After school.
Akeno led the way to the clubhouse, Ryu followed alongside her silently.
Finally, the two got to their destination and stood right outside the door.
Akeno took a deep breath, and opened the door
"We're here." Akeno announced their arrival to everyone in the room.
The whole group was gathered inside the spacious room.
Kiba, Koneko, Issei and Asia were sitting on one sofa, and Rias was sitting in front of them and behind her stood...
One unknown person she was a grey-haired lady, great proportions unique outfit, she wore a maid outfit to be exact.
Ryu and Akeno moved and stood behind everyone else, while Grayfia's eyes tracked Ryu as he walked.
"You must be Ogami Ryu, I must say you're as big as you were described."
"Thanks for the compliment I guess Ms?"
"Grayfia Lucifuge, Queen of Sirzechs Lucifer, nice to meet you Ogami Ryu."
"You know him Grayfia?" Rias asked, pretty surprised.
"Indeed, Lord Lucifer also knows."
"How? I don't think I've mentioned him before." Rias questioned further.
"When he first transferred here, his uncle had to ask for permission and we agreed."
"Who exactly is his uncle? I've been wondering about that for quite a while, couldn't find the chance to ask him again though." Rias inquired.
"Oh? He didn't say it before? He's the adopted son of Kokabiel one of the higher-ups in the Grigori, and nephew to The head of Grigori... Azazel The Wicked. (AU nickname, You'll know why later.)"
It was silent for a moment, Grayfia glanced around noticing that everyone was staring at her.
Ryu then coughed to get everyone's attention, "Surprise?"
"'Surprise?' Ryu..." Rias was about to speak but stopped, and took a deep breath.
"We will talk about this later, we have something more urgent to discuss." Rias said rubbing her face with both hands.
"Now, Lady Rias may I begin?" Grayfia asked for permission.
Rias raised her hand, signaling her to stop before she started speaking.
"As it happens…" But before she could explain properly, an orange magic circle appeared in the room followed by an explosion of flames, and a sound of a bird.
"Phoenix?" Kiba questioned from behind.
"Hmph, it's been quite some time since I've been to the human world." A deep voice of a man came from the circle while the flames disappeared to reveal the owner of said voice.
It was a blonde-haired man wearing a rather expensive looking red suit, and a white button-up shirt underneath.
He had a condescending smirk on the whole time as he observed everyone inside the room.
"I've come to see you, my beloved Rias!" He spoke arrogantly, as his eyes fixated on Rias.
Hearing his voice, Rias frowned in both disgust and hatred towards this man, Ryu didn't expect Rias to be capable of such an expression.
"Who's this guy?" Issei asked.
"This is Lord Riser, A pure-blooded upper-class devil, third son of the noble house Phoenix." Grayfia introduced him.
"House of Phoenix?" Issei repeated to himself.
"And he is the fiancée of the next head of the Gremory house."
"You don't mean-" Issei interrupted once again.
"In simple terms, he's Lady Rias' betrothed."
"B-Betrothed?!" Issei shouted, as Riser smirked.
Riser's smirk was still present on his face, Rias sighed deeply preparing for the headache that was Riser Phoenix. The man in questioned immediately sat down next to her.
Akeno was about to go and prepare tea, as much as she disliked the man in front of her, he was still an upper-class devil, so as hosts the Gremory peerage had to show hospitality.
However, she felt a tug at her shirt, as she. Looked down to see Ryu signaling her not to move, so Akeno stood in her spot.
Ryu whispered, "Don't be so kind to guests who don't respect the hosts."
"Ah, my beloved Rias how I missed you." Riser spoke while smirking, as he began to play with Rias' gorgeous red hair, and rubbed her thigh as well.
Not even acknowledging that there were other people here, and not even greeting his hosts.
"This despicable scumbag… is supposed to be president's fiancée?!" Issei muttered, he just couldn't believe it.
"Enough of that." Rias had enough as she got up.
"Riser, I've told you countless times, I am not going to marry you."
"But Rias, I think that your family's circumstances are desperate enough to not allow you to be so inconsiderate."
Rias clenched her fists tightly in anger, "I won't bring my house to ruin, I won't marry you. I will marry whoever I want." She spoke sternly.
"It is a duty for pure-blood devils to replenish the population we lost in the last war, both your father and Sirzechs decided on this arrangement with the future in mind."
Riser explained trying to convince her.
"My father, my brother and the entire clan, is in a rush. I will say it again Riser, I will not marry you!" She practically shouted that last part.
Riser clicked his tongue and got up abruptly, he grabbed Rias' chin and brought his face closer to hers.
"Rias, I bear the reputation and prestige of my family, and I can't have you besmirching my name." He spoke, while frowning.
The peerage behind tensed, even Akeno at his sudden movement.
Ryu was getting irritated now, this arranged marriage stuff may be common practice and normal for devils, but he as a human being found it wrong and disgusting.
"Even if i have to incinerate your peerage, and your new friend here… I'll bring you the underworld with me."
The group tensed and got ready to defend themselves.
Their magic flared for a second, Rias' power of destruction, and the Phoenix's signature hellfire.
Instead of Grayfia, it was Ryu who got up.
He moved in front of the two, crouched down placed his hands on their shoulders, "Why don't we calm down friends? I believe there to be a solution to both your problems, as far as I know, devils respect power above all else, so why not settle it by fighting?"
Ryu spoke out of character, normally he's the type of guy to punch and ask questions later, but this was a situation where he couldn't do that, even though he really wanted to piece up chicken right now.
"Indeed, Sirzechs Lucifer sent me here for that purpose, Lady Rias, if you don't wish to marry Lord Riser, I'm afraid you'll have to settle it in a rating game." Grayfia approached them and said her part.
"See? Problem solved." Ryu smiled as well, Akeno could tell that it was forced, very forced.
"…For how long is your hand going to be on my shoulder?" Riser asked as Ryu's hand lit on fire.
"Ryu!" Akeno shouted.
Grayfia and the others reacted immediately, getting ready to defend Ryu
Grayfia noticed something odd though, even though Ryu's hand was on fire, he wasn't reacting, and she couldn't smell the scent of burning flesh either.
"You bastard!" Issei shouted, but stopped right as he was about to charge in to attack.
Asia also gasped, and was about to rush towards him to help, but she was stopped by Issei.
"Listen tough guy." Ryu spoke, not even bothering to remove his hand from Riser's shoulder.
"While you're here as a guest, try to be more polite, next time instead of a warning I might just rip you into two separate pieces." Ryu spoke as he slowly stood up.
He finally took off his hand, and the fire disappeared immediately.
Riser sat there without flinching, he wasn't intimidated in the slightest, sure he was surprised that he didn't react to the flames but that was it.
Riser Phoenix wasn't someone who ONLY relied on his clan ability, he could fight with his fists if he wanted to.
Asia rushed to his side, grabbing his arm.
"Ryu! let me-" She begun to speak before she stopped as he looked at his hand, it was unscathed, as if it was never on fire in the first place.
"But I definitely-" Asia muttered before she felt a hand on her head she looked up to see Ryu staring down with a smile
"Might've forgotten to mention, but fire doesn't work on me."
The others let out a sigh of relief.
"Damn dude, my heart almost leapt out of my chest." Issei said.
"Aww, didn't know you cared so much, I'm touched Issei."
Ryu joked, and glanced up at Akeno who was staring at his hand with wide eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." He assured her, before taking his place next to Akeno, who took his hand in hers and looked at it just to make sure he was really okay.
The silver-haired maid narrowed her eyes at his hand, she would report this to her master after this meeting.
Riser was about to open his mouth to speak again, but he was interrupted. "That's enough, since I'm here on behalf of the current Lucifer, I won't hold back one iota if you don't stop this childish squabble this instant." Grayfia spoke while frowning.
"Hmph, if it's coming from the 'Ultimate Queen' even I'm intimidated." He spoke, but his eyes were still on Ryu, his interest was piqued by this tall muscular man.
"Lord Sirzechs expected this outcome, so he assigned me a last resort, should things break down."
"Last resort? What do you mean Grayfia?" Rias questioned the maid.
"If you insist on following your wishes, then you may settle this in a rating game with Lord Riser."
Issei's eyes narrowed at those words, "A rating game?" He questioned.
"It's a chess-like game noble devils compete in, where they make the servants fight against one another." Kiba explained it to him.
"Only mature devils have ever been able to take part in a Rating Game." Akeno turned back to explain.
"Then we're at an incredible disadvantage." A rare moment of cleverness from Issei.
"That's not the only disadvantage." Koneko chimed in.
"Just to be sure, are these all your servants?" Riser questioned Rias.
"Aside from Ryu, these are all of them, so what if they are?" Rias asked back crossing her arms.
Riser laughed at her before snapping his finger,
And once more the Phoenix magic circle appeared.
Out came 14 different ladies.
"I have 15 pieces, in other words full set." Riser spoke, while his servants stood behind him, all wearing that arrogant smirk.
"15 pieces, and all of them are pretty girls?!" Issei shouted.
Ryu leaned over the sofa and looked at him with a raised eyebrow and Issei quieted down.
But he still sniffled.
"What is that all about?" Riser questioned.
Rias sighed before explaining. "His dream is to have a harem."
Riser smirked, "Oh, I see. Yubelluna." He called out and a purple-haired lady came from behind, "Yes, Lord Riser." She answered with a smile before they started a whole make-out session without a shame.
Rias recoiled in disgust.
"What-"Issei started. "The fuck?" Ryu finished.
"You'll never be able to do this for as long as you live." Riser made direct eye contact with Issei as he fondled his… devil toy.
"This… guy, really has no shame." Ryu averted his eyes from such… disgusting show of superiority.
"What's there to be ashamed about?" Riser asked, genuinely curious.
Ryu was left speechless.
"You… disgusting chicken!" Issei shouted as he summoned his sacred gear.
Issei charged at Riser, while his sacred gear boosted his abilities.
"Mira." Riser calmly called out as a blue-haired girl was just dashed out from behind the others and stood in front of Issei.
Ryu reacted rather quickly he moved immediately and that was gone unnoticed by almost everyone but Akeno, Rias, Riser and Grayfia.
The blue-haired girl with a stick was moving towards Issei's stomach, but Ryu shielded him quickly enough.
Now, because of the height difference between Issei and Ryu, the attack hit low, right between his legs to be exact.
Kiba winced, Issei recoiled, hell even Riser sucked in a breath of air.
They all felt phantom pain, or something similar.
Even some of the girls from Riser's peerage covered their mouths in shock.
And the reason for that was because the stick shattered, the weapon that struck Ryu's private parts shattered from impact.
Meanwhile Ryu stood there, hands in his pockets, the attack didn't even faze him.
"Ryu!" Akeno shouted worriedly while rushing towards his side.
"Don't worry, I'm good." He spoke.
Ryu sighed as he leaned down, the girl unconsciously took a step back.
"I don't really want to rip your head off, so how about you scurry back, before I change my mind." He spoke calmly, though he smiled and showed his teeth a little to the girl in front, and that worked perfectly well, she was intimidated.
The girl indeed retreated while looking at him cautiously.
"Grayfia… was it? Can we somehow hurry up and finish this meeting? We might have a hazard on our hands if we don't." Ryu explained.
"Ha! Color me impressed, not even I can walk of such a hit, a shame that you aren't a part of my beloved Rias' peerage." Genuine praise came from Riser, from man to man.
"We'll settle this in a rating game." Rias declared.
"I look forward to it my beloved Rias, I'll see you in 14 days." (canon is 10, but let's say it's 14 because… I said so.)
Riser laughed once more, before he and his peerage disappeared in flame, Grayfia bowed and left as well.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." Ryu sighed as he went and sat down on Rias's chair since it was free.
Then he noticed that it had wheels on it, and Ryu... immediately begun spinning around at high speeds.
Everyone looked at him in disbelief, no one expected this man to have a childish side to him.
Ryu spun round and round a couple more times before he stopped.
"Ahem. Apologies." Ryu acted as if nothing had happened just now.
"Bro… are you sure you're okay? You took a direct hit right in the… the…" Issei couldn't even finish the sentence, as he imagined the pain.
"The private parts." Koneko finished for him.
Ryu waved his hand, "I'm okay, thanks for worrying, but there really is no reason to."
Ryu got up and walked out of the room, though everyone noticed that he was limping.
"He's definitely... not okay." Kiba said loudly.
"I don't doubt it, that was a strong blow." Rias confirmed, and then hissed again when she remembered it.
"His future generation just got evaporated." Koneko said.
Ryu slammed the door behind him, and immediately hunched over.
"FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! MY NUTS!!!!!" He shouted.
Yes, He spun on the chair because he was trying to distract himself because the pain was becoming too much, and when he couldn't do it... this was what he did.
R.I.P Ryu's nuts.