As all 10 of them teleported to Issei's new house, there were 5 people already waiting for them.
Issei: should I start by putting salt lines under the doors and windows now if you're going to start breaking in Rias?
Rias: sorry, we just wanted to surprise you.
Issei: breaking and entering, definitely a surprise. NOT.
Kuroka: oh hush you. You're upsetting her.
Issei: ok fine but I'm putting some barriers up later.
Rias: so they are your new friend, nice to meet you all. I'm Rias Gremory.
Akeno: my name is Akeno Himejima, I'm her queen.
Asia: Asia Argento, her bishop.
Kiba: Kiba Yuuto, her knight.
Shirone: Shirone Toujo. Rook.
Everyone just returned her greetings coldly except for Shirone's. Their names instantly reminded them of what Issei endured and they were having 2nd thoughts about joining her now that they can actually put a face to the name of Issei's former abusive master and team. From their looks and tone Rias could tell that they knew about her.
Rias: they know don't they?
Issei: in order to make an alliance we all had to share our stories, no lies, no details skipped over.
Rias: I see.
Rias is saddened that even more people know of her actions, the killing intent coming from Irina and Xenovia was scary.
Issei: let's start, only one month till the games. You 5, meet Vali, Bikou, Arthur, la Fey, Cao Cao, Irina, Xenovia and Ophis.
Akeno: the dragon of Infinity? That Ophis?
Kuroka: yup the one and only.
Issei: I know that you guys are nervous but Ophis isn't the only reason is it?
Kiba: the 4 holy power signatures in this room are terrifying.
Cao Cao: we wield the true longinus and 3 holy swords but fear not, we only use them on our enemies, we are allies here so no need to fret.
Kiba: thank you.
Vali: I'm also the white dragon emperor FYI.
And team Rias starts sweating bullets. They needed to change the topic asap.
Akeno: so should we start planning,we can start off by seeing each other's strengths and then we can decide on who can register as which piece.
Vali: I suggest sparring, best way to know in my opinion.
Issei: sure. The basement door leads to a training dimension. Let's start there.
Everyone goes there and start training, Arthur and Kiba were evenly matched but learned from each other due to their very different techniques. Irina and Xenovia battled as usual, Ophis just sat there watching, Asia, La Fey and Akeno practiced magic since Asia really needed to learn new abilities other than healing and basic magic. Bikou definitely gave Shirone a tough time with his martial arts, it was superior to her combat skills. Kuroka and Rias trained both in close combat, Kuroka had a bit of trouble holding back, her sage flame magic overpowered Rias's power of destruction from the sheer difference in energy alone. Rias was badly bruised and beaten.
Kuroka: you alright?
Rias: I'm down for the moment
Kuroka began to heal her injuries using her sage magic (senjutsu).
Rias: if I had to guess then I think you were almost trying to kill me.
Kuroka: sorry. I'm not used to this new queen power yet.
Rias: we both know that it's not the reason.
Kuroka: sigh you're right. A part of me in still angry at you.
Rias: can't blame you for that...... The girls with the Excalibur and Durandal, their killing intent was strong, who are they?
Kuroka tells her their story. Rias was shedding tears now that she knows that those 2 were the only ones Issei had in his childhood and lost them again.
Rias: did Issei ever have a happy time in his childhood?
Kuroka: only when Irina and Xenovia were there even though it was brief, I saw his memories and it hurt to see him rarely smile.
Rias:....can you go ahead and read my memories? Maybe you can show him that I truly regret doing what I did to him and I wasn't lying about anything after he disappeared.
Kuroka: sure.
She calls for Issei and he shows up.
Kuroka: there's something Rias wants to show you.
Issei: what is it?
Kuroka places her palm on both their heads, they both see each other's memories.
Issei saw all of Rias's memories, all the shit she put him through, it made him angry, he then saw the moment he left through her eyes, her feelings, her nightmares and hallucinations that followed, her feelings for him, trying to remove the light spear with his bare chest and not letting Kuroka help. All of it was real. But the memories of her being so arrogant, foolish, abusive etc was obviously pissing him off and it was increasing as it went on. Her memories of getting cheated on and then trying to use him just because Riser was no longer good enough.
Rias was seeing and feeling everything he did from his parents being murdered, seeing their dead bodies, the smell of blood, the orphanage, father Freed attacking him, forced to live on the street in the cold and heat for years, being stabbed in the chest by Raynare. She felt her chest burn as if a 100 fires were lit. Seeing her abusive self through his eyes, his rage, the hopelessness, being used by just about everyone except for Grafia, Sirzechs, Sona and few others but still feeling alone, the release of all his pent up emotions, fighting Riser, feeling death approach after removing the pawn pieces, the pain from transforming into a dragon, going berserk with all the thoughts of death, destruction and other negative emotions. Being saved by Kuroka, being happy with her, having another light spear damage his heart, having a heart transplant, then finally reunited with Irina and Xenovia, met new people whom he almost calls family. He no longer even considers her as family but then again, could he ever call someone like her family? She was completely overwhelmed by it all then she saw him, Ddraig. She didn't just see him, she was literally in his presence and felt his clearly suppressed rage.
Ddraig: greetings Gremory, you saw it all didn't you?
Rias couldn't reply, she was out of her mind right now, she felt another source of anger.
Ddraig: that's Issei's rage, you can feel it right? like me he's suppressing it. Best to leave Gremory. I was polite enough to you at the hospital but my self control is running out.
She was forced out, Kuroka stopped what she was doing and both Issei and Rias backed away and opened their eyes. Issei let out an angry aura while Rias was on all fours trying to control her breathing, all that was way too much and it only lasted a minute or 2 yet it felt like a life time to her. She was crying once she caught her breath. Everyone saw Issei slowly releasing blood lust with a emotionally wrecked Rias on the ground. Kuroka gestured everyone to stay away.
Issei: Kuroka....why?
He asked her, this is the first time he was angry at her.
Issei: why did you do that?
Kuroka: I am sorry Issei but it had to be done. You can hate me for it but I don't regret doing that. You both needed to see and feel everything otherwise you'll never heal from that level of damage.
Ddraig: I agree with her partner. You need to heal and you yourself said that you wanted to. Sometimes the healing process is more painful than the wound.
Issei stopped releasing his bloodlust and calmed down.
Issei: Rias....you okay?
Rias: no........ Fuck.
She continues to sob.
Kuroka: you two should talk, go outside.
Both leave the training area and stand in silence for a moment.
Kuroka: no need to worry everyone, it's all good.
They nod and go back to training. If they didn't then shit would hit the fan.
Issei: so.......you really were telling the truth about the nightmares and everything else.
Rias: Yeah............. Issei........ Was I monster?
Issei: you saw my memories so you already know.
Rias: I want to hear it from you.
Issei: yes.. I saw you exactly how you saw yourself from my memories.
Rias: compared to what you went through, my pain is nothing. NOTHING.
Issei: sigh.... Maybe it was a mistake that you saw them.
Rias: it was a mistake treating you like that and letting you die......
Issei: hmm.....
Rias:, sniff.... I spoke to Ddraig in the sacred gear. Even he's livid.
Issei: us dragons tend to hold grudges.
Rias: you held a grudge before turning into one but your anger really is like that of a dragon, how are we alive I don't really know.
Issei: because Sirzechs, Sona, Grafia and Sairorg are the reasons. I respect them as they respected me, 3 of them are your family and I didn't want to hurt them by killing you, mother nature knows that I wanted to with every fiber of my being but I'm over it now, you can thank Kuroka for that. If she wasn't here then I would have lost control and torn you all into pieces and mount heads on pikes. She is the reason I let it all go.
He smiled and blushed a bit.
Rias: so you really do love her.
Issei: I love her more than anything. She's the reason I want to find peace, I want to be happy and I know that I'll never be happy if I don't let my anger go. It's not easy let me tell you that.
Rias: so there's really no chance for me?
Issei: no.
He shot her down instantly, he may have forgiven her but the anger is still there.
Rias: it's okay. I had my shot years ago and blew it, I shouldn't complain no matter how much it hurts.
(Ddraig: she thinks she had a chance? I call Albion shit on that.)
Issei: .......
Rias: Issei I just want you to be a part of our lives including my own and I've learned my lesson.
Issei: have you now?
Rias: I felt everything you did all at once, you went through it all alone and we were the cause of half of it. I'm sorry. I'll do anything to make it up to you, you can hurt me if you want to, just forgive me please.
( Issei: so she finally understands huh. Kuroka you work miracles.)
Issei: I know Rias, you really did.
Rias: does that mean you forgive me?
Issei: under one condition.
Rias began to dread what it could be.
Issei: let me register as your pawn but it's only a one time thing. Got it? I'm only doing this so I can fight Riser and Sairorg. If you fought them then you're screwed. Also stop breaking into my house and that goes for your team too.
Rias began to cry and laugh, she jumped on him once again but this time she only hugged him.
Rias: anything. Anything you want.
Issei hugged her back and both felt peace at last. Issei patted her back and rubbed her silky hair. They stayed like that for a while.
Rias: you know it's kind of pathetic now that I think about it.
Issei: what is?
Rias: that I was willing to become your queen or pawn or even your mistress if it meant that you would forgive me. Having 2 lovers would have been kind of fun even if all I was to you was a play thing.
Issei: polygamy isn't for me, I'm happy to have one lover, two is way too much.
Rias: how come?
Issei: I'd rob someone of their potential life partner and Kuroka will ways be number 1. I can't hurt her like Riser hurt you.
Rias:........ I really wish I got to know you better back then, who knew you were such a deep thinker and considerate?
Issei: being in love does one of two things. Make you stupid or make you wise, it's up to you to decide now let's go back to training. This is becoming a bit too sentimental for me.
Rias: hey if you're going to be my pawn then what about the others?
Issei: Kuroka can become your Bishop, Bikou as a rook, Arthur as a knight. I'll be your only pawn since that's what all of the underworld knows so far. The others won't take part yet. They told me in advance before we came here. They just want to observe for now.
Rias: but I know they hate us. Will they actually join?
Issei: I'll talk to them. It'll be okay red.