Chapter 10- Confrontations
Horror. Utmost Horror. Horror to the superlative degree. Yeah, it was written all over Mr. Youichi Otohata's face once he came face to face with his son. Rei hadn't meant for this to happen. He had been trying. Trying hard to avoid; trying hard to hide. But once again, fate wasn't on his side. As usual.
And so, let us pause for a moment to curse his fate. Damn you, fate, damn you to hell.
Ugh, dammit… BURN, fate, BURN!
Rei winced as Mr. Otohata tried to grasp for the right words to say.
"Mr. Otohata, it's a pleasure meeting you. I am Aya Hoshino…" Aya extended her hands in a business-like manner. Rei sighed secretly in outmost relief. Thank God for Aya's distraction.
Mr. Youichi blinked a few times before recovering to his nonchalant and stiff demeanor.
"Ah, yes…" He cleared his throat in acknowledgment yet he was still glancing from Rei to Aya. It was as though he had seen a ghost. "And who might you be, young fellow?"
"Rei." Was Rei's automatic response.
"R-rei, y-you say?" blood drained from his face.
"Excuse me, Mr. Otohata, but may I interrupt?" Aya interjected politely. "You see…" and that was his cue. He excused himself from the two and headed towards the exit. At that very moment, he only thought of one thing... and that was to make sure the person behind his father's appearance was given his well-deserved treatment.
O-o-O-o-O
Rei thought it was just some sort of close call when Kasuke announced of his father's sudden visit. And yet, he was wrong. The game's just starting… Playing against the rules again, eh, Kasuke? He should've expected this. He could've avoided this. He could've… and yet, enter Kasuke… He just had to ruin it for him; he just had to introduce him to his father. He just had to introduce him to the man he had not seen for what seemed like 8 years.
He stopped as he felt someone following him.
"How was your father and son get-together, Rei?" Kasuke.
"Brilliant. Just…" he wheeled around and faced him. "…Brilliant."
"Oh, really? I heard you ran away, Otohata… Letting my Aya handle the situation, huh? Why, Rei, I never knew you were that chicken to face your own father." Kasuke leered. Rei balled his fists until they were white.
"Your Aya, Kasuke?" he seethed.
"Why yes, I do believe she was mine… until… you came along." Kasuke's voice grew dark and husky as if he was trying to prevent himself from doing something.
"That's 'cause you're a lousy guardian."
"You ruined the picture, Otohata, you ruined everything! You took away everything from me! My job, my spot, my guardian child!" He yelled, fury, radiating from his body.
"Whine. Whine. Whine." Rei muttered coldly, emphasizing every word with gritted teeth. "Grow up." He said shortly after landing a forceful punch below Kasuke's abdomen. Kasuke recoiled in pain but Rei took no notice. He drew nearer, grabbed Kasuke by his collar and slammed him against the wall. "Blaming others for your own doing is so like you, Kasuke."
Kasuke looked up and glared at him with glowing red eyes. He tilted his head from one side to the other and cracked his knuckles. "Ever wondered why I make excuses to avoid staying with everyone else at night?"
Rei's eyes widened as black devil wings stretched behind Kasuke's back, tearing his clothes.
Fangs, horns and a tail.
Kasuke was a… demon?
O-o-O-o-O
"You found him at your front yard?" Mr. Otohata stared at her incredulously.
"Yes, unconscious. He doesn't remember anything so I decide to take him in and try to help find his memory. We've been trying for weeks now yet he still doesn't remember anything."
"But why did you name him Rei?"
"I don't know… He looked like Rei."
"You knew my son?"
"Yes, he saved me from a car accident..."
"You… You… you were that girl."
"Yes…"
Mr. Otohata laughed harshly. "If it weren't for you… he could've… my son… rei…" He trembled but he shook himself immediately and resumed his calm composure.
"I… I'm sorry… Truly, I am, sir… I didn't…"
"No…" Mr. Otohata hushed her instantly. "Past is Past."
"But, sir… It must've been terrible…"
"It was… But… who do you think is this present 'Rei?'… What is his real identity? Why does he look like my son? Why does he act like my son? Why did he just suddenly appear out of nowhere claiming he lost his memory?"
Aya breathed long and hard. Those were the same questions she was asking herself ever since she met Rei. Who is he really? Who was he?...
"I don't know sir…"
Mr. Otohata stared at her. It was then that she noticed how sad the old man truly was. He lost his son… just because his son chose to risk his life in order to save… her.
O-o-O-o-O
Rei clutched his bleeding right arm as he side-stepped Kasuke's assaults. He had taken great notice of how Kasuke weakens every time something hits his horns which was to his advantage. He had conjured some sort of holy magic which has wrapped itself around the demon's body.
Kasuke panicked, it suffocated him. "What is this!...?" he managed to blurt out.
"Who cares?" Rei said as he drew signs in the air with his fingers. Something silvery-white flowed from his fingertips and began to take the form of the cross. It glowed with holy magic and Rei forced it upon Kasuke's forehead.
It caused such a tremendous force that it sent Kasuke backwards on his four's.
"Rei!" Two voices called after him. Rei turned to look at a panting Yuuya followed by a certain seraph with silver wings. Akuya.
"What the heck happened?" Yuuya shrieked.
"Kasuke." Rei pointed behind but no one was there.
Kasuke vanished in thin air.
"He vanished." Akuya said softly and turned to look at Rei's wounds. He placed his hand over the lad's cuts and they healed instantly. "No serious damage. How did he—"
"Kasuke's… a demon."
"WHAT!...?"
"That can't be! Angels can't be… How…"
"I don't know."
"Isn't he supposed to be just a dark angel of some sort?"
"That's what I believe should've happened."
"But… how…"
"Maybe… he…" the seraph stopped in his tracks, unable to continue.
The three stared at the spot where Kasuke was supposed to be.
The cold wind blew against them as they stared up at the dark blue sky. The moon was crescent and there were but a few silver stars in sight. Such a deadly night.
"Let's head home."
"Yeah."
And so, they did.
O-o-O-o-O
"How was your talk with Mr. Otohata?" Rei asked. Aya looked at him and something flickered in her eyes. Sadness… sympathy… loneliness… Oh, God, he wanted to hug her. Assure her that everything will be fine… and yet, he couldn't do it.
"Fine. He just couldn't believe that you look exactly like his son."
"I see…" He kept his gaze upon the piled books that Aya decided to read instead of looking at her directly— this was the only way to fight that burning urge to hold her in his arms. It was already midnight and yet he wanted to remain by Aya's side, feeling that if he left, something terrible was going to happen. "You should sleep now."
Aya smiled up at him. "Aw, getting all worried now?"
Great, she was teasing him again. That even made that stupid urge stronger. Ugh, dammit.
"Is it so wrong to worry?"
"Not really…"
Rei shook himself and grinned, finding no words to respond to Aya's response. He opened a window and supported himself upon the frame, staring aimlessly at nowhere in particular until she touched his arm. He turned to look at her.
"Hmm?"
"You're thinking."
"Surprise, surprise…" He muttered sarcastically.
"Oops… that came out wrong… what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing…"
"Really now?" she giggled. "I know that distant look."
He sighed. What was he thinking about really? Aya? What the? Was he supposed to tell her that she honestly bothered him? That all these times, she was the only thing he was thinking about? Heck, tell her? NO WAY.
Hold on.
Back Up.
He was thinking of her? Has the world finally come to an end? Oh, Gods…
He slapped himself inwardly. Need to alter her attention to something else…
"See those three lined-up stars?" He pointed to the sky.
"Yes… that's the Orion's belt, right?"
"Yeah… The brightest star over there is Sirius…"
"You like Sirius huh, Rei?"
"Yeah…"
"Hmm…" she smiled and hugged Rei's arm like a little child, resting her head on his shoulder. "You know, you should talk more often… All those thoughts will be bottled up inside of you…" she yawned. "And you know what, someday…"
"…" He watched her intently as she forced herself to stay awake. God, she's that tired? She should have just friggin' stayed in bed.
"You'll…" she yawned again. "Explode… kaboom! (yawn) …the big bang theory…"
With that, she closed her eyes, lost in deep sleep.
He adjusted their position so he could carry her to her bed upstairs. He did so ever so quietly in fear of waking up his beautiful princess. When he reached her bedroom, he settled her upon her queen sized bed and sat beside her, still keeping his eye on her.
"Heh… explode? Me?" he caressed her cheek and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Nah… I like where I am right now…"