Yare yare daze

Apparently if you leave to start new stories in another fandom, people think you've abandon the old. Well, to put those rumors to shame I'm updating Chibi. Its not as long as usual but it was the best I could do hopefully without losing too much quality. I would have eventually returned and possibly have made the chapter longer or more elaborate but the constant questions from people brought me back with...questionable motives.

As for those jumping to my other stories, reviewing and asking about DxD. I'd like to request that you not do that. You're free to PM me or ask me in discord. But going into another story, in another fandom, one I've taken such a fascination in AND want to write about passionately, seeing those types of reviews does the opposite of what you want. It makes me not want to write DxD.

But enough about that. Enjoy the chapter. Maybe.

"So, Issei, you want to explain all of this to me one more time..?"

"Um...okay? This is Neo," the small boy began, gesturing to the equally small girl hiding behind his shoulder. "She's a siren but she's mute. I saved her and we met the Dragon King Tiamat, who is my promised second familiar. Oh, but Neo is my first familiar."

"Yes, yes, you've said that several times. But what I want to know is how you are also to be contracted with the strongest Dragon King and, more specifically, why you reincarnated a creature who can't utilize their species' trait."

"Oh... Which one do you want to hear first?"

Rias rested her elbows on her desk and continued to rub her throbbing head. "Whichever alleviates this pain faster..."

"Hm, not giving me a lot of options," Issei murmured with a fist to his chin. "Well, to put it in the easy form, I don't exactly know why Tiamat thought it a good idea to form a contract with me. She wanted to show up Ddraig, wants to train me once I'm a little stronger, kept looking me up and down with a mysterious intent, called me her new treasure-"

"Wait, what!?" The redhead blurted out. Everyone in the room was taken aback by her sudden outburst. The heiress didn't even try to recover herself. Not when more pressing matters prompted the proper response she had just exclaimed.

"Uhh...I'm going to assume you're saying that because of the new treasure thing," Issei replied, his voice turning to a squeak as he finished.

"Yes, that thing!" Rias replied immediately. "What rights does she have that allows her to claim you!?"

Issei blinked several times. His King looked expectant of a response and he quickly realized the question wasn't rhetorical. He could feel Neo's grip on his newly repaired blazer and couldn't help the instinct to protect her. Something he'd come to quickly develop for his new family member. But who would protect him from the wrath of his King?

"Well, Ddraig kind of destroyed her old treasure and scattered it across the globe," he started. Rias had a burning glare and it was focused on him making him shrink as he tried to finish explaining. "So...in the end...I kinda, maybe, sort of, was offered up as compensation..."

"Ara ara," Akeno giggled with a delicate hand over her lips.

"That is quite the sacrifice," Kiba added. "If only I were so noble."

"...Ise is surrounded by pervy older women," Koneko inputted, her eyes focused on Rias. The pressure was alleviated as the princess turned to face his fellow first year.

"How am I at fault!?" She asked under the disappointed eyes of her Rook.

"...Ise didn't have these problems until he joined."

Issei avoided eye contact at that claim, silently thanking his friend but failed to want to meet her gaze. She didn't know him long enough and was uninformed about Issei's past. Koneko's defense wasn't fully the truth nor was it fully a lie. He didn't have these types of problems, that she was right about. But there were other elements in play that also made her wrong. But those were thoughts for another day and Rias was pressing down on him. So he would take his victories where he could.

"Anyways," he spoke up, trying to get back on track. "The point is, I agreed to this. Tiamat is a Dragon King, the strongest of them. If she's offering to train me, simply to spite Ddraig and slap on a simple title as compensation, why should I say no?"

"Because she's trying to claim something that's not hers!" Rias shouted, slamming her hands down onto her desk. Her eyes widened a second later and a blush that put her hair to shame colored her cheeks immediately.

"Ara ara, would you like to be more honest with your emotions, Buchou?" Akeno teased.

The heiress glared at her best friend but it wasn't as effective with the more prominent embarrassment at the Japanese beauty's playful quip.

"S-Shut it, Akeno..."

"Have I struck a nerve, ufufufu. Would you rather Issei have done so?"

"...Be careful Ise. Buchou plans to steal your innocence."

"Stop bullying me!" A pincer attack from the other two females of the room left Rias with no chance to defend herself. Her mighty walls were falling. And, soon enough, she would fall too.

"M-My innocence?"

Neo popped over the small dragon's shoulder. She wrapped one arm up and over his left shoulder, the other wrapping underneath his right arm and pulled him close to her. It was a "mine" gesture, something the other three females took immediate note of. One that made those former burning orbs turn molten hot of one Rias Gremory.

"Buchou..?"

She had to calm down. She really wanted to. But it was difficult with the fact that two different women were trying to stake a claim on her Ise. Hers. One of which was a Dragon King, someone who far outclassed her in power and could easily take Issei if she wanted to. It didn't sit right with the princess at all. Not. One. Bit.

And this other girl. Neo. For someone that Issei told her was shy, scared, and soft, her claim on her little Pawn seemed far more confident than shy. That served to irk her much more than the other. She couldn't tell why exactly but there were a lot of pieces that seemed to sum up the whole.

Tiamat wasn't there, so a lack of a face made it difficult to direct her anger towards her but Neo was and made it known. Issei was practically being fondled by the ice-cream themed girl and he was allowing it. All without being fazed. Probably because he considered it out of fright or need rather than possessiveness. A good trick from the familiar, one even she couldn't help but commend. And last, but certainly not least, was the fact if she even dared do any of that she would be labelled a pervert and kept away from him by her own teammates of all people!

So what if she had some not-so-PG thoughts about her Pawn. It was a natural occurrence for adolescents. Hormones were a part of growing up. But apparently, if she so much as steps towards him with intent of affection, she's put on the chopping block. So why wasn't that girl receiving the same treatment!?

Neo was practically on top of him. There wasn't a moment since their return that she hasn't had physical contact with him. No one could even touch Issei because she wouldn't allow it. So why wasn't she being accused, and more importantly, why Rias was!? It wasn't fair at all.

"Well, it's been an extremely exhausting day. I think I'm going to head home for the night," Issei spoke up. He stretched his arms over his head, going stiff for a few seconds before slowly relaxing. He seemed completely unaffected by Neo still clinging to him. And he gave no signs that he was leaving her behind.

Was he really about to take her home with him?

His words broke the heiress out of her thoughts. "Ah, Issei, wait!"

"Hm? What is it, Buchou?" The brunette had already turned towards the door. But he looked over his shoulder, giving her those same curious eyes that always made her heart melt. The hint of exhaustion was clear on his face and, dare she say, heightened his cuteness. In an M-rated way. It gave a clear path to some raunchy thoughts that shouldn't dare see the light of day.

Satans, what was wrong with her? Her thoughts were succumbing to her primal natures. Why, oh why, did Issei have to be so pure and innocent? And so small and adorable? Why couldn't he be a normal sized pervert who peeped on girls like any other high school weirdo. At least things would be easier.

"Ano, Buchou?" Kiba spoke up, breaking her train of thoughts. That was the second time that night.

"Ah, yes Kiba?"

"Issei-kun has left," he announced.

Rias' eyes focused and she realized her Pawn was, in fact, no longer there. How long he was gone was undetermined but he left without her even finishing what she was about to say. Or, think of what she was about to say. She honestly had only blurted out at him to stop him from leaving with Neo but her thoughts drifted before she could formulate a coherent thought to keep him there or convince him of leaving Neo behind.

The heiress sat back in her seat, a little too unceremoniously than she'd like. Her head rocked back to rest against the back of the chair and she slid down in her seat just a tad. All in all, she looked truly defeated. And to be honest, she felt like she was.

"Buchou has new competition." Akeno continued her ruthless assault. There was no end to her teasing, even with her best friend wishing for a moment of reprieve.

"Please, Akeno..." Rias begged. It was fruitless, she knew that, but hoped for once her partner was merciful.

"...Buchou will not take Ise's purity."

"Koneko..."

"Eheh, you have a lot of ground to cover."

"Kiba, not you too..."

-XOXOXOXOX-

"Oh Ise, please stay for dinner?"

"Yes, Adrian would be quite upset if you left without tucking him in."

"I'd love to, Miss Saphron, Miss Terra, but I must return to my team. There's an important outing tonight and I cannot be late," the shota replied with an apologetic smile. "Tell Adrian I'll be back in a few days. And we can play fighter pilot all day long."

Saphron folded her arms with a light smirk. "You better, mister. Or I'll hunt you down myself. Devil or not, I will find you."

Terra walked forward and planted a kiss on her wife's cheek. "No need to threaten him, honey. I'm sure he loves it here just as much as we love having him."

Issei couldn't help but blush. "Of course. If I could, I really would stay."

Saphron's smirk slipped to a warm smile. One open to so much more, hope seeping out from it. "You always could stay. Its not-"

The brunette rose a hand. A sad and apologetic smile crept on his lips. His eyes casted to the side and to the ground, avoiding eye contact with the couple.

"I know. But I'd put you all in a lot of danger," he told them forlornly. "Being a devil isn't easy and the thing inside me puts a huge target on my back. I would never forgive myself if I was the reason for harm to come to either of you. Especially Adrian. So I'm going to have to deny the offer again, Saphron. I'm sorry."

The couple looked at each other. Terra shook her head slowly and Saphron couldn't help but frown. He told them time and time again but she didn't care. The more he told her, the more she wanted to push. The distance he was trying to put between them hurt, but she knew he was hurting himself more than her. All to protect her from things she had no knowledge or control over.

Issei was such a sweet kid who deserved the world. And she wanted to give it to him. But he had been dealt a bad hand and came into a position that forced him to keep people at arms length. If only there was more that she could do for him. Something to try and help him. Give him the life he deserved.

"Besides," he spoke up. They turned back to see a soft smile on his face. But it was no longer sad, and instead, faintly hopeful. "I have those I've grown close to. They made life a little easier. So...maybe I can call them family? Maybe?"

The blonde woman looked at him, searching. She kept a careful eye to see he really wanted to believe his words. But could see an edge of uncertainty. There was fear and doubt, possibly stemmed from his past. While almost unnoticeable, there was a chance that fear would begin to fester. Whether it be his own thoughts or someone putting words in his head, he's fragile heart would affect his mind and he'd be put into a downward spiral. Saphron would not be the person who broke his heart.

Terra watched as her wife stepped forward. She smiled as her partner knelt down and pulled the brunette into a fierce hug. Issei was caught off guard by it and stiffened in the embrace. It made the ebony woman wonder how long it had been since the boy had been hugged. Comforted. Reminded that he was still alive. Cared for. And loved.

It made her heart ache to see a mere child react like this to the faintest sign of parental affection. It made her wonder, what such a child had been through. And how he was still able to smile.

So she continued to watch. The confusion on his face, the concern in his eyes, all slowly started to melt away. His hands hesitated several times as they slowly wrapped around Saphron's back. He couldn't fully wrap them around but he didn't seem to care. The boy buried his face into the crook of her neck and he allowed himself to succumb to the embrace. Small tears pooled at the corner of his eyes but he held them in. A true trooper to the end. Terra smiled.

"You tell them that I said to watch out for you," Saphron said into his mess of brown locks.

"Yes ma'am."

"You tell them I'll be watching," she continued, squeezing him tighter.

"Yes ma'am."

"And if anything happens to you. I'll hunt down each and every one of them and make sure their lives are a living hell."

"...I don't think they'll do that."

She nodded her head firmly. "Good."

The blonde pulled back and placed her hands on his shoulder. It was just like a mother would her son. "You're always welcome here, Issei. And the offer will always stand. We haven't known you for long but you're family."

He smiled a little brighter. "Thanks. Maybe one day I will. But, for now, I have to get stronger. So that I can protect you, and everyone else precious to me."

"Even Adrian?"

"Especially Adrian."

"Good. Not get going, or else you're gonna be late."

"Hai!"

-XOXOXOXOX-

Flash!

"Ah, Issei, you've arrived." Rias and the rest of the ORC turned to greet him.

He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, sorry, I would have been here sooner..."

"No need to worry. We've just arrived ourselves," Rias replied with an easy smile.

The group stood before an abandoned hotel. It was on the outskirts of town, run down from its lack of tourism and eventual bankruptcy. The entrance had already begun to crumble with greenery growing up and down the stone walls that surrounded the building. Heaps of gravel and chunks of stone littered the gardens and pavement leading up to the front door. A few of the pavement's tiles were also cracked and raised from their settings. Some tossed aside as if thrown against the very walls, shattered into pebbles, littering the tall, unkempt grass.

There were actually a lot of vines and plants that sprouted up and down the entire plot of land. It was a little unbelievable that so much vegetation had grown throughout the establishment's foundation. It went so far as to cover the walls, poke through windows, and even sneak through a few roof tiles above. Sure, the hotel was old, but this type of growth seemed a bit much for a simple aging.

"Buchou..." Issei murmured. Ever since unlocking his Sacred Gear, the boy had noticed his senses increasing as the days passed. He wasn't Koneko but it was easy to smell the decay and negativity in the air.

"I know, Ise," the heiress replied as she too surveyed the area. With a sigh she turned to address everyone. "We'll be splitting into pairs of twos. The hotel is quite large and we'll need to cover as much ground as possible. Akeno, you're with me, we'll handle the rooms and overall observation. Kiba and Koneko, you two search the staff and supply rooms. Issei, you'll need Neo."

"Hai."

Issei took a deep breath before he held out his hand and closed his eyes.

Flash!

The familiar red magic circle of the Gremory formed on the ground before him. The same bright red light came and went and left behind one Neopolitan in its place.

The mute siren opened her eyes and smiled. The sight of her master always had that effect on her. She tugged at her gloves before bowing elegantly before him. She always did, no matter how much he protested she had to do no such thing. She would always smile mischievously following.

The ice-cream themed girl had a new attire since the time he found her a month prior. She was now dressed in a white tailcoat with a pink interior, one golden button, and one wide broad tail. With it she wore brown pants, black gloves, and black and white knee-high boots with high heels and multiple buttons up each side. Under her jacket was a brown corset that was cut at the bottom, exposing her wide hips. She also wore several necklaces, all of which hung haphazardly around her neck.

The outfit was a gift from Rias. It was more of a move to earn more of her Pawn's affection. Issei couldn't thank her enough, so it was a successful play. Even Neo, as she was slowly becoming confident and independent, knew when to appreciate someone's kindness. Even if that person was constantly trying to corrupt her innocent and kind master. She wouldn't allow it, her master was hers now. But she would play ball. For now.

"Good. You two will cover the outside. The hot spring, the sand garden, and the old koi fish pond."

"You got it," Issei replied. Neo gave a playful salute.

"Alright. Watch each others backs. This is a dangerous A-Class Stray and it has the home field advantage. Find it, subdue it, or call for reinforcements. Don't go anywhere alone, understand?"

""Hai!""

Alright. Couple things to address. They will be short. I hope.

First off, Neo and the RWBY characters. No, this isn't a crossover. These are all integrated into DxD and no mentions of the RWBYverse will make an appearance. If any powers do, they will be integrated through DxD style. But, so far, I have only taken interest in Neo and the Cotta-Arcs. So don't cry about it because they are only vital to certain pieces and will slowly integrate themselves into the story as natural pieces.

Second, my DxD stories and their futures. No, I'm not quitting DxD. The fact I learned there was a reddit post questioning me is ridiculous. I try to span my writing and I'm presumed to be switching ships. DxD is still a massive part of me and I will continue to write it. But, as for now, I want to build up my RWBY stories. The show fascinated me and instilled a passion I had only once before when I started writing for DxD. I have done DxD for over 5 or 6 years, way before I settled on my profile now. So I finally found another show, another passion to write and have fun with. And I want to explore that without being hammered with questions on when I'll update Bael or when I'll update Chibi. I will return in due time but please, let me enjoy the chance to actually write and create a whole new world outside of religious supernaturality. That's all I ask.

Hope everyone enjoyed the read. And I do hope to hear from you all on what you thought of it. This is a building arc for Issei and it will be short. Afterwards we'll delve back into canon. So hold on a bit longer.

Remember, senpai is always watching.

Ciao~