I reached out and grabbed all the threads connecting to the Red Ones and brought them close.
The blue inside the threads was real.
I could see it, the Vampire's anomalous thread was spreading its influence in real time!
I stared at the Vampire's thread with a glare, its blue glow somewhat obscuring my vision.
Then a gray glow appeared in my peripheral vision.
It was another thread.
Gray was the color of ordinary humans, especially those born without a Sacred Gear, and for some reason, one was connected to the Red One's thread.
'This cannot be happening…'
A fate that should have remained insignificant dares to touch the Red Dragon Emperor?!
My eyes burned.
"This CANNOT BE HAPPENING!"
Was Lachesis just not doing her job?! Was sister overseeing fate with a blindfold on?!
I gripped the vampire's thread hard as if trying to squeeze it out of reality.
Sizzle!
But all it did was burn my hand.
I gritted my teeth, my chest burning with rage.
'Fate remains the same, they said, the Norns say this and that and yet… how is any of this according to plan?'
…I let go of the threads, making them slowly fall to the floor.
I turned to a bench, the one belonging to my sister Lachesis.
On it was a stick.
'I should tell my sisters.'
It was the most reasonable response… the most responsible.
I grabbed the stick, and as my fingers wrapped around it, it began to glow an ethereal gold.
'But…
That's what I did last time when I first saw this anomaly, and nothing was done, only endless waiting to hear back from the other fate keepers.
If we allow the anomaly known as the spawn of Vlad to fester, then… then the fate of this world will be nothing but fog, its ending nothing but an unknown.'
I brought the stick in my hand forward, the tip of it glowing as bright as a star in the night sky.
And two threads came rushing at me, stopping right before me.
One was bright blue…
And the other looked like it was drowned in a Crimson purgatory.
I let go of the stick, letting it float right next to me, and grabbed hold of both threads.
I looked at the red thread in my hand, 'Is this really the strongest one closest to Kuoh? You would think a town run by devils would have more than this to offer.
Well, it doesn't matter.'
I brought both threads together and intertwined them.
'Its strength should be more than adequate for pest control.'
*****
<(3:22 P.M)>
Behind the Occult Research Club
Gasper dug his feet into the ground as he stared Grayfia down.
SHIVER.
Weirdly, a chill rippled straight down his spine, making every hair on his body stand on end.
A drop of sweat rolled down his brow. 'She hasn't even done anything yet, how in the hell is she making me tremble?'
Gasper shook away the nerves.
Grayfia closed her eyes, then slowly opened them back up.
Her eyes were shining crimson red.
Before Gasper could even react, he felt it.
His Neck, legs, arms—every part of his body burst into blood like an exploding balloon!
.
.
.
.
"*GASP!*"
The light in Gasper's eyes came back as he found himself standing right in the same spot he was before, completely fine.
He broke out in a cold sweat as his feet cratered the ground beneath him.
An invisible force was pushing him down!
'That just now!' Gasper brought his gaze slowly back up, staring at Grayfia standing there, waves of power rolling off her. 'Was That her Demonic Power?!'
Grayfia pulled back her power, the weight on Gasper's shoulders disappearing.
She brought up a clipboard she was holding, and rubbed the pencil on it, checking something off.
Gasper's eyes were covered by shadows, 'So this is the power of someone able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Satan…'
He took a deep breath, "She's…"
"So cool," his eyes sparkled as he looked at her.
Grayfia gave him a side glance behind her clipboard, 'Not bad… to think he would be able to stand straight in the midst of me releasing my pressure.'
She didn't go all out after all, this was a test, but…
She looked at his eyes.
They were practically shining.
'Just how hard did Rias train this boy?'
Gasper's heart was beating like a drum as his fingers were twitching right above his holster.
Every nerve in his body told him to stay clear, to run… And yet…
He could hardly contain the smile making its way onto his face.
You can't just release such power without expecting to fight.
It's like giving someone a basketball and telling them not to dribble it.
He took a deep breath to calm himself as he felt adrenaline pour into his system.
Grayfia, seeing this, just turned around and started walking back to the ORC building.
Rias, leaning on an open window, stared at Grayfia with a smile.
And Grayfia smiled back.
It was good to see that her time wasn't wasted coming here today.
…
..
.
The streets of Kuoh were bustling as always, as people practically flooded the streets.
"Hey, dude, you see that new episode of Magic Girl Milky Spiral?" said a student talking to his friend.
His friend looked at him, "Yeah! Dude, it was crazy—!"
Ruffle!
The student widened his eyes as he bumped into someone, almost falling over because of it.
He turned to look at the guy he bumped into, "Sorry about tha…t"
His voice died as he saw what the man in front of him was wearing.
He had gray hair, and for some reason, there was a metal rod going through his head. At the end of the rod was a small windmill duct-taped together; he was covered head to toe with old bandages, almost like a mummy, his sickly green eyes barely visible through the bandages.
The man adjusted his oversized purple sweater, revealing no shirt underneath. His chest was also covered in bandages.
He dusted off his black pants, clicking his tongue in the process, "My five hundred thousand yen pants…"
Both of the students' eyes widened, 'FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND?!'
The two students exchanged a look.
Then turned and walked away as quickly as their bodies allowed.
The man just watched them leave, letting them go.
A harsh wind blew through the street.
CLICK!
The small windmill spun a total of seven times.
He hummed as he heard each individual click.
"Seven… must be my lucky day."
He walked forward slowly, blending back into the crowd…
"Or did my horoscope say eight?"
The man took out two wallets and opened them. There were two different student IDs in them.
He took out the change inside…
And ate it.
Crushing it between his sharp teeth.
"No, it was definitely seven."
.
..
…
Inside the hallway of the club building, Gasper was crouched, looking right at an ant slowly carrying away a piece of bread he had given it.
He was told to wait in the hallway as the grown-ups talked…
He sighed.
'Why couldn't I keep my age when I transmigrated…'
He would have only been seventeen then, almost eighteen by now.
'...And Shiro just had to leave as soon as the test started, too…'
Click!
He turned his head to the door as he heard it open, only to see Rias's nephew walk out with a bored look on his face.
Seeing it was just the kid, Gasper dismissed him with a glance and looked back down at the ant, which was still struggling under the massive weight of the bread crust.
Millicas walked up beside him. "What are you doing?"
Gasper didn't even bother looking at him, "Looking at this ant," he pointed at the ant.
Millicas looked at the ant, "But, why?"
"Because… the ant does not bother himself with the problems of the lion."
Millicas nodded at the profound wisdom, "I… don't quite get it."
Gasper just waved him off, "You'll get it someday."
Gasper got up and started walking away.
'Well, they're going to take a while… so might as well do—'
A voice suddenly rang out from beside him as someone practically mirrored his walking rhythm, "So, where are we going?"
Gasper raised a brow in confusion as he stared at Millicas walking beside him.
"WE?"
'Does this kid speak French or something?'
Gasper pointed at himself. "I'M going to get some food."
"Ohh, can we get Steak?" Millicas asked with enthusiasm as he continued to follow him.
"Who is this we?"
Millicas started skipping as he thought of steak, "Well, you and me, of course."
Gasper stopped and grabbed him by the back of the shirt.
Millicas stopped with a tug, "Huh?"
"No. Not you and me. Just me, you're staying here and waiting for your mom."
Millicas turned his head and looked at him, "But that's not fair!"
"Well, life ain't fair."
Gasper let Millicas go and turned to walk away once more.
.
.
.
.
Hic*
Gasper stopped as he was about to take a step and slowly turned his head around…
Only to see tears roll down Millicas's cheeks.
Gasper brought a hand to his face, dragging it down as he heaved a heavy sigh, 'Oh Hestia, give me strength.'
"Why are you crying…" Gasper said, completely exhausted by the situation already.
Millicas did not answer and just wept harder.
"Can you…*sigh*" Gasper just started walking away slowly.
Millicas stared at the yellow star on the back of Gasper's jacket and blinked in confusion.
Who just ignores a crying kid?
Did he not have a heart?
"You comin' or not?" Gasper asked.
A folded note addressed to Rias left his hand and embedded itself in the wall.
Written on it was: Be back in two hours or so, don't wait up, taking the devil spawn with me —Gasper
"Coming!" A cheeky smile spread on Millicas's face as he ran up to Gasper.
Gasper sighed, '...man, I hate kids.'
*****
"HEY MAKEN!" a man with a scar running down the side of his face yelled out as he slammed his hand on a bar counter.
The energy filling the place was electric, people laughing and drinking.
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SLAMMING THE COUNTER!!!" Maken, a young black-haired woman, screamed right back at him.
The man waved her off and sat down on one of the chairs around the counter, his friends joining him as he loosened his tie.
"Don't be like that," he slapped the counter, the wood holding strong. "This thing's been here since your grandaddy opened up, and it'll be here after you've become a great surgeon, aint that right, boys!"
""""""YEAH!"'"""""
Maken just sighed, shaking her head, "Yeah, yeah, so eight beers for you and you boys, Julius?"
Julius nodded, "Yep, and keep them coming, gotta big promotion today!"
She smiled at him. "Well, that's nic—"
BANG!
The doors of the establishment slammed open!
Fog rolled in, covering the entrance.
And one single silhouette could be seen in the fog with their hands on their waist.
The noise of the bar immediately stopped; you could practically hear a pen drop.
And then… a wave of wind rolled through the bar, moving the fog, revealing the person responsible, his blonde hair whipping in the air, and the bottom of his blue jacket somehow waving like a cape!!!
Gasper slowly walked in and took in his surroundings with a hand in his pocket.
All eyes were on him…
A playful smirk made its way onto his face.
He took his hand out of his pocket… and with a swift movement flicked it forward.
A coin flew through the air, almost defying gravity!
It landed perfectly inside a jukebox at the end of the bar.
Click!
"Suavemente, bésame, que quiero sentir tus labios besándome otra vez~♫. SUAVE~♫"
As soon as the song started, the bar went right back to normal, as if expecting this.
Gasper was about to walk deeper into the bar, but stopped as he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Mister Gasper… are you sure this is the right place?" Millicas said, looking around.
His fancy clothes made him stand out like a sore thumb.
When Gasper said they would get steak, he imagined a fine establishment, not… well this.
"Trust me, this place is the best in town, open almost twenty for seven."
Millicas looked at him like he was crazy.
"Come on." Gasper rolled his eyes and pushed Millicas forward.
Maken watched Gasper damn near drag the kid to the counter as she cleaned a glass.
"I'll give that entrance a six point five out of ten; it could have been better."
Gasper placed Millicas on one of the counter chairs and sat next to him.
"You're so hard to please, you know that."
Maken gave him a weird look.
"Sup," Gasper said, seeing the look.
Maken put the glass down, "Gasper… be honest with me, did you kidnap this kid?"
Gasper's jaw dropped, "Is that how you think of me!" he placed his hand on his heart.
Julius almost spat out his drink as he tried not to laugh.
Maken narrowed her eyes at Gasper, "Honestly, with you, anything is possible."
"Wow, I tried to help your sister get with Saji, and you treated me like this. You should be ashamed, Dishonour you, Dishonour me! Dishonour whole family Dishonour!"
Gasper took a breath as he finished his rant, "but no, he's, kinda like my super distant relative in a way, his name's Malicious."
Maken looked at the kid, "Who in the hell names their kid Malicious?"
"It's Millicas." Millicas corrected.
Gasper put a hand on Millicas's head, "Millicas, Malicious, Mitochondria, all the same thing. Maken give us two steaks medium rare." he snapped his fingers, "oh—!"
"And a Cherry pie, I know Gasper." Maken cut him off, "By the way, have you seen Genshiro around?"
Gasper raised a brow, "Saji? No, can't say I have why."
Maken ripped out a piece of paper from her tiny notebook and sent it through a window behind her, "he came to study yesterday with Himiko, and yes, just studying, nothing more, so wipe that look off your face." Gasper's proud look died before it could even come to life. "He left his school bag at our house, thought I might catch him today, but…well."
Gasper nodded as Maken grabbed two plates that got slid through the open serving hatch.
She placed them in front of Gasper and Millicas, then poured them two cups of water.
Millicas grabbed his fork and knife and cut off a piece of the steak and ate it with much hesitation…
Millicas's eyes shone, 'it's good!'
Creak!
The bar's entrance opened, and a familiar blonde boy, with three belts on his pants, walked in.
He walked up to the bar counter, a much smaller blonde boy trailing behind him.
Saji threw an arm over Gasper's shoulder, making him stop as he was about to dig into his sweet cherry pie.
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear," Maken said.
"Huh? Were you guys talking about me?"
Maken nodded at him as Gasper finally dug into his pie.
"We're just missing mister Crowley, and the whole gang would be here, actually, where is he? He still owes me for picking up his tab! " Julius chimed.
Saji gained an awkward smile, "Yeah, don't expect him to come anytime soon, he's cranky thanks to SOMEONE." he patted Gasper's shoulder hard.
Gasper chuckled, "So, I'll take a shot in the dark and say that Issei says hello."
Saji sighed, "Bullseye, a heads up would have been nice by the way."
Gasper waved him off, "Where would the fun be in that?"
Saji shook his head at his antics and looked at Maken.
"Oh, Maken, did I leave something in your place by chance?"
Maken reached under the counter, grabbing a school bag. "You ought to take care of your things better, Gen."
She handed it to him.
Saji took it, "I knew coming to you was a good start, you're a really reliable person, Maken."
"Mhm." Maken moved her gaze from Saji to the boy standing right next to him, the boy talking to Gasper.
"So, Gengo, your big brother dragging you around again?"
Genshiro Saji's little brother, Gengo Saji, shook his head no.
"We're going to watch…" he bought up two tickets, "A movie!!"
"A movie?" Millicas said, with a confused expression on his face, "What's that?"
Everyone, including Gengo, looked at him like an alien.
Saji looked at the Millicas, then at Gasper, then back at the Millicas, "Gasper… who is this kid?"
Gasper sighed, "He's a distant relative from America… Arizona, in fact, his name's Millicas."
Saji's eyes narrowed slightly as he said that last part. "I see."
"Millicas, have you never watched a movie before?" Saji asked.
Millicas shook his head no.
"Maybe his parents are the type that don't allow TV," Maken said, pouring Julius another beer.
"Mother says TV rots the brain, and turns it into beans," Millicas said, completely serious as he finished his food.
"WELL, YOUR MOTHER… is an amazing woman and you should always listen to her," Gasper said as he took a long sip of his water.
"Your mom is dumb," Gengo said.
"PFFFT!!!" The water went down the wrong pipe.
Saji brought his hand up and slapped the back of Gengo's neck, "Apologies."
"No way! TV's the best!"
Millicas got out of his chair and stared at Gengo, "NUH UH, my mother is the coolest, smartest person ever!"
"If she were, she would know TV is awesome!"
"It's not!"
Saji sighed. 'I swear I can't take him anywhere.'
Saji grabbed Gengo by his collar, picking him up like a cat as he thrashed around.
Gengo pointed a finger at Millicas, "Then come with us, I'll show how cool movies and TV really are! You'll see I'll make you eat your words!"
"Alright," Millicas shot back. "But if it sucks, you've gotta admit you're a big doofus."
"Deal!" Gengo spun around and marched toward the door…
Only to remain exactly where he was.
He blinked.
Oh right.
He was still hanging from Saji's hand.
Millicas pulled on Gasper's sleeve, a fire burning in his eyes. "We can go, right?"
Gasper looked at his watch, "I mean, yeah, but your mother might be mad."
Millicas gave him a confused look.
"Movies are usually an hour and a half long, sometimes even longer."
"Oh."
"Hey Saji, what are you going to go watch?"
"Huh? Oh, we're gonna go watch Cars."
"Oh, that's a good one," Gasper muttered, and looked at Millicas. 'Well, I haven't been to the movies in a while…'
Gasper got up from his seat, "If you get in trouble, just say it was my idea."
Millicas blinked, "Are you sure?"
Gasper slapped ten thousand yen on the table.
Maken took it, "Well, someone's finally paying what they owe."
Gasper shrugged, "What can I say, I finally brought home the bacon."
Gasper walked to the front door, and Millicas followed, but went back and bowed politely, "Thanks for the food, it was delicious."
Maken waved him off with a smile.
He ran back and caught up to Gasper and Saji outside.
*****
<5:16 pm>
Millicas and Gengo ran out of the movie theater, both wearing 3D glasses.
Millicas stopped in his tracks and threw his popcorn bucket into the trash.
Gengo skidded to a stop next to him and threw his own as fast as possible, but he did not make it in time.
Millicas stared at him and grinned. "Ka-Ciao!"
Gengo pouted, "It's not fair you got a head start!"
Millicas looked away, "No, I didn't."
Gengo pointed at him, "You totally did."
Gasper, still wearing his 3D glasses, walked out of the theater while lazily sipping from a straw.
Saji followed beside him, his hands tucked into his pockets.
Gasper looked at his watch and whistled, "Well, we'd better get going."
Gasper put out an open hand, and Saji took it.
POW!
A crisp clap echoed as their hands met.
"Good luck on your test tomorrow."
Saji sighed, "Don't remind me, man."
Gasper turned only to accidentally hit someone with his shoulder.
"Oh, sorry about that."
The man wearing a purple sweater raised his bandaged hand, "Don't worry about it." He said, walking away.
Gasper looked away from the man and stared at Millicas, "Come on, Millicas, let's get you back to your mom."
The man in purple stopped in his tracks.
Millicas stopped talking to Gengo and turned to Gasper, "What already?"
"Don't want to be gone too long."
Millicas frowned as a sad look crossed his face, then looked at his new friend. "Well, I have to go."
They both walked up to Gasper and Saji.
Gengo nodded, "You should come to our house sometime."
Millicas nodded enthusiastically, his frown turned upside down, "I'll ask my mom."
The man in purple took out a photo from his pocket as he eyed the group.
CLICK!
His windmill spun as he stared at the photo of a person with Red Hair.
'Well, I'd be damned to think it would be so easy,' the man… grinned, each one of his teeth as sharp as that of a shark. 'Looks like it really is my lucky day."
But in between the gaps of his teeth, deep in the recess of his mouth…
An uncountable number of eyes stared out at all of them, all locked on Millicas.
"Alright, you ready?" Gasper asked Millicas.
Millicas nodded… but then horror made its way onto his face.
He brought a shaky finger up and pointed at Gasper, "Y—Your face!"
Gasper raised a brow… and a slit opened on his cheek, revealing a green eye.
It looked straight at Saji.
Saji, feeling the stare, met its gaze and froze.
A blob of skin bubbled on Gasper's cheek and, without warning, it extended, forming bone, muscles, and veins until all that filled Saji's vision...
Was a fist coming right his way!
Saji brought his arm up and blocked it.
BAM!
The extra arm on Gasper's face exploded into blood droplets as it hit Saji, leaving no trace of it even being there, same for the eye.
Gasper's eyes widened as he watched Saji skid to a stop, Saji's arm bruised.
"Whoa, you ok there, kid?" a pedestrian asked Saji.
Gasper put a hand on his holster. 'What the hell just happened?!'
"Big Bro—!"
Before Gengo could finish his sentence, a bump appeared right on Saji's bruise and exploded outward, another arm appearing as it pointed at Gasper.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" the people around Saji screamed, seeing him grow an extra limb immediately ran away.
A magic circle blazed at the end of the finger!
FUMM!
But before it could do anything, a steel ball slammed right into it, ripping it right off of Saji!
The leftover parts of the extra arm turned into blood.
"Huh… how did you do that?" a voice rang out from the running crowd.
As the crowd left in an unorderly fashion, the only person left was one with gray hair… and a metal rod going straight through his head.
It... was the same man Gasper had bumped into!
"What?" Gasper asked as his steel ball flew back into his hand.
"That ball, when you threw it, disappeared..." A cat walked up to the man and nuzzled its head against his leg. "And hit my arm."
CLICK!
His windmill spun again.
Saji swallowed hard, "Gengo…"
Gengo, hearing his brother's whisper, looked at him.
"Get Millicas and run."
Gengo's eyes widened as he heard that… was his brother insane? He should be running too!
Saji clenched his left hand a purple light enveloped it as a small gauntlet with two red jewels for eyes appeared.
Gengo's jaw dropped.
"A Sacred Gear…" Millicas muttered as he saw the gauntlet.
Saji looked back at his brother and gave him a reassuring smile, "Trust me, alright."
Gengo nodded.
Saji slowly walked up to Gasper, standing right beside him.
"Your arm? So it was you who attacked us." Gasper's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man.
"Yeah, sorry about that…"
"What?" Gasper asked in confusion.
"You two were supposed to die instantly, now we have to fight… aw man, such a pity," the man sighed.
Gasper looked at him like he was crazy, "Oh well... thanks for the thought?"
"So who are you?" Saji asked.
The man pointed at himself, "You… want to know my name, for real?"
"Wouldn't have asked if I didn't."
The man… burst into tears? "You're such a good guy!"
The man fanned himself with his hand as if trying to dry his tears. "Well, those old devils call me #473, but my new, much cooler boss calls me Freak."
"..."
Freak stopped.
"Oh, wait, I wasn't supposed to tell anybody about the boss…"
Freak brought up a finger to his lip, "Keep it a secret, alright?"
Gasper and Saji exchanged a look.
""For sure, man."" they both said at the same time.
Freak's expression went deadly serious…
A sickly green energy covered his whole being.
Gasper's eyes widened… on Freak's shoulder…
There was a ghostly arm slowly coming out!
It was mostly covered in bandages; only its green, sharp, claw-like fingers were free of any.
It reached down and grabbed the black cat that had been nuzzling on Freak's leg this whole time.
"MRAW!"
Saji's eyes widened, "THAT CAT! IT'S FLYING!"
Hearing that Gasper's heart dropped…
'There's no way…'
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you leave." Freak turned, his gaze landing on the retreating figures of Gengo and Millicas.
The arm wound back…
AND THREW THE CAT!
It sounded like a missile as it flew through the air!
"SAJI! STOP IT!!!" Gasper screamed as he threw his steel ball!
From Saji's gauntlet, four blue lines shot out!
As the cat flew, its fur bulged and gave way, bones protruding outward as new muscle covered them.
Millicas brought up a hand, his demonic power rising as a ball of destruction formed in it.
The cat metamorphosed, becoming less cat and more eldritch horror, bones protruding from each limb, and its face splitting into four open sections, rows of hands with eyes for fingers covered each section.
Gengo's eyes widened in horror.
Freak opened his mouth as he said one simple word...
.
.
.
.
"[FACELIFT]"
←–TO BE CONTINUED—
*****
AN: the kicks won... I can now die happy, as I get buried alive for releasing this chapter.
Songs used in this chapter - Suavemente by Elvis Crespo