Chapter 9: Contest.

Issei awoke feeling simply incredible. He wasn't sure where exactly the feeling came from but it was like he had spent a week relaxing and recovering, at least that's what he thought the feeling was because he had personally never allowed himself to rest that long. There were however some oddities; the first and foremost was that he was naked. Which was not something he did, simply not feeling comfortable enough to sleep in the nude so to wake up nude was second oddity though changed his feeling of relaxation into full on panic. Having found arms holding him, Issei firstly began to worry he had done something foolish becoming more worried as he remember little after arriving at the church his worried to into full on panic when he managed to carefully free himself and leave the bed to find none other than Rias lying there equally as nude as Issei was. The final oddity was that she was smiling contently in her sleep. Wasting no time throwing the covers back over Rias, Issei turned and found his clothes that were oddly folded into a tidy pile. Something he hadn't seen since his days staying with Sirzechs where Yuno sorted his discarded clothes daily. Getting dressed, Issei quickly escaped the room followed by the house, thankful for the first time in a long time that it was a school day. Issei only paused his evacuation long enough to collect Titus and something he could eat as he travelled trying desperately to shake the images of Rias' beauty from his mind.

With Titus wrapped round Issei arm he was able to bypass the hordes of Academy students that were often looking to catch a glimpse at one the many so called celebrities that attended the school, Issei unfortunately had been named as one of the so called celebrities getting the title of the Ghost of Kuoh Academy mostly due to his many disappearing acts that largely went unpunished. Having safely arrived at school Issei did something else he rarely did willingly; he attended one of his classes hoping to get through the day long enough for it to be safe to return home where he could focus on purging the image of Rias that were wreaking havoc on his emotions. He felt like his stomach was in knots well, his heart raced with want. He was able to calm his heart by the second class, but he couldn't get the image of Rias smiling in his bed out of his head. By his third class, moments before lunch where he would make his escape from the hell that was Academy classes that he really didn't need. His plans of escape were shattered when Yuuto walked into the class with a cheery smile. The girls of the room went from calm and focused to squealing fangirls which served to announce Yuuto's arrival. Yuuto's smile was for the room but his eyes locked on Issei with a mix of uncertainty and anger. Shifting his gaze, Yuuto handed the teacher, who met Yuuto halfway across the room, a note. "I'm sorry sir but our club has an activity today and I've been sent to collect Issei who forgot to attend."

The teacher nodded as if it was normal for a club activity to take importance over classes. "Very well he doesn't need this class much anyway."

Gesturing with his head, Yuuto led Issei out the class room and to the place he had spent a good year avoiding at all costs. The old schoolhouse or rather Occult club. Following Yuuto inside Issei felt his heart begin to race once more at the thought of being close to Rias. The pair walked up three flights of stairs arriving at the top floor and came to a small single corridor that only had one door to it. Yuuto walked ahead placing his hand on the door knob before knocking twice and opening the door. Issei expected that the knock was to get everyone's attention, he was proven correct when the those in attendance affix issei with a glare All but Rias that was, she simply gave Issei a small smile, Yuuto stood casually his attention on Rias he spoke. "I brought him as requested by Rias, He's pretty easy to track down when you know where to look."

Issei felt the urge to respond but kept his mouth shut as Rias began to speak. "Ok so now that we are all here. I would first like to give Asia a warm welcome as the newest member of our family. Akeno I want you to help guide her along until she knows what she's doing."

Akeno nodded as Asia looked nervously at her feet, ringing her hands. Issei felt the urge to comfort her but he was too far to do so subtly. Surprisingly, Asia looked up with a small smile for Akeno. "Miss Akeno has been very kind so far. Although it will take some time to learn not to pray."

Rias gave the blond girl a soft smile. "It would be best to avoid anything of religious significance for now on, all of it has the potential to cause harm to us Devils but I understand some habits are hard to break."

Walking over from Rias' side Akeno moved to embrace the girl. "I've already told you to just call me Akeno. Calling me miss just makes me feel old."

With that Asia nerves faded away as she let out a happy giggle. Rias then turned her attention to the Peerage at large. "The addition of a new member also lends itself to an issue of space. As such I will be moving into Issei home and Akeno will take my room, well Aisa takes Akeno's."

Immediately alarm bells rang in Issei's head as did many images related to the one that had plagued his mind all morning. "Why not have Yuuto move in with me. I mean he's a guy, it makes more sense right."

Shaking her head Rias smiled almost evilly at him. "I want to keep an eye on you, you have been left astray for far too long and I want to make sure you behave yourself."

Feeling somewhat speechless, Issei just grumbled nonsense under his breath before he sighed and agreed to the arrangement. Smiling brightly at him Rias once again brought her attention back to the room. "Now then I need to put some last pieces into place to finalise Asia enrollment into the Academy. The rest of the day is yours."

Just like that Rias left the clubhouse leaving the rest of the group in an awkward standoff, Asia moving close to Issei's side not really sure what was going on but trusting him the most. She looked at him in surprise when he sighed in defeat before speaking. "I'm sorry. I never should have come at you like that and honestly I set the scales in my favour. If you can forgive me I would like a second chance to amend things."

The group remained silent for a time before Yuuto crossed his arms. "So you're saying if we fought you on equal terms we would stand a chance against you."

Sensing a trap, Issei responded carefully. "My scared gear doubles my strength every ten seconds, I can't use Scail mail until the third boost but that doesn't mean I'm not tough without it."

"How about a contest of Strength then, if you win we will forgive you and move on. If we win then you have to serve us until Rias loses her patience and tells us to stop. Which I must warn might not be as quick as you expect she will likely find it amusing." Akeno offered with a wicked smile.

Issei nodded in agreement. "Accepted but I will only fight Yuuto and Koneko."

Akeno looked at the pair, getting a nod of acceptance from them. "Very well, however no sacred gear will be used, Yuuto gets a practice sword and Koneko will fight at half her strength and speed. I will judge the fight. What do you think three strikes to the body or kill hits count as a win?"

"That's a handicap for us all but we'll go for five rounds. Oh and Asia will be a second judge, she knows less than you but will keep things fair plus she can heal us between bouts."

The group all turned to Asia to see if she would agree. Asia went bright red at the attention before looking to her feet and nodding. Yuuto looked eager, Koneko was just blank faced but seemed ready for the fight. Well Akeno smiled brightly. "The last question is where do we have this contest?"

"My house would be best, I got a gym of sorts we can use without drawing attention."

Yuuto stepped forward as others got closer to Issei, slightly too close for his liking. "Excellent. Well then open a circle and let's do this."

Embarrassment immediately flashed through Issei and he rubbed the back of his neck smiling awkwardly. "Actually I can't, I have next to no Devil power and well I never learned magic to begin with."

Akeno began to laugh. "Oh you poor thing, here just imagine yourself in front of your home and I'll get us there."

Taking a deep breath Issei closed his eyes, pushing the image of Rias' figure from his mind and focusing on his home. He missed Koneko step beside Akeno and Rias' queen placed her hand on both their shoulders and summoned a crimson circle under their feet. In a flash they were in front of Issei's home where he led the way forward through the door and into the basement. Issei collected a training sword from the collection of training weapons he had in the gym section of the large space before handing it to Yuuto who stood in the centre of the lowered area. Issei then took several steps back as did Yuuto and Koneko, the trio forming a rough triangle with Issei at the point of the formation. Akeno had collected a chair from the library and sat upon it like it was some sort of throne, well Asia reminded by the stairs looking equal part terrified and nervous. As a tense stillness fell over the group Akeno raised her arm with a bright smile on her face before pulling it down in an arc joyfully calling out. "Fight."

It was Yuuto that made the first move charging straight to Issei with a burst of speed, raising his sword over his head coming for a downward strike, Issei countered the strike the same way he had previously, by crossing his arms in a X, stopping the strike inches from the top his head. Without his armour however the strike stung his arm. Issei then tried to disarm Yuuto when he felt a slight warning, Kicking Yuuto away, Issei turned just in time to block a series of strikes from Koneko. Unfortunately for Issei, Koneko's superior speed overcame his own and she was able to slide a firm punch into his chest winding him. He was coughing slightly when Asia rushed over to him placing her hand on his chest, a green glow flashing into existence. At the same time Akeno called out proudly. "One Yuuto. One Issei."

Asia looked away from Issei to look at Akeno. "Are you calling out how many strikes they've taken? I don't know if Issei would have survived that one if Koneko just used half her strength."

Coughing Issei responded mostly to save himself from an early loss. It was bad enough that he had stepped in the trap of having to hit each of them three times. His opponents got to share those three hits between them. "No, I would have been Ok. I would have been able to boost twice so far which would have quadrupled my defence."

Akeno nodded in acceptance. "Very well then the ruling stand, if you are recovered then I will restart things."

All it took was for Issei to nod before his opponents were on him. Koneko was closest and confident from her previous hit so she struck at him first again, striking him with as much strength and speed as she was allowed, Issei to notice something. Despite her strength and speed something was holding her back. It wasn't that she was just holding back her strength which in itself took great skill but it was like she was refusing to use some other part of her strength. Not that it mattered all that much at the moment, Koneko was still giving Issei a run for his money and he had to act first or risk losing. So he used Koneko speed against her, he let her hit him one more time this time on purpose which made Koneko fall into a pattern then Issei simply moved away and around Koneko before quickly striking her three times in the back with a simple set of jabs. Akeno called her out and Issei returned his attention to Yuuto before realising that taking his attention off Yuuto had been a mistake as Yuuto stuck up to Issei and struck him with the pommel of his sword "Issei out. Match to Yuuto and Koneko. Asia be so kind as to heal them."

Moments later they were all healed and back to peak condition ready for round two. A new surprise rose for Issei during this match and it was one he really should have expected. He had taken Koneko out first by moving to her and taking her by surprise at his speed before he punched her in the bridge of her nose to stun her before striking her twice in the chest. Then Issei turned his attention to Yuuto, blocking the blond boy's first strike and moved his guard enough to strike him once in the chest before Yuuto staggered away, but recovered quickly coming in with a low strike that got Issei in the hip. The pair then entered a duel with neither able to find an opening when Issei was sent to the floor. His body convulsing as lightning flooded his body striking from the back of his neck. Akeno called out awfully proud of herself. "Issei out. Match to Yuuto and Koneko."

"Akeno you cheated!" Asia called out in surprised horror, more at the damage to Issei than her cheating.

Akeno for her part just laughed with mirth. "He never said I had to sit on the side and watch. I just took the initiative just like I would have in an actual fight."

"Unfortunately she's right, I very much doubt I could have survived a strike like that even in my armour. She got me right in the back of the neck, anymore force I would have been dead as it was." Issei responded by getting to his feet once Asia had healed him enough not to be just a convulsing mess. He glanced at Yuuto and Koneko, Yuuto looked nonplussed and Koneko looked impassive.

Rolling his shoulders Issei reached into himself. "Ddraig, think you can lend me a hand? Just warn me when any of them come to strike."

"You got it, partner." Ddraig responded with a dry chuckle, clearly enjoying himself.

Stepping back into their rough triangle Akeno called the fight to start and Ddraig called for Issei to watch out for Yuuto. Having no time to question it, Issei ignored Koneko who moved alongside Yuuto but his question was answered as he blocked a fast and hard strike that came for his head at an angle as Koneko threw a wild punch that would have been easily blocked but instead went wide as Issei moved closer to Yuuto who's strike would of likely been considered deadly or at the very least stun him greatly. The pair had gone for an easy win over another drawn out fight. Issei was having none of it as he striked first hitting Yuuto in the chest winding him before twisting his arm and using him as a shield from Koneko next strike. Surprisingly Akeno called out two hit on Yuuto and Issei reflectively head butted him to take him out the fight, Ddraig called out again and Issei moved forward surprising Koneko when he grabbed her and spun around using the girl as a shield this time against Akeno lighting bolt. Luckily for Koneko the bolt simply struck the girl's knee and Akeno called out the hit. Koneko responded by using her unfazed leg to swing her heel into Issei's leg, hitting him in the shin which made Issei drop her. Her leg however couldn't support her weight however and Issei was able to send two quick soft punches to her side unwilling to simply stomp on her girl to earn his first win, had it been a true fight he would of gone for the stomp but he doubted it would go far to fix things and he was beginning to have doubts this fight was going to do much of that either despite the groups promises even still he had to give everything he had. He had no intention of serving the trio as a servant.

For the fourth match none of the three actually fighting landed a hit at first, as Akeno got over eager getting to her feet and sending a trio of lightning bolts at Issei the moment she called the fight to start. Issei thankfully dodge them and moved for Koneko who was standing the furthest from Akeno. She block his first series of strikes hopping back to make space between them when Ddraig suddenly called a warning for Issei and he also stepped back as Yuuto stepped in front of the retreating Koneko, sword swinging for Issei neck, Issei bent backwards twisting on his feet to flex his body down and around the blade before coming to face Yuuto and send a punch at his ribs before had to block Koneko who he saw coming from the corner of his eye. The pair's current duel was different from the last as Koneko was forced to dodge just as many bolts from Akeno as Issei did and in the end it cost her as Issei tripped her up when she lost her balance after a bolt hit too close to her foot. Issei only got one hit in however as Yuuto came to her defence. Issei was on the back foot then a bolt suddenly hit his own foot and Akeno called out the hit which distracted him enough for Yuuto to land a second. Issei in a moment of desperation lunged for Yuuto tackling him to the floor where he punched him twice and rolled off as Koneko moved up. Knowing she was only to strike Issei she used all the strength and speed she was allowed to use but Issei was equally determined to end the fight and he stepped on her foot as she moved for a kick. He then caught the kick, he held his balance as he tapped Koneko twice in the chest and Akeno called out "Koneko out. Match to Issei."

The Trio went to a tired looking Aisa who was simply watching the fight at this point not able to keep up with it all to call anything out. She was however always eager to heal them and congratulate them on their skills. It was also at this point that Rias arrived. She walked down the stairs looking at the trio getting healed by Asia and moved to Akeno who was once again sitting on her basic table chair like it was a throne. She smiled brightly to Rias who moved to collect her own chair. "What is going on here?"

Rais' words were calm and light but held the smallest part of worry. Akeno responded with joy and glee. "Just a little bit of fun between the younger members working out their differences."

Rias looked at Akeno before sighing dramatically. "You've been cheating haven't you."

"Yep, oh and Asia has a crush."Akeno responded like it was nothing

the boys tenses as Asia suddenly squeaked Koneko just walked to her position once Asia had finished healing her. Rias was taken aback by Akeno's sudden statement but simply raised an eyebrow in response. "Oh?"

Akeno just smiled. "She hasn't taken her eyes off Yuuto this whole time. She was really trying to watch the fight but her eyes kept falling on our blond knight."

Asia was red faced and looking down at her feet as she finished healing Issei. He raised her chin smiling at her. "Hey it's Ok to have a crush. We all do at some point, just be friendly and don't let it get in the way of anything and who knows what might happen."

Aisa looked at Issei for a moment and then at Yuuto who showed no feeling whatsoever at the revelation and simply nodded quickly at Issei who turned to his opponents ready for the fifth and final match. The Rook and Knight stood in front of their King and Queen clearly ready to prove their strength, Looking past them at Akeno, Issei could see that the Queen was equally as eager and was flexing her fingers ready to flick more lighting his way. Rias just sat watching her Peerage with an amused smile. Unfortunately for Issei who had all but recovered from the morning ordeal it seemed Rias' very presence was enough to send Issei's heart racing and he felt something shift within him as he readied himself. Three heart beats later Akeno called for them to start and Koneko darted for Issei. She seemed to fly through the air using her body as a missile, her fist acting as the cone of her missile. Issei simply moved to the side before advancing on Yuuto, Koneko ended her flight in a roll she wasted no time in twisting and striking at Issei back. Ddraig warned Issei in time for Issei to again shift to the side, Koneko then sent a series of punches and kicks his way which Issei did everything he could to block and evade. It wasn't until he saw Yuuto moving in for a swing over Koneko head, the small girl ducking with a low punch at Issei gut at the same time. Issei jumped back aways for the pair only to have Ddraig call out in warning as a lighting bolt flashed towards him. As soon as Issei's feet were on the ground he spun and got low, feeling the static energy flash over his head as Akeno bolt went wide. Getting rapidly fed up with being on the defensive, Issei took the battle to Koneko rushing towards her as she charged him. As Issei got close he threw himself to a slide grabbing Koneko's foot as she passed him. Her girl stumbled and faced planted but before Issei could exploit the opening he made Yuuto came in with his sword, striking at Issei well he was down. Issei raised his arm to block only to feel a kick impact his head instead. Asia called out the hit for the first time during the contest. Growling slightly Issei kicked at Yuuto, getting him in the hip which Akeno called out. The kick shifted Yuuto off balance and it allowed Issei to get to his feet at the same time Koneko also rose for the ground. The trio moved in a small circle, watching eachother waiting for the others to make the first move, the stalemate was broken when Ddraig warned Issei of a bolt and Issei lunged for Yuuto just catching the knight by surprise allowing him to twist his arm round making Yuuto drop his sword before he took a lighting bolt to the chest. Smoke came off his chest from his singed clothes. and Asia called out as Issei let the knight fall to the ground in a heap having fallen unconscious. "Yuuto out."

Issei faced Koneko feeling his disadvantage. She only had one hit on him but she was faster and stronger than he was giving her more chances to exploit openings. Issei had hoped to take her out first but her reactions to his grapple would have been too much of a risk. Koneko knew just as well as Issei of advantage; she had moved at speed. Aiming for a leaping strike at Issei to stun him, Issei had to shift back to avoid the strike, feeling a gust pass his nose. With Koneko momentarily open Issei kicked Koneko away, sending her airborne body to the ground. Issei distantly heard Akeno, who sounded deflated, call out the hit. Koneko didn't wait for Issei as she rolled away before leaping to her feet and moving to Issei. Issei knew he had to end the fight sooner rather than later, the more chances he gave Koneko the more likely she was to get a strike on him. So he began to take risks. Beginning with simply throwing himself at her, Koneko might have been stronger than Issei but to suddenly have all of his body weight coming on top of her she was sent to the floor. The pair then just grappled with each other on the ground, Koneko having the advantage in strength once again, but Issei first got her with a lucky headbutt. Before he managed to get on top and send a single punch that was slightly harder than he had intended to her nose making it bleed. Silence hung in the air for a moment before Asia called out from beside Yuuto. "Koneko out. Victory goes to Issei."

Issei got to his feet holding a hand out to Koneko who took it and let Issei help her up. The pair then moved to Asia and Yuuto. Yuuto gave Issei a careful glance before nodding his head once and holding out his hand. Issei took the hand and shook it firmly. The Trio then let Asia finish healing them, she seemed ready to pass out but insisted on finishing the job when Issei and Koneko said it wasn't necessary. Finally the small group turned to Rias and Akeno. Rias seemed pleased, and Akeno looked slightly guilty. Rias gave Akeno a small push off her chair and the darked haired beauty came over to embrace Yuuto whispering apologise into his ear which earned her a laugh. Pulling back looking slightly offended Yuuto just grinned. "I'm fine honestly, With Asia healing the worst that happens is I need a new school shirt."

The group all laughed at that. Then their attention was drawn to the stairs where Titus made an appearance. He bowed deeply with a small smile on his lips. "I took the initiative to prepare food for everyone."

The Peerage started to give their thanks when Issei suddenly shot away cursing loudly just as the fire alarm sounded as smoke drifted from the stairs.

A/N: Ok so that lasted way longer than I had intended but was a lot of fun to write. Let me know what you through with a review and follow/favourite if you like

And I will see you in the next one.