The two disciples of Ryozanpaku, Kenichi and Issei, were both training hard under Akisame's teachings and while the two were actually forced to compete for a punishment game, they had one thing in common.

"THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE!" Both disciples yelled as they were in separate hamster wheel like devices that were designed to shock them if they slowed down too much.

Akisame sat there, sipping tea while watching the disciples. "Remember, whoever slows down first gets even worse."

"I'm sorry Issei-san! But I know what he's planning and I am NOT going through that." Kenichi yelled as he kept running, having a significantly easier time than Issei was.

"I'm… not… gonna die… here!" Issei yelled panting for breath, the two had been running for hours but Issei's stamina was slowly waning.

"I've been running on these things for a year! It's impossible for me to lose!" Kenichi yelled as he kept running.

"Damn it…" Issei grunted but smirked as he had an idea. "BOOSTED GEAR!" He summoned his boosted gear as it began doubling his strength ever ten seconds, making it easier and easier for him to run.

"T-that's cheating!" Kenichi yelled out flustered as he tripped and fell getting shocked. "GHEIWOGMREIOTH" His body was spazzing out and yelled out completely random stuff.

"Hahahahahaha! I win!" Issei yelled as he kept running.

"Well Kenichi-kun… you do lose." Akisame said standing up Issei doing a fist pump of victory. "HOWEVER!" He yelled out as Issei started sweating bullets. "Issei-kun, for using your boosted gear… you will have to endure the same punishment as Kenichi-kun." Akisame said smirking.

"W-what?! That's not fair!" Issei protested and jumped off his hamster wheel. "I won!"

"And you cheated. I have a zero tolerance policy for that. Now…" Akisame smirked as he began dragging Kenichi and Issei into a different part of the dojo, in the room, Apachai and Sakaki were standing ready to fight and smirking.

"So? Which one lost?" Sakaki asked cracking his knuckles.

"Apapapapa~~ Was it Issei!?" Apachai asked smiling like a little kid.

"Actually, Kenichi-kun lost. However due to Issei cheating, he is now part of the punishment as well." Akisame said as all three masters began to smirk and laugh almost like the world's most evil villains.

"Uhhhh… Issei-san… it was a pleasure knowing you." Kenichi said as though they were his final good bye to Issei.

"Right back at ya." Issei said gulping.

As the two spoke Apachai and Sakaki suddenly charged in and began a twisted form of "sparring" with them for hours and hours on end never letting up or taking so much as a second long break.

After all the training Kenichi and Issei both lay exhausted on the floor practically drowning in sweat.

"I… never… wanna do that…. Again!" Issei panted out using whatever strength he could muster to complain.

"S-same!" Kenichi stuttered his chest heaving with each breath.

"Oh? They seem to have enough energy to complain. Round two?" Hayato asked walking up with an evil smile. "Perhaps with me this time." He laughed more than ready to deal out the torture.

Both Issei and Kenichi turned completely white and passed out from fear.

"Grandfather! That was too much!" Miu scolded her grandfather who was laughing with the other masters.

"Relax, I wanted them to pass out." Hayato said slowly turning serious. "We need to discuss a few things anyways."

"Hm? What's up old man?" Sakaki asked as he was cracking the cap off a bottle.

"Issei's foes… this Vanishing Dragon Vali…" Hayato said taking a seat and thinking. "I feel as if Issei will never be able to surpass him."

"I see… he's that powerful hm?" Akisame asked holding his chin and thinking. "This could turn into a problem then…"

"Yes. Vali's power of dividing his opponent's power, it truly can be troublesome." Hayato explained as all the masters stayed quiet.

"Well whatever, we'll just train 'em to be so strong it won't matter." Sakaki chuckled throwing back a beer.

"I… agree." Shigure spoke up hanging upside down from the ceiling.

"Such a simple method… but considering their specific levels and Issei having about as much talent as Kenichi…" Kensei said realizing just how difficult this can be.

"Apapapapa Apachai train them so they not die!" Apachai said excited.

"Well that's decided." Hayato said laughing a bit and then sipped some tea. "Anyways… I've heard rumors… nothing's confirmed yet but…" The large man trailed off as if preparing to say the information he held. "Yami has reformed and is on the move… and they've replaced the dead Demon God Fist with someone new." Hayato spoke as all the other masters turned serious looking each other in the eyes and almost knowing what the other was thinking.

"We're in agreement?" Akisame broke the silence.

"Yes." All the other masters said in agreement and left they went to their separate rooms.

After a few hours Kenichi and Issei awoke and sat up seeing that everyone was eating dinner, they quickly dived to their seats and began stuffing their faces.

"I'm glad to see you have enough energy!" Hayato spoke laughing as the other masters tried to steal Kenichi and Issei's food.

After everyone finished dinner Issei left carrying numerous stone Buddha statues on his back literally chained to him as he went home.

The next day Issei was back to work training, only this time, he had the entire Occult Research Club with him as they all sat and drank tea with Miu and other masters while Kenichi and Issei trained.

"Issei… he looks like he's in pain." Asia said, worried while the normally protective Rias seemed unphased.

"It's fine, this is actually a lighter training regimen than what we normally give him." Akisame said smiling while Issei and Kenichi maneuver through what Akisame calls 'The Obstacle Course of Hell MkII'.

"My my~ it almost looks like Kenichi is enjoying this." Akeno said licking her lips with a sadistic smile getting… ideas.

"Kenichi-san… he's kind of had a lot of time to get used to stuff like this." Miu explained more than a little creeped out from Akeno.

"It serves the pervert right." Koneko said as he ate some chocolate, watching Issei suffer.

Kenichi and Issei ran for their lives through countless traps and obstacles as they both reached the finish line in a tie, and as they did that the door to Ryozanpaku opened and a voice rang out.

"HELLOOOOOOOOOOOO IS ISSEI HYOUDO HERE?!" The voice called out as it was revealed to be the black haired boy named Katsuo.

"Hm… someone's here for me?" Issei asked looking at the masters who sat there. "Uhhh…"

"Hmm… let's take a break and check it out." Akisame said standing up and walked with everyone to the front door.

"KATSUO!?" Issei said lighting up with a smile and rushed in tackling Katsuo. "Ha! Got ya!"

"Oh ya think?!" Katsuo and Issei smirked as the two started fighting like they were brothers.

"Eh? Issei, you know him?" Xenovia asked confused as everyone else was.

"Oh right… everyone this is an old friend of mine, Katsuo Shouta… OH CRAP WHERE'S IRINA?! SHE'S GOTTA SEE THIS!" Issei yelled and started looking around even though Irina was nowhere around.

"Irina?" Katsuo asked. "You mean that boy we used to hang out with?" Katsuo asked, not knowing the truth about Irina being a girl.

"Oh… yeah about that… well I'll show you when we see them." Issei explained wanting to keep the surprise. "Anyways, this idiot right here is an old friend of mine from when I was a kid. You moved away didn't you?" Issei asked recalling.

"Yeah but I'm back in town now. Moved back and all that fun stuff nothing interesting there." Katsuo seemed to shrug off the question. "Anyways…" Katsuo's head turned seeing the masters and Issei's friends. "What's with the scary old men… and scary girls?" Katsuo asked as everyone seemed to get tick marks on their foreheads.

"Ah… well come on, I'll introduce you." Issei walked up. "Katsuo, these are my masters. I've been training in martial arts recently. And these…" Issei motioned toward his fellow club members but seemed to avoid Issei. "These are all my friends from school and the Occult Research Club." Issei went through introducing everyone being careful not to let the demon out of the bag.

"Martial arts?! THAT'S SO COOL!" Katsuo said smiling like an idiot as he introduced himself to everyone, and while doing this Issei pulled Rias and Akeno off to the side.

"Hey can you do me a favor… and help make sure Katsuo doesn't find out about Ddraig… or demons… or angels… or fallen angels… please?" Issei practically begged the two as they both smiled and agreed.

"This is all well and good but… Katsuo right? I need to ask you how you found Issei here." Kensei said as he was sneaking pictures of Asia's panties.

"Oh that's right!" Katsuo said remembering. "Daichi is the one who found out!" Katsuo said motioning to the door as the toga clad man stood in the door way.

"Mhmm… who is he?" Akisame asked not knowing who Daichi was.

"Give me a minute." Daichi said with a smile and walking up to Kenichi. "Long time no see old pal!" He said patting Kenichi on the back.

"Uhh do I know you?" Kenichi asked completely confused.

"You… really…" Daichi said and pulled his head back. "DUMBASS!" He yelled and head butt Kenichi knocking him down from surprise.

"O-ow!" Kenichi yelled holding his head. "The hell was that for Daichi?!" Kenichi suddenly stopped and started thinking. "Wait a second… DAICHI ITSUKI?!" Kenichi was shocked as memories began to flow back into his head.

"… I have a de ja vu feeling right now." Miu said recalling a similar situation where Kenichi met with Ryuuto for the first time in years during the Ragnarock ordeal.

"Uhhh… wow Miu-san you're right." Kenichi said remembering the same situation. "Well… this is Daichi, he actually moved away before Ryuuto-san and I met you Miu-san." Kenichi said introducing the two.

"Ohohoho Kenichi you sly dog!" Daichi nudged Kenichi's side. "I didn't expect you to have such a cute girlfriend." He teased as the two instantly blushed and Hayato seemed to shoot a death glare at Kenichi.

"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Kenichi denied in fear for his life.

"Hmm… well we'll call it quits for today so all of you can catch up. Please come in." Akisame said as he walked in to the dojo with everyone following.

The friends caught up laughing as Miu made tea, Katsuo and Issei remembering the trouble they'd always get into, while Kenichi told Daichi about Ryuuto and how they fought.

"Damn… to think Ryuuto would end up like that." Daichi said leaning back. "He was nicer than you for crying out loud."

"I know… but now he's doing well… at least… I think… he doesn't have a phone so he's hard to keep in touch with." Kenichi said laughing a bit.

"Man Issei I gotta admit I didn't expect to see you… well… surrounded by women who don't want to kill you." Katsuo said joking, knowing that Issei even back then was a perv.

"The hell's that supposed to mean?!" Issei asked getting annoyed as the two began going at it again.

"My my they're both so cute like this." Akeno said sipping tea with a smile.

"I'm happy to see Issei is able to relax like this." Asia said smiling bright.

"Hard to believe eh Daichi? That the little cry baby from back then is well… training with some of the greatest masters on the planet." Kenichi said with a hint of disbelief despite the events he's endured in his time with Ryozanpaku.

"Eh? I always saw the potential in you. Wasn't sure what it was but I knew you were destined for something great Kenichi." Daichi explained patting Kenichi on the back.

"Really? Thanks Daichi." Kenichi smiled as all the friends continued catching up until late at night.

"Man you guys gotta go? Irina didn't even show up…" Issei said, unable to drop the bombshell on Katsuo.

"Sorry but it's getting late, you guys should head home to." Daichi said with as he and Katsuo turned to start walking only to be met with a cloaked figure standing in the Ryozanpaku front entrance.

"Hm? We seem to be getting quite a few visitors today." Hayato said as everyone stood ready, unsure what to expect from this new figure.

The figure merely stood silent as it looked around as if counting how many people were in the area as his sights seemed to focus on Katsuo as he suddenly rushed his hand shooting from his cloak and stabbing two fingers into Katsuo's chest stabbing into his heart.

"G-guh!" Katsuo coughed taking the hit unable to react as he fell back blood spurting heavily from him.

"K-KATSUO!" Issei yelled out exploding with rage as his boosted gear formed and he lunged at the figure slashing with Ascalon. "DAMN YOU!" He yelled as the figure only dodged each strike.

"Katsuo-san!" Kenichi ran over to Katsuo as did Akisame and Asia as they began immediate medical procedures.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" Issei continued to lash out trying to slash the man as his boosts were going off, and then he was able to slash the cloak revealing the face of the man.

The man was slender with long white hair, he wore glasses with one eye iris was completely black, his other eye normal as he stood there silent with an almost emotionless face.

"N-no way… it can't be…" Kenichi and Daichi saw the face of the man, even though Daichi hadn't seen it in years he could still recognize it.

"RYUUTO ASAMIYA?!"

Author Message: BEFORE YOU BITE MY HEAD OFF! Let me explain… I personally choose to believe that Ryuuto never fully made the change from Satsujinken to Katsuojinken, so I believe he resides somewhere in the middle, killing when absolutely necessary! Please be patient for the next chapter)