A few hours later:
Gremory Express, Dimensional Gap:
Isaiah's POV:
"Hey, boss. I have a question." I blinked as I heard Issei speak, snapping out of my daydream and making Kuroka whine from where she was laying with her head on my lap as I shifted to look at him.
"Sure. What do you need?"
"What are the big bosses like?"
"You mean Lord & Lady Gremory?" I asked and he nodded before I hummed.
"Oh right. Only you, Saji and Meredith haven't met them, right?"
"Yup./ That's right." Saji and Meredith said respectively and I chuckled before I nodded.
"Well, Lord Gremory is like Lord Sirzechs. A bit serious at times, but mostly goofy and nonchalant about things. Lady Gremory on the other hand is the exact opposite. She's always serious and will be constantly criticizing your every move to see if I taught you all the correct etiquette and manners. However, she's also soft to those of the Gremory Clan & while she won't outright help you, she'll give you the necessary advice you need. Just…don't be the usual pervy guy that you are."
"Right. Pull back the perviness to a five."
"A three would be better." I answered and he nodded before I smiled as I leaned back in the seat.
"He's just messing with you. Just act like we told you to during your etiquette training and they'll both grow a liking to you all."
"Let me have my fun." I said with a smirk, chuckling at the nervous glares the youngest trio gave me before I sighed as I leaned back and closed my eyes once more, waiting for the trip to end.
Gremory Territory, Underworld:
"Welcome back, Lady Rias." I shook my head at the sight of the numerous maids and butlers already awaiting us as soon as we stepped off of the train, snorting at the shocked looks of Issei and Saji before I chuckled as Rias sighed.
"Was this my mother or my father?" Rias asked Grayfia who was standing at the front of the group and she just subtly rolled her eyes as she shook her heads.
"Neither. Lord Lucifer had decided that since this is your first return to the Underworld in months, the Gremory heir should have a fitting welcome." Rias groaned at that before she nodded as she turned to us.
"Okay. So, my peerage will ride with me and Isa's peerage will ride in the carriage behind us. Is that okay?"
"Yes, it is." I nodded as I quickly blocked Kuroka from speaking, Akeno all too happy to nod as Gasper & Koneko nodded before Asia spoke up.
"Um. I-If it's not too much trouble, c-can I ride with Issei and the others?" She asked and Rias smiled as she nodded, a bright smile appearing on Asia's face while Saji, Samson and Bardou snickered at the bright red blush on Issei's face.
"Okay, then. Let us go and depart for the main castle."
"Remember. Best behaviour or else, okay?"
"Yes, my Lord!" My peerage barked in acknowledgement as they nodded, to which I smiled and nodded before I followed Rias and the rest of the peerage to the carriage at the front.
As soon as I sat down on the comfy & soft cushions opposite of Rias, I rolled my eyes as Akeno plopped down on my lap while wrapping my arms around her waist before I chuckled as both Gasper and Koneko sat down on either side of me.
"Hey~! That's not fair!" Rias exclaimed with a pout and I snorted as Akeno giggled.
"There's always a seat here." Akeno said as she patted her lap and Rias just scoffed as she went to glaring out the window before I snickered as Gasper stood up and sat down on Rias' lap, the girl squealing and wrapping him in a tight hug as Koneko scoffed.
"Idiot." She muttered before purring as I rubbed the top of her head softly, her ears & tails appearing before she fell asleep on my side as Akeno leaned back with a soft sigh onto my chest.
"So…how's your day been so far?" She asked softly and I chuckled as I shrugged, making sure not to disturb Koneko who had wrapped her arms around the one softly rubbing her and using it as a pillow.
"Not too bad, I'd say. What about you?"
"Apart from the excitement of now getting to be with you 24/ 7, I've never felt better."
"Uh, yeah. That's not going to last long."
"What do you mean?" She asked as she turned her head to face me and I gave a sheepish smile as I answered.
"Well, I'm going to go on a little training trip with Okita, MacGregor and Sirzechs for the next week to retrain myself from the basics and I might not have time to hang out with you or the two other for the next week."
"Wait, so what? It's just going to be Kuroka, Tsubaki and I for the next week?" She asked with a frown and I rolled my eyes as I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Yes, but after that, we'll have another two weeks all to ourselves before you guys have to go back to school and I have to go back to work."
"Why couldn't I just have been your secretary?" She grumbled and I snorted as I shook my head.
"Because I wouldn't be able to finish any work with you in a tight secretary outfit leaning over me."
"I think I actually have one, so maybe you would like to see the package for yourself later tonight."
"…Was that all I needed to say to get you in a good mood?"
"This girl knows what she wants and right now, she wants a piece of her Isa."
"Can't you two wait until we get to back to your room?" I blinked as I heard Rias speak while Akeno sighed in disappointment, looking over to see her blushing a bit as she had her ears clamped over a bright red Gasper.
"Ecchi." Koneko muttered and I chuckled as I patted her on the head.
A few minutes later:
Gremory Main Castle, Gremory Territory, Underworld:
"Isa!" Zeoticus exclaimed with a happy grin and I shook my head as I bowed, making him snort before he pulled me up into a hug.
"Good to see that my favourite devil is still okay!"
"Ahem!" Venelana cleared her throat before shaking her head at Zeoticus' sheepish grin and Rias' giggling.
"Ah, right! Ria-dear! Good to see that you're okay!" He exclaimed as he wrapped her in a hug, Rias whining as she tried to pull herself out while Venelana just sighed.
"Oh, it's really like the boss said." Issei muttered to Saji, though I sighed in pity as Venelana instantly caught of the two of them as well as Asia & Meredith.
All of them instantly straightened up as Venelana glided past the rest of us towards the four of them, Asia looking more nervous than every time I've seen her as Venelana scanned all four of them before looking at Issei.
"All four of you, state your names."
"Hyoudou Issei, pawn of 6 of Lord Isaiah Azathoth and wielder of the Longinus Sacred Gear, Boosted Gear."
"Saji Genshirou, pawn of 2 of Lord Isaiah Azathoth and wielder of the four Vritra Sacred Gears."
"Meredith Ordinton, Knight of 1 of Lord Isaiah Azathoth and wielder of the Sacred Gear Alphecca Tyrant."
"A-Asia Argento, Bishop of 1 of Lady R-Rias Gremory and wielder of the S-Sacred Gear Twilight Healing." Venelana frowned slightly as she glanced at Asia with a hum before she smiled and nodded.
"I'm guessing that my daughter has not gotten to your etiquette training, has she?"
"I was busy." Rias grumbled, making Venelana shake her head before she turned her head to the still bowing forms of Issei, Saji and Meredith with a smile.
"And I see that Isaiah has taken your etiquette training very seriously. You all have my approval." She said with a nod and I smirked in amusement at the looks of relief on their faces as they stood back upright while Venelana turned to me with a proud smile.
"I would expect nothing less from my favourite student."
"Rub it in more." Rias grumbled and Venelana just raised an eyebrow at her.
"Work harder, try more and perhaps you might become my favourite, but until then, Isaiah stays my favourite." Rias just grumbled more before I blinked as a weight landed on my shoulders, suppressing my instincts to counter attack as I looked up and chuckled at the sight of a happy Millicas grinning down at me.
"I just know you're taking advantage of your mother not being here."
"Of course." He said with a nod and I chuckled as I pulled him off and placed him on the ground while he pouted at not getting to sit on my shoulders.
"You four, this is Millicas Gremory, son of Lord & Lady Lucifer and grandson to Lord & Lady Gremory."
"Isaiah, I told you so many times that Grayfia cannot be Lady Lucifer as she does not belong to the original Lucifer's bloodline." Venelana said with a frown and I gave a sheepish chuckle as I nodded.
"Ah, of course. Force of habit."
"I'll allow it once, but try to remember next time."
"Of course." I said with a nod before subtly rolling my eyes at Issei snickering, suppressing my chuckle as he yelped when Venelana swiftly released a weak & small ball of demonic energy that spanked him across his behind.
"Quiet."
"Yes, Lady Gremory." He muttered and Venelana nodded before Zeoticus spoke up.
"Now, now, my love. It's nothing more than a bit of banter between two young men. However, I suppose that banter can wait till later as I'm sure everyone is still a bit tired from their trip. Why don't you all go & rest and when you wake up, we'll have dinner & discuss your future roles as the vassals of House Gremory?"
"Yes, Lord Gremory!" We all saluted and he smiled & nodded before he stopped himself from walking as he turned to me.
"Oh, right. Before I forget. Isa, Sirzechs told me that everyone has agreed to your little agreement and that they will come fetch you in two days time."
"Thank you, Lord Gremory." I said with a nod and he rolled his eyes, knowing that I was using the title because of Venelana in front of me as he just nodded before he and Venelana walked away with Millicas quickly giving me a hug before following after him.
"She really is just as you said, boss." Saji muttered and I snorted as Rias giggled.
"Yes, she is. Now, let's go unpack and get some nice sleep before dinner."
Later that day, Late Midday:
Training Ground 3, Gremory Backyard:
"When was the last time I've been back here?" I chuckled at Bardou's words as we stood on the bank of the very familiar backyard lake, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as I felt the ambient demonic energy in the air enveloping my form.
"Man, did I miss this." I muttered, Bardou snorting before I blinked as I heard a familiar voice chuckle.
"Well, well, well. It appears that my training methods are quite fun considering that you want to do them all over again." I turned as Okita spoke in an amused tone, looking back to see him along with MacGregor walking towards us.
"Nope, they're just the only ones that are available for me to use." I answered with a shrug, to which he snorted before I noticed the duffel bag around his shoulders, smirking as I took off my jacket and placed it on top of Bardou.
"So, where's Lord Sirzechs?" I asked and Okita shrugged as he put down his duffelbag on the ground while MacGregor answered.
"He's still making the final arrangements before we head off to the Devil's Bermuga in two days."
"And why are we heading back there?" I asked with a confused frown and he shrugged as Okita spoke up.
"It's the only place that's far enough where Lord Lucifer can fight you at full power without causing severe damage to the areas of the Underworld where Devils live."
"Ah, I see. So, what are we doing for today, then?" I asked before blinking as my hands instinctively caught two wooden objects being thrown at me, looking down before chuckling at the wooden falchions in my hands before looking up as Okita stood up with two bokken.
"Some good ol' sparring. No enhancements, no runes, no Sacred Gear. Just pure old sword skills and Touki if needed. You ready?" I just nodded as I shifted my footing, my hands a blur as I raised my falchions in a cross guard & blocked a heavy downwards slash from both of Okita's bokken as soon as I stopped moving.
"I see you're still as fast as-!" My eyes widened as I quickly pushed Okita back while jumping back myself, the air in between us distorting before a series of slashes carved deep gouges into the ground below our previous position.
"Rule 3: You do not speak or yell out your attacks. We Knights are silent weapons." Okita said with a frown before he dashed forward and I frowned but nodded as I ducked under a horizontal slash.
Moving out of the way of the follow up downwards attack, I slid to my knees with a spin as a roundhouse kick nearly took my head off before Touki coated my body and weapons as I slashed out with my right falchion.
Okita frowned as he spun his left bokken into a backwards grip before stabbing it into the ground, using it as leverage to boost himself into the air just as my slash missed his legs.
Not finished, I spun with my attack and lashed out with an overhead kick, frowning as Okita easily blocked it before pushing me away as he flipped backwards and landed in a crouch.
Tightening my grip on the falchions, I crouched lowly before I bolted forward just as Okita's Touki roared to life and coated his form, his bokken glowing as he spun rapidly in place.
In the next instant, my senses blared at me and I quickly ducked under his first attack, watching in awe as his bokken made the air tremble before my eyes widened as I felt numerous other attacks coming at me.
Throwing the falchions into the air, the world around us slowed down as Okitas attack came at me with a devastating flurry, my body forcing itself to keep up as I dodged, parried and blocked every attack coming my way while Okita had a constant grin on his face as he tried to land an attack.
As I felt my body beginning to spasm slightly from constantly moving around Okita's attack, I grinned as I felt him overextend on one blow and that was all I needed as I ducked under the follow up slash & lashed out with a leg sweep.
Watching as he stopped his attack to jump back slightly, I caught the falchions in a loose grip before his eyes widened as I threw the blades at him. Okita's hands flashed as he quickly parried the blades to the side before his eyes widened as I appeared in front of him with a lunge, Touki coating my fist before I grunted as I let my fist fly.
Okita scoffed as he moved his head out of the way of my fist and grinned as he went to slash at me before he grunted as I grinned, looking back to see my falchions lying on the ground behind him as I chuckled.
"Sneak attack from behind to the lungs. I win." I said with a grin before I grunted as he poked me in the chest with the bokken, coughing a bit as he smirked.
"Any capable fighter can keep on fighting for a good thirty seconds with his lungs pierced so you just died with a stab to the heart. Draw."
"Sore loser." I grumbled, to which he snorted before he kicked the falchions up at me while walking away to stand a few paces away from me.
"We're not leaving this field until you can defeat me ten times in a row. Now get ready. We're going again." I nodded, rolling my shoulders and readying myself as I held the falchions in a loose grip.
A few moments of silence hung in the air as we stared at each other before Okita dashed forward and I grinned as I got ready.
Oh, how I've missed this.
A/N: And here we are! Another short chapter, another day!
Next chapter, back to the Devil's Bermuga and start of the Youth Devil Gathering!
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one… Ba-Bye~!