DxD: Uchiha Sasuke

Two days after Cleria's training session started, Sasuke walked alone toward his apartment, his mind still swirling with the daily training with the devil girl. Though he never admitted it aloud, the unexpected glimpse of vulnerability in her during these harsh moments had stirred something beneath his cold exterior. He may have had sadistic tendencies...

Near the entrance of his apartment building, he saw Touji Shidou, his familiar, gentle-faced neighbor with the well-worn cross pinned proudly to his chest, standing beside his daughter, Irina.

Touji offered a polite nod. "Good evening, Uchiha-san," he said, his tone warm and welcoming despite the chill in the air.

Irina's bright eyes sparkled as she skipped up to Sasuke. "Hi, Sasuke-nii!" she chirped, the affectionate term rolling off her tongue with effortless innocence.

For an instant, Sasuke's guarded expression faltered; that small word nii stirred memories of a brother he'd once known and lost, a softness he quickly tried to hide behind his customary scowl.

How long has it been since he heard that word? It must have been 10 years since he innocently said that word. Hearing a child call him that was rather disconcerting but not totally unpleasant.

"Sasuke…" he grunted, his voice curt as he pulled his gaze away. He wasn't ready to indulge in sentimentality, though the sound of her voice lingered in his ears like a bittersweet echo.

Touji continued in a gentle, almost tentative manner, "I saw you coming from the street, I thought it'd be good to get to know our neighbors a bit better. If you ever need anything, just let me know."

Sasuke's eyes, dark and unreadable, flicked over the small family before he offered a dismissive nod. "I work best alone," he replied flatly, already retreating into the anonymity of the evening.

Irina's smile wavered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, waving goodbye as they parted ways. Despite his cold words, something about her cheerful greeting and genuine curiosity lingered in Sasuke's mind as he continued on his way home.

Once inside his modest apartment, the solitude of the space wrapped around him like a familiar shroud. While preparing to settle in for the night, he noticed something unusual, taped to a lamppost just outside his window was a crumpled piece of paper. Drawn in ornate, fading script and decorated with a crude demonic sigil, it detailed a summoning ritual. The title read: "Rite of Binding: Summon the Errant Demon."

Sasuke frowned, a spark of curiosity piercing his habitual indifference. In this strange world, where magic and demonology seemed to mingle with everyday life, why not indulge his intrigue? With methodical care, he stepped outside onto his small, dimly lit porch. Using a stick he found nearby, he carefully redrew the summoning circle on the concrete floor, each line precise, each curve deliberate. The instructions from the paper guided his hand as he recited the incantation in a low, measured tone.

At first, nothing happened. Then, as he reached the final syllable, a faint shimmer rippled through the circle, growing into a swirl of dark, swirling energy. Sasuke's eyes narrowed behind his Sharingan as he observed the phenomenon. Just as he was about to dismiss it as a trick of the light, a familiar figure stepped through the shimmering portal, a figure with striking white hair and an impish smile.

Before he could dismiss it, a familiar, playful voice interrupted him from behind. "Really, Sasuke~? Summoning demons now?" Cleria stepped into the light, her white hair illuminated in a teasing halo.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in irritation. "I wasn't summoning demons," he snapped, crossing his arm. "It was just… curiosity. Don't act like you're surprised."

That was the least of his worries, after training her all day, he had already been around her enough. Why was she involved in everything he did? It particularly bothered him to face her again. Of all the demons he could have summoned, she was the one who came out. He will never do that again.

Cleria grinned mischievously, her tone light and teasing. "Oh, I'm surprised, all right," she said, a playful lilt in her voice. "You, of all people, should know that even a low-tier summoning can have unexpected results. But then again, who am I to question your methods?" She said with a mocking smile to emphasize Sasuke's self-centered arrogance.

"But...You know, you can always ask me for help with summoning rituals. But don't get any ideas about using it for… other purposes."

She moved closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she reached out and lightly brushed his arm, her touch lingering longer than necessary.

Sasuke tensed at the contact, his expression hardening immediately. "Other purposes? What are you babbling about?" he snapped, trying to pull his arm away. His voice was low and clipped, carrying the familiar edge of irritation."I didn't summon anything to satisfy any perverse desires."

Cleria feigned shock, her eyes widening theatrically. "Oh? Then why did you glance so eagerly at the shimmering portal? Perhaps you were hoping to conjure something… more pleasing to your tastes?" She let out a soft, teasing laugh, her tone light despite the situation. She was clearly taking advantage of this situation to annoy him and to get revenge for what he did to her today.

Sasuke's irritation flared. "Cut the crap, Belial. My interest was purely academic," he snapped, his voice low and laced with sarcasm. "I'm not in the habit of using summoning rituals as some sort of… personal indulgence."

Cleria raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh, come on," she said softly, stepping even closer until her hand rested briefly on his forearm. "You know you can't resist a little help with these rituals. Besides, if you need any assistance with summoning, you could always ask me. Not that I'd help you with... extracurricular activities." Her tone was teasing, deliberately provocative, and she gave a little laugh as if daring him to retort.

Sasuke scowled, his eyes flashing behind his Sharingan. "I'm not summoning demons for any perverse purpose, and I certainly don't need your..." He cut himself off as she leaned in further, her hand gently caressing his bicep in an almost affectionate manner. This woman was openly playing with him

"Maybe not," Cleria purred, "but you summoned something anyway. And you know, if it's you, maybe I can bend the rules a little." She lifted her hand slowly from his arm, her fingers lingering for a moment as if imprinting her touch. "You might not admit it, but even you could use a bit of guidance. Or maybe a favor owed could be... fun, don't you think?"

Sasuke's eyes flashed with annoyance as he retorted, "I don't need any help in that department, nor do I care for your meddling." His voice was curt, dismissing her teasing as quickly as he could.

Cleria's smile softened into a playful pout. "You're impossible sometimes, Sasuke. Just remember: every ritual has its price. And if you ever find that your curiosity leads you into trouble, or if you need someone to cover for you, don't say I didn't warn you."

For a moment, silence fell between them as the neon glow of the porch bathed their faces in shifting light. Sasuke's features remained impassive, yet a reluctant spark of amusement glimmered behind his guarded eyes. Finally, he muttered with a dismissive edge, "Just keep your mischief out of my business. I'm not here to entertain your antics."

Cleria laughed lightly, the sound carrying both warmth and defiance. "Very well, then. But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. My offer is still valid for you. Have a good night, Sasuke~." she said whispering in his ear, sending a shiver through the Uchiha, before disappearing from a magic circle.

Sasuke retreated back into the shadowed solitude of his apartment. This day had tired him mentally, he needed his rest that he thought he deserved. This woman was acting indecently without even caring about him, even Sakura didn't dare to be so close to him.

At least Cleria wasn't clingy.

---

Sasuke saw himself crashing down on the battlefield, blood splattered across him in a manner reminiscent of Itachi's final moments. He was haunted by the cold and fear, his mind was constantly swirling with bloody images of his clansmen.

Rousing himself from these dark reveries, Sasuke halted at his parents' room.

Usually, he could hear the faint rustle of movement, his brother waiting for him at the door with a bright smile, his mother welcoming him tenderly, or even the heavy footsteps of his father. Any sign of life.

But tonight, he saw the truth.

His parents lay side by side on the floor, lifeless.

Time seemed to shatter around him as Sasuke froze in horror. Then, emerging from the darkness, a familiar voice whispered.

"Foolish little brother." A pair of scarlet eyes containing three spiral curves stared at him coldly in the darkness.

Sasuke suddenly wakes up, his muscles tense, his face drenched in sweat.

"Good to see you again, Itachi..." Sasuke muttered as he looked outside.

Two months had passed since he first stepped into this strange world, and in that time, everything had changed in subtle, unsettling ways.

In the solitude of his modest apartment, he reflected on his journey. The training sessions with Cleria had become a daily ritual, a brutal, unyielding series of drills that had, against his own cold expectations, yielded improvement in her technique. Her demonic lineage power, "Worthless," though still not omnipotent, was beginning to show signs of refinement. And he, for his part, had grown more comfortable with his Rinnegan; its abilities now flowed through him like a familiar current, even if he would never admit that mastery had brought him a measure of control he had long sought.

Yet, despite the progress in battle and the mysterious alliances forming around him, the surnatural world still regarded him as an enigma, a phantom presence, slipping through their midst unnoticed. He remained an outsider, no one had noticed him.

Surprisingly, even his neighbors had begun to chip away at his solitude. Touji's warm greetings, though met with his customary curt replies, and Irina's cheerful "Sasuke-nii" stirred something deep within him. Yet he kept these sentiments tightly locked away, unwilling to admit that even a man like him might appreciate the fleeting warmth of human connection.

Not only them, Cleria's presence didn't bother him that much anymore, on the contrary, he was rather comfortable with her. At least, he gave her a minimum of trust.

Later that morning, leaving his apartment with a heavy mind, Sasuke stepped out into the city of Kuoh. The streets buzzed softly with the hum of early morning life, neon signs still reflecting off rain-slicked sidewalks.

He walked purposefully through the urban maze, his senses alert to the subtle currents of supernatural energy that wove through the night air.

He had been feeling a powerful magic in the city's sanctuary for several days now, and he wasn't going to deprive himself of going to see what was happening there.

Guided by an inexplicable pull, Sasuke found himself before an imposing structure: a sanctuary, its ancient architecture and hallowed aura standing in quiet defiance of the modern city around it. This was the place where, he sensed, remnants of a strong energy. More than Cleria or any other demons he saw.

Inside, the atmosphere was hushed and reverent. As Sasuke advanced through the narrow corridors, his eyes caught fleeting glimpses of figures moving silently in the shadows. Soon, he encountered a small group gathered in a spacious hall, illuminated by soft, ethereal light. Standing near an ornate altar were two individuals; one radiated a quiet power, and the other one a savage one.

Yes, he just committed an offence by entering an inhabited property.