Chapter II

"Hyoudou?!"

Issei turned around to meet the incredious gaze of the student council's president, Souna Shitori. Also the third most popular girl in school. Even if she lacked a bit of Issei's favourite part of the femlae anatomy (breast), he had to admit that those long legs and firm arse was really nice to look at. Her short ebony hair, violet eyes along with her beautiful face and petite body gave her an elfish appearance.

"President?" Issei asked back, startled for a moment. He quickly composed himself and gave a polite bow. "Good morning!"

"Good morning." Souna greeted back with a hint of blush on her cheeks. "My apologies if I startled you. I'm not used of you arriving on time to school."

That was an understatement. Issei was twenty minutes ahead of the deadline for students to arrive and half an hour before the actual start of the lessons. He never managed, not once, to arrive before the deadline, which resulted in several detentions before.

"I see." He sheepishly grinned. "You know things have changed and I decided to be more serious about my studies."

"Is that so?" Souna narrowed her eyes. In that moment Issei became aware that something was... different with her.

"What is that feeling?" He asked himself or more accurately his partner Ddraig. But the dragon wasn't in the mood to conserve with him apparently.

"I will tell you later."

"That is good to hear, Hyoundou-san." Souna said after a moment. "But let's your grades speak for themselves. There are a couple of test right at the end of the first week from last year's curriculum. I hope you are ready for them."

"You bet I'm!" Issei replied with a wide smile. He studied hard and even if he wasn't going to get perfect grades it should be a wast improvement. Souna's eyes widened a little at the confidence Issei showed, before a small smile formed on her lips.

"I see." Her eyes showed a hint of approval before her emotionless mask was back in place. "Well, I need to do my work with the council. If you excuse me."

Issei looked over the back of Souna until she went around the corner. Something bothered him, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. No matter how hard he tried to think about it.

"Partner, let's go somewhere private." Ddraig spoke up.

"Hey, there. Now you want to talk?" Issei replied with a scoff.

"You still cannot control your emotions." The dragon let out an exasparated huff. "If you start screaming in surprise at seemingly nothing people will..."

"I know!" Issei cut him off angrily, not just a little flustered at the reminder of his less than stellar self control. He was getting better but was nowhere near to be able to conserve with Ddraig in public.

Finding a fairly quiet corner of the school ground was not challenging at all at this time of the day. A large percentage of the students were only arriving and from the front entrance as well. In other words the back of the school was mostly empty.

"So, what it is?"

"That girl... Souna Shitori, was it? ... she is a devil." Ddraig explained.

"What?!"

"Be quiet, you idiot!" Ddraig harshly reminded a glance around Issei was relieved that noone seemed his outbrust.

"Sorry. What do you mean she is a devil?!"

"What do you think I mean?" Was the dragon's sarcastic reply. "I mean she is a devil, as in a citizen of the Underworld. That's what you felt for a couple of moments. Her devil energy."

"And just what does she do in this school? Scratch that why she isn't in the Underworld in the first place?" Issei asked back.

"Who knows? The more important question is what will you do now? She obviously knows that you are a devil now."

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Issei asked back with a frown. "I don't have any money and even if I get out of town with mother, there is a chance that I come across other supernatural beings. At least Souna is a devil. I mean she is strict as hell, but..."

"So, the waiting game. Should be fine."Ddraig drawled out.

"You are going to up my training regime, aren't you?" Issei realized. The dragon only sent the mental image of a grin as a response.

For the last two weeks Issei trained under Ddraig's guide. Ddraig explained that his most basic power was 'Boost', an abilty to double the user's power every ten seconds. While not as much of a geek as Motohama Issei was still a fan of video games. He instantly understood how broken this ability was. Ddraig however was quick to put him back in place.

For one Issei was weak. So weak that even ten boosts (which would make him a thousand times stronger) would have little effect on his standing among the supernatural. If that was not enough than the simple fact that his body couldn't handle that many boost was enough to make Issei depressed. Hell, even a simple boost would be pushing it. Of course there was a way to change that. Intense (as in suicidal) training, which Ddraig was happy to provide Issei with.

After two weeks Issei was now able to savely use one boost, but Ddraig wanted to focus on his base stats at first. After all the boost true value was in line with the base stats. As Issei was, honestly, rather pathetic compared to other supernatural beings. For a human he wasn't that bad, but wasn't overly atheltic either. Now he was at least not a big disappointment anymore.

Back in the classroom he sat down, not noticing the glances sent his way by the others. Thanks to his devil heritage or more precisely its awakening his body changed a little bit. His hair darkened to the point it was nearly black. His eyes changed color from amber to dark, purplish blue. He have grown a few inches as well along with gaining a bit more defined musculature thanks to his training.

On any other days he would basked in their interest, he hoped for it afterall, but this little episode with Souna did not left his mind. So he just quietly sat on his chair looking oout the window with his cheek resting on the palm of his left hand. He was so engrossed in trying to think possible scenarios that he did not even notice his two best friend approaching.

"...se-kun! Issei-kun!" At last with a little shove Matsuda gained his attention.

"Ah, Matsuda-kun, Motohama-kun! Good morning!" He greeted his friends, who grinned back at him. "How was your vacation?"

"Nice to see you!" Matsuda greeted him. "I have to tell you Issei! Kyushu had some nice hot girl on the beachs! And I hear the Korean girls are quite cute, right Motohama?"

"Indeed." The young teenager agreed with a smirk as he adjusted his glasses, not considering the dirty looks much of the class shot the trio. Issei couldn't help but smile a bit nostalgic at his friends. Motohama was a geek, simple as that. Matsuda was more like a punk and generally closer in looks to Issei. Well, before his change. "How was your break, Issei-kun?"

"Nowhere near as exciting as yours apparently." He dryly replied. "I don't know if Matsuda mentioned..."

"Ah, your prank!" Motohama laughed at it loudly gaining a few more annoyed look. "I have to give you Issei-kun! That was a nice one! Promising Matsuda your entire collection!"

"Yeah, and I nearly fell for it!" Matsuda chuckled along, neither noticing how serious Issei turned.

"Actually, that was not a prank." He admitted. Matsuda and Motohama's laughter was cut off as the whole room turned silent as grave.

"What?!" Matsuda whispered. Motohama's mouth was hanging open even as the whole room looked on in total disbelief. One of the perverted trio

"Look." Issei started to explain. "A lot happened in the last couple of weeks. I don't think I will need them anymore or have much time to hang out with you. So, I decided to give it to you two."

"Oh? Issei-kun... Could it be... Have you got a girlfriend?" Motohama looked at him with a wicked grin on his face.

"I see! So that how it is." Matsuda nodded stroking his imagery beard. "Then it is alright!"

"Ha!" Issei laughed softly at that. "I wish it was a girlfriend." He murmured. "No, sadly no. The reason is simply I have to help my kaa-san at home so I won't have time for it anymore."

The silence that followed was perhaps the longest anyone experienced with one of the trio in a room. After about half a minute Issei started to get uncomfortable with the looks he was getting from his classmates. Fortunatelly, the teacher, Mei-sensei (a hot red milf with one hell of a body) walked inside looking fairly surprised at the calm atmosphere of the class.

"Look, I will swing by after the end of school and give you half-half of my collection, alrgiht?" Issei asked, trying to finish the conservation. The two boy nodded numbly before going to their sits.

Issei was surprised at just how slow the day seemed to pass. With the rumour of his turnaround being heard by everyone by the start of the second period he was followed by whispers as the girls were very interested in it.

There were dozen theories out at the end of the days, ranging from true redemption to it all being a plot to get neear to the females. Most seemed to adopt the wait and see approch. Later issei learned that it was thanks to Souna, who spoke up on his behalf as he seemed genuine enough.

Matsuda and Motohama seemed to still think it as a joke until issei refused to go with them to peek on the kendo club. That was also what made some of the girls who heard it deciding to follow Souna's lead.

It was two weeks since Issei heard of Souna again. He of course seen her now and then, but they didn't speak at all. He was certain that the girl was observing him along with others. Not that she was the only one. To his surprise there were at least a dozen other devils in school starting with the Two Great Ladies Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima and stopping at some of the teachers like Mei-sensei.

"Is Issei Hyoundou-kun here?" Looking over the entrance Issei came across Yuuto Kiba, the so called Prince of Kuoh. He was tall, blond, blue eyed and handsome. In other words just as a prince should be.

"I'm here."

"Good afternoon, Hyoundou-kun." Kiba's smile was a little strained in Issei's opinion. Must be the whispers as the girls were wondering what the 'Prince of Kuoh' wanted with Issei. True, Issei's reputation improved in the last two weeks it, but it was still far from the point where his meeting with Kiba could go unnoticed.

"Good afternoon, Kiba-san." Issei greeted him carefully. Kiba was one of the devils he could identify. "What can I do for you?"

"Shitori-san would like to speak with you. Please come with me."

Kiba lead him to the student council's room, but stayed outside. Inside there was only Souna, Tsubaki Shinra, the vice-president, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. Rias and Souna sat on acouch with Tsubaki and Akeno stood behind them. All four girls carefully followed Issei's movements.

"Hyoundou-san, please sit." Souna gestured towars one of the two chairs in front of the couch. Between them was a simple table. As soon as Issei sat down Akeno Put a tea pot and three cups in front of them, filling them. Souna and Rias took the cups gingerly slowly taking a few sips.

"Hyoundou-san, do you know why are you?" Rias asked. Issei wondered how exactly could a hihg school student posses such mature bodies like she, Akeno and Tsubaki.

Rias was simply gorgeous. Crimson hair falling down to the small of her back, turquoise-blue eyes. Strong and long legs, leading to a buttle butt, narrow waist and boobs that was the fantasy os Issei's from a year now.

Akeno was Rias' equal. Her dark hair was much longer though and her violet eyes watched issei with more amusement compared to Rias' curiousity. But her body was just as gorgeous as the other ladies.

Tsubaki was very much like Souna if a bit more... mature. She seemed to be the least interested in the conservation or Issei himself. The young man was curious to see if it was only a mask or she truly was disinterested.

"As all of you are devils... I guess it has something to do with it." Issei replied as he also grabbed his cup and took a sip. "The tea is very good. Whoever made it has my compliments."

"Thank you Issei-kun." Akeno smiled at him.

"You are quite direct, Issei-kun." Rias remarked, before continuing on. "But you aren't wrong: we are here to discuss your change in status so to speak."

"As you must know Rias and I are the heirness of the Gremory and Sitri clan respectively." Souna explained. "As you can guess we were curious about an unknown devil appearing in our territory out the the blue. Expecially as it was someone we know before."

"Wait, I thought you family name was Shitori." Issei interrupted.

"Shitori sounds more Japanese." Souna replied with a shrug. "That means you don't know about us..."

"Not much." Issei admitted. Ddraig wasn't the most knowledgable of devils. Rias and Souna exchanged a glance.

"I don't understand." Rias said at last. "Your master must have spoken about us."

"I don't have a master." Issei replied a bitr uncomfortable.

"If you aren't a peerage member how did you become a devil?" The president of the SC (student council) asked.

"Well, that isn't as interesting as you would think..." Issei then proceed to tell them how he had become one of the devils.

"I have to disagree with you Issei-kun." Rias said with a small smile. "That was very intersting. I never heard of anyone awakening his or her devil power due to one of his ancestor being one."

"I think introductions are in order. Rias is the heirness of the Gremory clan and I'm Sona Sitri the next head of the Sitri clan. Akeno and Tsubaki are our queens."

"And that lead us to the evil piece system. Please, listen carefully, Issei-kun."

A few months ago Issei would have trouble following the conservation with four beautiful girls in the room, talking to him. He came a long way since them.

"Do you have any special abilties?" He asked them after the explanation. "Aside what the pieces give you anyway."

"Our clan abilities." Rias said as crimson energy surrounded her arm. "I have the Power of Destruction."

"And I have water based magics." Sona's reply was curt. "Do you posses something similar Issei-san?"

"You could say that." Issei grinned as blue flames surrounded his right arm. The four girls looked at him in surprise.

"Aamon."

"What?" Issei looked at Sona.

"Aamon." She repeated. "Or the Amon clan. They posses the Fames of Evil. It is nearly as powerful as the Power of Destruction."

"Issei." Rias waited for him to turn around. "I will be direct: I want you to join my peerage." Issei nearly shouted yes at that moment. Barely, but he controled himself. "As one of my servants you could gain power, wealth and even women in time."

"That is a good offer." Issei replied. " A bit too good to be true. What is the downside?"

"Not much." Rias replied. "As your are already a devil the usual downsides are already set in. You would be my servant that is." As Issei didn't answer for a moment she continued. "You don't have a master as a low-class devil, Issei-kun. If our enemies, be it fallen angels or the Church itself attack you, no one will lift a finger in your defense."

"I see." Issei looked at Sona, who asnwered the unasked question.

"I have an arrangement with Rias. Whoever want someone as a servant first has a claim on them."

"I thought you were the first to discover me being a devil..."

"True, but Rias wanted to have you since months." Issei looked at her with a raised eyebrow. As a devil with an useful ability he could understand that, but as a human? Why?

"Why?" He decided to ask the simple question.

"I believed you to posses a sacred gear, one of the more powerful ones in fact." Rias admitted. Issei however was disappointed in teh answer for some reasons he wished not to delve to much on.

"It sounds like you try to amass a powerful peerage as fast as you could."

"Yes. I admit that I'm in a very tight situation. I thought you and your abilities would be a great addition to my peerage." Rias replied sadly. Even if Issei joined her peerage obviously he will be angry at her for the simple reason of why she wanted him in the first place. She was surprised when Issei smiled at her.

"I see. Thank you for being honest with me." Issei was glad that at least she told him the truth. In hindsight he was one of the Perverted Trio before the break, so he shouldn't be surprised if she did not want to do anything with him. "In return I will be also honest with you: I do have a sacred gear." A red gauntlet with a jewel and two golden wings on it covered about half his arm. "Allow me to introduce you to my partner: Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor!"

"Greetings ladies." Ddraig was able to use his voice though the gear, but only when it was activated.

"Th Boosted Gear..." Tsubaki muttered as all of them looked on with wide eyes. Sona was the first to found her voice.

"That changes everything."

The hopeful and excited gleam in Rias eyes dimmed a lot at hearing Sona's words. Issei himself was confused at that.

"What do you mean?"

"Simple." Rias replied her voice a lotless enthusiam. "You are the wielder of one of the strongest sacred gear in existence. With it you can be powerful enough to kill gods." She pointed at him. "Do you understand how powerful you can be?!"

"That's amazing!" Issei looked impressed at the gauntlet on his arms. "You never told me you are this powerful, partner!" Ddraig, being the smug bastard he was remained silent. "I thought you would be happy with it."

"If you would be a simple human with the Boosted gear I would be very pleased. An unclaimed Amon devil would be a great addition as well. The two together is more trouble than worth."

"I don't understand." Issei admitted his confusion clear.

"Let me explain Issei-san." Sona cool gaze met Issei's. "The Boosted Gear is one of the most powerful weapon in existence. As such any peerage would be happy to have it. One of the Amon clan is bound to be a powerful devil as well." She took a deep breath. "However, the problem lies with the fact that you are both."

"I never eve met anyone from the Amon clan though." Issei pointed out.

"It matters not in this case. If Rias or I claim you as our servant the Amon clan will cause a fuss, stating that we stole the Boosted Gear from the clan. And the Amon clan is on of the stronger clans still remaining. We cannot make an enemy out of them, especially Rias."

"So, what happens now?" Issei asked as he thought on what he heard. It seemed that he had a bit of speak in how things went from here.

"I have an idea." Tsubaki stepped a bit forward as neither Rias nor Sona said anything. "If Issei-san becomes a free agent he can serve you, while not angering the Amon clan.

"Free agent?" Issei asked.

"Basically mercenary." Rias replied with a smile on her face. "I think that is the best. You remain a bit independent, but still can claim a connection to me, defending you from most of our enemies."

"Sounds good." Issei agreed. "What is the catch?"

"Free agents aren't well liked or respected in the Underworld." Rias replied.

"As you may noticed I was never the most popular to begin with." Issei shrugged. "So, how do we do it?"