Chapter 74: Helping Gasper

Asia had just barely hung up the phone when she turned to Xenovia, Koneko and Katrina.

"That was Issei, he said Adrian, Damon and himself will be staying at the clubhouse overnight." Xenovia looked to the former nun,

"So it's a test of endurance until Gasper decides to come out, huh?"

"To be honest, I almost feel bad that we left those three to deal with him by themselves," said Katrina.

"'Almost?' I don't feel bad for them at all," said Koneko, being only half truthful.

"Well our options are limited," said Xenovia, "What can we possibly do to help them?" The four girls paused in thought, only for Katrina to scoff,

"Well for Damon we could just get him a really big bag of weed," she said, "Especially after how much of a douche he was being today."

Soon all four girls were at Adrians' home, undressing in the cavernous bathroom,

"Sorry, I'm even borrowing your bathroom," Xenovia said to Katrina, just finishing the process of removing her own bra.

"I apologize as well for having to be included," said Koneko, sliding off her remaining stocking.

"It's Adrians' bathroom, and he wouldn't mind," said Katrina, dropping her shirt.

"And it's better than just talking for a long time outside," added Asia, sliding her skirt down to the floor. The four girls proceeded to undress as they continued their conversation,

"But why did you want to discuss this in the bathroom?" Asked Xenovia.

"I think Asia called it a 'bare all relationship' or something like that," said Katrina, looking to Asia, who simply blushed, "but it's whatever, I just didn't care if anyone saw me naked, because to me, skin is skin."

"It's a little off," said Koneko, "but I suppose it's not technically wrong."

"So if I understand correctly, the goal is to deepen our friendship while we discuss what to do about Gasper," said Xenovia.

"Like I said, it's whatever," said Katrina. Soon all four girls were washing themselves or enjoying the hot water, with Katrina being the first to speak, sinking into the hot bath water,

"I'm actually glad I'm getting this bath in. After chasing Gasper around for however long, it's good to finally relax."

"Maybe so," said Xenovia, scrubbing herself, "but what we did today is nothing compared to what Issei and Adrian are doing now." Koneko looked towards Xenovia,

"What about Damon?"

"What about Damon?" Katrina raised an eyebrow at Koneko. "It pains me to say this but the buffoon is probably getting drunk while being mean to Gasper again, and doing the exact opposite of helping." Koneko bore an irritated look,

"If that were really the case, why would he stay there with Adrian and Issei overnight?" Katrina paused, lost for an answer, "It's because while he was being mean, he had a method. He was trying to toughen Gasper up, and clearly it didn't work. So now he's probably trying a different tactic. He cares for his friends, and is a good guy, just as much as Adrian and Issei, even if the last one is a pervert."

"Not going to argue with you on that last one," said Katrina, "although...I feel like I should say this at least once, everyone is a perv, it's just a matter of how far one takes it, and Issei takes it way too far." Katrina turned to Asia, "Sorry Asia but it's true."

"Um...that's okay," said Asia with a blush.

"Do I even want to ask 'how do you figure everyone is a perv?'" Asked Koneko, keeping her expression and tone their usual blankness.

"Do you really want an answer?" Asked Katrina. Koneko blinked, "Fine, since it's us four girls here, I'll use us as examples." She jerked her thumb to Asia, "Starting with the most innocent, our favorite sister over here got eaten out by my best friend while she was sucking off her soon to be boyfriend without a care in the world," Asia blushed like a tomato, sinking into the water until it was just below her eyes, and Katrina continued, "Xenovia over here tried to have sex with Damon in order to have a baby, all because of his impressive arm...even though saying that out loud sounds werid," Xenovia was simply sitting quietly as Katrina continued her speech, and the devil goddess brought a hand to her chest, "and yours truly turned a bad situation (Akeno blowing my boyfriend at the time), and made it better (me turning it into a threesome), and even made Akeno my girlfriend as a bonus." Xenovia half nodded, while Koneko kept her expression blank.

"Okay, but I do recall you saying something about all four of us, so how do I fit in the 'everyone is a perv' group?" Katrina leaned back in the bath water, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the hot water.

"I'd say it, but I'm not going to be too mean. But I will ask this..." Katrina cracked an eye at Koneko, "...did you tell Damon that you're his 'mystery head girl' yet? Or what?" Konekos' blank expression shattered, and the blush was unable to be hidden as Koneko brought a hand to her face, "Don't worry, nobody in here will ever say anything to him. That's for you to tell him."

"But...how did...?"

"The way you blush around him, and walk away as fast as you can when he mentions 'mystery head girl' kind of gave it away," said Katrina.

"Well, as enlightening as that was," interjected Xenovia, "I believe we are straying off track of the subject." Asia quickly rose up from the tub, blushing intensly,

"That sounds like a great idea!" She said with a nervous smile. Her smile then morphed into a look of wonder, "Like for example, how was Gasper able to walk into the sunlight without it hurting him?"

"Easy," said Katrina, "since he started off half human, it gave him the ability of a daywalker."

"What's a daywalker?" Asked Asia. Katrina looked at Asia, dumbfounded.

"A vampire that walks during the day...? Kind of self explanatory there sis," said the war goddess. Asia then had a thought,

"You know, I just realized that I'm not very good around people at first either, so I think I know how Gasper must feel. I'm okay on the phone in general, but when it comes to face to face, I can't explain why, I still get nervous." Xenovia leaned back in the tub, an idea seemingly forming in her head,

"Hmm...face to face, huh?"

Meanwhile...

Back at the clubhouse, Damon talked Adrian into playing a round of poker with him, with a small stack of pizza boxes resting next to Gaspsrs doors, and Issei resting against said doors, still waiting for Gasper to come out of the room.

"Hey," Issei gently called out, "are you scared? I mean of your Sacred Gear, and us for that matter?" He recieved no response, and looked down to his hand which possessed Ddraig, "I've got a dragon living in me...he's supposed to be the strongest one in the world too." Issei couldn't see it, but Gasper was looking at the doors, where he sure Issei was resting his back against. "It can be frightening...and everytime I use that power, it feels like...well, like I'm slowly becoming something else. It's scary as hell, but I refuse to let fear stop me!"

"Easy for you to say," said Adrian, "I became a wanted man after the world found out I had the Blacklight in my veins. With everyone after me, I continued to do what I thought was right, regardless of how scared I was...and trust me, I was petrified."

"But...don't you worry about the things you care about most?" Gasper asked timidly through his door, "You might lose them all because of your powers."

"Trust me sonny, I've already worried about that for a couple of years now," said Adrian, "Scared of losing Rias, Asia, my mom...even these two bastards out here with me right now."

"Awe you really do care for us," said Damon, placing a hand over his heart. He then slammed his poker cards on the floor, "Full House!" Adrian set his cards on the floor,

"Royal Flush."

"Dammit!" Damon tossed his cards over his shoulder, giving up on the game. Adrian then turned to the door, focusing on Gasper as best he could,

"Gasper, you think drinking blood and stopping time is terrifying? My power used to require me to absorb a whole person from time to time, till I met Asia, and shockingly enough, she can just use her Twilight Healing to help me generate more biomass to function." Adrian looked down to the floor, "My point is, we are all here to help each other, even when times are tough...like when we fought Riser, Kokabiel or Zeus." The door then creaked open,

"I heard about those fights, I'm sorry I couldn't help, I was locked in here," said Gasper.

"Trust me Gasper, I don't blame you," said Adrian. "Those fights gave me a general idea as to what it would be like to lose all my friends...and for Zeus, we actually did lose a friend..." Adrian paused, taking a deep breath, "...I silently vowed that I wouldn't let something like that happen again...including you Gasper." The dhampir opened the door even more, making himself visible to the three outside.

"You really mean that?" Adrian placed a hand on Gaspers shoulder,

"Really really," said the Devil Virus.

"Careful Adrian, remember what I said about a hand on the shoulder?" Teased Damon, to which both Adrian and Issei turned to the white haired devil,

"Shut the fuck up Damon!"