A/N: I should really stop writing these so late at night. But then again, all my reasoning wouldn't make any sense if I did. Not like I sleep anyways, what with all this geometry homework I have. I swear, the subject is getting harder and harder. I'm pretty sure I failed that last test, if the red marks on my paper were anything to go by, but then again, I gave up halfway. Sadly, I need to retake it next Tuesday. FML.
Anyways, this chapter will be a bit more gruesome and a few flashbacks will be present, mostly for that one murder I wasn't able to put in. Yes, for once I am killing off my OC. No, those times in my Pokemon fic don't count, that's a totally different story. Quite literally. And I know everyone probably already knows who the murderer is, but I had to reveal it somewhere in the fic. Don't blame me if it bores you to tears, I had to do it sometime.
Unseal chapter 7: Happy day
Minamoto Keiji walked through the school gates, a long sigh escaping his lips. He knew having suspicions about a middle schooler were wrong, but something was wrong. Hiyoshi just had this... air about him, the kind that meant you were hiding something. He knew there was something off about the boy, he just didn't know what.
xXxXxXx
Hiyoshi was not at all impressed. They were at practice again, despite it being a Sunday, and he could have sworn Atobe was just trying to show off to him again. Although this moment seemed to be a bit different, he knew that face-plant into the hard, concrete court was not on purpose and he was definitely not okay. If that bloody nose was anything to go by, anyway.
"I still say that was the stupidest thing I've ever seen in my life, and I have a cousin who thinks peanut butter can substitute as toothpaste." He said dully, watching as Atobe wiped the blood from his face with a towel. He rolled his eyes at the attempted glare.
"Be quiet, you know nothing about grace and-"
"I know that that much blood loss from such a small part of the body is anything but healthy." He cut his capatain off. Atobe was about to say something, but he was interupted when they heard a call from the gates. They both looked up to see-
"That cop again." Atobe frowned. He looked at Hiyoshi, who was watching the man with mild interest. "Are you sure you don't know him? He seems awfully interested in you."
"Buchou, I assure you, the only time I've ever had to go to the police station was when I got lost at the amusement park and my parents reported me a missing child." He said with a completely straight face, despite the look of horror on his captain's. "Other than that, I've never once been there. Besides, I've never seen this man before that time you thought it necessary to dump nearly two gallons of water on me in the middle of January." Atobe frowned.
"You were just looking for a time to bring that up, weren't you?" He said, and rolled his eyes when Hiyoshi flashed him a grin and a thumbs-up. He then turned to see the man making his way down the stairs hurriedly. "So, wanna make bets on how far he'll make it before tumbling down the rest of the way?"
"1000 yen says he makes it down five more steps." Hiyoshi said, then grinned when the man immediately fell over on his fifth step. Atobe frowned.
"I don't know how, but you cheated."
"Yeah, but now you owe me." He said.
xXxXxXx
"Your still clinging to the belief that I somehow have something to do with this chain of murders?"
Keiji rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarassed. It was a bit strange, he just didn't know what kept pulling him to the boy.
"I'm sorry, I really don't know what I'm thinking, but there's just something about you that makes me a bit... suspicious. I'm sorry if I'm offending you in any way." He said shyly. Why did he feel so pressured? Around a kid? Hiyoshi shook his head.
"It's fine." He said, glancing shortly to his left, managing to catch a glimpse of Hao's expression. He was scowling, eyes narrowed. "Is there anything else you need?" Cuz tonights your last night...
"No, no it's fine." He said, then smiled. "I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble, it won't happen again." With that, he turned to walk out the gates.
He had to supress a shiver, as he turned to see Hiyoshi still watching him, an unreadable expression on his face. He scratched his chin. "I think I may have just made the biggest mistake in my life..."
xXxXxXx
THe old man sighed, leaning back in his chair. This starnge string of murders was putting all his employees on edge, and it was doing nothing to inprove sales. If anything, these evenst had made things worse.
"I wish this would all just end soon..." He sighed.
"It will." A voice said, causing him to open his eyes, which had slid shut. "For you at least."
There, right in front of him, was a person. And, judging b the height and stature, a teenager. He was clad in a black hoodie which covered his face and black slacks, hand axe held in his left hand. The man chuckled.
"I suppose, as you young ones say, that sounded much cooler in you're head?" He said, remember how many times he had heard his grandchildren say it. The boy(at least, he thought it was, he couldn't tell by the tone of his voice) tilted his head, and the man could almost see the thoughtful look on his face. He chuckled.
"Your not bad, for an old man." He(?) said, swinging his arms back and forth. Well, that's the first time someone's done that with an axe in their hand.
"Too bad you have to kill me?" He asked, almost comepletely sure of his interntions. The boy seemed taken back, before he laughed.
"I see you thought this through." He said. "No one's in the building, and you shut down all the cameras, I suspect."
"Yup, took a lot of effort too, so I'm hoping to get this over with." He saw a grin on the boy's face, which was slightly revealed. "I do hope you don't run away like the last one, it was a huge pain gettin home when she ran all the way to the other side of the city."
A sigh. "I suppose I asked for this, although I'm sure it would have happened soon anyway." He said regretfully. "If my time has come, then there's no reason for me to delay any longer."
He looked up at the boy, who was now directly in front of his desk, all traces of that wide grin gone.
"I see." The black-clad teen said. "So your fine with this? Not gonna call security and make things difficult? Darn, and here I was hoping for some fun." The tone was a teasing, almost as if he himself was delaying it. "Might as well get this over with then." He raised the hand axe, the blunt end facing down. The old man held up a hand, and he paused.
"Before you swing down that axe, I have one last request." He said, and he watched as the weapon was lowered. "I'd at least like to see the face of my killer."
The boy seemedt o be thinking it over, grip tightening on the wooden handle. He sighed, raising his right hand and pulling back the hood. The man's eyes widened when he was greeted with ptich black eyes and red pupils. And a face he was quite familiar with.
"I see, it's you..." He said softly, then chuckled. "I'm sure you have your reasons, so-"
"Miasma." The boy said, catching his attention. "People like you release so much of it that it makes me sick." His eyes widened slightly, before softening.
"I understand," He closed his eyes. "Then do as you please, I have no right to stop you."
Right before the axe was swung down, he heard one sentence that made him smile, even in his last moments.
"You were a good man, Matsuda Daichi-san, I wish there was another way."
xXxXxXx
"So we move tonight?"
Hao nodded, gripping his knees. He inwardly sighed, he didn't expect them to have to act so soon, but it was becoming unbearable. The air was becoming thicker and thicker, and he had only himself to blame for it affecting Hiyoshi. Miasma, or "Bad air" as they called it, was exteremly harmful for demons and spirits, especially his kind. It was one of the reasons he was so unstable. He had to get rid of the biggest causes of it, and since he wasn't allowed to touch the boy's friends, he just had to deal with the others...
"What time?" The sudden question snapped him out of the slight trance he had been in. He shook his head, taking a deep breath.
"Midnight. I places a special curse on him that'll allow us to find him right away, wherever he may be."
"And if it's a public area?" Hiyoshi asked, pulling on a black sweater and pants. The first time he had worn the outfit, Hao had openly laughed and called him an idiot, to which he replied with the fact that if hadn't worn it, it would be inpossible to move around at night.
"Then," He grinned. "We wait."
xXxXxXx
Keiji wiped hjis forehead, putting the last of the files in a neat pile. He inwardly cursed his luck, getting stuck with the ls tof the paperwork for the night. They were all on the case about the string of murders that have been happening in Tokyo, and he was almost glad he lived in Urawa, despite how close it was. As long as they didn't spre-
CLICK
He froze, dropping his pen and wondered just what in the world his co-workers could be doing to allow that person in.
"If your wondering about the others, they've all been drugged and are sleeping peacefully in the lobby." A light voice said. He slowly turned around, only to come face-to-face with the one person he suspected from the beginning.
"I knew, I just knew there was something about you, Hiyoshi-kun." He said with a small grin. "I suppose that's why you've come to get rid of me?"
"I don't know if I should laugh at how far off the mark you are, or cry for the entertainment I'm about to lose." He said, surprising the man in front of him. "No, I'm not here because you suspected me, I'm here because you've been spewing miasma around this child's school and it's sickening."
"Miasma?" Keiji was, to be honest, comepletely confused. He realized, a moment too late, he wasn't talking to who he thought he was. "Your not Hiyoshi-kun, are you?" A grin.
"Oh, so you've realized? A bit too late on your part, unfrotunately. To answer your question, no, I'm not. Or rather, not completely." The air seemed to get thicker every second, and before he could react, a thin layer of mist surrounded the boy. It took a moment to dissolve completely, but he was greeted with the sight of another boy with short white hair and black eyes with red pupils. "I just happen to be inside him is all. My name is Hao."
"Hao-kun then." Keiji said, ever present smile on his face. Hao frowned.
"You should feel lucky human, I'm using quite a bit of energy to create this illusion, and my power isn't what it used to be." He said, still frowning. "Your the only one who's seen my true form."
Keiji's eyes traveled down, widening at the sight of the hand axe in the boy's hand. He felt himself begin to sweat a bit. "So that's what you've been using? Now I see how you were able to bash someone's skull in and slice them open." Hao chuckled.
"Messy, that one. A real shame too, the man could have been fun to talk to, if it's weren't for the miasma pouring off him." He scowled. "I almost regret killing him."
Keiji chuckled, leaning back on his desk. He slowly reached for the gun strapped under it...
Before the table was blown to bits.
He stared, wide-eyed, at the spot where his desk now lay in pieces. What the hell?
"Do you honestly think I couldn't see what you were doing?" He turned back, only to find Hao before him, only mere inches away. "Only an idiot would fall for that."
He had only that warning before small yet strong hands wrapped around his neck, strangling him. He grabbed the offending arms, attempting to pull them away, but the small boy was stronger than he looked. A lot stronger.
"I don't want you making any noises for what I'm about to do, it'll attract too much attention, and you may just get away alive." He grinned widely. "We can't have that, now can we?"
His grip tightened at the end of his sentence, effectively crushing the man's windpipe. "I could just choke you and kill you right then, but after all the trouble you've caused us, I think I'll be creative today."He lifted his foot, stomping on his with a sickening crack before he released his grip, watching as the man fell to the ground, grasping his throat. "It's no use, you won't be able to talk anymore."
Hao walked over the one of the desks, picking up the bag he had dropped moments before his attack. He looked around the room, smiling when he spotted his target. A paper shredder. He walked over, making sure to pass Keiji on the way. He lifted the electronic device, holding it up for the cop to see.
"You know what this is right?" He asked sweetly. Keiji watched him, confused, when Hao slid a dagger out of his shirt sleeve. "I've always had a thing for blades, but I never found out how I decided on an axe as my main weapon in the council." He mumbled, twisting the small blade around, flipping it. "Oh well, more fun this way."
He walked over to where Keiji sat crouched over a chair, attempting to stand up. Hao glared at him, grabbing him by his hair and lifting him up so he was bent over the next desk. He walked around it, placing the paper shredder on the other side. He placed the dagger next to it, walking back to the desk that had his bag and axe. He lifted the wooden handle, looking the blade over for any stains. He walked back.
He stopped in front of the falled cop again, turning the axe over a few times before smashing the flat side into the man's skull knocking him to the ground. He huffed.
"Well, I guess there was no point to putting you up here if you were just going to fall again." He said, dropping the axe and placing the man back in his earlier position. "Now, how to do this..." He clapped his hands together. "Well, seeing as your jaw is now broken, I guess I'll start with cutting out your tounge."
He picked up the dagger lying on it's side, flipping it over a few times before grabbing Keiji by the jaw. "If you relax, this won't hurt a bit." He said, forcing his mouth open. "It could hurt a lot though."
Those were the last words he heard before he felt the cold steel of the blade dig into his tongue. He tried tp scream, but with how the demon handled his throat, it was impossible.
His eyes were closed, and though it annoyed Hao, he was fine with it. He turned to the paper shredder, wondering if what was in his hand would fit and not break it. If it broke, that would just make things less fun.
"Hey." He said, and Keiji opened his eyes, only for the to widen when he saw what Hao was holding over the shredder. He watched as the boy let it drop from his hand, the sickening squishing sounds it made when it was turned on made his stomach flip over. Hao turned back to him, a small smile on his face, eyes faded. He brought his hand under the man's chin, tilting his face up to look at him.
"Next is your eyes."
xXxXxXx
Hiyoshi sighed, the hot water running over his sore body allowing his muscles to relax. He didn't know that Hao's illusions could put so much strain on his body. It wasn't even his power! He still remembered how, the moment they arrived back home, Hao had immediately fallen asleep. It seemed the event put him out for a while.
He grabbed the bottle of liquid soap, pouring it on his hands and rubbing furiously at his arms, where most of the blood had splashed back. Was it really necessary to put the guy's fingers in too, along with his eyes? The thought sickened him, but he knew better than to judge. He didn't know what it was, but he knew there was something very wrong with Hao. It was like he was becoming a different person every night they went out. Perhaps it was just a demon thing, but he could feel it. The Hao he knew wouldn't willingly kill people. After all, it only started a few months ago, and whatever it was that was wrong with Hao was getting worse.
Maybe he could talk to Hao about taking down that barrier, then maybe he'd be able to ask someone about it.
xXxXxXx
"Another death?"
Húlí hung her head, not wanting to face her master. She heard Shīzi sigh, before continuing the report. "And this time, it's been confirmed." Shīzi raised an eyebrow.
"What has?" He asked slowly. Húlí didn't look up.
"It's been confirmed that Yán luó is responsible for more than half the deaths in the past five months." She said in a shaky voice. She didn't need to look up to see his expression.
"I didn't think it would happen so soon..." He said to himself. The two demons both looked up when they heard laugher from the doorway.
"See? Didn't I tell you the runt would snap?" A man wearing all green said, a wild grin on his face.
"Shé." Shīzi started. "I don't think-"
"Why don't you just kill him already?" The snake said in a serious tone, watching his boss. The lion stayed silent. "If you won't do it, then I will. Just give me the order and the kid'll be gone in less than a secon-"
"No." Shīzi said, frowning. "I've told you time after time that I don't want him killed."
Shé scowled. "He hates you."
"And he has every right to, but that doesn't change the fact that I want him here."
xXxXxXx
A/N: DON'T HATE THE POOR BOY IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.
No seriously don't. Cuz like, he's gonna become pretty awesome once they get him under control. Many things will be revealed later on as to why he did what he did, but for now, please live with what you know. I actually cut that scene with Hao and Keiji short cuz i just couldn't handle it. My sister thought up the entire scene for me when I asked her "what's the most gruesome way you can think of to kill someone." and she gave me that. Actually, she also told me to put happy sounding title names for chapter like this. Seeing as there's only one more somewhat like it, yeah.
Okay, so since I really need to use the bathroom, Imma end this note here. Night.