AN: 8 DAYS LEFT TILL STELL BALL RUN!!!!!!
Now to wait 27 years for jojolion.
******
—<10 days later, January 31st, 2007>—
Trees filled the vast land as far as the eye could see, birds chirping a melody to welcome a new day.
A completely normal.
And peaceful day.
CLINK!
BOOOOOM!
The birds scattered in panic, there chirps turning into frantic squawks.
Underneath two small trees, with dust coating his clothes, Saji Genshiro groaned and rubbed at his face.
And in front of him…
Stood Gasper. Arms crossed, crimson eyes blazing, teeth clenched, not a trace of amusement anywhere to be seen.
Gasper stepped close. "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT, MAGGOT?! IS THIS WHAT YOUR BLOODLINE IS CAPABLE OF?! ARE YOU SO WEAK THAT EVEN YOUR MAMA WOULD BE ASHAMED TO LOOK AT YOU?!"
Saji took a step back. "NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!" He crouched and grabbed two chains, one in each hand, and pulled!
"THEN GIVE ME FIFTY MORE REPS, BOY!"
The chains rattled as they ground on tree bark, lifting two rusted cars into the air.
….
Saji strained, muscles quivering with each centimeter of movement.
Gasper was nowhere to be seen, but Shiro, the white cat, sat directly in front of him.
With a loud grunt, Saji finished the set and let go of the chains. The cars slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Saji crouched in a full squat, panting hard, hands on his knees.
Shiro slowly rose, unimpressed, and let out a sharp, loud meow.
BOOOOOM!!!
Dust swirled from the dirt and surrounding trees.
Tap.
Tap.
And Gasper appeared from the treeline, shirtless, his pump fully visible.
What? Don't blame him; it was an upper-day.
"Alright, get up. Time to do some road work."
Saji wiped sweat from his brow and sighed. "Finally, something light. So how far are we going? A lap around Kuoh at 50% effort?"
Gasper stretched lazily. "Nah, you've gotten too comfortable. Let's up it to 75% intensity and make it two laps."
They got into running stances.
Before taking off, Gasper grinned. "Oh, and don't forget—fifty burpees every lap."
"What?! But it was twenty-five before! Why the sudden change?!" Saji shouted, eyes wide.
Gasper looked away, whistling loudly. "Hey, I don't make the rules."
The sound of hooves clattering broke through.
"BUT YOU DO!"
A light brown horse with a silver mane and a red star on its forehead galloped from the treeline.
It was… Silver Bullet!
Shiro leapt onto the saddle as soon as he got closer enough.
"Yeah, and so—fifty burpees." Without waiting for Saji's response, Gasper took off, and Silver Bullet galloped gleefully beside him.
Saji sighed, muscles tightening, and broke into a sprint.
His lungs were already burning before he even hit his stride. That was the thing about Gasper's training—there was no warm-up. There was just pain, and then more pain.
Catching up to them, Saji watched as Gasper reached into his pocket and pulled out an apple, slipping it into Silver Bullet's mouth. Not even winded. Of course.
"So, how's the magic training going?" Saji asked between breaths as they kept moving.
"Not bad, honestly. Akeno's a great help," Gasper replied, grinning.
Saji nodded. 'Bet she is… though the way he talks about her sometimes… is he actually saying that in case she's listening in?'
He gulped. "Blink twice if you need help," he whispered.
Gasper raised a brow. "Man, stop acting weird. But since we're on the topic… how has your training with Crowley been going?"
Saji's eyes flicked sideways. "It's… going," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Crowley's… well, he's intense, but I'm learning a lot." He paused, timing it between breaths. "By the way, he told me to tell you that he's waiting for your rematch. He says, and I quote, 'I'm ready to kick your ass all the way back into your coffin any day of the week'…"
"HUH! Who the hell does he think he is?! He beats me a couple of times—"
"Seventeen times." Saji cut in.
"—And thinks he's that guy!" Gasper whipped his head around to look at Saji, eyes narrowing. "And whose side are you on, anyway?!"
"…Hey, I'm just stating facts here." Saji wheezed, his lungs beginning to burn harder as they rounded a sharp corner.
"WELL WHATEVER! MARK MY WORDS, THAT DANTE WANNABE WILL FALL BY MY HAND!" Gasper roared, his voice bouncing off the trees they were passing.
Silver Bullet snorted in what sounded almost like agreement.
"…Oh, by the way, Saji."
"Mhm, yeah." He was too focused on not dying to say more.
"So how's it going with that… what was her name again? Hikico?"
"You mean Himiko?" Saji corrected automatically.
"Yeah, her! Soooooo~" Gasper started running backwards and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You two started dating yet?"
Saji sighed, 'I should have never told him about her…' a blush creeping across his cheeks. "For the last time, it's not like that between me and her."
"Mhm~, yeah, right. Whatever you say~"
"Seriously, man, she's just a classmate."
"Yeah, just a classmate," Gasper repeated, smirking. "One that brings lunch for you every day, that is."
Saji looked away, quickening his pace. "She just… makes too much sometimes, that's all."
Gasper shook his head, a knowing grin on his face.
"Ahhh, to be young again."
"Bro… You're younger than me," Saji muttered, a mix of disbelief and amusement in his voice. He would have said more, but his lungs kindly reminded him they were not built for arguments at this speed.
"Oh, by the way…" Saji managed after a moment. "If you had to choose a weapon, what would you pick?"
"…Ummm… steel balls?" Gasper replied, shrugging.
"No… I mean something new," Saji said.
"Well… a gun is always somewhat viable if it's enhanced, or maybe a spear could be good." Gasper tilted his head, not even glancing at the hill they were starting to climb. Saji felt it immediately in his thighs. "But… why are you asking?"
Saji pushed through the incline. "Well… Crowley's been on my case, saying I should learn to fight with a sword—or at least be able to shoot a gun, especially since he says in a week or so I should be good to go on my first hunt. But, you know… I have a Sacred Gear, so…"
Gasper hummed thoughtfully. "Well… if you didn't have a Sacred Gear, what would you choose then? Just… give it a shot, you know? Test the waters. After all, you've got a knowledgeable teacher willing to teach—might as well make use of it."
Saji sighed, though it came out more like a wheeze. "I know, but… there's just so many to choose from…"
Gasper shrugged. "Then pick the coolest one."
"That's terrible advice."
"No, it isn't. Rule of cool, man. Rule of cool."
*****
—
Huff~
Kiba stood in the weight room, panting hard. In his hands he held a barbell like it was a sword, six plates stacked on one end of the bar.
A while ago, Gasper had suggested they set up a weight room in one of the many unoccupied rooms in the building. Honestly, Kiba didn't know why he hadn't done it sooner.
Kiba raised the barbell over his head and swung it, the weights rattling slightly.
Ever since his spar with Gasper, Kiba had been chasing one goal: achieving the art of cutting steel.
So Gasper had recommended increasing the strength behind his swings to balance things out. And so here he was.
'What could I be missing?'
Since Gasper had said it was neither the swordsman nor the sword, the question kept returning to Kiba's mind like clockwork.
He lowered the barbell. Closed his eyes. Took a slow breath.
Then raised it again and swung.
Creak~
While he was deep in thought, the door slowly opened, a long strand of red hair slipping through the gap.
A head followed, bluish-green eyes landing on Kiba's figure.
'Well, he's training harder than usual today.' Rias admitted.
It was a little strange seeing him push himself this intensely. Don't get her wrong, she wasn't complaining—buuuut… it did make her feel a bit lazy.
After watching for a moment, a smile spread across her face.
With a light push, she fully opened the door and stepped inside.
Kiba didn't notice; he just kept swinging.
She took a seat on a bench nearby. Seeing that he still hadn't noticed her, she cleared her throat.
Kiba blinked and turned his head toward her. She waved.
"Oh, hey, Buchou… when did you get here?"
She gave him an amused smile. "I just got here."
"Oh… I see. Sorry for ignoring you."
"No need for an apology, Kiba. It's actually kind of fun seeing you this focused on something."
Kiba's face relaxed. "'Fun' is a weird way to describe watching someone train."
Rias leaned back, putting her weight on her left hand. "Well, it's fun to see someone I like doing well."
Kiba gave a low hum as he set his barbell down.
"So, Kiba… Akeno tells me you and Gasper have been sparring for a little while now."
Kiba nodded. "Yes, we've been sparring. He's grown strong, you know."
Rias sat up straight. "Yes, I know. But Kiba… while sparring, have you ever seen him lose control, or even look like he was about to?....Like before?"
Kiba thought on it for a moment. "Now that you mention it, no. Even when I catch him by surprise, he doesn't misfire like he used to… or maybe he just got better at hiding it?"
Rias let out a slow breath. "I see… that's good. Akeno and Koneko said the same."
Kiba raised a brow. "But what's this about, Rias?"
"I think Gasper has officially been hiding in his room a bit too long, don't you?"
'What? Hiding in his room? He's been out every—…. Oh. I see where she's going with this.'
"So it's time?"
"Yes. I'll call my brother and have it arranged as soon as possible."
Kiba walked to a bench and grabbed his towel, wiping himself down slowly. "You know, Rias… I didn't think we'd really see the day Gasper would officially be unsealed. Or better yet, that one day he would willingly walk into the sun."
Rias nodded, a quiet smile on her face. "Yes, but honestly… it's relieving. Seeing him out and about this past month. But also… kind of strange."
"I get what you mean." Kiba folded the towel over his shoulder. "From a vampire in a box to… an 'eccentric' personality. Yeah. I think that's the right word."
"Pfft!...mhm, yes, 'eccentric' is a good way to put it...Kiba."
*****
—
VUUUUUUM!
A light beam as thick as a coin punched a clean hole through a concrete wall.
barely missing its target.
That target.
Was Gasper.
He stood there in a bright white and navy blue sailor suit, a small golden anchor pin on the right of his chest, a pink compass on the left. His hair was neatly tucked under his sailor hat.
"Huh, I thought that would have caught you by surprise." Crowley gave Gasper a toothy smile.
"Like something you'd throw at me would catch me by surprise, you old fart." Gasper threw his steel ball.
Crowley moved right and dodged it clean.
"Huh? Who are you calling old, you bugger? Didn't you pa—"
Huh,
That's weird; something was pulling him.
He looked down to his left and found that same steel ball lodged in his coat.
"Didn't see that one coming, eh, mate?" Gasper said, mocking his accent.
Crowley reached to his side and with a swift motion cut off the side of his trench coat. His sword now drawn. "Yeah, that was nice. Honestly, are you ever going to tell me what's up with the balls, kid?"
"Nah, don't feel like it." Gasper said as he fixed his sailor hat.
Saji was sitting far off to the side on Silver Bullet's saddle with a white fur ball sleeping on his hair,
He had a textbook open in his lap. Inside it was a drawing.
Of a steel ball.
"Can you guys stop with the foreplay and get to fighting already?!" Saji called out, bored of their warm-up.
They both turned and looked at him.
Gasper: "....."
Crowley: "...."
Then they turned back to each other.
"Well… you ready?" Crowley said.
"I was just seeing if your heart would give out before we started for real, you know."
Crowley sighed. "Kids these days don't know respect… I'm not even old; I'm only thirty-six."
"We know, you're Unc Crowlester. Let's get this going." Gasper raised a hand, and the steel ball spinning on the floor flew right back into it.
Crowley launched forward.
And Saji watched. 'It just doesn't make sense,' he scribbled in his notebook.
Crowley's sword moved at speeds Saji couldn't track. He just saw the aftermath—the way Gasper's body shifted, leaned, redirected. He weaved through almost every strike. Almost. One left a thin cut across his cheek.
'The steel balls come back and they spin… and that's about all I've got.' Saji tapped his pencil against the page. 'But there's got to be more to it. A magic weapon? A Sacred Gear, maybe? No… Crowley would've probably known about it.'
Gasper, now above Crowley, pressed his hands together. A high-pressure stream of water shot down.
Crowley jumped back. The stream carved into the concrete where he'd been standing a half-second before.
Without missing a beat, he reached into his trench coat and produced two cannons, aiming both at Gasper. Circles began forming at the ends of the barrels.
Seeing it, Gasper screamed. "[LAGTRAIN!]"
A blue aura wrapped around him.
A beam of light engulfed his body, breaking it apart into pixels.
TAP.
Gasper was back on the ground. He pulled out a steel ball and threw it.
It stopped mid-air. Completely still, like time had forgotten it existed.
Then, in a microsecond—
It appeared right in front of Crowley's face.
"Ptui!"
Crowley spat straight at it.
The spit expanded instantly into a sticky web, catching the steel ball like a fly. The ball fought it. The friction built fast, boiling the web into steam, and the ball dropped to the floor.
Before the steam even cleared, Crowley was gone.
He reappeared directly in front of Gasper, sword at his throat.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then Gasper flickered.
"Mhm." Crowley drove his sword through Gasper. It popped like a balloon made of pixels.
He looked around. And saw nothing. "Didn't know we were playing hide-and-go-seek."
Rumble.
"Mhm." Crowley looked down, feeling the vibration move through the soles of his boots.
It was getting closer.
"Ah, I see." He jumped immediately—
And the ground beneath him exploded upward.
"MUDA!" A silver being with blue glasses punched clean through the earth, Gasper trailing right behind it.
Gasper jumped, and [LAGTRAIN] closed the distance on Crowley fast, cocking back a fist.
"MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!MUDA!"
With every punch thrown, Crowley brought his sword up to block.
He'd seen Gasper's ghostly friend before. He knew the rhythm of it. Knew exactly how much force was behind each hit.
And he was still getting slightly pushed back.
"MUDAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
KRANG!
The blade shattered.
A smirk crept onto Crowley's face.
[LAGTRAIN] readied the decisive blow—but before it could land, Crowley's free hand snapped up, a light blue circle springing to life. Gasper tried to move.
Too late.
In the blink of an eye he was wrapped up tight in a chain of light, arms pinned to his sides like a burrito.
"AH! Come on, you know using light is underhanded!"
"Heh." Crowley walked over, a smug look settling across his face. "What? Can't handle a little sunshine?"
"..."
Gasper's mouth broke into a wide, unhinged grin. "Nah, I can… but can you handle the floor?"
Crowley blinked.
Something tapped his shoe.
And his world went upside down.
BAM!
Saji's eyes narrowed at Crowley flat on his back. The steel ball—the same one from before—sat right where Crowley had been standing, a long groove carved into the ground leading straight to it.
'It seriously just doesn't make sense.'
Crowley sat up slowly and looked at what had sent him down. He narrowed his eyes. "…That damn steel ball."
He looked back to where Gasper was—but he was gone.
"Taste the might of my Bubble Cutters!" Gasper's voice rang from above.
Crowley looked up. There Gasper was, arms crossed, two translucent spheres already heading his way.
Saji's eyes widened. 'The bubbles....they're spinning!'
And it wasn't just that. The energy surrounding them…
It was the same as the steel balls!
Crowley stomped a foot into the ground. A red magic circle blazed to life, spewing flames upward into a pillar.
The bubbles hit the fire and warped it, twisting the flames into a tight spiral—then dissipated into vapor.
Gasper landed and leaped forward into the flames, blue energy wrapping around him.
SNAP!
…
Inside the flaming pillar, Crowley stood perfectly still. 'Any second now…'
SNAP!
Gasper appeared right in front of him, fist glowing bright blue and yellow, his arm encased in a metallic sleeve. His feet touched the ground and he cocked back—then swung forward, the air cracking as his fist split through it.
Crowley watched the punch coming with a knowing smile and clenched his right fist.
The ring of fire surrounding them grew spikes that launched inward, and stopped, just short of Gasper.
Gasper stopped too. Sweat dripped down his brow.
'Crap…'
Crowley let out a long, exasperated sigh. "And that makes eighteen. Gasper—what have I said about rushing into things?"
The flames slowly dissolved into the air.
Crowley reached into his trench coat and pulled out a box of cigarettes.
"To… not do it?"
He drew one out and snapped his fingers. It lit.
"Exactly."
Gasper's face fell into despair.
"But I can't help it. It's just so boring—what am I supposed to do? Wait for them to catch their breath? Worse, stand there while they charge up a spell?"
Crowley took a long drag and exhaled slowly.
"The point of waiting is not to hand them the upper hand. Catch your own breath. Charge your own spell. But never just charge in and let them set the trap for you."
He paused. "...it's a good thing to learn ...Especially when you set so many of your own."
After he said that, without even looking, Crowley swung his fist into the shadows behind him.
BOOOM!
A chain reaction rippled outward.
Gasper, hearing the explosions, glanced away. "…So you saw my bubbles."
Crowley looked back. "Yeah. It's a good weapon—but don't get over-reliant on it, kid."
Saji sat there, eyes sharp. 'So he wasn't playing around when he said that he could spin the balls really good. But it's not just the balls—it's the bubbles too. The power comes from the spinning, not the balls…'
He stared at the drawing in his notebook and closed his eyes.
'But how does spinning do all of that?'
"Saji. Wake up—it's your turn."
Saji looked up as Gasper called for him.
"…Mhm. Right."