Rias watched as the dust that was once Freak blew away in the wind, the question Grayfia had asked not even seconds ago momentarily stunning her.
She had an answer, as she always did, one that was ready to be fired whenever needed… and yet she could not respond.
.
.
.
.
Saji took a deep breath and stepped forward towards Gasper, only for his strength to fail him, his injuries finally catching up to him as he began his journey to the ground.
Thud!
His shoulder hit smooth blue leather, stopping his fall.
He looked up only to see Gasper lending his shoulder—only his shoulder to hold him up.
Before Saji could say anything… Gasper took a deep breath.
Saji's heart dropped as golden energy enveloped Gasper.
Saji shrunk back in fear, completely forgetting the pain of his wounds as adrenaline raced throughout his body.
"WAIT-WAIT A SECOND, GASPER, I'M FIN—!!!!!"
BAM!!!!!
"GAHHHHHHHH!!!" Before Saji could even finish his sentence, Gasper's pinky drove right into his gut, sending him barreling into the air!
Rias broke out of her thoughts as a blonde blur swiftly approached her.
She immediately sidestepped it, letting Saji fly right past her.
BOOOOOM!!!!!
As he rolled to a stop, his lungs immediately emptied.
He rolled to his side, placing both hands exactly where Gasper had struck him. He groaned in pain as he felt his body get lighter.
Gasper walked up, passing between Rias and Grayfia.
"Why…*cough* why do you always do this…" Saji whined as his wounds slightly closed.
"Well, that's a stupid question, Saji. You should know by now that a pinky day keeps the doctor away—"Gasper stopped as he felt a hand grab onto the hem of his jacket.
The hand pulled him back!
And before he knew it, two arms wrapped around him.
Saji's lungs screamed for air as he gulped like a fish, each breath filling his lungs to their maximum capacity.
Getting up, Saji gripped his head. "Screw your pinky; I'd rather see a doctor."
He stared forward… and his relaxed face twisted into one of absolute seriousness.
He pointed his gauntlet at Gasper… no, not at Gasper, but at the red-haired woman wrapping her arms around him from behind!
The red-haired girl…he could sense it; she was a devil just like Freak!
'Crap…when the hell did she get here?!' Saji felt a drop of sweat roll down his back.
His heartbeat quickened; his breathing accelerated by the second as he stared at her... it was as if he was being watched by a predator ready to execute him.
But why... the girl—she wasn't even looking at him!
He gulped as his gaze moved to the side of the girl, and what he found made his heart skip a beat.
In his search, he found Silver hair... and piercing red eyes staring back.
Dread gripped his heart; he couldn't feel even a single thing from the woman.
It was as if she wasn't even there.
Rias paid Saji no mind, as she just took a deep breath in, her nerves settling.
Saji gulped as Grayfia stared him down.
"Put the hand down, boy; you do not want this fight," Grayfia said, her voice completely calm.
Saji looked at her with fear in his heart. "And let you do God knows what to my friend?..... I'd rather die."
His words were steadfast, yet Grayfia could see his hands; they were trembling.
Gasper sighed.
"Saji, put your hand down."
Saji blinked as his mind began to process what he just heard.
He turned his gaze to Gasper, his expression like a deer in headlights.
"... I'm sorry, what?"
Rias's grip on Gasper slowly loosened as she exhaled.
She let go of him completely, her hands falling to her sides.
A red magic circle bloomed to life in her hand.
Gasper gave Saji a thumbs-up. "I know them; trust me, they're no threat."
"You… know these people?" Saji asked, not truly believing him.
Gasper nodded. "They're friends."
Saji looked at Gasper, then at Grayfia and Rias, then back to Gasper.
'Gasper… has other friends?'
Even just thinking about it felt weird; seriously, when the hell did he even get the time? Can he be in two places at once or something?
He slowly lowered his hand.
Only for his jaw to drop at what he saw!
Rias, from behind Gasper, raised her hand and brought it down on the back of Gasper's head without ANY MERCY!!!
BAM!!!!
Saji looked on as Gasper stared at the ground, his head steaming.
Saji closed his mouth as his lips trembled…
"Pftt!!—" he looked away, unable to stare at Gasper's utterly bewildered face any longer.
Gasper raised his head, looking straight at him. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!"
"Ahem, who me? I wouldn't dare!" Saji looked away, barely containing the smile threatening to overtake his face.
Gasper dramatically spun around, a furious blush on his face. "AND YOUUUUUUU!!"
He pointed right at Rias.
"Who takes a cheap shot at an injured person?! Do you have no shame?!"
Rias stared at him, completely calm and somewhat refreshed. "Do I have no shame? Do you have no shame, Gasper?"
She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. "It's always something with you. Seriously, can you not give me a full month without something utterly crazy happening because of you?"
Gasper let out an awkward laugh. "Well… It's not my fault… these types of things just sorta happen, you know"
Rias closed her eyes, feeling a headache coming on.
"Things happen, yes, of course they do."
Gasper nodded with a smile as she said that.
It seems that his master did, in fact, not lose her marbles as he thought she did.
"But to happen in such quick succession, it's like you're looking for trouble," Rias grumbled.
Gasper: "..."
Grayfia's gaze turned to Saji as Gasper and Rias talked.
"So you're the brother?" Grayfia stated more than she asked.
"What?" Saji said, not expecting that.
Then he stared at Rias for a second, mainly at her unmistakable, well-kept red hair.
A spark of understanding ignited in his eyes as he turned back to Grayfia.
"Oh, she's Millicas's older sister," Saji said as if solving the mysteries of the universe.
"She's his cousin, but you are that blonde child's brother, are you not?"
Saji nodded. "So I'm guessing Millicas sent both of you, then?"
Grayfia nodded.
Saji sighed, a weight finally leaving his shoulders. "So…They're safe…"
Saji gave Grayfia a small courteous smile. "Thank you, um, I don't think I quite got your name."
"It's Grayfia Lucifuge, but there is no need for thanks; in fact, I should be the one expressing gratitude."
Saji raised a brow. "For what?"
"You did me, and in turn the Gremory family, a great favor in taking out your opponent just now, not to mention keeping my son, Millicas, safe when I could not."
Saji's eyes widened as he registered what she just said. 'She's Millicas's mom… she doesn't even look a day over twenty-five!'
"Freak attacked us; after that, there wouldn't really be many outcomes other than this left for him, and even if he hadn't attacked us and went straight for anyone else… we would have stopped him without a second thought after all…"
Saji turned to look at Gasper, who was looking at Rias with an annoyed look as she gave him a whole speech.
"There's no way we would have just let someone be put in danger like that."
"I see…" Grayfia turned to stare at Rias and Gasper as they argued.
Gasper pumped his pursed fingers as if he were trying to prove a point.
"... what did you say your name was?" Grayfia asked.
Saji blinked and looked back towards her.
"Oh, me?" he pointed at himself.
"It's Saji, Genshiro Saji, just your total average… well, high schooler in a month."
.
..
…
—
Saji cringed as he stood in front of the moonlit occult research club building. "Wow, is this… really where you guys operate?"
"It may not look like much, but it's perfect for what we need it for," Rias said, walking up to the door and opening it.
Grayfia followed her in, while Saji stayed outside, looking at the building.
A hand hit him on the back lightly.
Saji turned his gaze away from the building, looking to his right as Gasper walked right past him.
His hands were in his pockets.
"You just gonna stand there all day?"
Saji sighed as he followed him inside. "Sorry… It's just so surreal. Seriously, who would have thought that devils would set up shop in a school of all places?"
Gasper chuckled as they made their way down the main hall.
"I could have sworn I told you I lived in a school."
"You did, but I thought you were joking; I mean, come on, it sounds stupid."
"And that's the beauty of it, my frendo, the stupider it is, the less the enemy will ever come to think about it."
Saji just blinked at Gasper's back multiple times as they walked up a staircase. "I guess, man."
Beginning to walk down another hallway, they saw the backs of Rias and Grayfia.
Rias knocked on a door as they caught up.
She opened it, and dim candlelight shone through.
As they stepped inside, they saw three people sitting around a table.
"No Uno!" Gengo screamed in absolute EVIL at Millicas.
Millicas pouted and glared at Gengo as he reluctantly picked up two cards, adding to his single card.
Akeno smiled as she stared at him and Millicas…
She put down a blue eight.
Millicas put down a reverse…
Akeno's smile grew… and, without any mercy, she placed down two pulse fours!
"Uno, Uno out," Akeno said with a sickly sweet voice.
Gengo just stared at it in utter despair. "Y-YOU CHEATED!"
"Oh, my, someone's a sore loser, aren't they?" Akeno closed her eyes and sighed as she turned her head to the side.
Gengo gritted his teeth.
"Ahem!"
Akeno opened her eyes and turned her gaze towards the sound.
Her eyes stopped at the door. "Oh, Rias, you're back."
Rias nodded as she walked in, Grayfia, Gasper, and Saji following behind her.
As soon as Gengo's eyes fell on Saji, he jumped out of the couch and launched himself like a torpedo right at Saji's stomach, headfirst.
Saji winced as Gengo's head dug into one of his wounds, but even with the pain, he put a hand on Gengo's head.
"BIG BROTHER!!!" Gengo immediately started crying. "YOU'RE OKAY!!!!"
"... Of course I am; your brother is pretty strong, ya know," Saji said, trying to calm him… it didn't work; his tears just kept flowing.
Saji blinked as he realized something. 'Did... I just say "ya know"...'
Saji's eyes darted to Gasper, only to look away as he shuddered.
Maybe... just maybe he has been spending too much time with him.
Rias looked at Saji and Gengo for a brief moment, then looked away as she made her way towards her desk.
Saji grabbed both of Gengo's shoulders as he got onto one knee.
Gengo's red, teary eyes looked at Saji's bruised face.
Saji took a deep breath.
"You were scared, weren't you…"
As soon as those words left Saji's mouth, Gengo shook his head fiercely as he wiped his tears with his forearm. "No, I wasn't."
"I'm… strong too!" Gengo said. As soon as he finished his sentence, Saji flicked him right on the forehead.
"Yeah, right."
"Rias," Grayfia said, getting everyone's attention.
She was looking at her watch.
[19:21 (7:21 pm)]
"Yes?" Rias responded.
Grayfia turned to her son sitting on the couch and signaled him to walk over to her.
"It was great seeing you, even with what happened today."
Rias raised a brow in confusion and, in turn, looked at the clock on her desk, realization settling in her eyes.
"I see, time really does fly," Rias said.
"Indeed… Rias, please do come visit once in a while." Grayfia gave her a smile. "It would do Lord Gremory some good, and of course your brother as well. And who knows… perhaps it would do you some good as well."
Rias looked at her desk and nodded. "I'll try my best to find time… perhaps…this coming Golden Week."
Grayfia placed a hand on her chin, then nodded. "Then we shall be waiting."
Millicas walked up to his mother, his face somewhat downcast. "Mother… do we really have to go?"
Millicas looked up to his mother, his eyes soft as they filled with tears. "Can't we stay… just a little bit longer?"
Grayfia stared at her child, her face remaining the same, unmoving.
"Not bad, but your coercion technique could use some work."
Millicas completely dropped the act and pouted at his mother. "Drats."
Millicas turned to Gengo and sighed. "I have to go home…"
Gengo nodded. "That's fine… so you wanna hang out tomorrow?"
Millicas blinked.
"I… Um, can't my home is, well, in the underworld."
Gengo took a step forward; his jaw dropped. "You live underground, that fucking awesome!"
"But wait…" Gengo looked at him confuzzled, "I thought you had wings."
"I do. The underworld is where devils live; it's like a separate plane of existence."
Gengo pressed a balled fist into his open palm. "So kinda like the other world from Dragon-So-Ball."
Millicas opened his mouth to respond, only to hear his mother clear her throat behind him.
"I— yeah, fine. I'll see you tomorrow, maybe," Millicas grabbed onto his mother's hand, "but no promises."
A white magic circle bloomed to life under Grayfia's feet.
Grayfia's crimson eyes, illuminated by the magic circle under her feet, looked upon Gasper's figure.
"Vladi."
Gasper looked right into her eyes.
"I will admit, the night that Rias brought you home, I didn't think much of you, and honestly, I didn't have much faith in you ever becoming something worth the piece you were given, especially with all the problems you had… and I am not only speaking of your time mishaps."
'Ouch…' Gasper almost physically winced as she dug into him.
She gave him a small smile, one almost microscopic. "But, I must admit, as unbelievably as it may seem, my judgment was wrong."
"Gasper Vladi… Joestar, by the power vested in me by the Great Satans of the underworld, I deem you competent and fit to be unsealed."
Gasper smiled at her.
"You have my gratitude, Lady Grayfia."
The magic circle beneath Grayfia's feet began to glow brighter.
Grayfia nodded and looked at Rias for one last time… She closed her eyes as the light of her circle increased once more.
'Joestar…you truly have chosen an odd name, haven't you, Vladi.'
She opened her eyes once more; the figure of Gasper covering his eyes filled her vision.
She could feel it… Something, something coming to life in her bosom—an emotion that hasn't stirred in nearly half a decade.
The feeling… it was strong, almost as strong as it was when she was told that she was expecting.
It was raw, unapologetic…
Anticipation.
But within the birth of such a feeling… doubt was to be found as well.
She shook her head.
'I truly cannot wait to see just what your life as a devil shall bring… for if you are anything like Zechs, then I have no doubt you shall accomplish something… extraordinary.'
White light covered her and Millicas's vision, and through that white light an uncountable number of colors appeared.
And their presence vanished from the plane of reality.
As the light faded, Saji uncovered his eyes and looked towards Gasper.
Gasper had his eyes closed as he let out a long sigh.
"Gasper..."
"Yeah…"
Saji gave him a small smile. "It's been a blast."
Gasper chuckled. "Indeed it has, my friend, so what are you planning on doing now with…" Gasper's gaze landed on Gengo. "Well, you know."
Saji placed a hand on his confused brother's head. "He's my brother, Gasper; he would have found out eventually."
Gasper sighed, "I had a feeling that's what you'd say."
"I'm not apologizing for it."
"Don't blame you; I don't like wiping minds either."
Gengo's eyes widened as he heard that.
Saji took his hand off Gengo's head and offered it to his brother.
"Well then, see you around?"
Gasper nodded.
Gengo took his brother's hand.
They both turned towards the door and began walking towards it.
Only to find Akeno standing in their way.
"Oh, excuse me," Saji said politely, only to hear a chair move.
A voice broke the silence from behind him.
"I'm afraid that I can't let you quite do that."
Saji turned his head towards the voice only to find Rias leaning on her desk holding papers in her hands.
"At least not just yet."
.
.
.
.
*****
Saji blinked multiple times as a bright white light blinded him.
Saji raised a hand to block out the light the best he could. "Can you turn this thing off?"
With a loud click, the light turned off, revealing its source.
A lamp sitting on a table directed right at him. And across that table was a red-haired girl.
"Sorry, that doesn't usually happen," Rias said, grabbing the neck of the lamp and putting it away.
Saji leaned back on the chair he was sitting on. "It's fine, but what is it you want from me?"
Rias placed a hand on the table in front of her, grabbing a piece of paper.
"Well, Saji Genshiro, we, the Gremory and Sitri families, are sworn to protect this town and its inhabitants from anyone who dares to harm them; that is our duty as its rulers."
"Okay?" Saji said.
Rias put the paper back down on the table. "We try not to interfere with human-on-human affairs, but when anything supernatural tries to come in or out, it is our job to make sure who it is, and those of the church take even higher priority."
Saji looked at her, completely confused. "The church? What do they have anything to do with this?"
"Look, there is no point playing coy. We know you are an exorcist; your guns alone are proof of such. You should know, by who you are, that by setting foot on my land you are provoking something much greater than you and I. Innocent lives are on the line, lives only held together by our cease-fire, so I urge you. Cooperate."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Rias." Gasper stepped out of the shadow of the corner.
Rias took a deep breath as she shook her head. "Gasper, why are you in here? Can't you see we have an important conversation?"
"I'm here to represent my client." Gasper pulled out the chair next to Saji and sat down.
"Gasper, this isn't a game leav—"
"I never said this was a game, Rias. This boy sitting next to me has done nothing wrong, and I can't just stand by in the hallway like a good boy and hear you falsely accuse my friend of being something as awful as a dog for the church."
"Gasper," Saji said, looking at him.
"What? Can't you see that we're in the midst of something quite important, about you, might I add?"
"Yes, and thanks for standing up for me, but I got this."
Saji turned to Rias. "I'm not an exorcist. I was born and raised in Kouh; the only church I've ever seen has been the one that's been run down in this town for my whole life. I've only known of the supernatural for a couple of months."
Rias nodded. "A likely story. If I were a fool, you really expect me to believe that someone with your particular set of skills is barely a novice."
"Well, I had a good teacher…" Saji looked at Gasper as he said that, then looked back at Rias. "Actually, make that an okay teacher."
Gasper's eyebrow twitched. "Hey."
"Gasper, what is he talking about?" Rias asked, her voice sharp as a blade.
Gasper took a deep breath. "I taught him everything he knows."
Rias took a deep breath and got up from her chair. "Gasper, may I have a word?"
"Can you?"
She walked up to him and grabbed him by the hand. "I wasn't asking."
She pulled him from his seat, pulling him along to the door.
She looked back towards Saji. "Excuse us for a moment."
"Oh, um, sure?"
As the door closed behind them, Rias placed a hand on the wall; a red magic circle appeared on it.
She let go of Gasper's hand.
She dared not even look at his face. "Why… what in the name of the satans would compel you to do this?"
"It's a long story—"
She turned to him, her eyebrows furrowed. "Then get talking right here, right now."
"He had no other choice; he's…" Gasper began to look around as if searching for a way out of this conversation. "He's a Sacred Gear user."
"A Sacred Gear user?"
"Yes, I met him before he awakened, way before you broke into my room—UNANNOUNCED, destroying the outside door of my room that you haven't fixed, by the way." He gave her a look.
She simply rolled her eyes, hearing the same thing about his damn door for over a month now.
"The story, Gasper."
"Oh right, so yeah, I was out and about practicing for the day, searching for strays that might be lurking about, you know, the usual."
Rias's eyes widened as he dared to utter those words. "You what, no-?!
Gasper put a finger to her lips. "Rude, can't you see I'm trying to tell a story?"
"So anyway, I found him running about to be killed by this weird Bull-looking stray; I killed it, obviously, and then left, thinking I would never see him again, only to find him once more, about to die to another stray, and would you know it, there on his hand was a gauntlet."
Rias, listening, was trying to find where to get a word in, only to find no opening.
"So I extended a hand to him, as he was bound to get involved with the supernatural eventually, especially with his abysmal luck."
"Then why not come to me about it!" Rias said, practically screaming at him. "And why in the world would you be going outside to hunt strays on your own? Do you have a death wish?"
Rias poked his chest with a finger.
"I have anything but a death wish, and I was bored in a room all alone for I don't even know how long. I wanted to go outside and stretch my legs; sue me."
"And I would have come to you if, oh, I don't know, you ever came to visit back then. Oh, and did I mention that I was SEALED AWAY!"
Rias narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't try to pin this on me. I was doing exactly what YOU wanted. You wanted to be left alone, or did you forget that each time someone even tried to approach your room, you would bawl your eyes out."
Gasper scoffed as he shook his head. "Yeah, right, like I would ever do that."
"Oh, but you did," Rias said.
"You wanted nobody to see you again, afraid of what you could do, afraid of what you might do."
She tore her gaze away from him as she stared at the floor. "I still remember the day, the day you asked me to help, and I tried; Satan knows that I tried, and yet you still came to me the day the council told me you were too dangerous and asked for approval to seal you, and instead of asking for help once more… you told me to do it, that you would be okay…"
"...And yet I pushed back every time, not wanting to let go. Yet you pushed me away again and again…"
She turned her back to him, a hand on the doorknob.
"So I let you go, Gasper. I failed you, and I won't deny that, but even with that failure, I gave you a chance to open up, even if I wasn't face to face, because if by some miracle of God…"
She stopped as a pain flashed in her head.
"...by some miracle of God, you decided to let me in… I would have walked in without a second thought."
Rias let out a dry chuckle. "You know, when I stare at you now, I can't help but be proud of what you can do, of how strong you have gotten…but…"
Her grip tightened on the doorknob.
"Sometimes… it scares me, and other times, I can't help but think that I'm talking to a completely different person."
She looked back at him, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "And I don't know if that's for better or worse."
"Then why…"
Gasper's voice was barely a whisper.
"Why keep me around at all?"
"Because even if I wanted to… I wouldn't, not even if my life was on the line, would I willingly throw you out."
"Gasper, in a way, you are my greatest regret. But you took my mistake and made it into something extraordinary… something beautiful beyond compare. And even if you were to fall and become that scared boy again, I wouldn't ever turn my back on you again… I won't turn my back on my family again."
She opened the door and walked through it.
Gasper stayed there just staring… right at the doorknob.
It was crushed, in the shape of a hand.
Gasper closed his eyes and tossed his head back.
The only thing keeping him company was the beating of his own undead heart.
He silently cursed past Gasper in his mind.
.
.
.
.
He opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
"I…
Fucked up, didn't I?"
←—TO BE CONTINUED—