XIV. Maniac
"Just tell me where the demon hunters are."
This was what Seishiro had said after he entered the Cat's Eye one fall evening. Earlier, he had discovered that it was the café that Syaoran and the others had started once they had arrived in this world, the world of Outo, and there had been a lot of buzz generating about it. Once he heard the name, the elusive nature of the establishment, he thought it bore a connection.
So there he was.
Presently, he stood at the doorway, and could see the magician known as Fai, hovering over the sleeping body of the girl named Sakura, who Syaoran knew for a long time and seemed to care for deeply. He could also see that a little white creature was near the girl as well. But that was none of his concern.
For now the demon hunters were his only matter of interest.
A flash falls against his right eye.
The magician walked a few steps toward the hooded figure, in front of the couch that held the princess' sleeping form. Bearing a smile, one that has probably seen many battles before this one, the magician said, "Welcome to the Cat's Eye. Would you like a table, sir?"
Seishiro replied, "No thank you. I've come for the demon hunters."
"Unfortunately, they happen to be out at the moment."
"You mean you are not a hunter yourself?" Seishiro inquired further.
The smile still on his face, Fai answered. "Oh no. I'm just a simple café manager."
"I wouldn't say simple, magician."
Another flash.
The mage's expression changes somewhat. "Perhaps not. But that's beside the point. What do you want with the demon hunters?"
It is then that massive swirls of black smoke start circling away from Seishiro's body, forming into energy masses resembling demons. "Why I intend to get rid of them."
Fai doesn't seem fazed. At least, not yet. "I'm going to guess you are this Seishiro person I've heard so much about. Syaoran tells me you are the one who taught him how to fight."
The masses continue to pool around the hunter. Seishiro asks, "And just how to do know Syaoran?"
"I've been traveling with him and some others for some time now."
"He's traveling between worlds, is he? I see."
Seishiro pauses for a moment, drinking in the sight of the black pools of smoke before him, and noticing how little Fai's disposition has changed. He hides his uneasiness well.
He continues with, "He certainly didn't have the ability the last time I saw him. He met the witch then. I wonder what Yuuko's price was - it's never an easy one."
"You can travel too. You're gifted. But your magic alone isn't enough to pull that off. So tell me Seishiro, what price did the Dimensional Witch demand of you?"
"My right eye."
It flashes once more, as if presenting itself as a gift.
Seishiro motions to it. "And she gave me this one – its magic enhances my own and allows me to travel from world to world."
"Magic like that is limited, correct? You can only use it a certain amount of times, and that means there are only a certain number of worlds you can travel."
The magician was clever. The happy-go-lucky nature was simply a façade.
"That's right. So you see, because of my restrictions, I can't afford any missteps. And I'm afraid you and your friends are a liability."
The demons, finally forming into two distinct masses, attack the magician. He easily dodges, landing on the counter of the bar. His right foot creaks – Fai grimaces at the pain, an old pain at that.
"Fai!" The white creature squeaks, worry in its voice.
"Mokona, stay by Sakura no matter what." Fai states with a mix of firmness and reassurance, trying not to let his discomfort show.
"Right!"
Seishiro is not fooled. "Seems to be something wrong with your leg. If you're hurt, wouldn't it be easier to use magic rather than fists?"
Fai puts his hands on his hips, trying to remain balanced. "Naturally. But I gave up magic when I left my home world."
The hunter replies with, "Well then it looks like you're dead."
For a moment, there is another pause, but this time on the magician's part. Behind his smile were hints of loss, of self-sacrifice, of grief never properly dissolved within his system?
What Seishiro noticed was the fact that Fai's face didn't change - it didn't change at all at the fact of his imminent demise. Unless…
Seishiro's eyes narrowed. "That's what you've been seeking."
"It began that way, yes. But then a new friend said something that changed my mind." Fai stands up straighter, his arms at the ready for a confrontation. "I've given up on myself. But not anymore. I won't let you kill me. At least not without one heck of a fight."
"A noble sentiment. But unfortunately for you I'm running out of time." Seishiro states, with an edge in his voice.
At this, the wizard's eyes seemed to grow colder, as if his stare could freeze the situation at hand. "Mokona – you need to stay out of this. If anything happens to me, you need to find Syaoran. It's important he knows about the feather."
"Fai…" The creature's worries are only heightened.
"Say goodbye…"
There was a sickening crunch as one of the demons snapped its jaws.
But that crunch was music to Seishiro's ears.
It was only inevitable – the magician was no more. At least in this world anyway.
Now all Seishiro had to do was to find the demon hunters – it was Syaoran he was seeking here.
For it was clear -
The maniac still had his goals in mind.
