Chapter 23

The cards were all out on the table, the room was deadly silent as the confession from Amai Mask didn't exactly put everything to rest. A frantic knock came to the door, breaking the awkward silence. Yet before Hunter could answer it, the person on the other side invited themselves in. Snek was there, breathless as he ran all the way up the stairs. "Did… you… see… the… news?" he asked between his gasps for air. "The… bastard…actually… did it!" He folded over, trying to regain his breath. When Snek was able to breath regularly he turned and saw Amai in the living room. "Oh… he's here… first off… wow. Second of all, what the hell?"

Amai glared at Snek and slithered off without answering him. Snek was rather confused as he took notice of the room. "Okay, I may not have that ability to sense what's going on through the floor but I can tell right now that shit just went down!" he announced. "Someone want to fill me in?"

"I don't know where to really begin Snek." Said Melee. "I really don't."

"Garou?"

He shook his head to the whole thing, Snek then turned to Hunter who also couldn't really bring himself to speak. With a sigh, Snek dropped the subject at hand. "Well, since I'm here, mind if I use the hot spring?"

"Please do, we may need some time to process this," said Melee.

Snek excused himself and went down the hall to a door that appeared like a closest. It was doublewide, but didn't hold anything inside. Instead it revealed the passageway down to the hot springs. As he walked, he felt someone following him. "You coming too?" he asked.

Amai lingered behind him. He didn't speak instead he merely followed him to the springs.

The two were silent as Snek stripped down and got into the one, Amai took the other. He appeared rather disgusted with himself, Snek was curious. "So… what happened?"

"This is all your fault."

"Okay, so we're going to start a conversation like that. Fine, let it rip. How is this my fault?" Snek questioned.

Amai struck the surface of the hot spring, splashing water out in a fit of rage. "Why did I have to switch places with you!" he demanded. "Out of all the other M Class, it had to be YOU!"

"You came at me the most dumbass. You tried to EAT ME!" Snek snapped back. "Besides, the others got it easy. I don't!" he settled back in the water before glaring at Amai. "What did you do?"

"It's not what I did, it's what you forced me to do."

Snek laughed. "Oh, I see, the guy who isn't here all the time gets blamed for your problems."

"If I weren't like this I would be able to distract myself. I would be focusing on my movies, music and shows. Not reflect on my own life, not consider my past actions or even think about what I did was wrong!"

Snek paused. "Ah, you reached that point huh? Wondering where the hell you went wrong, wondering what you could have done differently. Think about the past and how it could have changed your future?" he asked.

Amai stared at him oddly. Snek knew how he felt. "When you eat something bigger than yourself and can't move, you get time to think… A LOT of time to think."

"This wasn't something I wanted to consider let alone ponder about."

"You going to tell me or what?"

Amai sighed. "I loved Melee before she fell in love with Garou."

Snek froze to the news, he turned and stared at him. "You just confessed to her now about that, didn't you?"

"She was going to find out eventually, her son, Hunter knew the truth. I wanted to tell her but never found the courage until today. After allowing the world to see me like this, I felt it was best to let the confession out. I admit, I feel a great burden lifted off of me. At the same time, I wish I said nothing at all."

"Damn," muttered Snek. "You've been conflicting with that for years, haven't you?"

"It doesn't matter how long I have been, but what does matter is that it is out there now. I startled Melee, I scared Garou if you could believe that! Huh, I guess there is an upside to it. I scared Garou!"

"That's not easy to do!"

Silence befell between the two heroes once more. Only to be broken by the sound of Amai stomach. Snek peered over and saw it was agitated; he was stunned to say the least. "You're eating them alive?!"

Amai smirked. "I enjoy it." He said and caressed himself. "I found the beauty of this form, such power it take to keep a monster subdued and down is one thing. Prolonging its death is another."

"You are one sick bastard." Muttered Snek, but he kept peering over. "I will admit this, I can't believe how well you have handled yourself as that. I'll give credit where credit is due."

"You are an amazing hero like this." Said Amai.

"Okay, seriously, who the hell are you?"

The two men snickered, yet Snek sighed aloud. "Well, in three months, we go back to our … well… I guess as normal as our lives will get."

Sweet Mask nodded. "I look forward to it, but…" he trailed off.

"But? Did I hear right? Amai Mask said… but?"

He smirked. "I am enjoying this down time." He confessed. "I have no schedule, I don't have to rush from one thing to another. I feel almost free in a sense. However, I am still bounded by this serpent body. The things I eat to survive are not the least bit pleasant, but I am starting to savor and enjoy the feeling I gain when I feed. I see now that you do two services for the city, take out and clean up."

"I get two pay cheques that way." Snek laughed, as he drifted deeper into the spring he turned and asked. "Are things going to change around here? Are we still considered a threat in your standards? I know what happens now can change the moment you become you again. I want your word though. Whatever happens after this, the M Class is no longer your target!"

"I think I can agree to that. Yes," he said.

Snek however knew Amai Mask, he wasn't going to hold his breath over the notion either.