The second guest arrived, also early for the appointment…
He was short in stature with nice blonde hair…
The first things off his lips were, "Is that kid here or not?"
She at first did not answer only took out her opium pipe, he repeated himself.
Now she replied, "Which kid…"
"You know whom I am taking about!"
"Something the matter?"
She packed the bowl of the pipe half amused.
"I never signed on for this sort of thing," he adjusted his black tie, "When I came here almost five years ago…"
"Yes, you did," the pipe's glow stated to fill the room with smoke and memory, "Feng D. Hiraki… Shamen of the runes… Dressed in black with sable edging on the hood, the cuffs, and on the bottom… dressed strangely with red embroidery on your wintry coat… a stranger in a strange land…"
"You gave me a new life, witch, I will give you that," he cut the short and took out a pack of cigarettes, "A year later a guy that smokes this brand… Lucky Sevens…"
"In Armani clothes, dark brown hair," she interrupted, "That was the Master of the Cherry Trees…"
(Seishiro, Tokyo Babylon)
He tapped out a cigarette and lit it up, "Cold, Wet, and half-naked… I assumed that this man killed the brat's parents…"
"The man with violet eyes took a drag on the cigarette as she took one on her pipe, "In a very rare act of "mercy" on his part, he bid me in your name to care for him and protect him – or else…"
"Munch! Munch! Munch!"
The little black thing with red eyes swallowed up the cake, "My! How sweet!"
"You! You little!"
The "houseboy" was not pleased.
"Makona, so kowaii and kawaii," Abtony squealed letting the round puff-ball agree to jump into the protection of his arms," I am a real fan of yours… I would never let an artist like you be unrecognized. May I ask for an autograph?"
"Don't even bother, that little muffin is as much trouble as that woman is…"
"Don't you mind him, he is just jealous…"
He gave the black thing with the red dot on it head a hug, "I will make you new cakes for you and the beautiful lady of the house…"
He then glanced at Moru and Maru, "You will help, will you not, good ladies?"
Both girls immediately agreed to it – if he said anything, they would agree to it automatically.
"You actually like that evil woman? She steals people's souls! I-I thought you were a nice guy…"
"I am one, the perfect English gentleman," he took objection to the assertion he was not good, "Don't you like her? Even though it is rude to speak badly of someone when they are not present… she is not that bad, is she?"
"Yes, she is!"
Abtony stated to cook, as if he knew the kitchen's setup better than the "houseboy" did, "If you taking about her personality… Magic is neither good nor evil."
"What are you saying! You actually agree with that woman!"
He mixed the batter, "It can bring life with one hand, and snuff it out with the other. So, magic must be considered coldly, like a bank-balance, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world…"
"How old did you say you were again?"
The houseboy asked wondering about this little kid.
The black thing with small arms, legs, and tail looked at him sadly.
"Extra chocolate?"
His face matched the little pet's hoping to keep the little friend happy.
"What about your friends? What about your family? They should be concerned about you," the older teen warned, "They could…"
"I have no family…"
"I am sorry…"
There was a sad look on his face.
"Well, I lied," he corrected that look, "I do have a family, but… "A house without love - is a house of living death." As for my friends, I have lots of friends, they are at school," he added, "Only my guardian is coming…"
"Guardian?"
"Hiraki comes from a far away land, like me ... He owed the lady here a favor, so he is paying her back by caring me in this time," he took out the cake form the oven and frosted it, "You see, there is no such things as chance meanings in the lives of sorcerers or other things…"
(Abtony is referring to himself, Yuuko, and Watanuki. He is hinting at something without being overt, that Watanuki also has magic.)
"Makona hungry! And thirsty! Sake!"
The black ovoid protested impatiently making demands.
The "houseboy" looked at it wishing he could put the little annoyance into orbit or use it as a soccer ball against his mortal rival.
"You will have to do that, sir," he cut the cake and placed the kettle on, "I am too young, I am not allowed to drink or handle alcohol…"
"That little kid is dangerous. He had no idea of any restraint. He will run without fear into any fight, and if a lady is concerned he will try to even kill himself to make her happy… he summons up ghosts to play chess, then materializes them to be his "aunts," Hiraki complained, "All he wants to be is loved by everyone like a puppy…"
"That is why he was left with you. You know the arts… You can teach him all the rules – the correct and proper compensation must be offered for goods and services rendered…"
"You don't understand," he explained, "His magic is English… I am a rune shaman, ours is incompatible… a pity that he refuses to…"
"No it is not… It is "Hitzen," an unavoidable fate. It is your responsibility Hiraki Feng, either he is taught or he will misuse what gifts he has…"
"I hope she likes it, the food and the gift," Abtony blushed, "Though you and her do make the perfect couple… you sly, sly, sly fox… The lady of the house is a very special kind of lady," he placed down the porcelain cups on the tea platter, "She is very beautiful, wise, and powerful… and besides that, sleeping with her would have many other added benefits, once you win her heart… you sly, sly, sly fox…"
"I heard that!"
The little girl with white wings on her dress said, "Just bring the cake and the tea."
Both were a little stared by the change in the over-helpful little girl's disposition, voice, and face, "Despite the flattery… Do not mettle in my affairs…"
There was a shiver down the houseboy's spine; he knew he would pay dearly for this…
On the other hand, he could tell, that Abtony, though blushing, was being totally earnest on the suggestion…
This made the "houseboy" wonder what kind of "control" or intent this boy had here...
Something told him, it was not good…