After the meeting and my trade to Ravel's peerage had finished, everyone was sent back to their rooms even Rias, surprising her and her peerage. I was allowed to briefly return home and collect my things, once I had done so I teleported back into Raiser's castle and into Ravel's temporary room there. Once I had returned with all my things we set off for the Phoenix castle itself, the one which housed the current Lord and Lady of the Phoenix clan. Only Raiser, Ravel, Rias and myself went to the castle. Raiser's peerage stayed behind and got to work with Rias' peerage, surprising even me when Raiser said about helping them train.

This castle was much grander than Raiser's was, i'd almost say exceptionally so. It completely fit their bill as the wealthiest clan but also their image as majestic thanks to the Phoenix itself. It's hard to actually compare it to the Gremory castle, it's not fair either in all honesty. Gremory was Gothic while this was pure royalty. This castle fit the bill for any King or Queen throughout time regardless of current styles, fashion or culture. It was almost perfect. It would be a great place to come back to every night, the atmosphere here was good.

What caught my attention though the most about this castle, much like Raiser's was the total lack of male servants here. Women, women everywhere. There were maids as far as the eye can see and they were all very pleasant to look at too, especially with the scant clothing that they were wearing. Rather than the standard maid uniform that you would see and that is sported by the Strongest Queen these ones covered around a quarter of what they did. These were essentially a black frilly tube top that also covers just the shoulders, a short frilly black skirt with a frilly white apron, white knee-high stockings and black heels. If I was to give them a quick comparison then it would be what a loving wife would wear for her husband who has a maid fetish. It was kinky and that was it, not practical in the slightest but still as a man it didn't bother me at all. Not that I would say or show it.

We were all brought to this castle's throne room where we were waited for by the Phoenix family, the Lord, Lady and two eldest brothers … whatever they were called.

"You four have finally arrived. How are you all?"

Too pleasant.

"I'm good yeah."

I decided to completely forego manners and respond to him like he wasn't anything like he was, something which definitely did not go unnoticed. The four males of Phoenix all responded the same way to my approach, a hearty laughter. Lady Phoenix replied with a smile and a half sigh while both Rias and Ravel looked confused.

"That is good Tsukiyomi-kun. It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, I hope you serve Ravel well in the future."

"As long as she doesn't try to kill me to have her way then she'll be fine."

My jab at Rias seemed to get through as I could see her irk where she stood, a small smirk taking to my face at the sight of it.

"Oh, are you getting at something there Tsukiyomi-kun?"

Either he was trying to annoy Rias himself or Lord Phoenix really didn't know what had happened. I guess i'll answer it in a way that is kinda roundabout.

"I'm not getting at a thing Oyaji, I just think Ravel will be a better master than my previous one. That's all."

I downgraded from my smirk to a soft smile.

"What about you Rias-chan? I hope Raiser has been a great host for you and your peerage so far."

"Yes he has, Lord Phoenix."

It was a rather stop and start reply from Rias, not much more than could be expected from her really.

"Then you and Raiser may go back Rias-chan, i'm sorry for calling you two for something so brief."

Raiser replied with a small click of his tongue as Rias bowed, I could whole heartedly understand Raiser's annoyance at being called for something so small. The throne room stayed in silence for a few seconds after the two of them left. Once Lord Phoenix had teemed the silence enough he spoke up.

"Tsukiyomi Gin, I would like to personally welcome you to the Phoenix Clan."

That was a bit iffy. I'm not sure I wanna know anything else about this.

"I hope you are just being kind and not insinuating anything."

Both Lord and Lady Phoenix's smiles softened affirming what I had thought, how could it really go any other way?

"What you thought of is nothing set in stone, it is merely hope for our daughters dream. Of course, if this isn't something which will become fruitful you'll have to be more mindful with how you talk to me."

Oho … is that so?

"And you think that bothers me? Do you not think I could quite possibly do it on purpose? I assure you I would quite happily do it to annoy you to the point of banishing me or killing me. Those lengths may be long but I would go to them. Oyaji."

I evened out my gaze as I stared back at Lord Phoenix, him doing the same to me before he seemed to come to an understanding.

"You seem to have quite the head on your shoulders kid. I approve."

Approve of what you crazy bird?! How does that equate to anything meaningful?

"I'd prefer you didn't but thanks, I guess."

"As you know, Raiser spoke at length with the Fallen Angel Governor about you potentially joining my daughter's peerage. While your reasons heavily differ from Ravel's in joining and acquiring, there are two additional points to this."

Nice segue there Phoenix.

"Two people decided to join you as members of my daughter's peerage."

No … Don't tell me he actually did.

As I heard the door to the throne room open I turned round and saw exactly who I was expecting cheerfully skipping towards me. The other person was both a surprise and expectation of sorts.

"Amaterasu-kun joined as Ravel's only Bishop and Raynare joined as a Pawn, taking 2 pieces I believe."

Asahi only stopped to put his arm around my shoulder with a large smile. Raynare though just stopped behind me eliciting a small smile when I turned to her. I can't question their reasons for joining but seriously?! I don't whether I should place Raynare in the same boat as Asahi for being an idiot or be happy with her loyalty towards me.

"Gin-kun, I want you to give Raynare the Boosted Gear."

I snapped my head round quickly as I heard that. Give it to Raynare? She is certainly stronger than Issei was but still. It didn't matter what I would say really. This is from Ravel and even if I was to say something towards Raynare she wouldn't refute it, if her actions with Twilight Healing are anything to go by then she'd probably be more arrogant about the whole subject seen as it's a Longinus.

Ravel's expression was a solid one, I couldn't change it. Rather than finding a different host through strength I feel like it's just her personally, I … I don't want her to get hurt for the sake of protecting me especially if she has the Boosted Gear.

I shook my head as I summoned the red gauntlet to my hands.

'Have fun with Raynare, Ddraig.'

I took a hold of Raynare's left hand and slowly slipped the red gauntlet onto her. Her body slowly lighting up in an emerald aura as the gauntlet took to her body. Ddraig seeing if she was worthy. I could see her eyes screw up in both pain and persistence, the gauntlet slowly edging its way further up her arm until it clicked and fit snugly around her left forearm. The initial 'Twice Critical' shifting to the true basic form of the Boosted Gear, the red dragon scaled gauntlet along with its two yellow spikes.

Looking at it, it would seem that Ddraig would still be asleep to her but it didn't seem like it would be long. A day or so of training and she should be able to unlock its Second Liberation and be able to converse with the Welsh Dragon.

"Now Ravel … Would you like to join the Youth Games this year?"

The Youth Rating Games? Surely she is way too young for that.

"Why do you ask Father?"

"You are the only young devil of your age Ravel, it's either you join this year or don't at all. By the time the younger ones can you will have been able to compete for nearly a year so you wouldn't be able to even then. We don't expect you to win by any means, Sairoarg Bael is too much for you and supposedly his Pawn took 7 pieces. That battle would fall upon your pieces then, while they are strong they are still young like yourself. You haven't come into your own yet, I think Tsukiyomi-kun is stronger than we expect but we can't have him carry you all through the games. You can at least put the others through their paces."

Sairoarg Bael huh? Sounds like he could be a good fight.

"What about you three? Would you fight for Ravel in the games if she wished to join them?"

"Yeah. Gives me a solid reason to freely kick the shit out of Rias and Issei. This Sairoarg sounds like he would be a good opponent."

"I agree with Gin-nya. I wanna beat Rias-chan too for stealing Gin-nya away from me."

As per reflex, I punched Asahi before Raynare could bring up her own point which was just a plain nod of her head. She didn't look that bothered in all honesty. Despite our attitudes, both Asahi and I love to fight.

"You have your backing Ravel, now it's just your decision but don't worry. You still have some time to come to a conclusion."

As Ravel bowed to Lord Phoenix, it felt like it was around our time to leave. My thought was affirmed when Ravel span on the spot, sending me a quick gaze to tell me what I had thought.

"Tsukiyomi-kun, could you stay behind for a minute?"

Before I could spin my body round, Lady Phoenix spoke up for the first time. I gave her a short nod before just turning my head to look at Ravel.

"Wait for me outside, i'd like to see how strong my new master currently is."

In response to my words came a giddy smile accompanied with a childish, furious nod. Ravel then hurried off followed by an always cheerful Asahi and still bored Raynare. Once the large doors to the throne room closed behind them Lady Phoenix spoke up again.

"Tsukiyomi-kun, Raiser has told you about the terms i'm sure so I will not repeat them."

Thank Izanagi for that one.

"I would like to know your intentions while in my daughters peerage. Without a shadow of a doubt, you'll forever be her favourite piece. On top of that you are her strongest piece and take up the most Pawn Points through the two Rooks. While the Queen normally helps the King with everything, i'd also like for you to help Ravel instead as it would be more productive."

"My intentions huh. I never wanted to become a devil, frankly I didn't have a choice in the matter. While being in Rias' group wasn't so bad due to her strange obsession and giving me an abundance of sweets, i'm thankful that Raiser came to me with the request he did. Due to my blood as Tsukiyomi, no matter how many times you could redo the trade i'd never get an affinity for fire thus meaning I received an upgraded regeneration from Ravel's pieces so I am now as close as you can get to Phoenix level regeneration."

I took a deep breath as I readied myself to say the next thing. It's something I may regret in the future but it's something I must repay even if they didn't do it intentionally.

"Thanks to that I can get rid of the 'Reincarnated' blood and go back to being a full Nekoshou, of course i'd still be your daughter's Rook just without the weakness to Holy magic. I may be a bit too melodramatic with this but I consider this a 'Saving Grace', while I could make sure my children aren't devils I would have always been one if I was still with Rias so i'd like to repay this debt even with it not being one acknowledged to anyone other than me. I will do any one thing you want from me. Retrieve an artifact, steal from someone. I'd even …" I took another deep breath to steady myself. "..I'd even marry your daughter."

I closed my eyes as I bowed my head to the Lord and Lady of Phoenix. This is a one-time thing, my actions up till now should show that. Hopefully they won't take advantage of it in the future.

"You'd really marry Ravel?"

Lady Phoenix's voice wavered slightly from what sounded like excitement. I reopened my eyes and stood back up straight.

"Yes, I would. While my views to the Devils as a race haven't changed, I do not hold that against Ravel. Her Ki is a pleasant one, if she wasn't a devil I might just find myself drawn to her. I can tell she isn't a bad person … no, a bad devil I should say. Whether it's due to her age or your teachings I don't know but I have no qualms with staying by her side. My life as her Rook will undoubtedly be a fun one."

"We'd be happy to have you!"

I was caught off-guard slightly by Lady Phoenix's joy. It was somewhat overbearing but infectious at the same time. Even if I didn't want to, I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh she'll be so happy. Ever since the manga about you came out it's been 'Gin-nya this' and 'Gin-nya that'. Honestly the whole Underworld buzzed at the news of you becoming a devil. Lord and Lady Gremory were bombarded with requests to send Rias, both for peerage and marriage."

So I became popular from one little book huh? That'll be sure to rocket when the anime starts to air, especially being cast next to Serafall Leviathan.

"It seems our grandchildren will be splendid ones, eh Risa? On one side we have Life and Destruction and on the other we have Life and Soul."

Soul huh? I guess that can be considered an accurate description for Senjutsuu in some cases.

"I'm sorry to rain on the parade Lord Phoenix but a grandchild with Destruction is one that I would consider uncommon, maybe even rare. Sairoarg Bael doesn't help this fact who took everything from his mother pretty much. Immortality is your life, it's a definite. That'll always happen plus Rias is more towards Gremory than Bael, unlike Lucifer her Ki isn't suited for Destruction."

"What do you mean Tsukiyomi-kun? Then what about your Senjutsuu and our Immortality?"

"Rias … She is too kind, i'd almost mistake her aura for a nun's if she wasn't a devil. She is too caring. She doesn't want to hurt others but her pride pushes that down to an easy level to deal with. While I believe that she'll come round to Raiser in the future to see that he really isn't that bad a guy, perhaps my point will change. There are holes all through their relationship and that's why you won't get what you want until at least a number of years in the future. Who knows, it may not even happen. Rias can be a stubborn one but as for me and Ravel … don't worry about it. I can manipulate my Ki and essentially my life, during the act I would make it all perfect even if I didn't want too. Any of our children would have an affinity for Fire, Wind and Ice along with Senjutsuu, Youjutsuu and your Immortality. They'd be Half Phoenix, Half Nekoshou as a result but they would be very powerful. They'd also be descendants of Tsukiyomi. You have nothing to fear on my side of things."

They both seemed to be appeased by my points even if some weren't so good for them. It couldn't be helped, while they did push the engagement they probably still had their backs against the wall even if they wanted to help Rias out due to the Nobles.

"Final thing before you leave Tsukiyomi-kun. To allow you more time in the Human World, Ravel will be coming with you and the Fallen Angel Governor has got her to work where you do as a result. Because of this marriage you are willing for, we will postpone her for a week so you can have time to just relax and not be overwhelmed by Ravel."

"So she normally would have come with me straight away? That's actually kinda helpful, there probably would have been times that i'd forget about returning here. During this week of postponement, will I need to come here as part of the deal or does the postponement forbid that?"

Lord and Lady Phoenix looked between each other before turning back to me with a smile.

"You can stay in the Human World if you wish, we will deal with Ravel until we send her to you. Then Gin-kun, you may leave now."

Gin-kun huh? I guess I should take the bull by the horns here and finally get my mother figure.

"I will take over the duties of the Queen before and after one joins us. And thank you Otou-sama … Okaa-sama."

Saying 'Okaa-sama' felt right, even if it wasn't my actual Okaa-sama. The notion was still there.

With a smile on my face, I spun around and slowly walked out of the room.