Chapter 20

With everyone having already gone to bed after the day's training I was just relaxing in front of the pond next across the property and I was just thinking about my choices in this new life.

'Did I make the right choice in going along with the ROB version of my self's letter to join and stick with the DXD timeline, should I have tried to join Serafall or Sirzech's sphere of influence instead of the weaker younger siblings?' I thought as I stared into the gently rippling pond in front of me that was lit up by a number of lightning bugs.

But as I brooded in silence on whether I was even doing the right thing I came to a pretty clear realization. 'This Rias isn't some 'evil manipulator' sure she has some lazy princess tendencies, but she truly does care for me as a member of her peerage and the way I have been twisting up her hormones have definitely brought her even closer.' I concluded my thoughts and then with that realization I relaxed exhaling out the stagnant air that filled my body as I was so absorbed with my thoughts.

"Come on over if you want to watch the fireflies with me," I called out, and down the path I took to get to pond Rias walked out of a shadow brushing a hand through her crimson tresses.

"I wanted to leave you to your thoughts seeing how they weighed upon you," Rias said softly as she sat down beside me and likewise stared off over the lake at the fireflies who were gently lighting up the top of the pond with their little lights.

For a few minutes, we shared a silent companionship. Rias in a track outfit that clung to her voluptuous frame and me in some sweatpants and a tee shirt just sat beside one another just a couple of young adults absorbed in our thoughts.

"Jake, I was curious... Why do you smell like Christmas? I mean you smell like cinnamon and apples baked together and I know with the girls having taken the bath you haven't had a chance to take one yet so why do you still smell so good after fighting and training all day?!" Rias demanded pouting as she whirled on me and, I couldn't help but burst into laughter at how random the question was as I imagined she would get into some somber stuff like what if she lost to Riser or whatever.

"You have been taking whiffs of my scent then?" I asked pointedly and Rias shamelessly nodded making me chuckle but then my smile froze as she continued.

"Of course, we all have, and even Koneko was saying how she was waiting to steal your shirt when you jumped into the bath as the natural smell calmed her down." She said raising a hand in a what can you do motion, and I realized my Unicorn heritage was probably resonating with Koneko's Nekoshou bloodline.

"Were you going to do something as well when I was in the bath?" I asked nudging Rias jokingly and she snorted pushing me back but then as we wrestled pushing each other lightly atop the fallen log and Koneko knocked over today we eventually stopped as Rias 'dodged' my pushing hands that were on her shoulders to duck under my arm so she could rest her face and shoulders against my chest.

"Would I have done anything to you in the bath? No... I may have joined, and Akeno may have done something to tease you. But I wouldn't do, nor allow anything that would make you feel uncomfortable." Rias said softly as we shared some skin ship, and she looked up to me from the position she wrangled herself into having me all wrap an arm around her.

"Thank you, Rias." I said pulling her tightly against me as I enjoyed her soft body against me and then as I pulled her closer, she actually got pulled into my lap but neither of us made anything of it and simple enjoyed the feelings of each other.

"Thank you for giving me a place in your peerage. I... I was lost and didn't know what I was going to do when I graduated, I didn't want to get wrapped up in the whole Red Dragon Emperor nonsense or just get killed for having potential like how those fallen wanted to kill me." I rambled and I felt Rias's hands tighten on me as I opened up a bit.

I wanted to say how despite how troublesome the life being in Rias's peerage will be, I was honestly happy with my choice in joining I didn't say it as I just enjoyed the feeling of Rias's side pressing into my chest with each of our breaths before finally I took a deep breath.

"Well, I guess I should go take my own bath seeing as you girls already did yours." I said with Rias silently nodding and then she gave one more subtle squeeze in her hug before she gracefully dismounted from my lap and onto the ground as I stood up behind her.

"Let's go Rias." I said offering her an arm and she smiled with her upturned smile reaching her soft blue eyes as she took my offered arm and positioned it between her full breasts as we silently walked back into the large lodge before separating for me to go get cleaned up.

-

While I was done cleaning up and once again just relaxing in the attached hot spring, I heard from the side room some giggling and noises of the cabinets opening/closing and then just as Rias warned, Akeno Himejima came out of the dressing rooms seemingly only clothed in a towel that covered her lady bits and left her thighs and the tops of her massive breasts clear to see. Then I saw her game as she was carrying a little basket of hygiene stuff.

"Muooh!" She groaned pouting seeing how I had already washed up but then she smiled as she took a glance into her basket and seemingly got another idea. "Come on over here Jake, I feel like we haven't had enough time to just talk and Koneko and even Rias has been hogging all your time to have some skinship." Akeno pouted and she was kind of right as Koneko had been taking at least one side of me and either Ei or Monet who hog the other side.

Then as Akeno sunk herself into the steam covered water, I blinked as she with a flourish took off her bath towel and tossed it onto the side of the hot spring and the thick steam covered her form before I could make out the details of her body as she sunk into the pool of hot water.

"A little much for skin ship wouldn't you think?" I asked raising an eyebrow at the sight as I didn't imagine Akeno too be so bold... Actually, I take that back, just like Rias, Akeno has absolutely zero body shame.

"Nope not at all!" Akeno said cheerily as she slowly walked over to my side then as I leaned forward to see what she wanted she placed a finger against my lips to silence me. "Jake, just relax I am not going to eat you up. At least not yet anyway Hehe." Akeno tittered before she swam behind me and then I felt her gently pull me back, so my back met her legs that soon wrapped around my stomach and then I felt her fingers begin to thread through my hair.

"I noticed you only used some shampoo and conditioner. With such beautiful hair you need to make sure to use the right type of products." Akeno spoke softly and realizing this wasn't her 'sadistic' toying side I relaxed with Akeno doing her idea of skin ship.

"Jake. I wanted to ask you something... I saw when you give Ei that holy lightning, I want... No, I need to know if you can take that kind of thing from someone?"