Harbinger of Ruin: Ch.15

'Oh man, this is about to be so cool.' I thought with an excited smile as I followed behind Rias, Akeno walking besides me as the three of us made our way down to the first basement floor of the building.

I was about to get the opportunity to give a Dhampir a confidence boost and slowly mold him into the Dio Brando that he is to be.

Wait a second, he's a Dhampir so perhaps I could make him into Alucard from Castlevania? Or…

'No, if he's going to be like an Alucard, there's only one Alucard that I'm going to take as a reference point.' After all, what better person to copy than the Bird of Hermes and the Hellsing Agency's Trump Card, the Nightwalker Alucard himself?

'Especially considering the fact that it would give him more confidence if I gave him a pair of guns, a long red trench coat and a wide-brim hat of the same colour. Yeah, guns and time-stopping abilities. Heh, looks like we're making a vampiric Kiritsugu Emiya.'

“So, when was the last time someone visited him?” I asked as we reached the bottom floor, Rias holding her hand on the first door in our journey to unlock the seals placed on it as she shrugged.

“About a few months. The doors are left open at night so he's free to leave whenever, but he decided that he'd keep staying indoors.” She answered as we walked through, walking forward and opening the second door.

“Really? And he doesn't want to come out?” I asked and she snorted as we walked towards the third and final door, Rias placing a hand on it but not pushing it open as she took off her hand and nodded.

“That's right. Apparently, the darkness and isolation of his room is far more fun than being outside. Anyway, here you go. I don't know exactly what you have planned but I guess it must be something good considering you said that it would be.”

“Kind of good, kind of stupid.” I answered with a shrug and she smirked before I watched as she and a giggling Akeno walked away, taking a deep breath as I turned and pushed open the door.

'Oh. …Oh, this is much worse than I was expecting.' I thought with a frown as I closed the door behind me, my eyes having all adapted to the pitch-black darkness of the room.

Books, clothes and unopened food packs and juice boxes were scattered haphazardly across the floor of the whole room, a DeviTube video playing on each of the four monitors placed on a desk that also had a rather fantastic PC build directly into it.

However, what drew my attention the best was the cardboard box sitting on a spinning gaming chair, with me raising an eyebrow as I swear I caught sight of a red eye flashing in it.

As I focused on it though, I blinked and found it completely gone, quickly spinning around as I heard a squeak and saw the box now hidden in the left corner behind the door.

“Uh, Gasper. It's Kiba. You okay in there?” I asked as I stopped myself from blinking, but I was surprised as it just ceased to exist in front of my eyes, turning around to see the box now sitting on top of the bookshelf.

'Forbidden Balor View is far more incredible than I was expecting.' I know that someone needed to be stronger than Gasper by a fair bit in order to make sure that they weren't affected by it, but the fact that I can't even notice time being stopped by him told me just one thing.

'I am not as strong as I thought I was.' I thought with a hum as I sat down, keeping an eye on Gasper's box before smirking as I saw a pair of red eyes peeking out from the side of it.

“You want to talk from there?” I asked and chuckled as I only got a shaky hum from inside of it.

“Y-Yeah, I…I-I think it's okay.”

“Sure.” I answered with a shrug, as I laid down, deciding to at least make it as comfortable as possible considering I was the one who invaded his privacy first.

“S-S-So, why…a-are you here?” He asked and I hummed as I simply continued to look up at the bland ceiling.

“Well, half of my reason was just to hang out with the only guy of our group, especially since we got some new members.”

“I-I saw them. T-They seem nice.”

“Asia and Kala are. Mittelt and Raynare on the other hand take a while to get used to. Between us two, they remind me of how Rias and Sona were in their younger days.” I whispered and smiled as I heard him giggle, nodding as I sat up and looked at him.

“The other half of my reason for being here is because I think I have a way for you to finally go outsi-!” I wasn't even able to finish my sentence before I found myself staring at an open and empty box, looking at the singular closet in the room that was shaking slightly.

“I'm guessing you don't want that, do you?”

“N-No! No thank you! I-I'm fine in here!” He squeaked out and I nodded as I stood up before closing the door and sitting down in front of it.

“Well, if you ever change your mind, I'll be right here.” I answered as I created a Gremory crest in my grasp, taking out a few things that I would need before creating a small normal dagger in my right hand.

I could feel Gasper's gaze as I continued with my task, but I ignored him as I picked up the paper bag and slowly began to carve chunks of it off.

I wasn't the most artistic person. I wasn't even the smartest one in the room, but what I can say is that I am most definitely the one that can adapt the best and while Gasper not wanting to come out is a pain, it was also something I suspected to happen.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Making a mask for you in case you want to leave the room.” I answered as I slowly cut the sections off for the eyes, making sure to take my time with this part in case I accidentally destroy it.

“B-But why? I-I don't want to leave.”

“You'll have to leave some day, right?” I said with a smile as I looked at the closet only to blink as I found the doors open wide and turned my head to see only a pair of eyes as well as a few strands of hair sticking out from under the pile of clothes he had stacked on top of himself.

“B-But what if I don't?”

“I have faith that you will. After all, you're a member of our peerage and we won't leave you to suffer for eternity in darkness, will we?”

“I-I don't deserve it. I'm just a big failure.”

“And what makes you think that?”

'Good. Keep him talking and let him open up.' I thought to myself as I placed everything down, focusing on Gasper's hidden form as I saw the clothes tremble.

“I-I freeze up a-and I can't think s-straight and I just b-become a liability.”

“That's normal for teenagers like us, you know? I was frozen in fear when I held my first bokken. I was terrified when I had to fight my first Stray Devil. Fear is a natural response to the unknown, but to be brave is to feel that fear and keep moving forward.”

“B-But…but what if I'm too weak to be like you or Prez o-or Akeno or the others?” He asked and I chuckled as I stood up, walking over before going down on one knee right in front of him with a hand held out.

“Being weak is not something to be ashamed of. Staying weak is and until the day that you can consider yourself strong, I will do my best to make sure you do not feel fear against any threat to you.” I spoke with a smile and watched as a petite hand reached out from the clothes to grab mine.

Moments later, I watched as an effeminate-looking boy with platinum blonde and reddish-violet eyes stood up while looking back at me, a pair of fangs sticking out from his upper lip while a pair of pointed ears poked out from his short bob cut that had several fringes over his forehead.

Combined with the skirt, thigh-high socks and pink blouse he had on, I was fully certain that I would most definitely have thought that he was a girl if I didn't have prior knowledge about him.

“Do you feel okay now?”

“K-Kind of, b-but how am I g-going to go out?” He asked and I chuckled as I pulled him over to where my creations lied, picking up the objects I had made before placing both on top of him.

“And?” I asked as I watched Gasper staring at me through a pair of paper glasses while his mouth and head were covered by a paper mask, to which he blinked a few times before I smiled at the excitement in his eyes.

“T-This is pretty awesome.”

“Right? It's not a great job, but it should help you in taking that first step into the outside world…if you're willing to, that is.” I added at the end and Gasper looked a bit hesitant before he gave a slow nod.

“J-Just for a few minutes?”

“Just for a few minutes. I'll make sure that everyone knows not to overcrowd you.”

“H-Hah…o-okay, t-time to face my f-fear.”

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“…Yuuto, how?” Rias whispered in shock as Gasper and I walked in, the others looking just as confused, bewildered and surprised at her as I smiled while Gasper tried to climb into my skin.

“Like I said, I kind of had a way to get him out. However, it's only for a few minutes and he doesn't want to be overcrowded.”

“He? Are your eyes failing you already? We can clearly see that's a gir…Cross-dresser?” Raynare asked with a slight pause before raising an eyebrow as I nodded, looking to Rias as she spoke up.

“And the…paper contraptions on his head?” She asked and I smirked before looking back at Gasper who was busy trying to avoid eye-contact with anyone other than Rias and I.

“It's to hide his face from view while still letting him see everyone around him. It's a bit of a sloppy job, but I'm sure you can find something to replace it up until he gets the confidence to walk around without it.”

“A BDSM mask would help.” Mittelt answered and Rias went to reprimand her for the comment before blinking as I hummed with a raised eyebrow.

“That…could work, but it's not…appropriate to wear in a public setting. Plus, it may draw more attention than him just wearing a mask that covers his lower face and maybe a pair of glasses?”

“T-That does sound better.” He answered and I nodded before looking back at Rias as she giggled and nodded.

“I'll have that ready for you later today. Yuuto isn't forcing you to come along with him, right?”

“Are you asking if I kidnapped him?” I asked with a raised eyebrow as she gave me a pointed stare, to which I rolled my eyes while Gasper giggled.

“N-No, he didn't.”

“See? Now if you'll excuse us, Gasper has to meet the others.” I said and she rolled her eyes as she walked back to sit on her desk, the others looking at me as I slowly pushed Gasper a bit out from behind me.

“Girls that don't know him, this is Gasper Vladi, the other Bishop of Rias' peerage. Gasper, the blonde with the pigtails is Mittelt, a Pawn. The cute blonde that looks like an innocent soul is Asia Argento, your fellow Bishop. The cool bluenette is Kalawarna, another Pawn, and the ravenette that looks like she wants to hit you is Raynare, the last of the Pawns. Kala and Asia are the ones you want to hang out with.”

“Oi, stop spreading misinformation about me. It's lovely to meet you, Gasper.” Raynare spoke with a smile, Kalawarna giving a nod as Mittelt and Asia simply waved.

“N-Nice t-to meet everyone…that was good, right?” He asked me before looking up with joy as I nodded with a smile while patting his back.

“That was incredible.”

“G-Good, can I go back now?”

“Sure, you got anything you want to ask him?” I asked as I looked at Rias and she nodded before looking at Gasper.

“Gaspy, is it okay if I come and visit once in a while?”

“S-Sure. You can come too.” He said while looking at me and I raised an eyebrow before nodding.

“I was always going to, but thank you for the invitation.”

“M-My pleasure. It was n-nice meeting everyone.” He spoke with a smile and waved at them before I shook my head as he vanished from my side, the others leaping to their feet as Akeno looked amused while Koneko had a slight subtle smirk on her face.

“W-What the hell was that?!” Raynare whispered with wide eyes and I chuckled before Rias answered.

“That was why Gasper doesn't like coming out. He has a Sacred Gear called Forbidden Balor View, which allows him to stop time for anything within his sight. Even if he does look away, time is still frozen for ten seconds unless the target is strong enough to force the effects to wear off faster.”

“Wait, what? Then why wasn't he with us in the Rating Game?”

“Because just like how Gasper has a massive amount of demonic power in his body, he also struggles to control his Sacred Gear as it tends to activate whenever he feels a strong burst of emotions. I thought you said you were going to train him how to use it?”

“I am. That is why I wrote a series of instructions inside of his mask and his glasses that he could follow to try and at least gain some control over it before I help him master it. Slow and steady, after all.” I answered with a shrug and Rias smiled as she walked closer and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.

“Looks like I underestimated your intelligence, Mr. Kiba.”

“…Are you perhaps calling me stupid?”

“I may be. What are you going to do about it?” She asked with a smirk and I raised an eyebrow as I placed a hand on her hip, the other coming up and caressing her cheek before I rolled my eyes while she groaned as Raynare spoke up.

“Not to interrupt this nauseating moment between you two, but none of us want to watch this so go get a room, please.”

“You're just jealous that I have a boyfriend and you don't.”

“Excuse me?” Raynare asked with a frown as she stood up, the two girls walking towards each other and standing chest to chest as I took that time to walk a wide arc around and stand next to an amused Akeno.

“Not going to stop them?” She asked as we watched Rias and Raynare exchanging insults and I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms.

“After what I learned with you guys last night, your arguments get way too confusing way too fast.”

“…True.”

“Yuuto~ are you saying that I'm a handful~?” Rias asked with a dangerous tone as she had all but forgotten about Raynare and I sighed as Akeno left me to my own demise.

“…A full-body massage and you'll forgive me?” I asked and felt a bit surprised as her eyes widened before she nodded in excitement and rushed out of the room.

“…What?” Raynare asked with slightly wide eyes as she looked at me and I smirked before shrugging as I made my way to the door.

“I'm just cool like that. With that being said though…how the hell does one do a massage?”

A/N: And we end off this short chapter~~!! Next chapter however is the start of this next arc and I think I'm going to add a few things to the Kokabiel arc to make it more unique.

Perhaps a few characters or just make him more insane than he was before? Eh, we'll figure it out as we go on.

Also, we're focusing a bit more on Gasper's training next chapter before the next arc starts so I'm going to try out a few training methods for that.

Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!