295 In the Baths

Dimensional gap, Team DxD Base.

After the impromptu grill party was finished, everyone was ready to take a relaxing bath then head to bed. Even though only a few members of James' first peerage and most of Team Vali fought, everyone was a bit worn out after the excitement the day's events brought with it.

So, after everyone was done helping clean up after dinner, they split up by gender and made their way to the baths.

After a quick shower, James was the first to enter the bath.

"Ahh, this feels great." James said in a relaxed tone.

A moment later, Azazel and Issei entered together with perverted expressions on their faces.

"... All I'm saying, is that you should try pressing them like a button." Azazel said with a lecherous smile on his face. "Trust me when I say, she'll make the most wonderful sound."

"Really?" Issei asked, sinking into contemplation for a moment. "I never even considered that."

"Trust me, Ise." Azazel said, wrapping an arm around Issei's shoulders. "It's just like pressing a doorbell."

"I see." Issei said, an expression of enlightenment showing up on his face.

A moment later, Vali also entered the pool, looking at issei and Azazel with a bit of disgust.

"I'm sure I'm gonna regret asking this, but what are they talking about." James asked as Vali took a seat not far from him.

"*Sigh* They're talking about breasts." Vali said.

"Now, now, don't act like that Vali." Azazel said, making his way over to the hosts of the Heavenly Dragons. "Breasts are filled with the hopes and dreams of mankind..."

"Please, stop, Azazel." Vali said, interrupting his adoptive father. "You've been trying to sell me that same song and dance for as long as I can remember."

"For as long as you can remember?" James asked in curiosity.

"Yeah, in fact, on the first day he picked me up, he began preaching to me about the greatness of breasts." Vali said in exasperation.

"*Sigh* But my preaching always fell on deaf ears." Azazel said in a disappointed tone. "I really failed in my teachings."

At that, Vali deadpanned. At the same time, the rest of the male members of Team DxD began to also enter the baths.

"But I'm sure that James can appreciate my teachings, right?" Azazel said, trying to wrap his arm around James in the same fashion that he had with Issei.

Before Azazel could do so, however, James raised a hand and stopped him in his tracks.

"Of course, I can appreciate what you're saying." James said with a sagely nod. "The female form, as a whole, is a wonder to behold. I mean, those curves and soft body lines are incredible."

"Oh ho!" Azazel said with interest. "But it would seem that breasts are not the part of a woman you find the most irresistible."

With that, all eyes were now focused on James. Even the less perverted members of the group like Yuuto were curious to know what he thought. Baraqiel was even glaring at him. Akeno's father was fully aware that her breasts were her most standout feature.

"Before I answer, how many of you are boob guys?" James asked, scanning the other men in the bath. "A show of hands, if you don't mind."

Without hesitation, Issei and Azazel's hands shot up as if they were afraid no one would know they were boob guys. The others, however, seemed to have a greater sense of shame. As they exchanged glances, several of the boys raised their hands sheepishly. First, was Tobio, then Kouki, Cu Chulainn, Bikou, and finally, Gasper.

"Gasper, really?" Issei asked curiously. Then, like Azazel had done to him, Issei approached the skittish dhampir and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I knew there was a reason I always liked you."

In response, Gasper lowered his head with a blush on his face and began pushing the tips of his index fingers together in a clearly feminine way.

"Now we just have to work on making you more masculine." Issei said awkwardly.

"Okay, now we know who the boob guys are." James said with a smile after seeing the raised hands. "The next question is, do we have any butt guys?"

Surprisingly, Yuuto was the first to raise his hand. Although, he did not wear a perverted expression. Following Yuuto was Genshirou and, once again to everyone's surprise, Vali.

"Kiba, you like butts, huh?" James asked with a smile. "I'm sure Momo and Tsubasa would be interested to know that."

"Senpai, don't tease me." Yuuto said with awry smile. "I'm just participating in the conversation..."

"Sure, you are." James said, continuing to smile. Then, he looked at Genshirou and nodded. But when he looked at Vali, he smiled even brighter. "Butts, huh? Considering how close you seem to be with Lavinia, I would have been sure it was boobs."

"Hmph!" Vali snorted and turned his head away. "Say what you want, you should be happy I even joined in on a conversation like this one."

"I see..." Azazel said, stroking his goatee. Then he smiled at Vali understandingly. "So, that's why my teachings never got through to you. You were on the opposite side of the spectrum."

"Don't look at me like that, Old Man." Vali said, annoyed by the look Azazel was giving him.

"Don't worry, Vali." Azazel said, approaching Vali and patting him on the shoulder. "I've got a lot of... 'reading material' back at my place. I'll hook you up with some good magazines."

"I don't need your damn magazines!" Vali barked back.

"Now, now, there's no need to be shy." Azazel said with his usual shit eating grin on his face.

While Azazel and Vali continued to argue, the rest of the group looked at them with interest. However, after a few moments, Issei snapped back to his senses. Then, he looked at James with great intensity.

"Senpai, don't try to change the subject." Issei said. "You have yet to answer the question. What part is your favorite."

"Calm down, Ise." James said, gesturing with his right hand for Issei to calm down. "I never had any intention of dodging the question. My favorite part is..."

As James spoke, he leaned forward as if he were about to reveal a great secret. Naturally, being drawn into the atmosphere he created, the rest of the men also leaned forward, so that they would not miss the secret.

"You better not say something cliché like I love every part." Azazel said, thinking he was putting a stop to James' nefarious scheming.

In response, James scoffed at Azazel and looked at him as if to say: "What kind of low-level villain do you take me for."

After seeing James expression, Azazel gestured that he was sorry before gesturing for James to continue.

Once James was sure that he had everyone's attention, he smiled brightly.

"I'm a leg man!" James exclaimed proudly. As he continued to speak, the enthusiasm in his tone only grew further. "I love thighs, calves, and ankles. Laying your head on a pair of thighs, whether they are firm and muscled or soft and full is one of life's greatest pleasures."

Naturally, everyone was taken aback with James' declaration. However, James was not done.

"And the tactile sensation of rubbing a pair of calves between your palms and fingers is to die for." James said, getting lost in a fond memory. "And watching a pretty pair of ankles as they stick out of a pair of shoes is heavenly."

For the next three minutes, James explained why a woman's legs were so wonderful. And once again, the rest of the group was sucked into his pace.

"Such passion." Azazel said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You love is awe inspiring."

"Thank you." James said with a smile while shedding a single manly tear.

After that short exchange, however, Azazel looked at James and Vali skeptically.

"All though it's not as epic as the debate between boobs and butts..." Azazel said with a smile. "The debate between legs and asses is a time old debate as well. Where does the butt end and the leg begin? Sages have argued this question for millennia. The two of you are truly worthy rivals."

While James nodded in understanding, Vali looked at Azazel with his eyes and mouth wide open. Meanwhile, the rest of the group began to chuckle. Eventually, vali came back to his senses and glared at Azazel.

"What the hell are you talking about, Old Man?" Vali asked angrily.

Before Azazel could reply, however, another voice cut in.

"Does that mean, from now on we should call them..." Bikou said with a monkey-like smile on his face. "The Leg Dragon Emperor and the Butt Dragon Emperor."

With that, the chuckles turned into full blown roaring laughter. However, James and Vali were less than amused. Vali was upset because he did not like being made fun of. James, on the other hand, was frowning because Ddraig began to roar in his head.

"[If you let that name stick, don't ever consider using my powers ever again!]" Ddraig roared angrily. "[How dare that little monkey mock me, the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination!]"

'Yeah, yeah, I got it.' James replied internally.

An instant later, without causing the water to ripple in the slightest, James moved to Bikou's side, swatted him in the back of the head, and returned to his seat. Then, when James was back in his place, Bikou's face slammed into the hot spring pool, causing a large splash to drench everyone in the bath, except James.

After seeing that, everyone looked at James with their mouths hanging open.

"Any disrespect to the Red Dragon Emperor will be met with retaliation." James said casually while shrugging his shoulders. "And that... was a warning."

As James let his eyes scan the rest of the group, when he made eye contact with them, they all nodded in understanding. Once he had a nod from everyone, James nodded in satisfaction.

"By the way, Dante." James said while glancing at Dante. "You did not raise your hand to either boobs or buts. So, what's your favorite part on a woman?"

"Like hell I'll tell you that." Dante fired back with a scoff. "Why would I willingly open myself up to the teasing that will inevitably come with it?"

While James shrugged in disinterest, Cu Chulainn looked at Dante with disdain.

"It's not that hard to figure out." Cu Chulainn said. "It's whatever Lady's best asset is, obviously."

"That means he's not a boob guy, then." Issei said with a contemplative expression on his face.

"She's got a nice ass, though." Azazel said with a lecherous smile.

With that, the group began discussing Dante's possible preferences while Dante was left unable to say anything. He wanted to deny Cu Chulainn's statement, but he found him self thinking about a certain part of Lady's body subconsciously.

Eventually, the group of boys left Dante alone and continued to chat. Then, after another half an hour, they all decided to get out of the bath and head to their rooms to call it a night. Everyone except Azazel, that is. His room was still in need of cleaning, after all.

Meanwhile, half an hour ago in the women's bath...

"... So, because Gasper was so cute and I didn't have any girls my age to play with, I started dressing him up in cute clothes." Valerie said, ending her story about how Gasper started cross dressing.

"And that's exactly how I expected that story to go." Leona said, sounding disappointed that there was nothing juicier to Valerie's story.

Meanwhile, during their whole bath, the women could hear loud, energetic voices coming from beyond the wall that separated the men's and women's bathing areas.

"Those boys sure are noisy." Rias said in a curious tone. "I wonder what they are talking about?"

"It's probably something stupid and/or perverted." Mio said while crossing her arms, emphasizing her large breasts. "I mean, that perverted idiot and the perverted crow are both in there."

"You're probably right, Mio." Leona said with a nod. Then, she narrowed her eyes and looked at Asia and Ruruko. "But more importantly, why don't you tell us about your first times with Issei and Genshirou?"

Immediately, Asia and Ruruko blushed up to their ears while the other women looked at them, interested in their stories. No matter what, women love their gossip. And relationship gossip was at the top of the list.

After torturing Asia and Ruruko for the next half an hour, the women also decided to end their bath and make their way to their own rooms, as well.