Y-Yes."
Issei widened his eyes and turned around, only to see that Ophis had disappeared once again. The young man blinked several times in shock.
'What the hell?! I wasn't imagining the whole conversation with her, was I?!'
Sighing inwardly, Issei turned to look at Xuelan and narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Xuelan opened her mouth, and then she paused. How exactly was she going to word her response? She knew she didn't want to piss him off. Trying to calm herself, Xuelan gulped down another lump in her throat.
"L-Lord Phenex-sama ordered me to come find you. To inform you about something important."
"..."
Noticing his intended lack of response, Xuelan lowered her head.
"Both he and Sirzechs-sama would like to talk to you about the matter regarding Riser-sama's possessions."
Issei narrowed his eyes at the mention of Riser's name.
"I already told them I didn't want anything to do with Riser's belongings. I thought I made that clear. Now if you would-"
"B-but you won it fair and square." Xuelan interrupted, "You defeated Riser-sama yourself."
"I don't care about what I won. Tell Sirzechs and Riser's father that I don't want any of Riser's possessions."
Xuelan widened her eyes, and she stepped forward.
"Both Sirzechs-sama and Lord Phenex-sama insist that you have earned the right to Riser-sama's belongings. It would be honorable of you if you were to come to the Phenex mansion and accept what you have earned."
Issei maintained his cold stare as he glared at Xuelan.
"Honorable? Yeah right."
Xuelan widened her eyes again.
"W-what?"
Ignoring her, Issei opened his house door, and placed his hand on Xuelan's arm, before moving her out of his house. Glaring at the surprised look on Xuelan's face, Issei placed her in front of the door, and shut the door in her face.
Xuelan stood shell-shocked for a moment, and then she huffed.
How dare that boy do that do her?! How could he?!
Narrowing her blue-green eyes, Xuelan got into a battle position, as her hands started to glow with fire. Scoffing, she reared her fist back. As soon as she was about to punch and kick the door, Issei immediately opened the door and glared at her, prompting Xuelan to stop in her attempted attack.
"If you even try to kick or break my house door, I guarantee you'll wish you didn't. I...will...end you."
And with that, he slammed the door in her face again. Xuelan stood still with a frightened expression on her face, and she resisted the urge to faint right then and there. Sighing, she placed her hand on the ground, causing a magic circle to emit. The aura from it surrounded Xuelan, and she disappeared.
Issei sighed as he rubbed his head. Scowling, he shook his head and sighed again.
"Honorable. I-I can't believe-" He said as he shut his eyes in irritation.
Opening his eyes, Issei looked over to see Ophis sitting on his couch.
"O-Ophis, you came back. Where did you go?"
Ophis tilted her head as she stared at Issei.
"I, went nowhere."
Raising an eyebrow at her response, Issei sighed and shrugged.
"Ah, well..."
Looking over at Ophis again, Issei walked over to the couch, and sat next to the Ouroboros Dragon.
"So you said you don't have anywhere to live?"
"No. I, do not."
'She talks really weird.' Issei thought.
Issei sighed and crossed his arms.
"Is that the only outfit you have, Ophis?"
Ophis looked down at herself, and tilted her head as she looked up at Issei.
"Do you not like my appearance?"
"Your appearance? No, I was just asking-"
He was cut off when Ophis's body started to glow and reform, and the young man widened his eyes in shock. The bright glow faded, revealing a more mature Ophis.
She now appeared as a woman in her early 20's. Her silky black hair was longer, her dark-gray eyes gained a more mature edge to them, and her body was now developed to the figure of a full-grown woman. Issei really couldn't keep himself from widening his eyes at the sight of the girl's more voluptuous body.
Issei stared wide-eyed for a moment, and then he lifted up a finger to the now adult Ophis.
"Excuse me for a moment."
And then he delivered a sharp slap to his cheek, in order to ensure that he wasn't dreaming, or was trapped in a hallucination. Ophis tilted her head at what Issei had just done, but she remained quiet.
Shaking his head and grunting in surprise at the unexpected pain, Issei opened his eyes, and still saw the matured Ophis.
Blinking several times, Issei asked Ophis the same question he asked her before Xuelan had shown up.
"H-how old are you again?"
"I, am ageless." Ophis said, her former child-like voice tumbling to a lower and sultry, yet emotionless pitch.
Issei palmed his face again, and shook his head. It was going to be hard to convince his parents to allow...this girl to stay at his house. Removing his hand from his face, Issei noticed that Ophis was still dressed in her Gothic Lolita fashion.
"Maybe it's time for you to get some new clothes. I think I still have some money leftover."
Ophis stood up on the couch, and Issei was about to get up from his spot, until he noticed something strange. He looked up, and his eyes widened.
"Oh dear lord. Where are your undergarm-?!"
Shopping Centers
'The only outfit she has, and yet she neglected to wear any underwear?!'
Issei sighed as he walked with Ophis to the store. After that frightening revelation, Issei quickly brought the Ouroboros Dragon to the store. Walking inside, Issei looked around, while Ophis stared motionless, silently looking around the store.
Sighing and rubbing his head, Issei grabbed Ophis's hand and pulled her towards the women's section. He encouraged the Ouroboros Dragon to think about what clothes she would find interesting.
Tsubaki Shinra narrowed her eyes as she looked at her list. Looking around, she tried to spot the specific store she was looking for.
"Where is the book-"