Chapter 10
Amai woke.
The room around him spun, and yet, he found himself behind bars, chained and tied up. "Is this a joke?" he demanded. He could break free from the binds easily. He was restrained so the serpents on his body don't strike those around him, his wings clipped back, his tail chained to the wall and yet, he knew he could easily break out of them. "It is a joke!" he laughed.
"It's not a funny one to say the least."
Amai froze. Standing before his cell was none other than Sitch himself. "Sitch… I can explain everything…"
"Save it," he growled. "Amai Mask, you have caused destruction within the city. We know for a fact that you threatened to kill Garou, his children and endanger the lives of those around you. You lost all control of yourself. Can you even recall what happened just a few days ago?" he asked.
"Of course I could! I was doing an interview for my latest album. Then, I became this. After… after…" he paused, he couldn't recall a thing.
Sitch shook his head. "You decimated a city block."
"What?"
"You destroyed a good portion of City L alone just shattering the windows and causing structural damage. Thankfully, Hunter was able to remove you from the city before any more destruction was done, we were fortunate to get the people evacuated before this even happened. Amai Mask… You have been demoted,"
"No… No you can't do this!" he protested. "I… I…" he stuttered with his words but then said. "This is all Garou's fault!"
"No, this time, you are the one who shit the bed." Garou came out of hiding, listening to everything but smiled from ear to ear.
"YOU! You piece of shit! You really think this power is hard to control? Do you think I couldn't do it myself?" Amai demanded.
"You couldn't control it," said Garou. "I even saw you struggling to try to. But let's not dwell on that now, just so you know, you are at the Heroes Association, sub basement, right blow your little meeting room where your rich fans like to gather for their annual Sweet Mask meeting. I would keep yourself calm if I were you. You go through the floor…" Garou paused and cringed. "Those would be some unhappy fans."
Sweet Mask's eyes widened, he panicked a little but tried to keep himself calm. "Who… who is Rank 1?" he asked.
Hunter came out of hiding from behind his father. "Me." He said. "Our little… incident, put me over you. Not exactly what you had intended huh?"
Amai turned away, disgusted with the idea that a son of Garou had surpassed him. Sitch turned to the two. "Don't stay too long, I want to be certain that Amai won't be doing anything too brash, we will have to sedate him." With that, Sitch left.
Garou glared at him through the bars, there was no smirk this time, it was just a look of disgust. "You really thought that this power, all this power was easy to command? Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to take control of it? I erupted many times over before I was able to handle it, now I can. Question remains though, why couldn't you?"
Amai glared at him. "Rub it in my face now, are we?" he asked.
"No, merely pointing it out. Despite what I was, I did a damn good job at using that strength for those around me, not just my own benefit. Look at what you did with it."
Garou stepped off to the side as Hunter took over. He stared into the cell before stating. "I won't look back after I make it into the S Class." He said. "Quite frankly, I have come to realize something. I can't believe I have you to thank for it. I get it. To a point I completely understand why you have held people back from stepping into the S Class. Your reasons, are selfish ones. Mine… Mine will be nobler. I have face many in the top 10 of the A Class, I know for certain that despite their talent and their abilities. They are not ready to move up."
Amai sneered. "What do I care?" he said.
"You don't, I know that." Hunter said. "Which is why I am going to do things differently. Not just with A Class, but with B Class as well. As Rank 1, I will be more of a leader to those within the same class as me and those under the A Rank. Unlike you, I will help my fellow heroes be better heroes."
Amai snorted with a forced laugh. "Yeah, I am sure."
Hunter shrugged his shoulders. "I know you don't give a damn about that either, but know this… you're below me now. Maybe… I'll keep you there." With that, Hunter walked off. "You coming dad?"
"Yeah, just a moment."
Amai glared at Garou once more, it was just the two of them now. "I hope you see now that despite how powerful I am, all of that I contained within me, I never took it out on the people. Unlike you."
Garou turned his back and began to walk away. Amai murmured under his breath, "I never realized how strong you truly are."
Garou paused as he turned back to the cell. "What did you say?"
Amai cringed but said it louder. "I never realized how strong you truly are! Happy!?" he demanded.
Garou smirked.
Amai turned away. "It makes me sick to say those words, but… It's true."
As Garou began to walk away once more, he paused as he felt a familiar pain fester under his skin. Amai began to feel his body shift and change as well…