Chapter 31

Amai's weekend finally arrived.

Much to the chagrin of Snek. He got up early once more to wait and see if Garou's soothsaying powers worked once more. Yet, Amai was up before him! He has been slithering in circles in the living room for God knows how long. He was starting to wear the floor out and take the finishing off. "You may want to stop doing that, you're making a donut in the floor."

Amai paused as he peered down. "I'll easily replace it." And continued on his path.

Snek got his coffee as he sat and stared as Amai continued his unusual pace. Everything caught his attention, the smallest movement would make him stop, but if nothing came of it, he went back to his senseless slithering. Snek was about to speak until it echoed the house.

THUD

Amai dashed down the hall and towards Drax's room with great excitement! Snek barely got out of his chair when Amai vanished. But he knew better than to get between him. Snek sat in wait for another ten minutes before a bedroom door opened. He came out of his room as expected. Drax was in his monster form once again, much to the delight of Sweet Mask. "Finally! Now the real fun can begin!" he announced. "I've been holding back until you were ready, we have so much to discuss!"

"Can I please just wake up first… this isn't exactly a pleasant way for me to get out of bed…" muttered Drax.

Snek noticed his son has gotten longer than before. In fact, Drax was nearly the same size he was when he first became the serpent. "Oh… morning dad…"

Snek smiled. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah… weird, but okay." Drax tried to take it all in again, yet as he was attempting to wake up, his body already rumbled and demanded a feast. "Damn it."

Amai began to act much like Drax did when he was first turned. Wanting to go out into the world and hunt. "Come along now, we need to get something in you. I can finally teach you some of my methods of hunting!"

"Mind if I come along?" Snek asked. "I could learn a thing or two if you are teaching him."

Amai glared at him, Snek however smiled since, after all. Sweet Mask did the same thing to him.

"Sure dad. So, where are we going Amai?"

Sweet Mask was silent at first. "Abandon district of town. I learned that there are some rather large monsters there trying to gather and gain numbers. I say we weed them out!"

"Sounds like a fun filled morning. I'll get a jacket. Drax, take my coat Alley made for me, it's chilly."

#

Drax froze.

True to his word, Amai did teach him something.

He watched as Sweet Mask moved about, how he could contort and control his body to move fast and strike hard. There was even a point where it appeared as if Amai made a dead jump from where he stood to strike down a monster! He was impressed to say the least and learned as long as his body remained lean, he could do the same. Yet, the other lesson was one he wasn't too fussed, let alone really interested in doing. For example how to eat a monster whole and alive.

Drax didn't realize this was how Amai lived as a serpent. He relished in the fact that he could devour his victims alive without fear of them bursting out of him. He witnessed how Sweet Mask went in, struck the creature once in the chest just enough to break its ribs before he turned. "Now, watch carefully. This is where justice is served!" Without hesitation, he began to swallow the screaming beast. Inch by inch, despite its best attempt to break free or fight back, Amai forced it down his throat. Drax felt sick as Amai reached to its feet. He went as far as pushing them into his mouth and slowly swallowed it down! From there, he merely stared as the monster within struggled for dear life. He could still hear it screaming through the stomach walls of Sweet Mask.

"And that, dear Drax. I how I feed," he explained rather smugly. "Perfect justice to an unjust beast!"

He was too scared to move at first, despite one monster remaining. Amai merely knocked it out before offering it to him as a meal. "Feel free to eat it however you wish, but you are more than welcome to try my method."

There was no reason too, Drax knew he wouldn't be able to handle the notion of eating something alive in such a manner. Instead he went back to his father's tried and true methods of strangling it to death before eating. Drax ate well that morning, but was still disturbed with Amai's methods. He did learn how to move faster though and strike harder, but the last part he could do without. "Dad…" he whispered.

Snek watched everything from a distance, he didn't interfere or say a word. He wasn't the least bit startled either. Drax approached him oddly and whispered. "You did that once before… right?"

"I think you remember the only one that I ate alive. The so-called Pig Butcher, your former step father. After I broke his hip, shoulder blades and then a few good strikes to the chest. Still, unpleasant as hell to eat alive…" He couldn't contain himself as he embraced his father tightly.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Drax, are you alright? Did I upset you?" questioned Amai.

"Startled him, yes."

"I was asking Drax!" growled Sweet Mask.

He pulled away from his father. "With all due respect Amai, I can't eat that way. It's too unpleasant for me to even image or trying to attempt such a thing. Was there anything else you wanted to show me?"

"Of course there was! We still have other methods of hunting! The day is young, and I am not quite full."

"Don't over do it with him, remember he's only like this for a weekend!"

"Of course, of course," Amai insisted.

Drax however was wondering what else there was to learn. Before they could continue on, he paused as his father's phone went off. "You got Snek"

He paused. "Oh… Oh… Uh… how do I explain this… I am temporary out of commission on that for the moment… yeah… no! Not at all, I'm not sick or anything from them. It's just that… I am not currently in that state… Can I pass you along to my temp?" Snek then offered the phone to Amai. He was confused as he answered.

"Amai Mask here… You want me to what?... No… Snek does what?... I'm sorry I do have standards… I mean… can you blame me, I could be eating far more larger threats than mere monster rats!"

Drax froze, it was the farmers he watched his dad help out before. They needed him again. Amai was refusing until Drax took the phone from him. "Hello? Sorry about that, I'll be there as soon as I can… me? Oh… I was with Snek when he went a few months back, at the beginning of summer. I'll be there, I promise… okay… bye."

Amai froze and stared at him oddly. "What is that about? Rats are so beneath you. As well, you do have the right to refuse."

"I've seen the look on the farmer's faces when my dad arrives to help them. It's nothing short of graciousness and gratitude for all he does. I won't let them down. If my dad can't do this, if you refuse, then I'll go!"

Sweet Mask was still stunned. "But, are we not suppose to spend the weekend together?"

"Then keep up! Dad… I got this, do you mind if Amai and I…"

His father put his hands up in surrender. "You two are more than welcome to go at this, I'll head home."

"Thanks dad," Drax paused as he turned to Amai. "Are you coming?"

#

They arrived at the farming district in City D.

Much to the surprise of Drax, the farmers knew who he was. Despite the fact he had indeed grown since they last saw him. Nonetheless they were pleased to have him come. Yet, they paused and stared at Amai oddly. "Is this what Snek mean that he wasn't in his normal 'condition' to help us?" one asked.

"Yes, he and Amai have an agreement. Snek is able to become human once a year for a month. Amai in return becomes the serpent."

"Is the pop star going to partake in this too?"

Drax turned as Amai began to look into the pit the held the monster rats. A look of nausea came over him. "I doubt it. You don't want him to be sick either, the last thing he ate is still alive." With a sigh and a deep cleansing breath, Drax peered into the hole and saw the small legions scurrying about trying to break free. With a sigh he leaned in and went to work. Just as he saw his father do before him, a mere hand around the base of the neck was enough to suffocate the monsters, even snap their necks. From there one just shoves it into their mouth and one gulp later the rat is gone. Despite how unpleasant it was, Drax went through with it all. Taking each and ever last one of the furry bastards until none remained. There were far fewer than the last time he came with his dad.

Perhaps these things are starting to die off or even move on.

With the last of the creatures consumed, Drax felt rather full for the day. The farmers appeared relieved as they thanked him whole heartedly for his efforts. "You have no idea how much this means to us."

"We are truly grateful for you help. This isn't the best job nor the most pleasant, but please know we greatly appreciate your efforts!"

He soaked in the gratitude, but knew not to let it go to his head. "If they come again, I will do what I can to help… Perhaps next time Amai Mask will step in and assist me."

Yet, Sweet Mask was still disgusted with the notion. As they left, Amai was still trying to get over the sight of the event. "You didn't HAVE to do this, you do have the right to refuse," he insisted.

"I am more than aware of that. But they asked for help, I don't refuse. Since dad didn't refuse. He doesn't like doing this either, but, the farmers needed this taken care of."

"I would have just shredded them all to bit!" Amai insisted. "There is no need to consume them!"

"Then what?" Drax questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"You destroy the monsters, shred the bodies to bits, then what do you do with those bits? Those bodies could lure more monsters, easy and quick meals for them to take advantage of. You may suggest they burn them bodies, what if it spreads? What if the fire gets out of control? Do you really think it's that big of a deal to eat a rat considering you ate a demon level threat monster whole and alive?"

There was no answer from him. Amai couldn't respond. "Was this not a big enough deal for you? It isn't the most glamorous, I know, but this helps not just the farmers but all the cities when it comes to food, does it not?"

"I… never thought of it that way."

Drax then paused, "Amai…" he turned and looked him dead in the eyes. "Why are you so lonely?"

He forced a smile. "What do you mean? I am not lonely! I have millions of fans! I have countless co workers and movie stars that I speak with not to mention band mates from my music career!"

"How many of them actually get to be with you or even know who you really are?"

There was a look of shock on his face. Drax stood rather defiantly before his arms crossed. "I know that is the reason why you have been coming by. Why you want more time with me. You're alone… and I think it's starting to get to you."

Sweet Mask stood there, in aw of him. He couldn't say a word, let alone find them. It took him a good minute or so to even express an emotion. He forced a smile. "You're father taught you well in reading people's movements."

"No, this I noticed just how I've been spending time with you, the look of joy on your face, the excitement in your eyes when you get time with me. Even the coy grin you get when you argue with my father, despite this façade you put up, in reality you just want to be with those who know you for you. Not the 'sweet mask' you put up for the legion of fans." Drax sighed. "Amai… why put yourself through all of this? Not to mention, it appears you enjoy coming unannounced to say the least."

This time a genuine smile came over him. "It annoys Garou," he explained. "I still don't like him the least bit, but anything I can do that is short of what I truly wished I could have done is but a small victory for me. Besides, he annoys me all the time."

Drax rolled his eyes. They continued to move along until a yawn came out of him. He was full and tried. "Are you okay?" Amai asked.

"I… can't keep my eyes open…" Drax wavered but suddenly collapsed…