Nine

Kaito

For the past few months, he had spent the majority of his time with mostly quiet monsters of all kinds, both Inkling and non-Inkling alike. He had enjoyed the winter in silence, in the company of intelligent beasts and had grown accustomed to their language. Now, after officially joining the Monster Corp, Kaito had been given his first real mission to the southern lands, in the opposite side of the country where his father's company patrolled. While he went shark hunting with some of his general's pets, the Tenth would be hunting the spring hordes of jellyfish.

That was his belief anyways, before it had kindly been shattered by the appearance of someone from his old life.

The last thing he had expected while following his hunting pack of Infernals was the collapsed form of his last love affair, looking as if she had just outrun the jaws of death. In moments, Kaito had rushed to the fallen girl, quickly checking to make sure her waterproofing hadn't torn or ripped anywhere, simultaneously looking for any wounds and finding none. Confusion as to why she was basically unarmed and unequipped had perplexed him, but he had banished the thoughts that she might have deserted away instantly. Etsuko was one of the most honorable and duty bound of any of the arbalests, and the idea of her running away from her platoon was preposterous.

After loading her onto his back, Kaito had addressed his blind cohort, the twelve creatures made of flesh and steel reacting to his every motion and sound. These empathetic beasts wouldn't need much instruction, as their understanding of his language stopped at the two gestures of 'stop' and 'go', so when Kaito blew a single sharp whistle, the twelve immediately took off into the woods. He knew with certainty that even though he couldn't see them, the twelve had formed a protective circle around him, occasionally hearing the patter of rain hit the metal that protected their eyes, forehead, and back, along with the thin blades cuffed to their arms. His Infernals would shift their positions to always remain in this formation, only chirping if they found something of interest, as they had done with their discovery of Etsuko.

He marched tirelessly through the soggy woods, unfettered by the metal mask that encased him as darkness began to absorb the world. Kaito had been exploring these cliffs and thin woods for several days now, his training being put to the test by his general and mentor, having more or less memorized the entire area.

The title bearing general had gone through great lengths to express how important it was for Kaito not to fail now, after he had come so far in such a small amount of time. General Kantoku loved to go on long speeches at the slightest prompt at the smallest of topics, so Kaito had ignored most of his mentor's prattle... but now, as he was nearing the cave where he had set up camp for the remainder of the 'training mission', Kaito was desperately trying to remember if abducting an Inkling was grounds for failure. Kaito supposed it wasn't, as his instructions had boiled down to 'bring back a shark pelt, and don't lose more than half of the Infernals'. As he had already killed and skinned a blue shark without losing any of his loaned beasts, Kaito theorized that Kantoku would be okay with delaying his departure until he figured out why a member of his old company was at the southernmost part of their country.

As the trees parted, and the wind picked up, Kaito knew he was close to his temporary base. He stood briefly at the sight of the violent ocean before him, lightning dancing across the black clouds as rain pelted his body. Remembering that Etsuko's face was only protected by his back, Kaito hurried his pace to the cliff, finding the small path that led to the very edge of the world itself, and followed it to the small ledge. After a few seconds of squishing Etsuko and staring at the raging sea under him, Kaito felt the cliff open, stepping backwards into the cave that had been his home for the past week.

Walking carefully in the dark and continuing his journey into the cavern, Kaito wondered where he had left his stash before smashing his foot against it. Roaring without sound, he swung lightly, the pain in his toes telling him to throw Etsuko to the ground without care and to grasp them, but Kaito refused. Behind him, he could sense the apprehension of the beasts that were drying behind him, not wanting to get close to their flailing master.

After a minute of being angry at himself for always forgetting where he had stored his supplies, Kaito slowly placed Etsuko on the ground, moving her arm to act as a pillow for her head as he began his nightly duties. His charges had to be fed, and the dozen were all but begging for a fire, their bodies pressed close together, nudging each other towards him as they whined.

As he shuffled awkwardly in the dark, Kaito had to multitask very quickly. Unwrapping preserved fish and throwing them to the slavering ones, while trying to light tinder for the cold ones, while simultaneously hissing at the curious ones from getting too close to the sleeping female, Kaito found himself too preoccupied for thought. He was lucky that the twelve Infernals he had been given were naturally docile, or didn't try to test him often, the rowdy-rousers having been taken by the general to give his pupil a slight edge for his quest. During his training in central during the winter, he had been stuck with several very aggressive beasts who tested his authority constantly, which almost drove him to a murderous rampage.

Kaito smiled at the memories, now almost missing those beasts, no doubt enjoying their covered pens hundreds of miles away. He hadn't believed the general when he told him that Kaito would one day grow to miss these disgusting monstrosities, but now supposed that was just his mentor's capable foresight. Shaking his smirk away, Kaito removed his metal mask and sat down next to Etsuko's head, shifting it so she could use his leg as a pillow instead of hurting her hands.

As he watched the small embers burn and his creatures settle down for the night, he brushed the bangs of Etsuko, staring at her familiar face as he asked himself if he had even missed her as he did those numbered beasts now. It had been four or five months, and Kaito knew that this girl's face hadn't even crossed his mind once during that time.

The scream didn't surprise him, but made him jump awake nevertheless. He blinked several times, Kaito wondering how many hours he had been asleep as the sounds of massed movement filled the cramped space of the cave. From the light coming from the cave's winding entrance, he judged he had slept the night soundly, which was a rare occurrence when living with these social beasts that were currently surrounding a very nervous girl.

Kaito slowly clambered to his feet, his metal face mask dangling loosely on his fingers as he absorbed the scene before him. Etsuko, armed with a single bolt in her crossbow, continuously switched targets of the blind creatures, who had formed a concave around her. He could tell that his creatures weren't agitated by the weapon, knowing that if any of them felt threatened, their fleshy cones on their heads would be inflated to make themselves seem bigger. Realizing he was the only one privy to this knowledge, Kaito decided to speak up before Etsuko shot any of them and became shreds of flesh.

"Etsuko?" Kaito asked, having the girl's weapon pointed in his face.

"Identify yourself." Etsuko immediately demanded, ignoring the creatures now rumbling in unison of a low growl now that the sensed weapon was pointed at their leader. Kaito raised his hands, showing how he meant no harm as he shuffled into the thin slit of light that had managed to angle its way into the cave. As her face lit up in recognition, Kaito smiled softly as her crossbow slowly lowered. "K-Kaito?"

"Hey." Kaito casually greeted. He watched as her face changed from confusion, to joy, to sadness, to anger, back to confusion, concern, and finally returning to confusion as she absorbed the cave's interior.

"What?" She eventually asked, complete and utter bafflement being expressed effectively. "How? I mean, what? How are you here?"

"I walked here, obviously. With you on my back, no less." Kaito explained, moving to scatter the Infernals before they got closer to Etsuko while her back was turned. Last thing he needed was her accidentally shooting him and setting the twelve creatures off, who weren't familiar to these kinds of situations.

"Not… I mean… I…" Etsuko stumbled backwards as she watched him move, having trouble getting out any meaningful language.

As Kaito finished dispersing the gaggle of eyeless, spectating beast who would just spread to the edges of the cave, he closed the distance between himself and the other Inkling. Grasping her cheeks softly to get a closer look if her eyes had been damaged in the rain, he felt her sigh sharply and posture relax as his skin touched her own. He was startled as the wooden weapon clacked against the stone floor, the free arms grasping around his back as he was embraced.

Kaito couldn't understand why Etsuko was on the verge of tears. He imagined it was because she had obviously been through a hell of a day yesterday, still unsure of the exact things that had brought her this far south. As he tried to decipher the garbled words coming from Etsuko's lips, he wondered if they had had a similar moment like this when he was still in the Tenth Company, no instance coming to mind.

"I… don't believe… you're… dead!" Etsuko barely formed intelligible words, her face twisting against his chest as she did her best to wipe snot on his chest armor. Alarm bells ringing in his head, Kaito grabbed the sobbing girl's arms and forced her to look at him.

"Whoa! What?"

"I thought you were dead!" Etsuko cried, her cracking voice echoing against the walls.

"Dead?" Kaito asked, genuinely shocked as the girl nodded, refusing to let go even as her tears were obviously blinding her.

"You vanished without a trace, and I found your crossbow on the ground, and no one could find you, and everyone thought you had deserted, and then Range just stopped responding to any questions about you!" Etsuko quickly spoke, having to stop speaking as she coughed out phlegm. Kaito was shocked by this news, unsure how to deal with this information.

"He… didn't tell anyone? Why?" Kaito asked aloud, now wondering if he was a wanted man back in the northern provinces. He knew that his departure from the Tenth was sudden, as Kantoku had more or less convinced him to just… leave, without telling anyone, but they had cleared that up after he saved his old company's collective lives.

"Tell anyone what? Where have you been? Kaito, please, tell me." Etsuko begged, her eyes unbearable to deny.

"Etsuko, I joined the Monster Corp." Kaito simply stated, his face turning to a pack of the so-called monsters, sniffing the stockpile of firewood he had collected, which was covering the ration packs. "I'm a commander now, serving under General Kantoku, the Joyous."

"You… follow that insane piece of garbage? When?! He has a title?!" Etsuko asked, releasing her grasp from his back at the name drop.

"I do. I joined the night we returned to Fort Chai. It was… a very weird introduction process. I've been following him ever since." Kaito told, her face turning to that of anger, as if he had betrayed her.

"He cut down our own people, Kaito. He… You… killed and maimed our own warriors."

"A dozen or so. Yes."

"W-what… you… you're okay with that?"

"I am." Kaito solemnly promised.

"What is wrong with you?!" Etsuko yelled, pounding her fists against his chest, albeit weakly. "Why did you leave us?! Why do you follow that kin-killer?! Why did you choose these monsters over us?! Over me?!"

Kaito stared, knowing his face was expressionless like the mask he usually wore. He closed his eyes knowing each and every reason, and fought desperately against the five months of anger, hatred, rage, and violence that was wanting to be freed from his spirit. He wanted to tell her how his father had died a fool, sacrificing himself after so many had died for him. He wanted to tell her how their company's disgrace had succeeded his father, and shouldn't have. He wanted to explain to her that he was trapped in the Tenth, stuck with everything he hated for so long. Their small, powerless group, constantly struggling against supposedly inferior foes. He wanted to tell her how disgusted he was with himself, along with all those that had surrounded him for his entire military career.

"Power." He eventually admitted. "I wanted power, above all else. Kantoku sensed this through either sorcery or monster magic, and offered me power, for the cost of wearing a mask and a cowl. He convinced me to join the Monster Corp in less than a five minute demonstration that he could give me what I wanted."

"You left me for a man you knew nothing about, for… this? Living in a cave with these abominations?" Etsuko asked, disbelief stunning her. "Did I mean… anything to you?"

Kaito didn't answer, knowing no words could recompense his actions. As Etsuko's arms dropped to her sides, Kaito released his grip from her. He wouldn't apologize for his actions, or the path he had chosen, even if it was on seemingly whim.

"I am returning to him today. If you want to eat, rekindle that fire for me, unless you like fish raw." Kaito suddenly said, knowing that it was pointless to stay in this silly standoff. He still didn't know why she was here, but assumed she would tell him over breakfast.

Walking confidently through the woods, Kaito led the way towards Kamakessai. After eating, Etsuko had quietly told him the tale of how she had been looking for three lost platoon leaders, and how the pack of blue sharks had hunted her for an afternoon. Her tone indicated that she still was angry, but Etsuko had seemingly calmed herself as she spoke. She explained that she had leapt over a chasm to escape the primordial hunters, then tried and failed to make her way back to Kamakessai, the only established settlement in this delta region.

Kaito couldn't help but have his general's words fill his head as she told of how her company had come to this province. On his own way to Minami through the mountain roads, Kantoku had prattled on about the region, as it was the final corner of their lands to be completely conquered after the last fish and crustacean holdings were destroyed over twenty years ago. Despite their kinsmen sending both species into the sea, they hadn't truly solidified their grasp on the region, as this corner of their country wasn't a strategic priority despite the fact that the Minami Delta's rivers ran all the way to their northern territories. Kaito had felt upset at this logical error, but Kantoku had defended the strategy, saying how the river had so many fortresses built on it in eastern provinces, that the outlet itself didn't matter.

Apparently, the Monster Corps itself preferred this area to be under-developed, having a relatively large area to send would be commanders to test themselves against the invader of the season. Kantoku had explained how he himself had been to the Minami Delta on more than one occasion, hunting sharks, fish-tribes, and a small raiding fleet of prawns at one point. With few kinsmen in the area to be concerned with, the monsters could run wild, or so Kantoku explained happily.

Having ignored most of what Etsuko had been speaking about, Kaito had offered to take her back to Kamakessai, as he knew the way. She had brightened up at the offer, eagerly accepting and even helping to fix the travel gear on his Infernals despite being disgusted by merely touching them.

Now, after hours of traveling at a brisk speed, Kaito breathlessly gestured to the walled settlement as the two of them cleared the tree line. He had only ever seen it from a distance, as Kantoku had asked of him not to give away their location to any of the denizens of the settlement, so this was the first time he was able to see the town in any real detail.

"Well then! I don't suppose you'll need a guide anymore." Kaito explained, his eyes lingering on the obvious archery range that had been set up on the western side of the town. He took the opportunity to smile sadly, as his mask concealed his emotions from the girl's eyes. Glancing around the woods, he realized his Infernals were remaining close to the ground, not wanting to be spotted as they watched the moving figures in the distance.

"Kaito…" Etsuko paused, looking at her feet briefly, before making eye contact. "I don't suppose you'd come back?"

Kaito returned the words with silence, getting a nod of understanding from the arbalest. He watched as a few sentries started making their way towards them, undoubtedly wondering what these two figures were doing in their southern border. "I should leave. Goodbye, Etsuko."

As Kaito turned to leave, Etsuko stopped him with a shout, "Kaito!"

"Yes?" Kaito asked, already having taken a step away from the girl. He had expected her to be somewhat emotional about his departure, but what he hadn't expected was her crossbow leveled, pointed at him. "Etsuko?"

"Even if Range knows about you joining the Monster Corps… I can't let you go without him confirming your story." Etsuko solemnly said, her eyes hardening as he remained motionless.

"You're not really going to shoot me, are you?" Kaito asked, feeling actual anger as she bit her lip. As he prepared to close the distance and knock the weapon out of her hands, the projectile lowered slightly, relaxing him a little. Assuming she had let him go, Kaito instantly regretted turning from her for that single second.

"I'm sorry." Etsuko breathed before a sharp pain flared in his leg, and he lost balance. Kaito brought his hands to the ground, roaring in pain as he turned to see the bolt's tip sprout from his knee, the metal tipped with his blood.

He didn't even get a chance to yell at his beasts, who were apparently only spectating him as she wrapped an arm around his neck, using her other to stop him from drawing the sword on his back. Shouting curses of rage and anger at this betrayal, Kaito felt more hands grab onto him as he was being dragged uphill towards Kamakessai, Etsuko speaking over him to the ones who had rushed to her aid.

"Get off of him you retards." Range's annoyed voice commanded to those holding his arms. Kaito didn't like how he had been dragged through the dirt roads, becoming a fucking spectacle for those in the town. He didn't like how the commander had a damn assembly around him, Kaito only recognizing a few of the faces of platoon leaders he served with last year. "Etsuko, glad to see you're still alive."

"General Range." Etsuko greeted, beckoning the questioning gaze of Kaito.

General? This piece of shit was a general now? He looked at the Inklings around him, noticing how none of them were wearing the basic armor that was standard issue, and how there were way too many individuals in the room for this to be a single company's leadership meeting. In fact, he could see a woman much younger than Range sitting in a fellow chair, surrounded by squid-guard.

"General? You have brigade rights?" Kaito asked, baffled by this development.

"Did you not listen to me at all? I explained this already." Etsuko said, anger staining her words.

"Alright, enough. Everyone get out, you have your orders. Arashi Week is going to end early, it seems." Range said, getting a low chorus of different affirmations. As Kaito waited for the hall to empty, he snapped the bolt that was still embedded in his leg, grimacing when the wound sealed as the shaft exited his body. Glaring at the mutant holding his mask, the black eyed, pale freak handing the metal face-covering back to the downed Inkling, seeing the obvious resemblance between the mutant and the apparent general.

"Asshole." Kaito growled as he took the metal back, turning to the general who was having a quiet conversation with the girl next to him, who, after hearing what the pale one had to say, rushed out of the room. After dodging out of the way from the armed squid-guards who didn't seem to care he was on the ground, Kaito slowly stood to meet the familiar faces.

"So… what're you doing here, Kaito? If you're here, Kantoku and your shared offspring can't be far behind." Range said, getting a shocked expression from Etsuko.

"You knew? You really knew where he was this entire time?" Etsuko answered for him, anger now openly aired.

"Sort of." Range admitted.

"Kaito." Miki of all people said as if flabbergasted, the logistic officer looking strange in armor.

"Miki? Aren't you supposed to be in a different company? Range, when did you get mutated children? What the fuck have you done to my father's company?" Kaito demanded his questions answered, pointing to the banner beside the so called general. Did this piece of shit really replace the company's colors with his personal standard?

Range sat in silence for a while, his fingers tapping against the metal pole of his glaive as he stared past all of the shared gazes directed at him. After a while, he pointed at the four robed ones, trying to hide in plain sight in the back of the room as the drama unfolded.

"You four, leave. This is Monster Corps business, and we all know what happens when logistic officers are nearby when these fucks are about. Etsuko, rearm yourself, and rejoin your platoon. Your orders are the same as Natsumi and Tae's."

"Which are?"

"Go ask them."

"But-" Etsuko started obviously intent not to let Kaito out of her sights.

"Your man isn't going anywhere. Chances are, Kantoku will be coming here to get him later today." Range sigh out, his words confusing those remaining the room.

"What?" Kaito asked, glaring at the logistic officers who were fleeing from him. Kantoku had ordered him to openly insult all logistic officers damn near the moment he inducted him as a trainee, as they were apparent wastes of living matter. Apparently there has been a long running feud between the Monster Corps and the Logistic Officers for several decades now, and it was up to him to continue the legacy of being hostile to anyone in robes.

Range waited until the four robed ones had fled the room before speaking, glaring at Etsuko who was defiantly standing her ground. Eventually he sighed, giving in to the platoon leader. "I've been wondering who else was in the delta, as my scouts have found all sorts of weird tracks around Kamakessai. I didn't particularly care when they said they were almost Inkling tracks, as it could've been the townsfolk, but it's obvious that they were your pet Infernals now. Has he been sitting on the eastern shore, or…?"

Kaito stared at him for a moment, understanding the blood drunk was neither covered in gore, nor currently inebriated. Though Range hadn't physically changed much, besides becoming a little gaunter, it appeared he had drastically shifted in character since their last meeting, becoming some calm, rational entity in the time he had left.

"General Kantoku shifts positions daily, but yes. He's been watching the eastern half of the delta for the past few days." Kaito answered.

"When did you both arrive in the delta?" Range asked back instantly.

"Probably after you. Did you take the river road?" Kaito asked, trying to figure out if they had just barely missed each other. If Range and his… brigade, came directly south from the great river, chances were Kantoku had passed after, or before Range to get to the eastern provinces, where they headed south. Not that it mattered.

"Yeah." Range grunted. He remained silent after that, but as Miki and Etsuko both tried to speak, he instantly piped up. "Well then! You might as well catch up with Miki and everyone so long as you're here."

"Or I can just… you know… leave." Kaito offered, getting a simple head shake from the pale figure as he stood.

"No. You'd just end up coming back." Range sighed out knowingly as he prepared to leave the room. Kaito didn't want to admit it, but his father's replacement was probably right. Even if he returned to Kantoku now, the general would undoubtedly return to make mischief, now that he knew who it was that currently inhabited the only town within their hunting ground. "I'm going to mentally prepare myself to deal with your leader. Etsuko, go to your platoon. We'll be in battle soon enough."

Range walked to one of the exits, his bodyguards doing a horrible job pretending to be squid-guards as they remained behind with everyone else in the room, watching for Kaito's next move.

"Well then… how's it going?" Kaito asked no one in particular.

Kaito stood beside the southern gate, catching up with Naoki, probably his oldest acquaintance. When he was still in the Tenth, the two warriors had been the oldest platoon leaders in the entire company, ignoring the fact that Range had been a platoon leader at the time as well. While Naoki was the friendly brother to nearly everyone, listening to everyone's problems, Kaito would be the one giving Naoki advice on how to actually solve them as efficiently as possible. During his father's recovery from a severe back wound, which would end up costing him his life a year later, the two had basically run the company by pure social influence.

Perhaps Etsuko had explained some of the things that happened, but now he was having them retold, getting a more complete picture that wasn't explained with mostly emotion. Apparently, Daiki and Souta had died, both heroically, while Akio became the company's first traitor. Kaito wasn't surprised by the latter news, as Akio had always been a shit, but was surprised the Inkling ever made platoon leader in the first place. The two others, Daiki and Souta's death meant more to him as he had actually known them both for quite some time. Especially Souta... who he had known since the boy had joined the harquebusiers years ago.

As they continued to speak, someone above the gate eventually shouted down to them, and an alarm bell was rung through the air. It would not take long for Range to make his way to them, as the pale one had been waiting for several hours, checking on every platoon stationed on the walls. Kaito barely had time to put on his mask before Range was dragging him outside of the gate, the start of evening dimming the world in brilliant oranges.

Standing on the dirt road, backed by his favorite colossal squid, the metal masked Kantoku stood motionless, his red cowl moving violently in the wind. A matching tabard, which wasn't normally adorned by Kaito's general boldly identified him as a general of the Monster Corp, along with hiding any armor that was worn underneath. Kantoku's hand sat on his basket hilt sabre's pommel, an obvious gesture meant to bring attention to the masterwork blade.

Range and Kaito walked side by side, eventually stopping just a few feet from the giant and his master, the beast's back tentacles raised in the air, as if drifting on the breeze. 'One' was this creature's name, for being the first Colossal in his retinue of twenty. Kaito knew this beast for his barely controlled anger and great potential for violence, which would show every few days at seemingly random times... but Range probably knew the beast from staring the creature down and stopping it from slaughtering one of his platoon leaders.

"General Kantoku." Range spoke, eyeballing the creature to see if it would do anything. Apparently, 'One' was deciding to be docile for now, the massive trident remaining motionless and pointed to the ground.

"Commander Range! Or is it General now? I've heard rumors that you've been promoted, in such a short time too!" The masked one happily spoke, living up to his title of 'The Joyous'. "I hear you might have a title as well."

"I do. I've heard you have had one for a while now, yet you didn't mention that during our last meeting." Range easily spoke, ignoring the questioning look from Kaito, who was now balancing between anger and astonishment at the accomplishment.

"I didn't want to intimidate you. I'm sure you know how those silly names make us seem much bigger than we are to our lesser officers. Did you get a good one?" Kantoku happily inquired, taking a few steps towards them.

"It's alright. If we can talk about returning your property though, that'd be great." Range casually shifted the subject as he heavily patted Kaito on the back, making him take a step forward.

"Of course!" Kantoku happily exclaimed, his entire body leaning forwards as he stopped in his tracks, twisting his shoulders to face only Kaito. "What happened, commander? Did you just want to catch up with your old pals? Your old friends? If you needed time to socialize, all you had to do was say something!"

"That wasn't exactly what happened." Kaito informed his mentor, watching Kantoku lean back and put his hands on his hips.

"I see! Well then, did you at least accomplish your task?" Kantoku asked, making Kaito very confused.

"Did… did my cohort not return to you with the pelt?" Kaito returned.

"Oh no, Kaito! You lost the sharkskin? That's horrible!" Kantoku gasped as he grabbed his metal cheeks, as if pretending to be shocked as he ignored the words his subordinate officer had said.

"Well it seems you two have a lot to talk about on the way back." Range offered, making it obvious he was ready to leave them.

"Not so fast, General Range. Ran-gee. Ruh-an-ge. You kidnapped an officer who was on a mission! Not only that, but I've got news that I must share with you."

"First, I didn't kidnap him. Second, what?"

"Y'see, friend-oh." Kantoku said, almost sliding towards the two of them as he put his hands on both officers' shoulders. "I was walking around, looking for some fishy-fish people to have a friendly conversation with, when suddenly, I discovered a bloody company, walking through the woods, towards Kamakessai no less! They looked mightily unfortunate. As if they ran into some big trouble."

Range sighed loudly, borderline groaning at the news. "I'm a little busy, Kantoku. We've got a shark infestation on our southern shores."

"That's perfect!"

"Perfect?" Range returned.

"Yes, absolutely perfect. See, here's what I'm thinking. I give young Kaito here another shot at completing his first objective to hunt a shark, or sharks, by loaning him and his small cohort to you. Then, we team up with that other company, find out what trashed them so badly, then go take care of the threat together!"

Range stared at the metal face of Kantoku for a few, very long seconds, before turning to the equally expressionless Kaito, who was glaring with as much hatred he could muster from behind his metal plated face-guard. After another very long moment of consideration, the ghostly visage turned into a smirk.