Agon's house here we come...about freaking time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: You're Crashing, But You're No Wave
The idea of searching through Agon's house had never been a pleasant one, but actually doing it made the word 'panic' come to play.
For the last couple of weeks I had been mentally preparing myself, but nothing could prepare me for when we actually arrived.
"Oh crap." Jyuumonji swore as we rounded around the last corner of greenery. The house loomed above us, tall and imposing.
(Jyuumonji didn't really have a driving license, but his father would be working until it was around time for us to head back to the school. I guess in America kids are allowed to drive, only when the car owner doesn't need the vehicle. Weird.)
Lucky for me though, he was a surprisingly good driver and we didn't run into many other people on the road.
Anyway, I had suspected the house to be looming and imposing, after all Agon lived there. It was enormous, bigger than Hiruma's even and was probably made out dark bricks with a medieval castle theme. Around five stories high it stretched out across an otherwise unoccupied street.
"It, er, looks like a party." I said weakly.
And that's where the really trouble was.
Extending across the whole yard and slipping into the house looked to be close to a hundred of people. Even from the corner of the street a good mile away we could hear the muffled sounds of a blasting stereo.
Jyuumonji made a sharp turn and we parked in the loose gravel, it was the only place from the beginning of the street to the house that wasn't empty.
"A-at least this means I can take the pictures without looking suspicious." I said trying to find a bright side.
Jyuumonji gave me a serious look, "just promise me that you wouldn't get yourself killed, okay?" I nodded, we were probably both thinking back to my last adventure.
"I promise." I muttered and opened the truck door, making sure to lock it on the way out. Jyuumonji pocketed the keys and with a deep breath we headed to the house.
When I said 'party' I hadn't been giving justice to what was happening. Loud, booming music came from every direction muffled only because of all the surrounding trees.
The front gate brought back that medieval feeling; it stood tall with long iron stakes. Luckily it wasn't locked and we slipped through without being noticed.
A paved driveway lead up to the two elaborately designed front doors and circled around a miniature oasis of greenery. To the left was an iron fence with a smaller copy of the front gate. Inside the fenced in area was an enormous pool, complete with its own wall fall. (To call it a fountain would be rude.)
The people all seemed to be older than Jyuumonji or myself, but no one was staying still long enough for me to guess their age.
Jyuumonji put a hand on my shoulder and I gave a weak smile, the faster I took those idiotic pictures for Hiruma, the better.
"Oh look girls! It's, like, one of those camera people!" A tall blond girl ran up to me dragging three giggling girls behind her. "You! Take our picture!" She ordered, her voice slightly slurred and smelling strongly of alcohol.
Obediently I did as told and the stumbled away seconds after the flash in a way that insured me that alcohol beverages were being served somewhere. Jyuumonji glared at our surroundings; obviously I wasn't the only one to realize the pressing danger.
"Don't drink anything Sena." He ordered and I nodded in agreement, ducking when a butler with a serving tray flew back us. "That should probably be the least of our worries." I muttered rubbing the back of my head where the hair was still raided. Jyuumonji didn't respond and, after a quick shot of the house, we headed to the fenced in pool area.
Keeping my head low I let Jyuumonji led the way, I was busy trying to figure out how to take off the stupid flash, did Hiruma seriously give me a camera that only knew French on accident?
"What's wrong Jyuumonji asking, shouting over the music, that seemed to be coming from all directions. "I can't get the flash off! It's all in French!" I explained tilting the camera so he could see.
"That's not French, that's Spanish! Er, just give it here." Jyuumonji said and I gratefully did without resistance.
At least there wasn't any sign of Agon yet that was always a plus. Breathing deeply I tried to relax myself, maybe if I wasn't so nervous nothing bad would happen.
I was proved wrong, of course, seconds later something icy splashed against the front of my shirt.
"Opps, so sorry!" I stumbled back bumming against Jyuumonji while trying to keep an ice cube from falling down my shirt.
"Eh!"
"Let me help you with- yikes, really sorry I thought you were a girl." The guy explained smiling widely.
Sensing that Jyuumonji would attempt to rearrange his organs soon I grabbed his arm and started to lead him away from the weird smiling guy. "What did you do that for?" He asked cracking his knuckles. Wait, something wasn't right…
"Where's the camera?" I asked, my heart racing. Jyuumonji searched his hands for a moment before freezing. "It was right…"
"I-I-if I don't give that c-c-camera b-back…" I couldn't finish my sentence on account that I was hyperventilating. The pictures were the only good thing I had going for me! On some slight (rather foolish) level I was hoping that Hiruma wouldn't be angry if I had those pictures.
That plan wouldn't work out so well if I didn't even have the camera. "There it is!" Jyuumonji shouted, in the distance I could see a camera flash. Squinting my eyes, my heart soared; it was those dunk blond girls!
Since I enjoyed living, I was going to have to get that camera as fast as possible. "Hey, you four, wait up!" One of the girls turned but she was pushed through the front door by her friends. I had to find those girls; my life was seriously depending on it.
Without slowing down I ran up the five steps, bolted through the front entrance, ran down a random hall, and hit something akin to a wall. That wasn't good.
The blood in my veins practically froze on the spot; it was just my luck, I had barely been at the party for five minuets and I had already managed to lose the camera and Jyuumonji while on the matter.
Now I've managed to find Agon.
I didn't move on the slight belief that he wouldn't see me if I pretended to be invisible, my eyes were even clamed shut. "What the, hey aren't you Sena?" A voice, while similar to Agon's but not quite as rude asked.
Quickly I opened my eyes and nearly sighed in relief. "Oh, good you're not Agon." I said without thinking. Unsui frowned; fate must have found some sympathy for me after all, because instead of running into Agon, it was his twin.
Not that I knew a lot about Unsui, for all I knew he was just nicer on the outside than Agon and would be just as irritated by physical contact.
"That's a first, what are you doing here anyway? Did Agon invite you or something?" He asked his face expressionless. I still couldn't get use to the idea that he was in anyway related to Agon, after all he hadn't even insulted me yet.
I shook my head hesitant on how much I should tell him. "Er, not really," I said avoiding eye contact and he raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't be here then, how did you get out here to start out with?" I shrugged still not in a trusting mood.
"I'll take you back to the school then, the last thing we need is for Agon to get annoyed and…" His voice trailed off, I nodded not even wanting him to finish that sentence. Even he knew how scary Agon could get.
But I couldn't leave without Jyuumonji again, even if it meant facing the wrath of Agon. "It-it's okay, as much as I appreciate the gesture, um," Unsui sighed and motioned for me to turn around.
Some animal instinct reached out at me and I swallowed nervously knowing ahead of time who I would find. Scratch what I said about fate finding sympathy, standing in front me looking all sorts of angry was Agon.
--
I shouldn't have come, or at least I shouldn't have left Jyuumonji's side to find the stupid Spanish camera. (It was still out there somewhere so I didn't even have anything to bribe Hiruma with.)
Agon didn't waste anytime intimidating me, he just grabbed the back of my shirt and dragged me away from Unsui who only shrugged.
"A-Agon, um, look I've got a really good reason for being here, but, um, okay, ouch." I hit my shoulder against something before the world was turned upside down.
Gravity wasn't the only reason blood rushed to my face; once again Agon had decided to throw me over his shoulder. The only difference was that this time we were surrounded by people.
I whacked against someone and felt a bruise start to form on my elbow. "Sorry!" I cried and felt a lurch in my stomach, we were headed upstairs. At least Agon was putting in some effort to make sure I didn't slip off and break my neck and kept an arm wrapped around my stomach.
Bad for me though because now I couldn't escape.
Or breathe for the matter.
Turned out that the not breathing part was a plus though, the second story was where all the couples were hanging out. If I was lucky maybe I would pass out really soon.
"Sorry!" I cried again as my head slammed against the back of a guy who had been busy kissing a girl.
He pulled away from her and looked ready to start yelling at me when she puked in his lap. I gagged also, never one for a strong stomach and found a door slam shut in my face. The noise was muffled and I was casually thrown onto a bed.
Agon didn't aim though and I missed the bed, my back hitting against the wooden bed frame. Ouch. I slid to the floor and rubbed my throbbing head and ribcage.
'Nice to see you again, too' I thought dryly and if not distracted with pain I might have thought to say it out loud too.
I sniffled and moaned when I felt something hot and salty run down my face, of course, this was the perfect time to get a bloody nose. Without even turning to face me Agon threw a towel in my general direction.
I pressed it against the bridge of my nose and tilted my head back, my nose wasn't broken, there was a plus, it was just, well, bleeding.
"What the hell is on your shirt?" Agon asked finally turning to face me. He looked angry, no surprise there, and was wearing his dark sunglasses, and well-fitting party clothes. I looked down; the shirt was still damp and stained with whatever that drink had been along with new spatters of blood.
Drat, it had been my favorite shirt too.
"I'm not really sure." I muttered and Agon bent down in front of me pushing back my hair and looked me directly in the eye. I swallowed and winced, it was like swallowing blood. "You're drunk." He announced and I frowned shaking my head the best I could.
"No I'm not!"
"Yeah, you are." He said and I frowned my expression hidden behind the towel. "I'm not drunk, some guy just sort of spilled his drink on me!" I explained and Agon snorted.
"You're a horrible liar." He said and I frowned not use to getting this angry over a misunderstanding. Usually I just agreed with whatever the other person was saying, but I seriously wasn't drunk!
"It's true! It's only my shirt, not my breath." To prove my point I opened my mouth glad that I had breathed my teeth and used mouthwash that morning. Probably to humor me Agon leaned in closer.
If anyone was drunk it was probably him!
Snapped my mouth shut I blushed and pressed against the bed, why was it that it always felt five times warmer when Agon got so close? For a moment he just glared at me before moving away and I sighed in relief.
"Fine, you're not drunk, a definite improvement from usual." Agon said causally and I sent him a dark look.
"That wasn't my fault!" I said and he shrugged, as if to say, Well it sure as hell wasn't mine. "Whatever, as long as I don't have to drag your ass anywhere,"
Agon stood up and sat back down on the bed glaring at me impatiently. I stared up wondering what it was he expected. Me to thank him for all the wonderful things he's done for me?
"Look short trash, I don't have all day, what the hell are you doing here?" He snapped and I nodded. Oh yeah, that.
"Oh, um, it's a terribly long story, I wouldn't want to bore you, actually, and I think I'll just leave now." I stood up and was pressed back down from a large Agon hand and felt a wave of dread. It wasn't going to be that easy, obviously.
"Try me." He growled, and I held the towel closer against my face, the quicker my bloodly nose was done the sooner my hands were free and I could run away. (As if that would work.) "Um, I really would love to but I'm keeping Jyuumonji waiting, so..." That was sort of a lie, I didn't even know where he was.
Agon's eye flashed, uh-oh that wasn't a good sign. "What the hell is he doing here?" He growled. For a moment I was puzzled to why he was so angry, it wasn't like Jyuumonji's ever done anything to him.
"Oh, you're thinking that since his dad is the sheriff and all…" My voice trailed off and I nodded understanding. Agon snorted and I hoped it was to confirm that I was right. "He drove me here." I continued maybe I could just wait in his truck, since I couldn't find him, yeah that sounded like a good idea.
"Never mind that still doesn't answer my question, why are you here?" Agon asked and I shifted uneasily, it wasn't as if I could easily tell the truth.
He jumped off the bed for a better chance to glare at me. Even though I was use to being short I stood uncomfortable with having Agon being that high up. I lightened the pressure against my nose, and sighed relieved to find the bleeding had stopped.
That had been rather short, not that I was complaining. Standing up I opened my mouth ready to ask what he wanted me to do with the bloody towel. I was cut short when he took an unnecessary step forward.
Without thinking I tried to take a step back and my knees buckled hitting against the bed. "Ah!" I cried and probably more out of reflex than considerate thinking, Agon reached out to grab me from falling awkwardly on the bed.
"Thank you." I muttered after a pregnant pause, my heart was beating hard and my face felt like it was on fire. Actually it felt more like the whole room was on fire; I could already feel myself start to sweat.
"Urg, just leave already," Agon muttered slowly letting go of my waist. I tugged down my shirt, it wasn't just my imagination I was really sweating, gross.
"Really?" I asked cheerful enough that I was borderline on being insulting. Agon grumbled something under his breath which might have been anything from yes to no. Oh well, I had a more pressing issue.
Slipping away from Agon I scurried to the front door practically bursting through. Wait, that would be a little too rude. Turning to face him I bowed, out of habit, and bit down on my lip.
"What?" Agon snapped ignoring as I flinched. Even though Agon was scary, he obviously wasn't a vampire – all the vampires I met so far were ice cold and pale, Agon was neither.
Not to count he wasn't affected by my blood, even if Hiruma claimed it was bland, it was still blood.
However, at times, it seemed as if he had some sort of vendetta against Hiruma. (The same could be said about Jyuumonji, but the more I thought about it the more certain I was sure that the reason behind that was because Jyuumonji's dad was sheriff.)
It wouldn't be fair to just leave him without the knowledge of how dangerous Hiruma could get, after all if Riku could break through solid flooring what could Hiruma do to a human? I had been blocking out those thoughts. I wasn't quite sure where I stood on an emotional scale.
"Um, I just wanted to tell you something," there was no way I could explain that Hiruma was a vampire; I was in enough trouble as it was. Agon raised an eyebrow his expression impatient enough to keep me nervous.
"Well, spit it out." He snapped.
"I-I just wanted to say, you really shouldn't be really angry around Hiruma, he's, um, different." Yeah, I wasn't really good at the whole 'mysterious' thing. Who would have known?"Different?" Agon growled he had started looking angry the second I said Hiruma's name.
"Yep, so, well, I better go now!" I opened the door and fled before I could say anything else. I was already digging my grave, no reason to make it worse.
Without Agon and his parting Red Sea ability I had to practically climb over people all the way down the stairs. Halfway I caught sight of Jyuumonji; he was standing stock-still glaring at the surrounding bystanders. I waved catching his eye and could tell even from across the room he was relieved that I hadn't disappeared for too long. And that I had come back.
"Sorry!" I cried as soon as I was in shouting distance.
"Fine- wait is that blood on your shirt?" He shouted and I looked down at the dried stain. Gross. "Oh, it's from a bloody nose! My nose was bleeding." I touched my nose gently, worried that it might start all over again.
"What happened?" He snapped just as a random person launched off the third story baloney onto the first story wearing a bed sheet as a parachute. "Never mind, are you ready to leave yet?" Jyuumonji was still shouting; it was louder inside than outside.
"What about the?" I let my sentence hang, life was over if I didn't get that camera. Noticing my worried look Jyuumonji held up a beautiful sight, the camera, clean without a single scratch.
"While I was waiting for you to show up, I took the privilege and did your job for you, taking the pictures that is."
Probably intoxicated by the surrounding noise and still worried about hinting about Hiruma to Agon I didn't even bother telling myself that it would be a bad idea to wrap my arms around Jyuumonji in joy.
"Oh sorry!" I yelled, loud enough that probably everyone within ten feet heard me. I had gotten his shirt damp; maybe I was more mentally unstable than I had thought. "I-It's okay, let's just go." Jyuumonji grabbed my wrist and started to drag me out of the house.
He shot a glance over my head and I followed his eyes, glaring down from the top of the second story was Agon.
