Chapter 22

Rook was warned this was going to happen. Still, he was doing his best to not laugh at his Oji on the matter. He really wasn't himself when he doesn't look like himself. Oji was twice the size of his uncle Sho, his extra arms were nowhere to be seen, yet there were fingers dangling out of a roll of fat. His face was large and round, and he didn't know between Oji's chin and his neck at this point.

"This is humiliating… Why did you agree to this?!" he demanded of Chusi but kept his voice low since Ryoto was asleep.

"Because, this is the very least you could do for Megumi… he request this. As such, endure" she said bluntly.

As much as Rook knows his aunt love Oji, she won't hesitate to knock him down when needed and as called for. At the same time… Rook knew this put his training on hold for the time being, yet he didn't mind. He knows Oji has been working rather hard around here. No one notices but Rook does.

He has also done a lot of research on him too. He knows everything he has done, every crime that is written and also those spoken to him by Oji himself. Yet, despite everything he has done, the hatred he does deserve from those here… Rook felt rather sorry for him. Not to mention, Oji hasn't done anything to him. Hell, he heard that if it wasn't for him, Shin may have died!

"Auntie, shall we help you with dinner?" Mochi asked.

"Oh please do, Rook, would you mind keeping Ryomen company?"

"No problem" he said confidently.

Rook pulled up a chair and took a seat next to him. Oji glared at him slightly yet sighed. "I know that look," he said. "I don't need your pity"

"Never said I was going to pity you, or feel sorry for you. According to mom, when something like this happens to you by her hand, auntie's or the Itadoris it's usually deserved… at the same time… I don't see you the same way most do." He said bluntly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, back with Fushiguro. When I explained you are not the worst being to exist in this world. Hell, you may not even be in the top ten!"

"What makes you say that? Boy, in my madness, millions died pointlessly." He said bluntly. "I ATE a good portion of my victims, including members of your family"

"Yeah… you did…" Rook said and nodded. "But Oji, the thing is… you don't discriminate"

He saw his Oji freeze slightly in confusion. "What?"

"Look over human history, you'll notice a pattern. To be honest with you, had Pops gotten his way and wasn't stopped. I would consider him to be worst than you."

"You're speaking in riddles. How could Shellboy be worst than me?"

Rook snickered. "You actually sound offended!" he laughed. "Oh man… make note, don't aim to be a piece of shit to everyone…" he muttered. "The point is this. You fought everyone on equal terms. You said so yourself, you have faced humans, sorcerers and curses alike and defeated them all… you didn't care that they were, you destroyed them… Pops… only wanted humans dead. He was picking his victims, he CHOSE to go after them and make it his mission to kill them all so only sorcerers will be the ones in charge…" he said and peered to his uncle. "Do you understand where I am going with this?"

"You consider me to be the lesser evil since I didn't care who I killed, everyone was killed equally?"

"There we go! See!" he said and laughed. "But Oji, it's true. Neither one is good, no doubt about that, but the fact is… you were indiscriminate. That goes a long way in this day and age now."

There was a look of consideration on his face. "Huh… not even I noticed that…"

"Read some history books, humans will disgust you… and to think I'm one of them…"

"For the time being…" Oji muttered. "You really think there are humans worst than me?" he asked.

"I'll bring you a history book tomorrow." Rook replied. He then noticed how quite it was. Curious, Rook stood and peered out a window and nodded. "Your crowd left, I think mom is helping uncle Choso…"

He appeared relieved for the time being. "I rather get this over with…" he muttered.

"Then I think auntie said that the only way is for everyone to get their fun in and you turn back."

"Tsk…" he muttered bitterly.

Yet, Rook knew what to say to get his Oji to cooperate. He leaned in and whispered. "Take into consideration… the sooner you get this over with, the sooner it's my father's turn, but we won't tell him the fine print as to how to turn back…"

Oji's eyes widened, he sighed aloud and nodded to the observation. "Could be worst…" he muttered in defeat.

"Oh a lot worst, but for the time being. As the old saying goes, swallow the frog"

"What?"

Rook smirked. "Nanami sensei had me do a book report on some author named Mark Twain. He had an expression. 'If you need to consume a frog, do so first thing in the morning, get it done and over with' that's what the term means. Get it over with and move on. Why do you think I keep drinking that god-awful liver juice… that's the frog I swallow every day!"

Oji laughed to that, but nodded in agreement. "You have a point brat. Most of the time, I bide it, merely waiting it out until the time is right. Either interest is lost or the game is no longer amusing… but this is no game… and no one is going to lose interest…" he muttered once more.

"Not around here and not with my old man…"

Oji forced a laugh, but sighed, he nodded to Rook's notion. "So be it, tomorrow… I get this over with…"

"Dinner time!" Chusi called.

Rook took Ryoto off of Oji, but he protested! Ryoto wailed and screamed aloud until he was placed back on to Oji's belly. Instantly soothed and sound asleep once more.

Both were rather surprised about it. "And my dad thought I was a weird kid…" Rook snickered.