The Witch Hunter Part Four

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

Matsu stared at him, as if wasn’t positive he’d heard correctly “You want to bring back the three kings?”

“Yes” Nino said smiling calmly as if he’d asked for the weather,

“It’s impossible...“ Matsu gasped wondering if the cage was too much and his mind had snapped

“It’s implausible nothings impossible” Nino corrected as he shrugged

“But you’re a demon... Why would you want to bring the kings back?”

“Because I do” Nino answered “I didn’t lie when I said I was bored, the hunters have lost too much power and the gift of the kings is fading, too many mortals have lost faith in them... So why not bring them back?”

“If it was as easy as you make out, why hasn’t anyone done it before?”

“Because they never had something I’ve got” Nino smirked, Matsu held his breath understanding flashing in his eyes.

“You mean... Me?”

“Yep... The hunter without a ruling king” Nino was almost beaming now as he looked at the mark on Matsu’s neck. Matsu touched it unconsciously with his fingers,

“Why is that so important?”

“Ask the monk that’s been eavesdropping...“ Nino sighed closing his eyes again, as Sakurai stepped forwards nervously “You do know that it’s rude right? What if we were making out?”

“I... Um...”

“There’s no way we’d ever be making out” Matsu glared although even he had to admit his tone wasn’t very convincing. Nino chuckled as he lay down resting his head on his arms

“Sorry, I was told too by the Holy Father...” Sakurai apologized hanging his head

“So what was he going on about?”

“Well... There’s an old legend... You know how the mark of the hunters is said to be the last gift of the kings?”

“Yes, everyone knows that”

“Well this legend says that’s wrong... It says that there was another gift, given by the 2^ndking... It’s said that with his dying breath he promised that one would be born that had no faith in any of the kings, but would be born with the mark, that he would bring back the three kings...”

“How come I’ve never heard this before?”

“It’s not a very well liked legend” Sakurai admitted with a sigh

“Why if it means bringing back the kings?”

“Because...”

“It is a demon legend” Nino finished as he sat back up and grinned at them, his eyes flashing green/yellow again. “Only demons pass it down”

“Why?”

“So they know who to kill...” Nino answered with another shrug “They don’t know if it’s true or not but they are prepared to kill, just in case”

“You believe it though?” Matsu asked Nino’s hand went for the pendent that was no longer there, a flash of pain in his eyes as he just touched his own skin.

“Yes... I believe it’s true” He nodded his hand dropping again. Sakurai looked at the demon and then back at Matsu

“There’s more... When the three kings rise again, all things from the dark will be sent back...”

“So that means... Even you?” Matsu said quickly staring at the demon how just gave another annoying shrug

“Careful hunter, you almost sound like you care... But yes that means I would be gone too...” He nodded. “It’s worth it though”

“You really want to do that?”

“No... I’m a selfish brat, but I couldn’t suffer another 1000 years of boredom” Nino laughed “Plus I made a promise so I’ll keep it”

Matsu stared at the demon, not knowing what else to say, wondering who this ‘lover’ was that had managed to practically tame this demon. Sakurai had sank to the floor and was just as amazed he had been in the monastery since he was five, he had loved researching the old legends but he had never expected himself to be alive when one was being played out.

“Before we can do anything you have to be allowed out... But there’s no way the hunters will let you...”

“The hunters’ being here complicates things” Nino agreed “The monks would have made you prove we were bound... I expected to be put in here, the protection line though...”

“The Holy Father put it up a few days ago; there were reports of a powerful demon...” Sakurai explained when Nino looked at him. Nino nodded thoughtfully

“They’re right; it’s what killed that elder... They haven’t broken the line right?”

“No, the Holy Father just gave permission for you to enter”

“I’m flattered” He smirked and then the smile slipped as he gave a wince his hand going to his empty neck yet again the skin was already starting to heal “You should go...”

Matsu nodded still not knowing what to make of what he’d learnt, as they went up the stone stairs he turned to look at Nino again, shocked to see the demon was hugging the bars of the cage tightly.

“He’s a strange demon” Sakurai mumbled as the door closed, Matsu agreed silently “Do you really believe he wants to bring back the three?”

“Yes...”

“But why... Why would a demon want to help us?”

“I don’t understand anything he does” Matsu sighed sitting on a stone stool “I’ve only known him for three days...”

“Yet you trust him” Matsu looked up at him knowing he was right. He did trust the bratty demon, he annoyed him more than anyone he’d ever met before but he trusted him, he couldn’t understand why the demon was so prepared to give up his own life to bring back the three kings but Matsu sensed he wouldn’t stop until he’d done it. Plus there was the look in his eyes when he spoke about his lover, he really hated that look, Matsu decided with a sigh. Sakurai watched the hunter with a knowing smile before leading him to a guest bedroom.

Matsu let out a soft groan pulling the pillow over his head as early morning sunlight filled the room. He had found it hard to sleep last night, his mind spinning with how to get Nino out of the dungeon, it seemed impossible the elders seemed determined to destroy him. He let out another groan and then froze as he felt someone sit on the bed and stroke his arm lightly.

“Hey, pretty hunter... It’s time to wake up... Or I could get into bed with you...”

Matsu sat up throwing the pillow across the room, staring at Nino who was grinning at him, his eyes flashing, the pendent was back around his neck. “Nino? How the hell did you get out?”

“The Holy Father is an old friend” Nino’s eyes flashed, Matsu caught the look his own eyes widening

“What? Please don’t tell me...”

“He wasn’t always old” Nino laughed, flinching as Matsu smacked him “Aww and I thought you were worried about me”

“Get out!” Matsu snapped trying to hit him again, Nino dodged the attack, his eyes flashing happily

 “You’d be happier if you just admitted you liked me” He murmured softly moving close to Matsu’s ear.

“Never, now get out” Matsu spat hitting him with a pillow

“Fine, I’ll go play with that monk, Sakurai, he might be more fun...” He beamed giving him a wave as he left. Matsu stared at the door wondering why he had wasted so much time worrying about the stupid demon that still treated everything like a game.

Nino was talking to Sakurai when he came down to the great hall; he was just about to go to them when the elder called out to him

“Novice Matsumoto... A word please” With a quick look at Nino who was laughing with Sakurai he followed the Elder out into the same office as yesterday. “The Holy Father it appears has fallen to the same lure you, yourself is under... This demon, however harmless you may think he is, is a danger to you and everything you have been taught to fight...”

“Elder, thank-you for your warning... “

“But it’s completely un-needed” Nino said pushing open the door “I will never harm, my master... Master, there is a report of a witch in one of the villages to the east” The elder snapped his head up looking at the demon for the first time since he’d entered “I believe we should go and take care of it... As we have no need to go back to the halls now, I’m sure the elder will explain what happened... I shall get Niji and Arashi ready”

“I... Thanks Nino...”

“You’ve always been a trouble maker, Novice Matsumoto; I shall be keeping an eye on you...” The elder spat

Nino let out a hiss letting go of the door handle “How did you know that elder Suzuki was dead? Only I saw the body... There is a way you could have known, but I thought blood magic was forbidden to hunters” He said looking at the elder hunter calmly his eyes never leaving his face. The elder turned away first

“These are difficult times...”

“You broke the rules... No wonder the gift of the kings is leaving you” He scoffed “Using the magic that demons use, naughty boys”

“Get away from me demon” The elder snapped “I don’t know what lure you used on the Holy Father but it will not work on me...”

“That’s good because I’d never want to be in that position with you” Nino laughed when the colour in the hunters face vanished, his eyes almost falling out of his head as he took in the meaning. “Master” Nino gave a small nod to Matsu before leaving.

They left the monastery just after midday, the Holy Father smiling as he let Nino through the protection line, Matsu shuddered trying to forget what he knew about them. There was no sign of the monk, Sakurai, and Matsu didn’t know if he was disappointed or relieved, the pace leaving was quick as if Niji wanted to get his rider away as fast as possible. Two hours later as they reached march land Nino stopped and turned “Monk you should turn back now...” He said. Matsu followed his gaze and was surprised to see Sakurai coming towards them nervously riding a brown horse.

“Please... Let me join you, if you’re really trying to get the three kings back, I want to help...”

“You look like you’re about to throw up while riding a horse, what good would you be?” Nino asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I know all of the lore of the three kings, and I’m good at healing...” The monk said quickly “Please, I’ve spent my whole life reading these legends...”

“If he wants to help, we should let him” Matsu said with a shrug “You haven’t told me what we have to do...”

“You want him to come?” Nino asked “If that’s what you want master, he is welcome to come, but my loyalty is too you alone and I am the only one you’re allowed to sleep with...”

“I’m not sleeping with you!” Matsu snapped glaring at him “Why the hell do you want to sleep with me so badly when you’re so in love with the guy that left you...”

“So what we had was love?” Nino asked with a smirk “The truth is I find you cute, so I want to sleep with you, plus you want it too”

“Um... So I’m coming?” Sakurai cut in when Matsu looked as if he was about to set the demon on fire.

“Why not, I guess we could all have a threesome if it gets cold” Nino said guiding Niji down into the marsh “But no matter what we have to get to the village with the witch soon”

“How do you know there’s a witch? Even the elder was surprised...”

“I don’t know why, I’m a demon, I’m allowed to use blood magic,this witch is completely harmless and my... Friend”

“Please tell this isn’t another one of your ‘friends’ like the Holy Father” Matsu muttered as he drew up at his side,

“What... Him and the Holy Father?” Sakurai stammered

“Why else do you think he was let out of the cage?”

“But he’s an old guy...”

“At the time he was just Brother Okada” Nino muttered with an easy smile “Very good looking”

“How old are you?” Sakurai asked as he clung onto the horses’ reins tightly.

“I don’t know what year is it?”

“2200...”

“Then I’m 2217” Nino answered “Wow... Does that make me old?”

Matsu was silent as he looked at the demon; he would have thought Nino was older. Demons pretty much lived forever and although for human 2217yrs seemed old for a demon he was still a child. Which, Matsu mused would explain the bratty attitude. “So this witch, have you slept with her?”

“It’s a he... Aiba Masaki and no I haven’t slept with him that would be disgusting since he’s my son...”

Comments

[serial-translat.livejournal.com]

The brat side of Nino knows no limits !!!! He remains a lovely obnoxious brat, even Matsujun fell for him though he didn't say it yet.

Sakurai is going with them ! Yeah !

Woah, I was astonished by the last sentence. I don't know why but I thought the witch was going to be a woman again... whereas it's Masaki-chan ! *W*