A/n: Hey people, it's me back with another chapter!
It seems like Chapter 3 (specifically the Sakumo reveal) was met with...cautious optimism, I think is the most accurate description. I can certainty get on board with that reaction since there aren't many fics which juggle the 'crossover' part of crossovers well and I understand people may feel this fic won't curb that trend. Having that said that, however, I was a little bit disheartened to see that some people refuse to read this fic further and actually unsubbing from the fic (especially in the first hour of the posting of Chapter 3 where my Fav/Follows actually went down momentarily whilst the amount of disappointed reviews was rising exponentially...which sorta made me understand how those Copy+Paste 'authors' feel).
I felt that unsubbing after you read that chapter because of the Sakumo reveal was a somewhat... premature reaction. Furthermore, people do realise that the premise of this fic (where Issei is basically characterised in a more likable way) would have resulted in a rehash of canon unless there was some sort of unique plot twist early on, right (the Sakumo reveal being my plot twist to avoid that)?
Unless a canon rehash is what people wanted to read, which would make this fic way less interesting though way easier to write (because I wouldn't have to think much).
I hope that even if you are somewhat disappointed or felt the Sakumo reveal 'killed the story' or that it was 'plain ridiculous' you will still give this fic a couple of chapters, where you can make a more informed opinion on whether you feel this fic is what you want to read.
I also want to make clear that there will be 4 Naruto characters in this fic (because some other people who were really on board with the reveal wanted something like 20 Naruto characters).
Anyway, this chapter is more to do with character interactions and 'lighter' moments rather than any substantive action sequences.
Also Uni for me starts on the 29th of Feb so my update 'schedule' may change a little simply (as of this moment I don't know if chapters will come out faster or slower as I will be at home more after Uni starts but I'm someone who prepares for tutes etc. but the frequency will definitely change).
Also I got a new beta in Uzumaki-sama011 (author of, amongst others, Maelstrom Mercenary: Nine Tail Dominance. Go read it after you read this chapter, you won't be disappointed) who was a MASSIVE help this chapter! Thank you Uzumaki-sama011 you are the best!.
Now onto the chapter!
At a nearby candy store Toujou Koneko swiveled her head around in search for something, her animalistic senses screaming at her.
She could smell it; the scent of a perverted toad and a loyal canine (the white haired girl shuddered internally as she thought of the evil four legged creatures known as 'dogs').
But more importantly, more alarmingly, was the familiar hum of chakra pulsing from somewhere close by.
Her nature as a Nekoshou made her extra sensitive to this specific type of energy.
And the little white haired girl was hesitant to pursue the source - because the only time the hazel eyed fifteen year old had sensed power even remotely comparable to this was back when she was around her Onee-sama - and yet, she was curious about it at the same time.
Clutching her priceless sweets to her budding chest, Koneko started to walk towards the origin of the reverberating power, ignoring her animalistic instincts.
The hazel eyed rook also ignored the sinister, sarcastic voice at the back of her mind.
Curiosity killed the cat…
After ten minutes of searching, when Koneko had finally zeroed in on the location where she felt the chakra coming from - a nearby clearing by Kouh Academy - she was startled to see a brown haired boy dusting himself off as another blond haired boy sat on the ground.
Instantly she recognized the duo.
The brown haired boy's identity was obvious; even if his infamous reputation didn't precede him, the guy had caused quite a stir with his earlier showing in the Occult Research Room.
It seemed like Hyoudou Issei was truly the epicenter of problems and questions that were rising up recently.
The blond guy however Koneko had never met before... well, not officially at the least, though she knew who he was. Rias-buchou had briefly considered the possibility of getting him to join the Gremory Peerage even before Issei had made it onto the crimson haired girl's radar.
Genshirou Saji, the newly appointed secretary of the Student Council.
Seeing the two Pawns holding a serious conversation Koneko quietly walked up to them with her natural feline stealthiness, using the trees as cover.
"…and ultimately if I am wrong you'll know that it will be entirely her fault, that you did your part, that you gave this - gave yourself - a chance."
Koneko saw Issei turn his head to regard the other boy slightly as he replied in a melancholy tone that the white haired girl would have never attributed to the usually goofy brunette.
"We'll see, Sakumo."
Seeing that Issei was about to walk away and that with him any answers would leave too, Koneko quickly maneuvered herself so that she was blocking the brown haired boy off.
Issei was baffled to see the proclaimed school mascot standing there (he wasn't so concerned about the white haired girl overhearing anything since he hadn't sensed her near the clearing until literal moments ago). His confusion only grew when the neko girl pointed a finger at him, her face emotionless.
"Chakra."
The super pervert looked at the girl slightly alarmed, his eyes following her pointing hand as its target swapped from him to Saji.
"…Chakra."
Promptly Saji and Issei exchanged a long look, conversing through their eye movements.
How does Koneko know anything about Chakra, Issei?
I don't know! You know me; I didn't tell her!
I guess it doesn't matter at the moment… what we need to do now is make sure she's not in the know about us. Trump cards and keeping information close and all, but more importantly, I'm not letting anyone know that I'm mentally older than the teachers at Kuoh!
Hey! If you're mentally old what am I? I'll have you know that I will not lose to any man younger than me when it comes to my stamina in bed! Youth doesn't mean anything when compared to experience!
…it seems like you'll also not lose to anyone when it comes to stupidity, Issei! Just come up with something!
Why is it that every time we're in these situations it's me that has to talk our way out of it.
You're the one who's a professional author; you should know how to spin a story out of nothing!
My stories have no plot, Sakumo! You know this!
Well you're the spymaster; you should be able to talk your way out of anything!
Fine! But you owe me, Sakumo!
Not as much as you owe me!
To the white haired Rook it seemed like the former shinobi duo were simultaneously having some sort of mild seizure as their eyes moved around erratically in their eye sockets.
However, before Issei could open his mouth to come up with a ridiculous (because everyone knew what would come out of the brown haired boy's mouth would be in some way perverted) explanation, Koneko spoke up, her hands moving from Issei to Saji.
"I smell toad and…dog." The white haired girl's typically monotone voice took a distinctive negative turn as she mentioned the latter animal. "However, I can also sense you are not Youkai. Why do you have chakra?"
Saji crossed his arms as decided to converse with the young girl, his eyes curious. "What do you know about chakra?"
Koneko turned her head slightly, her eyes filled with distinct though unmalicious dislike.
"…I don't like dogs…Inu-baka."
The white haired girl promptly ignored Saji.
The blond reincarnated devil sweatdropped, a polite smile still adorning his face as he looked at Issei with an expression that was obviously asking for help.
The brown haired boy sighed.
It looked like he would have be the one getting Koneko to talk.
"Koneko-chan, it would seem like you know much about chakra. However, given that you can sense that we are not Youkai yet you also made a point of this being odd thanks to the chakra in our possession, it would suggest that only Youkai can possess chakra. Interesting..." Issei's eyes, which had taken on a more serious and analytical tint (as opposed to their usual goofy and perverted tone that the windows to his soul usually took) were now studying Koneko thoroughly as the perverted Pawn rubbed his chin.
Whilst her face didn't show it the hazel eyed first year was feeling slightly nervous with just how intently Issei was looking at her. Koneko almost preferred for the recently reincarnated devil to look at her with the perverted eyes he bore back before in the Occult Research Room.
Almost.
"What you have said would also imply that you are either an expert on Youkai and chakra or, more likely, is that you are a Youkai yourself. If I hazard a guess, given my impression of how you felt when I first saw you, I would say that you are a cat youkai of Japanese legend; a Nekomata." From the corner of his eye Issei could see a look of realization wash over Saji's face (Sakumo was never much of a 'people-person' even back in the Elemental Nations) whilst, at the same time, Koneko's typical emotionless visage was now saturated with shock.
The trio stayed in silence for nearly a minute before Issei sighed and gave a meaningful look to Saji.
She's uncomfortable with new, unknown people around Sakumo. And since she's part of my 'team' ...I'll stay.
Saji nodded without saying a word, his hands coming up to form a half ram seal with his fingers before he vanished in a puff of white smoke and a shower of gentle leaves. There was no harm in showing Koneko some of his techniques; the blond was sure that Issei would somehow keep the white haired girl quiet. He was very persuasive like that.
But before he left, Issei had seen the meaningful look that Saji had given him before Shunshining away.
Create bonds with them. Be friends with them.
Koneko's shocked eyes made her head turn so that she was now staring at the empty space which was previously occupied by Saji. The cat girl had never seen anyone just…disappear (she could put it in no other way) like that. Sure; devils used teleportation magic, but that took time to set up and prepare, not to mention that the transit wasn't instantaneous. She had barely felt the small flicker of chakra come from Saji before he disappeared.
Issei sighed, sensing that the sole Rook of the Gremory peerage was now both extremely uncomfortable and shocked.
Fortunately for him, he was great with kids (well...that one time he had to look after a gaki, the kid didn't die). He placed a hand on top of the girl's head and started rubbing it as he offered her one of his goofy smiles, "Don't worry about it Koneko-chan; you being a Nekomata doesn't really change anything."
Immediately, Koneko relaxed under the ministration, her mind floating back to a warning that Rias had given her peerage after Issei had left the Occult Research Room.
Watch out what you say to Issei-kun…he has an uncanny ability to get people to talk, to process information, to change from being the interrogated to being the interrogator.
It looked like the crimson haired girl's observation of the Super Pervert and her warnings held a lot of merit for Koneko felt like she somehow changed from being the hunter to the hunted. Furthermore, despite Koneko's initial impression of Issei as a lecherous, bumbling idiot, the brown haired youth was currently projecting a wise and calming aura, one that you could not help but let out your worries to, one that you could not help but trust.
"I…I…Y-yes…I am a Nekosho; a subspecies of Nekomata..."
The duo talked until the sun set and the moon rose, illuminating the starry night sky.
It was odd, the mascot of Kuoh Academy noted; she had never been a particularly open person, even before her Onee-sama had learnt senjutsu and left. And yet, here she was, divulging information about herself (some of which she had never shared with even the likes of Rias-buchou or Akeno) to a boy who she barely knew, a boy who she initially thought of as an nonredeemable, shameless pervert.
But, now she saw, she knew that this person who she was having a conversation with, was certainly more complex, more thoughtful, more caring, more perceptive than she had ever imagined upon meeting him earlier in the day.
And not only that; the brown haired boy was listening to her patiently, never judging her, only offering acceptance and support where she had expected fear and disgust.
And despite not sharing her deepest secrets, her greatest fears to Issei that night, when she had left, Koneko felt lighter than she had ever felt.
It wasn't until the next day where Koneko realized that neither Issei nor Saji had answered her initial question.
When Issei's head hit the pillow later on that night, he was almost instantly asleep, the events of the day proving to be extremely tiring. However, to his great annoyance, the day of extraordinary revelations didn't seem to be over yet, for when Issei opened his eyes again, they were met with a world overflowing in the colour red. Instantly, Issei knew he was in a dream (the fact that he wasn't staring at his prized, autographed poster of his favourite AV star was indication enough that he was no longer in his room).
And not a good dream, Issei realized as he noted the distinct lack of buck naked, sexy women.
Suddenly and without much warning, a booming voice cut through the silence of the red space, "It would seem like I have hit the jackpot with you, Hyoudou Issei!"
Startled and turning towards the origin of the voice, Issei was internally alarmed to see a massive western dragon lying down (how did he miss it in the first place?) nearby.
"Or should I say, Jiraiya of the Densetsu no Sannin, hmmm?"
Issei's body instantly tensed, his chakra pulsating through and around him. "Who are you? Do you come from there too!?" If this creature did, it would be extremely bad. Knowing his luck (which, to be completely honest, was nearly as bad as Tsunade-hime's), this dragon would end up being the reincarnated spirit of the Kyuubi or something.
A chuckle, "No, I'm not from wherever you or Vritra's host came from," the dragon snorted as it shifted its head slightly so that it could stare directly into Issei's eyes. "As for who I am… I am the Welsh-Dragon, Ddraig! I am also the one who resides in your left arm."
Issei's eyes momentarily turned to look down at his left arm, his mind remembering the red gauntlet that had appeared around it and given him the edge during his fight with Sakumo.
The dragon - Ddraig - nodded when Issei looked back up at him. "Yes, Hyoudou Issei. I am your Sacred Gear, your sacred gift from the Biblical God. I am the reason that the so-called 'Yuuma-hime' took any interest in you, the reason that Rias Gremory reincarnated you into a devil and the reason that you remember anything about being Jiraiya of the Sannin."
Ddraig stood on its legs so that he was now towering over Issei's relatively small frame. "And I am sealed within the Boosted Gear… and by extension I am sealed within you. I guess that would make you similar to that blond kid you used to teach…a jinchuriki was it?"
If he's sealed inside me… then he must have had access to all my experiences.
Issei looked up at Ddraig, his eyes serious. "You say that like I will find it insulting. Two of the best people I know were jinchuriki."
Ddraig grinned, his red teeth-like protrusions glinting sinisterly. "You certainly are an interesting one, aren't you, Issei. I had expected a more… negative reaction."
Issei snorted at the dragon's words as he sat on the ground, leaning back on his arms. "As much as the parallels are there, you are no Bijuu nor do I have any substantive reason to be afraid of you Ddraig. From what Naruto and Kushina have said the Kyuubi, even on their initial meeting, gave off a sinister and bloodthirsty aura. You, on the other hand, have given off something of a prideful one that is in no way malicious. Furthermore, you allowed me to access the power of this gauntlet in my fight with Saji without any sort of repercussion - an act that a Bijuu would never do, an act which gives you more than just the benefit of the doubt."
Issei paused slightly before he crossed his arms. "And I'll have you know the ladies – even the winged, murderous ones - flock to me because I'm the best looking male specimen around!"
The red dragon threw its giant head back, roaring in laughter. "You don't disappoint! I have had many hosts since the Great War but I know that you, Hyoudou Issei, will certainly prove to be the finest and most interesting of the lot. I can instantly tell that you are the most powerful person I've ever been sealed in! One that will spread my name far and wide! That will certainly show that White Guy! You are correct - I am nothing like your so called Bijuu and I am certainly no Kyuubi!"
Issei grinned, his eyes trained on his left arm. "So… are you going to explain to me how this 'Boosted Gear' works or do I have to keep waiting around?"
The Welsh Dragon lowered his head so that it was level with Issei, a grin which proved it could make Issei a chopstick for itself dancing across its muzzle. "The Boosted Gear, one of the thirteen Longinus which have enough power to kill even God! The one who wields this Sacred Gear simultaneously has to cooperate with me. Its - and my - basic ability is to double the user's - your - power every ten seconds. However, the more your desire for something grows, the more intense your feelings become, the more the Sacred Gear will evolve and the more diversified its power becomes."
The brown haired boy stared at his left arm in something like wonder.
To double my power…every 10 seconds. That's quite a frightening ability.
"And the price for access to these - to your - powers?" Issei asked and corrected himself, his years of experience (as both a shinobi and as a disgruntled consumer) telling him that despite how Ddraig had presented himself, nothing as powerful as this would come free of charge.
Ddraig smiled, nodding his head, satisfied that while his host acted like an idiot most the time, in truth he was anything but. "You possess a large amount of combat experience, a great power in all that 'chakra' you possess. However even you know that your body, whilst sturdy compared to the average human, will still be unable to withstand the mass concentration of power that will inevitably result from constantly 'boosting' your power using the Boosted Gear." The Welsh Dragon shifted slightly so that he was now standing on just his hind legs rather than on all fours. "Thus when a time comes that you need power which exceeds what you can handle with that human body of yours, I will need a sacrifice of something great in order to allow you to access power even greater than what you could imagine." Moving his arm Ddraig seemed to hold out a fist to Issei. "Until that time, however, I will give you power, allow access to the benefits of the Boosted Gear anytime you want… partner"
Issei smiled, sensing the genuine nature of the dragon's offer, the distinct lack of deceit when the Welsh Dragon spoke throughout the whole conversation confirming it was far from anything resembling a Bijuu, "I accept your condition. However, if you ever betray me Ddraig… being sealed inside a gauntlet and forgotten about will be the least of your worries."
The Red Dragon Emperor snorted, his fist still outstretched as he muttered under his breath.
"Ungrateful brat."
The Welsh Dragon's response brought a grin onto Issei's face.
I don't need to explain why I won't betray you… time and my actions will do that for me.
The brown haired boy finally brought his arm up so that his fist was outstretched in a similar manner to Ddraig's.
"I was right…you are nothing like the Bijuu. Let this be the start of the legend that is the Great Hyoudou Issei-sama and his partner, Ddraig the Welsh Dragon."
Their hands connected into a fist bump which marked the establishment of the dynamic duo who would forever change the Supernatural World for better or worse.
Hyoudou Issei, now a wielder of Boosted Gear Longinus Class Sacred Gear (and boy was that a mouthful), woke with a jolt, his eyes widening immediately as he stared at the ceiling of his room. Sighing, he moved his right arm so that it was resting across his forehead as he processed everything that had happened yesterday.
He was apparently Jiraiya of the Sannin.
He had been turned into a devil, a 'servant' of Rias Gremory.
He had a dragon sealed inside him.
And his old friend Hatake Sakumo had apparently joined him in this life as Genshirou Saji.
Truthfully, Issei was surprised he hadn't gone crazy or anything yet.
Sighing again for who knew which time, he tried to move his left arm... however, once his brain turned on fully, he found that it was currently wrapped in what he assumed was a big, soft, warm, fleshy pillow.
Wait, wait wait! Rewind that.
Fleshy?
Since when were pillows fleshy?
Issei suddenly jolted awake, his eyes wide open as he looked at what - or rather who - his arm was intertwined with.
Because his arm was currently resting in between the huge mountains Rias Gremory oh so casually called her breasts.
Moving his eyes up slightly so that he was staring at Rias' face rather than her breasts, Issei found her red hair fanning out across the bed, the sunlight streaming in through the window giving her a divine aura. It made the crimson haired girl appear even more beautiful than usual. And Issei was sure that the girl before him could put even the hottest super models to shame on one of her off days.
Issei smiled softly at the girl. Despite everything that had happened between them, he was being truthful when he had said she had qualities that he admired greatly.
Suddenly Issei's mind froze as he realized something wrong amidst the otherwise perfect morning.
I…I couldn't tell straight away that I was sleeping next to such a beautiful, naked woman! Have my Super Pervert senses left me!?
When Rias woke up an hour later she found Issei sitting in the corner of the room, his knees tucked under his chin and a depression cloud over his head as he rocked back and forth methodically.
Rias could only sweatdrop at the scene.
"Issei-kun…what are you doing?"
Issei turned around slowly, his face looking more like that of a dying man's than a self-proclaimed greatest Hentai. "I… I couldn't tell I was this close to naked Oppai with my eyes closed… m-my reputation as a Super Pervert is tarnished!" Tears suddenly sprouted from his eyes as he started banging the ground with his hand.
Rias giggled slightly.
This continued for a few moments before her giggles turned into a heartfelt laugh.
Despite everything that happened she found that Issei's antics would make her day.
As her laughter finally died down, she sighed in content before giving Issei the most beautiful smile the pervert had ever seen. "Good morning, Issei-kun."
Issei sighed, already used to the world not understanding the struggles of a Super Pervert.
Standing up, he replied, "Good morning, Rias-hime. Didn't think you would come after what happened yesterday."
Rias shrugged, hair gliding down her shoulders, her face taking on a more serious expression for a moment. "It is precisely because of that, that I came. I want to show you that I am worthy… and I want to get to know you beyond the perverted idiot you project yourself to be."
Issei grinned slightly; he was pleased that she was proving to be very persistent and determined to both try and convince him that she was someone worth following and to get to know him better.
To an extent it reminded him of Naruto and the blond shinobi's own stubbornness.
As Rias continued to stare at him seriously, as if she were trying to will her determination into him, Issei's mind briefly drifted back to Saji's words from their talk yesterday.
I know you said you'd give her a chance but I don't mean just sit and wait for her to do things herself unilaterally. Give her a real chance; get to know her, get to know her peerage, know her goals. Create bonds with them. Be friends with them.
He hid the small, genuine smile appearing on his face.
You are right… Sakumo. I will get to know you and your peerage… however whether I support you and your goals with all my power is up to you, Rias Gremory
"And why exactly are you naked? Not that I am complaining of course." Issei asked and added, his eyebrows wiggling.
The crimson haired beauty sighed before resting her forehead on Issei's shoulder. "I can't sleep with clothes on."
Her breath tickled Issei's body.
"A good habit...maybe I should stop sleeping in my clothes," Issei said as his eyebrows continue to wiggle.
Rias playfully slapped his shoulder in response.
"So… you do this with the others?"
"Neither Kiba or Koneko really enjoy this sort of thing," Rias shook her head. "But I occasionally do this with Akeno. We are best friends after all"
Issei got a bit of a noise bleed as his mind conjured a mental image of Rias and Akeno sleeping together naked. "You must invite me next time you do sleep with Akeno."
Rias puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Oh? Am I not good enough by myself?"
Issei's visage suddenly took on a heroic tone, a fire seemingly blazing behind him to show the passion he was currently feeling, "You are Rias-hime. But the needs of the Icha Icha fanbase must come first. And their need is for the great Issei-sama to describe to them the scene of two busty babes sleeping together naked. I hope you understand Rias-hime."
Rias' response was to simply pull on Issei's cheek with an annoyed look in her eyes.
Figures she totally ignored me in favour of my mother's cooking.
That was the bland-colored thought going through Issei's mind as he sat in front of the newly dubbed 'Perverted Council', which now consisted of Matsuda, Motohama, Kiba and Saji (though when later interrogated by the general student population the latter two would claim that they were forced, blackmailed and manhandled into attendance).
Throughout the morning the brown haired boy had sulked slightly, not believing that his manly charm had failed to an array of homemade bacon, eggs and sausages which were all cooked to perfection.
Grudgingly Issei had to admit his mother made a damn fine breakfast.
Currently, though, there were slightly more important issues which unfolding around him.
The group of five were currently discussing (well, more like three of them were discussing) their plan of attack for the next prime research location; the public baths near the outskirts of the city.
"We must all do our due diligence. The location of the peepholes. Escape routes. Possible security the place has. We must know all these before we even think about going to paradise."
Motohama and Matsuda nodded seriously as they scribbled down notes into their respective notebooks.
Saji and Kiba, on the other hand, gave each other a look.
"To fully understand the power of Icha Icha, the way of the Super Pervert, we must unite, my perverted brethren!"
Motohama and Matsuada proceeded to bow to their god and saviour.
Saji and Kiba simply exchanged another look.
"You! The two closet perverts making googly eyes at each other!" promptly the blond duo spluttered denials in response, which Issei ignored, "You can just stand there and absorb the blows that your much braver, manlier comrades will inevitably receive for their commitment to the way of the Super Pervert!"
Suddenly the door to their sacred pervert ground (otherwise known as the gym storage room) opened, startling the group of males.
Upon seeing a distinctly feminine figure, Motohama, Matsuada and Issei immediately activated their Super Pervert defence protocols.
That is, to us mere mortals, to immediately scream like pre-adolescent girls and hide behind the closest thing (Saji and Kiba).
"Ara, ara…what is happening here I wonder?" the sweet voice of the one and only Himejima Akeno drifted into the room.
Issei, upon hearing that it was his favourite black haired girl at Kuoh Academy (by virtue of her having the largest rack by a fair margin), suddenly disappeared from his spot behind Saji and reappeared next to Akeno, an arm wrapped around her delicate shoulders.
"Oh, Akeno-hime, it's you! We perverts have decided to do some sacred research for the next Icha Icha! Would you care to join us?" Issei smiled as his free hand patted her pocket, which was shaped in a manner that was quite similar to a book. A very distinct orange book (because when it came to recognizing his holy work, Issei could even feel colours) "Unless you'd like to model for me right now?"
The black haired girl hid the lower half of her face with her right hand as she giggled whilst her left hand stroked Issei's cheek in a somewhat intimate gesture.
Motohama and Matsuada instantly got their 'How to Pick Up Women' book out (which was distinctly different from their 'Research' and 'Issei-sama's instruction' notebooks) and instantly started to scribble down the techniques being shown first hand in front of them.
"Ara, ara…I would like that," Akeno purred seductively, her right hand moving so that it was now located around Issei's neck, "To watch the masterful author of the Icha Icha series perform his research would be an honour."
Akeno licked her lips as she leaned closer, trying to goad a reaction out of Issei.
The brown haired pervert only smiled a perverse, goofy smile, moving his hands lower so that they were nearing her perfect ass, his head also leaning closer.
It was obvious to the duo that they were teasing each other, however to the other occupants in the room (except Saji) it seemed like they were really going to go to first base, right there.
Kiba, whose face was red with embarrassment upon (and whose hands were partially covering his virgin eyes) seeing the intimate display, coughed loudly into his hand, catching the attention of everyone in the room.
Motohama, Matsuada and even Saji (who had also gotten out a notebook) all gave him a death glare whilst Issei and Akeno merely gave him an amusing smile whilst detaching from each other.
"Ara, ara…Kiba-kun is so shy!" A sadistic smile suddenly appeared on Akeno's lips as Kiba suddenly felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. "I wonder if he needs some resistance training, hmmm, Issei-kun?"
Issei, who had also gained an identical sadistic smile, suddenly appeared next to Kiba, a rope in hand. "I agree, Akeno-hime! And I know where the best resistance training; being tied up and dumped into the public women's bath!" It seemed like the whole conversation had gone full circle.
With speed that far surpassed even Minato, Issei tied Kiba up and threw the blond knight over his shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. "Come on my fellow brothers…and lady! To the women's public bath!"
With a cheer Motohama and Matsuada enthusiastically bounded off. Issei and Akeno also followed behind (Kiba struggling fruitlessly against his hemp confines) chatting amicably (the two were obviously bordering between flirting and conversing, as they talked about the various topics that only a Super Pervert and a Sadistic Priestess would talk about together).
Seeing that the others were leaving without him, Saji sighed and followed. It wasn't like he would escape (Saji was sure that he would suffer a fate worse than even Kiba if he was to disappear now) and to be perfectly honest…he would really like to see how Issei survived those beatings he got daily by the hand of vengeful (and towel-clad) women everywhere.
However, as the group of six (well five and one wriggling pile of bishounen male) neared the public baths, their formation not changing from the start, several dashing black flashes appearing in his peripheral vision caught Saji's attention.
Turning his head, he saw that those black flashes seemed to be heading off towards the looming, abandoned church of Kuoh.
Saji turned his head back to the other Kuoh Academy students and was somewhat unsurprised that Issei (who appeared to be having a debate with Akeno over whether his books accurately described foreplay) didn't seem to notice the anomaly in the area.
For as much as Issei used his perverted antics to cover his more thoughtful and dangerous skills, at the heart of it, the brown haired boy was still very much a pervert.
Sighing and hoping (in retrospect it was more like wishful thinking) that he wouldn't receive a punishment similar to Kiba, Saji pushed chakra into his legs as he pushed off the ground towards the direction of the Kuoh church.
End Note: How did you like that chapter?
The chapter was more to do with Issei taking Saji's words from the last chapter to heart and basically bonding with the Rias' peerage. Whilst some may feel that this chapter is more 'filler' than substance, what fundamentally happens in this chapter is fairly essential to how Issei interacts with Rias' peerage down the line.
And also the meeting Ddraig scene. I was having a read over the light novel and I decided that to make Ddraig-Issei scene similar to the Naruto-Kurama scene was the best way to go. Ddraig, in canon, willing helped Issei very early on without much of an explanation and that is somewhat reflected here. Further, I feel I sufficiently explained why Issei didn't fully flip out upon hearing that he was housing a dragon and was also willing to work together with Ddraig.
Also the beginnings of what will be this fic's 'Asia Arc' was apparent in the closing scenes in this chapter. I've had a long talk with my beta about what path that arc should go down and the framework we've ultimately decided on is something that definitely hasn't been done in other fics.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Fav/Follow/Review if you did!
lfonzo out!