Chapter 10: The devil who craved more than fear.
Notes: If one day someone says that the relationship between Hiro and Makima is forced, remember that it took almost 10 chapters for these two to meet. I've seen a ton of fanfics where the main couple likes each other from the first chapter and I'm really fed up with that. In my stories, I will always try not to use anything that has already been generalized by others. So, you can be sure that you will see both relationship and character development.
Oops, I think I just gave a big spoiler, but come on, this was obvious from miles away.
Brief summary of the previous chapter: Kishibe took Hiro to the Demon Research and Devil Hunter Training Center, all in order to teach Hiro some basic things about the hunters' world before going to their meeting with Dr. Yuna. After finishing the little tour, Kishibe goes to the meeting with Yuna Nishimura, so he leaves the boy outside the office with the small hope that nothing happens to him. However, Makima finds Hiro and asks him to go with her to a place that might interest him.
0O0O
The only thing he could feel at the moment was the strange sensation when an elevator moves and the extreme discomfort that was in the place, or at least the discomfort he was feeling because she seemed to be happy with her life.
Why had he agreed to do this? Right now, he was regretting his decision to leave the place where he would wait for Kishibe. But it was too late, they were about 3 floors above the place and if he ran away, who knows what this girl might do to him. Hiro might still be a child, but he knew very well that there was something wrong with Makima, something sinister and strange that he couldn't understand, and that terrified him but in some way also made him curiously disturbed, as it was leading him to take these kinds of risks. Apart from the fact that she had appeared out of nowhere, she exuded a different aura from the rest, it was something combined with mystery, darkness, and either bad or good intentions.
The possibility that she could be something completely different from the rest made him nervous, not to mention scared. Hiro was so nervous that he even started to tremble a little, something that was noticed and felt by Makima since she had not yet let go of his hand, and he hadn't either because at the same time it was a way to feel less scared due to how soft and warm it was becoming. Why was irony always present in his life?
Makima looked at Hiro with a curious and fascinated gaze. It was the first time she had seen another child of her age so closely, she always saw them on television or on the street from the top of the building, but now she had one so close, she had even managed to interact with him.
What would Dr. Yuna think of her? She couldn't be certain, but she thought there was nothing wrong with talking to other humans, especially one her own age.
Essentially, she was excited. Ever since she saw Hiro get out of that hunter's car, she felt drawn to him, it was the first time another child had set foot in these facilities for a long time. They probably wouldn't have much time before they had to leave, so she wanted to show Hiro some things that entertained her, and he could tell her about the things he liked to do.
Why isn't that what little kids do in movies?
The atmosphere felt comfortable and normal to her, the entire place was completely calm with the two of them holding hands, and her smelling his scent even though her nose wasn't on his neck.
Speaking of his scent, the aroma that Hiro emitted was not something she had ever encountered before; many scents she smelled always had that strange feeling of familiarity, as if she had smelled them before. This was because she must have encountered those scents in the past, in one of her many previous lives.
But Hiro was one of those special cases that aroused her curiosity and excitement. His scent was something she had never experienced before, and it attracted her, making her nervous because it was the first time she had come across something like that. And not just that, there was something strange about his scent for some reason, unlike Dr. Yuna and other people, Hiro's scent was much stronger than what would normally be expected for a human.
She pondered the reason but couldn't come up with anything. No human should have a scent as strong as Hiro's. She probably could smell him from more than a kilometer away, but she would have to test that sometime.
At first, she was very reluctant to approach him. Yuna had mentioned to her yesterday that a hunter would be coming to the building, so she would have to hide while Yuna talked to the hunter. Makima obeyed, but she was greatly surprised when she realized that the hunter hadn't come alone.
Several minutes earlier
Makima was sitting in one of the chairs in Dr. Yuna's office, reading a book on Japanese history about the feudal era. The more she read, the more she realized that she probably lived during those years because every tragic event mentioned felt like she had either lived through it or caused it herself. It was like déjà vu, but much stronger.
"You'd better go hide now" mentioned Yuna, who was seated at her desk, writing in some documents without even looking at Makima.
Makima lowered the book from her face and looked at Yuna with her yellow-rimmed eyes over the edge of the book. "I thought your meeting started at 8:30."
"Yes, but knowing that idiot, he's most likely going to arrive earlier than agreed" Yuna felt a twitch in her eye as she thought about Kishibe and his problematic visit to the place.
Makima gave a small sigh before placing the book on one of the shelves and exiting the office. Her legs took her to the elevator, and she pressed the button that would take her to the library.
A few minutes passed before the doors opened to reveal a vast hallway, almost identical to the previous one, but this one had a darker theme with no electric lamps. Instead, torches attached to the walls replaced them.
Yuna had told her that she was the one who ordered the remodeling of this part of the building, indicating that she took her job as a demonologist very seriously.
Makima was about to enter the library but stopped before touching the door, feeling hesitant and with a strange childlike curiosity, she stepped back and approached the huge windows, wanting to see if she had the chance to catch a glimpse of the hunter who was about to arrive.
Finally, she saw a car parking in a free spot in the parking lot. First, a man got out, whom Makima immediately knew was the hunter by his way of dressing. A danger alarm went off in her brain when she saw the man, which already said a lot about him to her.
It was likely that she had encountered this hunter in the past and she was very sure that their meeting was not friendly. Makima felt a kind of resentment and hatred towards this man, she didn't know why since her memories of her past lives were blocked, but she knew deep down that this hunter was a potential danger she should be wary of.
She was also a bit frightened by the fact that in her current state, she might not be able to defend herself against him if he tried anything. She felt that, unlike the huntress who took her photo that time, this hunter could not be easily killed. Maybe if she were older, but she was still very young and could feel a great anger and evil directed towards devils emanating from him, even though they were far apart.
"I feel I need to be cautious around him, it's like he has the word 'danger' written all over his body and only I can see it."
Makima watched him intently from her position, trying in some way to burn him with her gaze, but as she did so, the man turned his look toward the window through which she was watching him. This surprised her; she hadn't expected him to sense her stare, especially since the tinting of the glass was camouflaging her. She simply continued to watch him, wondering whether he really knew she was there or if he was just glancing at the building by chance. Her suspicions became reality when the man got a look in his eyes that she could only describe as hostility; his eyes narrowed and so did hers. It was as if two potential predators were staring each other down, waiting to see who would attack first. She noticed his lips move slightly, as if he was speaking; that could only mean one thing, he had devils with him, so they could sense her too.
However, the hunter stopped looking towards the window due to someone else who had captured his attention, someone Makima hadn't noticed until now. And when Makima saw who it was, her eyes widened in shock, and all the hostility vanished from her, being replaced by surprise and fascination.
Her mouth opened slightly in astonishment when she saw a kid descending from the same car as the hunter. It was a child, just like her, with black hair, but from her vantage point, she could see that his eyes were blue.
Makima couldn't believe it; the hunter was accompanied by a child. She had never seen a child her age entering these facilities, let alone with a hunter.
It was someone she could potentially talk to if his intention was to come here. A sensation of excitement and nervousness grew in Makima as she realized that she would finally have the opportunity to interact with someone just like her. Moreover, Makima couldn't say for sure, but there was something about him that made her feel a strange sensation in her stomach.
She immediately took it as part of a joy she was unfamiliar with until now and had probably not felt before, as all of this felt like a new and joyful sensation, one that was currently difficult for her to describe. She thought for a moment that it was just a fleeting happiness of childhood, but it persisted. The idea of being able to talk about different things with this boy filled her with an inexplicable joy, probably because he was a new person. She had seen the rest of the staff before and they hadn't made much of an impression on her, but now, seeing this boy even made her smile.
It was as if this boy had been destined to excite her from the beginning.
Or maybe it was just because she had watched many movies, and seeing a boy her age felt like observing a rare specimen up close.
She would keep both theories in mind when talking to him.
She lost sight of both of them as they entered the building, and Makima felt her heart sink a little when she lost sight of the boy, but she instantly caught a scent coming from somewhere within the building.
It was quick and strong, leading her to theorize that the smell might be coming from somewhere below because the aroma was too intense, so much so that she had to cover her nose for a moment because of its overwhelming nature. But as the seconds passed, she grew more accustomed to the smell and even began to like it.
Makima thought for a moment that the smell probably came from the boy who had entered the building, which explained why she started to sense it right after he and the hunter had come inside. Makima glanced at the wall clock hanging at the library entrance; it was 7:50 at the moment, still 40 minutes to go before the sour-faced hunter was supposed to meet with Yuna. She could wait until then to talk to the boy who was intriguing her more and more.
She then wondered why a child would enter these facilities. Yuna had told her that experimenting on minors had ceased many years ago, and she didn't count because she wasn't entirely human. Besides, only Yuna and a few higher-ranking individuals knew she was there. It seemed odd that a devil hunter would enter with a child unless it was to throw him into hell as a sacrifice. At the moment, she was far from having an answer to that; she would just have to wait for the right moment and hope that both of them didn't go into Yuna's office.
"I was right, this day is going to be very interesting" she thought.
0O0O
Makima was lucky when she found the boy sitting alone on one of the waiting room chairs, seemingly bored. She had managed to sneak in through the ventilation ducts to get there and silently descended through a slit, only having to follow the scent to finally locate her target. She had to admit that seeing another child her age was more impressive up close.
She was serious because she was only about two seats away from where he was sitting. Apparently, he hadn't noticed her, being more preoccupied with complaining about how boring the place was, or perhaps she was just very good at being stealthy.
She chuckled internally at the pouts he was making; she found them cute.
"There's literally nothing to do here" she heard him say.
She took this as an opportunity to strike up a conversation. She was already sitting directly next to him, looking at him with a calm smile, her yellow eyes gleaming slightly with a strange feeling. It was probably excitement, or maybe something more that she didn't yet understand.
"Oh, but there are many wonderful things to see in this place" she said.
Present
Makima couldn't help but smile sweetly, pleased that she had gotten her way, though she was well aware that her actions would have consequences. That would be a problem for her to deal with in the future.
For now, she was going to enjoy all the time she could with Hiro, whether he wanted to or not. Though at the moment, it seemed he was willing to go along with everything.
Meanwhile, Hiro kept telling himself that this had become one of the many mistakes he had made in his life, and he would undoubtedly add it to his list of things not to do again.
"Maybe I can decline her offer and not go wherever she's taking me, but..." Hiro gave Makima a brief glance. She seemed happy, although he wasn't sure if she was always happy or just happy for the day. He reasoned that almost no one could be happy living in a place like this, especially when you're a devil.
Hiro wasn't 100% sure about the latter, but nothing else explained Makima's strange behavior and the inexplicable way she managed to reach him unnoticed. Moreover, there was something odd about her eyes, and Hiro noticed it the first time he saw her and occasionally in the elevator; her eyes were yellow, an uncommon color in people. He knew perfectly well that the likelihood of someone being born with yellow eyes was very low.
Perhaps the weirdest and most chilling thing about her eyes was the fact that they didn't have pupils. Instead, they had spirals, which reminded him a lot of hypnotism wheels.
Hiro couldn't precisely define what Makima was; he didn't know if she was a devil, but he was sure she wasn't entirely human.
"Umm, excuse me" Hiro started to speak, trying to initiate a conversation partly because he wanted to know where she was taking him and because the atmosphere was getting uncomfortable. "Where are we going exactly?"
Makima's smile widened, pleased that he was willing to talk to her again. "Well, it's just a place where I like to hang out, you'll see."
"Okay..." That didn't make him feel any more secure. She might take him to some dark dungeon filled with torture instruments designed to make him suffer.
Hiro shuddered again as he realized something. When would Kishibe's meeting end? He had absolutely no idea when Kishibe would come out of that office and realize he wasn't there. It could be hours, but there was also a possibility that it would only be minutes.
If they were hours, by now he would have been cut into pieces, or whatever this girl was going to do to him; but if they were minutes, then Kishibe would have already left the office by this point.
Hiro had to resist the urge to laugh at the face Kishibe would make upon seeing that he had escaped, especially just seconds after being told to stay put, it was a bizarre thought now, considering he was probably being taken to his own death.
'Kishibe, wherever you are, I hope you hurry up'
0O0O
Dr. Yuna Nishimura's Office.
Kishibe knew he had chosen his words well because even Yuna's gaze had turned grim and cautious, with a hint of irritation. He had seen that look before; it always reminded him of the times he approached Quanxi with the intention of asking her out.
She was already telling him everything just by looking at him, by doing so, he didn't have to ramble on with her about what she was doing in this facility. He just wanted her to say it in her own words, the chilling fact he often wished wasn't real. He wanted to believe that the government wasn't foolish enough to train the control devil to use it as a weapon.
Unfortunately, it was all true, sadly so. Even his own demons could feel it. She was in this place; there were no doubts left.
"I guess you also found it pointless to ramble about this, didn't you?" Yuna said, her gaze unchanging.
Kishibe nodded. "Yes, I want you to be direct with me too, because, to be honest, doing that would bore me too much."
"The Bible says, 'And the truth shall set you free.' But tell me, Kishibe, how do you think the truth will really make you feel?"
"I don't know, maybe terrified, disappointed, and wanting to drink myself into oblivion until my mind breaks."
Yuna smiled, but it was a cold smile. "You're still the same man who left the entertainment field many years ago. Even though your mind and way of thinking have changed over the years, your love for drinking remains the same."
"And you're still the same crazy woman who likes to conduct all sorts of experiments," Kishibe scowled, showing his anger. "I don't care what the truth does to me, I'm here to find it out anyway. I want you to tell me, Yuna... You have the control devil in your possession, don't you?"
Even though she knew Kishibe would ask her that question, it still felt like he had caught her off guard. Yuna clenched her fist, feeling angry and powerless that she hadn't managed to keep this a secret. She knew this day would come, but she hadn't expected it so soon. The government had told her to keep the secret from the other hunters until Makima was older, but she was only 10 years old, not even old enough to be considered a teenager.
Although she had long known it would be difficult to keep this project secret from people like Kishibe, she was deeply annoyed that he was meddling in matters that didn't concern him. She was well aware of Kishibe's past and his involvement with the control devil, but it wasn't an excuse for him to interfere in government affairs and her personal matters.
Why couldn't he just let it go like the rest of the things that were done in this place? He had always been a thorn in her side, always believing he was right about everything and consistently showing disrespect towards her and almost all the staff.
Yuna let out an audible growl, her teeth clenched. "You're despicable, you know that?" she let out a heavy sigh; at this point, it would be pointless to tell a lie.
"Yes, we have the control devil in these facilities; it's a girl. And I've named her Makima," she said, smiling at the last part.
"Oh shit, they really weren't lying"
"I told you so"
Kishibe's eyes now lacked any kind of emotion; hearing it from Yuna's words was much worse than he had imagined. He wasn't scared; that fear had left him long ago. Now, he was just disappointed. Disappointed that despite everything the control devil had done, everyone was willing to study it and turn it into a weapon. But he was also disappointed in himself because this also proved that he had been weak, for not completely destroying the control devil many years ago when he had the chance. It would be written as one of the things Kishibe was ashamed of or regretted.
This only proved that human stupidity had no limits. It was one thing to study the demons they had locked in vaults and 20 meters underground, but it was quite another to study a demon that could do anything just by looking you in the eyes.
Many don't see it that way; many believe there are much more dangerous devils, but that's because they have never faced the control devil at its full potential.
Makima now was probably just a vestige of what she truly is. Why couldn't Yuna see it? She and the others were crazy. One day, all of this would end in the worst way possible because they had no idea what she was truly like.
They were doomed; that was an irrefutable fact.
"You all are so fools..."
0O0O
The elevator doors finally opened with a ding, indicating they had reached the desired floor. Hiro felt as if the time in that elevator had been an eternity, probably due to the extreme silence that had prevailed for most of the ride, but it seemed to affect only him since the girl holding his hand continued smiling as if they were playing in a park.
The corridor they entered was completely different from the ones Hiro had seen so far. There were torches placed along the walls, providing enough light to see but not enough to fully illuminate the entire place. And although there was fire, there was a chill in the air, a chilling cold that made Hiro shiver both from fear and from the cold.
At the end of the hallway, there was a large wooden double door, on which was carved a nine-pointed star, each point darker than the next. Below the drawing were some scribbles that Hiro couldn't understand.
"What is this place?" Hiro questioned, looking around with his blue eyes.
Makima led the way, still holding his hand. Hiro considered that perhaps she did it so he wouldn't feel scared, which might have worked... if her hand wasn't so cold.
"This is just the corridor leading to the library of demonology," Makima replied.
Hiro had heard that term before; the receptionist had mentioned it when they entered the building.
"What is demonology?"
Makima looked at him as if he were crazy, with one eyebrow raised and her eyes slightly wider. "You don't know what demonology is?"
"Uh, sorry, I guess not, I'm not that familiar with these things" Hiro said, rubbing the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and Makima couldn't help but look at him in astonishment.
'Well, that's kind of cute'
"Well, basically it's the study and practice of satanic or demonic arts, as well as the study of devils, their relationships, and origins," she explained calmly, as if they were discussing the weather.
Hiro felt his brain short-circuit upon hearing Makima's explanation. "What the hell...?" he exclaimed, inadvertently letting a curse slip.
Makima shrugged nonchalantly. "Of any kind, whether those that come to earth or those that are still being studied despite there being no direct evidence of them."
'I think she misunderstood my words' Hiro thought, sweating slightly as they reached the end of the corridor.
(N/A: This joke makes more sense in Spanish, sorry, I didn't know how to change it)
At the end of the hallway was a large wooden double door, engraved with a nine-pointed star, each point darker than the next. Below the drawing were words that Hiro interpreted as mere scribbles since he couldn't understand the language.
"Wow" was all Hiro could say.
Makima gave him a sideways smile. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Hiro had to agree; the way the star was drawn seemed very professional, as if an experienced painter had done it.
"It is, but why draw something like this here? And what are those scribbles written below?" he asked, pointing with his free hand at the bunch of letters he couldn't understand. "They look nothing like Kanji."
אלוהים יברך את הנשמות התמימות שעוברות על פני הדלתות הללו. כי צעדיהם ידרסו
ארצות ארורות הרחק מאור הישועה.
"Yup, I'm sure I've never come across such drawings in my life."
Makima laughed, and once again Hiro couldn't help but look at her like a fool. 'Oh no... she's definitely doing something to me.'
"You weren't lying when you said you weren't as familiar with these kinds of things as I am. Well, Hiro, that nine-pointed star was drawn and painted by a priest. The points of the star represent the nine circles of hell described in Dante's Divine Comedy. And what's written below isn't scribbles; they're words in Hebrew, and they say: God bless those innocent souls who pass these gates. For their steps will be treading on cursed lands far from the light of salvation."
Makima let out a sigh after her explanation, glanced at Hiro, and realized he was stiller than a statue. If it weren't for the fact that she was holding his hand and could feel his pulse, she would have thought he was already dead.
But she could see his mouth moving, murmuring something.
"Circles of hell... Dante... Innocent souls? Light of salvation?" Hiro muttered.
His mind was overloaded at that moment, and he was unclear about what to think. What did she mean by cursed lands? Was everything there harmful to him?
With that thought, Hiro felt even more reluctant to enter the library. He pondered for a moment what she meant by 'innocent souls' it was probably a way of saying that only those who were not entirely normal had a chance of leaving this place with their sanity intact. He still considered that Makima might be more than human, so that would explain why the message didn't affect her.
Because she didn't seem like an innocent soul.
And neither did he if he thought about his past and the fact that he lived with a man over thirty who killed devils every night.
Still, he wouldn't dare enter that plac-
Wait a minute...
"Hey wait! Is this the place you had in mind to bring me because you said it was somewhere I might find interesting!?" Hiro exclaimed, realizing the kind of place Makima liked to visit.
She nodded fervently, brushing aside the fear and disbelief of her new friend "Yes, that's right! Come on, there's no time to lose."
Hiro out of pure survival instinct, tried to break free from Makima's grip but found that she was holding him with great strength. It felt as if his hand was trapped in cement; even his movements didn't cause Makima's arm to budge. 'What the hell is up with this girl?'
Makima opened the door with her free hand, and the sound of the creaking door echoed throughout the place. Instantly, a gust of wind blew out of the room, causing Hiro to shiver. He saw that the entire room was bathed in complete darkness; there was no light, which made more sense of the door's final phrase.
Hiro started to picture in his mind what the demonology library might look like. He imagined torches with flames placed on the walls alongside old chairs and tables, paintings of devils on the walls, and demonic signs that he surely wouldn't understand but knew were an ominous sign.
"Normally, I like to read in the dark with just a candle lit, but I'll turn on the lights this time" said Makima and with her free hand she pulled out a remote control with a few buttons from her pocket, pressed one, and instantly the library's lights turned on with a bright white glow.
When the light finally settled, Hiro could clearly see the entire room. It was nothing like he had imagined, at least not entirely.
The ceiling was bone white, and above were attached white tube lights, which provided the abundant illumination. The floor featured beautiful white ceramic that reflected the light from the ceiling. The bookshelves were dark gray, and in the middle stood a long, white rectangular table with Victorian-style gold chairs adorned with pure white pillow backs.
However, the only thing that seemed out of place was the content on the shelves; the books placed there looked old and very worn.
"Oh" the boy let out, his fear seeming to vanish in the blink of an eye, because this was not how he had imagined a library full of diabolical books would be.
"Mm?" Makima looked at Hiro, puzzled by his strange reaction.
"Eeeh, it's nothing" he gestured with his hand, indicating she should pay no attention.
Makima let it go and walked further into the library with him. Hiro looked around, appreciating the beauty and elegance of the place. He also noticed that there were small air conditioning units on the walls, which explained the cold temperature and the sudden gust of wind.
Makima led Hiro to the table "Sit down, I'll go get some books for us to read" She pointed to a chair, and for the first time since they had been together, she let go of his hand, leaving him with his hand feeling cold.
Hiro sat down in one of the chairs with a bit of skepticism but ultimately obeyed because he wasn't sure how Makima would react to disobedience.
"I'll be right back," she said, then disappeared deeper into the library, leaving him alone with an eerie silence.
Hiro glanced back at the door and realized it was still open... He considered his chances of getting out of this alive and with all his limbs intact. If he was quick, he could make it out the door, reach the elevator, and go down to where Kishibe was; only then would he be safe.
But there were cons to this plan that might prevent him from reaching safety. The first was that he wasn't fast or athletic enough to get to the elevator quickly and safely. The other was that Makima might try something if she saw him escaping; he didn't know what she would do, but it surely wouldn't be pleasant.
The second option was also viable but very risky: it involved continuing as things were. He just had to play along with Makima and do everything she wanted with him. If he was good and earned her trust, then she might let him live, because so far, she had treated him well and hadn't tried anything bad, apart from causing him a bit of fear.
But the con of this option was that there was also a high chance she might kill him in the end because he couldn't read her accurately. Everything about her was a mystery, and that didn't help him get an idea of her true intentions.
He just needed a lot of luck in this... And maybe he would get out alive.
0O0O
Yuna rolled her eyes, one of her fingers tapping on the table in a display of impatience. She just wanted Kishibe to leave her office already.
"Call us whatever you want, we have better things to do than listen to your opinions. Though that only applies to me," she said.
Kishibe stared at her intensely with his dark, empty eyes. "I really can't believe you agreed to this project, Yuna. But to disappoint me further, tell me what exactly the plan is for training the control devil"
Yuna sighed, bored with the direction the conversation was taking. "Why should I tell you in the first place?"
"I have a right to know, after all, we have a past that I've wanted to erase from my memory, and I also want to understand why you made such a hasty and foolish decision."
If looks could kill, Yuna would surely be in jail by now. The way she looked at Kishibe was filled with pure rage. This man always managed to get under her skin, even now, after so much time had passed since they last saw each other.
"Fine, I'll tell you," she said with a growl, straightening up in her seat before speaking in a serious and professional tone.
"Today, people are afraid of many things, and as you know, that fear transforms into what we know as devils. Our most effective weapon against these beings are the hunters trained specifically to eradicate this scourge. However, the Hunters Council has reached a conclusion, and not just us, but also the councils of other nations like the United States and Russia."
Kishibe felt nerves coursing through his body. "And that is?"
Yuna's gaze shifted from Kishibe to her office table. "That humans are no longer sufficient to rid us of devils."
Kishibe frowned. "Of course they're not, they never were if you ask me. But that's why we make contracts with devils every day, using their strength in exchange for whatever they desire."
Yuna's left eye twitched with irritation. She closed her eyes and sighed, trying to calm herself. "Let me finish. That's why the government ordered us to create contingency plans to prevent massive catastrophes because I'm very sure the day will come when all hunters will die and there will be no one left to deal with the devils..."
"You're digressing," Kishibe remarked, taking a sip from his flask.
"Shut up!" she cleared her throat. "So, I proposed a project that would be carried out in secret... Although in the end, it wasn't entirely a secret since even Russia is trying the same thing. Anyway, the project consisted of combining human strength with the power of devils."
Kishibe's eyes widened slightly, understanding where Yuna's explanation was leading. They wouldn't really do such a thing, would they?
"We want to create Hybrids."
"Okayyy, that's new" Kishibe wasn't entirely sure how to process his feelings about this revelation. He was surprised that they were willing to do such things with people. If he thought about it clearly, it didn't seem like a bad idea, but what he couldn't make sense of was how Makima fit into all this. She wasn't a hybrid; she was a demon in the form of a human, and he was certain they weren't the same thing.
"And what does the control devil have to do with all this?"
"Makima is just the beginning, she's not exactly what we should start with since she's not a hybrid. To be considered a hybrid, her mind should be human and her powers demonic, but since that's not the case, I can't categorize her as our first Hybrid. However, we have her to use some references that will be useful in the future when we officially start experiments on humans."
"And?"
Yuna smiled. "I don't know where you get your information, but yes, we also plan to use her as a weapon. When Makima reaches an appropriate age, she will join the devil hunter divisions."
"Appropriate age? So, she can age like a normal human?"
"Yes, fascinating, isn't it? Believe it or not, she can be very docile. You can teach her anything, and she will learn it immediately, although this is attributed to all the knowledge she gained in past lives."
Kishibe was reluctant to ask a question that had been troubling him for a long time, but even if it was confirmed, he would still face the danger as he always has.
"Tell me, does she have her memories intact?"
Yuna shook her head. "No, her memories have not surfaced. The first time she came here, she didn't even know what hell was. She said she couldn't even imagine it, which shows she doesn't have even flashes of her past lives. Unfortunate."
Kishibe sighed, feeling relieved. He wasn't in the mood or the frame of mind to fight a devil that day, having already enough on his plate.
"However, her sense of smell hasn't failed her. It seems she can recognize the scents of things and people. She says she always has the sensation that she's smelled it in the past. So yes, it's likely she might recognize your scent, if she hasn't already" Yuna smiled with a twisted amusement at Kishibe's misfortune.
"Ooooooh, you're screwed."
"Just wake me up if we're going to kill someone."
Kishibe felt like there was someone in the sky, in the cosmos, or in some universe who enjoyed watching him suffer (lol) because if Makima could recognize his scent, then he would be prepared for whatever she might do. However, there was also the chance that she might end up doing nothing, but he knew it was bad to be too trusting of women.
0O0O
With Hiro and Makima.
"So... do you like reading?" Hiro asked, pulling his head out of the enormous book that Makima had given him to read. He couldn't understand it since it was written in English, and he hadn't started those lessons at school yet. But it seemed Makima knew the language, as she was reading another book alongside him and appeared very focused.
However, when he asked his question, she immediately turned her head towards him at a speed that Hiro found inhuman.
"Yes, there are very interesting readings in these books that you would surely find intriguing."
"Like what?" Hiro asked, hoping she would show him because he couldn't understand anything from the book he was holding. Besides, it was getting quite heavy for him.
"Well... Like this book, for example," she showed him the cover. It was a moderately large book, with a black but worn cover. From the outside, the yellowed pages showed the wear of time. The cover itself was simple, just some words written in white, and luckily for Hiro, in Kanji.
"The Devils that Lurk in Our World and in Hell"
XVIII
It didn't have the author's name but did feature what seemed to be the year it began to be written. Hiro also thought the title was quite simplistic for a book dealing with demons and supernatural entities.
(N/A: I run out of ideas)
"This book talks about all the devils that are most well-documented. You could say it also discusses the most famous ones that have come to Earth, those few devil hunters have encountered and lived to tell the tale."
'What should I say now?' Hiro thought. He needed to maintain a casual conversation with Makima to make her feel comfortable and, ultimately, to let him live.
"And... Which one is your favorite?" he asked as if they were talking about superheroes, though surely Makima viewed devils in that light.
Makima's smile broadened, revealing her white teeth. She placed the book back on the table and flipped through several pages until she stopped more than halfway through the book.
"This one" she pointed to a page, and Hiro leaned in a bit to see, his eyes widening in astonishment.
There, depicted in an ancient drawing, was the humanoid form of a robust devil, probably over 2 meters tall, with several spikes on its head and back. Its teeth were enormous, sharp spikes. The most notable feature was its four arms, each with a chainsaw protruding, and another chainsaw emerging from the front of its head.
- The Chainsaw Devil -
-The devil that all other devils fear. Also known as the hero of hell-
"Chainsaw Devil..." Hiro repeated the name, feeling it was fitting considering its characteristics.
Makima smiled happily, seeing Hiro's fascination with the strongest devil of hell. "It's impressive, I know."
"It is, but what makes it so special? I mean, at first glance it's scary, but why do you like it so much?"
Makima continued to look at him with a smile, and Hiro wondered if Makima's facial muscles ever got tired from smiling so much.
"You see, the Chainsaw Devil is well-known and feared throughout hell for a reason, it possesses immense strength far surpassing any other devil. But what truly makes it special is that when it devours a devil, that devil is erased from the face of existence. It doesn't reincarnate on Earth or in hell, and as a result, it also vanishes from the memories of those who once saw and spoke of it" Makima looked at the drawing of the devil with fascination and what Hiro could only interpret as admiration.
"That's why it's impressive" she concluded, leaning back in her seat.
Hiro was more than amazed by the power a single devil could possess, demonstrating that the power of devils extended far beyond human existence. To consume something and consequently erase it from the face of the Earth and the memories of others was indeed extraordinary.
With this revelation, Hiro began to reconsider, for the first time in three years, the option of becoming a devil hunter. There was something out there, or perhaps there would be, that could prevent him from achieving his goals; he might die on his first mission without being able to save anyone. Devils knew no bounds, and this Chainsaw Devil was a stark reminder of that.
The fact that there could exist forces of darkness that would surpass him, even if he trained for years, terrified him immensely. Not so much the fear of dying, but because it would mean he couldn't achieve what he initially wanted.
"Hey," Makima interrupted his train of thought, and Hiro looked at her, realizing with great surprise that she wasn't smiling. Her face was serious, her lips a thin, straight line.
She got up from her seat, and Hiro felt he should do the same. Now standing, they faced each other. Hiro's discomfort grew with each moment Makima looked at him; indeed, it was easier to face her when she was smiling.
"W-what's wrong?" he asked.
Her expression remained unchanged. "You and I... are we friends?" was her question. Makima wanted to clear this doubt from her mind. She was trying, genuinely wanting Hiro to feel that she could be a friend to him.
But despite her efforts, she felt something was missing. She couldn't explain it, but while she felt happy having him there, she sensed that he wasn't happy. This concerned her; she didn't want him to feel bad, so she asked this question to try to find out if he was enjoying his time with her.
Hiro, on the other hand, was completely taken aback by Makima's question. It caught him off guard. What could he say? He knew very well that his survival might depend on his response. So, he had to say it, even though he wasn't entirely sure of the answer.
But if she ultimately let him live, then perhaps... Perhaps he could make an exception.
"Well... Yes, I guess we are friends," he said, mustering all his strength to form a smile.
Makima's eyes widened in surprise at Hiro's response. Once again, her eyes began to regain the sparkle that seemed to characterize her, and the ghost of a smile appeared on her face. Finally, it turned into a warm smile that seemed almost bright enough to light up a dark room. At least, that's what Hiro thought as he looked at her, fascinated.
Her heart raced a bit faster and a warm sensation filled her being, so much so that it made her smile. Then she hadn't failed; she had done things right in the end, if Hiro said they were friends, then he must have enjoyed his time with her despite it being just a few moments, and thanks to that, she received her reward...
Her first friend.
"Thank you" was all she said, completely ignoring the trail of a tear that fell down her cheek.
Hiro blushed at the scene before him. Makima had a beautiful smile, and upon reflection, he thought that maybe this time it was a genuine one. She was proving it right then and there. She showed that her feelings about being his friend were authentic. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with her, or maybe she just didn't want to harm him. He could take some comfort in that thought.
Perhaps... It might not matter what Makima really was, she just wanted to be his friend. He with all the courage a 10-year-old could muster, could be that friend.
"Hey... Why are you crying?" Hiro asked, concerned as he saw more tears streaming down the girl's face.
Makima immediately brought a hand to her cheek and indeed, she was crying. "Huh?" she expressed, confused.
Why was she crying? She couldn't understand it; something bad must be happening...
'Oh' then she understood, remembering one of her deepest desires since she became self-aware. A wish that had taken root in her and had grown stronger whenever she watched those movies.
One that she probably would never get to experience.
"I... It's just that... I simply don't know what it feels like" she said, her voice sounding broken.
At this point, Hiro began to worry even more. "Eh? What do you mean?"
"All of this is new to me... I don't think I've ever experienced anything like it. Most of the connections I make are always based on fear... But now that you've told me I'm your friend..." a sob escaped her, and Hiro felt his heart breaking.
'Bonds of fear?'
"I-I can't help feeling happy, I've always longed for something like this. A family... Someone who can understand me, someone just like me." She felt pathetic; she wasn't supposed to cry, that made her seem weak in front of someone, or at least that's what Yuna had told her. Showing emotions to others would only make her vulnerable.
Yet, her lips kept moving.
"I've seen in movies how many people live happily with those they love, living that way until they die, doing all kinds of things, like hugging... I've never felt those kinds of things, what it's like to have a mother, a father, a brother... But now that I have a friend, I feel like everything is just overflowing." Makima held her right arm with her left hand in an attempt to comfort herself, the sobs and tears kept coming, even as she ordered herself to stop.
Hiro was listening to everything she said, and he couldn't help but feel sad for her. He might have experienced tough things at a young age, but at least he had his parents, and when he lost them, he was able to find a small family with Kishibe and Quanxi.
But according to her, Makima hadn't had any of that, which made Hiro very sad; nobody should have to live like that. Hiro thought that Makima must be an orphan, perhaps she had never had another friend to interact with, which was why this topic made her as sad as it was doing now.
He looked at Makima, who no longer seemed like the girl who had approached him with a charming smile, inviting him to spend time with her. No, now he saw a completely shattered girl, someone who hadn't received any affection in who knows how long, someone who emanated an aura of sadness. The more he looked at her, the more he saw himself in her, in those days when his parents died he was in the same way, sad and wanting to escape the harsh reality.
She was someone Hiro was willing to help, and if being her friend would make her happy, then he would definitely be that friend.
Hiro took a step forward. Makima didn't move from her spot, so Hiro advanced further until he was close to her and gathering all the courage he could muster at that moment... he opened his arms, closed his eyes.
And he hugged her.
0O0O
"Hm? Strange..."
"What's wrong with you, weirdo?"
"I feel a change in the atmosphere, and in me, it's like my whole being is trembling on its own."
"What? Wait a minute... I CAN FEEL IT TOO!"
"This is really odd."
"Kishibe... Something bad is happening, it's like something is disturbing my senses, like an explosion of something unknown has just erupted all over the place."
"Ugh, really? I'm in the middle of something very important... although now I'm getting bored and my flask is empty."
"You have to... oh? It stopped."
"Look, it's probably just a deep-sea devil causing a ruckus with your senses. Calm down, this is all going to be over soon"
0O0O
Makima gazed at the ceiling of the library, the lights were so white they seemed like the paradise the religious always speak of. Added to that, the warm and comforting sensation she was feeling right now was like being in actual paradise.
She was being hugged, was this what it really felt like? It was beautiful... Loving and truly comfortable. Her eyes began to feel moist again, all the repressed emotions she had held back until now were pouring out of her.
Hesitantly, she lifted her arms and returned the hug, burying her face in Hiro's neck. She began to cry again, her sobs muffled against the boy's neck.
This was what she had always longed for, yearned for in different lives, and what she was feeling now. She had finally obtained her desire, she was receiving love, something many devils always wished for but were always denied. Now she could afford to enjoy it.
All thanks to Hiro, her friend.
Hiro held Makima as she cried, understanding she really needed a hug and thinking he had done the right thing by providing it when she was crying in front of him.
Nobody should have to live a life like that, far from all the desires for love that envelop human beings and shape who they will become in the future. If no one was there for her, then he could be, helping her in any way he could so she wouldn't be unhappy.
He stroked her hair in an attempt to calm her, finding it very soft, and that was when Hiro caught her scent and confirmed that she smelled like vanilla, one of his favorite scents.
'Hugging her feels really good, I could get used to this'
Hiro thought about how it had only been almost an hour since he met Makima and he had already become her friend. It was strange, the time he spent with her felt like much more.
"Thank you, Hiro," Makima suddenly said when her sobs stopped. "I really needed that, I've wanted something like this for a long time."
Hiro allowed himself to smile. "You're welcome, it's what friends do, they help each other"
"Yes, I guess they do" she let out a soft laugh. "Your hugs are the best, even though it's the first one I've ever received"
Hiro wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel more pity for her, so he just continued to stroke her hair, to which she responded with a sigh of satisfaction.
Hiro lifted one of his hands, which had his digital watch on it, looked at the time, and saw it was 9:39. Time really does fly, but sometimes it feels like an eternity to others.
"Um, Makima?" Hiro started, and Makima shivered when he said her name. It was the first time he had said it, and it felt really good when it came out of his mouth. For some reason, it made her feel special.
"Hm?"
"I think I have to go home"
0O0O
"So basically what you're saying is that you and the others want to create hybrid devils to use them as hunters to kill other devils, thereby maintaining higher security levels?"
"Yes."
"And additionally, they're training the Control Devil to use it as a weapon."
"Yes."
Kishibe sighed, tired of this conversation but aware that he needed to extract more information from this woman.
"And what if it doesn't work?"
"It will work" Yuna said with determination.
Kishibe frowned, feeling as though he was talking to a child about the dangers of what they were planning.
"You're playing with fire, Yuna. The Control Devil is much worse than you can imagine. If you fail in even the slightest thing, you'll doom us all"
Yuna was beginning to lose her patience. "This is exactly why we decided to keep the project a secret from the other hunters, so they wouldn't be asking questions all the time. Listen, Kishibe, I know every variant of this project, and I'm fully aware of all the harm that a single mistake could cause. That's why I was put in charge of this project, because I'm the most qualified person in the country. If there's anyone who knows devils better... that's me."
Kishibe and Yuna locked eyes, each with a murderous and calculating gaze, trying to formulate a response that would demolish the other's argument.
Kishibe was the first to break the silence. "If you mess this up... then you'll be the first to die, and unfortunately, it won't be me who has the pleasure of killing you. You will die from the consequences of your own actions."
With that said, Kishibe rose from his seat and walked towards the entrance, ready to leave.
Yuna let out a tired sigh, relieved that the meeting was over. "I suppose it goes without saying that you need to keep this a secret, though at this point, you've probably already told Quanxi, or she figured it out before you did. I know how you two operate" she said as she stood up from her seat.
"I think I should accompany you to the exit, you know, to keep up appearances that our meeting went well"
Kishibe rolled his eyes, irritated by Yuna's insistence on maintaining appearances. "Do whatever you want, I don't care"
Kishibe opened the door and stepped out with Yuna behind him.
"Alright kid, it's time to-" Kishibe couldn't finish his sentence when he noticed a small detail.
Hiro was not in his seat.
He wasn't there sitting down. Kishibe was certain he hadn't misremembered; he had brought a small kid with him and left him sitting outside the office, but he wasn't there.
He looked both ways down the hallway, there was nothing, not a soul in sight.
"Kid?" Kishibe said again, as if saying his name would magically bring him back.
"Wait a second, did you bring someone else with you?" he heard Yuna's incredulous question, but Kishibe paid no attention.
'This is bad, very bad'
Fear began to grow in Kishibe once he accepted that Hiro was not there; either he had left... or someone had taken him.
Every possible scenario about where Hiro might have gone crossed his mind. Maybe he left by the elevator to explore more places, but the child was still too scared to do it on his own. Another option was that perhaps Hiro never existed and it was all his imagination.
"No, the kid did exist."
'That means...'
Kishibe was now starting to panic. It couldn't be happening, could it? This part of the building was supposed to be safe for everyone since it was an office environment, which is why he left Hiro here. He had only looked away for an hour and now he was gone.
Of all the possible scenarios... The most terrifying one had become reality.
Yuna was about to ask Kishibe more questions, but then they heard the doors of the left elevator open. Both turned to see who was coming down, when the elevator fully opened the eyes of both adults widened so much they almost popped out of their sockets at the scene they were witnessing.
The ones who came out of the elevator were Hiro Takahashi and Makima, holding hands. One of them was smiling, while the other (Hiro) looked embarrassed.
Hiro glanced down the hallway and saw Kishibe and a woman looking at him in shock at what they were witnessing. Hiro's eyes also widened in surprise, realizing he was late; Kishibe had figured out that he had escaped.
"Oh, uuuh, hehe, hi" he tried to say with a forced smile.
"HIRO!?" Kishibe shouted.
"MAKIMA!?" Yuna exclaimed.
"AHAHAHAHAHA OH MAN, THE IRONY IS KILLING ME HAHAHAHA"
"This is satire, Kishibe didn't want Makima getting close to Hiro but in the end it happened... And they're holding hands, interesting"
"So... Are we going to kill someone? Because I feel like this guy is ready to kill that girl"
Hiro visibly shuddered when Kishibe shouted his name; he had never heard him yell like that before, but he could tell that Kishibe wasn't angry, just very surprised.
Was it because of Makima? Did he know who she really was? Hiro felt Makima's grip on his hand tighten. He looked at her and realized that her gaze had darkened, looking at Kishibe with a deathly stare. Her eyes seemed to pierce him with daggers; she was angry, very angry, and one didn't need to be smart to know that she was ready to kill anyone who came too close to her.
On the other hand, Kishibe still couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. Hiro was with Makima... with the Control Devil... holding hands... and he was still alive... WHAT THE FUCK?
This was a nightmarish scenario; he couldn't believe it. Hiro was with the Control Devil as if they had been friends for a lifetime. He had only looked away for a moment, and Hiro had already made a stupid mistake, he should have been more careful; he never should have brought Hiro to this place. Now, he was at the mercy of one of the most powerful devils in the world, all because of his mistake.
He also realized that Makima was giving him a hostile look. Kishibe met her gaze and instinctively his left hand moved towards his knife concealed in his coat. He needed to think calmly, to devise a plan to get Hiro out of this. Maybe he could use all his speed to grab Hiro and get him as far away from her as possible. Makima might not be so strong at this point, or at least that's what he hoped.
"Hiro..." Kishibe said slowly, drawing his attention. "Come here right now."
Hiro obeyed and managed to break free from Makima's grasp, much to his surprise, only to feel himself being held by his sweater. Hiro looked back and realized it was Makima holding onto him again, her gaze softened a bit when she looked at Hiro which left Dr. Yuna dumbfounded.
"Is everything okay?" Hiro whispered to her.
Makima looked at him with her bright yellow eyes, which Hiro was finding increasingly appealing. "Will you be alright?"
Hiro nodded with a smile, trying to ease her concern. "Of course, Kishibe is my guardian after all"
Yuna gasped upon hearing that and looked at Kishibe with her mouth open in disbelief that he was the guardian of a child.
Makima sighed but returned to giving Kishibe a piercing look.
Hiro, watching this battle of glares with concern, did the most sensible thing possible. "Um, Makima, I really have to go, Kishibe has finished his meeting, so it's time for both of us to leave."
With a bit of hesitation and sadness, Makima finally let go of Hiro, allowing him to be free and go with his damned guardian whom she was not fond of. Hiro walked normally until he reached Kishibe, not without first bowing in greeting as he passed Yuna, who looked like she might faint.
Hiro looked at Kishibe with eyes full of guilt. "I... I can explain"
"We're leaving," Kishibe said quickly, and with one last dark look directed at Makima, he picked up Hiro by his hips, hoisting him onto his shoulder and carrying him as if he were a sack of potatoes.
"OW, hey wait, what are you doing!?" Hiro blushed with embarrassment at Kishibe's actions. He was being humiliated in front of Makima, and that... he didn't like. For some reason, he felt the need to make a good impression on her.
"We'll see you later, Dr. Yuna" Kishibe said without looking at Yuna and heading towards the elevator.
Hiro tried to look at Makima from his embarrassing position. "M-Makima, I hope to s-see you again," he bid farewell, waving his hand, and Makima returned the gesture.
Kishibe felt like he was going to spit blood at Hiro's words.
Finally, they reached the elevator. Kishibe put the boy down and pressed the button to go down. The doors closed, leaving a very confused Yuna and a melancholic Makima in the hallway.
Yuna looked at Makima with wide eyes. "Who was that kid?"
Makima smiled, but it was a sincere smile that came from her heart "He's my friend"
0O0O
Notes: Holy shit man, this became way too long.
OK ok, I apologize for the delay but as you can see, this chapter became very long, a total of 10557 words not counting the final notes. I hadn't written this much since the third chapter.
Damn, I think I outdid myself.
I hope you loved this chapter, I can't believe I've finally reached 10 chapters. The idea for this story was born from the question: What would have happened if someone had hugged Makima? And it finally happened.
Our dear protagonist Hiro managed to hug Makima and from now on, the events of Chainsaw Man have drastically changed.
What consequences will this have? We'll see.
After nearly a year of creating this story, I finally reached this point. It feels good, I hope I don't run out of ideas.
Makima and Hiro have a lot to go through and surely their story will be interesting. It's also worth mentioning that the story currently is set in 1980, so around that time Denji was born, just for you to keep in mind.
I was Abusamadres, see you.