Akeno was many things, she knew how to play the game but getting Rias on edge? Maybe he miscalculated with his former lover. Issei never really knew her during their time back home, when they played the game of how they would leave this life behind. Something that the woman had never really wished to leave, she was always ready for more, wishing for that next level of challenge that she could easily conquest, it was a growing game for Akeno, one that Issei never really touched upon. 

Only in his recent times, when he could see the board, the players that made moves opposite or following how he played, he knew that Akeno was smarter than she portrayed herself. Something that a lot of people thought to be true, the way she smiled, it was often fake, giving her that bubbly personality yet underneath it held a world of pain. 

There was no that she was wishing to bring you writhing in it before long. Akeno was a sadist, all parties knew that, even back home, she liked things close and personal, things that allowed for her to meet her victim, she never forgot that, it's how Issei was here now. 

"You look nice, I hope I can match up to your expectations for this gathering, Issei. It's been a while and I just wanted to make sure that you were alright, you still had that fiery passion in you to be the best. I bet you also have that psychopathic streak in you, huh? It would have been adoring to come and see it play in New York with that woman you were entertaining, Magnolia, was it?"

She was good, just as he said. He didn't get on edge with Akeno, Issei knew she wanted him a certain way in a certain manner. She wasn't going to get him like that when they were sitting far out of city limits in a no-name diner with a few of their associates hanging around.

Humming Issei sipped his coffee, mentioning Nola was certainly something, meant that she kept tabs on him and the people that he met. Clearly not knowing the others in her sight of jealously, she seemingly forgot to mention Rosemary, the one who would be working with him the gambling racket. 

"Lovely to see that you still keep tabs on me, is that all now? You seem to have a large number of people watching me enough to know that I regularly head to New York, enough of this talk Akeno, let's talk about why you really came here, regarding the business with us and the past, yes?"

Huffing, the Asian clan leader bowed her head letting the Dragon take the lead here. She was the one that called him yet she wished to see what he could offer here, his leader, Rias, was apparently in another type of meeting. She thought that he was lying, trying to buy some time while his boss thought up another plan. 

"You're usually involved with narcotics, arms dealing, and the occasional prostitution, what the fuck are you doing here of all places? Answer me that much, we can go from there. I'd wish to know if you want business or this is another type of call that you're trying to put in place that I can't, under any circumstance, provide you with."

Humming, Akeno gave him the simplest of shrugs before leaning forward with a smirk playing at her lips. 

It was clear that this was going to be a long talk with the Asian clan leader, she wished for him here. Only Issei didn't wish to play so many games, that was for damn sure. 

"I'm here to influence the American way, organized crime is on an up. I've wished to come here for some time, now that I have that goal, along with the object that wishes to stand in my way to achieve this, I'm not willing to give up. Narcotics is easily acquirable with the allies we have in Asia, what we'd need is a base, Las Vegas seems like the perfect place. One that your superiors should be able to supply with the right cut."

Issei sighed, closing his eyes and only then realized that she was serious. An alliance between two powers would influence a lot of things, something that Issei didn't exactly mind, she would start with Narcotics and slowly continue to move in. It was clear she wished for the peaceful resolution, maybe Issei just didn't want to see it right now. 

"I'll talk to my superiors, make sure that they understand who they'll be working with, allowing into their circle should they introduce a drug front into their way of doing business in Vegas."

Issei stood to his feet, giving her the barest of nods before moving on his way, allowing himself that relief as he got away from her. Nothing was right with the woman, that was for damn sure. 

"She's certainly an enigma, one that has a way of doing business. I can talk to the others, @PosionIvy is always looking for people to give business too, let them grow here. Only I don't trust them and it is me that is ultimately bringing the business to the boss, is it not Issei?"

"I know that Rias, but I would rather have an eye on the person who wishes to gain a foothold here in the states than elsewhere where she may plan as she wishes. She came to us because of the ties that bind me and her together, otherwise, she would have found someone else, that is for damn sure."

The Gremory Clan sat around a table, each of them willing to hear the other out. They knew the trouble the Himejima clan could bring to their shores, only they wished to see what could be done with wielding it, what could be gained from this alliance and maybe it had to be this way.

"It is up to us, I understand that we have a vote each. Something that we all need to realize is that Akeno knows what we can plan, she knows that the trade of narcotics can influence many things with the people at the top. Yet, is that what we wish to introduce? Arms, I'm fine with, to an extent. Escort services, I'm also fine with. Drugs is another game, it fucks up for all of us, we get involved with it, we will be in a lot of trouble. I'm voting no."

Issei led that vote, telling them the truth of the matter as he knew that some of the things Akeno mentioned were fair game. Easily produced and nothing if not the same profit as the drug game. So why did they need to continue going into that kind of side deal? He hoped many of the others saw it his way. 

He would not be the one to get into bed with that crazy woman, Akeno was plenty things but of sane mind, that was something everyone back home knew was a lie if they ever heard one. She was a sadist, one who enjoyed killing, he was sure he gained that ruthless streak from here. 

Sharing a look with the ever-loyal Kiba, the man gave him a nod. Letting him know that he had his vote, it was the others that were going to be of different matters, a few didn't wish to go with the drug game. So Issei would let the vote pass, wishing to see what would happen and he hoped to everything that he would not be the one disappointed.

"The vote was a no. You disappoint me Issei, here I thought you knew where your loyalties should have laid. With us, the family that gave you something to fight for. Baral would be sad for the person you've become, a servant to the cast out Gremory's, even I know they are something to be laughed at, not joined at the waist."

"Akeno, you're clearly angry. Your father was a nice man, he knew me for the man I could become, not the man he wanted to mould me into. That's what you hoped for and you're angry because you can't have it that way anymore. The way we were back home, you come here and try to mould me into that person, back into your personal little bruiser, is that what you want?"

Issei growled lowly, it was deep and he made sure that she heard him as her eyes grew darker. She was ready to kill him then, Akeno was crazy, he always knew that and she did not wish for him to be elsewhere. It was not something that everyone would have noticed but he did, he didn't exactly like it. She was a user, abuser, and manipulator. 

"I want what is mine, you. The business at hand did not go through, the drugs, that is. The guns and escort business is the two you did not mention, interesting. You want the guns and escorts, but not the drugs. That is something I have to wonder about you Red Dragon, are you that stupid now? What makes you that I would accept such a...deal?"

Humming with a tiny chuckle escaping him after, Issei gave her the briefest of looks as he drank his coffee. She had called him stupid, yet he would be the one to seal the deal, giving her what she wanted in this path. She wanted him, she would get him, just as she wanted. 

"I'll be giving you what you want, access to me. In exchange for the arms dealing and escort services, we will make sure that your businesses have full protection here in exchange for profit. Included, you and I will have meetings to secure this...new partnership. With that, I hope you can be secure enough in what we do here, alright?"

Akeno gave that shivering smile, it did nothing to ease Issei's uneasiness at offering himself as a five-star meal. She was going to be the end of him but securing what could have been a big future for them as a crew, it was going to be worth it, he knew that much.

"Fine, this will be the first in a great partnership. Just remember, this does not count as the first meeting. My people will be in touch about the first shipment, we'll find a way to make sure that the profits we gain will be a benefit to all the people involved. I just want you to know that issei, I'd never do a thing to betray you, alright?"

Her personality had done a complete 180, one minute she believed him to be an idiot, the next her desires had shifted along with that of her personality. She could put on this act as long as she wished, Issei would not be the one to fall for it a second time.

"I'm sure you would. I know I have your word Akeno, this will be fun, I know that much. I must be getting back to the compound, I'm sure people are waiting to hear the good news at the very least."

The red dragon never wasted any more time, deciding to exit. That time, he gave Akeno a toothy smile, one that would not have been more faker if he tried, yet this one, he did. Making sure to have Akeno on his side, for right now, it was always going to be for the greater good.