Uhhh... Honey, I'm home? I dunno, I'm back with this after the many, many, many, many, responses to come back. They were more of begs and pleas but I'll be lenient because I'm a benevolent Maou.

Anywho, just enjoy it. And prepare for the rant I'll have at the end.

Inhale! Exhale!

Issei took a slow breath. Oxygen entered, filling his lungs, and calming his heart to a slower rate. He then released the carbon dioxide, clearing his mind of any lasting thoughts. He held from taking another. He straightened his back, positioned his feet properly, dug his heels in, and steadied his aim. His target, a wild boar. His weapon of choice, a bow and arrow. Two fingers held the string, his other hand tightly on the grip with his pointer finger outwards. The arrow was thin with a curved arrowhead. Easy to shoot, hard to get out.

"Good Issei," whispered a voice a few feet behind him. "Keep your eyes on the target, check for wind changes, and wait for the perfect opportunity."

The Pawn did as instructed. The wind wasn't very strong but could still carry his shot if timed poorly. The creature was merely grazing and hadn't the slightest clue of his presence. He looked at different parts of the body, trying to figure out which would kill it easily and swiftly. The eyes? The neck? Perhaps the heart?

Two of those were tough shots with how the boar stood. The same two also wouldn't allow the arrow to pierce deep due to its thick fur and thicker skin. And that would give it time to run. It was a no brainer where to aim.

"Boost..." Issei whispered. The arrow's tip glowed a faint green.

Chink!

The arrow flew with great speed. There wasn't even time to react before it struck between the eyes. It sunk deep into its skull, reaching a little over half the shaft before stopping.

"Very well done, Issei," Artemis praised. Both of them stood from behind the tall grass. "Using your Sacred Gear to enhance the arrow was a brilliant idea to ensure it would kill upon impact."

"Thanks. It was because of your teaching," the boy replied. The huntress smirked with a hand on her hip.

"Of course. I am the best whether Apollo cares to admit it or not," she replied confidently. Issei chuckled before both made their way over to their game.

"I'm still a bit surprised you chose to go hunting with me," Issei stated as he knelt down. He began to remove the arrow, being sure to not ruin the meat.

"Do you have to say that every time we go? It's been three days," Artemis replied playfully. "Are you saying you don't like training with me?"

Issei shot around and quickly began to deny the accusation. "No, no, no, I never said that! It's just..." He looked off to the side.

The devil had indeed been training with the Goddess of the Hunt since they started their quest. Each and every day they had the same small talk of why she was training him and every time she would ask him the same thing. He had avoided asking the question that was on his mind in favor of not incurring her wrath. But today she seemed like she wouldn't let the subject drop this time. The look in her eyes told him to come clean.

He sighed. "I just thought that you couldn't stand being around a man, let alone choose to train one..."

The Pawn prepared for the worst. Would she smite him? Turn him into a stag? Leave him on a small island surrounded by deadly creatures?

Sigh...

The woman instead released an annoyed breath. It made Issei blink before he looked back at her. The huntress was shaking her head with a tired look on her face. She also looked annoyed and overall upset but none of it was towards him.

"I guess I can understand now," she muttered. Raising her head, she made direct eye contact with him. "Issei, I'm going to tell you the truth. Most of what you read in those history books aren't true. At least...not anymore."

The boy cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm not as much of a man hater as you might think," she answered, folding her arms. "Sure I have had my fair share of bad men but that doesn't mean I'll lump them all together. What kind of woman judges a gender as a whole just because of a few assholes?"

Issei's eyes widened at the vulgar word. Of all things, he never expected a god to curse. Especially with such disgust behind it. Wasn't there a code against that or weren't they above it?

Artemis noticed this before taking a calming inhale and exhale. "Sorry, it's just that humans place such mortal traits upon us. We're gods, sometimes we tend to be petty or quick to anger but not everything you hear is true."

Issei gained a thoughtful expression. "I suppose I can understand. Could you tell me a few?"

The goddess smirked. "Sure. But you're carrying the boar."

"I was already going to," he replied with a grin. He lifted up the kill and slung it over his shoulders in a fireman carry. "So what else isn't true about the gods?"

"Hmm," Artemis pondered. Then her eyes lit up. "Well, my father Zeus isn't the playboy everyone thinks he is. At least, not anymore."

"I heard of that. Hera had always taken her anger out on the women he cheated with. With no real indication if Zeus ever got punished," Issei replied.

"Trust me, she didn't let him off so easily." The huntress shivered at the memory of her father's constant pain-filled wails atop Mount Olympus. It was a month of thunderstorms for Greece. "As for some of the women, they weren't all punished as extreme as you think. Some were banished, others turned into peacocks, and a few just had to sacrifice to Hera for forgiveness."

"Ah, so she is merciful."

"When she wants to be..."

"Of course, doesn't that go for all of you?" Issei asked jokingly. He received a light hearted laugh.

"You would be right."

A comfortable silence reigned between the two. It was as if they knew each other for quite some time. Like they were old hunting buddies finally meeting up after many years apart. Artemis didn't put it off as coincidence, however. She knew it was Issei who created the atmosphere. Just being who he was, it attracted people and made them feel at ease around him. His protective aura practically wrapped around her and while he was not at the level of a god, it comforted her knowing he would back her up if the mission came to a fight.

"So, Issei," Artemis spoke up after a few more minutes of silence.

"Mm?"

"Not to pry into your personal life but would Kuisha be your girlfriend?" She asked.

This made his eyes widened. "Ehh!? N-No...what gave that away!?"

"Hm? What do you mean? You two are practically joined at the hip," the woman replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You two have an amazing chemistry together. I even overheard Hera practically screaming to the higher levels of Heaven about you two on her way out to find Aphrodite."

The Pawn's face was bright red. Had he been that obvious with his infatuation towards the woman of his affection? Artemis talked as if he was being blatant about that. So would that mean that Kuisha knew as well!? If she did, did she just put up with it for his sake!? Would she talk to him and deny his feelings?

Oh Maou, he may have royally fucked up.

"What is stopping you?"

"Huh..?" It was all he could get out in response. He looked over to see her asking with a genuine look of confusion.

"The way you two act. What's stopping you from dating?" She asked again. They had stopped walking by this point and stood in the middle of the forest. All that could be heard was the light breeze tickling the grass beneath their feet and the birds singing happily in the trees.

Issei lowered his head. Two women appeared in his head the moment she asked that question. He still had difficulty looking at their faces, the memories coming back full force. He was lucky neither were there with him as the sheer thought of them made his body feel so heavy. He felt so tired and, most of all, felt like nothing. Just an empty husk that walked and talked. But was controlled and manipulated by the ones he thought he could have a true connection with. What a joke.

"I've seen those eyes before..." Issei focused to see the blue eyes of Artemis. He instinctively tried to move back but was caught by the hands of the huntress. She held him in place by his cheeks as she seemed to stare deeper into his eyes.

"Uhh...Artemis?" He spoke, not liking the intent focus of the goddess.

"Yes, I know these eyes very well," she continued without acknowledging him. He decided to let her do whatever it was she was doing. Sooner it was over the better.

Stare...

Old Issei would have been a mess of putty in the very beautiful woman's hands but the Issei now was more concerned for the intense eye contact. She kept saying that she had seen his eyes before but he had no idea what that meant. The intensity coming from them was also quite intimidating to him as well. It dug deep, as if looking into his soul, searching for an answer as to why. Issei didn't want to dig deeper on this but Artemis, she wouldn't stop.

Could it be that she just enjoyed the fact his eyes were hazel? But it was a pretty common eye color in the human world.

Was it the way his eyes looked? He couldn't tell because he really didn't know what his eyes looked like at the moment. Probably wide with confusion and fear.

Maybe there was something caught in them? No, thats stupid.

Release!

She finally let him go when he wasn't expecting it. He shook his head and moved his jaw a bit, stretching it. The woman had incredible strength despite her stature and had kept him immobile the entire time. His cheeks were a bit sore and he'd rather not have his jaw lock up. The sheer physical strength of a goddess was no joke.

"My apologies, but I think I have figured out why you haven't made Kuisha your lover," Artemis spoke up.

The shock of her words made Issei drop the boar. His eyes widened and he looked back at her to see a firm look on her eyes. She knew!? Just from a little eye contact!?

"You hesitate," she revealed, pointing a finger at him.

Issei blinked twice. That...wasn't the answer he expected. "...What..?"

"You hesitate to tell her how you feel. You fear her rejection despite the obvious signs you notice. You're unsure if she's trying to play you, ease you down, or you're just plain unsure if it's friendly or more. So you constantly have this paranoia that has been built from a traumatic experience from your past. Because of that you won't make the first move because any step you pushed before ended bad. Would I be correct in assuming this is the case?"

The dragon's mouth opened and closed several times before any sound actually came through. "I...I... How... You..." He couldn't create a coherent sentence. His mind had halted as he had been picked apart. All she did was look into his eyes and knew of his exact dilemma. Even without naming anyone, she knew where the problem lied. Was this the power of a god!? "How...?"

"It's quite simple. You two are joined at the hip but the laughing and joking you do isn't sibling related. Friends have those conversations but the longing look in your eyes told me there was something more. However, when something that allowed for further affection was presented, you declined abruptly and backed down leaving you and her in an awkward setting. It is normal for couples first starting but the fact you, nor her, made no moves to push past the awkwardness and strengthen your newly found infatuation, it would mean you haven't confessed to one another. And now, I have discovered the reason is coming from you due to your traumatic fears."

Issei wasn't sure if she took a breath. But she seemed to describe him almost flawlessly. The goddess had been watching them from the start and noticed subtle things that would have flown over his head if the roles were reversed. Any minute detail she had piece together and made very accurate assumptions on the Pawn and Queen. It was almost scary but he could only be in awe of it. While unknown of Kuisha and what the goddess said about her was true, he found himself stripped bare and splayed out before her as she nailed his dilemma on the head.

"You figured it out so easily..." He admitted. "Even I didn't know everything about it. And I am myself..."

Artemis smirked in response. "You aren't a god without some wisdom. And I'm a huntress, noticing details like this is child's play."

Issei was impressed. Even if seen as minor to her, having such a trait was very beneficial when it came to a lot of things as a god. He couldn't help but respect her more due to this fact of strength she possessed.

"Don't hesitate..."

He blinked. "Huh?" He focused back on the huntress. Her head was lowered and she looked to be having thoughts of her own.

"Don't hesitate anymore. I know better than anyone that hesitation can spell the end. Sometimes for you...sometimes for the ones you love..." She casted a sideways glance at him. He could see the pain in her eyes, having thought of something similar to the situation.

Issei pondered if anything like that was written in the history books. False or not, it could give him something to try and comfort the goddess. She did encourage him and he couldn't leave a maiden who looked on the verge of tears.

And then he quickly remembered...Orion.

"Oh." He bit his lip. Two faces appeared once more. "But what if she's..."

"That is not for you to assume," she said with a slight frown. "What if she isn't? And the longer you hesitate, the more you hurt her?"

This made Issei pause. He never really considered the idea of her actually liking him back. The idea that he actually might be hurting her by hesitating and not being honest. He never truly looked at the glass half full it would seem. Such thoughts had gotten him killed or traded the last two times so he didn't want to jump the gun again and reap similar results.

Raynare had asked him out. She was the one to initiate it. She laughed at his jokes, held his hand, and was actually very touchy in general. She even created a few grope moments such as brushing her boobs against his arm or even grazing her hand over his package. He would assume that was as frank as a girl could be when she liked a guy. Until she stabbed him and left him to bleed out.

Rias had kissed him, she kissed him, after he defeated Raiser. It was a hard fought battle. One he sacrificed a piece of himself just to have a chance at saving her. The tears he saw in her eyes when she caught him. They were no longer of sadness, like her life had been given away. They were of happiness, gaining back the freedom she rightfully deserved. Issei had seen a look in her eyes that he had never seen before. One that led to their kiss where she grabbed his cheeks and pulled him in. No consent, no second thoughts, just a spur of elation. That was just as candid as a girl could be with her emotions, right?

Wrong. And days later, he was traded away without so much as a goodbye or a best wishes.

So he didn't have the best track record when it came to pushing that next step. Both times he was wrong. Both times led to life altering events. And both times his feelings were casted aside and his heart was shattered. So it wasn't on his immediate radar to try and jump the gun a third time. Because he didn't know what he would do if he was thrown away again. If his feelings were ignored again. Or if he, as a person, was even considered as such again.

Although, he didn't have the backing of a goddess before. Especially one considered a man-hater. Nor had he really bonded with anyone like he had with Kuisha. There was his bond with Matsuda and Motohama but they were just bros, it's a guy thing. He also had Irina, but their bond was...different. It lacked something that he and the queen shared. Not to say their bond was any less important but his and Kuisha felt...warmer.

"I still see you're conflicted," Artemis spoke. Issei focused back in to see the goddess crouched in front of him. It took note of that for the boy to realize he was flat on his ass. When he fell, he didn't know, but meeting the gaze of the huntress as she bore into him, it wasn't the best thing to come back to.

So, with cheeks flushed at being caught, Issei turned to the side. "There's a lot to think about."

"Not exactly," Artemis retorted. The pawn looked back. "You're making things much more difficult than it has to be."

"But I-"

"No, it's my turn to talk." He clamped his mouth shut. "You're young, you're growing, it's all understandable. You have had a bad past with women, I'm sure, and it's created this paranoia that you just aren't good enough. That is understandable too. But I won't say its acceptable."

"Bu-"

Thwink!

An arrow struck between Issei's legs. He recoiled in fear, not even sure of where the arrow had come from. He was sure Artemis hadn't moved and there was no one else within his sensory field. But the look in her eyes dared him to open his mouth again. The best he could do was thank the Maou that the arrow was a few inches short.

"Now then, as I've said, this pessimism towards yourself is unacceptable. You're the Sekiryuutei for Zeus' sake!"

Huh, no headache. Guess the King of Olympus was lenient.

"Close your eyes." Issei looked at her to see she wasn't joking. He sighed but complied. "Now, when you think of Kuisha, what do you feel?"

"Warmth..." He said without hesitation. The brunette was surprised but his mouth continued on without a need for thought. "Compassion, care, safety, peace, sanctuary, among many others."

"Have you ever felt this way about other love interests before her?"

Issei didn't have to think very hard. "No. It was no more than a crush with Raynare. Falsified affection due to my outrages lust at the time. And it's a no towards Rias as well. Looking back, I may have felt one way or another. But now I know her feelings were just lies and illusions to hide that she was merely using me."

"So Raynare and Rias are their names," Artemis mused. "Shall I kill them for you?"

"W-What!? No!" He blurted back, his earlier emotions dropped for shock. "Why!?"

"I've taken a liking to you. They hurt you, so I hurt them. It's as simple as that," she replied with a nonchalant shrug. Was she actually being serious?

Issei pushed past the fact the goddess admitted to him that she liked him. As a genuine friend, he wasn't an idiot to think anything more. Still, he'd rather not mention the fact she'd be committing a serious crime if she tried to kill the Maou Lucifer's sister.

"There's no need!" He answered, waving his hands side to side to diffuse the situation. Artemis looked unconvinced so he explained. "Raynare is already dead, Rias made sure of that. And Rias...I'd rather deal with her myself."

"A knife to the jugular would-"

"Talk with her. I'll talk with her." Honestly, was killing people always a gods first thought for dealing with bad ones?

Artemis folded her arms and looked off to the side. "Thats boring. A knife would be much more efficient."

"At killing her!?"

"Well yeah, how else are you supposed to show your stance?" Issei blinked twice. Artemis released an unladylike groan. "Fine, talk to her. But when that doesn't work, don't come crawling back to me."

Issei froze for a few more seconds. Eventually he just sighed and shook his head. The pawn lifted the boar onto his shoulders once more and began his walk back to camp. But not without answering the goddess first.

"Uh huh," he replied sarcastically. "I'll be sure to come to you for your expertise of knives and stabbing."

He had walked all of two steps before a pair of arms wrapped around his head and pulled him back.

"Oh, I can't stay mad at you!" He heard the older woman coo. He felt two soft mounds envelope his face as he was yanked back around and dropped the boar once again as he was squeezed tightly. "You have so many options and places to stab depending on what reaction you want. I can show them all."

"Mm-mmm." Issei tried to cry out his disposition. The superior goddess' strength made it impossible to get out a single word and he was left to suffocate in her torturous sign of affection.

Artemis misheard his cries and thought them cheers of encouragement. "Yes, we'll stab her together."

"MM-MMM!?"

"That's right... Together..."

Alright. Couple things to address. They will be short. I hope.

First off, the chapter was short. I get it. But you have to realize its been a while and I'm a bit rusty. Let it wear off and the chapter will increase in time.

Second, my DxD stories and their futures. No, I'm not quitting DxD. The fact I learned there was a reddit post questioning me is ridiculous. I try to span my writing and I'm presumed to be switching ships. DxD is still a massive part of me and I will continue to write it. But, as for now, I want to build up my RWBY stories. The show fascinated me and instilled a passion I had only once before when I started writing for DxD. I have done DxD for over 5 or 6 years, way before I settled on my profile now. So I finally found another show, another passion to write and have fun with. And I want to explore that without being hammered with questions on when I'll update Bael or when I'll update Chibi. I will return in due time but please, let me enjoy the chance to actually write and create a whole new world outside of religious supernaturality. That's all I ask.

Hope everyone enjoyed the read. And I do hope to hear from you all on what you thought of it. This is a building arc for Issei and Kuisha and for Issei with his powers. So be prepared lads and ladies. So enjoy the fun love making I have the least likely person doing.

Oh, and remember, senpai is always watching.

Ciao~