Chapter 6: Reasons

"Can you explain to me what's happening before I accuse you of pedophilia?" Quanxi said to Kishibe. It was already nine-something in the evening, and Hiro had gone to bed a few minutes ago, so Quanxi could freely express one of his many thoughts on this situation.

Kishibe crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, looking at Quanxi with a serious but not truly angry expression. "Unfortunately for you, no, I'm not a pedophile. Kidnapping children for pleasure is the Division 9's specialty."

Quanxi suppressed a smile. "Then why did you adopt the kid?" he asked bluntly.

Kishibe raised an eyebrow. "Is that so strange?"

Quanxi nodded without hesitation. "Yes, it is. Firstly, the kid could have easily been placed in an orphanage without so many complications. The rules state that if minors are affected by a demon attack on their family, they should be taken to an adoption center for placement and rehabilitation, eventually to be adopted. But instead, you decided to keep the kid, offering him a home in your apartment, along with food and a bed decorated for a child of his age."

Kishibe chuckled. "It seems you've read the manual thoroughly. Although you make it sound like I've committed a crime."

Quanxi ignored him and continued speaking. "Secondly, it surprises me that someone like you—cold, solitary, drunk, womanizer, a fully trained demon hunter, and an idiot in my eyes—would suddenly adopt a child when what has always concerned you is having your flask filled with alcohol, having a woman in your bed, and ruthlessly killing demons. So, yes, Kishibe, it's very strange." At this point, Quanxi frowned; the search for answers was truly frustrating her.

Although if she delved deep into her mind, she might get an idea of why Kishibe was doing this. But she wanted to keep pressing him.

Kishibe's smile slowly faded. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound strange." He reached for the bottle of alcohol and a small glass, pouring himself a drink because he felt he would need a few from now on.

Quanxi sighed as she watched the hunter, recently dubbed the strongest of them all, take a sip. "Why did you do it?"

Kishibe stopped drinking and looked back into Quanxi's eyes—or eye. "To be honest... I don't know either."

Quanxi rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that 'I don't know' bullshit." Deep down, Quanxi believed she had an idea of why Kishibe had kept the kid, but she wanted to hear it from him to confirm her suspicions. After all, the truth tastes better when it comes from the accused's mouth.

"It's the truth, or at least that's what I want to believe." Kishibe was no longer looking at Quanxi, just staring at a point in the void behind her, lost in this question.

"When you rescued him," Quanxi began, "you told me that when you saw him, it was like looking in a mirror, right?"

Quanxi's tone indirectly signaled him to complete his answer, considering she had the unfortunate knowledge of his past, she probably already had an idea of why he did what he did. But many times, he tried to deny it, simultaneously attempting to find another reason for why he kept the kid, but none made sense or was concise enough for his liking. So, he had to stick with the damn truth.

All of that made Kishibe become a bit cold and distant with the kid during the first few weeks. He didn't talk to him much, even though at work, he usually talked to other hunters. But when he saw Hiro, it reminded him of why he was living in his apartment, and it was because the answer to why he decided to keep the kid haunted him a bit. Regret filled him entirely, and the desire to go back in time and change everything was always present in him.

If he did, a significant part of his life would have been different. He wouldn't have become a hunter for the reason he did, or he would have become a hunter for the reason he wanted. He wouldn't be having this conversation with Quanxi, or he wouldn't have it in the same way as now.

And maybe if his parents hadn't died, he wouldn't be the madman he is now, and at the same time, he wouldn't have the ability to survive so many years as a demon hunter.

"Well... I guess I'll tell you the reason."

0O0O

It was fantastic.

One could even call it a demonic masterpiece that emerged from the darkest confines of the blazing hell, because it was. She had never seen anything like this in her short life, and probably not in her supposed past lives either. What she was learning here was fascinating, or maybe she already knew about it before, but the act of being reborn had restored this sense of admiration and fantasy that she enjoyed.

She knew that devils could be reborn in the human world by taking over the body of another person, but only when they had died in hell before. If they died on Earth, they would return to hell and stay there until they were reborn on Earth again.

It was a cycle that repeated itself over and over and seemed to have no end. Many demons preferred to be on this side where they could do as they pleased because, first of all, hell was not a pleasant place even for them, or at least for her. Secondly, because it's more fun to live life this way.

But this...

It was incredible; it was fascinating her more and more as she read and turned the pages of the book she had been ordered to read. If this were real, then the cycle of devils' reincarnation in hell and on Earth, as well as the existence of devils themselves, would be erased from history and the minds of people who had ever heard of them.

Who knows? She had probably already forgotten one or two devils because of this.

But this seemed to come from something beyond hell. Beyond existence itself if that was possible.

The Chainsaw Devil was fascinating.

His powers, abilities, skill, and what he could cause to other devils if he killed them. All of it attracted her, she loved it.

"Do you like that book?" She had been so absorbed in her book that she had forgotten the existence of Doctor Yuna. She was indeed sitting in a chair in front of her, a two-meter table separating them.

Makima lowered the book slowly to look at the woman and nodded. Yuna smiled when she noticed the small smile on Makima's face; she also noticed with a slight start that her yellow eyes seemed to gleam with excitement.

Or was it fascination that she saw?

"It's impressive," Makima said.

The doctor nodded in understanding. "I know, the world of devils has always been... fascinating. We still don't know much about the world beneath us, but what little we know is enough to spend hours and hours glued to these books. Of course, not everyone shares this pastime."

"They should," Makima agreed; she would probably be reading more of this almost every day.

"Yes, but sometimes it's better to keep some things to ourselves, as we investigators do. After all, not everyone deserves to know the best things in those demonic history books."

'Or in this case, the existence of yours in this facility' the doctor thought.

0O0O

Quanxi felt relaxed, almost as if she was somehow freed. She was gazing out of the apartment windows, looking at the beautiful city of Japan shining as it always had, or at least since the buildings started having more lights. But still, its buildings were massive, and it was fantastic to see them from this view.

Her stupid partner was still sitting at the table, with a glass of alcohol in hand, his gaze fixed on the wall. He was probably thinking that everything she had told him wasn't a good idea, but he didn't seem entirely regretful.

Quanxi took one last drag from her cigarette before crushing it in the ashtray on a small table with more pieces of used cigarettes. Funny, she hadn't worked tonight, but everything that had happened today made her want to relax by smoking.

Still, it felt good to know the truth once and for all, even if it was a truth she alone sought. Maybe she spent too much time with Kishibe; even now, she wanted to know more about him.

That sent a shiver down her spine. She was getting carried away too much by the moment; perhaps it was time to express herself with words again.

"What do you expect from that kid's life?" Quanxi asked.

Kishibe didn't take his eyes off the wall but took his time to think about an answer. "Well... I just want his life to be filled with good decisions. Good decisions lead to good things, and good things lead to a peaceful life." Kishibe closed his eyes after finishing speaking and rested his head on the back of the chair.

Quaxi just looked at Kishibe for a long moment and then returned her attention to the windows.

"... What did you say his name was?"

Kishibe opened his eyes; neither of them looked at each other, but they felt that without eye contact, they could sense a strange intensity.

"Hiro."

Hiro, a simple name for a simple child.

"You say you're his father?" she asked again.

"I didn't say that, I'm just his father in name of the law or something," Kishibe said.

"Hey... don't you think Hiro could use an..." Quanxi began, oblivious to Kishibe's heartbeat. Was she suggesting what he was thinking?

"...aunt?" Quanxi finished with a finger on her chin, as if considering an offer.

If anyone else had been in the room, they would have sworn they heard something break.

0O0O

It was seven in the morning when Hiro opened his eyes after a long night's sleep. He got up and stretched his muscles as part of his morning routine. Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the room, making it unnecessary to turn on the lights.

Hiro left his room, and on his way to the bathroom, which was near the kitchen, he encountered a typical scene. Kishibe was asleep at the table, surrounded by many alcohol bottles. This guy sure drank until he was knocked out.

Hiro sighed and approached Kishibe, moving his arm to wake him up, and continued until Kishibe began to show signs of waking.

When he thought he was conscious enough, Hiro spoke, "Wake up, Kishibe, you have to take me to school, or I'll be late."

Kishibe grunted, sounding more like the noise of a dying animal. "Five more minutes."

"I'll go shower then," Hiro said, heading up the spiral stairs to the bathroom hallway.

With no one else in the room, Kishibe sighed and rubbed his eyes; a slight headache was beginning to form in his head, and the worst part was that it was early. He looked at his wristwatch; it was 7:04 am to be precise.

Damn, but his shift didn't start until noon; he felt overwhelmed. Perhaps these were the challenges of being a guardian of a child, or a father...

"You brought this upon yourself" a voice in his head said.

"Shut up," Kishibe replied.

"He speaks the truth; you were the one who decided to stay with the kid in the first place."

"And you were the one who created his dream of becoming a hunter. In the end, you're responsible for what happens to that child."

"Yeah... that."

Kishibe had nothing to say to that. When someone tells you the truth, they leave you speechless because deep down, you can't argue against the truth; it would only be creating excuses to get out of trouble.

All the movements and decisions Hiro would make in the future would be because of his influence. If Hiro ultimately becomes a demon hunter, it would be because Kishibe indirectly proposed that dream. And if Hiro were to die in that profession... then it would be his fault.

"I just hope that foolish kid takes the path he believes is best, although I also have to influence that"