A/N: Enjoy this chapter, please, please review, so I'll know if it's worth it to keep writing. Plus it is gonna take a while to write the next because of my busy schedule… But I'll try. Please, R&R.

Erosion

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The fear of one's sin

Brought on the lose

Of salvation

For all

Every bit of Amon denied it. With a bitter jerk of the corner of his mouth he thought back to the dream.

Indeed, he had thought of his mother a lot lately. The change must have been painful for her too. But Amon couldn't help but feel sorrier for himself, she practically lost all sense of being after her powers took over. Though he, will have to face everything with a front that Amon just doesn't have the strength to put up yet.

All sentimentalities aside, the question that nagged at him the most was that whether he would be hunted. No matter what he's a witch now. Amon's surprised at why hunters haven't busted his doors down and killed him already.

Suicide did cross his mind. But the term of "dieing with dignity" is a joke after all these years of witch hunting. Whatever options he has, he's too weak to enact them.

Whatever happened when his powers awoke was unknown to Amon. He suspects that he knew perfectly well but years of loathing locked it away. It's a bliss, Amon thought.

Speaking of his door, Amon felt around him and noticed that his lying on a sofa of some sort. Disoriented, Amon looked around himself and realized that he was lying on the sofa in the STN-J office.

He sat up, noticing that he was alone in the office. Suddenly remembered Zaizen's summon, Amon felt around his coat to find the card with the bar's address. Crisply he walked out of the office and down the elevator to his car.

Driving into the brisk frozen air, Amon continued to speculate what Zaizen would want from him, but as he drove past another red light, he decided that he would just wait until Zaizen tells him, any blind guesses would be futile and a waste of time.

As the bar came into view, Amon circled the crowded parking lot trying to find a space.

As Amon finally stepped through the door, he noticed that the place was filled with noisy men just off work, his unsuited stoniness quieted the bar down a little, as people broke away from their conversations to stare at him as he walks by. Quickly finding Zaizen at a seat with table, like summoning a waiter, Zaizen gestured for Amon to sit down at his table.

Pouring a cup of sake for Amon as he sat down opposite to Zaizen, the older man cleared his throat, and took a gulp of sake.

"Amon, I say that we cut the crap. I know that your powers have awakened," seeing that the hunter tensed, he chuckled.

"And no, you are not going to be hunted. But I'm sure that we can do something about your craft on one condition."

Zaizen paused and took something from inside of his suit jacket.

Amon's knuckles whitened as he tightened his fist when he saw the small bottle of dark green liquid.

He waited for further explanation; he knows that Zaizen isn't stupid. Though for all he knew; now as a witch, a drop of that stuff can kill him.

Zaizen started again, seeing the look on Amon's face,

"I know what I'm doing."

Doubt rose in Amon, wondering why Zaizen would go to all this trouble just to kill him. He suddenly had the urge of telling Zaizen that if he wanted to hunt him, he'll willingly surrender. Amon chooses death over a chewed-up life anyways.

"I want you to marry Toukou."

Zaizen said without a wince of emotion.

Amon didn't say anything, as if waiting for Zaizen to say he's joking. But Zaizen never kids.

Seeing Amon's lack of reaction, Zaizen began talking again,

"But just as I said back in the office, you don't have to do it for nothing. See that,"

Zaizen gestured at the bottle of Orbo in the middle of the table.

Amon could not believe what Zaizen's suggesting. To have any contact with Orbo as a witch is fatal.

"Toukou's mother was a witch."

Amon suddenly jerked his head up.

Zaizen marrying a witch is almost unthinkable. Zaizen continued on, seeming desperate to prove that he's against witches on all accounts,

"I found out right after Toukou's born, so I divorced her. I monopolized the factory's resources for about 2 years for them to figure out how to suppress her craft, and this is the result."

Zaizen held up the small vial.

Amon still couldn't shake the unbelief from his mind. One being that Toukou's a witch; maybe even herself doesn't know it. Another being that he is a Seed, and Zaizen now wants him to marry his daughter.

Zaizen's daughter.

"How do you know if Toukou even wants to be in a marriage? Where's her opinion in all of this? And why do I have to marry Toukou as the exchange of getting rid of my craft?"

"We both know and have seen that she's the most attached to you, amongst all of the possible suitors and as a father," Zaizen paused, as if waiting for Amon it prove his lack of devotion to Toukou as she was growing up and still is,

"My greatest duty is to make sure that she's happy and secure for the rest of her life."

Amon felt as if he's never seen anyone so conceited. His greatest duty as a father? For what Amon knew of Toukou's childhood and present life, Zaizen had never even shown his face other than Toukou's 18th birthday, the day that he's officially rid of the responsibility for her.

"I'll give you 24 hours to give me an answer."

Zaizen said as he got up,

"Now, remember what the Orbo can do, and what will happen to you without it."

Amon felt like laughing. Zaizen is threatening, not to mention bribing him to marry his daughter. And that he doesn't have much of a say in the matter.

He basically has two choices. One is to be hunted, and keep his unvoiced promise to Robin. Another is to be rid of his craft and the horror that hang over him ever since he found out that he's a witch, the catch is to marry a woman that he once loved and still attached to.

There seem to be nothing to be thought about. The possibility of a free life dissolved all thoughts of Robin and his promise for her.

He felt rather ashamed of his lack of thought on the matter; Amon's beginning to think that he's not committed enough to Robin. He first hurt Robin inexplicably, now he's marrying another woman.

To justify his decision, he projected how his life would be like as a witch and with Robin, he can't take care of Robin if the craft takes over, like it did with his mother. He might even kill Robin, without knowing it.

The aspect of losing himself, in front of Robin and hurting her in the process is unthinkable. Amon gradually came to the conclusion of Robin being better off with out him in her life. He mentally apologized and hoped.

"There's no need, I will marry her."

Amon got up and said to Zaizen's back as he almost stepped out of the door.

Zaizen froze for a few seconds and turned around to face Amon, an ominous smile hanging on his face.

"Sensible choice, can I then trust you with not telling people about our little talk? Especially your co-workers or the deal's off."

Zaizen's sudden transparency or lack of it is disturbing Amon to the point of paranoia.

"I suggest that you have a talk with Toukou concerning the marriage."

Zaizen pulled open the front door and walked out, his stride being that of one who's accomplished something.

This has been enough abnormalities for one day. First he's awakened, now he's marrying Toukou.