Chapter 8

"What the hell was that about?"

Snek had to know, what made Garou snap and chase out the Soda Boys in such a manner. They just got back to the house when the question was raised. Garou however sneered. "They called Melee fat!" he said with a growl to his voice. "Punk ass, snot nosed, shitty brats!"

"Whoa, kid in the room, remember!" Snek opted not to mention how they were insulting her for eating so much food. He would have gone out and killed them!

Garou turned and saw Drax lingering. Then, a smile came over his lips. "Oh yeah, summer break starts for you tomorrow, doesn't it?"

Suddenly Drax's eyes widened in great excitement. He rushed to his bag and took out the report card. "I didn't read it, I promise!" he insisted.

Garou nodded as he noticed it was still sealed up. With a nod, he tore open the top and took out the papers. He said nothing as he skimmed over the details and teacher's comment. "Filler, filler, filler… blah, blah, blah… teacher comments, teacher comment…" when it was all said and done, Snek reached for the report card, however in a shocking move, it burst into flames within Garou's hand! It burned the whole thing up as it reduced to ashes! Even Drax was surprised.

"What the hell!" Snek demanded. "I wanted to check his grades!"

"You'll know by tomorrow." Said Garou. Yet he kept a very stern and stone face, he even glared down at Drax, shaking his head oddly.

There was a look of devastation on the eleven year old, tears wielded in his eyes as he rushed to his room and slammed the door. Snek however appeared relieved. "Oh thank God," he muttered.

"I don't see the big deal about this, the kid wants to hang out with you. I heard him before. He has a point. Why should you be the one to change just to spend time with him?"

"I'm the adult here, he also doesn't know what it's like!"

"How can he know if he doesn't experience it?"

"It's out of the question now, we had a deal!"

Garou nodded. "It's a shame really, I thought the kid would make a good partner in crime for you. Since of course, you of all people would complain that no one goes hunting with you…"

"I won't expose my son to such a thing! What I do is disturbing!"

"It's nature"

Snek hissed defiantly at him, yet it was getting late, he decided to go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow he has a mission of his own to attend to. Apparently there was a farm riddled with monster rats that need to be taken care of…

#

Drax sobbed in his room. All that work, for nothing! He kept trying to clear away the tears, but they couldn't be stopped. A gentle tap came on to his door. "What!" he demanded.

"Can I come in?"

He froze to the voice, the door opened slightly as Garou began to linger. Drax didn't even want to look at him for what he did, he got his hopes up for nothing! He cleared away the tears and tried to put on a brave face, but, it wasn't enough. "Just leave me alone." He muttered.

But Garou came into the room a little more. He kept something behind his back before presenting it to him. It was a snakeskin blanket of all things. "I know it's not the same thing, but…" he said.

Drax stared at it, somehow the blanket had the scales of both his father and Amai Mask. But he refused to take it. "Why make this? This… is creepy!" he protested.

Garou shrugged. "Better than nothing I suppose. You worked really hard, you fell short in one social studies class, but I know the teacher was a total prick to you. Especially on that report you did about defending the M Class, he dinged you since he didn't agree with the argument."

Drax snatched the blanket from Garou before placing it onto his bed. "Well, if you knew that, then can I still be with my dad during the summer? I really want to spend time with him! Please!" he begged.

Garou shook his head. "I already spoke of the prophecy last time Amai was here. It's set into place, but also remember kid. This power of mine is a hit and miss to say the least. There is no guarantee that would have worked either." Garou sighed, but then smirked. "You know… the whole family was rooting for you to get your grades up. Despite your old man not wanting you to join him for the summer. We did. Not to mention, I think you're the kind of kid that would be able to handle it. Not many could."

He cleared away his tears but smiled and even forced a laugh. "Thanks… and I should have known about this power being sketchy too…"

"Meh, it's worth a risk every so often right?" Garou stood up from the side of this bed. "Sleep tight kid, and don't take it too hard."

Drax nodded as he began to reach for the blanket, yet he brought the snakeskin one up over himself first, he gave out a sigh before falling asleep for the night.

#

Snek woke bright and early the next morning. He had to be out just before 8 o'clock to fulfill a special request submitted to the association, he was just getting his second cup of coffee in him when he heard a strange sound.

THUD.

Garou woke shortly after, yet Snek appeared concerned. "What?" Garou muttered.

"You feel that? That didn't feel right… that wasn't human."

"Maybe Suiryu's tail?"

"No…" Snek said with great uncertainty.

He began to slink down the hall, trying to register where he felt the impact. Drax's door suddenly burst open. He froze at the sight of his son peered out… covered in scales!

"DAD! LOOK!" he said with great excitement, then fell flat on to the floor. Snek's glare turned to Garou who only smiled at him from the kitchen table. His attention shifted when Drax began to drag himself across the floor, but his smile was the widest he has ever seen it. "Dad! I'm just like you now! Look, I'm like you!"

"I see that… damn it!" he muttered the last part to himself. Strange thing about Drax was that his scales were like his, but there were hints of blue in them as well. He was a lighter color yet why does he have Amai's scale color tone as well?

Drax slowly rose up off the ground, yet appeared to have trouble balancing himself. His arms flailed about as he tried to maintain his vertical base. He was quick to hold on to the wall before laughing nervously to his own actions. "Uh… dad… how do I move?"

Snek rolled his eyes as he had to teach his son the fine art of slithering. Drax was able to master it in a few minutes, from there, he was gliding across the halls laughing all the way as he found it rather amusing. He even climbed up Snek and coiled around him in a firm, serpent embrace. He went behind his back and wrapped his arms around his neck in an affection hug. "This is going to be great! It will be you and me all summer like this!"

Then he felt Drax's stomach rumble. His son giggled to it. "Oh, I guess I'm hungry."

"Well you're coming with me then, I got a job to do. Best get you full at the same time."

He knew his son couldn't wait, he was so excited to go on his first hunt, but perhaps his first meal as a serpent boy will show him it's not all exciting let alone fun!