Chapter 8: Old fears and broken dreams
Disclaimer: Chainsaw Man does not belong to me, it belongs to Tatsuki Fujimoto. All the characters except for my OCs and some scenarios belong to him.
0O0O
Three years had passed since that accident in 1977 at the Takahashi residence, where Aiko and her husband Hideki Takahashi died from the attack of a demon that entered their house without their knowledge. The couple died from the attack but their son Hiro Takahashi was the only survivor of that attack as a demon hunter arrived before it was too late.
The boy was left without parents and without a home, but the same hunter who saved him decided to keep him. The boy lived for a long time in fear of demons even when he dreamed of being a demon hunter in the future, something that contrasted a lot with his fear. He still he never stopped having that dream as a goal.
Little Hiro was eager to start his training, he wanted to hunt demons for a simple but noble reason. He wanted to put an end to the evil and sadness that demons create, he knew what it was like to lose his parents because of a demon and he didn't want more children or people to suffer the same fate. That was his great motivation and the only thing that took away his fear of demons, if he wanted to achieve his goals he needed to train as much as he could, he wanted Kishibe to train him, so the world would be safer and several tragedies would be avoided, several children they would stay with their parents and not suffer the same as him.
He was determined to make it, nothing would stop him, nothing.
0O0O
Japan Tokyo, 1980.
The door of the apartment opened as it always did at this time of the afternoon, two people entered, a boy with raven hair and blue eyes wearing a school uniform that consisted of a white shirt with shorts that reached his knees and black shoes. Behind him and closing the door was a tired-looking man in his mid-thirties with a serious look, wearing a suit with a huge jacket that reached a little below his back and on his chest you could see a bra that was used to hold two katanas on his back, however the only thing he was carrying now was a gun and two knives.
Kishibe and Hiro had just brought the latter from school, Hiro finished his studies at 1 PM and Kishibe had to take time off to bring the boy from school where everyone suspected he was a pedophile or a child kidnapper, all because his appearance of him.
In any case, their lives had already adjusted enough to feel comfortable with each other, so much so that they were used to doing the same things every day, having breakfast in silence or talk from time to time about some matter. Kishibe was still cold with Hiro but now he wasn't as distant as he was during the first few months, now he talked to him more than he would have done before, sometimes they talked about how Hiro had done in school, and Hiro asked how he was doing at work, Kishibe told him some things but didn't go into details so as not to disturb the boy, after all he is only 10 years old and has already had enough traumas.
Hiro already felt more comfortable living with Kishibe, now he saw the tired and cold hunter as a guardian who deep down seemed to care about him, well that was the vision he had of him, he didn't know what Kishibe really thought. However, Hiro also began to admire the skills and disciplines that Kishibe specialized in, they all had to do with being a devil hunter but Hiro was fascinated by how Kishibe was so naturally at everything. Quanxi once told him that Kishibe was considered the strongest devil hunter in Japan, or the world, that explained a lot. Hiro was incredulous and fascinated at the same time, he knew Kishibe was strong but he didn't think he would be that strong.
He predicted that if it was Kishibe who trained him then he could become very strong and could save many people from the devils, he would save several children just like Kishibe did him. To this day, Hiro doesn't know how to thank Kishibe for saving him three years ago, one day he will come up with something.
"I'll be in my room" Hiro said doing the same routine every day. Kishibe didn't say anything but he didn't expect a response from the man so he just continued on his way to his room without looking back, yes, that's how they worked and the worst part was that they didn't care since it felt sonatural to them.
As Kishibe watched Hiro go to his room, he took off his oversized coat and hung it on the coat rack by the door, walked over to the huge windows of his apartment and looked outside. Outside he could see the typical buildings that surrounded the area, however some were being remodeled, from what he heard now they would be modified with several large screens, just like what was happening in Time Square in the United States. Yes, the originality was noticeable.
But those were thoughts in the background, the kitchen phone rang and Kishibe without being surprised went to answer it, deep down he expected this call to arrive at any time of the day.
He took the phone and put it to his ear from him and could hear the soft whisper of Quanxi's voice. "Meet me today at 9 on the roof of your apartment as we agreed. Don't be late" the call ended when Quanxi hung up, Kishibe put the phone back in his place.
Lately Quanxi has been the one who has been giving him information about everything important that happens in the hunter society, especially all the dark secrets they hide, just now she was going to give him a very interesting one. She was going to give him more information about the status of the control devil.
What little they have gathered has been invaluable as virtually no one in the hunter divisions knew about the state of the control devil. Only certain people in the government, the people in charge of her, and now he and Quanxi knew, albeit very loosely.
Kishibe remembered how three years ago Quanxi had revealed something great about this devil to him, exactly the same day she met Hiro.
Threeyears ago, Kishibe department.
"You know I'm glad you came to see me, although I'm sad that you're leaving but let me ask you... why did you come here in the first place?" Kishibe said when Quanxi was already at the door and he was walking her out, however he decided to ask her this question. Quanxi would not visit anyone except for something important, unless you are an attractive woman. Kishibe was suspicious...
Quanxi stopped dead as she put on her coat and her eye widened slightly in surprise, she resisted the urge to smack her face for her stupidity. With everything that had happened with the child, she had completely forgotten why she had come here in the first place.
"Well...I'm relieved that you didn't think that I just came to visit you because I like you" she took on a serious look as she put on all of it she took it out of her and adjusted it "I came to give you new information about the control devil"
Kishibe visible tensed at that, with everything he had been through with Hiro he had completely forgotten that control devil was already in Japan. By God he should have been more attentive to that. Apparently he preferred to focus more on the boy than the devils, interesting.
"Shit, I forgot about that" Kishibe mumbled but Quanxi heard him and just rolled her eyes. (well the eye, you understand)
"I took what I came to tell you from the files of the investigation center, I could only give them a glance before sneaking away" Quanxi said.
Kishibe's eyes widened in astonishment and a hint of terror to Quanxi's satisfaction "Are you crazy!? If they had caught you snooping through their information they would have executed you on the spot!" Kishibe was not one of those people who shouted, in fact he rarely raised his voice, especially not at a person, but hearing what Quanxi did and imagining what they had done to him terrified him.
Quanxi let out a small smile "Don't worry about it, I've been doing it for two years and I've never been caught. Let's just say that their security is very easy to penetrate for someone like me"
Kishibe was still mad at the possibility that Quanxi had been caught, but he forced himself to calm down for his own good.
"What did you discover?" he said he more calmly and with the typical look of him it would be.
"Not much, but what little I know is too valuable to be true, and too bad to be afraid of" Quanxi paused for a moment as he collected his thoughts "In the document and in the reports that I saw, it said that the name assigned to the control devil is Makima"
Kishibe raised an eyebrow "Makima? What a strange and peculiar name" in fact he expected another kind of name, he thought it would be something more Japanese. Sometimes the government people were very strange.
"And that's not the worst, I also read that the person in charge of her care and investigation is Yuna Nishimura's witch" Quanxi said saying the name with disgust, a snap came out of her as she got angry.
Kishibe let out a deep breath. But of course, who else to take care of a crazy demon than another crazy demon. Yuna Nishimura, of all the people in the world, did she really have to be the one to deal with the control devil?
She was known to be a great researcher, scientist, doctor, and to be an expert in demonology more than any other human person. Although the hunters know her more for being a crazy obsessed with devils, also an arrogant bitch for some people, among those people was Kishibe. Others also hated her for her teaching methods. Among those few people was Quanxi, then and now the hunters who wished to become stronger needed to go through a series of training that goes beyond the human limit.
Quanxi trained with Yuna and her experience with her was very unpleasant, so much so that it left her with certain traumas that are still difficult for her to overcome. Since then Quanxi has hated that crazy woman.
He darkly wondered what she would do to Makima's mind, her influence on her would surely affect her too much, after all children need an inspirational figure so they can choose what they want to do with their lives. Hiro's image flashed into his mind and he couldn't help but feel guilty for a moment.
"Whatever happens in the future" Kishibe said and Quanxi gave him her full attention, something she rarely did.
"We must be prepared, because very dark times are coming" Kishibe finished.
Present.
It was finally 9 o'clock at night in the apartment of the strongest hunter in the world. Kishibe was heading to the roof of the apartment to meet his beautiful and deadly partner.
Before this he sent Hiro to bed, he preferred not to be asked where he was going at this time of night. And also because lately the boy has become very inquisitive to the point of irritating him.
How the hell was he supposed to know if devilss watched TV?
Kishibe finally reached the roof, the wind was very strong at this height, it was cold and the force of the wind moved his hair and took it out of his suit. Further along the building, near the edge, was Quanxi. She was looking at the view she had from this height, her posture was straight but calm and she kept her hands in her pocket, apparently unaffected by the cold.
Quanxi had her dress suit that every hunter wears, except for her jacket which would serve her very well now because of the cold, she only had her long sleeved shirt. Perhaps he was right, Quanxi was colder than the Soviet Union and very seldom she is a beautiful sun in the morning.
"Well I'm here, if not you're going to kiss me at least tell me what you know" Kishibe said when he was finally at Quanxi's side.
The grey-haired hunter was not affected by Kishibe's joke, partly because she was already used to it and because she had more important matters to attend to. So she kept her eyes straight ahead as she handed a thin envelope to Kishibe.
"You have to know that I risked my life more than ever to get this photo. So I hope that from now on you will make a move"
Kishibe opened the envelope, inside was a photo that measured 7 cm wide and 5 cm long. The photo was taken in color and in it was a girl who seemed to be the same age as Hiro, she had light brown hair that could be almost red. She was wearing a simple black shirt, a gray colored skirt that came down to her little knee, you couldn't see below her as the angle the photo was taken at didn't allow it. However that was not important, what surprised Kishibe and made his blood turn cold was the color of his eyes, the yellow color that he recognized perfectly, he could almost see the rings in her eyes, if not for the quality of the photo would look better. But there was no doubt, it was her. Also, something very creepy that he noticed was that in the photo the girl seemed to turn her head a little and smile from the side, as if she was trying to look at the camera, as if she knew that a photo was being taken of her.
"You know?" Kishibe said somewhat calmly but inside he was restless "Even with all the evidence we had, I really hoped that this would not come true"
Quanxi lit a cigarette, took a deep breath and then blew out the smoke from her mouth, the wind quickly carried the smoke "Me too, I wanted to retire without going through this shit again"
Kishibe put the photo back in the envelope and looked straight ahead at the impressive view he had of the city from this height. Beside her Quanxi continued to speak.
"She is 10 years old, that is new information, however I do not know what kind of training she is currently having"
Kishibe sighed "That doesn't matter for now. Look Quanxi I appreciate this information but I need to rest for a while" in other circumstances he would like to spend more time with Quanxi even if she just insults him. But this time... he just felt like he couldn't.
Quanxi shrugged "Do whatever you want, I just hope you do something from now on, I've already done a lot for you these last three years and I feel like I need a break. Oh, and you can keep the photo, I don't need it" She could still feel the chills in her body every time she saw that photo, it really seemed that the girl was looking at the camera, or maybe the girl knew that she was there all that time and just wanted to pose for the photo. If so, would she have detected her before in the other moments of her espionage?
"See you Quanxi. From now on, watch your back better" with that last Kishibe walked to the roof exit and left Quanxi alone in the place. When finally the only ones left there were Quanxi and the sound of the wind, she inhaled her cigarette and blew out the smoke from her mouth...
"You too" she said, but there was no one to hear or answer her.
0O0O
The look he had on his face was one of pure shock and bewilderment, but Kishibe could see through people and seeing through a child was very easy, he was hurt of course. He promised to train him, not in words but with a silent nod. But now the boy opened his eyes that were slowly turning red.
"W-w-w-what are you saying?" Hiro spoke with a trembling voice denying in his mind the words that Kishibe told him, no no no this couldn't be happening. His heart was jumping with anticipation and fear.
Kishibe was sitting on the other side of the table, in front of Hiro, he had a good view of the boy from there and he could easily hear him. He was simply denying it, this is going to take a long time.
Kishibe sighed and closed his eyes as he calmly explained "I said I won't train you"
Silence filled the room, Hiro was looking at Kishibe with his shocked face and Kishibe was looking at Hiro with a blank stare.
Suddenly, Hiro stood on the chair and shouted in a sad voice, his eyes were teary "But three years ago you promised me that you would train me!" Kishibe didn't move a muscle at the boy's tantrum and just let him vent.
"You promised me that you would help me become a hunter!" Hiro at this point couldn't help but shed tears, he tried to dry them with his shirt but the drops came and went.
Kishibe replied calmly "I didn't tell you that, I just told you to come with me and you accepted"
Hiro wasn't crying now and after wiping away his tears his face contorted in anger, as much anger as a 10 year old could get out of it.
"Then why did you bring me with you!? I told you what I wanted to be and you brought me here anyway! You explained a lot of things to me but in the end you don't even want to help me become a hunter!" Hiro exclaimed angrily and Kishibe glared down so as not to see Hiro.
It was true, he remembered three years ago when Hiro refused to enter that orphanage, he remembered how he gave him all that lecture about how he felt about the hunters, how he wanted to be a hunter like him and Quanxi. He also told him that he wanted to be a public security devil hunter but indirectly asked him to train him, never came the time to talk about it because both of them were more focused on getting used to each other. Though inside Kishibe felt that he and Hiro were avoiding the subject for some reason. He hadn't spoken of it again until today.
Kishibe would have waited long enough for Hiro to decide when to begin his training. However, recent events made him consider his decision. That's why they were here, both of them sitting at a table in the middle of the night. Kishibe what he really wanted for Hiro now was to prevent him from getting into the world of devil hunters, at least for now, the situation was not good at all, well it never is but now it's worse. The Control Devill is among them again and in the hands of a madwoman, the chaos that would be unleashed would be unimaginable, many people would come out badly and those who start as hunters today, in the future would be killed by that manipulative devil.
What Kishibe wanted was to protect Hiro from that world. He didn't want it to end like this, he didn't want the boy's life to come to a horrible end because of him.
"Kid, listen to me" Kishibe spoke in a cold voice and Hiro gave him his full attention "Throughout my years as a hunter, I have seen guys with the same mentality as you. They have that desire to be heroes who bring justice to the world by killing devils, they train for years to get their hunter licenses. But when they are finally working and fulfilling their dreams of being heroes, they usually don't last more than two years" Hiro was petrified by that fact but didn't say anything still "Many end up dying horribly, either doing their duty or seeking revenge for their fallen friends"
Kishibe gave Hiro a cold look which made him shiver "Do you know the reason why Quanxi and I have stayed in this job for so many years? It's because we don't care about that kind of thing, our mentality is focused on in other things when it comes to killing devils, we don't care if we are heroes, if we save other people, if we make them happy, if many people die, and we don't care if any of our companions die. We are crazy. Sane people with an extremely moralistic sense like you would die and not live past 25 years, while crazy people like me have stayed here for so many years because we simply have a screw missing"
Hiro now had a lost look as he listened to Kishibe's words "You wouldn't survive even a year as a hunter, you have to be crazy for that" Kishibe finished crossing his arms and waiting for some valid argument.
Hiro tilted his head a little so his bangs covered his eyes, breathing through his mouth as his nose was stuffy from recent crying. His mind was working as fast as ever, he clenched his fists and could only say a few words that came out as a whisper.
"I don't mind"
Kishibe frowned as he couldn't quite make out what he said "Hmm?"
"I said I don't care" this time his reply came out with a growl.
This time it was Kishibe's turn to groan because this time he had heard what Hiro said. Was he talking seriously? He gave her a big lecture about him because he couldn't be a hunter but the brat says he doesn't care?
"What do you mean you don't care? Look kid-"
"I don't care if I die!" Hiro yelled which made Kishibe stop at whatever he was going to say.
Hiro looked up to face his guardian and Kishibe could see that he wasn't crying, but in his eyes now there was only anger, frustration and determination. A great determination.
"I don't care if my life as a hunter lasts a year or 5 months!" he clenched his fists very tightly "I told you that what mattered to me was saving people's lives and I don't care if I only save a few, I can even settle for saving one person, but I could die happy knowing I saved someone's life!" Hiro apparently finished, he was breathing heavily from all the accumulated emotions.
Now Kishibe had another memory, of that night when he first spoke with Hiro. At that time the boy seemed to be aware of what death was when he understood that his parents were dead. And now this boy, this boy who was only 10 years old was saying that he would die happy even if he only saved one person by being a hunter. Kishibe at this point did not know how Hiro's mentality was formed, the boy was no longer normal, he could do other things that children his age do like go to school or play with other children at recess, but with everything that happened it seemed that he was forced to mature very early. Or maybe the child was born crazy.
So Kishibe made a decision that he was sure to regret in the future, but if in the end it was what this boy wanted... then he was willing to give it a chance, but reluctantly.
Kishibe let out a big sigh as he got up "Okay kid, go to bed" Hiro was about to refuse until Kishibe stopped him by raising his hand "Because tomorrow morning I'll take you to the demon research and containment center in Japan. Where you will see some things before starting with your training"
Hiro's eyes widened for the thousandth time tonight but now they were filled with happiness "Really!? Thank you very much Mr. Kishibe, I assure you won't regret it!" if Hiro wasn't embarrassed then he would have hugged Kishibe right then, instead he ran to his room to go back to sleep and wait for the big day tomorrow.
Kishibe stood there, watching as his responsibility ran happily into his room because he fulfilled his death wish.
"I will do it for sure"
0O0O
Makima vaguely wondered what they would do with the picture they took of her, that hunter really was slippery as she could only spot it moments before she took that picture of her. She remembered very well that sensation, rather, that smell that radiated from her, it seemed familiar to her as if she had already smelled it before, that's why it seemed curious to her that that smell would appear before her again, if only she could remember. Though it wasn't that important at the moment.
A feeling of restlessness and an unknown expectation was born in her, she didn't know it was hers but she wouldn't let her sleep. Here she was in her bed for an hour trying to sleep but the strange feeling just wouldn't go away.
And now for some reason she felt that something good would come tomorrow, maybe that was what had her so restless and a little excited. All of that she would find out tomorrow, of course only if something happened which was very likely not to happen and it was just another day of exams, studies and training newly discovered powers.
"I just hope tomorrow isn't so boring" with that thought in mind, ten year old Makima closed her eyes to try to sleep, she had a hard time at first but finally managed to fall asleep.
At that time Makima did not know that her wish would come true.
0O0O
Finally the moment that all united america has been waiting for is very close, the meeting of Makima and Hiro will finally happen in the next chapter, I already have the title and I really think it's appropriate.
Just wait for it, it's probably as long as this chapter or even longer, I've been doing a lot of thinking right now and I just want it to come out well enough for you guys to like it.
Oh and by the way the memory of the conversation that Kishibe had with Quanxi was originally going to be in chapter 6 but because of my stupidity I forgot to add it but I saw the opportunity to add it in this chapter.
The English version of this chapter has a problem, I have noticed that in English Makima is called Control Devil, while in Spanish we call her control demon. So probably in future chapters you will notice that I call her control demon instead of Devil control, this is because you probably didn't notice that mistake in the first place or because I simply didn't want to change it out of laziness, however tell me which way you prefer me to call her, for me it would be the same but I wanted to see what you think.
Well that would be all for now, see you next time very good things are coming.