Author's Note: Not really much to say here other than that finals week is approaching. This means my time dedicated to writing will be found in odd places.
The Story So Far: The first two chapters were mainly for the purpose of introductions and laying groundwork while defining some key terms. Now we begin the real plot!
Hidden
By: Bar-Ohki
Chapter 3: Hidden Amongst Friends
The sun rose bright and early, casting picturesque shades of orange, red, and pink. Birds started to chirp, slowly rousing the dormant neighborhood from beneath the realm of sleep. A very beautiful, peaceful morning.
"Fucking monkey!!" The unmistakable sounds of bullets flying from a machine gun and smashing into hard-packed earth followed the loud, irritated cry.
The old woman who lived next door to Deimon Private High School faintly wondered, as she did every morning, what happened to slow, peaceful mornings.
Hiruma Youichi, now a fully grown young man had spiky blond hair, several ear-piercings, and currently a furious expression. His fanged teeth with clicked together so hard it was amazing they didn't brake.
"Well?" The quarterback demanded, staring down at the small, monkey-like receiver.
"Zig-out is when you turn right-" Raimon Tarou, jersey number 80, wide receiver, began only to cut himself off upon seeing the expression on his team captain's face.
"You're fucking wrong!" Hiruma released another spray of bullets at Raimon, forcing the boy to scramble away for safety.
"…There was an early practice today?" Sena asked Mamori when they arrived upon the scene. Mamori looked out at the scene with a frown.
"None that I was told about." Mamori's blue eyes narrowed in irritation.
"Sena! Mamori!" Yukimitsu Manabu, a tall boy with a large forehead rushed up to greet the new arrivals. He was wearing his dirtied football uniform.
"Yuki-san!" Sena turned to greet his friend and teammate. "Was there an early practice today?"
"Just for the receivers." Yukimitsu assured the distressed runningback. "Hiruma-san decided it on the spot this morning."
"Fucking baldy! Get back to work!" Hiruma's bellowing voice flew across the field to hit the unsuspecting Yukimitsu on the side of the head.
"Aye!" The studious boy cried and rushed back to the field in a vain hope that he wouldn't become a target for Hiruma's shinny guns. Ah, but such a hope was very vain, Hiruma turned his semi-automatic gun at the poor teen's feet and pulled the trigger.
"Must you always do that!?" Mamori roared, clearly displeased with Hiruma's behavior.
"Fucking manager." The blond quarterback turned and faced her, pretending he just realized she was there. "You've been slacking, you're three minutes late today."
"I had to help my mother with something!" Mamori protested, growling.
"And that 'something' is more important than your job?" Hiruma quirked a doubtful eyebrow at her. "Because last time I checked we have a game this Saturday against that Ballista and Everest Pass."
"Yes it is!" Mamori assured him hotly and turned towards the clubhouse. Mamori had been helping her mother put away the Mediums Sena had brought home the night before. Because Mamori was also a Mage, she had an obligation to seeing that the family Mediums were always well cared for.
Sena rushed out of the clubhouse wearing his uniform. He passed by her with a 'see you on the field!'. Mamori smiled as she finished the rest of the trip to the clubhouse. She went inside and sat down on immediately, feeling slightly dizzy.
'Why is he always toying with me?' She asked herself. When Mamori had first arrived at Deimon, she had felt as though her magic was being constantly drained. It took her a few months, but eventually she realized that the draining was especially bad in the classes she shared with Hiruma. After that realization, Mamori figured out the Hiruma had been the source of her magic depletion. It wasn't until her second year, when she joined the Devil Bats as their manager that there was any relief to the drain. It had taken a few months, but the drain on her was significantly less than what it had been.
Now she just felt a strong sense of dizziness if she got too close to him too quickly. The dizziness was caused by her magic being sucked away in small, yet powerful bursts. Mamori would swear on her mother's Mediums that Hiruma was doing all of this on purpose. She would also swear that he was a deranged Sensitive.
"Are you alright, Mamori-san?" Kurita asked as he walked into the clubhouse.
"Just a little tired." Mamori assured the kind-hearted lineman.
"…Let me know if you need more rest." Kurita nodded and went on into the locker room.
The locker room was not empty, Mushashi, the Devil Bats' kicker was present.
"…How is she holding up?" The adult-looking kicker asked his old friend.
"She's less tired than she has been, but its still wearing her out." Kurita reported with a sigh.
"…Any clue why Hiruma's been eating off of her less?" Mushashi wondered out loud.
"I don't know." Kurita shook his head. "…But I'm pretty sure that Hiruma's not doing it consciously."
"Oh?" The kicker raised an eyebrow.
"Hiruma's never consciously ate any magic as near as I can tell." Kurita explained. "Where he eats at wards and stuff, its just random."
"So he's unconsciously choosing not to eat her." Mushashi mused, his expression thoughtful. "That certainly is a development."
"…I wonder if Mamori-san has noticed." Kurita wondered faintly as he put his shoes on.
Mushashi sweatdropped and faintly wondered just how dumb (or dense) Kurita was.
"I'll go report today's discussion to the Elders." Mushashi announced before Kurita could say anything. "My dad's company was hired to work on their building. I'm supposed to help out after practice."
"Eh? I thought you weren't going to work until after the Christmas Bowl…." Kurita was confused.
"These are Mages, they want wards on the place. Apparently ones that are built into the building are strongest, so they need workers that are aware of magic." Mushashi explained. "They're paying me triple overtime and are willing to fund a new edition to the clubhouse should Hiruma want one…."
"So Hiruma says its okay?" Kurita wanted confirmation.
" 'For now' are his exact words." Mushashi answered with a yawn and a stretch. "Well, its time to go and please the demon."
"Don't you mean Succubus?" Kurita laughed as they left the locker room and headed out towards the field.
"Lunchbox! Old man! What the hell kept you!?" Hiruma demanded, appearing right in their faces.
"Just explaining the new job to him," Mushashi assured Hiruma, "I'll go kick the hell out of myself because it took so long."
"You damn well better!" Hiruma hissed.
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Not a lot of Hiruma today, but there is more to come. Please leave a review!