Note: For some reason, I don't really like the chapter. But, I already did it so I might as well slap it up, ne?
HellGirl – Fountain of Youth
"And that's the reason my hand is like this..." HellBoy held up his large stone hand after finishing his story about how he almost ended the world to save Liz's life. May blinked in amazement, trying to take everything her father said in. A strong wind blew by, tossing the small demon's raven hair on her features. The father and daughter sat on top of the roof of the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense building. May looked down at her feet.
"How come you never told me all of this before?" The demon looked over to her father while pulling her knees to her chest, hugging her legs tightly. It hurt her that HellBoy hadn't told her such a story earlier. But why had he kept it hidden from her all this time?
"I didn't think you needed to know. Plus, it still hurts to bring it up." The large demon looked down at the can of soda in his hand and took a sip. "It's not a thing I'm really proud of. Being brought into this world just as some sort of key to the worlds end." May's eyes turned away from her father and back to the city in front of them. Slowly she leaned over until her head was against HellBoy's arm.
"What if... I was some sort of key for something horrible?" The red teen's eyes narrowed in sadness. "The guy said I was a key to something. I know it can't be good." The large demon moved his arm around his small daughter and drew her closer. May snuggled into her father's large form instinctively. At that very moment she felt like nothing could harm her and she was completely safe from anything and everything.
"Were all born for a reason. Whether that reason is good or bad is not up to us. But we all have total control of what we do and can only hope to make the right decision. Whether its against our soul purpose or not." The small demon smiled and snuggled farther into her father's side. At times HellBoy almost seemed like a friend to her more then a father. But at times like these, when he showed wisdom and caring for her and tried his best to keep their small family together while Liz was gone and try to make up for her absence, he was all she really needed. A father to help guide her way. Suddenly the large demon pulled away from May's grasp and stood up. "It's late, you should be getting to bed."
"I'll be down in a second, okay?" May kicked her feet back and forth, trying her best to keep her slippers from falling off while she did so.
"Alright but don't take too long." HellBoy patted his daughter's head before turning and heading in through the roof door back inside. The small demon watched him leave and sat staring at the small door for a few minutes before looking out over the city.
I I'll be back for you, my little key... /I The same phrase ran over and over in May's mind. What had that... creature meant? What kind of key was she? What kind of creatures had kidnapped her? The red teen sat on the rooftop for a while longer, thinking about what had happened and tried her best to piece the tiny bits of information she was given together. But of course, she got nowhere. Sighing, she stood and headed inside through the same door that HellBoy had disappeared into merely minutes before.
May wandered down the halls towards her room in her pajamas and slippers. As she walked she looked down at the tiny cats that dotted the light purple cotton pants and button up shirt. She also wore the matching light purple slippers covered in black paw prints. Hadly had gotten the set for her last Christmas and every time is started to get even slightly cold she wore them every chance she got. The small demon then paused in front of Thundher Khat's room and merely stared at her door for a few moments.
It had been about a month since the incident and TK had been welcomed to the B.P.R.D the very second they had gotten back from rescuing her. The strange cat girl didn't have complete control of her electronical powers just yet, but she did have real potential. Sadly, Thundher Khat wasn't aloud to go on missions with them until she learned to control her abilities since it was too much of a risk.
Finally snapping out of her daze, May walked up to the large steel door and knocked. After a few minutes of shuffling and getting to the door, TK opened it and looked down at her small friend. "May? What is it?" The small demon just shrugged, looking to the right absently.
"I can't sleep... Did I wake you?"
"Of course not! I stay up late and sleep mostly during the day. You wanna talk?" May nodded and followed the cat girl into her room, shutting the door behind her. The small demon then occupied a chair and sat cross-legged on it.
"I don't mean to pry... But I always wondered where you came from or how you came to be. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." May looked up at her friend, regretting asking when she saw the sad expression on the cat girl's face. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay." Thundher Khat took a deep breath and looked down at her lap. "To make a long story short, my adoptive mother used me as a lab rat. I escaped from her when I was little and lived on the streets until I met you." The small demon looked down at her feet.
"I'm sorry... It must have been hard." TK just shrugged it off, wanting to get off the subject. "I know your HellBoy's little girl and all, but who is your mom?" May's sad expression sunk even deeper but she tried not to show it.
"My mom and dad were good friends ever since they were little. My mom, Liz, lived in here. She had uncontrollable pyrokenesis. After something major happened my parents feel in love and... I came to be. I obviously look mostly like my father, but I have some of my mother's traits, too." Her different coloured eyes started to glaze over but May tried to hold her tears back. "Mom got sick with cancer shortly after I turned eight. She's been fighting it ever since in the hospital." The cat girl winced but the small demon suddenly broke the moment by letting out a small yawn. "I guess I better get to bed." HellGirl stood and smiled at Thundher Khat. "G'night."
"Night." After waving to each other, May exited TK's room and shut the door behind her before heading off to her own room. Her mind was overflowing with ideas and thoughts and everything else that was happening in her life.
Must just be one of those nights. May opened her bedroom door and flicked on the light before shutting the door behind her. "I hope I can get to sleep." The small demon flopped back on her bed and grabbed her CD player. The black and white cat, Zippy leaped onto her bed and began to purr, rubbing his face into her red body before flopping down at her side. May smiled slightly, stroking the cat down it's back and scratching its head. "Tired too?" After flipping on her CD player and putting on her headphones, May covered herself up and turned onto her side to try and get some sleep.
---
HellGirl snorted as someone pounded on her door. By how much force was put behind each knock she could tell it was her father. Grumbling, May grabbed her pillow and slammed it over her face to try and drown out the noise.
"May? You have to wake up, something just came up!" The small demon looked over to her clock. 8:40am. Wonderful. Letting out a sigh, May managed to squeak out a reply from under the pillow.
"I'll be out in a sec!" Of course she didn't plan on getting up anytime soon and merely turned over in her bed.
"Oh no, I've heard that excuse before! If you want to be a part of the team you're going to have to be prepared for this sort of thing!" HellBoy then opened her door and stormed in, snatching the blankets off of his daughter. May scrunched up into a ball in reflex and let out a whine. "C'mon." The large demon snatched the back of her shirt and lifted her from her bed before carrying her off towards the meeting room.
As the entered the meeting room, May stumbled to the seat next to her father and plopped down. She was now to awake to go back to sleep but too asleep to pay attention too much. "Here May." Hadly set a cup of coffee in front of her before taking the seat next to her. The small demon nodded in thanks before taking the cup in her small, red hands and sipping at the hot liquid contained inside.
Tate, the head of the FBI who had taken over shortly after Tom had retired stood at the front of the room looking as serious as he always did. Once everyone was seated and settled, his arms went from behind his back to across his chest. "We have recently received information about a cult starting to form which revolves around the Fountain of Youth. We have also been told that this cult is very, very close to finding the real thing." May blinked, taking her lips away from the edge of her coffee cup to speak up.
"But I thought you guys had already sealed that thing up... Didn't you?" Her curious, multicoloured gaze stuck to Tate as he swayed slightly on his heels.
"Yes, we did. But it seems they have gotten the information off of one of the natives. All we can do it send a squad in and place the fountain under 24 hour surveillance until they show up, then deal with them." HellBoy blinked, leaning forward on the table.
"Wait, then why did you us out here?" May and her father were usually only called out when it came to large monsters or paranormal beings, not just small cults that get out of hand.
"Well, were not positive if this cult has any magic on their side or not. So you two need to go just in case they happen to have some sort of secret weapon that had gotten them this far."
"Where is the Fountain of Youth, anyway?" May blinked at Tate while taking another sip of her coffee.
"Spain. We'll be leaving there first thing tomarrow morning so get ready to head out by then."
As the rest of the details were set up and the meeting was adjourned, May went back to her room and flopped onto her bed. After a nap and a shower she'd contact Yasashiku and meet him tonight. It had become a habit to go see him every time before they went onto some sort of mission even if it was as small as this one.
---
"The Fountain of Youth?" Yasashiku raised a brow and chuckled. "Man, all the things proven not to exist seem to exist. I wonder why all of that sort of thing was covered up..."
"Probably to keep the mayhem at bay." May shrugged while balancing herself on the edge of the roof. The magician looked over to her from his usual position on a chair, leaned back far enough that it looked like the chair would fall over at the slightest wind.
"The full moon is next Tuesday, y'know. You better be back before then." The small demon stepped off the edge onto the roof.
"I know, I know. I'll probably be back Monday. Maybe earlier."
"Better be. I don't want to have to hang around that place all night with nothing to do." HellGirl looked over to the thief and folded her arms behind her head.
"Are you still planning on stealing that gem tomarrow night?" Her eyes narrowed as Yasashiku grinned.
"Of course! Can't leave something that precious out of my hands for that long. The tighter the security, the better. I have to keep testing my abilities." May grumbled at the werewolf's smugness.
"I better be going. I have to get up early tomarrow and head for Spain." The small demon stretched and started to get ready to leap over to the next building.
"Wait!" Yasashiku stumbled up until he was standing next to her. "I... Uh... Good luck and come back in one piece, alright?" HellGirl's blush turned into a smirk.
"Please, it's just a simple mission. I'll be fine! You have no reason to worry. See-ya!" Before the magician could say a word, May had already leapt over to the next building and was on her way home.
I dunno if it's my werewolf senses or not... But I have a bad feeling about this... Yasashiku sighed as he watched May's figure disappear over the tall buildings.
---
"Alright, is everyone in position?" Tate looked around to make sure agents surrounded the Fountain of Youth. HellBoy and May were sitting directly beside the fountain looking rather bored and displeased that they were forced to go on such a simple mission. The small demon set to work at looking at her nails and playing with random twigs and leaves that surrounded her. HellBoy puffed on a cigar and looked like he was about to doze off at the lack of action.
The group sat and waited for hours until something finally came up. "Their coming!" Everyone's attention shot to the direction, which the call had come from. Sure enough a group of three came walking towards the waiting group of agents.
That's all of them? Something's not right... As the agents yelled warnings and all of them were ignored, they began shooting in their general direction to try and scare them off. The guy in the center just smirked and held out his right hand. A burst of air seemed to generate from it, sending the agents flying.
"Oh crap!" HellBoy raised a brow and drew his gun before shooting at them, only to have the bullets redirected to the side by some sort of barrier.
"Daaaad?" May gulped and took a step back as the three gained speed until they were directly in front of HellBoy and May.
"May!" The large demon charged and rammed his stone hand directly into the barrier, not even cracking it. "Oh... Crap..." The leader of the three gave a wicked grin and outstretched his hand before moving it quickly to the right.
"YAH!" Both May and HellBoy were sent flying straight into the Fountain of Youth. May sat up and coughed before climbing over the wall around the fountain.
"They're getting away!" The three ran off as May tripped over her pants and fell onto the ground. "What the..." The small demon looked down at her clothes, which we now five times too big for her. "OH NO!" HellGirl quickly looked over to her father as he tumbled out as well. "Oh god!" HellBoy blinked and raised a brow at her.
"What?" His voice was five times younger then it was and his clothes were hanging off of him like a blanket. "Oh CRAP!" HellBoy was now the physical age of 15 where May appeared only six years old.
"This is UNBELIEVABLE!" May screeched to the sky and collapsed on her tiny rump in defeat.
---
May let out a loud yawn, stretching her tiny arms upwards as she climbs out of bed. It had been two days since the whole incident and she was really getting tired of being so small. They even had to run out and get her a whole new wardrobe until they figured out where the cult was hiding and could rush in, get the water they stole back and hopefully find a cure to reverse the effects. The small demon stared at her door before looking up at the doorknob. Even though she was now six, she was still incredibly small for her age just like always. Grunting, she reached up and grabbed the handle before pulling her door open.
"YA!" Hadly screeched the cart he was pulling to a halt before he ran into May. The pint-sized demon glared up at him, trying to sound her original age but failing miserably with her small, squeaky voice.
"Jesus! I'm still here y'know!" The agent chuckles and rubbed the back of his head before leaning down to talk to her.
"I have your breakfast ready, where are you headed off to?"
"Go ahead and put it in my room. I gotta go ask dad something real quick." Before her caretaker could respond, May was already running down the hallway towards her father's room. She stopped and looked up at the large steel door that lead into HellBoy's room and sighed. There was no way in hell she'd be able to budge it. After knocking she leaned back and forth on her heels until the large demon answered.
"May?" HellBoy leaned down on one of his knees so he was eyelevel with his daughter.
"Any news on a cure, the cult, or when were leaving?" The large demon glared at her. Even though he was only in the body of a 15 year old, he was still a lot bigger then May.
"When we find a cure, I'll come to you first thing, were looking for the cult now, and your not going once we find them."
"WHAT?!" The small demon glared upward, ready to leap up and gnaw on her father's leg. "Why not?!"
"Maybe because your three foot nothing and can barely even hold a gun let alone shoot it."
"But you're younger then I was when I started going on missions!"
"But I can still hold a gun, can't I? And I have my fists." May glared, not wanting to believe how right her father truly was.
"Fine." Crossing her arms, she turned her back to HellBoy and pouted.
"Atta girl." After patting her head, the large red demon went back into his room. May grumbled and headed back to her own room. They had better find a cure quick. I can't stand growing up all over again. As May entered her room she found the cart next to her bed like usual. Hadly had already left to take care of other business, making the small demon regret blowing him off to go talk to her father. She had always enjoyed talking to him while she ate and being so small made her feel more alone then ever somehow.
May climbed up onto her bed and over to the food that had been left for her. Legs dangling over the edge of her bed, she scooped up a spoonful of the oatmeal and started to eat it. As she ate, multiple things ran through her mind as if she had never shrunk in the first place and she was still in the body of a teenager.
Once she had finished her oatmeal, the small got a wonderful idea. With a smirk, she put on sunglasses, a scarf, a hat, gloves, a shirt, pants, boots, and a long coat. Since her horns were now so small the hat easily covered them with only small bumps as evidence they were still there. The long coat she wore covered her tail as she tried to keep it extremely still so it wouldn't peek out from underneath. May then looked at her handiwork in the mirror and grinned. Other then the small spaces on her face that showed her red skin, she looked like a normal bundled up child.
Since she was now so small she couldn't reach the vent she always crawled in no matter how high she could jump. Sighing, the pintsized demon looked around for another way to get to the vent above her. Finally, May latched onto the side of a glass case housing odd artifacts and shimmied her way upward as far as she could before kicking off of it and leaping towards the vent. The small demon dangled from the vent before jerking her body downward until the vent swung open, allowing her to climb up and shut the vent behind her.
May climbed through the vents like usual before she was outside. It was only about nine am on a Sunday and she didn't think Yasashiku to be the church type, so he should be home. It then occurred to her that she would have to keep to the back allies instead of leaping across roves. Like last time when she had taken the back allies and was kidnapped, she was weak and at a large disadvantage. But it was daylight and the creatures that had captured her seemed to always linger in the shadows. Shaking, she did her best to set her fear aside and slid through the bars surrounding the fake Waste Management center.
The small demon kept her head low so that the rim of her hat would cover most of her face from the passerby's as she walked down the street. Thankfully it was freezing out and not many people had decided to walk the streets of New Jersey today. Small clouds of fog puffed out of the scarf worn over her nose and mouth as she exhaled. Surprisingly few people looked at her as she walked by. The ones who did seemed to be concerned or worried about a small child wandering the streets alone merely slowed down until she passed them before walking on their way.
It seemed like ages until May had gotten to the apartment building Yasashiku lived in. She was out of breath even though she hadn't run at all and had a stitch in her side from walking so far. The demon's oddly coloured eyes looked around under her sunglasses for some way of finding out if Yasashiku was home and how she could get him to come down to her. May walked up the steps and looked at the large doors then to the voice box on the side of the wall.
"That's it!" The pintsized demon ran over to the voice box and leaped up to hang from the edge before pressing the button under the number 28, Yasashiku's apartment. Not too much longer the werewolf's voice rang out from the box.
"Hello?"
"Yasashiku! It's May, come down here!" May struggled to keep her small body propped up on the small ledge under the box.
"... What? You don't sound like May." The small demon winced, cursing her now high-pitched voice silently.
"Just shut up and get down here! I'll explain." A sigh emitted from the other end of the box.
"Fine, but this better not be some stupid joke." The voice then cut off, finally letting May drop down and sit on one of the steps. The small demon idly kicked her feet back and forth as she waited. An elderly woman stopped as she made her way up the stairs to the apartment doors and looked at her with concern.
"Oh my, why is a little one such as you sitting out here all alone in the cold? Do you need to come in, Sweetie?" May jumped, taking a few minutes to realize the woman was actually talking to her. Gulping, she tried to put on the most convincing child act she could."No, no! I'm waiting for Daddy! He had to run up and grab something really quickly!" She smiled under her scarf to try and be as convincing as she could be. Finally the old woman smiled and nodded.
"Alright, take care and don't stay outside in this cold too long, Sweetie!" May grinned and nodded furiously as she watched the elderly woman disappear into the building. Once she was out of sight, the small demon let out a huge sigh and slumped onto the step behind her. Luckily for her that was when Yasashiku walked out.
"Yasashiku!" May jumped up and practically tripped over her own feet as she ran to greet him. "C'mer!" The small demon grabbed onto his pant leg to tug him into the ally next to his building but failed miserably as the magician refused to move an inch.
"What are you trying to pull, kid?" Yasashiku crouched down so he was eyelevel with May.
"Ugh! You're so stupid! How can't you tell it's me! I'm r-"May growled but cut herself off quickly. Saying she was red in a public place such as this might get a stare or two. As a last resort and moved her sunglasses farther down her face so her brown and yellow eyes could be seen. "See?!"
"YA!" The thief jumped upward, stepping back from the small demon before looking around and snatching May's hand. Once he had dragged her behind a garbage can in the ally next to the building he began to question her. "What in the HELL happened?!" Both of them kept their voices to low whispers as they spoke.
"I told you about the fountain of youth mission, right? Well, dad and I fell into it! I'm now only six and Dad's 15!" May pulled the scarf from her mouth so he could hear her better.
"I had a feeling about that mission." Yasashiku sighed and stood up, walking out of the ally. May followed while replacing the scarf over her mouth and nose. "My parents are out in Japan for the time being so you can explain everything inside."
The two made their way into the apartment building and up to Yasashiku's room. Once he had convinced her that no one would show up unexpected, May took off the heavy and hot layers of clothing she had put on.
"I'll make us some tea, you start telling me everything that happened." Yasashiku vanished behind a sliding door into the small kitchen as the small demon explained everything that had happened, from start to finish.
---
"I see, so you want me to help capture the guys that are the whole reason for this?" Yasashiku looked at May who was sitting across the small table and sipping her tea. The werewolf's entire apartment was done up in traditional Japanese décor, including the extremely low table and cushions they were sitting on.
"Bingo." As Yasashiku thought about it, the small demon looked out the window behind her. It was already evening? They had somehow trailed off once May had finished the story a long while ago and had jumped onto other slightly related subjects.
Both of them jumped as someone knocked on the door, their eyes wide with fear. "Yassie! I know you're in there!" May gulped back her shriek as the magician ushered her to grab her clothes and hide. Once the small demon and grabbed her clothes and dove into his parents room, Yasashiku calmly walked to the door and opened it.
"Sarah?!" A blonde, blue-eyed girl that looked like something straight off the cheerleading squad bounced in without being invited.
"Of course it's me, Yassie! Just came over to invite you to the fair being held over near the school!" The blonde latched onto one of Yasashiku's arms until he dragged her in a shut the door.
"I... Uh... I'm kinda busy." As Sarah kept insisting and Yasashiku kept turning her down, May glared from her small peeking spot at the door before closing it all the way. The small demon fumed and stormed over to the vanity next to the large bed.
I'll teach that wench to act like that to Yasashiku! She didn't realize how mad she was getting over the obvious flirting Sarah was doing.
"I know someone else is here!" The blonde pointed to the second teacup sitting on the table. "It's some girl isn't it?!"
"I... Uh..."
"Yasashiku-niichan!" Both turned to the doorway of his parents room, they're stood a rather... tan, May. She used the hat she had been wearing to cover her horns and ears, her sunglasses, and the jacket to hide her tail. She had also snatched Yasashiku's mother's liquid foundation and had layered it on her visible skin so it covered up her redness and gave her a deep brown skin colour. The small demon also tried to remember the little Japanese the magician had taught her to somehow act like a small Japanese cousin or sibling.
Yasashiku blinked in amazement as May made her way over to the two. Sarah looked down at her then back to the young thief. "Who's the kid?"
"My... Uh..." May glared up at him, as if ushering him on. "Little cousin visiting from Japan! Her names Ma-Mayoko!" Yasashiku gave a fake grin and patted May on the head.
"Mayoko, huh? Well... Can't you dump her off at a relatives or something?" The small demon fumed at how clueless the blonde was.
Yeah, dump a little kid off with his relatives in JAPAN. God, I hope Yasashiku's not in a relationship with this dumbass. I know more about him then SHE does... Yasashiku raised a brow at Sarah.
"I can't, I don't have any relatives in the U.S. Plus, I promised her I'd take her out for ice cream. Ne, Mayoko-chan?"
"HAI!" Thankfully the blonde wasn't bright enough to catch that she answered an English question even though she supposedly knew no English. "Kohi ip-pai dake onegai-shi-mass!" (Just a cup of coffee, please!)
"So I guess she only speaks Japanese, right?"
"Yeah... We'll, we better get going." Yasashiku laughed nervously as he tried to push the reluctant girl out of the door. May waved and put on a fake grin as she left, trying to make her small, Japanese child role convincing.
"At-chi e it-te baka!" (Go away, Idiot!) Once the door was closed she heaved a sigh and fell on her small rear. "Good riddance." Yasashiku shook his head as he locked the door. "Well? What about that ice cream you promised me?" The magician let out a sigh and slumped.
---
May sipped on her coffee, trying her best not to smug her make up that she still wore to conceal her red skin complexion. Yasashiku walked beside her, sipping on his own cup. "Guess we should head back to the B.P.R.D, right?" The magician nodded, letting out a yawn.
"Good thing my parents are out of town. Though I don't think Pops is going to like me hanging around."
"Whether he likes it or not we really need your help. I know Dad can't handle all of them on his-"A gun shot rang out as May's eyes went wide and a bullet zipped through her left arm. The small demon fell forward, dropping her coffee to the side and blood started to gush from the wound in her arm.
"May!" Yasashiku reached down and picked up and small demon. Her eyes were wide and she seemed to be in shock. The werewolf looked over in the direction where the bullet had come from and narrowed his eyes as a lone figure turned before disappearing into the ally behind him.
The pain... It's... Ten times as worse... It seemed as though her small body couldn't take as much pain as her original one could.
"Hang on!" May could see his lips move but couldn't hear anything as she fell unconscious in Yasashiku's arms. The teenage magician scooped the small demon into his arms before bolting towards the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.
---
May opened up her multicoloured eyes halfway to try and block out the blinding light that was over her. Groaning, she closed her eyes again as the pain in her arm shot to her head the minute she reached full consciousness. Once her eyes adjusted to the light, the small demon looked around the room. She was in the medical room and HellBoy and Yasashiku were talking at the entrance. May tried to focus on them and raise her head but it was too heavy to move. The large red demon double took as his yellow gaze was pulled from the young magician to his daughter. The two then walked over to her and leaned down next to the large chair she was resting on.
"May, are you alright?" HellBoy felt the small demon's forehead with the back of his hand. It was hot so she probably had a slight fever.
"Y-Yeah... Why does my arm hurt?" May's eyes narrowed to try and keep some of the blinding light from making its way into her eyes.
"You were shot. By who we don't know. I think it was those people who had kidnapped you before but why they would just shoot you and run is beyond me." Yasashiku looked down at the small demon, concern welling up in his bright blue eyes. May looked over to her bandaged arm and frowned.
"No, I don't think it was them. I think it was one of the people from the cult. They were warning us not to get in their way."
"How do you figure? You didn't even see them before you fainted." HellBoy frowned and leaned his arm on the chair armrest. May said nothing but reached over to the table next to the chair and grabbed the bullet that had been pulled from her arm. After looking at it for a while in silence she held it out to her father.
"Open the bullet." HellBoy raised a brow and took the bullet between his fingers before holding it up.
"Cut open the bullet? Why?" Yasashiku leaned over and pointed at a small bump in the side of the bullet.
"Kinda looks like it's hollow or something." The werewolf took the bullet from the young demon's fingers and shook it while holding it up to his sensitive ears. "Yeah, something's defiantly rustling inside."
After what seemed like hours and trying to convince and force May to stay in her bed, Yasashiku and HellBoy sat at a metal table side by side as they sliced the bullet down the center and pulled out an extremely small piece of paper that was sealed inside. The writing on it was too small to make out by the eye so they placed it under a microscope to try and make out the writing.
"It's directions..." HellBoy zoomed the microscope in further. "Directions on where their hideout is." He then looked over to Yasashiku and raised a brow. "I guess they want us to find them."
"Could be a trap."
"More then likely, but do we really have a choice?" The large demon pushed himself away from the table and leaned on it. "We've gotta get the water back from them anyway."
"Hn..." As much as they both knew it was a trap, he was right. Did they really have a choice? It was their only lead and they needed to get the water from the Fountain of Youth out of their hands before they did something drastic.
---
"Let! Me! Go!" May flailed and spasmed while being held in midair by her father, who was flat out ignoring her while he got a few of his things ready for the trip. Finally, he let her go. The small demon fell on her rump on top of HellBoy's bed and crossed her arms, pouting like a child.
"I said no, and no is final." The large demon glared down at her and sighed. "Once this is over and done with, we'll find a cure and you can come on missions again. But until then, your not going anywhere." May grumbled as her father shooed her out the door before closing it.
It's not fair. It's not MY fault I'm like this so I should at least be aloud to go along! May grumbled and shoved her red hands into her pockets while storming her way to her room. Even Yasashiku gets to go and I don't! She growled but stopped abruptly. "Waaaait, a second..." With a sly smirk, she dashed off towards her room.
"Got everything?" HellBoy looked back to Yasashiku as the two of the boarded the large garbage truck.
"Yup!" The young magician grinned and patted the katana that was placed on his back. The large demon shook his head but got on anyway. Why he chose not to have a gun was beyond him...
---
"Alright, so their hideout is here. Wolf and I will drop off here and head in this way. The rest of you..." HellBoy pointed at a map while giving instructions on how they were going to barge into the hideout. "Be ready for anything, this is more then likely a trap." The small group of agents nodded and got their weapons ready. They had parked their trucks a small distance away from the hideout and would enter by foot.
As the teams headed in, Yasashiku couldn't help but wonder about May. She had been ordered to stay behind with Hadly, but it didn't seem like her to just sit around and wait for the others to come back. She had to be hiding somewhere, he just knew it... "What's pullin' your tail, pup?" The werewolf was snapped back to reality by HellBoy's deep voice.
"Uh..." He paused, thinking about the consequences of May coming along and somehow getting hurt in the process. "Nothing."
The two continued in silence until they had reached the supposed hideout of the cult. It looked like an old abandoned ruin that was grown over with weeds and other vegetation. The group of three from before was standing in the center around a table with some sort of strange equipment on it. HellBoy, being the kind to barge into things stood up to make himself known and stepped through the hole in the wall they had been spying from.
"Hey!" The three turned towards him, emotionless, as they had been before. Yasashiku growled at Red and jumped from his hiding spot while unsheathing his katana and standing beside him. The one in the center, appearing to be the head of the trio gave a sly smirk before raising his hand out towards them. The two expected the same attack from before and braced themselves for impact. Instead, rattling came from the ceiling above and before either of them could blink, two cages crash down on top of them.
"Danm!" HellBoy grabbed the bars of the cage, ready to snap them in half. Sparks shot up from his hands as he grabbed onto the bars, forcing him to let go. "Augh!" Red looked down at his left hand as smoke rose from it. Odd, he could usually grab onto anything with at least his right hand. He looked over to it and it was even slightly charred. The 'leader' of the trio laughed before turning back to the table.
"Those cages were specially made for you." A smile crossed his features as he turned back around, holding a weird looking gun in his hand. "Care to be my guinea pigs?" Yasashiku growled while transforming into a werewolf and latching his teeth onto the bars while on all fours. After shaking twice with sparks flying in every which direction he finally leg go and yelped, smoke coming from his mouth.
The man chuckled while walking closer and pointing the odd looking gun at HellBoy. "Your stupidity amuses me. One would think the demon who almost brought the Apocalypse would be smarter." Yasashiku froze and blinked towards the large demon in the cage beside him.
The Apocalypse? The werewolf watched Red snarl as the horrible memory was surfaced once more.
"Now this little toy of mine..." The man pointed the gun upward as he admired it. "Will change everyone into nothing if my predictions are right. But I can't help but test it to make sure..."
HellBoy let out a loud growl. "What do you mean?" The man just smiled and pointed the gun at the red demon once more.
"It's a sort of lazer, if you will that contains the very substance that makes the Fountain of Youth's water so... youthful. If someone stays in the water too long and decreases in age so much, they'd cease to exist, wouldn't they?" The two gasped and flinched as the man grinned. "I'll test it on you two before using it to fulfill my own desires."
HellBoy raised his large, stone hand to try and protect himself as the trigger was pulled. A thin, blue light shot from the barrel of the gun and hit his arm like a normal lazer pointer. Red screamed as he decreased in size rapidly.
It feels like... my bones are melting! HellBoy fell to his now small knees and started to slowly collapse to the ground as he continued to shrink.
"Stop!" A small, high-pitched voice rang out just before a gun went off and the strange gun flew from the man's hand. May let out a small cry as she was forced back by the guns force into the wall. The man growled and grabbed his hand, glaring in May's direction.
"You little brat..." May smirked and pushed herself from the wall, keeping the gun pointed at the man. "Yasashiku! Is Dad okay?!" The werewolf blinked and looked over to the cage beside him. HellBoy looked up weakly on his knees and hands. His large jacket had already fallen off behind him and he was only wearing his black shirt, which was just past his feet. The usual deep, rough voice they were used to hearing was now small and squeaky.
"I'm... okay..." The small demon took deep breaths as he tried to regain his composure. May smiled and nodded as she walked closer.
"How do you get those cages off?" May glared up at the man as he continued to hold his hand.
"Such a brave little girl, aren't you?" The man smirked as he watched HellGirl scowl.
"I'm not little! It's your fault I'm like this!" He just continued to smile even at gunpoint.
"Oh really?" He dug in his coat and in a flash had a pistol out before May could react. The bullet flew through the small demon's mid section just as she pulled the trigger, grazing the man's shoulder. HellGirl immediately blacked out and flew three feet before rolling to a stop.
"MAY!" Yasashiku subconsciously grabbed onto the jail bars and was forced back by the shock. The leader gave out a cruel chuckle as he walked closer to the unconscious demon, aiming the pistol at her forehead.
"Such a brave, yet foolish girl... Hm?" The man looked back as the black werewolf latched onto the bars with his teeth and jerked his head back and forth, ignoring the searing pain going through his body. With a sneer, he pivoted and shot at Yasashiku's shoulder, grazing his flesh. Still the young magician continued to jerk the bars back and forth until a large enough gap had been created.
Yasashiku leapt from the cage and raced towards the man, latching onto his neck as he shot once more, grazing the side of his face. The two flew over May until the black werewolf was on top of the leader, ripping at his throat. Yasashiku then stopped himself to stare at what he had just done. The man's throat was... missing. He reached up and touched his blood covered maw before looking at his hand.
W-What have I done? His eyes shrank as he continued to stare, turning back to his human form slowly. The thieves brow furrow and he roared and slammed his fists into the ground, cracking the cement around them. Shaking the thought from his head, he whipped the blood from his face and ran over to the cage containing HellBoy who had fallen unconscious. The two men that had been with the leader had run off the very second Yasashiku had jumped from the cage.
"How do I turn this danm thing off?" The werewolf looked over to the table before walking over and searching for some sort of button or lever. "Ah, there we go." Yasashiku picked up a control and aimed it at the cage before pressing it. The cage slowly lifted so HellBoy was free from the cage. The magician ran over and scooped him into his arms before running to May and getting her in his arms as well. With both of the small demons in his arms, he raced back towards the many black cars that had brought them there...
---
My wound is still healing and healing slowly since I'm still pretty young. A few days after we got back from the trip they came up with an antidote, which ages us by one-year everyday, and once were at our normal age we take something to stop the growing. Dad is about 13 now since he was four when I had stopped the man and it's been about two weeks. They haven't let me take the antidote yet since my body need to concentrate on healing and they said it would cause my body too much stress if I tried to grow and heal at the same time.
Shortly after I came conscious and could actually think, Yasashiku confessed to me what he had done to the man back in Spain. I was as shocked as he was. Though being a werewolf it's natural to do such things, he's not used to it and it needs to be put under control. I'm trying to figure out how I can help him, but have so far came up with diddly-squat.
So as of right now... All I can do is recover and enjoy being a little kid again, I guess. I still don't know if I inherited Dad's gift of being immortal or not. So far I've been aging like a normal human...I don't think I want to be immortal. It seems too lonely and horrible to have to watch your family and friends die while you keep thriving. Dad must feel horrible since Mom is pretty old and he hasn't aged at all since I was born...
May narrowed her eyes and let out a sigh before looking over the illuminated city. She fingered the bead necklace Cate had given her in her palm before standing. HellGirl winced as a sharp pain went through her body before disappearing as she walked towards the small roof door.