"That's the signal, time for the girls to come back..." Azazel stated as he activated the return spell, allowing the girls to return to their bodies.

After a few seconds the girls returned to their bodies. Azazel and Rossweisse walked over to them and knelt to check if they were all right.

"Are you all alright, you were in their for quite while" Azazel sighed. As the girls rose from from the ground and stretched off.

"It was a lot harder than we had expected, Raynare managed to use Ddraig." Rias groaned as she stretched her back.

"What!" Rossweisse gasped.

"Yes, she had managed to hide in Issei's soul and use it to fool Ddraig into thinking he was giving Issei his power." Akeno sighed

"But you manged to stop her?" Azazel asked

"We tried but it was Issei who stopped her after he broke free from her nightmares" Xenovia stated a she stretched her legs

"Nightmares?" Azazel land Rossweisse looked to each other quizzically.

"I told you that Issei has nightmares but we found that they had been caused by Raynare. before she died, she used transferred her soul into Issei, using scar on his soul caused by the wounds inflicted on him by her before herd death, and the emotional scar that started it of, after she killed him...you have no idea what was going on in his head..." Rias stated, wanting to explain further. only for Issei to break her from her explanation.

"Uh, how long was I out?" Issei groaned as he rubbed his eyes.

"ISSEI!" the room cried as they turned and rushed over to Issei, the Rias Akeno, Asia, Koneko and Xenovia.

"Hey guys I..." Issei mumbled only to be stopped by a pile of girls jumping over to him to hug him. However for Issei it seemed to overwhelm him, as he felt a great sense of guilt given everything that happened, as he thought of what to say to the group.

"Good to have you back Issei, you had us all worried" Kiba stated. signs of relief marked his voice

" I'm so sorry for what happened, I should have tried harder but...i was so lost... " Issei lips started to quiver

" Yeah Issei, I was so worried about you!" Gasped yelped.

"I promised you all that I would protect you, but I hurt you all..." his hands started to tremble and tears started to fall from his eyes.

"Good to see you back to your old self Issei..." Azazel happily stated only to see that Issei was trembling.

The girls felt his trembling and let go of him.

"Issei...what's wrong?" Rias quietly asked as she sat beside him on his left hand side, as Issei sat at the edge of the couch.

"I'm sorry" Issei whimpered as he looked to the floor.

"Sorry for what?"

"I...I should have protected you all, I care for you all, but... she caused me so, much. Pain." Issei wept as he put his head in his hands.

The room was silent, they had never seen Issei like this.

"How could I be so stupid as to think you would all hurt me...every day. every hug. every kiss. I saw you all killing me, I had nightmares where i would be killed..."

"Issei, its okay, you know that Raynare caused those thoughts, it wasn't your..." Akeno said comfortingly as she sat to Issei right hand side

"I believed those thoughts for so long! I believed you where all hiding how you truly felt about me. How could I be so stupid!" Issei yelled slamming his fist into his lap.

"I...I cause you all so much pain...how could anyone love me... I don't deserve to be here after everything I've done to you all!" Issei yelped as he looked to see that the girls were all crying, even Kiba and Gasper had tears in their eyes.

"Issei please...don't think like that." Asia whimpered.

"You have done so much for us all. you saved us from our own demons." Koneko sighed trying to hold back more tears from falling from her eyes.

"You always put us before yourself, no matter what you would do, you are kind, gentle, strong and you always do what's right, how could we not love you" Xenovia stated, rubbing her eye's

"Issei looked to the girls and was lost for words.

"Issei. I know it may be hard for you to realise this but I wanted to listen to what I'm about to say. I cannot imagine the pain that you've been through. I know how much you love everyone here, I've seen what you've done for them first hand... after I found out that it was Raynare that was in your head, I was worried that we wouldn't get you back, I know you two had history and that she caused you a lot of pain, but finding out that she had tried to emotional destroy you by making you fear the people you know you love by break your trust in them... I didn't believe you would break from that, but you did. " Azazel announced, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

"You're strength Issei comes from those you love, and losing the trust you have in them hurt you. you managed to break free because you where shown by Rias, and the rest of the girls that you had nothing to worry about because they love you back. I know you'll carry those scars for a long time, but they will fade with time, and always make sure to remember the good moments in life, they help heal the wounds."

Their was a brief silence, allowing Azazel's words to sink in.

"Thanks Azazel...I needed that." Issei looked to Azazel and gave him a small smile.

"A word of advice Issei. if you have those feelings again. Don't hide them. They'll take over if you don't get those thoughts out. too many people fear talking about this stuff because they don't want to people to see them as weak but it takes guts to talk about those thoughts.

"You know we're all here to talk to if you need to get something of your chest Issei" Rossweisse smiled as she leaned over to Issei. Once she finished speaking Issei looked around the room, as the group all looked at him and nodded showing him they would be their for him n matter what

"Thanks guys" Issei's quietly said, and as soon as he stopped talking a glow of green started to come from Issei's left hand

"Issei, sorry for not helping you out partner, I should have done something...im sorry to everyone for any injuries you sustained, I hope you can forgive me"

Their no need to apologise Ddraig, it was out of your control, and In the end we got you and Issei back, so don't worry about it." Rias said in a polite tone.

"Oh my, look at the time, I think we need to head home, we have school tomorrow." Akeno gasped as she looked at the clock.

"I agree Akeno, we'll teleport to Issei's home, hopefully Issei's parents are asleep.

"Well guys, I guess ill be off, if anything else happens let me know" Azazel stated as he summoned a portal

"I will" Rias stated as Azazel walked into the portal giving a farewell wave.

"After a while Kiba and Gasper went their separate ways followed by Rossweisse.

"Looks like its just us left, you ready to get back home?" Asia asked to to Issei.

"Yeah...i need to get a good nights sleep" Issei yawned.

"Right everybody lets go home" Rias called as she summoned a portal and walked in, followed by Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Xenovia and finally Issei.

When they arrived at home, the group headed to their own rooms to change and then went into Issei's bedroom, Issei had got his clothes off and was in bed. as soon as the girls entered the room, they saw that he had already fallen asleep.

"Shhhh. Issei's sleeping, we don't want to wake him" Rias whispered as she quietly let the girls past her and closed the door.

"Okay... Rias why don't we give him a surprise when he wakes up?" Akeno asked in her usual sexy tone.

"Go on?"

"How about we sleep in the nude as we usually do, but we sleep extra close to him, not only would it make his dreams come true but would reassure him that everything's okay"

"Not a bad idea, lets do it" Rias stated as she removed her pyjamas and slowly slipped in beside Issei followed by Akeno and Asia then by Koneko and Xenovia who softly laid themselves on his lap and chest. The girls snuggled in close, and enjoyed the warm that came from his body.

"Good night Issei" They whispered softly as the slowly fell asleep. Only for Issei to whisper something back.

"This is nice...thank you" Issei slowly opened his eyes to see the girls all next to him, with small smiles on their faces. Not a hint of fear or worry altering what he saw. The image right in front of him was pure and untainted.

"So this is what it feels like to be loved?" Issei thought as he took in the warmth softness he felt, making sure to saviour it as he realised he had not felt this way in a very long time.

END

I hope everyone enjoyed the story, I'm honestly surprised how many people have viewed this story and how many have liked it. For anyone wondering why I wrote this story, my first fic I wrote dealt with the harm Issei suffered being dealt with by Rias, but after a while I thought I needed to make a far larger story to explain the issue more, as from the anime, they don't really go too in depth with how much Raynare had hurt Issei emotionally and something as as serious as Issei's own metal health had to be dealt with by more than just Rias given how complex his relationships are with the other girls, so making full story gave me a chance to try and put my own twist on the issue.

I hope everybody is well, and keeps safe.

PS

I have a new idea for a story which I will be a sort of semi-sequel to one of my stories but you'll have to guess which story it is :) and ill try and make sure it comes out as soon as i can.