A/N: So after many failed attempts at writing this chapter and much procrastination, I've finally decided "you know, 4:00 sounds like a wonderful time to write a chapter" and like they always say, third time's the charm! ... In most cases. Unfortunately, this is me we're talking about, and since fanfiction didn't let me go to doc manager when I was clearly logged in, I'd say this came faster than it should have.
We're almost done with the main story now. Just (hopefully) four more after this and we'll be at the post-ending, which I've been dying to write. We get more from Choutarou's POV here. We also get to see what our favorite anti-hero has been doin- wait, wrong chapter.
Unseal chapter 9: The turning point
Red eyes scanned the city below, His target couldn't be far, the traces of "bad air"[1] still fresh. His body went rigid, his nerves on fire. There.
He leaped off the low roof, dashing down the alley and pressing his body against the wall. After waiting for his target the stagger drunkenly passed the alley, he leapt.
xXxXxXx
Choutarou sighed, paacing around outside the club room. His sempai had asked him time after time about Hiyoshi, especially Atobe and Shishido. They were obviously worried, and it stung to have to lie to them like this, but he did what he could.
He couldn't handle meetings at his friend's house, it was far to... depressing. Knowing what was going on, listening to everyone and what they had to say, but not being able to say anything himself. Not being able to do anything else. It hurt to know that he was so close but couldn't help in any way. Which was why he was doing this, distracting the team. It was all he could do. At least, that's what 'they' thought. He knew Hiyoshi's family knew better.
"Choutarou, are you okay?"
He jumped, the sudden voice snapping him back to reality. He turned around to see Shishido, tennis bag slung over his shoulder. Gakuto and Jirou were peeking out from the doorway, watching the two carefully. Choutarou sighed.
"It's nothing sempai, I just-"
He was cut off by the sudden ringing of his cellphone. He quickly dismissed himself, saying it was an important call he was waiting for. He ran to the back of the clubhouse, unaware of the group following.
xXxXxXx
"He's gone!"
Choutarou stood there, mouth wide open in shock. The call was from Hiyoshi's father, who called to tell him that his son was gone - and they had no idea where he was.
"He could be anywhere by now, but I doubt he's left the city. Wakashi's too attatched to you all now to go too far away." The man on the other end said. "Although, it could be that Hao took him far away for just that reason."
"Because he doesn't want to make Wakashi sad by hurting us, or..."
"Or you're attachment to him might affect his control. Remember, Wakashi can take control at any time. Whatever Hao's doing, he wants you all out of the way. And he wants full conrtol for as long as his body can handle it." The very though of it made Choutarou shiver, he didn't want his best friend to get hurt. Or worse.
"Is there any way we can find him? Doesn't he have a tag somewhere on him?" He asked. Hiyoshi always had something on him so his family could find him easily.
"W removed all the tags when we restrained him. He would have killed himself with all that weighing down on him, so we thought better safe than sorry." A sigh. "And look where that got us..." A pause. "Choutarou-kun, could you..."
"Oji-san, I'll find him, don't worry." Choutarou said. "Where ever he is, I can find him, you know that. After all, I doubt Hao-kun would break our bond for any reason. It's what's keeping them alive afterall."
xXxXxXx
Six pairs of eyes watched carefully from around the corner. It was impossible to tell who was on the phone, but by the sound of things, something happened to their future captain. Shishido narrowed his eyes upon seeing Choutarou biting his thumb, it was an unhealthy habit he shared with his best friend, something they only did under extreme pressure. At it was tough to pressure them.
"Yes.. okay, so tonight at nine... yes, don't worry, I'll keep my promise." He said a simple 'bye' before hanging up, sighing again and pocketing his phone. Shishido grabbed Gakuto and Jirou by the arms when they tried to back off. He needed all the help he could get it they wanted to hear it. Atobe stood his ground, arms crossed. Shishido nodded to him.
He was going to get his partner to talk, whether he wanted to or not.
xXxXxXx
"Alright, what's up?"
Imagine the tall second-year's surprise when, the moment he stepped around the corner, that was the first thing he heard. Right now he was being stared down by his sempai (and Kabaji, but he had the feeling the other boy didn't want to pry into his personal buisness) with rather hard looks.
"What's wrong with him." It was Atobe this time, and to that, he wasn't sure what to say.
Choutarou bit his lip, wondering whether he should break his promise to Hiyoshi's father to not tell anyone - especially the team - about what was wrong with his son. The group stood in silence for what seemed like forever, before Choutarou sighed again.
"In the clubroom, I can't say it out here."
xXxXxXx
"Why so heavy..."
Dragging an uncouncious body to a secluded area had been hard enough, but the fact that he had to stay out of sight, well, there was a limit to even his strength. He huffed, grabbing the man's collar and heaving with all his strength to at least get him inside the warehouse.
"Dammit..." He cursed, pulling the door shut behind him. He smirked.
"Now it begins..."
xXxXxXx
Choutarou shifted in his seat, not meeting the curious stares of his teammates.
"So..." Shishido said after a long silence. "Let me see if I heard this correctly: There's an evil spirit sealed inside Wakashi, and now it's gone crazy and has kidnapped him?"
"Sorta..." Choutarou swalloed. "He's not really evil, just a bit unstable, and we think something happened to make him go crazy. He's usually relatively mild, and just follows Wakashi around everyday. Sometimes he disappears, but he comes back." Atobe hummed.
"So, you don't believe me?" He asked. There was another long silence, and he was sure his team thought he was crazy.
"I believe you."
Seven pairs of eyes turned to look at Shishido, who scratched the back of his head.
"I mean, Choutarou doesn't lie, and I doubt you'd lie about Wakashi anyways. You didn't want to tell us, so I'm sure it must be true, if you were being so cautious."
Choutarou smiled softly, glad that one of his sempai believed him. Maybe now...
"I do too." Atobe said, to everyone's surprise. "It's just- I doubt it's a lie. Everytime I'm alone with Hiyoshi, it always feels like there's something watching me. I've always wondered if it was my imagination, but I guess..." Choutarou chuckled.
"Hao-kun has always been a bit precautious. He thinks you'll do something weird if he's not around." Atobe raised an eyebrow.
"Why-"
"I think that can wait until later, Atobe." Oshitari said. He sighed. "As for me, well, I don't know what to say. I don't think your lying, but I don't know if it's the truth. I won't doubt you though, there's deifinitely something wrong."
Gakuto and Jirou exchanged looks. "I... guess I believe you." Gakuto said, Jirou nodding along. "We'll believe you, because your our friend."
Choutarou smiled. They believed him! Maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to...
"So... what do we do now? We know, but can we do anything?" Oshitari voiced everyone's thoguhts. Choutarou stared at the floor. What could they do?
"I don't think we can do anything." He mumbled. "We've been trying for years, but thibgs have only gotten worse..." Atobe looked at him.
"What do you mean 'gotten worse'?" He questioned. "Does it have to do with why he's been fainting?" Choutarou looked away.
"We've been... trying to separate them for years now. I think it only made his condition worse though, he wasn't this bad before, and we always fail." He took a deep breath. "Remember the string of murders that's been happening these past three months?"
"Yeah..." Shishido said. I don't like where this is going, he thought. Dammit, Choutarou, look at me! I can't tell what your thinking if you don't...
"They're the results of... our failed attempts."
xXxXxXx
"But boss...!"
"No buts, Shé, we have to do this."
Said demon was seething. "Why go through so much trouble for one brat? He'll die soon anyway, why not just take him out and get it over with? Save ourselves the mourning and get on with our lives!"
Gǒu jumped up, fists clenched.
"We can't do that Shé Xiānshēng, we need him!" He barked, fangs beared. "Just because you don't-"
Shé glared at the dog, causing him to cower and sink back into his seat. Tùzǐ looked between the two, eyes wide and clutching the stiffed leopard in her arms. She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly copied Gǒu's previous actions. Shīzi looked at her.
"Do you have something to say?" He asked softly. She glanced at the snake, who was glaring at her, as if daring her to speak.
"W-Wǒ xiǎng dà gēgē huíláile...[2]" She said quickly, hiding when there was a vicious hiss from the front of the room.
Shé glared at the two younger demons, cursing the fact that he couldn't touch them without starting a fight with the birds.
"Boss, we can't take him back, he's-"
"Master!"
The doors to the meeting room flew open, a rather startled looking Húlí standing at the door.
"Master, Yán luó has...!" Shīzi stood up.
"Yes?"
"H-He's moved!"
xXxXxXx
So while this took forever to write, and I didn't get to post this up when I finished it cuz fanfiction was being a jerk, I guess it turned out fine.
[1] See chapter 7 flashback for short explanation, or look up 'miasma' on wiki.
[2] Wǒ xiǎng dà gēgē huíláile... - Roughly 'I want big brother back' Sorry, my Chinese is a bit rusty.
Next chapter will be relatively longer, since I wanted it to be the... climax I guess? Still, four more chapters for the main story, then we get to the last few.