Satsuki calmly sipped tea as she sat on one of the couches in the Occult Research Club Room, her butler and friend Mitsuzo standing by to pour more. Across the table from her sat Rias, sipping tea that Akeno poured for her. "So that's what happened, then?" Satsuki asked, her voice dry with just a hint of amusement audible in it.

"Yes," Rias confirmed. "Senketsu was apparently resurrected along with Ryuko, and is now both infused into her uniform and bonded to her as her familiar. He also appears to have struck up a friendship with Ddraig..."

"The dragon spirit inside Ryuko's Sacred Gear," Satsuki interpreted. "I suppose that explains why the magical energy of her Fibers wasn't quite that of a Devil." She took another sip. "D-Fibers indeed..."

"Speaking of, Ddraig suggested I ask you what Ryuko was capable of while wearing Senketsu," Rias continued thoughtfully. "I assume it was...impressive?"

Satsuki let off a soft chuckle. "It would be much shorter to list what Ryuko isn't capable of when wearing Senketsu."

"That could be interesting to hear," Akeno observed thoughtfully. "It would be good to know what Ryuko's limits actually are, so we know how best to help her surpass them." Her eyebrow twitched as she saw Mitsuzo's brows quiver in supressed amusement.

"So what isn't she capable of with Senketsu?" Rias inquired hopefully.

"Caution," Satsuki responded flatly. "Beyond that, I'll let you know if we find something."

Rias frowned worriedly. "I don't know whether to find that frustrating or horrifying..."

"But why did you ask me here in person to discuss this?" Satsuki inquired. "We could have easily discussed this remotely."

"True," Rias allowed nervously, "but...there is something else that is happening today that..." She hesitated, uncertain how to explain.

"My sword is not as flammable as Uzu's," Satsuki offered calmly, a hand shifting to rest on the hilt of her sword where it lay against her seat. "And it will take more than a pretty boy demonic fire-bird with an over-inflated opinion of himself to put me off my guard."

Rias raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How did you know he was of the Phoenix clan?" she asked in surprise.

"Because you didn't ask Ryuko to be here, so you don't believe this is a problem that can be dealt with through overwhelming force, suggesting regenerative properties," Satsuki explained calmly as she took another sip. "Between that and referring to Uzu's blade as flammable, it was a simple deduction." She lowered her glass. "And if he weren't a pretty boy with an overinflated opinion of himself, then he'd be someone you'd be comfortable talking things out with rather than trying to avoid him. I assume he will be visiting today to press the family-arranged engagement?"

Rias nodded, letting out a breath of relief that she didn't need to explain fully, and that Satsuki wasn't upset at becoming involved in this. "In fact, he should be here-"

A golden-orange magic circle appeared before releasing a gout of flame, accompanied by a sound somewhere between a hunting bird's cry and a female scream of agony. As the flames faded with the magic circle, a young-seeming man dressed in red stood there, his back to them so only his golden hair was visible. "It's been a while since I visited the human world," he mused, his voice seeming cultured but plainly an affectation. As he turned, he revealed his dark blue, angular eyes partially shaded by his hanging bangs. "I missed you...my darling Rias," he greeted, his tone exuding overconfidence.

"The feeling isn't mutual," Rias responded flatly and irritably.

"Now don't be like that," the man continued, sauntering his way over to her and reaching towards her. "Is it so wrong I come to visit my bet-"

A flash of light swept the air in front of him, severing the first knuckle of his middle finger just before it came in contact with Rias' hair. "Forgive me if I'm mistaken, Rias," Satsuki spoke up calmly, "but until such time as any engagement is accepted and formalized by you, I do not believe it grants him any special privileges of touching you."

"That is correct," Rias confirmed, suppressing surprise with irritation.

The man rounded on Satsuki. "And just who do you think you-" He paused as he raised his hand towards her. "W...why hasn't my finger regenerated?"

Satsuki held up her sword, where it glowed with sacred light from the strength of her convictions. "My blade has been specially treated and forged to retard regeneration capabilities," she explained, hiding her surprise that simply exposing the blade to Ryuko's altered energies had been enough to allow it to cut off Phoenix-style regeneration. "And I do not think much of your manners."

The man sneered, though took a step back. "Why should I be mannerly to a mere-"

Satsuki blurred from his vision, and he felt the blade at his neck...and saw another one aimed at his crotch. "You can mind your manners...or choose a blade to deliver its strike."

"If you delivered the upper strike, it would cause a war," Akeno pointed out playfully.

"How can a mere human move-" The man's words were cut off as the shorter blade delivered the lower strike.

"Don't be a child," Satsuki chided as she sheathed both blades and stepped away. "Your regeneration is strong. The retardation should wear off in an hour or so." She struck the ground with the tip of her sword's sheath, the loud clack drawing all attention. "Rias, are you going to introduce me to your unwelcome asshole?"

Rias did her best to suppress her mirth. "This is Riser Phenex, third son of the Phenex clan, one of the 72 Pillars. And the man my parents have arranged to be my betrothed, despite my objections."

"I don't think much of their choices," Satsuki frowned as she glared down at Riser. "Mako could clobber him if she really tried." This caused Rias to raise her eyebrows in surprise.

Riser snarled as flames gathered around him. "You would do well to watch your words around me, human-"

Satsuki flared her aura, projecting her pure willpower into the air around her. Riser's flames were quickly smothered by her sheer force of will. "Either be willing to stand up for your words, or keep them to yourself," she snapped out flatly. "I understand there is a means by which the Devil clans can settle differences between peerages? I believe it is called...a Rating Game?"

Riser managed - just barely - to spit defiance. "Like I would lower myself to such a challenge against humans!"

"Very well," Satsuki allowed flatly. "Then you will give me and mine one week to train Rias and hers, at which point you will engage against them. If they win, you will apologize for your rudeness to me, recant your opinion of humans, and declare yourself unfit to be matched to Rias and nullify the engagement yourself."

Riser snarled as he pushed himself to his feet, flames gathering in his nether regions as his rage forced his healing to restart sooner. "And if I win, I shall take your head and those of yours as a trophy!" he snapped out.

"Deal," Satsuki replied before Rias could respond. "Until then, leave my sight!" Riser vanished in his flames.

"Satsuki!" Rias gasped out in shock. "Do you realize what you've done? The only time Riser has ever lost a Rating Game is by conceding to people he respected and wanted to maintain good relationships with."

"And if in a week I can't train you and all of yours up to be at least Mako's level, I don't deserve to keep my head," Satsuki responded immediately. "Now let's see about a training ground."