8. Annoyance

"Monica and I were friends, growing up in the village since we were kids." Kai told Sylvan as the two walked through the forest. The samurai had decided to tell the demon about his past. It was only fair, since Sylvan told him about his past already. "She wanted to be a patissier and all, and have her own 'candy castle,' as she put it. That's her dad's dream. Monica's dad health eventually failed him, and her mom got sick from worrying so much. I had to take her into my house and help support her."

Sylvan hesitated before asking, "What about your family situation?"

"...My father abandoned me when I was young. I don't know where he is, now. I had to take up a job at a bakery to support myself. I've got no idea where my mother is."

"I'm sorry." Sylvan spoke quietly, looking downwards. "I didn't think I was pressing upon a touchy subject." He looked up at Kai again. "But, what was your relations towards Monica like? Are you two really just on sort of sisterly-brotherly terms, or...just friends, or...I don't know...something?"

Kai blushed of embarassment. "I-I don't love her..." He trailed off through clenched teeth.

Sylvan smirked. "Of course..." He drawled sarcastically, before chuckling a bit. "Of course, Kai. I'll keep your little secret."

Kai pointed his katana blade at him. "One more taunt towards me about this and I'll make sure you die." He threatened the demon, who flinched and nodded in response. "Good."

"What did you find about her attractive?" Sylvan continued to persist about Kai and Monica's relations towards each other, despite the multiple death threats Kai kept giving him out of annoyance. "I mean by physically attractive. You've told me already about how hardworking and dedicated she is to her work and such, and how on rare occasions she keeps giving you hugs and calls you Samurai Boy, too."

Kai paused before saying two words.

"...Her hands."

Sylvan looked confused there. "I'm sorry...Did I hear that correctly? Her hands?"

"YES!" Kai shouted at him. "SHE HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HANDS IN EXISTENCE! IT WAS SURELY THE HANDS OF A TRUE ARTISIAN!"

Sylvan smiled a bit. "Well, I suppose human hands can be considered a physically attractive part of a person, although for females, men rather look at their-" He pointed at his chest. "You get the idea."

"Pervert." Kai muttered quietly.

"I am not!" Sylvan protested. "I'm more about the face-kind of person. I mean, overall they have to look nice, and be nice people, but if their face is especially pretty, I've noted that I try to actually talk with them."

"...You don't generally like speaking to people?" Kai asked.

Sylvan tapped the mask he wore. "The face you see underneath this is not pretty at all. At least in my opinion. That's why I generally avoid talking them."

"Take the mask off." Sylvan looked at Kai, confused, before the teen spoke again. "You heard me. Take the mask off. What's your real face like behind it?"

Sylvan just sighed, before removing his mask.

The face underneath was scarred with cuts and burns, especially at the left side of his face. Kai wondered how Sylvan could have survived something such as this, but he guessed it may have been due to becoming a demon that he could survive these wounds a bit easier than a regular human.

Sylvan put his mask back on. "This," He spoke, "Is why I generally don't bother communicating with people. In addition to being a demon, my face looks terrible. It's from when Yukino attacked the village I lived in, years ago. The results weren't pretty, either, as I told you earlier."

Kai nodded, before the two looked around. "Do you know if there's a way out of here?"

Sylvan shrugged. "My long answer is, if I knew, I would have slung you over my shoulder and got the heck out of here by now." He responded. "My short answer is no, I don't know."

Kai sighed. "That doesn't help..."

Just because the two were allies, did not mean that it came without any annoyance at all.

Author note: Oh gosh.

I haven't updated this in forever. I am really sorry about not updating it in a while! I got busy with other fanfics and-oh, never mind. I don't want to babble excuses again. I swear, I'll get this updated sooner next time. Promise. Thanks for all your patience!