Chapter 9

Rias stood alone in front of what seemed to be a massive castle atop a forested mountain.

The redhead seemed rather annoyed as a blood vessel began to bulge atop her head. Rias began to stomp her feet as she growled in frustration. "Where are they!?" Rias yelled at the sky.

Almost on cue an armored Issei came slowly flying in, going no faster than 50 miles an hour. Issei had his left arm wrapped firmly around Asia and in his right he was carrying two separate suitcases.

As Issei began to land Rias got a closer look at Asia's face, which was oozing with delight. This only served to make Rias even angrier.

Issei dropped the bags on his feet before slowly setting Asia to the ground and deactivating his armor. Issei looked a bit annoyed himself. "You couldn't've waited like five more minutes." Issei said with narrow eyes and a hand to his hip.

"I specifically told you. Meet at the train station at 7:30" Rias said in a huff as she turned away from the boy. "You shouldn't have slept in so late."

"It's not my fault!" Issei shouted back at his master. "Asia was having trouble with her packing, she's never had to do it. I thought I told you that in the text." Issei said accusingly.

Rias turned back to Issei, her face now flushed with frustration. "The train was gonna leave. What were we supposed to do?" Rias fired back. "You can't blame Asia, either. You should've taken responsibility and helped her get packed in advanced. I wasn't the one who told you and Kiba to go hit on girls in the arcade last night."

"Oh as if Kiba and I could…" Issei was stopped mid argument by a slight tug on the back of his jacket. He turned around to find Asia struggling to say something. "Huh, Asia do you need something."

"Please stop arguing with Rias-sama!" Asia shouted rather suddenly getting the attention of the entire peerage.

Issei was a bit startled by the sudden yelling, but gathered himself and gave the young blonde a nod. Issei turned to Rias and sighed. "Huh. She's right I shouldn't be mad at you. It's my fault for being so late." Issei bowed to his master who turned away from him with a huff obviously still upset. As Issei returned to an upright position he received another yank on his jacket.

"U-um. Issei one more thing." Asia mumbled just loud enough that Issei could understand her. "C-can we. Can we please fly together again." Asia said rather awkwardly causing Issei to blush a bit.

"Issei!" Rias said still facing away from the two of them, but now slightly shaking. "Five Hundred Push-ups!"

"Wait! What did I do this time?!" Issei retaliated.

A blast of red energy shattered a nearby boulder and caused Issei to jump.

RIas was now turned around facing the frightened boy, hands charged with demonic energy. Her eyes could pierce steel. "NOW!"


(499 push-ups later)

"Huhe huhe huhe huhe!" Issei's breathes were weezy and stagnant. With all the strength remaining in Issei's arms he lifted himself off the ground into a plank position. "FIVE HUNDRED!"

'Damn it! 500 push-ups without using a single BOOST. She might actually be a psychopath!' Issei's eyes widened as he came to that realization.

"Wow you finished faster than expected." Rias said seemingly coming out of nowhere causing Issei to jump.

'Damn forget psychopathic, she may just be psychic.' Issei thought to himself before answering. "Yeah I used to do physical training regularly so I was in pretty good shape, but this was still pretty intense." Issei sat up and crossed his legs with his eyes closed. When at last he opened them Rias had invaded Issei's personal space causing him to lean back a bit.

Rias got closer and closer to Issei's face until she was mere inches away. "So, Are we gonna talk about what's going on with you now?"

"I-I don't know what you mean." Issei said sheepishly desperately trying to avoid eye contact.

"You know, from that night. You said we were gonna talk about why you've been so distant lately. You remember right?" Rias desperately asked for information as she slowly got closer.

Issei turned his head slightly to the right refusing to look his master in the eyes. 'Of course I remember. I just wish you hadn't.'


(Flashback)

Issei was standing on towards the corner of his bedroom opposite a near completely naked Rias. Issei's bed separated the two of the. Issei was clearly struggling with his glowing red gauntlet as it began to boost out of control.

[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]

Issei now cloaked in his armor made one last attempt to get his master to leave. "Rias your wrong, your very important to me. That's why I need you to leave now! I promise I'll tell you what's going on later. I'll explain everything, but right now I can't control it. Please I can't afford to lose you too, I don't know what I'd do. Please GO!"


(Flashback ends)

Issei's eyes narrow but appear more sad than angry."No." Issei says pushing Rias off of him and standing back up. "I have no Idea what you're talking about. Now if you'll excuse me I have some training to do."

[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!] Issei spreads his wings and begins to soar off towards the mountains, before his master could react.

'What did I do? I don't get it. Why won't he talk to me? What is he hiding?' Rias thought to herself as her eyes began to well up. Rias was already stressed out from the engagement and Issei wasn't helping at all. 'Fine. If that's how he wants to be than I give up. I'm over it.' Rias looked up at the flying Issei before turning away. 'Jerk!'

Issei was flying away from his master as he attempted to justify what he had just done. 'This is my problem. She needs to worry about the engagement and the rest of her peerage, instead of the pathetic pawn who can't control his own powers.'


(A few hours of training later)

"Haahhhhhhh." Issei sighed as he made his way back to the main plaza of Rias' "Vacation house". Issei was slouched over looking rather depressed. Needless to say the training hadn't gone well.

'Damn it! Everything seems to work properly, but if I can't use rage or any other strong emotions to boost my power than I'm not really going 100% and pushing myself.' Issei reunited with Rias and the rest of her peerage who seemed to be finishing their own training at one of the many outdoor spaces located around the complex.

"Hey guys how's it going." Issei greeted the ORC sounding rather depressed and uninterested.

'Why does Issei look so sad, did something happen?' Rias looked on at her troubled pawn, her eyes were filled with concern. Issei noticed this and flashed her a smile that was obviously forced. Rias crossed her arms and turned away with a "Hmph". 'What do I care anyway. He's a big boy and he can take care of himself.'

'I guess I deserve that.' Issei thought to himself.

Akeno noticed the exchange between the two. A sly smile formed on her face as a devilish idea manifests in her mind.

"Ara ara. Issei-kun!" Akeno called Issei over to her getting Rias to jump but she still refused to turn around.

"Yeah Akeno." Issei said as he made his way towards her. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"No it's just after training all day you smell so intoxicating, it's almost addictive. What's a girl to do?" The voluptuous black haired queen, who was wearing her shrine attire low, which showed off massive amounts of cleavage, walked up to Issei who had just finished his daily training.

'What the hell are you doing Akeno?!' Rias thought to herself as she continued to refuse to turn around and face the two, but nonetheless a bright red blush had completely covered her face. 'Issei don't just stand there shamelessly and let her flirt with you.

"Issei-kun, the last girl who kissed you was that monster Raynare right?" Akeno's words made Issei's eyes widen in shock of hearing the fallen angel's name, which caused him to look away in shame.

'Come on Akeno. As if I didn't have enough crap to feel bad about already.' Issei thought as he began to calm down a bit.

Akeno grabbed the boy by the cheeks and positioned him so that he was staring directly into her eyes, which were now mere inches away. "I think it's time you forget about her." Akeno began to lean in and pucker her lips.

"A-Akeno!" Rias turned around and stuttered out of shock, but still attempted to stop the girl from stealing a kiss.

Slowly the two came closer together until. WHOOSH! A gust of wind caused by Issei's gauntlet blocking Akeno's power electrically charged fist.

"Impressive Issei-kun. I needed to make sure that none of the girls in Riser's peerage could defeat you the same way Raynare did." Akeno said with a bright smile and closed eyes as she began to charge her body with magic power as she prepared to spar.

"I like to think I learn from my mistakes. Still too bad you were just testing me though." Issei responded with a playful smile before taking a martial arts combat pose. [BOOST!]

A valley of lightning bolts began to close in on Issei. He sidestepped to the right before jumping into the air, expertly dodging two lightning bolts, but not a third. A well placed lightning bolt struck him dead in the chest, sending him back to the floor.

"Gah! This is getting a bit intense, I better level the playing field. Promotion Queen!" Issei announced as a red queen piece appeared behind him. His body began to surge with power comparable to multiple boosts. 'Geez, so this is Promotion. Incredible.'

Issei charged Akeno again a second time, but unlike before he was able to avoid each lightning blast flawlessly. After closing the distance between himself and Akeno Issei delivered a powerful uppercut into akeno's stomach and effectively launching her into the air.

Issei did a backflip to separate himself from Akeno who was now floating above him. The queen fired more blasts of lightning that recollected to form a giant ball of lightning. Issei took a wide stance and reeled back his gauntlet covered fist before firing a powerful punch that destroyed the huge attack.

'Man this queen promotion is incredible, this fight is almost too easy.' Issei thought proudly to himself, but that pride would suddenly change to shock as his eyes widened in realization. 'Wait she's also a queen so we should be even right now, but I'm dominating right now. That could only mean one thing. She's holding back!'

Isse began to grit his teeth. It angered him that she dared to hold back against him, he took it as a direct insult to his pride. The gem on Issei's gauntlet began to glow red as he was overtaken by his anger. "Alright! If you won't take this fight seriously, then I'm gonna go all out!" [WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!] "Try holding back now."

Issei rushed forward towards his friend, showing no sign of slowing down. He reeled back a fist preparing for a massive strike. Akeno saw this and raised her magic barrier in an act of self defence. Issei didn't hesitate as he fired the fist directly at the center of Akeno's magic circle. At first the barrier stood, but the power of Balance Breaker along with the queen promotion caused it to shatter and Akeno's body met the full force of Issei's anger.

"Stop it." Issei said with a growl. "Fight me with everything you've got!" Issei yelled, but this didn't sound like Issei.

"Issei stop this instant!" Rias yelled trying to get the fighting between the two peerage members to stop,

Unfortunately for her this was not Issei. Whatever it was had Issei's body and spoke with his voice, but it obviously wasn't Issei. At least he wasn't the one calling the shots. Whoever was in charge seemed to be much more primal.

The creature continued its assault on Akeno, luckily for her the beast became relatively predictable. One power attack after another, the beast fought with no strategy whatsoever and simply relied on instinct. Akeno was smaller, more nimble and much more intelligent, she was able to easily dodge the attacks.

After a while Issei's body began to slow as exhaustion set in. Akeno saw her chance and decided to take it.

"Issei please. You must calm down and regain your senses." Akeno pleaded to Issei from a safe distance, but received no response. "I promise you that I don't mean to offend you in the slightest, but….." Akeno paused a bit as she contemplated what she was about to say with a sad expression. "I can't tell you why, but I can't use my full power. I refuse to use it. I would rather die than use that power!" Tears began to stream down the girl's face as haunting memories began to resurface. However this would prove effective as Akeno's words mixed with physical exhaustion finally allowed Issei to regain control and release his armor.

As the armor dissipated Issei dropped to his hands and knees and began to heave with exhaustion. 'No, it's getting worse. Another outburst like that and everyone including myself is as good as dead. I have to fix this. Now!'

[Partner.] Ddraig replied mentally almost on cue. [There is a way to regain control of your emotions. The past possessors who currently reside in the sacred gear are rather upset that you decided to ruin the reincarnation cycle of the Boosted Gear when you became a devil and drastically increased your lifespan. But if you meet with them, you might be able to defeat this curse.] Ddraig explained.

Issei was about to agree with Ddraig when he was interrupted.

"Issei? Issei are you okay?" Issei came to and realized that Rias and the rest of the ORC was huddled around him making sure he was okay.

Issei immediately jumped up and awkwardly began to apologize to everyone, than he turned to Akeno and bowed.

"I'm deeply sorry!" Issei announced as he remained bowing. "I understand that you have a problem with using your full power and I respect that. It's just…" Issei looked away a bit as his eyes filled with sorrow. "My own parents died right in front of my eyes, because I didn't have enough power. And right now I can sense so much power coming from you, it's so warm and bright and kinda familiar, so when we fought I could tell you where holding back and I guess my emotions got the better of me. I'm sorry."

'His parents! Just like…..' Akeno stared wide eyed at the boy as he continued to genuflect. She shook the thoughts out of her head and began to speak. "I forgive you, now please lift your head." The boy did as told and Akeno continued. "If it makes you feel better. That power you speak so highly of, I can't even use it as I am now. So technically I wasn't holding back in our fight."

"Actually that kinda makes me feel a bit worse about how I reacted." Issei said rubbing his head awkwardly and the two began to chuckle together.

"Well it's been a long day. I'm gonna take a bath. Your punishment will be that you don't get to join me tonight." Akeno smiled seductively and began to walk away.

"Wait Akeno!" Issei called out getting the girl to stop but not turn around. "It might be a bit selfish of me but I don't ever want you saying that you'd rather die. My previous actions may contradict my words but please trust me that you are far too valuable to talk about yourself that way. I mean what kinda pawn would I be if I let any harm befell the queen. Am I right."

"Okay, I'll try to keep that in mind." Akeno replied sheepishly. She still refused to turn around, because if she had than Issei would've seen how completely red Akeno's face was at that moment. Akeno quickly jogged away to escape further embarrassment.

Issei yawned. "Whelp I'm exhausted. I think I'm probably going to get some sleep myself." Issei was about to leave the plaza when he was stopped by a powerful grip around his left hand.

Issei turned around to see Rias giving him a deadly serious glare. "Not so fast." Rias said before turning to the rest of her peerage. "All of you are dismissed for the day. I will stay behind and have a little chat with Issei."

After the rest of the peerage had left Rias sat Issei down and prepared to give him a piece of her mind.

"Okay listen. I don't know what's going on with you recently. You've been so cold and distant lately, that much I can take, but what I can't overlook is when anyone puts my family endanger. Even if it's you." Rias stood over Issei who had his legs crossed with an upset look on his face. "So what's gonna happen is you're gonna tell me exactly what's going on so we can fix it."

"Grrrrr" Issei began to growl in frustration. Be it exhaustion, frustration, fear, the shame of being talked down to or all of the above, but something caused Issei to snap. "Fine! You wanna know what's going on!" Issei yelled. "I can't control it!"

"I'm getting too strong too fast. Ever since becoming a devil my power has risen much higher than what I'm used to." Issei explained causing Rias' eyes to widen with shock. "And the night Asia died a massive power was awakened that caused my body to become more dragon like, but at the same time it paved the way for an even more dangerous power to awaken."

"What do you mean? What does this have to do with the way you've been acting?" Rias asked not understanding Issei's point.

"The Juggernaut Drive. A power so dangerous that the very gods fear its might. You might think this is a good thing, but the power of Juggernaut Drive is a double edged sword. Epic power at the cost of both my sanity and my life." Issei said looking rather depressed, but stone cold serious. "I have no doubt that if the Juggernaut Drive where to activate now, than you the whole Occult Research Club and anyone else unlucky enough to be caught in its rampage will die. The real kicker is that the juggernaut drive is triggered by powerful emotions, so until I can get it under control I have to act cold."

'My god! I had no Idea. I feel awful, he wasn't being a jerk. He was just trying to protect everyone, from himself. I can't imagine the how afraid he must be.' Rias thought to herself as she looked on at her pawn who was trying to smile, but it was obviously fake. 'I can't believe how selfish I've been.'

"But today was the last straw." Issei continued. "Tomorrow I take back my life!" Issei announced making a fist as he gave Rias a determined look. "I'll put an end to this curse, once and for all."


(Author's Notes)

Cliff hanger kinda. I decided to split this up into 2 chapters and make this one another kinda filler kinda not cause important stuff happened. I hope ya'll like this. Give me tons of feedback. Thanks, Bye!