Occult Research Club

School had just ended. 

Issei was walking with Asia and attracting a lot of attention.

Asia hadn't come to class. Apparently whatever Sona had to do took all day.

"Um, Issei-san." Asia spoke up. "Why are we walking so slowly?"

She wasn't used to being stared at so she wanted to walk quicker, but had to match Issei's pace.

"Something is going to happen in a few seconds."

[Don't make her nervous.]

"Don't worry." Issei patted her head. 

He caught sight of Akeno walking towards them with Kiba on her left. This time, Issei didn't avoid them.

"Hyoudou-san, the president of our club would like to see you." Akeno said.

Issei noted how she had switched her way of calling him to a respectable tone after giving up her intentions of seducing him.

"She says she has a nice-"

"I'll come." Before Akeno could say whatever Rias had told her to say, he surprised them with his words.

Akeno was fully expecting Issei to just walk away and ignore them.

...

Shortly, they arrived in front of the main room in the mostly abandoned building. 

Issei murmured to Asia, "Stay close to me."

When the door opened, Issei immediately noticed how tense the air was. 

There was a sweet aroma filled with a very peculiar tension - it was created to arouse.

Unfortunately for the culprit, Issei was too strong and Asia was a human, so it was pretty useless.

Rias Gremory was sitting in her chair with red lipstick and slight makeup. She was still wearing her school uniform, but a few of her buttons weren't closed. 

"Greetings, Red Dragon Emperor. I am Rias Gremory, the next head of the Gremory Clan." Atleast she stood up to greet him.

Issei just nodded and went to sit on one of the couches. 

Akeno noticed how he had stared at Koneko, who was standing in a corner, longer than he had looked at Rias herself. 

Asia introduced herself and sat down next to Issei. 

"So, why did you call me here?" Issei questioned. 

His tone indicated that he wasn't looking for a back and forth mind game today.

"As the Red Dragon Emperor of this generation, I'm sure your strength is unmatched by many, but not all." The redhead had a huge cheeky smile on her face. Unfortunately, Issei had his eyes closed.

"What are you implying?"

"I want you to join my peerage. Becoming a devil will-"

"No." Issei flattened his tone. 

But Rias had expected this. That question was more than a formality anyway. 

"I see, that's fine. What do you think about me?" She asked with stars in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Issei pretended to be confused.

With a huge sigh, she leaned back in her chair. "As a heiress of one of the most powerful clans in the world of Devils, I have some responsibilities. Unfortunately, as a part of that, I am being forced to marry someone I don't like." 

Issei's expression said - continue.

"I am looking for a way out of this engagement. I have had trouble sleeping for weeks. I have tried everything, but its all failed. My only hope now, is you, my knight in shining armor." She had got up from her chair and walked up to Issei.

Asia was looking at them with a red face.

Rias inched closer and put a hand on his lap, with her lips coming close to his.

"If someone as strong as you would happen to...steal me. Then my parents would have no choice but to null the engagement." She used one hand to put a lock of hair behind her ear. "Or maybe...better yet...in a fit of rage, you were to go into his house flaunting your power, and kill him-"

Before her lips could crash with Issei's however, his hand covered her face and pushed her back.

"Why do you want to get out of this marriage in the first place?" He asked with a calm face.

With a surprised expression that was invaluable to Akeno's memory, Rias tried to get her composure back and reply. "W-Well, I know its my duty to honor the arrange marriage that my parents chose as a way to bring our clans together. But the guy is a piece of trash. Hmph, he only looks at women for their body and spends each day fucking his peerage members. Honestly, he's just a huge pervert with a harem."

Issei sighed and stood up. Gesturing to Asia, he began walking to the door.

"Hey! Where are you going!?!" Rias said while raising her voice.

Issei paused and looked back. "Rias Gremory, I didn't come here to listen to your bullshit."

"What!?! Exactly what was it that I said that you didn't like?" She shot back.

"First, you didn't actually tell me anything about the guy that you apparently want me to kill. Most of what you said sounds made up, and even if it isn't, none of it is a reason for me to help you." He walked over and looked down on the redhead from an inch's distance. "If he was the one who came to me and talked shit about you, would you have wanted me to help him without ever having met you? Pfft- You want me to help you because you're offering your body. It's ridiculous."

"Wha-!?! That's not true! He really is a piece of shit! How can you abandon a delicate girl like me without even sparing a thought!?! It's well known that he has a harem and he himself flaunts them at every chance he can get. Despite that, he wants me as his sex slave." She argued.

"Why did you even bring up the fact that he has an harem? I don't get how that's bad, especially in your race. You seem to be forgetting that your own father had a harem of his own when he married your mother."

He scoffed and left.

[Partner, I don't get why you even went there.]

'Don't worry. What just happened doesn't even matter. I'm just setting things up for tomorrow. I'll need Tiamat for that.' 

[I don't like this. I was never smart so I can never understand your own schemes. I liked the old you. Running around everywhere like a madman, picking fights with everyone. You reminded me of myself.]

'I thought you said you no longer were the same as before your sealing?'

[Doesn't mean I can't talk about it.]

...

The next day, Issei called everyone in the living room.

"Asia, sorry, I won't be able to go to class with you today. Can you go by yourself?" He looked apologetical.

"Yes, I can! You've already done enough for me, Issei-san! You don't have to apologize!" Asia had been told by Miki that Issei intended for the little girl to stay here for as long as she liked.

After Asia left, he turned to Tiamat. 

"Tiamat, how well can you hide your aura?" he asked.

"Pretty well. I could pass off for a human." 

"Come with me. Release the minimum amount of aura that you can so you look weak but not human." 

"Issei, why?" Tiamat asked with a suspicious expression.

"Just trust me."

...

When Issei arrived at school, most of the students were in their classes.

He walked to the building of the ORC with Tiamat, and noticed that just as he expected there was someone in the building who he hadn't met yet.

He took Tiamat and rushed into the room. He didn't bother knocking.

Sitting on the sofa in the same place as he was yesterday, was a handsome man with golden hair in a red suit.

Sona had reported to the higher ups about Issei's presence in this town, and this guy was also privy to those details.

"Who are you?" Issei asked, with Tiamat looking confused behind him.

The man stood up and made a gesture with his arms that said 'welcome'.

"Ah, you must be the Red Dragon Emperor." He bowed ever so slightly, it was more disrespectful than not bowing at all. "I am Riser Phenex, the third son of the Phenex Clan." 

"I see. I'm Hyoudou Issei." The protagonist said nonchalantly.

Riser was staring at Tiamat very intently.

It was at that moment that Tiamat realized Issei's plan.

"Did I interrupt something? I was bored and thought I'd relax here." Issei said, looking around the room. 

Rias was looking at him with a confused but hopeful expression.

"Relax here? Is the dragon a friend of the young heiress?" Riser asked.

"Ah, just an acquaintance. We just met yesterday for the first time." Issei replied.

"By the way, who is the beautiful woman behind you?" Riser's mouth could be seen watering.

Tiamat wasn't dressed formal, but her outfit still wasn't easy on anyone's eyes. Exposing her shoulders and thighs, she was an eyecatcher.

"Ah, you don't need to worry about her. She's mine." Issei put a hand on Tiamat and pulled her close to affirm his statement.

"Hmm..." Riser put a hand to his chin and fell into thought. 

Either Rias and her peerage were too scared to talk, or they judged it was better to remain silent, but they didn't interrupt the two men.

"As the Red Dragon Emperor, I'm sure your 'harem' is vast." Riser asked.

"You're very perceptive." Issei answered, at which Tiamat raised an eyebrow.

Riser snapped his fingers and out of a magic circle, came his entire peerage. They were all women.

No one particularly caught Issei's eye except a small girl who had a face and hair color similar to Riser's.

"How about a friendly spar? If I win, I take your date as my reward and induct her into my peerage. If you win, you can have anyone of mine that you like. A fair trade." 

Issei raised his power. 

That scared everyone except Riser and Tiamat.

Riser didn't get scared because he thought this sacred gear owner was weak.

Tiamat because she was confused as the power released by Issei was like a baby's.

Another magic circle activated, and came from it a beauty that Issei was waiting for.

"It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Red Dragon Emperor, Hyoudou Issei-sama. I am Grayfia Lucifuge, a maid in service of the House of Gremory and Queen of Sirzechs Lucifer. I was sent here to make sure there were no battles due to misunderstandings." The silver haired European maid looked at Riser with a scolding and angry look during that last sentence, which made the golden haired Phenex take a step back.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Grayfia. Don't worry, there no conflicts here. Only a proposition of a friendly spar." Issei looked back to Riser. "Looks like I wasted too much time, I have prior commitments. How about I give you my answer on a later date as to whether or not I accept your offer?" 

"Of course, that's fine by me."

Issei gave one last look to the maid before taking his leave. Tiamat also gave her a weird stare.

During their walk home, Issei asked his second wife.

"Are you angry?" 

"You mean am I angry that you used me as a meat shield to provoke someone?" She narrowed her eyes as Issei looked at her with an apologetic and nervous expression. "Hah, no, I'm not angry. But...you didn't accept his duel. I...don't get what you're trying to do."

"You'll see."

....

(A/N: Alright so I sat down and forced myself to read 15 volumes of the original series of High School DxD. It was so cringe I wish I hadn't written this ff, but i don't quit so easily. Characters like Rias and Asia(in the original) are the reason I haven't watched anime for months. They're just plain annoying. They won't ever be like that in my fanfic, not even close. Same with Gasper.)