They didn't know how long it was but the family moved from the hallway and into the dining room, where the food had gotten cold. Mama Hyoudou quickly heated up the meal and set another plate on their small table. The tears on their faces hadn't disappeared but their smiles lit up the room.

Issei told them what happened after he was kidnapped, about the girl with red hair who saved him. He also told them about the girl in twintails, who saved his soul. He told them about his adventures in the underworld, as well as his adventures on earth. He told them about the twin cat sisters, the vampire that stops time, and about the devil with silver wings.

Issei also showed his parents what happened to his body. All the transformations he could take on and all the impossible things he could do. He could breathe fire, spit poison, summon ice, grow steel, and many many more.

Papa and Mama Hyoudou were amazed at all the things that Issei could do and asked how he got them. Issei told them what had happened to him after he got kidnapped, although not all of it. A short "I was experimented on" was all they needed to know what happened to their baby.

Mama Hyoudou cried once more and hugged Issei while Papa Hyoudou clenched his fist, almost to the point of bleeding. Issei comforted them, telling them that it was all right now.

"By the way," Issei said. "Can I go get her now?"

"Is she the one who saved you from that lab?" Mama Hyoudou asked.

"Yes."

"Of course you can!" Papa Hyoudou said. "She's welcome anytime."

Issei nodded happily and moved to go get Rias. He was stopped by his mother, holding onto his wrist. He looked back to see her with a pensive look on her face. Issei gave her a small smile. "I'll be back, Okaa-san," he carefully pulled away from her hold and left.

"Gorou."

"Miki?" Gorou turned to his wife.

"Our son has grown up," she covered her mouth with her hands as tears filled her eyes. It was a bittersweet feeling. She wasn't able to spend these years with him and he comes back bringing a girl with him. She saw how he talked about this Rias girl, the happiness in his eyes and the brightness on his face, telling about the stories and adventures he went on… It made Miki feel sad that she wasn't able to see that. She got her boy back… But he wasn't the kid that she remembered.

Gorou wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her close to his chest. He was more worried about his son's mental health. Issei hadn't talked much about his time in the lab, but Gorou assumed the worst happened there. Gorou had read about the horrors of what scientists and soldiers do… especially Unit 731. He feared that Issei had experienced the same hell as those people.

Issei came back with Rias. The Hyoudous were amazed at her beauty, her grace, and her manners. Her lustrous red hair, the way she carried herself, and her respect for the Hyoudous as she entered their house all dazzled the Hyoudou couple.

"Greetings, Hyoudou Miki-san, Hyoudou Gorou-san, I am Rias Gremory," Rias bowed and spoke fluent Japanese. "I am sorry it took all these years to bring Issei back home to you."

"No, you don't have to be sorry Rias-chan," Miki quickly moved to close the distance between the both of them. She hugged Rias very tightly. "Thank you, thank you for saving Ise," Miki released Rias. "Please, tell us if you need anything. Anything you need."

Rias lay both her hands on the older woman's shoulders. "You don't have to worry about any of that."

"Please feel free to call me Mother," Miki took Rias' hands into her own. She bowed to Rias. "Again, thank you for saving our son." Gorou bowed with her.

"Please raise your heads," Rias disentangled her fingers from Miki's. "You don't have to bow."

"Have you had dinner yet, Rias-chan?" Miki asked.

"Not yet."

"Ise, you should have invited her in earlier!" Miki lightly scolded her son.

"It's okay! You guys needed a private moment together," Rias said with sincerity.

Miki frowned but said nothing more on the matter. "Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes please, Okaa-san."

Miki smiled. "Please wait here then. Ah, please seat yourself while you wait."

"Thank you."

Gorou took out an extra chair for Rias and set it by the table. Rias gracefully sat herself and waited for the food.

"Please feel free to call me Father," Gorou said once they were seated.

Rias nodded with a small smile.. "Yes, Otou-san."

"As my wife said earlier, thank you for saving our son. If you want anything, please feel free to ask us."

"Very well, I don't need anything at the moment. I'll be sure to ask something of you, sometime later."

"Please do," Gorou said. "I hope Issei hasn't given you any trouble though."

"Oh, he hasn't. The worst he did was refuse to let go of two stray cats."

While Rias and Gorou made some idle chatter, Issei wandered around the house. Things hadn't changed much. Things looked smaller, and that was it. The kitchen and dining still had the same lay out. The sala now had a rocking chair and the wall had a new layer of wallpaper. The stairs going up to the second floor felt easier to climb now. Issei's old bedroom no longer had the word [Ise] printed in front of it and the Western dragon hovering over his name. Instead, a pink plaque was hanging from a nail with the name [Ichika] written in neat letters.

Issei gripped the door handle and slowly opened the door. It opened with a light creak. In the center of the room lay a low bed with a toddler sleeping under the blanket of the moonlight. Issei silently looked at her. He smiled and moved to leave the room but was stopped when his mother came in. She stood beside him.

"She is your younger sister."

Issei nodded silently.

"I will introduce her to you tomorrow," Miki said. "I will prepare some futons on the floor for you and Rias-chan to use later."

"That-"

"Rias-chan said you both will sleep here," Miki interrupted, her stance firm. "The guest room is free. Will you help me fix it up?"

Issei nodded with a smile. "Yes, Kaa-chan."