"Uh, hi there."
Nala was blinking hard in shock and internally shouting nonsense at herself.
How could I have been so DUMB!? What do I do!
The creature in front of her tipped its' head. It was an eerie, slow movement that reminded her of a snake getting closer to it's prey with right before it struck. It stared at her through the unblinking eyes of the mask, behind which was nothing but darkness.
"Hello."
She froze. The voice wasn't at all what she had expected of it. It was warm, soothing, soft, just plain nice to hear. It wasn't moving, just standing there watching her, and Nala knew she had to do something.
The Aka Manto is famous for being one of the hardest creatures in mythology to trick…I have to say something before he speaks again...ummmm, uhhh…
"So, how are you Aka Manto?"
If the creature could have blinked and put the world on pause as it mulled over what had been asked of it Nala believed it would have.
There was a still air about it, like a creature used to waiting for others to play into its trap and do what it wanted of them, but in that moment the still air became infused with confusion.
Maybe I can side step around it and run….do any of the stories mention how fast this thing runs…? No? Didn't think so…damn it.
It spoke again, it's voice warm, lulling, gentle. Like a cup of hot cocoa after being outside in a cold snowy day, it reminded one of pleasant memories and soft words. It's words were nothing but soft, and if Nala wasn't as good at focusing on the words and not the voice as she was, she wouldn't have shuddered in fear.
"We heard you calling. You are not a witch, but the air around you and yours is full of magic. We heard you, and her. You are connected, and she screams very loudly, even from across the world."
Nala stared at him in utter baffled confusion.
Who the hell is she…? I don't know what he's talking about...should I answer him? Probably not….
She made a move to step around him, but he slid to the side and forward effectively hemming her in.
"You called. You cannot run away now my lady."
The voice was charming, and Nala could feel how her mind wanted her to get caught up in it. Caught up in the soothing tone, the smooth words, the lulling, deceiving calm in the voice, but one look at those black, empty sockets behind the mask and she snapped out of it.
"Uh, look buddy, as much as I want to stay, I really have places to be people to see, you know the norm. So maybe we can continue this discussion, um, never?"
Fingers crossed, she stared up at him with hopeful eyes.
"Red or blue?"
CRAP HELP SHIT SAVE ME OOTORI!
"Excuse me?"
Oblivious to her inner turmoil, the creature tilted its head in a slow, predatory manner, and repeated the question.
"Red cloak, or blue cloak?"
Heart beating so hard she didn't she know how the entirety of Ouran couldn't hear it, she was screaming so loud inside her mind she couldn't have answered him in that moment even if she wanted. Until, she had a split second of clarity.
"No cloak thank you very much, now if you'll excuse me…."
She ducked under his arms as they jerked towards her, and sprinted. Out the bathroom, down the hall, she was on the second floor of Ouran Academy, and was for a split second more horrified at the thought of flying up the long flight of stairs than she was of the creature she was sure was chasing her. She wasn't stopping to check.
Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest, the air caught in her lungs as she ran so quickly she could barely catch her breath. Her legs burned, and fear filled her mind at the prospect of getting caught. She didn't know what would happen to her for answering no cloak, but she didn't want to stick around to find out.
There was a crash from somewhere behind her, and with a small cry as she came to the stairs, she began to sprint up them with renewed effort. She couldn't get caught. She hadn't come this far, and escaped officer Tokiya, and everything that had been sent after her only to be caught by something completely unrelated. Ironic or not, it wasn't on her game plan.
Desperation filled her as she heard a low growl from somewhere behind her, and the muffled sound of her footsteps rang through the hall as she fled from the monster. She thought she heard the scuffle of another pair of feet, perhaps the wispy, soft noise of a cloak fluttering, and out of the corner of her eyes she thought she saw a too big shadow clinging closely to the wall, but it was all happening so quickly she couldn't be sure.
Nala saw the sign for music room #3, saw the large ornate doors ahead of her and for a split second hope filled her. The hosts had yet to let her down. However, she realized something.
Are they there today!? I can't remember! I think today is a finance day, oh gosh I pray they're there, because if they aren't I'm going to die.
Heart pounding in her ears, and her legs trembling as the weariness from so much running was beginning to take over her body, Nala burst through the club room doors with a prayer on her lips for the people she needed to be there. A prayer that died as soon as she saw the lights were dimmed, and the room was empty.
I'm going to die.
*V*V*V*V*V*V*
Haruhi stared at the hosts as they walked with her, oohing and aahing at the sights they went by, and exclaiming over how they suddenly understood why commoners liked to walk and take scenic routes versus driving in an enclosed car.
I hope Nala doesn't mind we left early, even if she forgot we were staying in the first place….
"Oof!" She snapped out of her thoughts as she walked straight into Kyoya's back as he suddenly came to a halt. "Seriously Kyoya-senpai?"
She walked around him, intent on giving him a piece of her mind on why people shouldn't just stop walking, but she froze upon catching sight of his face.
His eyes were unfocused, his breathing slowly growing shallow, and his skin was turning pale and clammy.
"Nala."
The word was all but gasped out as he slowly swayed on his feet.
"Huh?"
"What's up with the shadow lord?"
"Nala." His eyes were almost frantic now, darting to and fro between the hosts as if he expected the answer to his problem to be standing there with them. "We have to get back to the club room. Nala is about to die."
Shit.
*V*V*V*V*V*V*
If she did manage to survive this ordeal, which the chances of happening were beginning to look pretty slim, Nala was never going to crouch behind a couch ever again. It was uncomfortable, and dusty, and she was far too large to ever comfortably fit into such a small space. Trying not to sneeze either was becoming ridiculously hard.
Nala couldn't hear the Aka Manto moving around, but a sixth sense was telling her that moving from the hiding spot wouldn't be prudent at the moment.
How is it not finding me? I've been crouched here for several minutes…..Shit knock on wood I don't want to jinx myself.
From somewhere in the distance, the sound of a bell tolled.
Three….four….five!? I've been crouched behind this couch for half an hour!? Ugh..no wonder I can't feel my toes anymore….
"Come out my lady."
A shudder crawled up her spine. It's voice was so close, she couldn't hide forever, she should just crawl out and-
STOP! DON'T LISTEN TO HIS VOICE!
Shuddering, Nala snapped out of the weirdly induced trance, and went very still. Was that a shadow at the edge of the entrance to her hiding place? Whatever it was she thought she was seeing, she blinked and it was gone. However, the creatures strong, steady, trustworthy voice didn't.
"You should come out, it would make it much easier for both of us, You'll be fun to play with. All you have to do is answer the question. Red, or blue?"
The voice was lyrical, beckoning. It was like what Nala imagined a siren's voice would sound like. A siren that would hunt you down and brutally kill you the moment it saw you, but a siren none the less.
"Rrreedd or blueee." It broke off cackling, and for a moment, the true depth of it's evil seemed to fill the room. "People are looking for you my lady. Nasty, nasty people who will hurt you much more than I will if you just come."
DOES THE WHOLE SUPERNATURAL WORLD KNOW I HAVE A BOUNTY ON MY HEAD OR SOMETHING!?
"Found you."
She screamed.
*V*V*V*V*V*V*
The scream echoed through the halls of Ouran. It was fear, and pain all wrapped up together in a heart wrenching cry. The hosts could hear it all the way down on the second floor, and they found themselves spurred on to run even faster. The twins shifted form and began to run as tigers, Tamaki tapped into some of his vampire speed and sped off, Honey was using some sort of priest magic to make him and Mori move faster than they should have been able to go, and Kyoya and Haruhi?
Well, Haruhi wasn't exactly in the most fit track condition, but she was keeping a good pace, and Kyoya, well, he was moving almost as fast as Honey, and that was with no magic use. Merely his fear and worry for the girl with eyes like spring who was one of the only people who could make him truly feel.
Another scream pierced the air just as the twin tigers slammed through the club room with Tamaki on their heels.
The sight they came upon was bloodcurdling.
Nala was being physically held down by some creature in a long red cloak and mask, his hand raised to reveal wickedly sharp claws that were swinging down again towards her back. A back that already had several nasty looking slices and a torn school uniform to show.
With roars of anger, the tigers launched themselves at the Aka Manto.
**Authors Note**
See we're getting there! How is this turning out so far? Making sense? Was it a realistic chase scene? I'm going to start pulling in more supernatural stuff, because my sideplot of their friendships building has gone well, and I think it's time for us to see more of Officer Tokiya, and Maria. That ok with you guys?
Shout outs to…
Killjarkidranger (Never seen AHS but I'll take your word for it)
Guest (Thank you so much it's always nice to be appreciated!)
Animegal1357 (Actually it's Kyola! I was given the idea in an earlier review from an amazing person!)
ktmyldy28 (Honestly they really should, with how curious she can be you'd have thought Kyoya would've said something by now….)
Pikamewgirl (I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that?)
Ariadne Falcon + LizzytheAngel + SublimeEchos + Clara1Oswin1Oswald1 (Thank you for the follows/favs. I'm glad you enjoy my random drabbles.)