Chapter 22

(3rd person POV)

"CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!" The sound of seven pawn prices falling to the floor filled the otherwise silent room as Issei stared blankly at floating screen.

"Enough! You win! I surrender!" Rias called out once more, stopping Ravel before she had the chance to strike her bishop with flames. "It's over… I lost…."

"What?... You surrender?..." Riser sound confused and seemingly upset as he blinked the shock from his eyes. "No….. You can't… It's not over."

(Rias Gremory has retired. Riser Phenex is the winner.)

Grayfia's voice filled the battlefield as the game officially ended.

"Th-That's it." Issei finally spoke up, sounding almost as confused as Riser. "Well….. I guess…. That kinda sucks right." Issei turned back to face Sirzechs with a forced smile. "Geez, I guess Riser is pretty strong. I suppose you were right about that numbers disadvantage."

"Uuhhhh….. Issei are you okay." Sirzechs' voice was filled with concerned as he picked the crimson chess pieces off the ground. "You just ran the emotion gauntlet, are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Oh, I'm good don't worry about me." Issei reassured with his handsome smile. "My only question is how do I get home from here?"

Sirzechs handed him a small card with a similar magical circle sketched on it. "This'll get you home." Sirzechs then stacked a second card on top of that one. "And this will bring you to the engagement party in a few days. I do hope you'll come."

Issei stared hesitantly at the small piece of card stock, before answering with another smile. "Wouldn't miss it, well I'll see you around." The paper card began to glow a bright red, before disappearing from the room in a similar flash of bright red light.

(Issei's House, Issei's POV)

I felt my living room floor magically manifest beneath my feet as I was transported back to my house. "I'm home." I quietly called out to no one, Asia was still in the underworld with Rias and I was pretty sure it would remain that, and Tiamat was in the Dragon's domain studying possible problems with my Sacred Gear.

"Welcome back!" A voice replied from my kitchen startling me.

"AAAHHHH!" Wait, I know this voice. Goddamnit! "What are you doing here?"

I stormed into my kitchen to find a bent over Raynare rummaging through my fridge.

She was wearing a hot pink tank top and complementary white skirt, and was currently in her more girly pursona. "Dude, you got like nothing in here." What she meant was nothing already prepared for her, my fridge was fully stocked with fresh ingredients, that I was sure of. "Issei…. Can you cook me something please… for old times sake." She turned around and with a faked begging look in her odds.

"Fine…." I groaned. "What do you want?" It's safe to say that we had gotten on much better terms since our break up, but showing up at my place unannounced like this it's pretty awkward right. "So, what exactly are you doing here?"

"You should know." Her tone quickly sharpened. "Rias lost and she's gonna marry that jackass, so she'll probably be staying back in the underworld. Which means I once again have nowhere to g, except for here."

"Yeah." It's still tough to here, I can't believe that's it. Rias, Asia, Kiba, Akeno, Koneko, all gone. Because I was too late, or maybe too selfish. "Well I don't mind you staying here, I suppose you can use Asia's room."

"Oh, so you don't want me sleeping with you tonight. I'll be honest I don't really hear that too often." She joked.

"Well, nothing personal but you snore." Now that was true. "And I do value my sleep." Rather than getting angry, or continuing the banter, Raynare began to slowly and seductively crept up on. "Hey wait! What do you think you're doing!?"

She quickly wrapped me up in her arms before I had the time to get away. "I think you need a hug. It's not your fault."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Now that was a lie. "I don't need a hug,"

"Well then I just want give you a hug. It makes me feel better." Wh-What? How the hell am I supposed to respond to that!? She started hugging tighter and pulling me deeper into her embrace, it's so soft…. "they're soft aren't they?"

"Whhaaaaa!" I quickly pushed her off of me as I felt my face burn bright red. "Geez! Read the atmosphere won't ya!"

"I'm just saying they're soft." She lifted up Her bountiful chest through the tank top. "And I forgot to wear a bra today so I figured a closeted perv like you would be too embarrassed to say anything."

"I'm not a pervert!" I yelled out in retaliation. For all the insults I've received in my life, that one was always the most demeaning for some reason.

"What? Do you think Rias and Akeno walk around the club room braless because they haven't noticed your Pervy eyes staring at them?" How'd she know? And how am I not supposed to stare at something like that. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Can you make curry tonight, if it's really good then I promise to spend the rest of the evening without a top on."

"Yeah, right. Curry it is." For all her jokes, Raynare really was helping me keep my mind off all of that Riser stuff. I forgot how much of a pain she could be, but for some reason I liked that stubbornness, plus I do love cooking. "Well I'm pretty confident in this sauce for the curry, why don't you give it a taste test."

"Wow! That sauce is incredible!"

"Why thank y- WAIT! I THOUGHT YOU WERE KIDDING ABOUT THE TOPLESS THING!"

(Day of the engagement party, Issei's POV)

"That oughta do it…." I finished tying my bow tie onto my collar before taking the time to study my reflection. I was typically more comfortable in a nice jacket when it came to formal events, but I felt that going full out with a tuxedo felt appropriate for tonight. "Yeah, this'll work." I said as I quickly messed up my just washed hair.

"Yeah. I'll say." Raynare's smug voice crept up from behind me. "I guess you do really clean up well."

"You guess." I put on a confident face as I kept the banter going. "I'm irresistible." I said as I winked at the mirror, clearly joking.

"Whatever you say pretty boy." I guess I set myself up for that one. "Are you sure you want me to go?"

"Of course I do. It'd be super embarrassing to show up to a big party like that alone." I did want her to go, but it's not like her reservations were unwarranted. A Fallen Angel at an engagement party for devil's, she's probably feeling pretty anxious. I already cleared it with Sirzechs but that doesn't necessarily mean the nerves are gone for her. "I understand though if you don't want to go, I'm not gonna make you."

Her worried face faded and was replaced with her standard cocky smile. "As if you COULD make me go. Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging with those old buzz kills. Just give me a second to get dressed." With that she left my bathroom, leaving me feeling a just a little bit better about myself.

(Later)

Damn! Where is she? We're gonna be late! I patiently waited on the couch as Raynare was clearly taking her time getting ready. I guess it was my fault for asking her to do this so suddenly.

Who knows, maybe if she won't be ready in time and we just won't go. This is crap, why am I so anxious about this shit! I'm the Red Dragon Emperor! I shouldn't be afraid of anything! But it seems like I'm afraid of more and more stuff everyday.

[Your afraid of loss. Losing those close to you, again.]

Ddraig! Ddraig are you there?!

….

"Come on Ddraig I just heard you, didn't I?" I looked frantically back and forth across the room, before turning my attention to my left arm. "I did hear you! Please talk to me again! What do you mean I'm scared of loss!?"

"Umm….. Issei?" Raynare's voice snapped me out of my daze. "Are you…. talking to yourself?" I turned around to defend myself, but I quickly lost my words upon seeing her.

"Oh….. Wow!" An incredibly well fitting black cocktail dress, with silver band just above her waist helped to accentuate her hourglass figure. It was cut just short enough to show off her long porcelain legs, it was nearly impossible to take my eyes off of the girl.

"Ha! I kinda figured you'd react like that, little perv." I started to feel like an actual pervert as I just stared at Raynare. "Alright. Now you say something. That's how conversations work."

"Y-You look nice." Was unfortunately all I was able to say.

"Ok, I guess you tried and I can't fault you for that. Are we gonna leave or what?" Raynare said as she linked arms with me for the teleportation.

"R-Right!" I quickly pulled the magical card out of my pocket and focused my energy into it. "I guess there's no turning back now."

(Underworld, Engagement party. Issei's POV)

As the light faded Raynare and I appeared in the middle of a large colorful ballroom, full of well dressed men and women and they were all staring at Raynare and I.

"Deja vu. Like really sucky Deja vu." Eyes on the two of us. A humanoid Dragon and a Fallen Angel at a high class Devil's wedding. Talk about sore thumbs. "Sorry. I guess we do stand out pretty badly, huh."

"It's fine, it's nothing I didn't expect. We'll just have to make the most of our evening together." She grabbed a tight hold of my hand and began to pull me towards a group of younger looking Devils who were dancing. "Let's have some fun."

That sounded good, some dancing could be fun. I started walking with her rather than being dragged, when I was suddenly stopped. "Issei Hyoudou!" The familiar voice of Lord Gremory called out from behind me.

"Oh god…." I said as I stopped in my tracks. And I was really looking forward to dancing. I turned around to find the red haired man followed by Lord Phenex. "Good to see you again sir, and you as well lord Riser."

"A pleasure as always my boy, and you must be Lady Raynare. It's nice to meet you as well." Lord Gremory extended a hand to Raynare who respectfully reached out her own. "I really am glad that the two of you could make it, I know Rias will be happy that the two of you showed up tonight."

"Then I'm glad we decided to come. Where is Rias anyway?" I asked as I looked across the room for her. I meant to apologize for hesitating when she needed me, but I really wasn't looking forward to that conversation.

"She And Riser will be introduced later on tonight. Until then." Lord Gremory clapped his hands and a female servant carrying a tray of sparkling orange beverages in champagne glasses. "Dance, drink, and please have a good time."

I hesitantly picked one of the drinks off the tray, it smelled strongly of alcohol. "When in hell." I said jokingly as I took a sip of the drink, I wasn't unfamiliar with alcohol but this definitely wasn't Sake.

I quickly downed the strangely sweet beverage, before grabbing another off the tray. "Well it's a party, we might as well have a good time." I grabbed Raynare by the hand and led her to the dance floor. "Come on, let's dance."

(A few minutes later, Raynare's POV)

That was great! I never knew how well Issei could dance. The second we got on the floor, he immediately took the lead. Back and forth across the floor, like I was floating. It was incredible, but something seemed wrong.

He was smiling and laughing and he was looking at me the whole time, but something felt off like he was dreading something. Like he really didn't wanna be here and then he just suddenly walked off leaving me alone.

"What are you doing here?" A calm voice called out to me, getting me to pay attention. Rias' queen, Akeno Himejima in her formal kimono, she was the one to address me.

"A pleasure as always Akeno." My sarcasm could be detected by a five year old or even Issei. There was no hiding the fact that Akeno didn't like me and for the most part the feeling was mutual. I mean just look at her, that figure is unfair no woman would be friendly to someone like that. Plus I've taken a shower with her before and I know for a fact that they're real.

"Raynare-sama?" Little Asia commented, she was followed by the Koneko and the knight Yuuto. "So you decide to come to support Rias…." She peered over my shoulder as if she was looking for something, more like someone. "Is Issei here?"

"Yeah. What's up guys." Issei said suddenly from behind me, startling m. "Woah Raynare, you okay?You look pretty tense about something."

"I'm fine, but what about you. Where did you wander off to. And do you think you should be drinking so many of those?" I pointed at another orange beverage Issei held in his hand.

"Oh, yeah. I guess I just drifted off for a bit, sorry for leaving you. As for the drinks, Probably not." Issei answered before downing the alcoholic drink. "But it's a party, I'll pay for it tomorrow. Anyway it looks like they're about to introduce the couple." Issei pointed out as a flaming magic circle began to form on the grown at the middle of the large room.

In an orange flash, two blonde figures appeared. A small girl with twirling pigtails in her hair, wearing a small purple dress. Next to her was man in a white tuxedo with long twin back flaps hanging down the back. I recognized these two from that day at the ORC, it was Rias' fiancé and his sister.

"Attention all of our humble quests." The small blonde girl announced to the room as everyone gathered around. "I will be speaking on the behalf of my Brother, Lord Riser Phenex." That's strange, Riser won the match, why isn't he speaking for himself? In fact he looks pretty sad right now.

"In the wake of the rating game against Rias Gremory and her family, my brother won the honor of marrying the prestigious lady thus uniting these two great devil houses." Ravel Phenex continued as her brother remained silent and disgruntled in the background. "Without further ado, please welcome the soon to be newest member of the Phenex family. Lady Rias Gremory." With a wave of the little girls arm a red magic circle appeared on the floor and from it sprouted Rias, admittedly looking pretty good in a white wedding dress, and doing her best to look even more displeased than Riser.

"We once again wish to thank you all for attending our party, and congratulations to my brother and Rias on their engagement." With that ravel rose a small champagne glass and was met with outstanding applause as Rias slowly stepped back away from the crowd she was clearly ashamed of her predicament.

"Poor girl… That kinda sucked the fun out of tonight. Wanna get out of here already, Issei? Issei?" And he was gone, again. Well I feel awkward here without him, so I better go find him.

"Well, looks like Issei ran off, so I better go find him." I addressed the Gremory group as I prepared to take my leave, but before I could exit a tray of booze walked and front of me. "Don't mind if I do." Issei and I can be hungover together. I picked a glass off of the tray and quickly turned around without looking. "Waaaahhhhhh!"

(Riser's POV)

It's so strange, for so long I've been longing for this day. One of the most beautiful women in the underworld is now practically my wife, but it feels so wrong like I want nothing to do with any of this. I can't even focus on the party or my guests, I think I need to take a bit of a walk to clear my head.

I began to pass by guests on my way to the exit, when I heard something that caught my attention.

"Well, looks like Issei ran off, so I better go find him." Issei's here! I didn't even see him, where could he be.

"Wait! Miss!" I chased after the girl who had mentioned Issei, when suddenly.

"Waaaahhhhhhh!" The girl quickly turned around and ran into me, and spilled her orange beverage all over my white tux. "Oh, Jesus I'm sorry."

"Uugggghhh…." I huge orange stain in the middle of my shirt, sticky and it smelled of booze. I was already frustrated with myself, and admittedly my temper has never been great and this really pissed me off. "FUCK! Watch where you're going!"

"Woah! I said I was sorry Douche!" The woman snapped back at me, that's when I got a good look at her face, which was strikingly familiar.

(Flashback!)

"What else did you find out about Hyoudou?" I asked Ravel who was in the middle of reading me the report I had her prepare on Issei Hyoudou.

"Well he dated a Fallen Angel once but it ended pretty ugly." What!? So he does have interest in relationships and apparently he has a type.

"Do you have a photo, can I see what she looks like." I asked rather desperately as Ravel pulled a small photo from her binder, which I quickly snatched up.

(End of Flashback)

It's the girl, the one who broke Issei's heart. How could she!? And why did he invite her here? He must still not be over that slut, he's much to naive. She's still taking advantage of him. "YOU BITCH FALLEN ANGEL!" In a moment of rage I reeled back my hand and prepared to slap the girl. "TAKE THIS!"

I swung my arm forward, but it was suddenly stopped by shining red claw. "Wha….AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I felt a strong pull on my arm before I was sent flying through the air.

(3rd person POV)

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

"CRASH!" Riser went flying into one of the ballroom walls causing a large crash, and alerting all in attendance.

"Yo! Quit fucking around with my friends asshole!" Issei yelled at the dazed Riser who was still stuck in the wall.

"Wh-What!? No I was…." Riser stopped defending himself as he noticed something off about Issei. His eyes seemed tired, his knees wobbled, and his face was a bright red flush, to be blunt Issei was drunk.

"Issei!" Raynare called from the crowd. "Calm down! How many of those cocktails did you have!?"

"That doesn't matter!" Issei answered back, before pointing a finger at Riser. "You! You yelled at my friend, I won't forgive that! Let's go you and me. Right now!"

Issei was making little since and it was clear to everyone at the party, and he was making big fool of himself. "Issei calm down, your drunk." Riser called back as he face palmed. "Have a drink of water and take a seat to calm down."

"Yeah maybe I'm drunk, but maybe that means I'll finally start speaking my mind." This caused an eyebrow raise from Riser and a few guests, but this also drew Rias and her brother out from the crowd. "I feel like I've just been being dragged along through someone else's story for the last ten days. I just sat back and watched."

Issei turned his head over his shoulder and looked Rias dead in the eyes. "Rias, I just sat back and let your dream get crushed. I was selfish and I didn't help you when you needed me, so I'm sorry." Issei then turned to Riser. "And I'm gonna apologize to you too. You tried your hardest in that rating game, you thought up a brilliant strategy and executed it expertly and I disrespected you. You gave Rias proper respect and treated her like a real threat and didn't underestimate her despite the numbers disadvantage. Even though you were obviously trying to get my attention I disrespected you by not giving you the fight you clearly wanted, but I'm here now to give you that fight."

Riser simply stared back at him with a small pout, before looking away.

"CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!" Sirzechs stepped up as mid clap. "Bravo Issei, great idea. I don't know about you Riser, but I think a fight would be great to liven the spirits of this party don't you?"

"Well…" Riser relented. "I do owe you a battle, so I suppose I could obliged."

"Wait… so this isn't about me?" Raynare mumbled to herself.

"Good, I'm excited." Sirzechs said with a smile. "But a battle without any stakes isn't nearly as fun is it?" The ultimate Devil quickly shot Issei a wink.

"Oh, yeah right. If I win, than this engagement is called of!" Issei called out with drunken ntensity. "Consider it me making up for missed opportunities."

"Hmmmm…. If you want to raise the stakes, than what are you willing to put on the line?" Riser asked with a rub of his chin.

Issei took a minute to think it through for a few moments before answering. "Hmmmm. I'll reuse the offer from my match with your queen. If you win then I'll commit myself to becoming a servant under the Phenex house."

Riser's face suddenly turned bright red. "Deal!"

(Author's Notes)

Well there you go, Issei did not become a devil, don't worry. I hate to say it, but the next chapter is gonna be mostly fighting and I know a few of you don't like it, but it's gotta happen.

I just wanna quickly think all of you who have followed and favorited this story. I never imagined a hundred people would even read this, much less that over 200 of you would be excited to read every single chapter and I can't thank you guys enough. I always appreciate your support and feedback and just want to thank all of you. Until next time, bye!