Chapter 11

Three days later. Amai was still rather large, he didn't want to go out, however his rank was at stake. Hunter heard recently of Atomic Samurai's disciples stepping up their training and improving their skills. The news enticed Sweet Mask to get out there and prevent them from pushing him farther down the system, even if it meant going out in public with a semi-full stomach.

Hunter kept close by Amai, who once more donned on a hooded sweatshirt and threw on a pair of sunglasses and kept his face hidden from the world. They took to the streets of City C. Out of Amai's usual place of City A and there were far fewer fans for him to run into. City C is more known for it's restaurants than entertainment. "You really don't think people are going to take more notice of you looking like that than without the hood? People know what Snek looked like, they are going to know you are not him." Said Hunter.

Amai glared at him. He paused as he looked about to ensure no one was really around. When he felt safe to speak, he did so. "Do things your way, I do them mine." He muttered.

Hunter sighed, he stopped then and there and took hold of Amai's shoulder, Sweet Mask was quick to brush off his hand. "Don't touch me," he warned.

"Will you stop and listen to me for once asshole!"

Amai paused and turned to him, his arms crossed. "What!" he demanded.

"You may not care, you may never change your ways, so be it. But still what the hell is your issue with us?" Hunter demanded. "I can smell it off of you, you despise us, you hate being in my presence as we speak! What have we done to piss you off?" he demanded.

Amai smirked. "You really want to know?" he asked. "First off, your father. I hated him ever since he came into my life, he wanted to become a monster for that was his idea of a hero. He harmed many others in his quest to do so, innocent people suffered under his hand. He caved my face in with a single strike!" Amai stated. "Then… THEN he vanishes before he could be properly punished, Death was to be his punishment. He deserved it. But, no, the one who could have killed him, refused to do so."

"Saitama," said Hunter. "I know that, I know that story too about my father. He told my siblings and I. The whole truth too."

"Yes, well," he paused but the anger in him grew. "Look what he turned your mother into!"

"I doubt that was on purpose,"

"How would you know?" Amai demanded of him. "I was the one who trained your mother on how to be a hero, she learned all she knew from me. Yet when she went off on her own I knew it was a terrible idea, she wasn't ready for it!" he announced. "And I was right, look what became of her! The moment she crossed paths with your father she was never the same again." His fists clenched in anger at the notion.

"Melee, never should have gone with someone like him. She was human before, and elegant woman, a powerful one at that. She was one of the few who I could turn to and trusted. And he goes and makes her into a monster like himself!" he paused before muttering. "My Starlight…"

Hunter froze. The way Amai just spoke about his mom just now, it was more than just anger at his father. "You loved her, didn't you?"

The look of shock came over Amai's face, he turned away and refused to speak any farther of it. "Let's go…"

"No, tell me… you loved my mom."

"I will not speak of this any farther with the likes of you!" Sweet Mask snapped back. "What does it matter if I did or not, look at what became of her!"

Hunter began to realize Amai Mask did care for his mother, but he never showed it. How could he? A man that has to be an idol for the countless women who swoon over him each and every day, to the fan girls that would give their left eye to be in his presence. How could he be connected to a single woman? But, Hunter also has seen Amai try and be with his mother when he possessed his father's body. He was rough, refusing to listen to what she said and what she wanted. His mother was repulsed by him, she didn't appreciate the way he treated her, and Hunter couldn't blame her the least bit! Amai wasn't a caring man to say the least; if he wanted something he took it. It was never a mutual give and take.

Amai began to slither off, his head hung a little lower, his hands tucked into the pockets of the hoodie.

Hunter was quick to catch up with him, he wanted to say something, but, what could he say. Was this where the hatred of the M Class is coming from? Is he upset that his father was the one to win his mother's heart despite everything he had done?

Amai was a sore loser.

With a sigh, Hunter then smiled. "It's funny if you think about it," he said aloud. "If it weren't for you… I wouldn't be here."

Sweet Mask paused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'll be honest with you. Mom didn't share your feelings, in fact, she told us how you treated her like crap when she worked for you. You never called her by her actual name, you never really appreciated what she did… you told her to lose weight!" Hunter stated bluntly. "If you liked someone, who the hell says 'hey, I am interested in you… but drop some pounds and we'll talk'. That's stupid!" he started to laugh.

"I was helping her!" he protested. "I have to be seen with the best of the business and they must appear their best…"

"Do you even hear yourself?" Hunter asked. "I have to be seen with the best of the business… It's not about my mom… it's about you… it's always been about you. If you were interested in her, how the hell could she have known when you have been self absorbed in your own reality?" Hunter paused. "If she was the best in your mind, a woman worthy of you. You wouldn't have told her to change, she would have been perfect the way she was. But it wasn't good enough for you, was it?"

Amai turned away harshly, he hissed lowly but then state. "She knew what went on around me, I was constantly on the go and needed to be in places…"

"There you go again. It's all about you, Amai." Hunter paused. "Did you ever stop and talk to her, about anything she liked? Did you speak with her after she lost her family in a monster attack? What did you do?"

He said nothing; he had no words to speak. But it didn't matter. Especially when they heard a loud crash within the city!

Four monsters were on the loose, targeting the people who were unable to get away. "It's go time!" Hunter began running, but paused when he realized Sweet Mask wasn't following suit. He didn't have time for this, Hunter ran. Four monsters would be difficult to take down on his own, but he could try!

They were tall and massive, no doubt they will give Hunter trouble unless Amai can find the strength and willingness to help him. There was no time to try and convince him, Hunter took his shot at the first monster in sight, one that grabbed on to a woman and a young man.

BAM!

One shot he took the head off. The people it held on to were quickly freed and ran for their lives. The other three then realized who they were up against. "Grab as many humans as you can and flee! We'll eat as we run!"

"I want to eat this one! What a fine meal he will make!" One monster said as it stood its ground against Hunter.

"I was thinking the same thing about you!" Hunter laughed. He charged once more, this time he tore this one to bits using the torrent move with whirlwind iron cutting fist. Two down, but two remained. He gave chase, two of the monsters were fleeing with people in their grasp. Hunter grabbed on to one of them by the tail and tried to hold it back, but the other was getting out of range.

"AMAI! HELP ME!" Hunter called.

He turned but found he was nowhere to be seen. "That bastard!" Hunter cursed. He wrenched back the monster, took aim at its arms so it would drop its hostages. Unfortunately for Hunter this one was a decoy! It held nothing more than crushed cars and street crud! For good measures, Hunter snapped its neck out of anger. He has to get the last monster he saw fleeing the scene.

Running as fast as he could, he saw it stop, suspended above its head was a small child that was about to be dropped into its mouth! The girl shrieked as the man in the fiend's hand screamed. "NO, NOT MY DAUGHTER!" Hunter had to hurry, yet as he was about to plan a strike, something else struck! It was fast, furious and took the head and arm that held the child clean off! The man was released, yet he looked about. "My daughter?" he said.

He stood there. Amai Mask! In his arms he held the little girl who was no worst for wear. He tore the arm that latched on to her off, and set her down. He adjusted his sweater and tightened the hood up. The little girl stared at him oddly. "… Amai Mask?" she asked.

He didn't to answer her, he couldn't. Instead, Amai slithered off. He tossed the monster arm to the side of the road as he brushed past Hunter. But paused. "Don't ever speak my name in public like that again," he warned, then he appeared uneasy. "I want to leave."

With a nod, Hunter agreed as they began to make their way home, yet Sweet Mask stopped suddenly. There was one monster that stayed in tact, and was still moving. He paused before it yet gave a strange look to Hunter. There was no hesitation on his part this time. Amai devoured it. With a full stomach once more, he gave but a nod to Hunter who took him home without question.