So, yeah; Hellos from Houki Minami y'all. Since I'm starting quite an arc in DxD:R and honestly life has been catching up with me more than I'd like to, I decided to close the last-chapter's open ending with this little epilogue since I feel like writing something like this now. Hey, Souma finished off like this, my first fanfic, so why not this apparently qute popular Issei x Grayfia? So here it is, although not as much as last chapter, ehehe~! But I'll tell you this: Issei finally made Grayfia happy.

Without further addo, I hope you have a great read!

As always, dxd doesn't belong to me~.

"Ise? Ise? Ise!"

"Eh...?" And then he was back. Hyoudou Issei snapped back from his small reverie with the call of his girlfriend Rias Gremory, who was shaking her head a little in disappointment and awkwardness. The brunette blinked once, twice, then let out a small laugh, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Honestly, you have been spacing out quite a few times since last month." The heiress of Gremory sighed, then blinked at him a worried stare, placing both her hands on his shoulders on the sofa and looking at him deeply in the eyes. "Is there something wrong? You know you can always count of me."

"Y-Yeah! I'm okay! It's just... Damn Riser can't stop inviting me for a Rating Game, and with exams and all... But there's nothing you should be worried about, Rias!" He laughed, and forced himself to open a smile for her. For a second, she thought she saw a glimpse of it, but fortunately, Rias dismissed that small moment of weakness, and smiled at her boyfriend, happy to see his resolve for such problems despite his typical reaction to such. Little does she know, nothing that came out of his mouth was true.

But for her, everything was fine, even now that Grayfia was recovering from her previous state, and she was little by little regaining her typical persona, being stern and direct during duty, yet mellow and reliable when out of it, perhaps she became maybe TOO mellow for some reason, but it was good. Whatever Issei did, it worked, and one day, she would come to be again. She will have her onee-san again, Millicas will get his mother back, the Gremory will have their maid back. Everything was good, everything was fine...

Everything was fine...

"Well, I think I better off and talk to Grayfia-san again. Maybe she'll... Know how to deal with those problems." Issei said, standing up from the couch and stretching himself. He opened another forced smile, and turned back to his girlfriend, who visibly pouted hearing the sudden news. She was upset that apparently now even Grayfia was hogging some precious time with her beloved pawn, but said nothing for two reasons: Whatever Issei was doing, if was working, and now that he was a High-class devil and Grayfia was his Queen, they needed some time to discuss things like Rating Games, specially since even high-classes have now the opportunity to fight him. Even with a pouty face, she nodded, and the red dragon emperor again flashed her an uneasy smile. "I'll be back for supper, don't worry! I'll be... I'll be back soon."

"Very well. Don't be late, it's a promise." Rias sighed, but then calm and gently smiled at her boyfriend, who tried his best to respond it back the same way. It's not like she wasn't used in sharing her dear Ise with other women, but thinking about Grayfia that way was both childish and a little awkward, fortunately she apparently had nothing to worry about, and at least Grayfia was returning back to normal. Before anything, however, she couldn't lose the opportunity to tease him a little with a bit of flesh, loosing the grip of her collar and another smile. "I'll be waiting for you, Ise. You promised me~."

"Yeah." Surprising for her, his reaction was a bit underwhelming than she expected. He wasn't that kind of pervert anymore, but overwhelming nonetheless. Maybe his mental state was worse than she anticipated, and her cousin and other champions were indeed starting to take a toll out of her beloved pawn, but, oh well, at least it gives her more reasons for a quick tease and get her pervert back at full health. Tonight indeed was going to be a fun night~...

Little did Rias notice, the moment Issei turned around, his expression was somber and dark...

The Gremory manor, the place His Beloved Rias used to live before the whole ordeal in that one year. He still can't believe all the things that have transpired ever since that date, and how far he had come for such. He had all the reasons to be happy, all the reasons to have a smile on his face, and yet, when he first stepped in front of that mansion, his entire world suddenly grew dark and lonely, and a clutch gripped his heart. Issei gulped hard, taking a deep sigh as everything and nothing would run into his mind. There he is again, and he'll do THAT again...

As always, he knocked at the door a few times, and the door opened to him, followed by the greetings of several butlers and maids of the Gremory house, lining all in front of him and Bowing like he was so kind of royalty. Well, to be honest, he kinda is now, but that is irrelevant now. Even with such polite and warm greeting, the brunette red dragon emperor couldn't stop the uneasy feeling his position inside that place was giving in, stepping inside only worsening it. As he walks inside the entrails of that place, he could only feel himself getting downer and downer. For the last weeks, that initially warm and welcoming place was the last place he wanted to be...

"Ah! Issei-oniisama! You're here!" Issei himself heard small steps coming closer, and for the first time since his arrival, he opened a small smile by seeing the small figure appearing by the horizon of the corridors. There he was, Millicas Gremory, Sirzechs' ultimate legacy in the world, brightly walking across the corridor with a contagious smile on his lips just to encounter his dear onii-sama. Once they met, the small redhead politely bowed, and received a cute pat on the head from the older male.

"Hi there, Millicas. Someone seems cheerful today." Issei, despite not having too much enthusiasm in his voice, said with a sigh and a smile to the little Gremory, who nodded at his words. Those little moments.

"Uh-huh! When this winter ends, I'll be allowed to be enter the Rating Game school, and Lewen everything I need to know about how to be a King." Millicas said, showcasing his newest uniform, and while Issei couldn't understand much, he was still happy to hear such good news. After a few seconds of silence, Millicas shared a stare with his future 'uncle-in-law' and blinked a few times in realization. "Oh, but you're here for mother, right? To talk about your next game."

"..." Issei had to bite his lips slightly so that he could maintain his happy facade for his dear 'nephew-in-law' and smile. Even he got over the loss of Sirzechs once Grayfia apparently came back from her previous state, and by the light he has on his eyes, his objective once he starts the Rating Game school was quite clear: he wanted to become just like Sirzechs and himself. Issei couldn't make himself break such illusion, so he did exactly how he did with Rias: just smiled. "Yes. I'm here for that. I hope I didn't keep her waiting. You know how Grayfia-san can be sometimes about schedule. Ahah... Ahahahah...!"

"But it is alright. If it's onii-sama, then I know you'll make Mother's Day even better." The younger Gremory innocently stated, and Issei again forced a smile upon his lips to the little guy.

Yes, ever since Issei started going to the Gremory manor and talking to the maid, Millicas also noted that his strict and stern, yet beloved mother was back, and she seems to be even mellower now after her 'talks' with the Red Dragon Emperor. He also thought that everything was okay, everything was fine. And just like Rias, when he bid his goodbye to his dear cousin-in-law, he didn't see the bitter expression on his face. Maybe it was for the best...

He had repeated the same walk so many times, he could remember the pattern of the Gremory manor like the palm of his own hand, and without asking any directions, he alone walked towards the room of the said Maid and Sirzechs' widow(?). Little by little, unconsciously the young man would slower and sluggish his own pace of his steps, getting closer and closer from the room the Gremory couple used to share, and now was only known as 'Grayfia's room'. A few seconds passed, and there he was again, at the door to her room, as always, the door being slightly open to shown that he could enter without any warnings. Issei sighed, and reached for the knob in order to slow and swiftly knocked it open with the knuckles of his hand. Inside of it, nothing else but darkness, the moonlight dimly tinting the room silver for Issei to have a general idea, but nothing else.

With the door already open, Issei could only look down at himself and take a deep breath, filled with uncertainties and doubt. Even so, here he is again, at the same place as before. Without warning, the high school student took a step inside and before anything else once in there, he turned around to close the door completely, and lock it down with a swift and quiet *CLICK*. That was the signal, her signal. The moment that sound echoed inside the room, Issei felt himself embraced, as two soft plums landed on his back, and something warm shared itself with him. His usual response to that was underwhelming again.

"You're back... You're back for me." He heard from behind his back. Another heavy and guilty sigh escaped his lips as he turns around to see his lovely assailant. Despite the room not being illuminated by anything but the moonlight, he could see through the darkness the silver hair that was so loving and tenderly snuggling on him, rubbing on him in pure love and affection, yet his expression continue to be stuck like that. Another deep breath, another heavy sigh, and Issei turned around to face the figure who was now so attached to him.

"Yes, I'm Back... Grayfia-san." He called for her, and the maid of the house of the Gremory lifted her eyes to lock stares at him, softly smiling hearing him calling her. Looking deep into her crimson emptiness, he cursed under his breath for being so blind for it. Before anything else could be said, she tightened their embrace and came closer to kiss his lips, and Issei couldn't do anything but to reciprocate...

It has been months since the 666(Trihexa) incident, and after losing her beloved Sirzechs to the apocalyptically beast, Grayfia had entered a deep depression, which itself was bringing a rather gloomy atmosphere around the Gremory house, affecting those close to her as well like Millicas and Rias. Issei, being a good-natured goofball as only his, had Rias's blessing to try to cheer Grayfia up with his own comforting words, and after a series of events and a bit of alcohol from her, they almost have done the deed, Issei finding quite the unusual loophole to finally reach her(CAHAM!), and then help her with the issue at hand...

It was so weird and sudden, and he feared that once she would come back to herself, not only the problem would remain, but their 'ane and otoutou' relationship would suffer a drastic, if not downright abysmal, strain. Not to mention if she decides to put Rias of all people involved. Sure, his perverter mind thought another kind of development including both, but reason pierced him like an arrow for the worst hypothesis. Worst of all, he would be considered complete scum...

Alas... It didn't happen. In fact, quite the opposite happened: Grayfia had... Return to normal. Her strict and formal maid self remained the same during duty, if not a little mellower, but outside of it, he heard from both Millicas and Rias that she has indeed return, which filled the Red Dragon with both relief and joy. Even with his unorthodox method, he finally was able to return the smile of his dear ane, and even thought she could still love and miss Sirzechs, he can't blame her since he misses him too, such revelation would mean that she was in the right way for a good recovery, and a bright life and joy for surviving 666. For a while, the red dragon emperor too though that everything was fine...

However, as time passed, he began to notice something. Grayfia's visit to the Hyoudou residence became more and more frequent, and whenever she would stop by, she always tried to find ways to get closer to her 'little brother'. She would smile at him kindly, rest her head on him, snuggle dangerously close to his body and overall show even more affection to him than anyone else. She would also be the last to let go when the time would call for, and whenever she get the chance, she would clutch on him like a child and not let go.

Little by little, her smile began to fade its initial brightness, and as Issei would continue to look at her losing the shine in her eyes, only to look at his own reflection on her dull stare. It wasn't that she became neglectful of her duties and positions of the maid of Gremory and a mother, but while her sadness walked away, something new and mysterious bloomed inside of her, and its main target became the Red Dragon Emperor. She would ask for kisses, hug intimately his own 'brother in law' and request his company from time to time, fading a little every time that he would refuse. All the loneliness, pain, sorrow and depression became now love and affection, all for the sekiryuutei, and he didn't know why. It was only too late when he noticed what was wrong:

The moment Grayfia forgot about Sirzechs, everything else... Vanished as well.

Issei indeed underestimated the affection between the couple. He realized such too late, that the old Grayfia was gone now. The moment he ripped, even for a second, the love she has for Sirzechs in that intimate moment at the springs, he ripped her soul as well, the very event that was holding her entire personality together. The old Grayfia, who loved the redhead Lucifer, was gone. And in return, a new one was born. A new Grayfia... Who loved the Sekiryuutei with the entirety of her heart. A new Grayfia, who could again fall into the abyss of despair and sorrow. A new Grayfia... His heart told him to take care of, even if it means...

Even if it means...

Ever since that night, Issei started to engage himself into that for to the sole purpose of 'helping' the Gremory maid. It wasn't an obligation, it wasn't a way to take advantage of her, it wasn't his guilt over the fact that he took another Gremory for himself. It was just... His heart, telling him to take care of, to protect and love the broken Grayfia, even if it meant to threaten to cut all the ties he had build up until now. Sure, Rias was okay with the harem, but with her own sister-in-law... There was something very wrong about it, and he doesn't think she'll ever forgive him this time. Even so, every time they would kiss, embrace and entangled themselves on each other, such thoughts would become so vague, transparent, almost a ghost of what he truly felt for his redhead, even if for just a few hours, just those few hours...

What is love? Or pity? Honestly, he doesn't know anymore. Grayfia became his, and that is all there is to it. But that was enough, right? No more wine to forget about her husband, no more neglect as both a maid, a mother and a nee-san, no more sadness since she has him now, and he promised himself to never leave her so that darker days would return. He should be happy about it, right? Doing his 'usual stuff', helping someone with their problems, and will Rias and Millicas approval, it means he's done it again, right?

All those questions left unanswered, better yet, ignored, as he would embrace her and leave no areas unchecked in her body, even places he thought he'd never reach. A simple yet lingering, if just a little, reverie on the back of his head, while his body would pleasure and be pleasured by her. What Grayfia has become, she was slowly converting him as well. In those small moments of sex, of comfort, they would little by little forget their former lives and just share heat with one another. Right or wrong, good or bad, lack or excessive, it would all disappear as Grayfia would use her breasts, her lips, her tongue, her mouth, even her hair, hands, feet and, finally, her flower, to indulge herself with Issei. Sweat, semen, saliva, perfume, Issei was losing grasp of his own sanity while being intoxicated.

'I love Rias...'

'I want to protect my friends...'

'I want to be the harem King...'

'I want to... Help... Grayfia-san...'

Those thoughts were now simple memories, ghosts of what they used to be, as he pounds his hardest into Grayfia's most sacred place, seeing the hypnotic bounce of her breasts and her maddening calls for him, soon hushed by his lips of hers. All the nail marks on his back, his smell on the sheets, his echoing name from her mouth and, most importantly, the scorching hot memory he left in her deepest place, it all seemed like a sickly-sweet dream, that completely overshadowed all sorrow, all sadness, all remnants of pain from her... All the memories of her beloved Sirzechs from her.

Grayfia Lucifuge was now happier than she ever was since the incident...

And Hyoudou Issei wanted this to last...

Even if it means...

...

And it was over. They've lost track of time, and the moon in the sky was wordlessly indicating them how much it has passed. Now that he was his own person again instead of being merged into Grayfia's own skin, Issei could only pounder with himself, nude, on the edge of... Their bed. This was wrong, this was bad, but he continues to do this. It wasn't lust, it was... He doesn't know. But seeing Grayfia so happy, so satisfied, so back to herself makes him happy as well. There was no 'why', he simply knew what to do to make her happy, but in the end... Is he happy as well? Seeing her happy like this... Maybe... It was all worthy... Right?

Right?

"Issei? Are you feeling well?" That sick sweet voice, calling him like a lover would. He didn't have the courage to turn around and face her, so he only lowers his head to look at the floor. A few seconds pass, and two soft mounts land on his naked back. What would get a comical reaction out of him, now was just more weight on him. Two hands reach for his shoulders, to them embrace his neck, so gently, like a maiden. "Issei... My Issei..."

"Grayfia-san..." He calls for her, and he hears her reaction as a cute giggle, followed by a kiss on the cheek. After that, nothing. Yes, she was happy, and that was all that matters... Right? He doesn't know, and from that moment on, he won't have to. It was just for a second, just for a second only, but his consciousness returns to him one last time, only to mutter his last words of regret: "I'm... Sorry."

"For what you're apologizing for?" She giggles, and in that moment, Issei is left speechless. Yeah, for what he's apologizing for? Grayfia was happy, Grayfia was his, and as long as she smiles and continues her life as a mother, a in-law and a maid, he's happy for her... Right? That is all he wants for her. That is what she deserves. Even if it means... She laughs again. "Issei..."

"Yeah...?"

"I love you."

"..."

"..."

"Yeah."

And just like this, Grayfia Lucifuge is yet again...

Happy.

Issei made Grayfia happy... But was it a happy ending? I hope you guys enjoyed this end chapter/epilogue and have a nice day. Nothing much to say, but I hope you had a great read and until we meet again.

Greetings~.