touji of the Skirmishes, evoking scenes best left buried. Mina stepped in before the tense silence could stretch any further. She took the two children by hand, knowing her husband wanted to talk with Igor.
"Alright, you two. I've prepared some snacks so come help me get them."
"Snacks? Alllriiight!"
"Yes, mother."
Mina led the two children away, giving Igor a supportive smile before continuing. Touji shifted one of Igor's crutches and sat casually on the bench. The wood creaked softly beneath his weight.
Touji adjusted his glasses. Through them, he could see a very faint golden translucence around Igor, one he still couldn't recognise.
"I will ask you a series of questions. Please answer them honestly."
Touji spoke calmly and released no outward pressure. To an observer, it was nothing more than a man and child sharing a bench.
"My name is Touji Shidou. What is your name?"
"You may call me Igor, Mr Shidou."
Igor maintained a composed smile, acquiescing with Touji's request. As long as the questions were not too penetrating, he was willing to answer them.
"Alright, Igor. And may I know of your relationship with Shuri?"
A wistful smile adorned Igor.
"She is my saviour."
"?"
A flicker of surprise flashed on Touji. It wasn't quite Igor's words, but the depth and lack of hesitation behind them.
"You…aren't lying."
He found himself pausing involuntarily. Not once did Igor's energy flicker. It…stumped him, like a flash flood sweeping away his preconceived notions.
To use the word 'saviour' for Shuri could only mean one thing—devotion earned from a life-saving grace.
"Hehe…"
Touji chuckled. He'd barely begun and he already lost. Maybe his wife was right. He worried too much.
"I apologise for my aggression, Igor."
"You won't ask any more?"
"No. I may not know you, but I know Shuri. And she…"
His mind drifted to the very woman who helped deliver his daughter.
"…is a good person."
"Yeah."
Igor looked up…
'I may not be your mother, but I will take care of you as if you were my very own child.'
…and met Touji with a very bright smile.
"She really is."
.
AN: Touji officially enters the mix and through a shared appreciation for Shuri, bonds with our blonde. Quite a surprise. I honestly expected Igor to have either met Valerie or be back at the time chamber by now. Oh well. Things happen. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 59
END