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What you are to me.

Summary: Issei stops Rias from running off when she hears "Buchou is Buchou" so he can finish explaining.

Disclaimer: I do not own High School DxD

Note: This scene would not leave my head until I put it down. So I am doing this so i can go back to Xander DxD.

"You ass!" Rias Gremory was equal parts hurt, heartbroken, and angry. She has just asked the man she loved what she meant to him and his response was to call her by her title. 'He knows I hate when people see me just for my titles. Why can't he call me by name?' The pain in her heart was unbearable and she just wanted away from the man. She started to run form the room, but a strong hand circled her wrist. Looking back she saw Issei had grabbed her arm, "Let go of me!"

"Not until you let me finish," Issei Hyoudou was quite aware he'd messed up. He'd started on the wrong part of what Rias meant to him. 'I might not get another chance if I don't say it now.' "Yes, Buchou is Buchou, but that is a tiny part of what you are to me. You are my entire world, Rias. You brought me back from the dead. You told me I was worth something even if it was just to you. You have healed me, cared for me, spoiled me, and when I needed it scolded me."

Rias was stunned speechless as Issei spoke with such passion about something that wasn't boobs. Not that she really minded that. She pretended to be embarrassed by his antics so she didn't get worse nicknames. In truth she'd let him fondle her all day everyday just to see that look of adoration in his eyes.

"I love all the things you do for me, almost as much as I love you, Rias," Issei continued, "I dread the day you fall in love with someone worthy and I will be left on the outside looking in. It's why I haven't told you any of this before now. I know my confession will just end what I have right now. You'll tell me that you care for me, but not in that way. Then you'll bring home someone worthy of you. I'll hate him, but as long as he makes you happy I will be happy for you." Issei wiped away the tears running down his cheek with his free hand, "And even that is still just a small fraction of what you are to me."

"You are worth more than my own dreams," Issei continued on after a moment, "If by some miracle I was told I could have you or a harem, I would renounce my dream. I wouldn't stop loving the others, but I could never live with myself if I had a chance with you and I threw it away. That is what you mean to me, Rias Gremory. You are more important to me than everything else."

With that Issei released Rias' wrist as he stepped past her. "I am going to go hang some shelves now… alone."

Rias wanted to reach out and take his hand. Stop him from leaving and correct his misconceptions, but she was still stunned. He had called her by name, admitted he loved her, and then gave voice to his fears all in the span of two minutes. Two minutes where all she could do was fall even deeper, "But... I do love you." she finally got out, but he was already gone.