"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Flashback"

"Attack/Name"

"Narrator"

Israel

Marisbury Animusphere was a Mage and a talented one at that. Yet he didn't seem to care about the apparitional desires most Magi did, in fact, he seemed to have completely ordinary wishes. The man spoke with a seemingly carefree demeanor, as though he was completely ignorant of the mysteries of the magic world. Honestly, it was a blessing to the Slayer, rather a carefree man than someone who couldn't control their emotions at the mere sight of him.

It was for this reason that he found himself walking alongside Marisbury to wherever the man was headed to. Normally he would've left any person to go find what he needed alone, but he had a feeling he was supposed to meet Marisbury. Merlin dropped him off right as Marisbury was about to pass by his position, that couldn't have been a coincidence.

Looking back at the man, the Slayer focused on him narrating about Jerusalem. Once again his speech lined up with the ordinary attitude the Mage presented, however, he quickly stopped speaking about the city, switching topics. Marisbury looked up at the Slayer, asking, "How much do you know about the king, Solomon?"

An odd question, perhaps he was studying the old king. Continuing with his question, Marisbury stated, "The old king of Israel, rumored to have wisdom bestowed upon him by God himself. And it was because of this, he was never able to live a normal life. Putting both the will of God and his people before his interests. While that may have made him a good king, it certainly would have detracted from his personal life."

Marisbury spoke with a scholarly tone, as though he was a history professor giving his students another lesson. Marisbury then revealed, "He's who I'm trying to summon as my Servant for the upcoming Holy Grail War."

The Slayer stopped in his tracks at his last sentence, specifically the word 'Servant'. He heard it many times in the past day, just what was a Servant. Marisbury stopped, looking back at the Slayer, realizing the Slayer's confusion. With a gentle smile on his face, Marisbury asked, "I'm guessing you don't know what a Servant is?"

The Slayer nodded, Marisbury giving a soft chuckle before answering, "To put it simply, Servants are people or legends who have been recorded into history, earning a spot in the Throne of Heroes. Once their soul enters the throne, they become what is known as a Heroic Spirit. These beings can be summoned from the Throne of Heroes, tying themselves to a Master who anchors them to this Earth. It's for that reason why Servants are loyal to their Masters. Another reason why Servants even allow themselves to be summoned is that in the Holy Grail War, they can use the Holy Grail to acquire their wish."

The Slayer nodded at Marisbury's explanation. It seemed simple enough, people from history who went into an afterlife-like place called the Throne of Heroes and then were summoned down onto the Earth to fight. Walking over to Marisbury, he watched the Mage eye his armor before admitting, "Though I haven't seen a Heroic Spirit like you. Perhaps you're from the future? That would suggest the Throne of Heroes exists outside the bonus of time...

Regardless, it doesn't matter at the moment. You're still good company." Marisbury added, the Slayer finding that comment humorous. Perhaps he would stick with the man, he seemed like interesting company himself.

"Damn I'm sore. Sekaino didn't take it easy on me..." Issei groaned in class, rubbing his shoulder to ease the pain as much as he could. Looking out the window he saw the empty courtyard down below, only a custodian performing his various duties. His teacher droned on about the lesson, Issei focusing on anything else he could.

'Man, I wish Sekaino would check me out of class.' Issei thought to himself, luckily for him, his savior would arrive. However it was in a form he didn't expect to see, a familiar blonde male walking into class. He had blue eyes with a nearly invisible mole under his left and was wearing the standard boys' uniform. As though controlled by a hive mind, the girls in the class turned to look at the pretty boy. Some even gasped or made ludicrous comments about him, not dissimilar to his fantasies. The elegant blonde walked over to the teacher, clearly asking him a question, to which the tutor answered yes. To Issei's surprise, the pretty boy approached him, asking him, "Sorry to interrupt, but you're Issei Hyoudou, right?"

"Yeah, and...? What business do you have with me, sir pretty boy?" Issei answered with a bored look on his face, the boy in front of him keeping his same polite smile as he replied, "I've come on behalf of Rias."

Issei widened his eyes, surprised that someone like her had business with someone like him. Sure they had a small run-in, but she was focusing on Sekaino, not him. The boy, showing off a slight amount of impatience, added, "She's requesting your presence."

Issei normally would've jumped at the opportunity, but he remembered what Sekaino told him earlier. Specifically about his school being populated with Devils, perhaps they too wanted his Sacred Gear like the Fallen Angels. Regardless, he decided to stand up and leave with the pretty boy, besides perhaps he'd get lucky.

As he stood up, he heard various girls spouting insults along the lines of, "What's Kiba doing with Hyoudou...?"

"Eww... I hope being a scummy idiot isn't contagious..." Regardless of the insults, Issei walked silently behind Kiba. Growing impatient, Issei asked, "Just how far are we going?"

"We're almost there!" Kiba answered before the two walked up to a wooden schoolhouse. Issei looked up at it, mindlessly saying, "The old school building?"

Walking into the structure, the two walked up the creaky flight of stairs. Walking down a spacious corridor, the two arrived at a double door, Kiba announcing, "This is it.

President, I've brought him." Kiba announced before knocking twice, looking at the top of the door, Issei saw a banner, before reading it off in his mind, 'Occult Research Club?'

Through the door, a female answered, "Come on in."

'President...? Is he talking about Rias?' Issei thought to himself, as the thin panel door slid open. Issei looked around, seeing a decrepit and dark room with various occult and magic-like charts scattered around the room. His eyes widened in curiosity, Issei thought to himself, 'What's with this room...?'

Turning his head to the center of the room, he saw a girl he was immediately familiar with, 'That's... first-year Koneko Toujou! Guys and girls both see her as tiny, cute, and almost mascot-like–'

The person in question was a petite girl with white hair and gold eyes. The front of her hair has two long bangs going past her shoulder, and several loose strands hanging over her forehead. At the side of her head was a black cat-shaped hair clip. She wore the standard Kuoh Academy female uniform, the only exception was the black shoulder cape being removed.

At the moment she was elegantly eating a piece of chocolate, her eyes closed as though testing her muscle memory with the movement. Upon seeing the girl, Issei stated, "Wait, I think I know her!"

"Oh? Koneko Toujou is a first-year and a valiant member of the Occult Research Club." Kiba replied, getting the small girl's attention. Seeing this, Kiba added, "My friend Issei here thinks he might know you."

Koneko quickly turned back to eating her candy, as Issei put his hand on the back of his head, saying, "I could be wrong."

'I'm gonna kill him! Who doesn't know that perfect splendor bod? All the girls hate her, cause all the guys wanna do her! Speaking of which... Damn I wish I was that chocolate bar right now!' I had no idea she was down with the O.R.C.! This changes everything!' Issei thought to himself, letting his fantasies run wild upon seeing one of his many crushes. Looking over at another side of the room, he saw pale curtains, and water running behind them as though there was a shower. Issei continued with his curiosity, thinking to himself, 'A shower? Inside the club? Shut up, someone's in there! Oh, great googly-moogly! How did I get so mother fucking lucky?!'

"Your clothes are laid out when you're ready Ms. President!" Another girl called out to the woman inside the shower, to Issei's delight, the girl replied, "Thank you, Akeno."

"I just heard Rias take a shower! Haha! I love this club!" Issei yelled, pumping his fists with a perverted grin on his face. Quickly diluting his joy, Koneko commented, "It's not polite to spy."

"Who is that? I didn't see you." Akeno admitted, Issei saw her as a beautiful young woman, focusing on her voluptuous figure. She had a long, black, undulating ponytail that reached down to her legs, only two strands sticking out from the top before sloping back; all held together with an orange ribbon. Her bangs were similar to Koneko's, wearing the same uniform, only completed with black calf-length socks. Walking over to Issei she gave a sly giggle as she joked, "It's okay I won't bite. You're the new guy, huh? It's nice to meet you."

Issei had a slight look of bewilderment, seeing such a 'high status' girl in front of him. "There's nothing to be nervous about, everyone here's super nice. I'm Akeno, I'm the vice president." Akeno reassured, introducing herself to Issei with another giggle to end her initiation. Issei, deciding to continue, replied, "Uh-uh, I'm Issei Hyoudou, and I promise I'm not always this awkward."

'Cause I'm not always this close to a girl about to bust out of her top! Also thinking of her and Rias working so closely together is hot! I bet they just hang out naked together when no one's around! And when it's cold out they cuddle in bed and have pillow fights in the morning!' Issei rambled to himself before yelling, "This is the greatest club ever, I'm so glad I'm me!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I know it's terribly rude, but I didn't have a chance to wash after leaving your place." A young, red-headed woman with sharp, spikey, red hair which flowed down her legs, her bangs framed her face with one lone ahoge rising above to rest on top of her head. Her intense blue eyes beamed at Issei, looking down at her body he saw she was wearing the same uniform. The uniform managed to perfectly accentuate her already perfect features, at least in Issei's eyes. Issei, already stupefied from Akeno responded with, "Oh no, you're hot- uh- fine, I mean, all g-good."

"Well, now that you've arrived, I think everyone is here."

"We'd like to officially welcome you into the Occult Research Club," Rias announced, everyone in their respective positions on the opposing sofas. Issei, looking at Rias leaning over a desk, replied, "Uh, thanks."

"But you should know the name of the club is just a front. It's supposed to look like this is some sort of hobby." Rias explained, leaving Issei once again confused as he asked, "Okay, so what is it really?"

"Well since you asked I'll be frank with you. I'm not the only Devil here, Issei," Rias announced, even further perplexing him as he asked, "W-wait, are you saying that's what all of you are?!"

"And the winged people from two nights ago were something else, Fallen Angels," Rias added, ignoring Issei's question. However, her even saying that made Issei fall from his perverted haze, leaving him to wonder why she even knew about the group. Though before Issei could get another question out his mouth, Rias continued, "Some think we're the same, which isn't true. They want to serve God, but it's too late for them. Their dark emotions have forced them into the Underworld.

The confusion is understandable because they too walk the Earth misguiding humans. But they wish to please God, so their goal is to wipe us Devils out and gain supremacy over our Plane. You call it Hell. And of course, there's the more recognizable Angels which are clearly sent down by God to defeat us as well. So we're constantly defending ourselves from both sides." Rias elucidated, her exposition giving Issei a brainless look on his face. Something which didn't go unnoticed as Rias asked, "Something the matter? You look a bit overwhelmed."

Behind Rias' words was a drip of sarcasm, a hint of the facade she was putting up for Issei. Ignorant to this, Issei retorted, "Well probably because I am. I mean, you're talking about some freaky-deaky stuff here."

Closing her eyes, Rias asked, "Remember Yuuma Amano?"

Issei audibly gasped at her question before Rias continued, "Of course you do, how could you forget? You two dated for a little while, didn't you?"

Rias began to let her polite face drop, her words piercing through Issei's heart; visible for everyone to see via his shaking fist as he asked, "How did you hear that name? Never mind, I don't wanna know. Look I'm not sure how you know so much about my life, but I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable here. So maybe we should just uh-"

Issei stood up, about to leave before Rias threw a photograph at him. On it was a girl dressed in a dark red jacket, with the letter 'P' in gold, embroidered onto the jacket. Underneath was a white undershirt, a red bow, and a green skirt with a thin white strip around the lower end of it. She had long silky black hair which fell to her hips, her face was in a radiant smile. Her eyes were closed, almost resembling a sincere face of happiness as she faced Issei next to her in the picture. Issei, shocked at seeing his ex, yelled, "Yuuma?!"

"That's right, it wasn't a dream Issei! She's real!" Rias revealed, Issei however didn't have the surprised expression she thought he would. Ignoring this, she continued, "I love this picture of you two, you remember it, don't you?"

"Of course I do. How could I ever forget? That's how I met-," Issei started, only to be interrupted by Rias who stated, "The girl you went out with is also a Fallen Angel."

"Oh, he knows." A voice rang out, causing everyone to turn their heads to look at the source. Issei saw a familiar figure, the Devils gasping in surprise at the presence. Issei, somewhat relieved, yelled, "Sekaino!"

"Yeah, it's me. I'm just wondering what you're doing here with a bunch of Devils." Sekaino stated, looking at Rias. Rias with a panicked look answered, "We're just explaining some things to him, that's all."

Sekaino walked over to the couch next to Issei, making the others in the room uncomfortable. Sekaino, with a sly smile, stated, "Well, seeing as you're fine explaining this to a human, you should be fine explaining your intentions to me."

Rias looked at him with a stunned expression, nodding as she bawled her fist ever so slightly. Something that didn't go unnoticed, but he let it slide as she began, "She needed to kill you, Yuuma, that is. But only after she figured out whether or not there was something within you that was dangerous or threatening. Once that was verified, she would've stabbed you through the middle with a Light Spear."

'He knows that already,' Sekaino grumbled to himself, allowing Rias to continue. Issei on the other hand replayed her words in his head as she was about to kill him, "If you're looking for someone to blame, why not blame him? He gave you the Sacred Gear."

"That explains the freaky shit she was saying, about God and the Sacred Gear," Issei commented, Sekaino looking down at him, curious as to what happened between the Fallen and Issei before he saved the boy. Rias, puzzled as to how Issei knew what a Sacred Gear was, asked, "How do you know what a Sacred Gear is?"

"Because I explained it to him when I saved him." Sekaino stated, Rias nodding in realization as she thought, 'So that's the presence we felt that night.'

"It's a power which is bestowed by Heaven to a certain number of humans. Many historical figures have had it in the past to add onto that." Sekaino restated, everyone, nodding at his rudimentary explanation. Rias, giving her input added, "The thing is, this power can be so uncontrollable that some who have it become a threat to those in the Underworld. Issei, please hold up your left hand."

"Okay, but I'm not very good at catch." Issei joked in response to Rias' request. Sekaino looked at Issei, knowing what she was doing. Rias, ignoring Sekaino added, "Close your eyes and think of the part of your body where you feel is the strongest. Then focus hard on that strength."

'Not bad advice, besides the only time Ddraig has revealed himself was when he wanted to, not Issei.' Sekaino thought as he panned towards Issei's side. Issei, beginning to let his mind run, stated, "W-wait so we're doing this now? There's a lot of pressure."

"It will get easier if you focus," Rias suggested.

"Alright! Focus, focus, focus, focus!" Issei yelled to himself as lifted her legs in front of her body, planting her feet on top of the desk. Issei, noticing this smiled as Rias stated, "Very good, concentrate. You can do this."

"I think I can, ugh... I'm trying! Focus! Eugh! I can't, I'm a weak soul!" Issei admitted, falling to his knees in an attempt to prevent himself from staring at Rias. Sekaino rolled his eyes in frustration, thinking to himself, 'It seems he's too weak to control the bastard.'

"You are not weak at all, it's just a little hard right now," Rias reassured Issei, acting as though she was his maternal figure as she bounced off the desk. Issei looked up with a frustrated expression, 'Um- Yeah it's hard! The only thing I can focus on is the fact that your thong is see-through!'

"Um, are you sure that this isn't some mistake? I mean, I'm not that cool." Issei rebutted, before Rias announced, "A Fallen Angel found you a threat enough to try and kill you! It's not a mistake."

"Ugh! To Hell with this fucking club. I can agree with you that he has potential, but as it stands the boy is weak. Hell, he's pathetic even!" Sekaino yelled, insulting both Issei and the club. Sekaino, seeing everyone was now silent, added, "He's weak. There's no denying that. So don't try and seduce him into your house by reassuring him he's strong, Gremory!"

"I wasn't-!"

"You were. Maybe not with your body, but certainly with your words." Sekaino interrupted his tone lowering, yet his anger and passion boiling. Looking at the Devil, Sekaino continued, "You promise he's strong, that he's doing alright. When in reality, he's fucking nothing right now!"

Issei looked at Sekaino, his anger rising. His fist was bawled up, but he didn't strike. Because Issei knew that Sekaino was right, he was nothing. He was a pervert, a leech, and to top it all off, he was a human standing in the presence of a God. Rias, with her frustration, retorted, "Then why do you defend him? If he's weak, then surely you'd do better leaving him alone."

Sekaino looked at the girl, and then at Issei. The boy was trembling, unknowing of what to do in the situation. Sighing, Sekaino calmed down before stating, "Fine, I was overbearing with my insults."

Rias smiled, thinking he would relieve Issei to her. Opening his eyes once more with a fierce glare, he resumed, "He's certainly weak, but that doesn't mean he has potential. Hell, I've seen what Issei can become if he is pushed to the point. But ask yourself this, is it better for him to be told he's strong, allowing him to get comfortable where he's at when he's really weak? Or should we reveal the truth, before pushing him to reach as high as he can?"

Everyone looked at Sekaino's speech, realizing what he meant as he finished with, "I gave you a chance to see what you'd do with him, but now I see you'd only baby him. We're going home, Issei."

Sekaino turned, Issei following as he gave an awkward wave. Rias looked at the two before looking down at the ground, her three club members looking at her with a mixture of pity and sympathy.

Both walked in silence, Issei following Sekaino as they walked the familiar streets. Looking up, he saw the moon had finally risen above the horizon, though he still had a few hours before his day would be over. Focusing on Sekaino, he began to glare, reflecting on the man's words.

"You're angry, aren't you?" Sekaino asked, his voice piercing through the silence.

"Yeah, a little bit." Issei answered, as he kept walking forwards, Sekaino replying, "Makes sense, most people don't like being belittled in front of your crush."

"Well, I wouldn't call her my crush," Issei commented, Sekaino chuckling at that. Before the older man could say anything, Issei added, "But, you were right. I am weak, I am nothing."

"You also have potential. Issei, I wasn't trying to be mean, more so honest with you." Sekaino stated as he stopped, turning to face the boy before he continued with, "But I will not let you become comfortable with where you're at, and I will not let you be told a lie for the sake of comfort.

Better be rude yet honest than to make you comfortable because of a lie." Sekaino finished, Issei replied, "Yeah, that's true. I would rather be knowledgeable than ignorant."

Sekaino looked at the boy with a smile, before saying, "Good, you're already learning. Now, we have a workout to go do."

"Ah, come on! We only have a few hours left of the day." Issei complained, pointing at the moon to fully hammer in his point.

"Then best do something productive with it." Sekaino rebutted, before walking off towards downtown. Issei quickly joined his mentor, rolling his eyes as he stated, "Alright, I'll go."

"Ha! As though you had a choice, now come one! Today's leg day." Sekaino revealed, Issei sighing at his cruel joke. However, his disappointment was replaced with joy, as he realized Sekaino had his best interest in mind.

"Damn, my legs are sore," Issei muttered as he walked to school, his eyes closed from exhaustion. Opening his eyes, he looked ahead thinking about yesterday's events.

"I hope things won't be too awkward with Rias, or any of those guys for that matter," Issei stated, looking up at the sky on his way to school. Ahead of him was the same path to school he's always taken. However something was off, he felt the presence of something near him. As though sensing Issei's concern, Ddraig yelled, 'Behind you, boy!'

Obeying the dragon's warning, Issei turned. Seeing Rias standing only a small distance away from him. Normally Issei would've leered at the sight of her, but knowing what she was put him on edge.

Focusing on her face, he saw a resolute yet determined stare. It was obvious that she had some sort of business with him, realizing this Issei asked, "What business do you have with me, Rias?"

She sighed, before answering, "Look, Issei. Yesterday didn't go the greatest, I wanted to explain my intentions while recruiting you."

"Yeah, I'd say it could've gone better." Issei replied, agreeing with her as she stated, "Then please let me explain why, I feel that you'd be easier to talk to than your friend. So please just let me explain myself!"

A/N: And done, now after this chapter, we'll be skipping straight into the Raiser Arc since chapter 2 happened. Secondly, you may notice Asia isn't here, that's intentional as she will not be in this story.

I reason that there is no point in her being in the story, and also just that I don't like her character all too much. Hopefully, this sits fine with you guys, if not you'll either have to leave or stick with me.

Word Count - 4,251