So, she was very willing to leave things as they were for his business connections and preferred work. Akeno running her mouth and insulting the entire Fallen Angel race in front of him wasn't something she appreciated.
Was this because she couldn't, not wouldn't, tell Akeno what she'd learned about Junichiro? It had been obvious, to everyone, how excited Rias had been just after she'd found out about who he really was. It was also weird for her not to talk about it, mentioning she was under a secrecy contract was an explanation, but didn't lower Akeno's concern.
Now it seemed Akeno was going to push Junichiro's buttons to get a response.
It was not the response that Rias had expected. She felt that she was the only one in the peerage that had a chance to actually beat Junichiro in a fight and that was only because of her unique heritage. As far as she could figure, there wasn't any chance he had something that could completely counter her Power of Destruction. Add in that she was more magically powerful, and she figured she could beat him.
…
Unless he used that crazy balance breaker of his.
At least, she felt that way until now.
"A stray devil cut off my arm and ate it right in front of my eyes. Clearly I have a reason to hate that devil. Should I apply that hatred to you as well? Because, if so..."
As he trailed off, she witnessed something she had only seen a couple of times from much stronger beings. A visible aura of magical energy shrouded Junichiro in it's dark flame-like embrace as he exuded his power. It wasn't just his raw power though, it was the emotions behind it that gave it its strength.
Everyone's eyes widened as they felt the hatred and malice leaking from the aura around him. They could feel his overwhelming hatred as he poured it out. The concentrated feeling of hatred made the aura he was releasing more powerful than it otherwise would be. Everyone watching from a distance could feel the weight of the emotions, even from how far away they were. Rias could just imagine how much stronger it was for Akeno.
It took everything Akeno had not to visibly tremble. Junichiro wasn't the strongest, or even scariest, being she'd met in her life. Yet, something about the aura he was emitting scared her deeply. She thought she knew hatred, given her feelings for Fallen Angels, but compared to Junichiro? She had the distinct impression that she was just a child throwing a temper tantrum.
She thought she knew darkness. She'd seen the Power of Destruction and the darkness it contained. Yet, looking at the vile black aura of hatred wafting off of Junichiro made her question if she even knew what darkness had been before now. He might have been weaker than her in every manner that she could classify, but it didn't stop her from having to fight to keep her fear of him hidden.
His question echoed in her mind and she finally realized... he expected an answer.
"A stray devil cut off my arm and ate it right in front of my eyes. Clearly I have a reason to hate that devil. Should I apply that hatred to you as well? Because, if so..."
Should he hate all Devils? She hated all Fallen Angels because her father abandoned her and let her mother die... She wanted to point out that he'd been attacked by a stray, that it was different... Was it though? Or was that just a weak excuse?
Of course it was a weak excuse. She didn't even have to contemplate that for more than a moment to understand the hypocrisy she would have to admit to if she wished to maintain her current feelings. If she said yes, that Junichiro should hate all Devils as she hated all Fallen Angels, he would become their enemy.
With a single word, she could turn a potential ally into an enemy that she wasn't sure they could defeat.
Yes, he was weaker than her a Rias physically and magically. It didn't matter. He'd shown that he could easily counter them and control the situation using his Sacred Gear. Given how he'd previously helped Kiba, she knew that he had a far deeper understanding of Sword Birth than her fellow peerage member did. Then there was what Rias had said after she'd returned from visiting him...
Rias walked into her base of operations, the old school building on the Kuoh Academy Campus. She had a bright smile on her face and a spring in her step. She'd just come from visiting Junichiro and she couldn't have been more excited over what she'd been told.
As she sat behind her desk, humming happily to herself, Akeno walked into the room pushing a small trolley laden with freshly brewed tea. Rias had sent her familiar earlier with a message that she'd be late due to an impromptu meeting with Junichrio. Seeing her good mood Akeno couldn't help saying, "Someone's in a good mood. I take it your meeting with Arai-san went well? Will we be welcoming a new member today?"
Even realizing that Junichiro wasn't joining immediately didn't put a damper on her mood, "He's not joining just yet, but I'm certain he will. Just as long as nothing happens to change his mind. I can't wait until he joins! He's exactly what I was hoping to find by coming here!"
Akeno prepped the tea just as she knew Rias liked it, "Oh? You believe he's what you need to defeat Riser Phenex?"
Rias nodded happily, "He's exactly what I needed to gain my freedom!" She tapped her chin with one perfectly manicured finger, "I'm certain he could even make it possible for me to defeat that man on my own."
Neither of them liked to talk about it out loud, but the pair of them knew it was impossible for Rias, as she currently was, to defeat Riser Phenex in any meaningful way. He was older, more experienced, and was essentially immune to anything they could do to him.
Well, almost anything. Technically, Akeno's ability to use the Holy Lightning of her father was a possible way to defeat Riser. Except, Rias would never ask her best friend to use that lightning. She respected and loved Akeno too much to ask her to use something she loathed so much. It just meant that Rias needed to find another method, and she had!
Akeno smiled at her best friend's upbeat attitude, "It seems you have utmost confidence in him."
Though it was a statement, Rias could hear the question it contained. She looked at Akeno, he smile only fading a little, "I can't explain why due to a contract. What I can say is this, Junichiro is far more than he seems. Even more than what we've witnessed so far. We must do everything in our power to get him to join the peerage. But, not matter what, we cannot afford to make him into an enemy at any cost."