Yeah! New chapter finally. I know I've held this one off but it's finally here. Enjoy!

"What could you two want..." Issei asked, sounding the least bit friendly.

Rias and Raynare stood on opposite sides of one another. Both were surprised to see the other but it was something they should have expected. The brunette did have business with both of them whether he knew or not.

"I got a bone to pick with you, weakling!" Raynare growled out, turning to Issei.

The boy perked at the ravenette's shout and he turned to her with a blank expression. She looked angered, almost entitled as well. Seems they were off to a great start.

""Weakling"? If I remember correctly, I beat you at the church. With Asia's healing, placing me at a disadvantage. That was before I began my training with Ddraig," Issei replied facing her with a piercing glare.

This made both girls raise a brow in confusion. ""Ddraig?"" They asked simultaneously.

[Boost!]

The Boosted Gear appeared on the pawn's arm, glowing brightly, as if it expected their question. He rose his arm, looking down at it as he spoke. "Yes, Ddraig. My partner who lives within the Sacred Gear."

Rias and Raynare's eyes widened.

"You mean...you've spoken to your Sacred Gear?" Rias asked.

Issei turned to the redhead. "Yes, that's correct."

The heiress felt a bit of relief. Not from the actual answer but at the fact that the boy responded to her. She was relieved to know he would still talk to her. Even if it wasn't in the greatest of situations. She could still bring him back to the group. And hopefully soon as the days were growing few. Raynare, however, wasn't having any of it.

"So what, I could still kill you if I please!" She shouted, pointing a sharp finger at him. "It's your fault I'm stuck in this shithole. I should be back by Azazel's side, helping him further his goal for the Grigori!"

Now this made Issei tense just slightly. Both girls could feel a darkness brush against them and they shivered. It quickly made Raynare regret her words as she felt the invisible force set his sights at her. It was a chilling feeling.

"You've got some balls saying that Raynare. Either that or your pea sized brain hasn't noticed how wrong you are. I'd respect you if I didn't have such conflictions against you seeing as both options leave you in a bad situation," Issei spoke cryptically, showing no signs of emotions.

He then moved forward, walking to the fallen angel, who took an instinctive step back. It was as if she felt the boy was a threat, which she started to realize he actually was.

As the pawn grew close she could feel his power start to wrap around her. It had grown, much faster than anyone she ever met. Not even the great prodigy and leader Azazel had such a change in power in such a short amount of time. It felt like he was at level with fallen angels of two pairs of wings.

Hell, it was only a matter of time before he would be able to take on three.

But how was this possible? He could barely summon his Sacred Gear back at the Church. What could cause such a drastic change? What exactly was he?

By the time Raynare could form the questions, the brunette had reached her. He stepped once more towards her, entering her personal space. His face was mere inches from hers and his eyes bore holes into the back of her head. Where had he gotten such a look from? A few back stabs? Was he that hung up on her and the devil?

"Cross me again and I'll kill you."

...

...

...

It was short and to the point. It also carried a lot of merit from the tone behind it. As bland as it might have sounded, the very feeling it gave off made the fallen angel very cautious. The hear he radiated was almost unbearable as sweat formed on her brow. Was he always this hot? Or had something more became of him?

The boy she killed almost a month ago had suddenly shot leagues ahead of her. It just a few weeks he had become much more of a supernatural being than she could hope to in a year!

What was she to do now but fear the former human? He had actual intimidated her...and maybe turned her on as well.

...

...

...

Issei took a step away from the former fallen angel, accepting that the girl would keep herself in line. He then turned his attention to Rias who was very tense.

"Now, what is it that you want?" He asked, sounding the least bit caring. The redhead almost didn't answer due to the changes she noticed in her servant. She too could feel his power and was in awe from it. She also noticed his body temperature had skyrocketed from that of a human. It was also uncommon for a devil. Had something happened to him in his absence?

"I want to apologize Issei," she finally answered. The boy only rose a brow in response, momentarily surprised by the response. "It was wrong of me to do what I did to you. I should have said something to help you but I let my greed blind me. Im a horrible person to push my agenda onto you when you had no say in the matter."

Issei didn't miss a beat.

"I hear you, but I don't forgive you. Not yet. Leaving me to die was one thing but to do so just so you could use me, that's another," the boy replied stoically. "It's something I just can't attempt to fathom, putting myself in your shoes. You had the power to save me but it wasn't in your jurisdiction, that I can grasp. But the fact you then come to pick up the scraps, whether I was content to die or not is what I'm angered by."

"Yes, I do accept full responsibility for that. I'm sorry Issei. Please, take out your frustrations in any fashion you see fit," she replied, lowering her head in an apologetic bow.

The brunette looked at her for a few seconds. He didn't know what to do in that moment. It was the first time someone apologized to him. Usually, he was in the wrong and was the one apologizing. But now, the script was flipped and the one he was to serve now placed her well being in his hands.

'Ddraig...what do I do?' The pawn asked, calling for his partner.

[It is your choice partner. It seems she wants to make amends,] the red dragon replied.

'But hitting her? That's a bit obsessive...' He replied.

[Doesn't have to be physical. There are other ways,] Ddraig offered.

'I'm not okay with verbal abuse either. I'm not cool with these types of things Ddraig. Even if the person was basically an accomplice in my murder...' The boy answered, clenching his fist as he stared at the one he called master.

[You're too kind Ise. You cannot be so lenient against your enemies or they'll kill you in your moment of hesitation,] Ddraig informed him, sounding concerned for the boy.

'You see how I feel about Raynare. I may love her but I'm not going to take her bullshit. Rias, however, I have a weird feeling.'

[What do you mean, my hatchling?]

'I dunno exactly. She just seems off from her usual self,' Issei replied.

[How do you figure that?]

'Well, she's been pretty brash. Her second year, when I was a first year, she was just calm and cool. Now...since becoming a third year, she's had that front but...'

["But"?]

'Its hard to explain. She just seems panicked sometimes. Even now, she's being real agressive to have me back on her side,' he answered with narrowed eyes.

[Maybe it's because you're her servant now.]

'No, she's never been like this. This isn't Rias at all. This is something totally different.'

"No," Issei answered firmly. It made both Rias and Raynare look up at him in shock.

"You're kidding me!" "What?"

Raynare and Rias voiced their thoughts, echoing through the gymnasium. Issei didnt skip a beat.

"Just because you've done wrong doesn't mean I need to respond by doing the same," he stated clearly. The girls looked lost by the response and he sighed. "I'm not going to harm you or anything like that. It'd make me no better than either of you who've manipulated and physically berated me."

Rias looked guilty as she lowered her head. Raynare looked like she didn't care, to which Issei noted. He pushed it aside though and turned to focus on his master. She was the only one who could change his previous thoughts on the situation.

"While I don't forgive you, I will take into consideration your attempts to make amends with me," he stated to the redhead. She smiled softly before Issei held a finger up. "On one condition."

The princess blinked twice before standing to her full height. She wasn't expecting the add on and awkwardly nodded.

Issei leaned down to give her direct eye contact. "You hide nothing from me anymore. I want to know everything. Why you resurrected me, why you're so panicked, and the real reason you came to apologize. I'll come by after school where I will learn everything. If you don't tell me, then you don't need me in your peerage."

The pawn then rose back up and walked past both devils. He was gone in a matter of seconds, the loud slam of the gym door alerting them of his exit.

Both Rias and Raynare had simultaneously been put into place by the brunette. Raynare learned she wasn't all she thought she was and Rias had basically been forced into a corner.

The former fallen angel realized that she was no longer the stronger of the two. Her toying has now left her as the prey while the predator loomed over her, giving her very little of his attention. She had become nothing more than a bad ex to the boy. One he seemed to have no problem ridding himself of.

The heiress had come to find herself between a rock and a hard place. She was forced between two decisions, one having heavier weight than the other. Revealing the truth or denying her adorable servant's request.

The first would possibly anger Issei. If he found out why she resurrected him now he probably would think she was an idiot or too brash. Even if she told him her side, he'd probably think she was manipulating him again. That's why she was hoping he would forgive her now. Even if it was a long shot.

The second option brought forth many more problems than solutions. If she refused him, she'd be out a pawn who happened to be the Red Dragon Emperor. That was something she couldn't ignore. Especially since he developed a connection to his Sacred Gear and had become much stronger. She knew he could handle much more than before but had yet to put her finger on it.

"Hey, Princess," Raynare called out beside her. It had been the nickname she gave the redhead, to which she had no qualms against.

"Yes Raynare?" She responded, turning to the bishop.

"We're in the shithole, aren't we?" She asked.

Rias turned to her, confused by the statement. But she soon relaxed, slumping her shoulders as she lowered her head to the floor, matching her servant.

"Yeah, we are. And it's well deserved," the princess replied.

"...Maybe for you but I was just following orders."

"I don't think tricking him into falling for you was an "order"," Rias replied.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Maybe you're right..." Raynare finally admitted.

"Yeah, I am. Playing with someone's heart isn't exactly..." Rias voice fell to a hushed silence, realizing what she was about to say.

"That'd be the pot calling the kettle black," Raynare stated, having caught on easily.

"It would be. I apologize for almost berating you."

"Well well, Princess apologizing to little ole me? It must be a dream or illusion," Raynare stated, acting dramatically surprised.

"Remember who your master is. Its quite easy to punish you for talking ill of your king," Rias replied.

This made the bishop freeze in place, a look of fear on her face. Punishment meant time with Akeno and that...that was one of the worst experiences of her life. Never again did she want to be left in the hands of the sadistic queen. So she clammed up and silently made her way out the room.

All that was left in the large room was a smiling Rias. And that didn't last long as Issei resurfaced in her mind. What would she tell him? How could she tell him? And how would he take it?

These questions would continue to bounce around in her head. For the rest of the day, she would have to figure out how to explain things to her pawn. She decided that keeping her hidden objective was not worth losing a valuable asset like the Red Dragon Emperor. She could only hope he would be on her side and understand why she did what she had done.

-XOXOXOXOX-

[Partner, you were very lenient to that devil girl.]

'I know. But she apologized and it caught me off guard,' Issei replied as he walked through the halls.

[I hope you aren't harboring a soft spot for her like that fallen angel hybrid,] Ddraig said sternly.

'And what if I am?'

[Then you'd be back where you've started. Held in her grasp like some puppet whoms strings she'd pull whenever she desired.]

'I understand that Ddraig. She doesn't have that advantage on me anymore. Now that I know who she really is.'

[Exactly what are you planning hatchling?] Ddraig asked carefully. [Do you plan to continue serving her?]

'As her pawn, I have no choice. If I was stronger, maybe I'd leave. But seeing how I'm still too weak, I'd just be hunted and killed,' Issei replied with disdain. As much as he wanted to get away from all of it, he knew that people would be sent after him and he'd inevitably be killed. And if he tried expelling the pieces, he'd be destroying himself from the inside.

[You're not as weak as you think partner. Especially after the "incident" during your training.]

'Yeah, I know. But the sad truth is that it's not enough. I have to continue training and grow much stronger. And there's only so much you and I can do.' Issei had noticed how limited he and Ddraig were with training. The lack of physical connect between him and the dragon affected him and limited his training greatly. If he wanted to grow stronger, an outside source who knew how to train someone like him had to be found. And there was only one way to find a good master in a short amount of time.

[Then...the real reason you gave those two the time of day was because...]

'Yeah... Rias's position in power connects her to very powerful beings in the Underworld. I'm sure if I play her little game, while tweaking some of the rules, I can find someone to train me,' Issei summarized.

[That's a very smart move, my hatchling!] Ddraig praised. It made Issei smile from receiving a statement of approval from the red dragon.

'Thanks Ddraig.'

"Issei!" A shout sounded through the hall. The brunette blinked back to reality in time to see his two friends sprinting at him. Their eyes were wide with fear and horror as they desperately did their best to reach him in time.

Just behind the duo, the pawn noticed the infamous kendo club hot on their tails, shinai raised and shouts of death filling the halls. They didn't seem pleased at all as their threats rang in the ears of all who stood nearby.

"Kill them!"

"Today perverts shall die!"

"This is the last time you two will peep on us!"

Issei sighed and shook his head. "I can only imagine what you two must've done this time," he stated sarcastically.

The boy knew exactly what his friends did. And while he was once apart of their shenanigans, he had placed trivial matters to the back burner, no matter how much his hormonal drive begged him not to.

Seeing as the kendo girls looked to have been in a rush dressing, and some of their faces were still flushed in embarrassment, it was easy to discern his friends were peeping again. It was something Issei didn't focus on, seeing as how it cost him his life and someone else's who depended on him. The body and art of seduction from women were a deadly tool against men. That much he learned from his fight with Raynare and the last ignorant moments he spent with Rias.

Matsuda and Motohama dove behind the brunette, doing their best to hide behind their friend. It was futile as the kendo club ran towards them and pointed their swords at the trio. The two captains of the team held theirs specifically at Issei, attempting to intimidate him as they use to before he left.

"Issei Hyoudou, hand over your perverted friends," Katase demanded. "They must face justice for the vile act they committed."

The pawn looked back at the two boys behind him. They were silently begging him not to, knowing the consequences to their actions. They would be beaten and brutalized if the brunette stepped aside. It was a serious question as to why he never learned. Hell, if he stayed oblivious to Rias's plot against him he'd probably be in the same spot with the duo. Stuck in the same rut of being weak.

The only reason the kendo girls hadn't immediately just beaten all three of them was because of the rumors that Issei had turned a new leaf. Since he wasn't apart of the peep session, there was no reason to have him involved in the punishment. Which is why the girls would rather he get away from the perverts rather than allow them to corrupt him once again.

"Sorry girls, I can't allow that," Issei said softly.

"We'd rather not harm you, Issei," Murayama tried to reason. She gripped her wooden sword tighter and the sight struck an idea in Issei's head.

"Murayama, Katase, I respect both of you more than you know. But I can't abandon my friends...it goes against who I am," Issei stated with closed eyes. It made the two captains waver and lower their swords slightly while Matsuda and Motohama internally sighed in relief at being saved. "However, I have a proposition that could benefit both of us."

The sudden statement caused both sides to look back in confusion. The brunette was smiling and it made everyone curious as to why.

"What could you propose?" Katase asked, lowering her sword completely.

"You guys have been practicing kendo since middle school, and I'd like to say that you're very good. I'd like it if I could join the kendo club and have you train me," Issei requested with a bow.

Their was a collective inward gasp before long silence as both sides looked shocked. None was more shocked than the four classmates of the pawn as their eyes bulged and their jaws dropped. For different reasons of course.

"Issei, you can't be serious!" Motohama said.

"Yeah bro, you're just pullin' our legs, right?" Matsuda asked.

Issei looked back at them with an apologetic, yet lackadaisical, smile. "Sorry, but I'm not," he said before turning away. It left the duo with shell shocked expressions and ghostly white skin. It was as if the very thought scared them, seeing as the kendo club were their mortal enemies. It was like Issei was walking into the lions den.

"I know what I'm asking is a lot but I wouldn't do this unless I was dead serious," Issei stated, turning to appeal to the kendo duo.

"Exactly how are we to benefit from you?" Murayama asked, folding her arms. This surprised her club members. Her word structure almost made it seem like...

"You're not actually considering his request!" Katase shouted bewildered.

"I am. Since coming back he hasn't given me a single reason not to consider his request," the female brunette replied. "Besides, we could use a guy in the club. It would give us some diversity."

"Uhh, hello, he's a pervert! He peeped on us just like those two! For all we know this is just a ploy for him to get a better view or something," Katase accused, raising her sword to point mere inches from Issei's face.

The devil didn't flinch and, instead, flicked the sword from the pinkette's hand. It clanked against the floor and everyone stared at it for the moment before turning back to Issei. That should have hurt with the speed and force behind it but he looked completely unharmed .

"Sorry, it was an instinctual reflex. Anyways, I know of my former antics that caused all of you duress but I'd like to note that since my retreat I have refined my ways and no longer have interest in staring at boobs. Just ask Rias if you're unsure," he stated confidently, sounding like he dared them to ask the redheaded goddess of the academy. "In return for teaching me, I'll be sure to show you each and every peep spot me and my friends had discovered and allow you to do what you will with them."

[WHAT!?] The entire group shouted out in pure disbelief. Issei had to cover his ears from the sheer volume. How many people were in the hall?

"Issei! Those spots took a whole year to discover! We can't lose them, they're too sacred to us!" Motohama shouted at his best friend.

"Yeah man, those spots are our life," Matsuda added quickly.

Issei merely shrugged. They were of no concern to him anymore. "Sorry guys, but my views have changed. And this will also be your punishment for all the times you abandoned me when we got caught. Hope you got one last good memory."

The two suck to their knees. They looked as if they lost everything and were now empty husks. There was no life in their eyes and they were lost to the darkness. There was no returning to who they once were as that which they cherished would now be taken away from them.

Issei momentarily ignored them in favor of the, still shocked, kendo club. "So, is it a deal?"

The question snapped the captains out of their daze. They looked at each other, still questioning if they should agree. It was a risky choice, seeing as Issei was still...himself. It was the question of if he would honor his word or lie to all of them and just spy on them.

"I'll put my faith into him," Murayama stated suddenly. The girls turned to her, surprised by how confident she sounded.

"Seriously!?" Katase asked. The brunette nodded almost immediately.

"He's seemed to turn a new leaf. So why not have a little faith. People change after all."

There was a few murmurs between the girls.

"If Murayama says so..."

"He has kinda changed..."

"He did stand up to Katase too."

"And he did say he'd show all the peep holes."

The girls slowly began to favor Murayama's side, leaving the pinkette to be the final decision. She looked between all of them before turning to Issei. It was hard trusting him, seeing his past. But maybe he finally matured and realized peeping wasn't the only thing in life.

Issei smiled warmly at her and Katase could feel her cheeks warm up just a bit. She quickly shook the feeling away, folded her arms, and turned her head to the side. Classical tsundere response.

"Fine! But you make one slip up and I'll shove this kendo stick so far up your ass you'll have splinters for teeth," she threatened. It made Issei chuckle and she blushed a deeper red. But he bowed formally to them with a big smile across his face.

"Thank you. And please take care of me."

Alright, finally done. This chapter took some time but it brings more to the plate. Issei's flipping the script with Rias while also proving his dominance with Raynare. Also, he's now found someone to train him somewhat and I promise he will gain a stronger master down the line.

As for relationships I'm not one hundred percent sure. Hell, I don't have a single girl in mind. So I'm going to let that sink in and be on my way.

-stormgreywolf