Chapter 34: Finding out the Truth
Few minutes later, The married couple is now back home and Ray is telling everyone her plan on seeing what is wrong with Shinji. Zarc however does not like the idea. The poor demon still can't trust Shinji. Of course the others are listening to Ray on what to do. "Okay everyone." Ray signaled, "I'm gonna call Shinji and ask him over." Ray grabbed her phone from the coffee stand. "When he does," Ray begins to explain, "Be nice and also we're having him over so we can learn his secret and show him that he can trust us on keeping it." Ray then begins to glare at Zarc, since he doesn't trust the poor friend of Ray's. "Do you understand zarc?" Zarc wailed in not really liking it as he groans in disgust and hatred. "Fine." He said, "But have him bring a pizza too, I don't wanna do this on an empty stomach." With that said, Ray begins to call Shinji. Shinji picked up the line and Ray is telling Shinji if he can come over. Ray also then told Shinji that she and Shinji needs to talk and the man need to bring over the pizza as well. Much to Shinji's amusement, he accepted the invitation. Ray and Shinji hangs up their phone and Aria, the Melodious Diva, one of Ray's monsters and Schuberta's niece, looked at Ray funny. Ray looked at the monster back. "Oh come on guys!" She reassured in showing she got this under control, "It will work! I mean had zarc and I ever NOT been right?" (a/n How about when Zarc is trying to turn you into a doll eventually.) Zarc has a knife out in the living room carving in words, thinking to himself, 'I'll out him,' Zarc thinks to himself, carving in the last few words, 'I know he's trying to get with Ray. I won't let him!' Odd Eyes noticed what is up with Zarc. He went to his master to check what is wrong. "Something wrong master?" Odd Eyes asked, "Letting the little Yuno Gasai inside your heart take over?" (a/n If you have ever heard or seen Future Diary, Yuno Gasai is a psychopathic yandere who is trying to protect her boyfriend.) Zarc is clawing in the words, saying 'Die, Shinji, Die' into a wall with a knife. With that question, Zarc turned and find his monster a little disturbed from the handy work. "What?!"
Later at the Apartment, we find Zarc sitting and stirring on the chair, not liking the idea like a dog. He has been all day, until he heard the doorbell ring. It was Shinji at the door. "I'm here!" he called, "And I brought a meat lovers!" Ray goes to the door and answers it, showing she's happy for him to be here. "Hello Shinji." Ray greeted, "Please come in." Shinji went inside with the pizza, and Ray looked at Zarc. "Pizza's here as well Zarc." Ray reminded. "Yay!" Zarc interjected in excitement, "Something I'm actually excited to see!" Shinji sweat dropped but not happy on what Zarc reacted. " Uhhh..." Shinji is a little speechless, but managed to speak, "Nice to see you again too..." Ray sat down on the couch that matches the chair as she offers a seat for Shinji. "Please take a seat Shinji." She said. Shinji sat down the chair and gets comfortable, Meanwhile, Zarc is eating and enjoying his pizza. Ray begins to tell Shinji that she noticed his behavior earlier and tries to reassure him that as long as Shinji's with her and Zarc, he will be okay. "Oh," understood the man, who is sadly smiling, "That's what this is, huh?" Ray answered yes to his question. " Please just tell us and we won't do anything that is mean." Ray vowed, "We will support you no matter what." Shinji begins to deny, trying to tell Ray that he's fine. That didn't Zarc though. Zarc pop his head up from the cheesy mess to look at the human who drives a duel runner. Zarc Scoffed to the answer. "Don't act innocent!" Zarc begins to accuse. Shinji looked confused from the reaction Zarc is having. "Excuse me?" He asked. Zarc got up and off the couch and away from the pizza to go bad cop on Shinji. "I know what you're up to, blue boy!" The demon accused as he climbs on top of Shinji, tugging his collar. Yea, it really did made Shinji jump in fear. Zarc begins to accuse Shinji for trying to take away his wife, telling him that the demon won't let the duel racer who works for pizza, get her. With that said and done, Shinji bursted out laughter, much to Zarc's confusion. Ray is even too confused from how Shinji is reacting. To be sure, she looked at Shinji to check if he's alright. "Are you alright?" She asked. Shinji looks at Ray in return. "Ray, didn't you tell him?" Zarc is now even more confuse from the question. "What?" The demon asked, "Tell me." The Duel Racer then explains that he never kept one thing as a secret. Ray and Zarc are even more confused than ever. Question marks are popping out their heads, trying to figure out the answer. "Well, in that case," Shinji begins to give the answer, "Your husband might wanna stop manhandling me. He might not get the reaction he's looking for." Zarc is even more puzzled but wanting the answer. "... What?" He asked. Shinji took a breath then said, "I'm gay, you dolt." The couple were surprised. Shinji is into guys. Zarc cleared his throat as he still has his hands on the shirt collar. "Oh." Zarc sweat dropped "... Well, this is awkward." Shinji smiled in a very teasing way, making Zarc get off of him. "Why?" He asked, "Never climbed all over another rugged man before?" With that said, Zarc groaned in disgust and Jumps off the gay man, grossed out and shocked at the same time. "I-uh-eh he he, Just I, I never uhh-You know what," Zarc stuttered, trying to speak, "Who wants drinks?!" Zarc beings to act quick. "Lemme go get us some drinks, mkay?!" Zarc then hops out of the living room, defeated. Once arrived to the kitchen, he placed his face on the counter in defeat. "I'm an idiot." He called himself.
A gay man huh? Sure Ray remembered that Zarc mentioned that he got a gay cousin, but never knew in all her life that Shinji is gay as well. She seen him not dating any women so it really makes sense. Ray is calmed down a bit so Shinji can speak. "That's not a secret." The gay man explained, "I've never lied about that." Shinji then just rubbed the back of his head in slight scatterbrain, "I guess I just assumed you knew." Zarc, finally got himself together, brought back some sodas, and hides behind the couch after, peeking at Shinji. Shinji saw how Zarc acted, then laughed. "Afraid of catching the gay, are you?" He asked. Zarc is not pleased with having a homo around the house. "IT'S CONTAGIOUS!?" Zarc asked in fear. Soon the moment calmed down then Shinji looked back at Ray. He still didn't get why Ray married Zarc. In all his beauty, he speaks "... Okay, not dignifying that with an answer." Ray looked at Shinji so she can pay attention. "So Ray, what have you been up to since you got hitched?" He asked. Ray explained that she has been a housewife for weeks (not that she's complaining) and want to bear some kids with Zarc. As she speaks, she finds Zarc still hiding behind the couch. "And for crying out loud!" She yelled, "There is nothing wrong with being gay!" Zarc got on the couch and sits up with crossed legs. Shinji was shocked from what he's hearing. I mean No, there is nothing wrong with being a housewife but what is Zarc up to. Shinji then reminded Ray about the time where she dreams of becoming a champion level duelist. how driven she was in school tournaments. "What made you change your mind?" He asked. Ray doesn't know how to explain. So she looks at her husband to help her. "I told her not to anymore." Zarc answered. Shinji was shocked. Why on earth did Zarc told her that? Shinji then begins to listen to Zarc explaining why. "It's stressful and there's no need." Zarc explained, "I'm already a champion, so I'm filthy rich." Zarc has a point but why else? "What's she need to compete for?" Zarc asked, "We're in great shape." Shinji begins to feel suspicion. What is Zarc really up to? Shinji then looked at the demon. "And, you agree with that Ray?" He asked, Ray put her hands on her lap. "Well I do get frazzled at times," Ray admitted, "So I took his word." Suspicious, Shinji just like that's something. Ray tilt her head in confusion asking what did she say or what is he talking about. "Is there... anything else I should know about?" Shinji asked in suspicion. Zarc cocked an eyebrow to such question. Ray then had an idea. She can have the boys do a man to man talk while she bakes in the kitchen. "Well while you boys talk," Ray begins to speak, "I'll go to the kitchen and make cookies." With that said, Ray left to the kitchen. "That sounds lovely." Said the gay man who is glaring at the demon.
Shinji glares at Zarc, not trusting him. "... I know what you're planning." Zarc looked at Shinji in slight confusion. "Hmm? Oh, who, what? Me?" Zarc asked. Shinji got fuming slightly. "Don't play dumb." Shinji ordered, "I've seen it all before. I'm not an idiot." Puzzled, Zarc starts to think then changed his mood, understanding what Zarc means. "I see now." Zarc begins to put pieces of the puzzle together. "So THAT is the real secret." He concluded, "The thing you're hiding from Ray. From everyone." Shinji was distraught from Zarc's reaction. "... So what?" Shinji asked in distraught, "I'm getting better." Zarc gloats at the gay man. "Tell me, did you cry?" teased by the demon, "I bet you did!" Shinji, can't stand it any longer, he flares in anger and charges at Zarc, lifting him by the collar. Zarc gloats and tease Shinji even more. "Oh, big man." Zarc teasly name called, "What'cha gonna do? Same thing he did?" Shinji growled at Zarc who asked such question. "I used to look up to you..." He yelled, "You were my hero!" Zarc crossed his arms as he is still caught by the collar. "I'm so flattered." Zarc stated, "Did you want me so badly too?" With nothing to say, Shinji released Zarc, frustrated with growls The gay man walks into the kitchen leaving Zarc Smirking. Shinji finds Ray in the kitchen, who is adding sugar, eggs, flour, and other ingredients. Shinji goes to Ray to talk to her. "Ray..." He began, "I need to leave." Ray looked at Shinji in confused as she then mixes the ingredients. "What?" She asked in confusion, "But I just mixed in the ingredients." Shinji just squirmed a bit, trying not to swallow his pride. "It's not that I don't appreciate what you're doing-" When Shinji is about to say the next part, Zarc interrupted the gay man with one question to set him off. "Then why not sit a little while longer?" Shinji freezes up, heard Zarc's question. Ray glares slightly at Zarc for interrupting. "Zarc don't interrupt." Ray ordered as she then looks at Shinji, "Then what is the reason if it's not that?" In a panic, Shinji screams no, running out of the apartment as he slams Zarc aside. Then Shinji was gone, right out of the door. Confused, she wonders what did she say that will set the man off. Zarc goes to his wife, who just finished making the dough. "I don't think it was you." Zarc assumed, "That guy was a nutcase." Zarc now inside the kitchen, he looked at the dough. "Knew there was something I didn't like about him." Zarc then looks at Ray who just getting ready to make the dough into balls. "So, cookies?" He asked. Ray looked at her husband. "Yes." Ray answered, "Chocolate Chip." All the sudden, Scrap Eyes popped through the counter. "Did somebody say chocolate chip?!" Scrap Eyes made sure. Then he got out of the hole and tries to run to the dough. "Let me at 'em! Let me at 'em!" Scrap Eyes spoke, trying to get to the dough. Zarc noticed the small dragon who is trying to get the dough. "And we woke the little booger up." Zarc then looked at his wife, wanting to know on how he can help. Ray asked if Zarc can divide the dough into little balls as she tries to keep Scrap Eyes away from the dough. Zarc giggled from what Ray said. Soon the married couple begins to roll the dough into balls. Of course not before Ray asked Sonata if she can keeps Scrap Eyes company. Ray explained that she and her mother used to bake together, before the mother died. Zarc licked the spoon then dabs some dough on Ray's nose, making her blush.
Later that night, after Ray lost her temper on Scrap Eyes for eating all the cookie dough, we find the couple asleep in their bed. Ray is soundly asleep until she heard some buzzing from her phone. Ray groggily woke up and answered the phone to see who sent her a text or called her at such hour. It's a text message from Shinji. It reads: Ray, it's Shinji, I need to talk to you, right now. I'm downstairs, with my duel runner, please come see me. An whatever you do, DO NOT TELL YOUR HUSBAND! Confused, Ray got out of bed, putting on her shoes and ending up going out quietly, in her tank and panties. Zarc hears a sound of tires burning then woke up in a jolt. Zarc find Ray left and he find her driving away with Shinji as he drives. Zarc goes to his fusion dragon, Starve Venom and woke him so he can follow the two. Zarc followed his wife and her friend to a high school they used to go. With a nice land, Zarc got on the roof and he begins to spy on the two once again. Zarc find Ray and Shinji speaking at Shinji's old locker. Shinji turns away next as she is shaking. Very slowly, he starts to pull off his gloves. He's flinching a lot, as if in pain. Next he takes off his jacket. Up and down Shinji's arms are deep scars and bruises. There's some fingerprint bruises around his neck. Some of the wounds have healed, but a few are still healing. Much to Zarc's shock, this is pretty deep. Ray yells in fear, asking what happened to Shinji. Zarc then learns from hearing Shinji, the gay man used to live with his boyfriend named crow, who shows love through pain and violence. (a/n Domestic violence it pretty bad, so I wouldn't count on it.) "It's not like I wanted him to do this..." Shinji explained, "It's just, after a while... I stopped resisting..." Zarc pays close attention to the words. Shinji points at his neck, where the bruises of being held by the neck in a choking formation is located. Shinji explained that he used to have a dream of being an architect and he and Crow used to be friends, now became a couple. Zarc listened to the words from Shinji, as the gay man then explained how Crow treated him so nicely. Shinji then explains the signs that Zarc did on Ray: Taking away dreams, keeping her from family and friends. Ray shook head in denial but she is quite shocked from what happened. When Shinji got to the part where Crow took him by the neck, he started to cry, stating that Crow rather see Shinji die than leave, since Crow loved him to death. Zarc shook his head, feeling empathy towards the gay man. It didn't stop him from wanting to fuck off. Shinji patted Ray on her shoulder like a brother. "What has he taken from you already Ray?" Shinji asked, "Your family? Your friends? Your dream of becoming a champion duelist?" Zarc really did but at least he didn't take her monsters away, since they are her family. Ray stated that she sacrificed her hopes and dreams to be with Zarc. The only thing Ray didn't sacrificed is Shinji. Shinji begins to ask her. Did she give them up voluntarily? Or did Zarc set things up in a way that she had to? Did Zarc promise to rescue you? To give her everything she could ever want in return for all of her love? Does Zarc demand all your time, but spread out the demon's? Follow her? Keep tabs on her? Shinji then spoke to Ray that Zarc is taking pieces of her. Slowly. Shinji then admitted that he does not want her to be the one standing here next... after she don't know who you are anymore. Ray denies even more, wanting to go home. Shinji broke down into crying loosing that he now lost Ray. (a/n Not entirely Shinji, you will see that Zarc did corrupted her memories but he fails to make her forget for who she is.) Shinji reaches into his pocket and takes out his keys. He then tosses them to Ray. Telling her to keep the duel runner, stating that it will save her one day. Ray is confused and scared then tries to speak. Shinji tells her to run away from Zarc as he sobs with a smile. Use the duel rider and go til the world end he said. Do not go back to Zarc he said. Ray wants to speak but hushed by Shinji's finger. Shinji then told Ray don't be a coward like Shinji was. He told her to go be free and be herself again. Scared, Zarc watched Ray and Shinji leave the school and she then got on the duel runner. Starting it up, Ray took off heading back to her husband's place. Zarc growled in anger. How dare Shinji trying to separate his wife from Zarc?! How dare Shinji for trying to take away his most precious doll he ever loved?! Zarc heads inside the school through the roof, hearing Shinji coming back in. Shinji glanced at his old locker. He finds some cute photos of him when he was younger. He smiles a little, remembering who he was a little... before he finds glowing yellow, golden eyes in the darkness. Then all the sudden, he's ambushed! Shinji skids across the school tile floor, leaving a trail of blood from his old scars. He hacks and wheezes, looking up with blurred vision at his attacker... Zarc. The demon growled as he then unsheathe his claws from his gloves, showing that he is very angry at the gay guy. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" The demon angrily asked. Shinji's Eyes widen, seeing that Zarc is going to attack. Zarc then slams his boot heel into Shinji's bruised neck. Zarc kept angrily asking Shinji why. "Huh?" He angrily asked, "What is it? Trying to get her run away? Trying to break us apart?" Zarc slams his boot down again, causing a splash of blood. "Hmm?" Shinji's coughing up blood, but manage to speak. "You can't... controlgehh... her Zarc... geeeeuuu. "Shinji weakly speak as he coughs, "She's a person..." Zarc looked at the gay guy with a glare. Yellow, golden eyes, faintly glows in the darkness. "You know, I wanted to let you off with that warning earlier," Zarc spoke in a threatening tone. "Since you're not a threat to my love physically, but you just had to keep pushing..." Zarc then slams his boot in again, incapacitating Shinji. Shinji is coughing up more blood now and Zarc then bends down to look at the man. "Oh, I want to be clear," Zarc explains, "I'm killing you for trying to send Ray away, not for the whole being gay thing." Shinji begins to try to speak through his haggard breath. "How's that supposed to make me feel better?!" Shinji weakly asked in anger. Zarc smirked, showing a fang that is luminous under the moonlight. "It's not." Zarc answered as his voice became deeper in showing aggressiveness, "Just, being clear." With one more slam from his boot, all we hear from the decapitation of Shinji, blood curtailing splatter noise. Zarc's boot is now covered in blood but he jumps back in his open window where Starve Venom is at, he climbs back inside, undresses again and crawls back into bed, as he hears Ray pull in. In a few minutes, Ray is back inside and then she placed the keys in her purse then she quietly got back to bed as zarc is still "asleep", as she went under the covers she look at him. Ray stated that Zarc is a heavy sleeper before she drift off to sleep. Zarc is indeed pretending to sleep. 'Not a heavy sleeper...' Zarc thought, 'just, faster than you... tee hee!'