AN: Hey guys and welcome to the twentieth one chapter of "Switching Sides."

I want to thank everyone who had Favorited, Followed, and Reviewed!

This chapter will focus not only on Issei and his training but also on many other characters in the story that some has waited to see again as well as new characters that will play a part in this story later on. Also, the newest two harem members will be revealed in this chapter as well.

Now, without further ado here is the chapter. Enjoy!

"..." Talking.

'...' Thoughts.

"..." Quotations.

"..." Attacks.

*...* Actions, i.e., Yawning and Sighing.

(...) Flashback and time skips.

["..."] Talking through the Sacred Gear.

{"..."} Talking through the Sacred Gear.

['...'] Talking in the Host mind.

{'...'} Talking in the Host mind.

[...] Sacred Gear Actions and modes.

Four weeks have passed since the brunette Dragon Emperor had talked with Ophis, the Oroborus Dragon, about his potential to acquire a new evolution to his Sacred Gear.

At first, Issei had found himself completely dumbfounded as to where exactly should he begin in order for him to achieve his new evolution. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the brunette had both Tiamat and Ddraig volunteering to help him. He appreciated their help greatly, but it wasn't rare when he cursed their existence and regretted allowing them to be involved in his training when they proved to be very callous in their training regime for him.

During the day the two Dragons commanded Issei to train vigorously with the promise of an eternity of misery should he take an unnecessary break or slack off in his training.

Those threats were the primary cause of Issei's dread and confusion as he knew the Dragons would make through with their threats but at the same time found himself very confused.

He and Ddraig were partners for quite some time now and never in this time did he remember Ddraig making such threats and the fact that he did so now caused him to be dumbfounded.

With each time Issei's mind wandered towards this problem during his training the more, he realized that the change of behavior in his partner suddenly happened after Tiamat had been absorbed into the Boosted Gear.

'Stupid corrupting Dragon...' He swore bitterly with each new threat that the two Dragons threw at him, knowing that the two cannot hear his thoughts unless he allowed them too.

That was also a part that Issei took pride on as during his training he had found a way to take the control Ddraig and Tiamat had of their connection to him for himself which allowed him to block them off from speaking with him and reading his thoughts whenever he willed it.

And when the training during the day ended and night had come his body would get the rest it deserved from the rough treatment it went through. But his mind did not get the same luxury as the minute his eyes closed they would open again a second afterward only to be greeted with the sight of the towering forms of the two Dragons that inhabit his Sacred Gear and soul.

Unlike the training during the day where Issei would mainly focus on his body physique as to increase the strain that his body can work under so it could maintain his new transformation for a long period. One of the welcoming side-effects - unlike the soreness of his body that followed him even when he woke up the morning after - was the involuntary increase in the time Issei can maintain his Balance Breaker.

This was a welcomed change for Issei, who did not know about the training's effects on his already existing powers, as now the time he can maintain his Scale Mail exceeded an impressive time of three days.

Ddraig and Tiamat had also reminded him about the transformation he went through the night he ejected his Evil Pieces and turned into a fully-pledged Dragon. They reminded him of the existence of his hardened skin and enhanced senses which caused him to face fault as he looked back at all the times he could've used those things in his advantages but did not as it completely slipped out of his mind.

But before his excitement could get the better of him the two Dragons had reminded him of the downsides of his transformation with the prime example being his increased vulnerability to any Dragon Slaying weapons. Although it seemed like luck was on Issei's side as the most powerful of Dragon Slaying weapons, the Ascalon Blade, was in his possession, so that was one less thing that troubled the brunette's mind.

Another issue that weighed on Issei's mind also concerned something that Ddraig and Tiamat had explained to him regarding his transformation. Apparently due to his transformation into a Dragon by Ddraig Issei was supposed to receive some of Ddraig's traits alongside his affinity but for some reason up until this point, he received none whatsoever.

From what Ddraig told him he should've received his fire affinity that would enable him to use the same infamous fire that was said to give Ddraig the ability to decimate everything in its path including Gods.

Both Issei and Ddraig spent hours trying to figure out the reason behind Issei's inability to use his affinity like he was supposed to, but they never reached a definite conclusion... At least until Tiamat had awakened from her sleep.

{'I swear you two are the epitome of men's stupidity. If you would've looked further like you should've done, you would realize that Issei does have your affinity Ddraig, but due to the power behind your flames, the Boosted Gear had locked his affinity until he can reach a stage where the flames won't overwhelm him. My best guess is that with your newest evolution you will also gain access to Ddraig's affinity.} Tiamat informed them in irritation.

The two just stayed silent, unable to retort as Tiamat had managed to solve the same problem that weighed on their mind for hours in a matter of few seconds.

With that problem settled Issei had resumed his training with newfound vigor as he found yet another reason for him to push towards achieving his newest evolution.

When Issei finished his training four weeks after his talk with Ophis he wanted nothing more than to return to his room and sleep for days as to compensate for the time he spent training with Ddraig and Tiamat when he should've slept peacefully instead.

After two days of sleeping Issei woke up and almost fainted from the sight before him as he saw both Kuroka and Yasaka lying naked on the bed on each side of his as both his hands were stuck between their breasts while their heads rested on his shoulders.

Issei wasn't the same pervert he was anymore as his libido had decreased ever since it first got satisfied when he lost his virginity to Kuroka. But after four weeks of nothing but intense training where he didn't even see the girls at all for the duration of it as he was forced to sleep at the training grounds by Tiamat and Ddraig. The only girl he did see during his training was Ophis as the girl became attached to him and spent most of her time with him. By the end of the training Issei could proudly say that he felt as if he and Ophis were good friends. But that wasn't the same thing as Kuroka and Yasaka so when he woke up in the way he did that day with the two girls on each side of him was something that overwhelmed Issei a bit although he managed to recover quickly.

Releasing a relieved sigh when the girls did not wake up because of him he settled to just looked at the two as they continued to sleep peacefully. The longer he took their sight; the more his heart swelled knowing that the two loved him unconditionally while he loved them the same in return. He felt content to just stay like that for the rest of his life. His mind felt clearer, and his heart lighter like they never were as thoughts of the future that await them coursed through his mind.

A large cabin in a remote location surrounded by nothing but forests for the eye to see where none could interfere with their lives. A place where they could train their children peacefully and not worry about their safety. A place isolated from all the corruption of the world around them, so their kids will get the childhood they deserve and walk their own path without being forcefully strayed by outside influences.

Those were the things Issei yearned for his future to be; surrounded by those he loves the most with the fruits of their love carelessly running around their house as their soft laughter resounds through the house.

Sadly, all things come to an end, and Issei's dream was the same as it came to a sudden halt when he felt something stir. Looking at where he felt the stir coming from he saw Kuroka beginning to wake up, her eyes blinking as they adjusted to the light in the room. Issei deviously smiled as he realized that Kuroka has yet to notice him. Deciding to begin his payback for all the teasing he endured from her Issei squeezed her rear causing her to yelp in surprise as her eyes frantically searched around before they landed on the smirking face of Issei.

She crossed her hands and pouted as she realized what exactly happened.

"Don't get too excited nyaa that was just a lucky shot,"

"I wouldn't dream of it. Be wary though as this is just the beginning of my payback for all your teasing," He taunted.

She smirked and leaned forward to whisper in his ear in a sultry tone. "Nyaa? And how will you punish your naughty little kitten?"

Issei blushed, but he refused to lose against Kuroka. "I thought of a few ways to punish you and they all end with you screaming," Now it was Kuroka's turn to slightly blush.

Kuroka opened her mouth to reply when she suddenly closed it back and held it with her hands as if to hold something back.

Seeing Kuroka's unusual behavior, Issei became worried. "Kuroka is something wrong?"

The Nekoshou did not answer him, not even nodding before she bolted out of bed into the toilet where vomiting could be heard clearly.

Issei wasted no time being stuck in his shock and quickly followed Kuroka into the toilet and held her hair as she continued to vomit.

When the vomiting stopped, and Kuroka had freshened up Issei immediately voiced his concern.

"Kuroka are you alright? What was that? Did you get sick during my time away or something?" He asked, his voice laced with the worry he had for the Nekoshou.

She flashed him a weak smile. "I'm fine don't worry about it. It's been going on for a few days now, but it'll pass soon,"

"If you're not sick then what is it that causes you to vomit?" His question made Kuroka freeze in panic as her mind began to search for an answer frantically.

What should she tell him? She already told him that she is fine so she can't say that she is sick. Refuting her own words will only make Issei suspicious, and she did not want him to push the subject further; she was not ready for that yet. Should she tell him the... Truth? No, she can't tell him the truth, if she did then who knows how he will react? It has been her dream for as long as she remembers and having it come true with the man she loved more than anything made her often doubt the reality behind it. But even if she doubted it she knew that it was as real as it could get and she was ecstatic about it as anyone in her position will be. But then she thought of Issei, and her elation had substantially subsided as doubt and worry began to rise. Will he accept them? Will he be as happy as she is? Or will he get upset at her and push her away? She knew Issei would never do something like that, but her mind couldn't help but taunt her with those possibilities as it conjured every possible scenario in great detail. Whenever she thought of a plan to tell him about it when he came back from his training, she always found herself getting cold feet, but each time she comforted herself with the fact that she had more time to steel herself before he came back. But now, here he was, back from his training looking at her worryingly after he witnessed her vomiting. The time she told herself she had suddenly ended, and now she faced the thing she dreaded the most, and it was still early for her. Too early; she wasn't ready to tell him, she wasn't ready to face his reaction.

"D-Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll pass in a few days, so nothing to be worried about," She nervously told him, hoping he'll buy her answer.

Issei held his gaze on her for a few more seconds as he searched for any hint of deceit and upon finding none, he relaxed and flashed Kuroka a smile.

"If that's what you say then I believe you," He told her before he entered the shower to get ready for the day.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, Kuroka sighed in relief as she released the breath she was holding.

'Thank God he remained dense,' She thought to herself.

"You know you'll have to tell him eventually don't you?" A new voice spoke which caused Kuroka to snap her head towards its direction to see a smiling Yasaka looking at her.

"Y-You know?" She hesitantly asked with a shaky voice.

"Of course I know; you are my best friend. Did you really think I would not notice your behavior? Besides, did you forget that I am a Youkai? I can sense what is wrong with you and it's pretty hard to miss something like that," Yasaka informed her.

Kuroka widened her eyes but quickly relaxed as she saw no harm in her best friend knowing of her predicament.

"I am glad that it's you who figured it out and not anyone else," She flashed the Youkai Kyuubi a smile.

"I won't force you to tell him until you're ready but you need to steel yourself and do it. Issei is a kind man, and he does not deserve for this information to be kept hidden from him,"

"I-I know, but I am just so scared I don't know what'll happen once I tell him,"

"No one but Issei himself can know that, but you should not be afraid. When I see the way Issei gaze at us, I see nothing but pure adoration in his eyes, and I am sure that your news will not change that. If I dare say, it will only intensify it," Yasaka reassured her.

"I guess you're right. I'll tell him as soon as I think I'm ready!" Kuroka uttered, her mind made up.

Their conversation died down once the noise of the shower had faded and the door opened to reveal Issei with his clothes on him.

"Nyaa Issei why did you dressed in the shower?" Kuroka pouted.

Yasaka smirked. "Yes Issei why did you? Perhaps are you trying to hide something?"

"Perhaps, or perhaps I just didn't want you to pounce on me the second I came out of the shower," He teased with a grin.

After the trio had finished their banter, it was Yasaka's turn to enter the shower and prepare for the day.

"Okay let's go meet everyone! I missed them during my training," Issei voiced once Yasaka emerged from the bathroom before they all went to the main hall where they assumed everyone would be.

(Meanwhile At Another Location...)

"Did you accomplish your task?" A masculine voice asked. His tone one of regality.

"Yes, although I am surprised at how well your plan has worked. I expected some interferences, but there was none whatsoever," Another voice answered.

"You dare to doubt your master?" The owner of the regal voice bellowed, his tone taking an angry edge instead of the regality that accompanied it mere seconds ago.

"I-I..." The owner of the second voice stuttered in panic.

"Hahaha, you should've seen your face. That was priceless," Heavy laughter echoed throughout the room as the form of the owner of the first voice shook with each laughter.

The owner of the second voice sweatdropped at the antics of his superior while cursing himself for falling for it again.

"With all due respect shall we return to the subject at hand?" The laughter of the owner of the first voice begun to die down upon hearing his inferior's inquiry slowly.

"Yes Yes we should return to that now, I just couldn't resist doing that again," He said with a dismissing wave of his hand.

"Well, just like you said the security around the Heaven was pretty lax due to the focused search of the Red and White Dragon Emperors by the three factions and the security of several high-valued places in the case of an attack by the two Emperors. As your Intel has mentioned, it appeared that along the fruit of knowledge and life two out of the three parts of the Holy Grail sub-species were being experimented on at the Fifth Heaven. As the notes suggested the reason behind the experiments were to determine how such a relic has been split across three identical parts instead of remaining in its original form. Apparently, the two parts of the Holy Grail were retrieved from the Valerie girl I sent my team to capture before she came upon the knowledge of her Sacred Gear being a sub-species that divided the Holy Relic into three parts. That is why no attempt to retrieve it were ever made as their absence was unnoticed," He informed his superior.

"I see. I have nothing else but say a good job... Cao Cao. You truly impressed me with the smooth retrieval of both the two parts of the Holy Grail and the fruit of knowledge and life,"

"I am flattered... Rizevim, but don't forget that even though you are my superior, it is only because I cannot defeat someone at your caliber. Yet, I was not called "The Strongest Human" for no reason, and the only people who I will admit that can challenge my abilities are the two Dragon Emperors and you," Cao Cao reminded him, his tone impassive.

"Very true and I am glad that you remember that fact because I am sure you wouldn't want to be reminded by me again am I right? Although I did enjoy it greatly, I dare to say that my methods are quite... Brutal for the weak ones," Rizevim spoke with a gleeful smile on his face.

Cao Cao couldn't help but shudder from the memories of his last fight with Rizevim. Memories he would do everything to lock away and never remember again.

"So what exactly are we going to do now Rizevim? We are still missing one part of the Holy Grail," The Heavenly Emperor reminded his colleague.

"That is correct, but I have already found a way to rid us of this obstacle. You see, it is possible to compensate for the lack of the third part of the Grail by replacing it with something of an equal or even greater amount of Holy power. By using your Longinus, which is said to be the strongest of all and the holiest out of the three Holy Relics, we can pour enough Holy power to compensate for the lack of the third part as well as assuring our chances in completing our task. By forcing the spear into submitting to the will of their wielder for just this instance which will make the spear to act more like the Holy Grail instead of just a pure source of power," Rizevim informed the now stunned Cao Cao.

'Just how smart is he? Hm... It could prove to be very troublesome in the future. I shall be wary of him and his plans for me,' Cao Cao thought to himself as he got over the shock and narrowed his eyes at Rizevim.

"Mark this day Cao Cao for today is the day that rebirth shall begin. Today is the day that the Evil Dragons shall open their eyes once again," Rizevim announced with pride and anticipation oozing from his voice.

(Meanwhile with the ORC...)

It was a peaceful evening that greeted Kuoh town. The streets were beginning to empty out from the citizens that graced it. The only sound to be heard was the rustling of the trees by the wind and the occasional chirping of a bird.

Rias greeted her peerage with a smile as she entered the room. "I'm glad you could all make it today. Let's begin with why I called you all here,"

"Shouldn't we wait for Rossweisse to arrive before we begin?" Xenovia's question caused everyone to notice that the Valkyrie was indeed missing which caused them to become confused.

Rias frowned. "I haven't told Rossweisse to come because this meeting is actually about her," She told them, causing their confusion to increase.

The red-head sighed and waited for Akeno to finish serving everyone tea before she began with the meeting.

"The reason why I called you all here concerns Rossweisse and the odd behavior she had displayed for the past four weeks. I am sure that I am not the only one who has noticed how withdrawn and detached she has become in the past four weeks and I am starting to get very worried about her. I am clueless as to what caused her to behave that way but I am determined to find out and help her, and I am sure you all feel the same right, my dear little servants?" Rias asked, already knowing the answer.

When everyone vigorously nodded in agreement, she allowed a gentle smile to grace her features before she continued.

"I'm sure it won't be easy, but we shall do everything in our power to make sure Rossweisse will snap out of it and return to how she used to be. For now, we should focus on getting her out of her room more often and make her socialize. We should also try and get her to talk more especially on her feelings so we could begin to know what might be the problem," She finished and watched as her peerage wore expressions full of determination to help their friend.

"Perhaps it is something related to her home? Perhaps something happened to her brother or Lord Odin?" Kiba asked in contemplation.

"I'm afraid it's not the case Kiba. I already talked with Lord Odin, and he assured me that everything is fine with him and Rossweisse's brother so whatever it is that caused her to become like this has nothing to do with her house," Rias informed him.

"For now we should all return home and think about it and try to come up with the reason for Rossweisse's behavior as well as think of the part each of us will play in helping her," The Crimson King told them before they all nodded and left the room.

'If only you were here Issei... I am sure you could have already fixed whatever it is that caused Rossweisse to be like this. That's just how you are' Rias dejectedly thought as she left the room.

(Meanwhile in the Underworld...)

"Is there a reason why you are here father?" Sirzechs Lucifer asked his father as he looked up from his paperwork.

It wasn't like he was unhappy to see his father but for him to come here unannounced was something that never happened unless he had a reason before coming to his office and he already knew that the reason wouldn't be something he looked forward to.

His father just gave him a look before he sighed. "It's about your mother. She has been acting very strange for four weeks now, and I do not know what brought for this sudden change in her behavior,"

Sirzechs frowned as he listened to his father. As much as he was happy to decline it, the red-head Demon Lord wasn't in the dark about the true nature of his parent's marriage as they thought he was. He supposed no one but him, and Grayfia really knew about that, and he was determined to spare his sister this knowledge as much as he could. For his dear little sister to know that the marriage of their parents is nothing but a facade made to cover the fact that their marriage is loveless and unhappy would crush her. He guessed that his parents wanted to spare Rias and him from knowing how their parents didn't really hold any love for each other so they wouldn't get the wrong idea about marriage. But Sirzechs always was more observant than most people, and he already deduced the truth a few years ago after witnessing many occasions that pointed him towards that conclusion.

"I see. What do you intend to do about that?" He coolly asked his father.

"For now nothing. I shall continue to observe your mother and hope that she would compose herself or I shall be forced to act," His father told him, his tone cold as he spoke of his wife.

It was things like that which made Sirzechs reach the conclusion he had about his parent's marriage. The coldness in their voice when they spoke to each other, the way his mother never showed affection to his father in public as she continued to refer to him by his title as the Lord of the Gremory house with or without people around. The way his mother would always frown after she finished talking with his father and the way her smiles were always fake with the exception of it when she was around him and Rias.

But Sirzechs knew that as much as he wanted things between his parents to change it just wasn't possible as the very foundations of their marriage caused this to happen.

In order to ensure the continuation of pure-blooded Devils among the 72 Pillars his grandfathers from both sides agreed to wed their children to each other. They didn't even give them time to get to know each other and come to love one another naturally. They just gathered them and dropped the bomb on them one day before they left them to their own devices with the knowledge that they, two strangers, had to marry.

He wasn't supposed to know that. But due to him being a Demon Lord Sirzechs was privy to all the information that concerned the Underworld and as he searched through the records of his family that was supposed to be restricted to only his father, he came upon the information of how the marriage of his parents came to be.

Sirzechs was very unhappy upon finding this information, and he wanted to storm off and confront his parents, but after he had composed himself, he realized that as unhappy as he was about it the decision his grandfathers made at the time was the best one. Being a Demon Lord forced Sirzechs to look at it from the perspective of one instead of the perspective of being their child, and he realized that what they did was to the best of his kind. Besides, his father would be livid if he knew that he looked through those records and despite being who he was no child wanted to face the wrath of their parents.

So, after telling Grayfia and consulting her on what to do, Sirzechs decided to keep silent about it much to his chagrin and hope that perhaps someday his parents will make efforts to remedy the mistakes of the past and start fresh so their marriage could become one of love and happiness.

(Meanwhile at the Heaven)

"Are you certain about it?" Michael asked the lesser angel who gave him the message he currently finished reading.

"Yes, Lord Michael. It seems that whoever did it had full knowledge of the state of security around here and the fact that you weren't present,"

"I see. Thank you for delivering this message. You may go now," Michael dismissed the lesser angel with a smile before the latter bowed and left the room.

"I am curious to hear your opinions on this matter my friends," Michael addressed the other occupants of the room.

"We should wait until we gather more clues so we could determine who did this and go after him" Raphael suggested calmly.

"Why waste time on such trivial matters? It probably was the Red Dragon Emperor and his little band of misfits. I told you we shouldn't have trusted him back then Michael and now you see I was right," Uriel rebutted in indignation.

"Forgiveness is the key to everything my lord. Despite his title, the Red Dragon Emperor is a human and such he is capable of making mistakes. It is the question of if we should look past those mistakes and allow him a chance to explain himself and receive forgiveness or not. I do not think that he had stolen the relics. In fact, I am certain that a larger force is at play here, but if he had stolen it, I would allow him to explain his actions and grant him forgiveness and lead him towards the right path as it is our job," Gabriel spoke in her melodious voice.

"Thank you, everyone. For now, we should gather more clues like Raphael had suggested and in the case that it is indeed Issei who had committed this crime we should provide him the chance to explain his actions and should we deem the answer worthy of granting him forgiveness. I have met Issei during the first meeting between the three factions in the two of Kuoh and what I saw there was a child who wished to do everything to protect those who are close to him. His nature might be slightly wicked due to his lecherous behavior, but at his core, he is nothing but pure. But due to what happened to him recently I dare say that now Issei is nothing but a man who lost everything, and it is our job to restore him to how he used to be and aim him to the right path as Gabriel also said. I shall go to the Underworld and require a meeting of the three factions again to discuss the latest developments and inform them of our decision," Michael informed his fellow Seraphs of his decision.

The three Seraphs nodded in acceptance before they got up from their chairs and moved to leave the room.

Meanwhile, Michael had stayed behind to think of everything that happened.

'Issei... I do not know if it is indeed you who had done this but I hope not for those actions would only lead to war and destruction if my assumptions on why you stole those relics is correct,'