Kiba the guard walked in on Issei while he was reading, it seemed to be one of those 'Oppai' comic books from New York. The guy was known to be moving all over the place, it suddenly came to the young guard that maybe the rumours of his interest in the female anatomy turned out to be very true, of course, then the scoff came as Issei flipped a page and continue to read like it was something appalling. 

"I assume that the comic is not up to your regular standards, Dragon Red?"

Issei looked at Kiba from over the comic book, wondering whether he should give the man an idea, instead he hummed for a moment. 

"I'm just trying to understand the whole concept of people finding Oppai or Breasts as they are called to you Americans more appealing than that of the posterior, I mean, I find it to be something of a non-issue that the posterior is far superior..."

"They call you the Oppai Dragon, not the posterior dragon..."

"And how wrong they are."

With their conversation, Kiba grabbed himself an Oreo milkshake as he stood next to the countertop that held an assortment of bourbon, cookies, powdered doughnuts and coffee. Just how much did Issei need? 

Issei continued to read, not at all bothered by how Kiba helped himself, he would wish for all his team to do so. They helped him get here and it had been a relaxing few days, enough so that he spent a few days in Chicago and New York, he had fun there. 

"So, Kiba, does our lady Gremory have a job for us or have you come here for your own personal inquiries? One has to wonder and trust me, I certainly am of the wondering variety."

Kiba hummed before shaking his head, letting him know that he wasn't here for any type of job. 

"I'm here to talk to you about Akeno Himejima, she's been spotted in Las Vegas, frequenting a few clubs and known fronts for the Gremory Clan. We like you Issei but it does not mean you have earned that trust, yet. We have yet to know you or your history besides the Red Dragon, so who is this Akeno? She continues to ask after you in our places, naturally, it was brought to our attention."

Giving the guard a small smile, Issei continued to read the comic before setting it down. He was done with it, plus it wasn't as exciting as certain people made it out to be, he would have to talk with Motohama later on. The man certainly had a lot of explaining to do because this wasn't it. 

Issei never did answer his fellow team member yet, instead opting to get himself a powdered doughnut and sitting on a stool as he then leaned against the countertop. 

"She's someone I did business with, she's associated to the Yakuza, head of the Himejima clan if I recall. She was very much ready to grant me some access to her clan through a ceremony, of course, fate had other plans. I wished for the life of a fighter, but it did not stop there, I would say that she watched me and saw me come here. She wishes to bring about a business agreement, one that would have her relocate here."

He told Kiba the truth, the undertones were there, he and Akeno's relationship was far from business. It was more, they both knew it and Kiba would no doubt inform Gremory, that is what Issei was counting on. The man was loyal to a fault as if he was a knight. 

"You know this will be passed through to Rias, and I thank you for telling me anyway."

"It was not a choice that would have been hard Kiba, the life of the fighter is over for me, I know that much. There is no going back into being the Issei that would be hard stuck in trying to figure out where his loyalties have lain. I am here to assist the Gremory Clan wherever and however I can, in the capacity that has been given to me currently, is there anything else that I need to know, friend?"

Kiba stared at the man who was his teammate for a few moments, it was clear that he wished to feel that way. It was everything they went through, making the right choices for their people, this is how they did it. Yet why does it feel like more, something trying to claw at him? Issei was a man of many things, he told the truth, he never lied and framed things in a certain way. 

Kiba already knew Issei was laying it all out there for him, he wanted this be found out in a certain pattern, trust Kiba that he would.

"The others are gathering for some breakfast, I don't have to tell you that Grayfia requires your presence as well. They all wish to make sure that the White One will not try and start fights, plus we've all missed you these past few days, I'm pretty sure your presence was already missed."

Issei gave the guard one look that said it all: FOOD!? Shaking his head, the guard led the way as Issei thought about the talk that he and the guard of the clan had seconds ago, Akeno was here. She had come here when he was out of the city, deciding that would be best, it left for his people to inform him, trying to gauge where his loyalties were. 

Issei knew she was smart, she was playing the game and he was never good at it. So Issei told the truth, he was never someone for manipulation or allowing himself to be played, yet the clan, they had to know that she was playing them, otherwise, they were going to be in for a long wild time when Akeno finally made her play. 

It would not be nice, Issei knew that already. 
 

It had never been right for Issei joining in with a family moment for the team, it didn't feel like he belonged with them, how they seemed to play among themselves, they held themselves a certain way when they were with one another on business. 

It was different in a family setting, Kiba was more outgoing, he seemed like a guy that Issei could hold a conversation with, one that would probably consist of their various fights with thugs. It seemed Kiba actually held a liking for him, one that he wished to explore for a time. 

"So Issei, tell me, just what do you want to do here? We've all heard of your moments in the league of martial arts, you were a brute, to be blunt about it, tell me now, what do you wish for?"

Taking that calm approach, he took a piece of bread, devouring it as he thought over his next words. He knew some people had to have known what he could do in the arena, he was somewhat the go-to muscle guy now. He actually had a few of the guys, including Kiba to go on a nice training regimen that would help his endurance and stamina.

"I guess that would be peace, something like that, of that standard, it would be for me to decide how I wish to spend my time in the world I live in. Right now? I'm just looking to explore, I want to see all sorts of people and move like I know I can. What about you Grayfia? What do you want to do?"

"I want to make sure that the people I work with achieve their goals, does that work enough?"

No, it did not, he didn't know what else to say but he knew Grayfia did not wish for the luxurious things as many other women did. She was someone like him, even if she didn't know it yet, she wished for a battle, something to make sure people knew her for. It always lurked behind someone's eyes. 

Yet he never said anything, Issei gave her that grin, deciding to make sure that he knew what she really wanted. Maybe she desired a way to prove herself like many others, yet Issei had done that all over the world. 

"Kiba, what do we know about the Himejima clan and their way of doing business?"

Out of nowhere yet, it was effective for the young Riasora, she wishes to catch people off guard and tried to do the same with Issei, the young man gave her a simple look stating that she would have to try better and this was below her level. 

The exchange between the two was not missed by their fellow members, they each had a slight smile playing at their lips, one that was clear to hold something more than a simple smile, they were nervous and wondering what was going on between the two. 

Not letting that affect him, Kiba moved forward, knowing that his unofficial status as a gatherer of information was one that was highly favoured in this style of work. Sometimes he had to wonder if this was the right position for him, then he remembered his friends, those who died at the hands of drugs and the dealers who gave it all, it did nothing to soothe him at all. 

He gave his boss a tight smile, letting her know that he did not agree with her way of letting this dinner take a political turn. 

Riasora showed no other emotion than impatience, she loved her family, biological and the one she chose. Only they were being unreasonable, Issei had not been here for a few days, Akeno had also arrived a few days ago. The timing was something that she did not like and wished to monitor, so without another word, she pressed, raising a brow and making sure he knew that this was not going to happen again.

"We know that Akeno Himejima is the current head of the clan Himejima, she holds the position of Daitōryō, President and wishes to maintain peace among the clan. She has an investment with our business in Las Vegas, particularly the one that involves fightings and seems to promote The Red Dragon himself."

Kiba was truthful and everyone knew that he did not wish to place the attention on Issei yet the truth was, Akeno was invested in a soldier of the Gremory's something that Riasora would no doubt use or allow playing out if it played to her end goal of seeing what the woman wanted if it was drugs, guns or assistance, it was going to be met with heavy resistance from Argento and Kiba, the two having the most experience, horrid, with it. 

Kuisha and Grayfia were the ones that saw value, they wished to help their clan make money, however, they could. Currently, it involved gambling and whoring, the business proved to be a valuable source for them all involved. Even if a few of them wished differently, it was something that neither could truly understand all that well but knew that it brought people in.

"Akeno has always had a vested interest in me, that is not something I am going to hide from you all. Only I will tell you this, do not question my loyalty for all of you, do not think that she holds me in a vice-like grip, alright? I am here, with all of you, I want to make sure that my dream of peace is achievable, alright? Let's make sure we have that all cleared up here. Heh."

Issei did not like the looks he was on the end of, looking around and seeing that everyone had been taken by his speech, he was satisfied with what else he had left, leaving his achievement of capturing their attention for another time. 

"Issei, for right now, we need to make sure that we can negotiate with the unknown. This is how we're going to do it, is that good?"

Issei nodded, all the same, eating his lunch and trying to not memories of the past influence him as one name was echoed through his mind, one that he should have forgotten. 

'Akeno..'

"Riasora, was that really the way this needed to go? Issei is more than likely feel some kind of trust issues, the way his life has turned around, do we really want this for our group?"

Kiba was the one that asked, he was the one that found himself closest to Issei, currently, it was like the two understood one another and knew how the world worked. So not only did the guard understand the young man, he knew how he worked, somewhat. The others did not, they believed his blank facade was a way of disrespecting them, yet he did not wish to put too much faith into them, not yet.

"Issei is someone I've come to respect, great enough that I know he will think that I and the rest mistrust him but that is hardly the case. He is close to this Akeno I just want to make sure that he has the correct priorities, I want them to be all here, it's going to be amazing and this is exactly what I wish to give him."

Kiba gave Riasora a look, one that spoke of many things, one of them being that he was not exactly okay with the means she was trying to go about this. It was a game to her, one that he did not wish to play, rolling his eyes, he stepped forward, yet was stopped by something else, the raw voice of Issei Hyoudou, looking at his boss. 

The dragon of red met his eyes, they both knew that duty would have him step in if necessary. Only this was something that both knew Issei would need to handle, only for Kiba to step into his path as he gave him a look. 

"So Rias, you believe me to not have the right priorities for all of you involved? How dare you, after everything that you gave me, what makes you different from those that would have killed me? Is that fair for all of us? You are playing Chess, I respect, yet do not think your pieces will keep listening to every order without a problem, less you might have a rebellion on your hands soon enough."

Rias gave him that look, it was clear that neither of them would be okay with the other after this, Kiba being in the middle did not feel that comfortable either. 

Issei felt the rage of old, where he would destroy one of his opponents, making sure that neither of them would have stood in his way, only keeping himself occupied for right now. He knew what he could do to them, how he worked and how they worked together were different. 

"Issei I am willing to do whatever is right for my clan, I cannot say the same for others, Akeno sacrificed her spot in the Yakuza chasing you, that is silly. The Gremory's are not above placing the lives of their associates above their own, yet we know when we need to call it quits, alright? This is one of those times, you are attached to her, are you not?"

Issei didn't deny the statement but he did not answer it either, a growl did escape him, one that sounded draconic to all those in the room. They knew not to test the young man, the red dragon he was and what he could do in the ring and what he did outside of it was another possibility, one that was not accounted for. 

"See, there it is, are you going to stand there and tell me that I shouldn't plan around the event, hmm? Trust me I will and I will make sure that all of us involved get the business done, you have to look at this from my perspective-"

"Well, it's not! Alright, so I do not give a rat's ass, the next time you try to play this game and make me get my priorities straight, you will be hearing this differently, do you get that!?"

His rage grew potent enough that Kiba did try to step in, yet the guard soon found himself looking into seeming rage red eyes as Issei's lips curled into that look only a dragon would get when he knew he would win this with ease, they were not on his level, not yet and they needed to know that he was still a dangerous person. 

"Do not think to say that you know me Riasora, do not think you will give me the orders that I have got my entire life. I know my role, play the game you have set up for a lot of people and allow you to continue, don't you get that? I have allowed you, I could talk to anyone, and I mean...anyone, Riasora Gremory is a placeholder!"

And now that rage was turned onto her, the one that she had been warned about, the one that she had oh so heard about. Yet Rias did not seem frightened, she was watching Issei with a curling lip, the smirk was there all the same. As if she was getting what she wanted out of this

"Don't you get there? So next time we have a meeting, an interrogation more like that last dinner, you'll find me a little more than absent from your little watchful eye, this is not going to happen again, believe that."

With that Issei walked out of the room, leaving the two to talk as they watched the red dragon leave with no other issue. 

"You really wanted to test that loyalty and now we have a pissed off...Issei Hyoudou and that is not something I want to face in this lifetime, ever."

Riasora kept that grin, yet that part, the one that did not wish for the beast of dragons to arise, the one that crushed the student of Albion with ease. She simply wished for Issei to be able to come back, to embrace that part of himself, maybe she could achieve that. Only after this, even she knew, it would be a long time for the red dragon to trust her.

Huh, and all it took was a good few days...