Chapter 7: The Devil's Pact

~~~Shalalalala~~~

I really should've eaten something…
Then again I slept great for the first time since ages!

I stretch my arms as I come to a stop on our usual meeting point at Karasumori.
The others aren't there yet, but I'm sure they'll be here any minute now.
The night air is refreshing and I feel like a fog has lifted from my mind.
So what, if I'm impossibly in love? With a guy no less... At least I know now. And I can deal with it perfectly fine, it's just a harmless feeling which I can ignore.

Speaking of… there he is. Jumping the main gate with not as much flair as everyone would have liked. He jogs towards me as he starts talking. "Hey Gen! Look!" He does a weird little hop to show off his new sneakers. "My dad bought me new sneakers!"
He finally reaches me and stops, still admiring his shoes. "They're not the same ones but at least they are yellow." He smiles and looks up. I wish I could smile, lie and agree, but really, who would want to wear yellow sneakers? Luckily my stomach interrupts before I can utter a maybe less then appropriate response.
I laugh nervously and rub my neck. Yes, that was quite embarrassing.
Yoshimori immediately forgets his shoes and laughs as well. "Didn't you eat, Gen?"
"No…" I admit. "I kinda fell asleep."

"Really? Doesn't sound like you," He frowns. "…you must've been really tired. Oh, Wait!" He takes his backpack from his back and muddles around in it. After a few seconds he holds up his lunch box with pride, like it's his most prized posettion. Which might actually be true…

"Take it!" He says as he pushes it in my arms.
What? The whole of it? "No… I can't…" I gently try to push it back.
"It's no problem, I'm not hungry anyway. Had a late diner, remember? And believe me, my dad doesn't know the meaning of leftovers!"
I reluctantly accept the box and open it.
It contains a lot of sweets, as expected, but also some rice balls which I will gladly take. I'm not sure whether or not it would be rude to reject the sweets but I figure I'll decide that later. I turn to thank him…
"Hey Tokine! Tokine!" He's enthusiastically waving at Tokine, who just entered the school grounds and is casually walking towards us. Yoshimori jogs up to meet her. "Look Tokine! I got new sneakers!"

"… thanks… " I say to the empty air. As I take a bite out of the riceball.
I sit down as the other two slowly make their way towards me on the stairs.

I hardly had time to finish the rice balls as the presence of two large Ayakashi became apparent. They were two identical looking bug-like Ayakashi's with rhino horns and vine like arms and they were tough!

I lose my ground again, as the vines break through the ground below me, I can barely dodge them as I try to get away. Next to me Tokine isn't faring better. Yoshimori on the other hand is high up in the air. His blue kekkais are sparkling in the skies. I can't help but think it might be his new sneakers that are giving him a moral boost or something, but I'm grateful because those slippery vines are certainly preventing me from getting any height on our opponents. That's for sure!

It's a timing issue I know as start to climb on the new kekkais Tokine places. Yoshimori knows where his kekkaishi will be, I'm not 100% sure where Tokine's will be. We've gotten really fast at it, but when the Ayakashi are instantly covering the kekkais with slimy vines it certainly doesn't help.
Luckily Yoshimori is already dealing out some real damage. Their armor is showing cracks and they are getting real agitated by him, trying to swap him with their vines, but he's quick enough to avoid them.
Damn, I'm too slow again and the vines reach the kekkai I was aiming for, before I can reach it. I slash it and it breaks, but it leafs a slimy resedu on the kekai and with my speed I'm unable to get a grip. Here I go. I only hope that Tokine's paying attention.
She did and I land safely on a soft and green kekkai, though I'm back near the ground again. This is getting old real fast.
Apparently the Ayakashi agree as they suddenly stop their attacks.

The three of us hesitate as well, this can't be good. I'm alert for any sudden changes as I watch them closely. They are definitely plotting something. Yoshimori, on his high vantage point tries to encase them with one big kekkai, but before he can either stabilize they break it and… They are heading for us now.
"Tokine!" I warn her. She knows though. They are on purposely ignoring Yoshimori so they can take out the two of us first. I immediately turn from Tokine as she runs in the opposite direction as well. Their vines are faster though and before we know it we are suspended in the air.

Tokine and I are helpless, we can't move and we both look for Yoshimori for help. I see him hesitate for a second but then he sets his mind and focuses his attention on the ayakashi that has a hold of Tokine. Using Kekkais to shield Tokine against piercing roots while at the same time targeting areas to metsu the Ayakashi. It's already faltering in its attacks, however the Ayakashi holding me has no such hindrance.
A root pierces my shoulder as I try to wiggle loose. I gasp in pain and feel weirdly violated as the slimy root wriggled through me to get a better grasp on my body.
Now he uses me to swat Yoshimori with, trying to aid his fellow Ayakashi. I get smacked around a bit before I'm finally able to free my good arm. One well aimed slash and I'm free, though flying through the air with the momentum I was having. I end up colliding with Yoshimori which was the Ayakashi's original target, so I'm not surprised as we both tumble to the ground. He grunts from impact but doesn't waste a second to get back up. With a hand digging painfully on my shoulder he quickly picks himself up at my expense and he is gone.

My world is still spinning as I'm trying to get some air in.
I mutter some curses as rip the filthy root out of my shoulder so it can start to regenerate.

Another hand, gentle… …Tokine, I meet her gaze as she too takes off immediately to take care of our nightly visitors. I throw away the root with disgust and sit up to witness the last ayakashi falling to the ground and getting metsu-ed away.

Sumimura runs to me as Tokine clears up the remaining of the other Ayakashi. "Gen! You okay?"
I want to smile at him and tell him everything is fine. But I find that I can't.
I'm angry.
A very clear and distinct feeling, which I can't deny.
I'm angry that he chose her over me.

Even though she really could've gotten hurt or even killed. However I'm not immortal and I'm hurt that he didn't pick me, choose me over her.
However I'm also angry at myself because I know, it was the sensible thing to do. I even told him to do so. I'm so stupid. I finger the new hole in my shirt and as suspected the wound is almost completely healed up. No complications, that's good.
"Gen?"
I finally acknowledge the Sumimura heir as I stand up and wipe the dirt from my clothes. "I'm fine." I reply, more briskly then I intended and I'm starting to feel guilty for my weird irrational feelings and behaviors.
"Really?" He asks worried as he gets rid of the root's remains. I can feel the worry radiating off of him and I feel even guiltier.
I do it. I smile. It's fake, it hurts and I hate it, but I see him instantly relax and that makes it all worth it. I show him the hole in my shirt. "See? Not a scratch!"
He nods, but avoids my eyes.

I don't want him to worry, not when I'm not sure what I'm feeling or thinking.
I guess I'll have to face that I might not be able to just live with it…
It's affecting me more then I like to admit.

After those two Ayakashi the whole team is tired and bruised and we crash at our usual spot. I take the time to find a nice space in a nearby tree, not feeling totally comfortable on the open ground. And to be honest, needing some more time to gather my thoughts… They don't seem to mind though, probably too tired from the fight to argue about my social skills...

It's back though. Feelings that I can't suppress as I watch him lean back against the stairs, smiling tiredly at Tokine. The object of his affection… Yet he is mine, my object of affection.
He truly was something today, strong and beautiful. Fierce but ever soft and gentle… Damn this feeling! It's warm, it aches and burns. But above all it hurts… Makes me feel so miserable…
I quickly look away from them, and lean back against the tree, staring upwards at the leafs. Staring hard and blinking occasionally as I feel my eyes moisten up.

This sucks and I try to get angry, but I can't… All I feel is this tightness in my chest as I try to endure and breathe through it.

I take another peek down, Yoshimori is totally relaxed, eyes closed. Probably about to snooze off. He looks so comfortable, just like when he was at my house…

"Well well… What have we here?"
"WHAT THE HELL?" I scream and almost fall from the tree as Madaroa whispers unsuspected in my ear. I regain my balance as I glare at him. He's looking down to an annoyed Tokine and an oblivious Yoshimori.

"Enjoying the view are we?" The demon dog asks…
My breath stops and I feel the blood drain from my face. "What?"
"The view. I was asking if you were enjoying it." He motions in general.

"Euh… I guess…" I watch as Tokine stands up and follows Hakubi who seems to have smelled something. She gives one last suspicious glance towards us and then disappears from view. I turn my attention back to Madarao. He's staring at me with a mad glint in his eyes. "What?"

"Nothin'!" He turns his ghostly back towards me, pretending to be interested in something else.
I'm not falling for that and I want him gone. "Can't you hover somewhere else?"
"I could, but this is such a nice spot! Witch such great company!" He's putting it on a bit too thick and he's giving me eerie chills.
"Fine." I resign. "Just… …hover there and be quiet."
"Most certainly, Gen-kun… I'll just be here, quietly… I won't interrupt your ogling of my master."

"What?" I… What?... The world spins and not only from suddenly turning to face the Ayakashi. He continues undeterred, like he's talking about the weather. "He does look yummy doesn't he? Lying there all vulnerable and so delicious… I certainly can't blame you."
"I… I don't know…" But as I look down and see him, yes vulnerable and… " I feel the heat rush to my head. "What are you talking about?"
"Why, I'm talking about why you're blushing and being all flustered."
I seethe as he stops to take a good look at me. "You do know, why you are being like that don't you?"
I snarl. "I'm not stupid!" Well.. I was.. oh never mind that! "It's none of your business! Get the hell out of my tree!"
"Oh oh, touchy subject…" Beneath us a Yoshimori rolls around in his sleep, probably slightly disturbed by our noise so I try to talk in a softer voice. "It's none of your business."
He pouts. "It's not?"
I roll my eyes. "No! I can handle this just fine."
"Oh, and by fine you mean pretending nothing changed?"
I hesitate.
"You do know I'm old right? I knoooow things. Especially gay things, why Tokimori Hazama had to beat me away with a stick!" The dog chuckles madly. Making me feel very uncomfortable. I want to say something but he interrupts before I can. "Also! I…" He looks down towards Sumimura. "I'd think you'd be good for him." This shuts me off. I'd be good for him? I'm all ears now!

"He's been pining for that Yukimura girl for years now and I'm not sure if anything will result from that, other than a broken heart and an unhealthy obsession."

Really? I'm not convinced, but even so it doesn't change who he loves right?

"I can help you Gen!" Madarao urges. "I'm a master seducer!" He hovers closer. "If you let me…" He winks. And I feel a bit sick. But…
This… Might… Work…

I've already lost if I don't try, right?

"I…" I look at him and he looks sincere. "I could…maybe use some help…"

"Oh goody!" He claps his paws together. "You won't regret it! I swear! Oooh… I have to prepare! Tomorrow we'll start our scheme! This will be so much fun!"

Below us, Yoshimori has woken up from our tumult. "Madarao! Are you harassing Gen?" He murmurs. "Leave him alone. …I'm trying to sleep…"

I chuckle as I watch him fall back to sleep. I feel sorry for him, he has no idea.
But I will fight for him. I must try at least.

~~~ Minareta machi... ~~~ Yukkuri fuki nukero kaze ~~~ endingsong etc. ~~~

Again a long wait! Gomen, It's just the way it is! -.-;;
But I do hope you've enjoyed the chapter!

Next: chapter 8: Step one: Elimination!