Chapter 6
6 days would pass when he couldn't take it anymore. The family knew it too. For the past few days, Amai has been crying out in agony at night. He thought he did a good enough job to hide his discomfort, yet when he dared to show his face. The family would stare at him oddly. Garou merely stared at him before announcing. "Tonight, we're taking you out to get something to eat. You can fight me all you want on it, but you are getting something to eat!"
Amai sneered at him. Despite this, Melee offhandedly mentioned that Snek would be coming over tonight for dinner. The irony was not lost on him and apparently he was bringing company. Amai tried to just relax for the moment, the weather outside was getting colder and he was feeling a little more sluggish than usual. He decided for the rest, he would stay out of the family's eye and just sunbath. It was one of the few things he could enjoy in this strange and disgusting form. Amai did everything he could to ensure his movements were relatively flawless and somewhat elegant. Despite his appearance he knew he could move about gracefully and with confidence. Yet, he still couldn't wrap his head around the notion that it was his body now. This disturbing, long, slithering figure was his to command and try to control. He sighed as he managed to reach the lounge chair outside. With a few supplies he packed, he found his reflector and lay in the sun. He was nearly to the point of content when he felt it. He would be out for hours without really noticing how much time has passed, but he should have gotten the hint as the sun's rays began to grow weaker.
The earth began to trembled, just slightly. Someone approached him. He turned his head just enough to peer out of the corner of his eye and saw him. Smiling from ear to ear was Snek! "Taking it in stride I see?"
"Do you mind, I am working on my complexion," Amai muttered and went back to sunning himself.
Snek laughed as he looked him over. He wasn't really paying attention to Snek's words. He spoke but wasn't really paying attention until Snek's voice grew a little louder than usual. "Lying in the sun is great, don't get me wrong, but it speeds up your metabolism. You are only making yourself hungrier."
"If I wanted your advice, I would simply ask for it."
"Suit yourself, but you got to be starving…"
"I'm not hungry!" Amai hissed.
Snek's hands went up in surrender. "Okay, not a word…" Snek continued to talk and look at him oddly. Sweet Mask tuned him out once more for the most part until Snek began to smile oddly. "You want to know something funny… I've been human for almost a week… and I'm already board of it" he whispered.
Amai perked up oddly. A sense of hope filled him. "Does this mean we can change back!?"
"God no!" Snek laughed. "I said I was board of it, I didn't say I was sick of it. Besides, you have yet to really suffer. I want to see that happen first hand,"
His hope was dashed; Amai glared at the former A Class hero before muttering. "Go away,"
Snek left him alone shortly after, but Sweet Mask cringed. He was getting hungrier. The pain in his stomach was getting more intense. If he doesn't eat something soon, he won't be able to handle the pain much longer. Despite his willpower, this was becoming difficult to manage and control.
Amai retreated back into the house as Melee called everyone in for dinner. When he slithered in, Amai froze, as Snek didn't come alone. For some reason, he brought a woman and her young son along with him. He never mentioned anything about knowing a woman or even dating. Amai had never seen her or this kid around Snek before, and yet there they were. The kid was about to ask about him when Amai hissed to the table. "NOT A WORD!" and retreated to his room.
He remained there until he cringed to the voice of Garou. "AMAI! GET YOUR ASS OUT WE'RE GOING HUNTING!"
"Not hungry!" he snapped back.
"I think you are, come on pretty boy!" Amai could feel him, the heavy footsteps approaching his room. Garou wrenched open the doors, smiling from ear to ear. "It's time," he said.
"I'm not going, I am not hungry!" Amai protested, but then his stomach roared aloud in great pain and agony. He folded over unable to cope with it anymore.
"I think you are, come out or I will drag you out!"
Amai hissed in defiance, yet was stunned when Snek stood at the door. "Garou, let me," he insisted.
Surprising Garou obliged as Snek stepped in and closed the door behind him. There was no smirk on his face, no smile of anticipation. He appeared rather serious. "You are just enjoying this, aren't you?" Amai demanded.
"A little right now, but I am sure there is a lot more to enjoy as this progresses. I got to say this to you though. You have to eat something. If you don't, you are going to get messed up like last time. You won't turn your hunger on me, but to those you swore to protect. You didn't consider that, did you?" he asked. "One of the first lessons Garou ever taught me when I became that. I would be listening to him if I were you."
Amai sneered at him, he shot up and glared Snek in the eyes. "What makes you think I won't turn my hunger on you like I did before!" he demanded.
Snek didn't appear to be the least bit startled by the threat. "Simply put, anything happens to me. You are stuck that way for the rest of your life. That power will have nowhere else to go, but to remain with its last host. You!"
Amai froze to the news, never considered the notion. If something happened to Snek, he's trapped. He settled himself down, but still he glared at him. "I am not hungry." He muttered.
"No, you're starving." Snek said. "I know the feeling, but you are not helping yourself by ignoring it. Listen to Garou, go out and get a monster. The sooner you do, the better you feel. Not to mention it takes a while for it to digest, so it's better to do it now than later. After all, it is night time, you don't want to hunt in broad daylight… someone could see you."
Sweet Mask didn't consider the notion. He growled lowly as he pushed his way past Snek and out of the room. He was going to go begrudgingly. "Get this over with." He demanded.
Amai didn't care for the advice, nor the other advice Snek gave him when Garou nearly pried him out of the room. Tonight he will be forced to hunt. There was no exception. After the little pep talk from Snek, Amai reluctantly slithered outside and found most of the M Class waiting for him, grinning from ear to ear. "What?" he demanded.
"Nothing!" said Max.
"Nothing at all," said Hunter, but his smile grew. "I got the perfect thing for you tonight, best we get a move on before it tries to move on." Amai began to glow the same green as Hunter, he was lifted off the ground and taken over the city. He marveled as to how strong Hunter was, being able to summon this power that originally came from Tatsumaki, without much guidance or even education on the esper ability, he mastered it through training and determination! They landed on the outskirts of a city, Amai at this point didn't care which one it was, all he cared about was finding that smell that has since tickled his fancy.
"That smell… that… thick… meaty… smell…" he said and savored it. He followed his senses, taking in the scent, and then registering the heat emitted off the monster. Hunter hung back as Amai found it, lunged and snapped its neck without hesitation! It was a massive creature, one he couldn't quite see himself consuming, and yet, he felt the urge. He craved to feel full, even if it was for a short while he has to have that feeling of satisfaction within himself. His jaw unhinged, his mouth widened as he threw himself towards the beast. He didn't care about how it felt going into his mouth, not even the idea of him eating the feet bothered him. He wanted the sensation of it caressing down his throat, slowly cox its way into his stomach and staying there!
He savored it.
Every nook, every inch and pound that went past his lips, he moaned with satisfaction as the monster continued to vanish. Yet as quickly as the moment began, he felt it end. A deep, gratifying gulp sent it on its way, down his throat and came to settle in his stomach. He caressed himself as the pleasure filled him. 'This feeling… this is it!' he thought to himself.
"I got to admit, I am a little disappointed. I expected a different reaction." Said Snek
"Wait for it." Said Garou.
Amai's moment of bliss came to an end, his eyes shot open as he realized all of M Class was staring at him, Snek even brought the kid along with him to watch him eat! Then, he noticed the extent of the damage. Amai was stuffed! "AAHHH!" He couldn't move! He couldn't bring himself to roll on to his stomach. He was helpless!
"There it is!" Garou announced and laughed.
Amai tried to move, but couldn't. "As helpless as a beached whale." Said Hunter. "Nearly as big as one too."
"Silence!" Amai scolded. "Why did you let me do this? Why did you do this to me!" he demanded.
Garou did a quick inspection of Amai, yet even as he walked around him, he heard it. Amai's stomach began to grumble, the monster he ate began to shrink rather quickly! Nearly half of it was gone, Amai was able to roll himself over again and move. However Garou appeared rather concerned. "That was a threat level demon monster… that should have kept you full for a while."
"I have a good metabolism, what of it?" demanded Amai.
"It's not a bad thing to have when you are human. But when you are a monster it is difficult to control. Why do you think I eat so often? It's not for the sake of getting stronger, it's to keep myself full!"
Amai froze; he doesn't eat all the time to get stronger? He thought that was the whole reason why Garou ate monsters to begin with! Amai's stomach then churned once more, what remained of the creature vanished! Garou was even surprised. "You were starving, weren't you?"
He didn't say anything, Amai turned away and said. "Can we just leave now?" he demanded.
"No," said Garou. "We cannot go home until I know you are satisfied. We need to get you another."
"What!" Amai demanded. "I ate, I'm fine!" he protested.
"No, you are not. Hunter, what else is around?"
"Level Demon on the outskirts of City Y."
"Let's go, Amai is going to have seconds!"
"WHAT! NO! I am not doing this. I had enough! You cannot force me to eat!"
Garou nodded. "True, I can't, but… let's take you there anyways and see how far this goes."
"You need to keep eating until it lingers a little," said Snek. "Even I can tell you aren't satisfied. You need something in there so it will last you for a few days or weeks, luckily you it appears it will last a few days. Mine took weeks to digest."
"It's that or it was his endurance." Said Garou. "Forcing yourself to forgo eating can take its toll on not just you, but your strength as well."
Amai ran his fingers through his hair rather nervously as he forced a smile. "I can appreciate the concern you all have for me, but rest assured, I am just fine."
His stomach rumbled, not as intensely as before. "One more." Everyone announced. He sneered to the notion. He was outnumbered to say the least, besides he heard what Garou said, he didn't have to eat. All Amai had to do was resist the urge to consume anything else.
Yet those who watched him feed were anticipating on him eating once more. "Oh boy, a two for one!" said Snek. "It took a level tiger to fill me up, and twenty deer."
"He ate half a forest last night." Said Pac.
#
They took him to City Y.
There was yet another threat level demon in the area, Amai hung back a little this time, yet when he caught the scent of the monster, the instinct to hunt became uncontrollable. He smelt it, the lingering musky smell that registered in his mind as food. A big, hearty meal that would end his stomach pain, he nearly salivated at the thought of it all! When he trailed the scent, Amai froze when he saw the monster. It was bigger than the last one he ate, but it didn't matter in his mine. It was time to strike!
He slithered up the fiend's body before making it to the head, with a firm grip he easily snapped the neck. It was killed before Garou or any of the other really hit the ground. With the creature dead, Amai began to stare at it oddly once more. His body coiled strangely, anticipating the feast before him. There was no hesitation. Lunging forward once more he wrapped his jaws around and slowly coxed down his prey.
He couldn't resist or stop the pleasant moans that escaped from him, it was like ecstasies for him! Everything felt right, it felt good and it was the gratification he has been longing for. Perhaps its part of the reason why he is so miserable, he is use to gaining such pleasure from his fans, and the people who admire him. Since he has been deprived of it, there was nothing for him to savor or enjoy… until now. The moment was over, the final gulp given, he lay contently, stroking his protruding scales as every inch of his serpent body was full.
Once again though, he instantly regretted his actions. This time, the monster remained, he couldn't move. Let alone slither! He tried though, much to the delight of those around him, snickering and laughing at his expense. Sweet Mask kept turning and staring at his bulging center, he was so disgusted with himself. "This isn't right… this isn't right!" he kept saying over and over again. Despite his attempts to rolled himself to a more respectable position, he was unable to. He was embarrassed by his actions, he cursed his somehow weakened will power. Why couldn't he control himself? Amai shook his head to it all, he turned to Garou and pleaded with him. "I can't do this for four months, I just cant! Please, stop this! I… I… I just can't stand to see myself like this! LOOK AT ME! I look ridiculous!"
Garou didn't even think it over. "Nope, the deed is done, the prediction came true, you sir, are stuck for the next four months, living like this, enduring and eating like this. As I said before Amai, this isn't really the punishment I have in store for you. This is Snek's birthday present… also; this is a little taste of revenge for him too. With all you have said and mocked about him. The very least you could do is try and lived the way he has for the past few years."
Amai shook his head to it all, he managed to roll himself on to his stomach before turning to Snek. "Please… take this back. I am sorry, I am SO sorry,"
Snek only gave a half smile to him. "You have only been me for the past what? 6 days? I'm not impressed. I thought you were suppose to be the top of A Class for a reason, this… this is nothing."
"And the news gets better too," said Hunter. "We got a meeting at the association, all S, M and the top of A Class is to be there."
"So what?" questioned Amai. "I am not Rank 1 anymore."
"No… but you are filling in for Snek. Which makes you a temporary M Class Dragon." said Garou.
Amai felt as if a pit was forming in his stomach, he shook his head. "No… no one can see me like this! This isn't fair Garou!"
"Life isn't fair," he snapped back. "Besides," said Garou. "Part of the meeting is about you,"