CHAPTER 18:

RAISON D'ETRE

Harry stared at the remnants of the potato, now divested of its skin, and laughed, even as he picked some of said skin off his face. "For fuck's sake, Issei, that's hilarious! You found a way to explosively skin a potato by magic!"

Rossweisse peered at the potato. "It's not a bad idea, actually. In some ways, it's not dissimilar to how they remove the skins off potatoes in industrial quantities. They basically put it into a pressure cooker enough to soften the skin and cause the water to reach boiling point, before releasing the pressure, causing the skin to explode off(1)."

"I see what you mean about Issei actually having some magical potential," Rias said, frowning thoughtfully.

"Actually, I was visualising the potato as a woman, and the skin as their clothing," Issei admitted sheepishly. "I think I could do that too."

A silence fell on the group within the kitchen of the manor they were at, before Koneko sighed. "Pervert."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised by now," Harry muttered, even as Akeno giggled. "Then again, it could be a crude tactic of psychological warfare. Given that Riser's Peerage is exclusively female, maybe it'll work as a distraction. Though honestly, Issei, you need to have more in your arsenal than a dress-destroying spell."

"Hey, I know that! Believe me, I'm taking this seriously!" Issei said. "The fanservice is just a bonus."

"If it destroys armour, you could be onto something," Rossweisse mused. "Do not misunderstand me, I'm somewhat disappointed in you using this for lecherous purposes, even at one remove, but it's not a bad idea. Maybe you could find a way to destroy the weapons they wield, if they're not Sacred Gears."

"Issei's little magic trick aside, how do you rate our progress?" Rias asked.

"It's too early to say," Rossweisse said. "That being said, you're fairly quick learners in at least one area. You, Akeno and Asia pick up magic quickly, while Kiba and Koneko have picked up physical combat ability quickly. Issei…needs work, but for someone who was only initiated into your Peerage not long ago, he's not doing too badly. He just needs to learn not to confuse brawling with fighting."

"…I'm standing right here, you know," the perverted teen remarked a little morosely.

"Issei, you have a lot of potential by dint of having a Longinus," Rossweisse pointed out. "You also have a decent head on your shoulders when you're not being distracted by your libido, and you have a decent drive given the right incentive, outside of your lechery, anyway."

"…I do have the right incentive now," Issei said, looking at his hand. "I mean, what you told me about Albion, about the White Dragon Emperor…if they're gunning for me, well, I'd rather live, you know?"

"Welcome to the club," Harry said. "I mean, welcome to the 'arseholes gunning for you because destiny says so' club. That's 10 quid for the cover charge."

Rias and Akeno snickered a little, Kiba actually chuckled softly, and even Koneko, stoic that she was, had a small smile on her face. "C'mon, man, that ain't funny!" Issei protested.

"Not really, not when you're the one suffering from it," Harry admitted. "Anyway, at least if you're lucky, whoever Albion's host is might be reasonable. Voldemort was a deranged magical Nazi with a grudge against me. Anyway, I'll get to cooking…"

Rias and her Peerage, along with Sindri, stared at Harry in astonishment after they had eaten their meals, Koneko already piling on seconds. "I'd heard you were a good cook, but…" Sindri tailed off, the neurotic Dwarf blinking.

"Dude, how did you learn to cook like this?" Issei asked.

"…Long story short, my relatives were not nice people," Harry said.

Sindri and Rossweisse knew about Harry's childhood by now, but the others did not. Rias and Akeno seemed to understand quickly, as did Kiba, given their looks of horror. Asia was baffled. Issei, however, cottoned on. "…Did they make you cook for them?" he asked quietly.

"And do housework of all kinds," Harry said. "Basically, I was a live-in servant for years, until I turned eleven, while they spoiled my cousin rotten."

"…Harry, how the actual hell did they get away with that?" Issei asked, his tone horrified.

"Oh, they spread it about that I was a delinquent, a layabout like my parents," Harry said. "And Dumbledore, my old headmaster, had a vested interest in keeping me with them, as long as I remained with my aunt, some sort of blood protection would work. Didn't protect me from them, though."

"…While I can't say that I know what you've been through, Harry, growing up as I did in privilege," Rias said, "my own Peerage, aside from Issei, have gone through similar hardships." Rias indicated Akeno. "Akeno's mother was murdered by her family because they felt she tainted herself with Akeno's father, and the Himejimas wished to murder her as well." She indicated Koneko. "Koneko was held accountable for her sister's crimes, and was nearly executed for them." Then, she indicated Kiba. "Kiba was a guinea pig of a cruel project run by one of the worst factions within the Vatican, and was the only survivor. You already know Asia's story. And my Bishop, Gasper Vladi, was subject to discrimination for being half-human, as well as his powerful Sacred Gear. Even Issei, as privileged as his life was until recently, was cruelly betrayed and murdered by Raynare, whom he believed to be in love with him."

"…I don't think we're here to compare shitty childhoods," Harry said.

"No, it's fine," Rias said. "I've only known you personally for a short period of time, but I know you despise your fame. If anything, my betrothal to Riser aside, my life has been cushy, to say the least."

"True, but there are Purebloods who could learn to act more like you," Harry said. "I mean, the way Riser acted, he reminded me way too much of a Malfoy. Ravel seemed all right, and if there's one good thing about Riser, it's the way he treated her. How many Devils act like that?"

"…Unfortunately, too many, even outside of the Old Satan Faction," Rias said. "My mother's family, the Baels, have pretty toxic family politics, and if you're born without the Power of Destruction like my cousin Sairaorg was, well, you know how Squibs are treated in the wizarding world. Though Sairaorg showed them how much of a mistake it was to shun him. He's now one of the physically strongest Devils alive, all through his own training."

"Push-ups, sit-ups, and plenty of juice?" Issei asked facetiously.

"Plenty of juice," Rias said with a brief smirk. "But for all of my parents' faults, they're nowhere near as bad as some of the nastier parts of the Bael family. Of course, keep in mind, we are Devils, creatures born of sin. We tend to be more predisposed to it, and to hedonism, and to the darker elements of what you'd consider human psychology in humans."

Harry sighed. "Look, one of my first friends was half-Giant, my teachers included a werewolf, a ghost, and a part-Goblin, Rossweisse is a Vanir and a Valkyrie, Sindri's a Dwarf, and I'm on speaking terms with a few Norse gods. And that's without going into my own lineage. I think what defines a person is pretty flexible. As long as you're a good person, I don't care what you really are. And so far, you and your Peerage seem to be good people, Rias, my disquiet about how you recruited them aside."

"That's fair," Rias said with a magnanimous wave of her hand. "From at least one viewpoint, I could be seen as taking advantage of them during the lowest points in their lives. None of them really had much choice whether to join my Peerage or not. But I have never intended to exploit my Peerage, not like some Devils do. My parents, for all my issues with them, drilled into me that I have to treat my Peerage with respect and kindness. So too did my brother Sirzechs. Still, it's heartening to hear your perspective. Devils arouse suspicion at best from many, and with good reason, but there are other beings who are treated poorly by humans with far less reason. All for the supposed crime of being different."

Harry noticed Akeno looking pensive at that. Then again, given the dossier he and Rossweisse had been given and Rias' earlier words, it was small wonder. Akeno had nearly been murdered by her own family, all for the crime of being a Nephilim, a Fallen Angel/human hybrid.

"I guess xenophobia is everywhere," Harry said morosely.

"Unfortunately, xenophobia is universal," Rias said. "Humans are not unique in that. It doesn't make it right. In any case, let's move on from such matters…"

Later that night, Harry found himself getting a drink of water from the fridge. He wasn't surprised to see Rossweisse follow him, as he may have woken her up, but Issei was a surprise. "You okay?" Harry asked.

Issei yawned. "Yeah. Sort of. You know when you're tired, but you can't get to sleep? Mostly from all that anxiety?" The pervert shook his head. "I know Rossweisse's time-dilation thingy will give us more time, but…will it be enough?"

"I can do only what I can do," Rossweisse said, gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "I can train you up, but it's up to you to beat Riser and his Peerage. What motivates you to fight for her? I mean, aside from being her Pawn?"

"…Well, I want to get stronger, to become the Harem King. Yeah, I know that sounds shallow, but…it's been my dream for a long time, and I don't want to just have a harem. I want a circle of the closest friends I can," Issei said. "I want to love and protect them. And honestly, I haven't had many friends since Rin moved away. Motohama and Matsuda are the only ones, and, well…lately, it's not been good between me and them, partly because they think I've achieved my goal, but haven't given them a piece of the action."

Harry was struck by Issei's words. For all his lechery, he also seemed genuine in his desire to love his harem, and not just sexually. "And is Rias part of that?"

"I'd love her to be, but…in the end, it's Rias' decision. Whoever takes her virginity is up to her, and yet that douchebag Riser is taking that choice away from her," Issei said, shrugging. "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be her boyfriend and then lover, but…between her being the Gremory heiress, this whole mess with Riser, and…well, what Raynare did to me…" His hand drifted down to his stomach unconsciously. "Well, I'm not sure what she sees in me, aside from me being the Red Dragon Emperor."

"It was your wish that I saw in you. Shorn of your lust, you just wanted to live, to have a more interesting life. That's what led to you summoning me."

Harry, Rossweisse and Issei whirled to find Rias entering the kitchen, wearing a rather sheer negligee. So sheer, in fact, that she was all but naked, save for a lacy pair of panties she wore underneath it. Blood began dribbling down Issei's nose, while Harry blushed. Rias giggled, and it was only then that Harry noticed the glasses she was wearing. "I didn't peg you as having bad eyesight, Rias, or indeed any Devil."

"It's an affectation," Rias said as she sat down at the table, notes in her hands. "Sona does the same thing all the time, albeit to show some authority. I do it as a means of helping me focus mentally. They're not prescription."

"…Fair enough," Harry said. "But what was that you meant?"

"Issei's last thoughts, the thoughts that summoned me, were, even without his more perverted ones, a plea to be reborn," Rias said. "I actually did my research on him, and while I knew he had a draconic Sacred Gear, that was all I knew, and I didn't know whether he could be valuable to my Peerage. When a Fallen Angel approached him, I had thought they intended to try and recruit him, but I was taking a wait and see approach. If Raynare tried to recruit him, I would offer my own counter-pitch. I did have my familiar give him a summoning pamphlet just in case things did go awry, but I have to admit I did not truly expect Raynare to assassinate him, at least not on initial contact. Otherwise, I would have contacted Issei sooner." She sighed morosely. "It just goes to show I'm still inexperienced when it comes to being a leader. Anticipating the moves of the enemy is easier in chess, but poker is more akin to what we played."

"Rias, I've made my peace with that," Issei said. "I may have a few weaknesses as a Devil, but I'm more powerful now, I get to live for centuries, and I can chase my dream…hell, I can find more dreams as well."

"…Thank you, Issei," Rias said with a sad smile. "I just hope I don't make any more mistakes that get others killed. I feel like I could have done more with Asia's situation too, though that was even more politically fraught. But enough about that. I was just coming here to study notes on Riser's previous games, as well as formulating some strategies. Those prank items will come in handy. That being said…Rossweisse…Harry…how do you cope with the expectations made of you?"

Harry and Rossweisse exchanged looks. "What brought this on, Rias?" Rossweisse asked.

"You're the descendent of Lady Gondül, and something of a protégé of the current Brynhildr," Rias said. Her eyes then flicked over to Harry. "And of course, you are the Boy Who Lived. And I am the heiress of the Gremory family. Sona and I go to high school in Japan because we want to get away from such obligations and expectations. I want to live as ordinary a life as I can, given the circumstances, a quiet life, where I'm seen as being Rias, and not Heiress Gremory. But my name still haunts me, as this Rating Game proves."

Harry and Rossweisse exchanged looks again, before Harry nodded, letting the Valkyrie take the lead. "Rias…I could be facetious and say 'with difficulty', but that's actually also something of the truth. Though to be frank, the expectations made of me weren't as great as those who derided me for being serious in my learning and training. I pushed myself harder, and my peers and Lord Odin called me a prude. I…I wanted to have a lovely boyfriend, but I wanted to achieve my goals first. Those demeaning me were more onerous than expectations, so all I could do was endure, and keep going. What's the old British phrase, the one from World War II? Keep calm, and carry on."

Harry nodded. "As for me…well, it was pretty much the same. Unlike you, though, I grew up unaware of my fame, of the expectations made of me."

"Cause you were living with those douchebag relatives," Issei said. "Dude, how are you sane after all that?"

"It wasn't easy, Issei. I learned I was a wizard when I was eleven. I loved the adoration, but I also had people trying to exploit me or deriding me for my fame. But I sort of couldn't help but be a hero, getting into adventures. Of course, that ended up with me being a fugitive from Magical Britain. So, sorry, Rias, I'm not sure my story counts when it comes to dealing with expectations, if only because of how badly it ended."

"It hasn't ended that badly," Rias observed. "You still have your friends, and you are quite well-adjusted, considering what you went through. Both of you are. But the thing is, I have few people who see me for being Rias, and not Heiress Gremory. Even my best friend, Sona, does that somewhat, not out of any malice, but because she, like I have, has had the political nature of our society drilled into her from a young age. At times, I feel like my Peerage are the only ones who can see me for something other than Heiress Gremory, and yet, that too is a line of thought fraught with peril. They are my servants, after all, and it could be said that I can only make friends if they are part of my Peerage or part of Devil nobility. So while I am sure you do not see me as your friend yet, nor is there any guarantee you will, if we do become friends, I hope you can see me as Rias, and not Heiress Gremory. Because it means I can make friends without them being in my Peerage or being part of Devil nobility."

Harry was struck by the confession. It was Rias showing some of her vulnerability, her insecurities. For all that she had a near-peerless beauty (he had to admit, he was biased there, as he thought Rossweisse was the pinnacle of beauty), and was born to privilege, she was at least able to open up about her insecurities and vulnerabilities.

"Rias, don't talk like that," Issei said. "I'm sure you could!"

And just like that, the single-minded pervert said what was probably the right thing. Harry nodded. "While I do have a few issues with what you've done before, honestly, you leave many of the Purebloods back home for dead when it comes to being affable."

Rossweisse nodded in her turn. "And you are more pleasant than most of my peers, Rias. I don't see any major obstacles to us becoming friends. Harry and I are here not to help out Heiress Gremory, but Rias."

After a moment, Rias smiled. Not one of her flirtatious or knowing smiles, nor her genuinely warm smiles. No, this was a sad smile, a melancholy one, but with genuine appreciation behind it. "Thank you, the three of you. I hope to live up to such sentiments. In any case, get some rest. We'll need it…"

CHAPTER 18 ANNOTATIONS:

Sorry about the long wait. Anyway, here's the latest chapter. The next one will be out with the December mass-update.

Issei is a somewhat shallow character, so I wanted to give him some much-needed depth without sacrificing the core tenets of his character. And when Issei isn't thinking with his dick, he has a surprisingly large amount of empathy.

I also wanted to develop Rias' character, as well as show her own guilt and self-reproach at some of the messy ways she handled things earlier in DxD canon. Many people use what happened with Raynare and/or Asia as a means to bash Rias, so I wanted to have a rebuttal to that. Rias may be pretty savvy about politics and the like, but she's still inexperienced in dealing with the wider world of politics and the Biblical Factions. Rias is no perfect Mary Sue, she is a Devil with an inclination to hedonism and ruthlessness, but more pertinently, she's also a teenager who is trying to discharge her responsibilities, and isn't as hypercompetent as some make her out to be. I think this also comes from my desire to do another Harry/Rias fic, albeit in a better way to my prior, somewhat cringey efforts.

Review-answering time! Beasttoid Maker: Don't get me wrong, Asia, at her core, is a gentle pacifist, so I'm not going to make her a badass action girl at the drop of a hat, which is too OOC for her. So she's basically getting the spells that won't harm people (much), but rather, will save her from any belligerents and give her time to get out of there. Then again, fanfic writers heap a lot of shit on Harry, his friends, and the Order of the Phoenix for using Stunners and Expelliarmus, but those are actually good spells to use in most circumstances. They may not be lethal spells, but they can give people an opening to escape, to capture the enemy…or to take them out if need be.

In any case, Harry and Rossweisse are teaching her skills that will work with her more pacifistic nature, skills that are defensive. I chose Aikido because I remembered that Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, when they were the showrunners for Doctor Who, wanted to give Jon Pertwee's Doctor a martial art, and decided on a version of Aikido, in that it turns people's attacks against them and suits the Doctor better than simply karate-chopping people left, right and centre. Specifically, Venusian Aikido, as it is called in that series. I thought proper Aikido would suit Asia well.

1. I actually first learned this about potatoes in one of Dr Karl Kruszelnicki's books. Specifically, one of his first: Latest Great Moments in Science.