Chapter 27
October flew. Yet, oddly enough, Bang didn't do his haunted dojo this year.
It stunned the family to say the least, the kids always looked forward to doing it, yet he gave no explanation as to why. In fact, the whole dojo itself appears to have shut down for the time being. Melee noticed when she walked by it just a few days ago, the windows were covered and the door was locked. There was but a note on the door stating if anyone were to be looking for Bang, he is at his brother's dojo for an unforeseen amount of time.
Despite it, Garou insisted they celebrate Halloween. "In your condition dad?" asked Hunter. "Look, I am all for the haunted dojo, but why don't we just make something ourselves? Couldn't we rent out a place or something and go from there?"
"I think it's best we not try to do anything right now." Melee explained. "I don't know if you kids have noticed but those Neo Heroes are stepping up their game."
"Oh, we noticed." Muttered Pac. "I swear they follow Hunter and I when we hunt, they confront us after the monster is dead and demand to know why we are doing this."
"What do you tell them?"
"We're hungry, duh!" snickered Hunter. Yet he continued to roll his eyes. "Since when did you and dad know we were eating monsters?"
Garou smirked. "You weren't eating us out of house and home, we ran out of monster cells ages ago and haven't replenished and I never gave you that much allowance money to have you eat out all the time."
"The monster blood on your teeth and the bits of flesh that you left in the sink didn't help either after you brushed your teeth…" Before Melee could continued, their new houseguest arrived.
He didn't knock, he barged in as if he lived there for ages. "No, I told you I cannot help you in November… no it's not because of that tiff… no… I explained this before. You had ample time to fix this, in fact, you had well over 4 months worth of notices… You can contact me in December… for now. I am off limits… No I do not intend on shooting any movies or TV shows as the blue serpent… Very well… chow…" he hung up shortly after, wheeling in a rather large bag of luggage Amai turned to the family and offered a warm smile. "Can't say you didn't miss me, can you?"
"How can we, you're here all the time now." Muttered Garou. He then stared at the luggage. "Another thing, why the hell so much baggage? It's not like you are going to wear any clothing for the next month!"
"I have other things besides clothing in here. And I and not here ALL the time, I just tend to drop in every now and again…"
"You know your song uninvited guest? You're living it now!" said Melee.
He forced a smile. "Well, I better prepare the room…"
He was about to go towards Snek's room when Melee called. "No," He froze to her sudden sharp tone. "Go to your own room!"
For a moment, he was rendered speechless. "M… my room?" he asked.
"Yeah, you're room. Thank Alley and the new brood, we had to add more space. And since you won't leave here like a bad smell, we made one for you." Melee rose as she led him down the hallway there was a wall with a massive bookshelf before it. "Strange… I don't remember this here."
Melee smiled as she reached for a single book, The Man in the Iron Mask. With a pull, the doorway opened into the room. Double doors like Snek's but the room was large with a big screen TV. The floor was firm memory foam, there was a desk to write at and even a bed for when he is turned back into a human state. The room was an eggshell white, wide and spacious. Melee watched him as he marveled at it all. He turned to her, surprised to say the least. "This… is my room?" he asked.
"Snek didn't want you taking his anymore. So we made some arrangement. Don't get too comfy Amai, you're not moving in…" she paused. "What is with you anyways?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're here almost once a week. I know it's mainly for Drax, but still… you should be far too busy to even make it to City Z unless you are filming a show near by…" she approached him oddly, staring into his eye. "What has gotten into you?"
He offered a warm smile. "Melee… sweet Melee. It's nothing at all. My schedule has been reduced, I merely took your advice to heart and perhaps ease up on my own burden. Is that so wrong?"
"Yet, of all places, you come here." She said. A small smirk came over her face. "There's a reason you are, and it's not just for Drax either. Amai, I know there is a lot to understand about you. Some aspects I will never be able to fathom let alone agree with. Your… brutal sense of justice for one."
"Brutal?" he question. "I call it swift."
"Call it whatever the hell you want, I don't agree with it most of the time." She said. "I won't have you expose Drax to it either."
He was taken aback by her words. "I am merely going to teach him how I function as the blue serpent…"
"And show him how you dispense justice. I get that, but know this. If you are trying to mold him in any way into your image, think again!" she warned. "You can help raise him, guide him. But do not allow a young mind such as his embrace your sense of what is right and wrong! Don't you dare contradict his own father either."
Amai didn't say anything, all he could do was nod his head to her. "Good, I am glad we have this understanding. Now… you can set up your room however you see fit." Melee turned to leave but paused. "Amai…"
"Yes?"
She turned her head, just far enough to see him. "Thank you… for no longer coming after my family the way you did before." With that, she left the room. Melee closed the door behind her and rejoined the others. Snek and Drax were at the kitchen table making a list for what they were going to do for the month. The two of them were smiling with glee. Everything they could imagine will be crammed into 28 days.
#
November first.
It was the crack of dawn. Snek woke in his room and stretched himself out, yet he paused. Slowly, he peered down and saw his own feet once more. A smile came over him as he wiggled his feet for the first time in a few months. "Got to admit, this ain't so bad anymore." He said.
Picking himself up off the ground, he stumbled a little, trying to regain his balance and the use of his legs. They felt like spaghetti at first, but then he adjusted. He tipped toed out of his room and managed to get to the bathroom. A hot shower was in order to say the least. Snek took it on the hottest setting and savored the heat of it all. This was one thing he did miss, being able to bathe properly and more frequently.
When he finished, he managed to get back to his room, but remembered. All his clothing was at the apartment in City F. He wanted to get his suit cleaned up and also avoid anything with scales for the next month! Yet, as he stumbled back to his room, there was a package in the middle of it all. He froze to it. "I'm not the only one up?" he wondered.
Reaching down, he took the top off and found new clothing! No note, nothing to suggest who it came from. Yet it looked like a nice casual suit, no scales or anything to be found. With nothing else to really wear, Snek put it on and found it fit him rather well! Black slacks, a crushed red velvet under shirt, with a black jacket. There were even new shoes to go along with the ensemble! With a nod of approval, he left the room and decided to go over the list once more. Drax wants to do it all with him.
He wants to go hiking, bike riding, amusement parks, water parks, movies, training, concerts. The list went on and on and Snek smiled to it all. He began to make coffee and thought of what to do first; where to go, what to see that Drax wanted to do the most with him. By the time the coffee finished, Snek found he had company. He nearly jumped as Amai stood before him in his serpent form. "I didn't think I would have startled you."
"Why are you up so early?"
Amai shrugged, yet he peered at Snek's outfit. "I see it all fits you well. I was hoping it would…"
Snek froze. "You got me this?"
"Well, far be it from me to allow you to wear something that you live in constantly. Especially when you are taking Drax out and about, you won't want to remind him over and over again that what you are is merely temporary…" He trailed off as Amai began to look over himself. "I still find this rather strange and yet an interesting sensation… to glide across the floor in such elegance and yet to have a body like this…"
"You regretting your offer?" Snek muttered as he took his first sip of coffee for the day.
Amai smirked. "I am a man of my word."
The two fell into an awkward silence, Snek kept glaring at him. Amai appeared to be inspecting Snek. "I got to know… why the hell are you so drawn to Drax?" he demanded. "You know damn well he is my son, yet ever since you adopted him, began to train with him… you want to spend more and more of your time with him. What the hell is your deal!"
Amai wasn't the least bit phased by the comment. In fact, he even smiled to it all. "I never realized how much potential he had."
"Say what?"
"His potential. I didn't think he didn't have much of one, since he was… after all, your son. But, ever since we started to train, I have seen his strength grow, he has become quite strong to say the least. His willingness to get even stronger is to be admired. He knows how powerful I am compared to him, yet he shows no fear to me when we spar. That in itself is amazing, I know may children his age wouldn't even dare to try and raise a fist to me. He isn't scared that easily."
Snek paused, but sighed. "It's because of what he went through before I even knew he existed. The kid has been through hell, and I did nothing to help him…"
Amai forced a smile. "Our past shapes our future."
Snek went back to his coffee, yet he couldn't resist glaring at Amai. He put his coffee cup down and said. "Look, I get it." He announced. "But, I want you to back off a little from my son."
Sweet Mask chuckled. "Oh? What am I doing wrong? What has you so concerned Snek?" he was amused, Snek knew it. Amai Mask has gotten under his skin and was lavishing in doing so. "Snek, if you are so concerned about me. You will lose focus on your son. Will you not?"
His anger was boiling. Snek knew it and tried to keep himself settled. This was why he agreed with Melee, he can only trust Sweet Mask to a certain point. After that, he can't. Right now, he was reaching that mark. He was about to speak until a bedroom door crept open. Amai was grinning, it must be Drax waking up. He appeared to be tip toeing through the halls, yet froze when he saw them in the kitchen.
"Dad!" He threw himself into Snek, embracing him tightly. "You're really human again!" he wept.
Snek braced him tightly. "Yeah, which means I am all yours for the next month!"
"AHEM!" Amai coughed aloud.
"Fine, 28 days!"
"I can't wait dad… say, can we started now? I know its early and all…"
"I suppose we could do that hike you wanted now. Get ready and we'll go. Perhaps we will drop by the apartment and I can get a few things too."
Drax rushed back to his room to change, Amai turned and grinned. "I cannot wait to show him what I can do as this…"
Snek forced a smile. "Teach away, but don't force your methods on him!"
In the back of Snek's mind, he felt there wasn't anything Amai could teach him as a serpent, that he hasn't already taught to Drax!