Chapter 7
Consciousness slowly returning to him Issei groggily opens his eyes, the young devil feeling rejuvenated after an almost comatose rest. His eyes coming into focus Issei's vision is filled with the color of skin, Issei feeling something soft and warm beneath his face, arms wrapped around his shoulders.
For a moment Issei begins to panic, his mind beginning to race as questions begin to form in his mind. Then the memories of the prior night return to him, Issei remembering that he fell asleep using Akeno's chest as pillow, and they'd gone to bed together…
After we had sex like rabbits…
His vision focused Issei looks 'up' to see Akeno's sleeping face, her eyes closed, her expression tranquilly serene, Issei momentarily struck speechless by the sight of it.
…She…she looks so cute…so peaceful…
So unlike when she'd revealed her heritage to him in the bath, the insecurity in her voice and on her face was impossible to miss.
And she's my girlfriend now…my big breasted Yamato Nadeshiko girlfriend…
His left hand snaking against his side Issei reaches up, his arm bending around Akeno's, his hand drifting to her chest, his fingers don't reach for her breasts, but rather his own cheek, his thumb and pointer fingers grasping a small chunk of flesh between them, Issei presses his fingers together, literally pinching himself.
OW!...This…this isn't a dream…
Pulling his hand away from his face Issei looks back toward Akeno's sleeping face, a part of him half expecting to see her dark eyes open, her lips curled in a smile, but instead all Issei sees is that same serene expression looking back at him, Akeno clutching onto him almost like a body pillow.
She's holding me sort of like Rias did after I was reincarnated…
Remembering that morning Issei feels like it was a lifetime ago, so much has happened to him since that fateful day that it's hard for him to imagine that it's all real.
It's almost like I'm the hero in a Battle Light Novel…
His lips curling in a half smile Issei is about to close his eyes and plant his face back between Akeno's bosoms when the door opens.
The sound of the door opening is incredibly loud in the otherwise quiet room, the handle smacking against the wall even louder still.
Turning his head toward the source of the noise Issei can feel the blood drain from his face, a familiar crimson light filling the room as Issei takes in the sight of Rias standing in the doorway, her hands balled into fists, the red light coming from the demonic power swirling around her hands.
Swallowing Issei looks up to her face, her eyes narrowed, her countenance making it incredibly clear what the Gremory heiress is feeling at that very moment.
Anger.
"A-ken-o…" Rias enunciates her Queen's name. Akeno's eyes opening at the mention of her name, her head turning toward Rias a frown appears on her face, the expression almost playful.
It is a stark contrast to the expression looking back at both of them. Seeing it Issei swallows.
Albion! I'm going to need the armor! Issei begins to panic, his body naked as the day he was born.
So early…well…it's understandable…
His Sacred Gear appearing the 'feathers' don't manifest, instead only the white 'bones' of the gear form, Issei about to try and move when Akeno replies, either oblivious to Issei calling for his Sacred Gear or ignoring it.
"Is it morning already Rias?" Akeno asks, opening her mouth and yawning, Akeno raising her hand to smother it.
Listening to her tone Issei doesn't know if Akeno is being serious or just trying to surprise Rias and lessen her anger.
"What do you think you're doing?" Rias glares at her Queen, her tone not as incendiary as before.
"Sharing a bed with my boyfriend." Akeno replies matter of factly, and Issei's mouth drops.
Oh no…
The demonic power behind Rias vanishes, the anger on her face giving away to a new emotion, surprise.
"Boyfriend!?" Rias blurts out, and Akeno smiles.
"Ara-ara…did you misunderstand me?" Akeno asks, pointedly moving her chest back and forth, rubbing her breasts against Issei's face with the motion.
Under better circumstances Issei would be more inclined to enjoy the sensation. As it stands at that moment though Issei is more afraid for his life, and what Rias might do to him as punishment.
Rias gaze shifting to him Issei swallows as his eyes meet Rias', Issei not sure how to react to the accusation in her stare.
"Is this true? Did the two of you agree to be lovers?" Rias asks, and Issei opens his mouth to say something, but no words come to mind.
What can I say? Akeno asked me if she wanted to be boyfriend/girlfriend and I said yes?
Closing his mouth Issei slowly nods, the motion unmistakable.
Seeing it Rias momentarily looks away, the power of destruction not again rearing its familiar head Issei doesn't take that to mean that he's out of the proverbial woods. He's still lying on a bed with his head pressed against Akeno's breasts.
For a moment nothing happens, then Rias raises her gaze, her eyes glaring at Akeno, the anger from her initial entrance returning to her eyes.
"I take my eyes off you for one night, and this is what you do to me?" Rias stares her Queen down, the power of destruction returning to her hands, the energy growing larger, forming an aura around her body.
Uh-oh… Issei thinks to himself, swallowing the saliva in his mouth.
Not much time left now partner… Albion pipes up.
"What does it matter to you?" Akeno asks defensively.
"Y…" Rias stutters. "You know that Issei is special to me, and yet you try to swoop in and take him?" Rias fires back.
"He was your first, but it isn't like you said you did it because you love him. You only slept with him in order to get out of your engagement with your fiancé."
Her hands shaking Rias doesn't deny that statement.
"That may be true but that doesn't mean I wanted to!" Rias replies. "Do you honestly think I wanted to remember my first time as a means to break off an engagement? If I had a choice I would've broken the engagement without doing that and been done with it!"
Wh…what is she saying? Issei asks himself, not sure what Rias is getting at.
"Ufufu…so then why are you so upset?" Akeno asks. "Are you angry because you want more and now you can't have it?"
It's like an arrow hitting a bulls-eye.
"AKENO!" Rias screams with murder in her voice, the power of destruction growing behind her.
Oh HELL… Issei thinks to himself.
Time's up partner. Albion informs him.
As if sensing what's happening Akeno releases her grip on Issei, the raven haired young woman moving to stand, even as she half pushes Issei away from her.
She doesn't want Issei getting dragged into what's about to happen between her and Rias.
Raising her right hand destructive power concentrates on Rias right hand, the Gremory heiress drawing her hand back and throwing it forward, as though she were throwing a baseball. A ball of crimson energy leaves her hand, flying toward Akeno Rias' Queen swiftly moves, avoiding the blast even as it strikes the bedroom wall behind her.
BOOM!
"Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!" Issei's Sacred Gear calls out, the armor forming on his body as the bedroom fills with dust and smoke.
"Catch me if you can Rias!" Akeno taunts, her wings appearing before Akeno leaps out the hole created by Rias, the red haired devil sprouting her own wings.
"You think you can get away that easily!?" Rias growls, taking off after her servant.
It all happening so fast Rias is gone a moment after Akeno, Issei standing there in his armor, thankfully no longer breathing in smoke and dust.
I have to stop them…they're going to tear this property apart and probably kill each other!
His 'feathers' appearing Issei takes off after Rias, the young devil cloaked in his armor, hoping that he can find some way to resolve this disagreement before burial is in order.
XXX
Sitting on his bed Yuuto Kiba slowly turns the page on a novel, the young devil waking with the sun, going through a dawn run, running the exact same course Issei runs only Kiba doesn't have to worry about Akeno and Rias chasing him and whipping him. With his speed neither Rias nor Akeno could even hope to keep up with him. Sparring with Issei even promoted to Queen he couldn't lay a hand on the blonde devil.
Not that my speed would matter much in a match against Riser. He'd just cover the entire coliseum with fire and burn me alive. At least with his armor Issei-kun should be able to avoid that fate. The problem is even with his powers Riser can just instantly regenerate whatever power Issei takes, and then when the armor goes away, Issei is vulnerable and Riser can just burn him alive. Being a showman Riser will let Issei have a shot at him, probably even let Issei run the time out on his armor before he finally kills him…
It's a grim outlook, but one that Kiba can't seem to forget. Knowing that Riser is a Phenix Kiba has no idea how Issei is going to defeat him, much less kill him. The rules of the match dictate that things like Holy Water are forbidden, so Issei can't use a devil's innate weaknesses against Riser.
BOOM!
Blinking Kiba recognizes the sound of an explosion, the young devil only momentarily curious as to what is going on before he sets his book aside, the blonde Knight already fully dressed as his feet hit the floor. Without a thought Kiba opens the door to the hall, the Knight heading toward the source of the sound of the explosion, Issei's bedroom.
With his speed Kiba quickly navigates the hallways, arriving at Issei's door a few moments after the explosion, just in time to see Issei clad in his armor fly out through a hole in the wall. Watching it happen Kiba can see bolts of destructive power flying through the sky, bolts of lightning firing back.
So…Rias and Akeno are fighting…that isn't good…
"…Kiba-san…" Asia's voice reaches his ears, Kiba turning to look to see Asia, Raynare and Koneko all come jogging up to him.
Closing his eyes Kiba sighs heavily.
"We're going to need your healing powers Asia-san…" Kiba says turning toward the hole in the wall. "Assuming this property isn't leveled first…"
Looking out the hole made by Rias Raynare blinks in surprise, seeing the bolts of demonic energy and lightning flying back and forth, along with the green light of Issei's Sacred Gear the enslaved Fallen Angel's first thought is to try and help.
Stepping forward Kiba seems to know what she's thinking, his voice coming out low and even.
"Go out and there and you'll end up dead." Kiba warns her. "Not that I would lose any sleep over it…"
Blinking in surprise Raynare turns her questioning gaze toward him, the dark haired Fallen Angel clueless as to what Kiba is talking about.
"Wh…what are you talking about?"
His lips curling slightly Kiba looks out the hole in the wall, his arms crossing over his chest.
"I've got no love for Fallen Angels, so if you go out there and happen to catch one of Buchou's blasts and get obliterated it won't matter to me."
"N-not that!" Raynare replies. "I mean…why shouldn't I go try and help Issei-sama?"
Turning his head back to her Kiba still wears a smug grin.
"Because Buchou and Akeno-san are fighting because of him. If you go out there you'll only make things worse, especially since you've slept with him too. Right now the three of them need to work this out, we just have to hope that they don't end up destroying this property in the process."
XXX
Rias and Akeno firing attacks at one another Issei does his to best to stay away from between them. The last thing he wants to do is catch a blast of lightning or destructive power. Both Rias and Akeno fling the attacks like they're throwing water balloons, both beauties crying out with each attack.
"Buchou…Akeno-san…stop this!" Issei tries to subvert any bloodshed.
Hearing him Rias' lips lower in a scowl, Akeno seeming to smile ever so slightly at the same time.
"You're STILL referring to me with a title even after everything we've done, and you're even calling Akeno by her name!" Rias growls, holding both hands over her head and forming a large crimson ball of energy.
"Ara-ara…jealously is an ugly thing Rias…" Akeno jabs.
"SHUT UP!" Rias growls, throwing the ball of energy.
The giant ball of destruction flies toward Akeno, the naked half devil barely managing to slip to the left of Rias' blow, the attack passing her by even as Akeno draws lighting to her hands, firing a large bolt of yellow electricity back toward Rias.
"Stop it, please!" Issei tries to plead with the both of them. "You're both best friends! You don't want to kill one another!"
"Best friends don't do what Akeno has done!" Rias denies, and Akeno laughs.
"Ufufu…and what exactly have I done?" Akeno asks pointedly.
Narrowing her eyes Rias' expression could melt tungsten.
"You know what you've done!" Rias counters. "Don't play stupid!"
Raising both hands balls of destruction form on both of Rias' palms, the red haired Gremory heiress throwing the spheres one after another.
Akeno dropping both attacks sail over her head.
"Buchou, stop this!" Issei keeps trying to play peacemaker. "…Fuku-Buchou is your best friend! Once the match ends you'll regret not having her in your life!"
The words passing his lips Issei immediately regrets saying them. Mentally slapping his face into his palm.
Both Rias and Akeno stop trying to kill each other. The lightning fading from Akeno's hands the crimson demonic power disappears from around Rias, the both of them turning their full attention to Issei.
"Issei…what do you mean by that?" Akeno asks, her curiosity plastered on her features, Rias' face mirroring Akeno's.
Both of them hovering toward him Issei is momentarily befuddled, not sure how to answer the obvious question both Rias and Akeno want answered.
How could he tell them both that he doesn't think he's going to survive the match? How can he say that in his heart he believes that Riser is going to burn him alive, that no matter what he does or how he trains from now until the beginning of the match Riser is simply going to wait until the time limit on his armor runs out and then kill or simply immolate him before Issei can even go into Balance Breaker.
Feeling their gazes on him Issei swallows, the mask on the armor sliding back, revealing his face, Issei's insecurity plastered on his face like a billboard.
"Issei…" Rias begins, her voice stern. "What do you mean once the match ends I'll regret not having Akeno in my life?"
Swallowing Issei sighs heavily, closing his eyes before he speaks.
"You both have to know, no matter what I do during this training camp, no matter how hard I train, I'm going to die." Issei explains to both of them. "Even with a promotion, I can't match someone who can just regenerate any wound, or any strength that they've lost…"
Hearing Issei admit his own perceived weakness both Rias and Akeno can't bring themselves to attack one another.
"Issei…do you really believe that all of this is pointless?" Rias asks, and Issei slowly bobs his head.
"…Yes…"
Rias and Akeno sharing a glance neither of them knows exactly what to say. While they both hope that Issei will somehow be able to kill Riser, they both are also fully aware that Riser can count the number of Rating Games he's lost on one hand, and those losses were both forfeits done for political reasons. Whenever Riser has taken the game seriously he's never lost to a devil that isn't at least a high class devil. For Issei, a low class devil that was reincarnated less than a year prior the odds of him defeating Riser are slim.
"Issei, you're the White Dragon Emperor, one of only two Heavenly Dragons." Rias begins, trying to improve her only pawn's disposition. "The power of Heavenly Dragon rivals that of a Maou, and that power resides in you now."
Opening his eyes and looking at Rias Issei raises his left hand, holding his fingers open with his palm facing him.
"That may be true, but I can barely use this armor, much less the other powers of the Sacred Gear…" Issei explains to them.
"That's the point of this trip Issei." Rias explains to him. "Until the day before the match we're going to work to make you stronger. When we're done you'll be able to win."
Breaking eye contact with Rias Issei swallows, a part of him unable to believe what Rias is telling him.
"But what if I can't?" Issei asks. "What if no matter what we do I end up being burned alive? You'll be humiliated and your entire family shamed…"
"You can't think like that Issei…" Akeno finally breaks her silence. "If you died I wouldn't know what I would do…"
His eyes rising Issei looks at Akeno, seeing the sincerity in her face Issei feels a semblance of reassurance.
How can I think like that? I've got a beautiful, big breasted girlfriend. I have to survive this match so I can motorboat her incredible Oppai!
Resolve filling him Issei clenches his left hand into a fist, both Rias and Akeno taking note of the change in their fellow devil's mood.
His body shining the armor disappears from his body, Issei's naked form being displayed for all to see with only his Sacred Gear on his back, Issei's free hand immediately covering his crotch.
"I still have a few minutes with the armor today, so after I get dressed I can still train with it…" Issei grins, feeling embarrassed in spite of the fact that both Rias and Akeno have slept with him.
"Right." Rias agrees.
XXX
After dressing Issei goes on his normal morning run, Akeno and Rias behind him neither Devil says anything. Once the run is over Issei is given his normal amount of time to recover from the run before beginning the second part of his training. Today he'll be sparring against Koneko while restrained from using his Divide power, forcing Issei to focus on his own strength rather than the power of his Sacred Gear.
With Koneko, Kiba, Asia and Raynare all waiting near Issei Rias rounds her gaze on Akeno.
"Akeno, we need to talk." Rias says matter of factly, Issei starting at the sound of Rias' statement.
"Wait…" Issei tries to stop them, the young devil pushing himself to a sitting position, worry on his features.
"It's all right Issei." Rias assuages her second newest servant. "Akeno and I are just going to talk, no violence. At least, not from me."
"Ara-ara…I guess I can agree to that too." Akeno chimes in.
Sighing Issei flops back onto the ground, relief washing over him both Rias and Akeno walk away from the rest of the Occult Research Club, Akeno following her King.
XXX
Walking to Rias' bedroom neither Akeno nor Rias says anything, Akeno not sure what Rias wants to say to her. Akeno is Issei's girlfriend, and she has no intention of relinquishing that position. While her method of obtaining it was less than honorable, it isn't her fault that Rias never bothered to admit her feelings, either to Issei or to herself.
There's the fact that she told Issei that their first time was because she didn't want to marry Riser. If not for that I'm sure Issei would've stayed with her. But, that isn't the case, and now…
Rias opening the door in front of her Akeno follows the red haired devil into her temporary bedroom, Akeno walking into the room, Rias closing the door behind her.
"So?" Akeno asks curiously, turning around to see Rias standing near the door. "What is there to discuss?"
"You stole Issei from me." Rias answers matter of factly.
"Really?" Akeno asks. "Seems to me you only slept with him because you wanted to absolve your engagement to Riser."
Rias' eyebrow twitching Akeno can tell that she's struck a chord.
"I only did that because that chauvinistic bastard wouldn't take 'no' for an answer." Rias explains to her Queen.
"And now Issei-kun has to risk his life against the man you spurned." Akeno replies.
"That…" Rias momentarily pauses. "I never thought that Riser would invoke this challenge." Rias replies. "I thought he would challenge us to a Rating Game or something, or at least challenge me."
"Instead he challenged Issei to a death match, and now Issei might die, all because of you."
Swallowing Rias doesn't miss the accusation in Akeno's tone. It's something that the red haired heiress has had to live with since the day Riser laid his challenge to Issei.
"You think I don't know that?" Rias asks.
Staring her friend down Akeno doesn't flinch even as Rias meets her gaze.
"If you hadn't slept with him, Riser wouldn't want to kill him because he took your virginity." Akeno continues.
"I know." Rias replies.
"He's a high class devil who's practically invincible." Akeno points out.
"I know."
"If Issei can't somehow use his armor before Riser can hit him with a fire blast Issei is going to die."
"I KNOW!" Rias growls at her, the Gremory Heiress unable to keep her temper completely in check. "I know that how he is now Issei is likely going to die. I have also spent nearly every waking moment reading, re reading and reading again every book on Sacred Gears I can find."
Seeing Rias really angry Akeno checks her own emotions, telling herself that her accusations aren't going to help Issei, and that is what is important right now.
What matters is getting Issei strong enough to kill Riser and survive this match. After that Rias and I can scratch one another's eyes out over who's responsible for this situation and who is better for Issei...
"All right." Akeno agrees, her tone relaxing.
"It doesn't change the fact that you took Issei from me." Rias continues her original argument.
"I don't remember Issei saying that he loves you, or that you had feelings for him." Akeno replies. "Besides, if Issei really wanted to be with you he would've rejected me. It isn't as though I forced him to start dating me."
"You were supposed to just be with him to try and help his sacred gear evolve, you weren't supposed to seduce him and start dating him."
Shrugging her shoulders Akeno smiles.
"Ara-ara…I'm not the type of woman who can just throw away her virginity." Akeno retorts casually. "Besides, after I told him about my wings and let him see, I just couldn't control myself."
Quirking an eyebrow Rias lets Akeno's comment about throwing away her virginity pass. Instead the Gremory heiress focuses on the latter part of Akeno's statement.
"You told him about being half Fallen Angel?" Rias asks, and Akeno nods.
"I showed him my wings, and he didn't hate me." Akeno replies, and Rias sighs, slowly shaking her head.
"I know all the trouble they've brought you, but you really do have a complex about your wings, Akeno." Rias comments, and Akeno smiles at her King.
"Ufufu…I know." Akeno doesn't deny. "Right now the only good thing those accursed things have gotten me is Issei-kun."
Rias' eyes shifting to Akeno's chest her tone is filled with sarcasm.
"I don't think it was your wings that brought him to you." Rias replies, and Akeno's smile doesn't falter.
"It doesn't hurt that Issei actually likes them." Akeno replies. "Most guys think they're fake, or that's all they care about."
"I'm sure you practically throwing yourself at him didn't hurt either." Rias comments.
"I didn't just throw myself at him." Akeno replies. "I told him to make his woman!"
Her tone completely serious Rias blinks in surprise, a part of her not expecting Akeno's response.
"Right…"
Little After note: Sorry for the delay, but real life tends to destroy the best laid plans. Since the next few 'days' in story time will be relatively repetitive, the next chapter will be dealing with the duel, and possibly a little of the aftermath.