Chapter 33

Mid November.

He couldn't believe it was mid November already. Yet, there was something troubling Amai. He has been listening to the number one song on the charts for the past month and a half now. The one that brought him back his Rank 1 status. The song the fans couldn't get enough of, and now the one he will have to do live when he does a concert. Time and time again, he listened to it. It was his voice that was certain. And yet, the passion, the pain of it… wasn't. "How did you do it?" Amai muttered.

He was on his tenth play of the day, focusing only on that song. Yet as he peered around his room, he jumped at the sight of demonic feet before him! Taking off his headphones he peered up at Garou. "You going to join us for lunch or are you sulking again?" he asked.

"Sorry, in my own little world…" He paused, taking the headphones out, the song began to play aloud in his room. Garou sneered to it as Amai then paused it. "How… did you make this so heart wrenching? I cannot possibly mimic this passion… this… emotion," he said.

"Look, I didn't know what else to do. Okay…"

"You are not apologizing for helping me create one of my best albums. I need to know HOW you sung this. What was your inspiration? How could you have summons such pain and put it into this? I HAVE to know, my manager is already texting me, stating this song as to be sung when I go on tour again. When I come back, I have to do this live on a TV show. Please, help me!" he begged.

Garou sighed and rolled his eyes to it all. "You already got the inspiration for it. I can't be that hard for you to find the pain to bring that song to life."

"It's more difficult than you think. I've been practicing out in the forest for the past week, trying to get the tone, the pitch and passion… I can't."

Garou's arms crossed as he sighed again. "Am I really going to have to help you with this?"

"I would appreciate it, please?"

"After lunch," he muttered. "You hungry?"

#

It was the first time he hunted with Garou before. Amai noticed his technique… or lack of one. Garou would go by what the association was keeping an eye on, high level monsters that were out of the cities yet in the mountains and isolated areas. However, Garou was looking for the creatures that would linger by low populated areas. Those who were out of the cities range to call for help and were left to fend off these monsters on their own. It wasn't the most appealing way of travel either. Garou grew himself to his monster form and told Amai to coil around his wrist as he took flight.

He could see everything from the sky, yet there was an area that gained the interest of the human monster. A massive clearing before a small village, it wasn't man made. In a steep dive, he landed in the cleared woods. Amai uncoiled and Garou shrunk down once more. "Just… how?" Amai questioned. "You do that with such ease and grace… I couldn't control myself!"

Garou smirked. "As I said, I had trouble with this too. Until I was able to understand why I couldn't control myself. When I figured it out, it became a simple matter of going back and forth. It took time, but you know me… I learn fast."

Amai forced a half grin as he looked about. "What is this place? Why should we be concerned about it?"

Garou smirked to him. "Really? Why should we be concerned about it? It doesn't bother you that there are monsters out here too, in remote areas where the people don't have much of an opportunity to call for help?" he questioned.

Amai froze.

Garou began to even chuckle. "You know, for a hero, sometimes, you really do suck at it!"

Amai hissed in anger. "That is uncalled for!"

"Is it? Have you ever gone this far out to stop a monster? Have you got beyond city limits and take down a threat that isn't within a city? Have you taken out a monster without even being asked to do so since you know it was attacking a remote area?"

As quickly as his anger rose, it dissipated. Amai never considered what Garou said was true. "No…" he muttered begrudgingly.

"And this is why I am glad the M Class has no rank. I get to do this shit and not have to worry about someone reporting it. I do whatever the hell I want and not look for praise for my actions, that isn't what being a hero is about, right?"

A low growl came out of Amai Mask. He did have a point. Yet the moment was quick to end when the ground began to tremble. Something big was coming and heading towards the village. Amai peered over his shoulder and saw the people come out armed with what little they possessed, yet, once they saw Garou and himself standing there, the people were stunned.

"Is that the human monster? With Amai Mask?"

"I believe it is, how did they know we needed help?"

"I don't really care how they know, I am just glad they are here!"

Garou's smile grew. "Even in remote areas, they know who we are. So… you hungry?"

Amai could eat. It was strange though, from what he was told by Snek, his meals should last him a few weeks. Amai has to eat at least once a week to maintain himself! Either way, he wasn't about to back down to a beast, or a nice large meal!

Trees began to crack and fall around them, the creatures of the forest ran out into the open field in panic. The birds took off into the sky as the monsters made their way forward. It was a small legion, about seven rather large creatures but no worst than a tiger threat if they were in the city. Amai stared at them oddly, they were vile looking creature, plump and appeared like demonic hippos with razor sharp teeth. "Uh, I cannot fight anything hideous!" he protested.

Garou rolled his eyes. "You're not fighting them… you're eating them. Completely different"

Still, the sight wasn't the least bit pleasing to Amai. Even if he was eating these things they were still horrible to look at.

#

"BBBBUUUURRRRPPPP!"

"Where you raised in a barn or something? That is most uncalled for,"

Garou sat rather contently to the feast. Amai was just plain full and couldn't bring himself to move. He took three for himself. The rest went to Garou. However, he couldn't help but notice the look on his face. "Huh, if I didn't know any better, I swear you have gotten to Snek's length. Strange thought, you're not as thick as he was and yet you have double his stomach capacity…"

"Must you speak of this now?" Amai sighed.

"Just saying." snickered Garou. Amai then felt it, footsteps approaching them. He could barely turn his head when he saw the people of the village approach them with caution. Garou rose up and greeted them. "Sorry for dropping in like this. Was that all the creatures attacking your village?" he asked.

"There were eight before…" one man said. "But no one has seen it."

"Ah, they sent the fodder before the main threat huh?" Garou paused but nodded. "Okay then," he turned to the people. "Mind looking after this big guy for me? I'll go take the last one out. He needs to be kept warm if you don't mind, he falls asleep out here it won't be good for his digestion."

"I do not need assistance, I can manage," Amai muttered.

Garou laughed. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. I'll be back, don't go anywhere!" he teased and took off.

Amai rolled his eyes and laid there, despite what Garou said, he was right, he was a little too full to move, and a little too chilled to do so as well. The weather was far colder than he expected. Yet, the villagers were silent as they began to dig small holes around him. He was curious as children came out with twigs and sticks and filled the small holes. From there they began to light fires, Amai became surrounded in warmth from the small campfires the people made for him. Some even brought out blankets and covered him up to keep the chill off.

"Thank you,"

"We have to know, how did the heroes association know of our issue? We have written them for assistance for the past few weeks but got no response. They usual write back the moment a plea is received is sent out for help." One woman asked.

"It's true, it can take months for them to reply to us!"

"Perhaps it is because we are not in the cities, they have a higher population…"

"At least the M Class responds, we only get an S Class if we sign a contract. Flash usually is the only one who makes it this far."

'So there are areas in which a hero's job can be improved upon, I didn't realize the M Class went this far out of their way to assist people.' he thought.

CLASH!

He jumped at the sound. There was something coming this way! The largest of the monsters came running through the woods in panic. Yet it froze when it saw Sweet Mask. Gathering what strength he could, he was able to force the monsters he ate farther down his stomach to allow him to appear poised to strike! Yet before it could decide on what to do, it was struck hard from behind!

The beast fell and Garou stood behind it. "Damn, this thing really didn't want to die today… too bad." He didn't hesitate and ate it then and there. With the threat cleared the people were eternally grateful.

"Thank goodness there is the M Class, we never would have been given help any other way!"

"Thank you! Thank you Garou. Thank you Amai Mask!"

"Thanks for lunch!" said Garou, he then turned back to Amai. "Okay big guy, let's get you home and I'll help you with your damn song!"