-4-
Decrescendo
It didn't take long for the Scotland Yard that had surrounded the vicinity to break the doors down and pour through to rescue the hostages. Outside, officers and local news reporters stormed the area; the doors and windows were forced back open, and after every single person was brought in for a street-corner questioning and news briefing, the Alexander's found a secluded place to talk a few distant blocks down the street, away from the ambulances, police cars, and flashing lights. Their attention turned to the silent young man standing next to Sophia who had quietly been behind or close by their daughter's proximity throughout the entire ordeal. Her father was the first to address him, noticing how he was still standing rather closely to his namesake.
"And uh, who might your new friend be, Sophie? We're very grateful he along with you saved us this evening, but um...he's not a very talkative fellow, is he?"
She immediately noticed what her father was alluding to and realized that she hadn't found the time to introduce her mute companion; she nervously cleared her throat realizing how weird it must have been to have him just...standing there.
Truth be told, despite the short time in which she herself had found out who he was, she had gotten used to it, "Oh...um, ah, Mum, Dad, this is Hush. He's…uh, he's mute. He can't speak. I met him earlier this evening and he was kind enough to lend me his help."
She paused after lulling over how she was going to explain to them that she could hear him through their soul length...wave... or was it something else. His explanation was rather confusing. None of it made any sense to her. If she were being honest, she had completely forgot how to logically explain what was going on between the two of them...
...if there was anything going on between the two of them. Wait, since she fought alongside him, did that make them partners now? She did reject him firmly not too long ago. What now? There was no way in hell she was going to tell them that she had used the time she had faked going to use the lavatory to go and talk with him on the veranda.
God, this was a mess.
But before she could think of a plausible answer, the meister had pulled out a small notebook and pen from his suit pocket and began furiously writing his choice of words down on a page. He dotted the last sentence and handed the notebook to her parents along with Sophia and the family of three gathered around it to see what it said:
It is an honor to meet the Alexander family in person.
I am a big fan of the music your daughter plays.
I was the one that confronted Sophia about her powers and asked her in helping me defeat the killer.
I could not have done it without her cooperation.
Thank you for your understanding.
"Oh...I see," her father murmured, still studying the young man with a raised eyebrow. "Are you her…shall I say…are you two well acquainted with one another?"
"DAD!" Sophia stomped her foot in frustration.
"Well, I am terribly sorry Sophia! Your mother and I have been out of the country for a while. I had no way of knowing if you might have gotten yourself a-"
"Just STOP Dad, please. I met him tonight, same as you."
She needed to stop the fire before it even started.
But the meister took the notebook and began to write again, gaining Sophia's attention again. What did he possibly have to say after that? He handed it back again for them to read it:
I actually wanted to enroll in Shibusen with her.
It is an academy specializing in the ways of weapons and meisters that is located in the United States, more so in the state of Nevada.
I traveled from Madrid to ask her if she wanted to become my partner.
In order to work and enroll appropriately in the school, one needs a partner.
But it would be an honor if we received your permission as well.
Considering her musical career and your standing in Parliment Sir Alexander, I understand the complications behind making such a decision.
But nevertheless, I insist.
Going there, she could better learn about who she is and can hone her skills. I have a duty as a meister to protect and she has one as well.
Please.
It would be a humbling and enriching experience for the both of us.
They all paused considering his request. This simply wasn't a request to better understand who she was, but she might be in harm's way in events similar to tonight.
"...is this something you want, Sophie?" her mother chimed in suddenly, looking over at her daughter.
Given the time to think it over without distraction, what Hush was asking was a life she had never known, of course she thought about it on a regular basis, but it was becoming more of a reality. Did she really want it, to go and live in Shibusen and learn what it means to be a weapon, exploring her potential and fighting alongside him in protecting the weak and innocent, doing things like what they just did tonight on a regular basis? It sounded like a dream, but there was uncertainty in her heart. Where she would go, danger and death really did follow, and she had only known a life of luxury and was waited on every waking moment. If she said "yes", she would really only have herself to rely on, well with Hush's help of course.
But it was a chance to really figure out who she was off the stage and out in the real world. She could be whoever she wanted to be, go places she had never been, meet people just like her, who came from all walks of life. And in reality, this wouldn't be the first time she would be on her own. She had grown accustomed to living the solitary life and had grown pretty independent. There was no way she could pass something like that up. Even with the consequences, today, she proved to herself that she was at least reliable. And she could rest in knowing that much.
She nodded vigorously, "Yes this is what I want. I want to join the DWMA and know what it means to be a weapon." She stepped back standing alongside Hush and smiled, "There, I can make you even more proud."
Her parents' faces brightened with cheesy, but genuine smiles. They couldn't have imagined being any more proud of their daughter. They knew at that moment, she had become that independent woman she was destined to become.
Her father however retained his more serious demeanor and stepped forward in front of the young meister. He silently toyed with his moustache as he examined him. The boy's eyes were unwavering, staring back in curiosity. Sophia frowned noticing the awkward staring completion going on between them.
"Dad, don't interrogate him."
"Edgar, let the boy be, won't you?" Gloria added tugging on her husband's sleeve encouraging him to back away.
"Quiet, you two…this is a talk amongst men," He barked, chest sticking out. "Hush, I am told is your name. Alright then, Hush, I am going to ask you one question and I want a straight answer."
A long pause emitted, but neither backed down. The two ladies just watched on in blatant confusion.
What the hell was going on?
Charles suddenly spoke, voice booming, "Hush, will you be able to protect my daughter?"
Without even a moment's hesitation, the Spaniard's pen flew across the note paper and he tore it from the binding and handed it to his interrogator. The politician took the paper and scanned the words closely, then folded it and slid it into his pocket. A smiled slowly grew underneath his furrowed upper lip.
"That's what I like to hear."
Sophia glanced at her partner who glanced at her as well with a sly grin. Of course she wanted to know what he wrote, but he again "zipped" his mouth shut and tossed the "key" away in a playful manner.
"It is like your father says; it is a talk amongst men."
"Don't give me that man talk nonsense," she huffed folding her arms across her chest. She wanted to know, but she wasn't the one to pry too much. Whatever it was, it made her father happy, and that in turn, made her happy…well happier.
She truly was ecstatic. After so long, she was able to be proud of whom she was in front of her mother and father. Never in a million years would she have thought it to become a reality, but here she was. She turned to Hush and thanked him, bowing to him. he in turn slightly bowed as well.
"I owe you," she said. He smiled at her.
"We are even if we shake on it," he extended his hand out towards her which she kindly accepted with a firm grasp.
"I guess we're even then…partner."
He nodded.
So he was to be her partner, Hush, the mysterious man from Madrid. Granted, she knew little to nothing about him, but the look in his eyes, the skills he possessed, and the smile on his face gave her the confidence she needed to trust him.
"Ok, ok, you can let go of her hand," her father karate-chopped their shake apart. "On second thought, I don't want you to go with him to the DWMA! No, nope!"
Her face grew red, both anger and embarrassment boiling inside of her. She stomped her foot again and again, "DAD! SHUT UP!
"Now...what are we supposed to do with this?" Sophia had the Kishin egg in hand and eyed it warily, unsure of what to do with the dead killer's soul. Hush stood, arms folded, shaking his head.
"You mean to tell me that you have wanted to become a proper Death Sycthe this entire time, and you do not know what to do with a Kishin soul?"
She frowned, shooting him a dismissive glare, "It's not like I'm a student just yet. I thought that's what we are supposed to do, to go learn about what meisters and weapons are supposed to do!" She paused, "How do you know so much anyway."
"I studied appropriately."
"Shut up. What does that even mean?"
He put his hands up, trying to ward off more of her anger, "Sorry, sorry, I just thought you knew already." He smiled slyly again at her, "Would you be surprised if I told you that you were supposed to eat it?"
Her eyes widened in repudiation, "Wha- eat it?! We just killed this guy! Why in the hell would I eat his soul? Are you saying I'm supposed to eat it like he did those innocent people?!"
She could have sworn she heard him laugh out loud, frustrating her even more, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing at all, I just thought you would be more prepared to become a Death Scythe than this. You acted so cool in front of that Hyde guy. Oh, by the way, that little speech you gave him was way cooler than anything I was going to say."
She stomped her foot, high heels crunching in the uneven pavement, "I beg your pardon, but I know a lot more about becoming a Death Scythe then you think."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really!"
She held his alluring stare for a few moments, but ultimately failed, turning away.
He smiled, continuing to tease her, "Well, here is another thing to remember if you want to become a Death Scythe. In order to become one, you need to eat ninety-nine of those Kishin souls along with the soul of a witch. No jokes. I am dead serious."
The thought made her want to gag, "Well, I am dead serious when I say that eating a soul sounds gross and morbid in actuality."
He shrugged, "Try it, you might like the way it tastes."
"You're not funny."
"I am serious. Go ahead. Try it."
She soughed staring at the twitchy glowing red orb in her hand and postulated on whether or not sticking it in her mouth was a good idea. The illumination coming from the sphere was warm and entrancing making her almost forget it was the soul of a deranged psychopath who she had just murdered hours earlier.
"Screw it," she had experienced a series of strange events tonight. This was just one of many firsts for her. She gave up thinking about the rationality of it and stuck out her tongue and placed the Kishin egg on top. To her surprise, as it slipped into her mouth, the size and shape formulated to where swallowing the disproportional ball of red light was a whole lot easier to chew. She bit down on it, splitting it into pieces and noticed no taste. But the texture…
Oh my…
The texture was superb. The warmth it was emitting earlier in her hand surged through her like a wave of sunlight. Goosebumps formed on her skin making her shiver slightly. She swallowed, a hand gracing her cheek in delight as it traveled down into her stomach.
She exhaled, a misty breath formulated from her mouth in contrast to the cool London air, "Mmmm, now that was pleasant."
Hush stared on in slight fascination, not entirely sure what he just witnessed, "Did…it taste good?"
She opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them in the first place, "It's not so much the taste…but the sensation as it went down was amazing. I liked it."
He raised an eyebrow, "You have no~o idea how sexual that just sounded."
She snapped back to reality and almost slapped him in the face for his shrewdness. Luckily enough, he avoided her assault just in time. He smiled mischievously as she glared at him.
"I'm not going to tolerate pervy conversation."
"...okay madam."
"Sophia will suffice, thank you."
"Madam Sophia."
"For the love of- CUT IT OUT."