"Servant of Monsters"
Chapter 6 - The curse
After some time kanashibari passed and Kaien could feel he was regaining control over his body. He had no idea whether he wanted to scream, pass out, run away, beat the crap out of everything or everybody. In front of him was sitting the Kurosaki family, only this time it was different...
Kurosaki Isshin was literally falling apart. His skin had a moldy shine, as if it wasn't provided with blood. Blood was oozing out of multiple scars from his face and his chest. Moreover, his Hawaiian shirt was soaking in blood. Kaien could hear rhythmical beating and saw how the left side of Isshin's chest was rapidly rising. The smell of decay was spreading around the old man.
Kurosaki Masaki had a strange, violet flower growing out of her forehead. Also, her whole body and limbs were wrapped by thorny ramblers, occasionally hurting her delicate skin.
Yuzu and Karin didn't seem to change their appearance. However, flying spoons, dolls, books and cutlery above their heads couldn't go unnoticed. Yuzu from time to time tried to wave something off, but next to her there was nothing. Or rather nobody.
Kon's body was lifelessly lying on the table. Kaien saw enough crime and medicine programs to be certain that one of the Kurosaki triplets was dead. Next to the boy was sitting a stuffed lion plush toy. The lion had an expression of fury all over his face.
Shiro and Ichigo were standing on both sides of Kaien's seat.
"We're truly sorry about the accident in the orchard, Shiba-kun!" Isshin smiled brightly. "Good thing everything went well and you're safely with u-Upphs!" During his speech, his pale-pink tongue flew out of his mouth. Ichigo frowned at his father. He noticed how Kaien was slowly paling.
"When you weren't at midnight, Shiro and I went to look for you. Seeing the ladder near the tree, we never thought you'd disappear. Fortunately, I heard your first cries and ran there."
"Good thing that brother's Vampire skills let him have superhuman abilities!" Yuzu explained. "He can hear things from miles away, see in the dark, run faster than a cheetah!"
"Not to mention his super strength." Karin added.
Just what the hell is going on?, Kaien thought desperately.
"Anyway..." Isshin finally attached his tongue back. "You're probably asking yourself 'What's going on?'."
"Old man, he just asked that." Ichigo growled. "We all can read his thoughts. Don't act so mysterious." As if this situation wasn't mysterious enough. Kaien glared at the orange-haired kid. Hearing the though, Ichigo averted his eyes in embarrassment.
"Shiba-kun, now that you see our other selves, I'd like to tell you the whole story of the Kurosaki's curse!" Isshin coughed in his hand and prepared his vocal chords. He had to be really careful, those might detach too. "You see, my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather, Kurosaki Ywah, was a noble man and a doctor. He wanted to cure people's bodies and minds, but the village never gave him enough funds to do so. One time, he summoned the Devil himself and asked him to become bright and wealthy enough to help people. The Devil agreed, but in return, he wanted Ywah to become a monstrosity, so that nobody would want to see him. Villagers feared him, refused his help and sent him away to a far away house, in the very back of Karakura. He decided to make this place the best for all suffering people. And so, generations after generations, the Kurosaki Clinic is still intact, but the curse lives as well." Kaien frowned at the story.
"What about the apples then?" Kaien asked. Isshin continued.
"Ywah was very lonely. He wanted to start a family, to pass on his knowledge. The Devil wanted to show some mercy and gave him a small apple seed. The apple from that tree had a power to hide the horrible image for 12 hours, but it only worked when the fruit was eaten either at twelve at day, or twelve at night. After 5 years, the first apple grew and so Ywach finally went to the village, where he found a love of his life. However, the Devil never mentioned the consequences – if the love is consumed, the curse is automatically shared with the lover and he/she becomes the monster itself." Isshin sadly looked down.
"Ywah's wife accepted her fate and told her husband to pick more apple seeds and make an apple orchard. Soon, they were eating apples days and nights, slowly regaining their social image. People were coming from different villages for cure. The Devil didn't like how they managed through past years, so he cursed the apple trees – only human hands could touch the apples and pick them. In order for us, Kurosaki's, to eat them peacefully, we have to rise our prayers and ask God for forgiveness. This way, He lets us eat the apple."
"Shiba-san." Masaki started. "Despite all the help our boys need from you, it's our whole family that needs you. We've been looking for a good person for quite a long time. Most of the time we can't let anyone see us and all we can do is to trick some of our patients to bring us the apples. Now that you know our secret, we're begging you."
"Yes, begging, begging!" Isshin felt on his knees and bowed down, touching his forehead on the ground. "We swear, we mean no harm! Sure, being undead and immune to pain is pretty fun and convincing at times, but deep down inside we are all humans and want to live a normal human life!" Kaien looked around. Everyone's expression fell down. After hearing the story, however unbelievable it was, Kaien felt sorry for the family.
"Supposedly..." He spoke carefully. Everyone paid their attention at the human servant. "Supposedly, I'd say 'no'. What would happen to me then?" The lion plush toy got enraged. He jumped on Kaien's and started ranting.
"NO!? OF COURSE WE'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! DO YOU THINK I LIKE BEING IMPRISONED IN THIS LAME BOD-UGH!"
"Kon..." Ichigo quickly grabbed the toy, evil aura wrapping around him. The toy hadn't had time to respond, as it was quickly sent flying. Kaien shrank on his chair in fear. "I swear, one day I'm going to rip out his plush filling and scatter it around the world..."
"Forgive Kon, he really takes his change pretty bad." Shiro looked at Kaien. "From us all, he got his soul trapped inside of a candy. He can regain control of everythin', where the candy is put. Because we don't have any dead bodies... erm..." He noticed Kaien's changing into scared look. "I mean, any 'containers'." That explanation was even worse. "We put Kon into the stuffed lion. As soon as we inject some apple sauce into his blood at noon, his soul will come back."
"About saying 'no'." Ichigo interrupted, getting to the point. "If you wish to leave our family, we have no right to stop you. However, before doing that, Shiro will have to wipe out your memory."
"I-I won't remember anything!?" He was terrified by the idea.
"Not from the moment ya were attacked in the orchard." Shiro spoke. "As a replacement, I'll put some fake memories. Ya'll be wishing to quit on your own and then we'll never see each other again." Kaien nodded. "Have some time to think it over. I'll put a Thought Helmet over ya, so ya'll have a piece of mind for a moment." Shiro put his hand above the servant's head. Kaien inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
Maybe I'm just sleeping. I'm going to wake up, go to the orchard normally and... He frowned. Who am I kidding... All of this is real. The head of the family is a freaking zombie, milady is a genetically-modified plant, girls are creepy psychics. Finally - my main employers are a vampire, a ghost and a lion toy... Should I really trust them? What if this whole Devil's deal is made up? They wouldn't wipe out my memory, but kill me! Vampires drink human blood, right? And zombies eat brains, right!? They'd use my bones to fertilize grounds and... and... His horrified features softened. They seem so kind and nice. And I really need this job, my family is counting on me... I'm doing it for Ganjyu and Kuukaku... If I really go home tomorrow, ranting about the bad work... I mean, that wouldn't look like me... Kaien opened his eyes and looked around. Isshin-zombie whispered something to concerned Masaki-plant. Yuzu and Karin were talking to the space in front of them. Shiro was still concentrating on blocking the thoughts. Only two golden orbs were observing him. Ichigo's and Kaien's eyes met. The orange-haired boy didn't say a thing, but his expression said all. He really wished the servant wouldn't abandon them. Kaien scowled, his features no longer hesitating.
"I'll stay." Everyone snapped out of their actions. Isshin's face brightened up.
"R-R-REALLY!?" He beamed with joy. Over-excitement caused his jaw to drop. Literally drop, but Masaki wast fast enough to catch it mid-air.
"Yes." Kaien stood up. "I think I understand what's going on... I can't believe I have just said that..." Kurosaki parents and girls roared in joy "BUT!" He tried to calm everybody down. "If I see that all of this is just a crap, I'll be flying out from here like a jet. Do you get it?"
"Of course, of course!" Isshin jumped at the servant, giving him a crushing hug. Kaien had to hold back nausea, it's not like he's used to being embraced by animated corpse. "You don't even know how much do we appreciate your decision! This is the first time someone wanted to accept our family's dark secret! Masaki, my love! Your husband bursts with joy, waaaaaaah!" The old man covered his eyes, fighting big waterfalls of tears. This was a strange, crazy, extraordinary family. Nonetheless, Kaien smiled. Deep down inside, we are all humans and want to live a normal human life! The words rang inside of his head. I'll try to help them as mush as possible.
Such a nice ending, eh~? Shiro smirked, sending the telepathy message right into Kaien's head. Aquamarine eyes opened in confusion. " I knew ya had something in ya, Kaien-san. Kaien smirked back. He still didn't know if he made a right decision or not, but he felt pretty good at the moment. "Okay now, Ichi. I think you should look for Kon. Seeing your power you put in that throw, he's probably around 4km away."