Chapter 17

Meanwhile…

"I think that's enough…"

For two weeks, Trigun had been setting up traps. He made certain to use the zoo near by to lure in his prey, however, when he returned to said zoo. The animals… were alive.

"What the hell is this?" he muttered.

He went during the day as a regular patron, yet as he wondered about he knew the animals he had killed just a short while ago, and yet, they were out and about as if nothing happened.

'It's impossible for them to have survive, I made sure to use the same stuff they put them down with!' he thought.

Trigun knows his technique well. Just as that blond asshole said before, he is able to make object with his curse energy. What he holds in his left hand, he can replicate with his right using his technique. He made that poison himself to use on the animals, he knows it would kill them and yet… why are they all remarkably alive?

The other strange thing was… they all stared at him.

It was enough to cause other people to stop and peer over, wondering what the animals were looking at.

It was him.

'What the hell is this? Why are these hairy beasts staring at me?' he thought.

No matter where he went to, they stared.

If they were in the middle of play, they would instantly stop… and stare.

It grew too uncomfortable so he left in a hurry and made certain his traps were ready.

#

The forest was rigged perfectly. Trigun knows where everything is, but the curse womb won't!

He licked his lips in anticipation of it all, when he takes down this one, he goes after the others. One by one they will be notches in his belt and his stepping-stones to being acknowledged as a special grade sorcerer!

But now he has to draw out the attention of the curse womb… good thing he knows he is an animal lover.

"I'll just hit up another zoo and kill the star attraction there and get his attention on me… it shouldn't take too long…" he paused oddly as he noticed something odd. "Huh?" from the corner of his eye he saw an odd crow staring at him…

BANG!

He didn't hesitate to shoot it dead. "That thing isn't what it appears to be…" he wondered over to the fallen crow, he blew the head clean off and yet… why did it still move?

The crow itself stood up once more, despite its head missing! It then oozed and bubbled from the decapitation until… the head grew back!

It shook off the blow before glaring and then cawing at him before flying away!

'What the hell was that!?' he thought.

There was no way it was a curse, if it was that crow would have stayed dead, he used his technique to make his bullets. Also, its head was shot clean off… how did it regrow? All weak points for curses and living things are the head, just how… how did the head grow back too?

"I think I need more traps…" Trigun thought.

But, before he could even consider such a notion, he retreated, if that crow answers to the curse womb, he may be alerted to this location. Perhaps he will return at sunset, the less light the better for him.

#

Dusk.

The time was now.

Trigun had switched to an all black suit to sneak into a larger zoo. Just recently they got a rear white lion in, so not doubt that will be the target tonight, Tanso will come running if he hears something had happened to an magnificent beast like that wouldn't he?

The zoo had been emptied of customers. There was a single night patrol guard who was doing his rounds. He walked pass the white lion as Trigun came before the cage. "Ah, nice looking beast too. Such a pity it has to come to this…" reaching into his jacket, he took out tainted meat. There was enough poison on that to kill a pride of lions! Just as he was about ready to unwrap it, he heard something off. In fact… the lion was staring off to the side in interest.

"Hey, over here you furball!" he scolded.

"He is more than aware of what you are trying to do,"

Trigun paused. Peering down the hall he saw someone who LOOKED like Tanso, and yet… wasn't him. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

The teen smiled. "Not important right now, I know why you are here… you're trying to get my old man's attention aren't you?"

'Old man?' Trigun thought. "You mean Tanso?" he asked, however, the thoughts were not connecting properly. "That's not possible! A curse womb can't reproduce!" he protested.

"Then explain us!"

Another voice, just like his first stalker, had come from the other side. Two of the three exits are now blocked because of these bastards. "Just want are you two after?" he asked of them and yet prepared just in case. His jacket is full of weapons; he has more than enough to hold back a police force if needed!

However, there was NOTHING in the report saying the curse womb had created lackies.

"Sorry boys, but you are a little under me. I am going after the big fish." He threw a smoke bomb and was able to dart out of there. Yet, he found it odd, the two didn't even attempt to chase him.

When he was out of the lion's exhibit, he froze.

The security guard he saw walking by earlier had stopped someone… in fact, it was his prey! Tanso had showed up in person and yet was caught red handed by a mortal guard!

"Oh, right up ahead sir, and thank you!"

'Huh?' Trigun froze… the security guard… was guiding him?

Yet, the moment their eyes locked, Tanso bore a rather devious grin. The security guard took notice of Trigun and appeared rather… embarrassed for him. "Just, take it outside if you don't mind, most of the animals here are going to sleep." He asked.

Tanso gave him a thumb's up.

"What the hell is this? Aren't curse humans suppose to HIDE themselves from society? Why are you out in the open like this?" he demanded.

He merely smirked at him.

"Apparently, if you have been targeting our father, you would be aware that he is a mute"

He turned as the two teenagers came from behind him. "Not to worry though, we are more than happy to tell you what he is saying, we have a connection"

He sneered at them. "Not here, I got another place where we can go, let's do this. I'm going to make a name for myself!"

"Are you talking about the woods near that zoo where all the animals you killed were?" one of the teens asked. "They didn't like that you killed them."

He was getting confused. "They aren't dead if they are still moving, aren't they?" he snapped back. "For that matter, what makes you say it was me?!"

"Your stink is all over the place. We could smell you a mile away"

"Also, the crow you tried to kill earlier, it now has a grudge…" said the other as he pointed up.

Trigun didn't realize but the zoo was now surrounded in birds. Not just crows either. "When the hell…" he muttered. But glared at the two smirking.

"So, you may want to reconsider your life choices here… granted, I've never seen a man die by a flock of birds before but I am certain it wouldn't be the only opportunity I get, right?" one of the sons snickered.

"Knowing dad, one of many," laughed the other.

These are not good odds, how on earth did those brats get behind him? Not to mention the strangest part.

There's no curse energy coming off of them, or the birds that suddenly appeared around him.

"What the hell are you…" he said through gritted teeth.

"That… you will need to learn the hard way. Now, dad is a fair person, so. That being said, he has decided, if you survive the birds, he will face you himself head on… he promise the crow it gets it's hit in before dad…" said one of the sons.

"Run!" said the other.

The birds all took off at once, they began to circle him in the sky…