Chapter 13: Arrangements.

Issei wasn't sure what he had expected after Rias had awoken him in the middle of night, he had known something had been wrong for her to act so drastically but he hadn't expected a arrogant fiancee. He hadn't expected the fast sharp feeling of jealousy to flare within him at the revelation. Thankfully these emotions had been easy to quash as he wrapped himself in the shadows with the help of Titus' innate cloaking, the rage returned in like a tidal wave as Riser began to fondle Rias, the pressure having already begun to build at his attitude towards her. His emotions flowed out of him through his words, words he regretted the moment he had spoken but then Riser had questioned Issei power and something deep within him snapped. Issei felt more than heard Ddraig growl not realising he was emulating it as his strength was questioned, Ddraig's emotions blending with his own caused him to move across the room to strike at the vermin before him. He didn't see the girl who landed in front of him. He had simply reacted taking her out mostly out of instinct then he felt before he saw the heat that burned him, his eyes locking onto the one responsible before he was bathed in pain. There were no flames, just intense heat that scolded his skin and burned his clothes but as his clothes burned his temper cooled as the pain became his solo focus. He ignored the talks and arrangements going on around him. As the heat rescinded he continued to ignore the discussion around him as he instead thought about the plan he had begun to form, deciding it would be better to complete one of his tasks earlier than he had expected. Becoming focused on his goal, Issei hadn't meant for his farewell to be so cold but he had little time to spare if he wanted to put his own plans in motion, before he could start helping the Peerage get ready for an impossible battle.

He was quick on his feet as he headed to his destination knowing he had little time to find his mark before they disappeared into their tasks for the day which was why he found himself once again lurking in the shadows only this time he was in front of the student council building waiting for its king to make an appearance. Issei was unsure how long he was gonna have to wait but Academy classes were gonna start soon so he knew he was either in for a short wait if he was lucky or rather long one if he was not, either way he was ready for a steakout to get the information he desired. Thankfully upon the first bell the doors to the council building opened as Sona along with her Peerage marched out. Issei followed, watching as one by one each of the peerage left to go to their own class or complete some task. Suddenly as they were close to the main school building Issei noticed Sona make some odd hand gestures that were unfamiliar to Issei; he was caught further off guard as each of the remaining Peerage split off leaving Sona alone as she seemingly led Issei up to the school rooftop. Once they were there she looked around to find themselves alone before she turned to face in his direction. She couldn't see him but as she spoke his building suspicions were answered. "What is it you want Mr Hyoudou?"

The moment Sona brought her attention towards Issei Titus leaped off Issei arm revealing him well also abandoning him. As he was revealed, Issei focused on Sona, his face a neutral mask. "So you knew I was following?"

Sona pointed in the direction the Familiar had departed in as she spoke placidly. "Your Familiar's abilities are as good as I heard they were so I made sure I had a spell to counter it. It's a simple thing, really the only effort that's required is that I recast it every twenty four hours."

"And how do you know of both my Familiar's abilities as well as the spell to counter it? Well neither myself nor Rias knows of such a spell." Issei asked his mind to shift to counter a possible weakness that had developed.

"The Answer to your first question is simply that my sister works along Sirzechs and well… Sirzechs like to boast. My sister gave me both the information on you as well as the required counter spell to your familiar the moment we confirmed what it was. Now I've answered your question so you will answer mine." Sona's face was impassive as she took charge of the conversation exerting the full authority as her position of king.

Issei kept quiet for a moment unsure how to put into words what he wanted but he also felt like possibly angering the King was a bad Idea. When Sona raised an eyebrow Issei spoke quickly. "I want information on how an Evil Piece gets promoted to a king."

Sona sighed in what almost seemed like disappointment. " Rias could have told you this information just as easily as I can but whatever, A Evil Piece can be promoted to Kingship once they have proven themselves worthy of holding the title."

Issei's expression shifted to a glare. "I don't want the line you or Rias would mindlessly repeat to a Piece to give them a goal. I want knowledge, the facts. If you can't tell me precisely then give me access to the information."

Sona once again raised her eyebrow and her tone became coarse. "And why should I do that? You've been a part of Rias Peerage for what? three weeks."

"Because you admitted to your Sister having information about me. Information like that I've been a Devil for thirteen years and trained by Sirzechs' people, Because you know the power I can obtain given time as well as the advantages there are in having me owing you.." Issei spoke formally, doing his best to stand his ground.

"And you come to me for this because you reckon Rias would refuse flatly to give you the information you want. So I'll ask in her place, what the rush is?" Sona was now smirking as she spoke knowing she had Issei in the palm of her hand.

"I've been training for this for thirteen years, if Sirzech wanted me to be simply a pawn for Rias he would have had me serve her from the moment we met but instead he sent me away. No, he has other plans for me and it wouldn't surprise me if this is part of it." Issei spoke with conviction, fully believing the words. The certainty of which formed after the time he had spent alongside Rias' Peerage feeling the gap that stood between them and himself.

Sona was quiet for a time before she nodded once. " Very well I shall get you the information, it'll take some time and the chance that I'll be discovered are high, Kings especially one as young as myself rarely go looking for the details you desire. I will tell them everything if I am caught…understood." Issei nodded in agreement and the pair shook hands before Issei left through the door he had come though as a flash of Ice blue flared behind him. He walked down the stairs and out of the school building back towards the Occult club knowing Peerage had training to do.

Upon returning to the club house Issei caught the tail end of a conversation between Rias and Grayfia. "I thank you for the second handicap and will accept it"

Looking between the two women, Issei raised an eyebrow in question and waited until either noticed him so as not to disturb the pair. He hadn't had to wait long as Rias seemed to sense his presence, giving him a sad smile before answering his unanswered question. "Grayfia has negotiated a grace period of ten days for us to train as this is our first Ranking game, I have accepted as it will give us an edge we sorely need."

Issei nodded once. "Good, so where will we do it, we need somewhere where we don't have to restrain ourselves."

Rias returned his nod, her smile growing brighter as he said 'we' "My family owns a manor outside of town, It's a couple of hours hike but it'll do for a warmup, especially with all the stuff we'll need."

"Strength and endurance training excellent, let's get packing. " A smile formed on his face as Issei looked towards the coming training, to something easy to understand and focus on rather than the politics surrounding and invading his life.

It took a few more hours but eventually the group was ready. Rias, Akeno and Asia went without carrying a thing as Issei and Yuuto carried a sack that was of equal size but weighted twice that they personally did. What Koneko bore couldn't be considered a sack instead Issei simply referred to it as monstrous. Rias had acquired a crate for Koneko and the group had stuffed everything that both Issei and Yuuto couldn't get into their own sacks. But when she had tried rope around it and first haul it up Koneko had deemed it too light and had personally collected several stones some of which Issei would have called boulders. Liking the idea Rias had suggested taking some items out of the boys pack and putting the lost content into Koneko crate before loading the sacks with stones to increase the weight. Koneko had then put the three largest boulders she had collected around the crate before wrapping the lot in a sheet and creating her own bundle before hauling it onto her own back with a grunt looking almost comical as her tiny stature carried the weight. The girls not carrying anything had bands of weights around their waist that didn't weigh much but were enough to put some strain on them.

Much like Rias had said it took several hours for the Peerage to arrive at the large rich looking manor that was situated on the other side of a large hill outside of town which made the trek up hill gruelling for the ones with packs so much so that Asia moved among them healing their aches until she came out in a sweat for straining herself and Rias called for them all to take a break. Standing atop the peak of the hill the group took in the manor seeing it situated among nature it looked like some mystical enchanted place. Taking in the sight, a single thought rose into Issei's mind… perfect. Once unpacked into their assigned rooms they met in one of the open spaces around the manor that skirted a forest. Rias assigned Asia to work with Akeno in furthering her strength and endurance training, promising to introduce her to magic training the following day as she kept the rest together not telling them what she had planed as Akeno and Asia walked off to give them space. When they were out of sight Rias turned her attention to Issei, Yuuto and Koneko. "I think it would be best if we focus on building the foundation we have developed. Issei if you don't mind why don't you face us, all three of us."

Issei nodded. "I won't use my Sacred gear this time though just so we can get a feel for things."

Rias nodded once in understanding before the threesome got into position. With Yuuto and Koneko standing in front of Rias who was watching Issei with a critical eye, Yuuto and Koneko stood by waiting for Rias' command. They waited a few breaths before Rias shouted. "GO!" and the duo moved for Issei.

Koneko was as always the fastest; she moved to Issei in an eye blink. Lunging for Issei with a fist directed at his head followed by a series of strikes so fast that Issei was immediately on the back foot. He defended where he could mininding himself for when Yuuto was to make a move but was caught off guard when Koneko fell back and Yuuto took her place with a sword swing upwards. Issei had to lean back and felt the air displace past his chin making him stumble slightly giving Yuuto the immediate advantage. Issei recovered quickly though able to strike at Yuuto slowly putting him on the back foot before Koneko came at him with a jumping kick aimed at his head as Yuuto fell back into Issei blind spot once again taking Issei off balance as he adjusted to Koneko onslaught. The duo continued to swap places always at the moment Issei got into a rhythm and they always moved into a place where Issei couldn't reach at them without giving his back to his main aggressor, they never attack together likely do to how aggressive they were being the risk of getting into each other way was high. It was also a tactic the pair hadn't used before the manuver being too complicated to pull off without near perfect timing, timing they were achieving perfectly never giving Issei time to see the move coming and made him wonder where the change had come from. His answer came when Issei suddenly noticed the red glow surrounding the pair's ears. Cursing himself for getting to focused on the attacking pair Issei surprised his current aggressor by taking a step back and around them, watching for a counter of some kind before skirted fast and low making himself a small target as he moved for Rias who was standing pack looking out of him a red glow matching her lipstick covering her mouth. He took pride in seeing her surprise as he came up to face her. He replaced two fingers against her next smirking at her as he spoke. "You're dead."

Issei then turned and faced the duo watching as Koneko took a single step before Rias clapped her hand. "That will do, I think. We all know how this will end."

Both Koneko and Yuuto grimacing before nodding and Issei himself stood down all of them turned to look at Rais before she casted another spell likely to get the attention of both Akeno and Asia as the pair quickly made their way over to Rias who in turn lead the whole peerage back to the manor. "We are alone here so we will have to cater for ourselves. We'll cycle who incharge of the meal but tonight I'll take the lead."

Once the Peerage had eaten Rias stood in front of them all much like she did when they were gathered in the Occult club and much like the occult club. She had everyone's attention almost Instantly. "Most of you know how Rating games work, but our newer members do not and I felt like it was time that we had a small refresher as well as explore the history of the Rating games." Rias was quiet for a moment and Issei watched her with interest. Nathius hadn't taught him much about the history of devils and like many of the subjects he had studied in the past it held an interest to him.

"In the past Devils were often at war with one another in a constant grab for power. So violent were these wars that we lost all but three of the main houses that made up the devil's leaving us long living but close to extinction so the Rating game was created as a way to increase our numbers by the resurrection of other races creating many hybrids to bring us back from the brink. The Rating also served to put an end to the constant feuding between the remaining houses with rules and regulation to prevent any more needless deaths. Finally the Rating game as it's name suggests allows for each Peerage to be rated the higher your rating the more power you have. Now we have a lot of work to do if we stand a chance at beating Riser so Akeno I want you to keep working with Asia but start training her to use her magical power…"

Issei raised his arm to get Rias attention before she continued. "Would it be possible if I joined in on that. I haven't received any magic training so it'll be nice to start learning."

Nodding Rias continued. "Very well. Koneko, Yuuto, you'll be with me working on our own techniques and then later we will come together to continue further."

A moment of silence followed for a time as everyone waited to see what was coming next but when Rias didn't expand upon the topic Akeno rose smiling at the group. "I shall make us some tea so that we can all relax and then how about we have a nice bath afterwards."

Rias smiled at Akeno. "That sounds like a wonderful idea." When Akeno walked off Rias returned to her seat and Issei saw the flash of worry and Issei looked at his own hands feeling the same sense of worry before promising himself he would do everything he needed to do to make sure his friends won.

A/N So I had a quick look but I can't see Nathius teaching Issei about the devil's history, just human history from a devils point of view. Please correct me if I got that wrong. I also want to know if I mentioned the 72 pillars.

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