After a solid minute of clapping and cheering, the room fell silent once again, and Karm and Charis stepped to the side to make way for the so-called 'guest of honor.' All that could be heard throughout the entire mansion were the quiet footsteps that were approaching from behind a giant door. Then there was the click of a doorknob...tension increasing amongst the people as they all eagerly awaited for the man to show himself...until finally...
"This can't be..."
These were the first three words that came out of my mouth as soon as I laid eyes on who walked through the door. Even though I had braced myself for the unexpected, I still ended up speechless. Every nerve in my body was denying it was him, but my mind knew the truth.
His dark, reddish-brown hair was spiked up in the front so not a single strand hung over his forehead. He wore black, knee-length boots, as well as a black cloak that somehow made him appear noble. He wore a mask, just as everyone else did, but his seemed much more eye-catching. Dusted lightly in crimson and silver, his mask closely resembled a skull. It covered his entire face except for two small areas around the eyes.
"This can't be him..."
"You have to stay calm, Morgan," Yuta told me. "If anyone here finds out that we're not actually demons, we're as good as dead."
She's right...I have to stay calm...or at least, I have to pretend I'm calm.
"We're all overjoyed that you decided to come out here tonight, Shadow Keeper," Charis said with a grin. "Honestly, I'd never thought you'd actually-"
"Shut your mouth."
Charis flinched at the harshness in the Hanako's tone. "Right," he said, laughing faintly. "Pardon me. Would you like to say anything to your people?"
Even though I couldn't see his expression, I could almost sense the scowl appearing on Hanako's face as he gazed down at the crowd of people watching his every move intently. "These aren't my people," he said in voice I could barely recognize. "I don't even know why you all came here."
"We admire you, my king!" someone exclaimed.
"Your wish is our command!" cried another.
"Despicable..." Hanako released a sigh of exasperation. "I'm not your king. I thought I established that last time I spoke in front of you. I am here for one reason and one reason only, and that reason is to make a very brief announcement."
"We all shall listen attentively to your every word, Oh Shadow Keeper," said Charis, bowing his head. And before long, everyone in the entire room had gotten down on their knees to bow to Hanako as loyal servants. Yuta and I had to as well, otherwise we would have stuck out like sore thumbs.
"I'm leaving you all for good."
Everyone lifted their heads and stared with wide, trembling eyes at the man who had spoken. Karm and Charis seemed especially shocked by Hanako's statement, and they both shot him demanding looks. "S-surely you're only kidding," said Karm, somewhat in a panic.
Hanako turned his head slowly in Karm's direction. "Do I look like the type who has a sense of humor?"
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Hanako's arm shot forward and seized Karm by the neck, then lifted him up so that his feet were dangling just a few inches from the ground. "I need not explain myself," he said darkly. "I may be a demon, but I'm not one of you...I was never one of you. I've tarried with you and your pathetic kind for a while, but I've had enough. I'm not your tool, got it? You call me your king, but in reality, you're just using my power for your own benefits. Your fun is over, you disgusting low-life."
The crowd gasped as Hanako released his grip on Karm and let the demon fall to the floor. Charis immediately rushed over to his brother and fell down down beside him. "You're a fool!!" He shouted, firing Hanako a furious look. "You've always been a fool! You were given a second chance, and yet you screwed it up once again! You could've been something great, but no...you let that small scrap of humanity left in you get the best of you..."
Hanako narrowed his eyes at Charis and laughed spitefully. "And is there anything you're going to do about it? I doubt it. Unless you really are as stupid as you look."
What's going on here? I asked myself, trying my hardest to fight the urge to cry out to him. Just what exactly has been going on in Hanako's life these passed five years? And what am I supposed to do now? I'm in a room full of demons who think that I, also, am a demon...how am I supposed to contact Hanako? Clearly I didn't think this through...I'm such an idiot...
"So what are you going to do now?" Someone in the crowd shouted. "Are you gonna run from us?"
"Of course," Hanako replied. "I've been running all my life, so why stop now?"
"If none of us can catch you, someone in the Midnight Legion definitely will."
"I have two members of the Midnight Legion right here, at my mercy. Do you really think I'm afraid of them?" Hanako raised his arm and placed his hand over his mask, then gripped the edges of it tightly. "I'm not afraid of any of you. After all, I have nothing to protect anymore, so why would I be afraid? I've lost everything. You hear me? Everything. So go ahead and try...just see if you can find my weakness. I've already hit rock bottom. There is nothing you can do that will bring me to my knees!!" With one forceful motion, Hanako removed his mask and threw it against the ground, creating a sharp, cracking sound that echoed throughout the room. His eyes grew wide and flooded with unadulterated rage as he scanned the crowd, almost as if he wanted everyone to get a good look at the amount of ire burning within him. "I am so done..." He said, his voice gradually becoming quieter as his breaths grew heavier. "I'm done with all of you. You disgusting, good-for-nothing, pathetic low-lives. I bid you farewell."
"We won't let you leave this mansion!"
Hanako's eyes flashed black. "Oh...is that right?" A quiet laugh escaped his mouth as he stared directly at the one who had called out. "Amusing. You must be have a thicker skull than the twins. If you're ever going to challenge me, I advise you do it when I'm sleeping."
"You must have some nerve to mock us," Karm spat. "If Ironmage were here, I know for certain you wouldn't be talking so big."
"SHUT UP!!"
In the blink of eye, Hanako was equipped with a long, double-edged sword and was pointing the tip right at Karm's neck. A smirk appeared on the demon's face as he gazed at Hanako's bloodlust expression. "Ah, yes, I remember now. That name must spark more than a few sorrowful memories for you, doesn't it?"
"Say his name again and I'll make you bleed..."
"He's the one who made that sword for you, am I right?" said Karm. "Quite the strong friendship you two had...what a shame he's gone now. If only he could see what you've become..."
"It would be wise for you to shut your mouth now," Hanako scowled. "Otherwise this sword will soon become very well acquainted with the back of your throat."
"You do have a weakness," Charis said proudly, rising to his feet. Hanako quickly aimed the sword at him now. "Whether or not you admit to it, I can sense that you do. We'll find out what it is some day. You can count on it."
"Ironmage is gone...but you have at least one more person you're trying to protect...am I right?"
Hanako switched targets again. "You're wrong!" He shouted. "There is no one! If there was, then why would I be here, and not with them?"
"Because that's not your way of protecting, now is it?"
The crowd watched with great interest as Hanako slowly fell victim to the twins' taunts. He took a shaky step back from them, then suddenly swung his sword at Karm so that only the tip grazed his cheek. A thin trail of blood ran down the demons face as he continued to smirk in spite of Hanako.
"Charis, do you recall that person's name? It was a man, wasn't it? The Shadow Keeper's childhood friend."
"But didn't that man die five years ago? You know, in that fire here at Aobasani?"
"That's what I heard. But maybe...maybe that isn't true."
"You just may be right about that, Karm. Perhaps...we were told that he died...to hide the Shadow Keeper's true intentions."
"He's dead," Hanako muttered, pressing the tip of his sword to Charis's forehead. "I swear on my life that man is dead. I have no one-"
"Then why don't you tell us his name?" said Charis. Hanako's eyes grew wide. "Or is it that you're afraid we'll be able to find him?"
"I'm not afraid," Hanako said quickly. "I'm not afraid, because he's dead."
"Then tell us. Tell us and we'll promise to leave you alone."
Hanako's arms trembled as he stared out across the crowd of demons staring at him. He must have felt as though he was being put on the spot. I could easily sense the fear in his golden eyes. "His name..." Hanako's voice wavered as he struggled to force the words out of his quivering lips. "His name is...M-"
+++
"Malden!!"
All eyes suddenly turned to a certain dark haired man who was standing on top of one of the dessert tables in the corner of the room. It was Kyo. My heart stopped for a moment. What does that idiot think he's doing?!
"Excuse me?" Karm glared at Kyo with a look of utter disgust plastered on his face. "Who gave you the right to interrupt?"
"I gave myself the right," Kyo said boldly.
"Who are you?!"
"My name is Malden, and I am the man you're looking for!" He cried. "I am the Shadow Keeper's childhood friend!"
What?!?
"That's impossible!" said Charis, his eyes darting back and forth from Hanako to Kyo. "The man we're speaking of is a human! Just by being among us in this mansion proves that you are a demon!"
"I'll take off my mask if you doubt my identity."
Charis and Karm both looked at each other with doubtful expressions. Things were silent for a little while, until both twins finally said, "Very well."
Tension in the room skyrocketed in a mere instant, and I could tell just from a glance that Kyo was terrified. But at the same time, he was also being extremely brave. He's doing this for me, I told myself. Kyo is doing this to protect me.
Kyo gripped the edges of his mask as he eyed the crowd. I could just barely see Ushio standing close to his side, which made me feel slightly more reassured. Even still, as Kyo's hand moved away from his face while still holding on to his mask, I felt all the blood drain from my face and I became an immediate nervous wreck. Dramatic gasps came from nearly every individual in the room, including the twins and Hanako. Yuta and I shot each other frantic looks, and all of a sudden I felt myself overcome with fear. I had to do something. I simply had to something.
But what?
"That man was telling the truth. He is a human!!"
"Seize him at once!"
"MALDEN!! GET OUT OF HERE!!"
"Thanks, Stewart!" Kyo called back to me, leaping off the table and making a break for the door. "I had already planned on doing that!"
"Someone lock the door!" shouted Karm. "And seize the man with the orange hair! They must be working together!!"
And just like that, things in the mansion became absolutely uproarious. Furious screaming and shouting filled my ears as I took off as fast I could to get away from the angry, confused demons that had begun to chase me. Yuta must have been so shocked by everything that was happening that she fell too far behind for me to see. I could only hope that she would somehow be able to find her brother amongst the horrendous tumult.
"The human has escaped the mansion!!" I heard Karm shout just as I had begun to climb a set of stairs. "Everyone, after him, now! Charis and I will take care of the other one!"
A huge burden was lifted off my shoulders and a new fear settled in my chest. Even though the larger crowd of people wasn't chasing me, I had to worry about the twin demons on my tail. And frankly, they frightened me much more than anyone else in this entire mansion. At least Kyo escaped this place, I told myself. I'm sure he'll find a way to avoid getting caught.
"You get back here, you orange-haired scoundrel!!"
I did my best to block out every noise other than the voice inside my head. Much to my relief, just by focusing on the hopeful thoughts stored in my mind, I was able to run faster than when I had been dragged down by my own fear and doubts. Upon stumbling across a closed door, I hurriedly opened it and rushed in, hoping it would lead me somewhere I could hide or even escape. Unfortunately for me, however, I ended up in a very small bedroom that held no other escape route other than a window. The first thing that went through my mind as my eyes fell on that window was, "Maybe I could try one of the oldest tricks in the book. Tying bed sheets together to form a rope, then climb my way down to solid ground." I didn't have much time to act, though, so it would most definitely not be a fail-proof escape plan. But there wasn't any time to strive for perfection. All I had to do was make it out of this mansion alive.
After slamming the door and locking it behind me, I hurried over to the large bed and began to put my plan into action. There were about three layers of sheets on the bed, and I was sure that the finished product wouldn't reach the ground from the second floor. "I should be able to survive the fall," I whispered to myself, just as I had finished tightening the last knot. "There. Now let's see just how far this thing reaches..."
I ran over to the window and opened it with a single heaving gesture, then tossed one end of the sheet rope outside. As soon as I started to tie the other end of it to the top of the window, someone began pounding on the bedroom door.
"Don't come in!" I called in a high-pitched voice. "I'm not decent!"
"Oh, shut up! We didn't ask for your permission!"
It was from but a single, yet powerful kick that the door was knocked down, and the twin demons stormed in with ugly scowls on their faces. The moment they took notice of what I was doing, their eyes shot open, and they shouted in unison, "Stop right there!!"
"As if."
Gripping the rope tightly with both hands, I took a leap of faith out of the window. Luckily I was able to regain my balance quickly and rest my feet against the side of the building so that I was able to climb safely down the remainder of the rope. However, the remainder of the rope wasn't quite enough to reassure me of a safe drop to the ground. Karm and Charis poked their heads out of the window and glared down at me, their hateful gazes seeming to pour hot lava over the crown of my head. And at that moment, I knew there was only one option left for me.
I let go of the rope and allowed myself to fall. Even though the drop looked dangerous, there was a cluster of bushes right beneath me, so there was a slight chance it wouldn't be quite as painful—well, on the count that these weren't rose bushes. I looked up at the sky, then closed my eyes, silently wishing for my own safety.
"Brace yourself, Stewart! I gotcha!"
My eyes shot open. Kyo?
Suddenly I felt a pair of sturdy arms catch me, but before I could turn my head around to confirm that it was in fact Kyo, the two of us collapsed.
"Okay...okay, you are much heavier than you look..."
"Sorry..." I quickly crawled away from Kyo and pressed my back against the wall, inhaling and exhaling deeply as I rubbed a bruise I had gotten on my arm. "Thanks, man," I said breathlessly.
"No...problem..." Kyo grunted as he shakily got to his feet. "Thanks to Ushio and Yuta, I was able to safely get away from that wild pack of demons...I owe those guys my life."
"Just what exactly did they do?" I asked.
"They fooled those demons," Kyo said with a laugh. "Pointed 'em in the wrong direction, saying that we both ran that way. They're probably waiting at the car now. So we should hurry."
"I see..."
Kyo held out his hand to me and I took it, then he pulled me to my feet. I followed closely behind him until Ushio's car came into view. As soon as I saw Yuta waving to me from the front seat, I started off ahead of Kyo, but he quickly seized my collar and yanked me back. "Kyo, what're you doing-?"
"What did you think?"
Despite not being given an explanation, I somehow knew exactly what Kyo was talking about. I turned my face from him and released a tiresome sigh. "It definitely wasn't what I expected," I said, finally removing the mask from my face. "I still wanted to at least say hello to him, but something is telling me that now is not the right time."
"Yeah, I think you're right." Kyo let go of my collar and gave me an encouraging pat on the back. "I'm glad that you're alright, though. To be completely honest with you, I was extremely doubtful I'd make it out of there alive. And yet...I have a feeling that it's gonna be risky showing my face around here now. At least it will be for a little while. So I was thinking...maybe we could all take a well-earned vacation together. You know...some place far away from Aobasani. Somewhere we can relax and take our minds off everything that's been happening lately. I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I need right now. I've been really stressed out..."
"No, I can see where you're coming from," I said. "And I'm sure that we're all pretty stressed out. A vacation would be nice."
Kyo smiled at my approval of his idea. "Glad you agree. Now let's get going, Stewart. We don't wanna keep Honda and Beyonce waiting any longer..."