The Witch Hunter Part Ten

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

Matsu stared at the demon wiping his eyes “I still trust you...” He said “And although you were kind of frightening at first I don’t hate you... I do feel like I understand you more though..."

Nino let out a long sigh, and closed his eyes with relief, his shoulders sagged as if he had let go of a great weight, Matsu smiled, he was telling the truth, he didn’t hate him

“I almost wanted it to make you hate me... But I’m so selfish that I’m glad you don’t”

“Why would you want me to hate you?”

“Because... It would be easier for you...” Nino sighed as he played with the pendent, “Jun, when we bring back the three kings you have to kill me...”

“What-? No...”

“It’s the only way, with the un-holy king destroyed, the kings can force the creatures back, my being alive is what gives them power and is what is weakening the hunters... When I did the rite of the unholy king, to bind Masa’ I acknowledged myself as the un-holy king, the enemy feeds on my energy... When you kill me...”

“Don’t say it like it’s already decided... You said that you would be cast down, you never said you would die...”

“Death is a better option I wouldn’t want to go back even if I could...” Nino sighed; inching forwards he took his hand and gently squeezed his fingers, Matsu stared at him

“I can’t kill you...”

“You have too...” Nino whispered “I’m  meant to be the bad guy in this story, Jun... I’m not meant to have a happy ending, but you all of you can...”

“So even if we bring back the three you’ll never be able to see him again?”

“No...” Nino shook his head, taking a deep breath “I’ll never see him again...”

“You’re an idiot... Does Aiba know?”

“No... He doesn’t know I have to die and he can’t know,”

“So he’ll be cast down on his own?”

“That’s reason we have to see Matthew, I need to get him to agree to letting Masaki live” Nino said “I made up my mind a long time ago... I really didn’t need a reason to regret it... But I never expected you to be you...” Nino stroked the tears away gently, “I never expected you be such a cry baby either...”

“Shut up” Matsu snapped hitting him and then hugging him tightly “Why me? Why does it have to be me?”

“Because you don’t serve just one king... You serve all three...”

Matsu sighed scratching at the mark on his neck as if trying to erase it, until Nino grabbed his hand holding it tightly “I hate this mark...All my life I’ve hated being born with this mark, my parents hated me for being different, they believed that hunters were just as bad as the things they hunted, because we also use magic... My dad, he trapped my in a basement refusing to let me go to the halls, he beat me everyday...”

“I know” Nino murmured anger flashing in his eyes, as he thought about that man “I saw your memories the first night we bonded; you were a lonely child...I thought they were buried memories, so I tried to shield the banshee from them, I didn’t want you to have to remember them...”

 “You could just read my memories?”

“Like an open book...” Nino murmured softly

“I hate this mark more than ever...”

“Jun, think about it a different way... Because of the mark, we got to meet...”

“But I’m going to kill you... Wait... I thought if I killed you, I’d die...” Matsu said quickly “We’re bound...”

“That’s true... In normal circumstances the bond would either prevent you from killing me or you would die, but I lied to you... There is another way of getting rid of our bound; you can renounce your connection to me...” He smiled “It’s what I had planned on getting the monk to do with Masaki... But I’m sure Matthew will come through...”

“Why wasn’t he in your little re-run?” Matsu asked

“If I was going to show you everything and everybody, we would have needed more than one night... Though I guess it might have made you hate me...” Nino laughed ducking when Matsu went to hit him again. “I’m glad I met you, Jun... And I’m glad I get to be with until the end”

Matsu grabbed him and hugged him tightly; glad the balms had started to sooth his body “I love you,” He whispered in Nino ear,

“I... Know...” Nino replied, knowing it wasn’t the answer the hunter wanted, he felt Matsu tense in his arms, he stroked his back lightly and then kissed him before whispering “I love you too” against his lips, Matsu eyes widened wondering if he meant it, but Nino kissed him again before he could question him pushing him back down onto the floor.

They woke as the pale sun illuminated the sky, and carried on towards Matthew keep, the hunter kept looking at the demon, wondering if he could believe what he had said. He wanted to ask him but Nino kept talking to Aiba and Matsu found him riding alongside Sakurai who was looking a lot better on the horse. The hunter smiled when he saw the love bites that covered Sakurai’s neck, wondering what the other monks would think, but then remembering that the Holy Father himself had slept with Nino.

“What happened with you and Nino last night?”

“What do you mean?”

“The bright light... I asked Masaki but he just shrugged...”

“He was showing me his lives...”

“Lives? As in ‘Lives’ more than one?”

“Yes... Two... He was with the three kings when they were ripped from their bodies as an act of betrayal... Ohno sent Nino in an unborn child to save him...”

“Wow... This was never mentioned in the books...”

“Maybe you should write it down... The un-holy king, which helped defend the kingdom...”

“What? The un-holy... Nino’s the un-holy king? The first demon?” Sakurai’s voice trembled slightly as he looked at Nino who was laughing with Aiba, “But... He was a monster; he freed the horde of dark ones from the other world...”

“By accident” Matsu corrected softly “He escaped and they followed through... And he was a monster... He fought with the 1^st and then they fell in love...”

“Wow...” Sakurai gasped “So did he slaughter thousands of innocents?”

“Monk... You have way to much interest in blood” Nino said falling back to them, “Not that I’m complaining but for a monk it’s slightly weird”

“Stop picking on him” Aiba said although he was laughing, Nino pulled a face and Matsu smiled as he remembered the way Nino, had held the new born Aiba and the way Hana had adored her son, there was no fear in her eyes, even when Nino was performing the rite. He was about to say something when Nino held up his hand as Niji let out a neigh. The ground opened and skeletons crawled out of the ground their sightless eyes fixed on them, Nino sighed

“He really should get some new tricks” He muttered jumping down from Niji. The enemy was easy but numerous, and unaffected by Nino’s or Aiba’s protection fires. It was then Matsu discovered he had a power he never knew he had, as a wave of water spring from nowhere and washing them back into the ground they had came from, he stared at his hand while Nino laughed happily although they were all wet. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen that” He said, and then Matsu remembered Ohno used the same type of attacks. He stared at Nino, his heart aching as he wondered if the fond smile on his face was because he was picturing the 1^st. They made a fire as neither Matsu nor Sakurai would survive in the cold wet clothes, Aiba pulled off his own clothes and drying them by the fire and Matsu stared at the red mark on the witches shoulder, remembering what he had seen and that it wasn’t a birthmark but a blood stain from both his parents.

“If you keep looking at Masa’, I might start to get jealous...” Nino said coming to stand beside him,

“I was just remembering...” The hunter said softly stopping as Aiba was close enough to hear and he doubted if Aiba knew just what was entailed in stopping his witch side. Nino nodded resting his head on his shoulder and using his body heat to warm him and dry his clothes, Aiba cocked his head with interest, raising an eyebrow.

“I shared my memories, with Jun” Nino answered his silent question,

“So you saw my mum?” Aiba smiled

“Yes... She was a lot like you...” The hunter admitted, while Aiba beamed “And really brave, she didn’t bat an eyelid when she saw Nino in the shed or when she looked at you, even though she knew you’d be a witch, her face was shining when you moved inside her... Nino’s too...” He laughed when Nino glared at him

“My face was not shining” He said

“It was when you felt him kick for the first time... You looked like a proper ‘Papa’”

“You two sound like a happily married couple, and Ma-chan, is your baby...” Sakurai said before sneezing, Aiba hugged him tightly warming him up.

“He is my baby” Nino pointed out “Even if he wants to forget that sometimes”

“It’s weird when your dad looks like a seventeen year old and flirts like a pro” Aiba said laughing

“Well if you’ve got it” Nino shrugged. They all laughed and ate and then Nino mentioned the water attack again, saying how impressed he was.

“How was I able to use the water?” Matsu asked

“You have the power of the three kings, Ohno’s water, Kamenashi’s fire and Yamashita’s Earth... You were able to use the water because your mind remembered how Oh-chan used it...” Nino explained “You were very impressive for your first time... But I knew you would be” Matsu groaned hitting him on the head wondering why he had to bring everything back to sex. Nino laughed rubbing the spot lightly, asking if they were all dry, “We should make it to the farm soon” He said. The farm was desolate and out of place in the landscape seemingly appearing out of nowhere, a dark mansion was in its centre, sending threatening, unwelcoming shiver down the parties’ spines, Nino moved Niji forwards, ignoring the way the gates opening freely on their own, their non oiled hinges creaking in protest. The others stay as close to the demon as possible, Sakurai had gone a nasty shade of white and looked like he was about to fall off Chestuo. When they reached the double doors of the mansion Nino dismounted, and then walked to the door rolling his eyes when the brass looking handles moved on their own and the door swung freely despite of its size “He always has to be dramatic” He mumbled going into the large hallway that was lit with a million candles, that flickered as the past but didn’t go out.

“Why are there so many candles?” Aiba asked looking around his eyes wide,

“They’re all lives,” Nino answered “Each candle is a mortal life, as a person dies the a candle goes out and as a person is born a new one is lit”

“Very good, Nino, you remembered what I taught you...” A voice said, seemingly coming through the walls, Nino tutted

“Always with the dramatics,” He sighed “Why not just come out and show yourself already? You’ve attacked us enough...”

“I never attacked you... Those under my control may do, but not me... You know I enjoy your company....” The voice sounded almost teasing now, and at the far end of the hall a door opened, “Come then, if you wish to see me... The monk looks unwell though...”

“I’m... Fine” Sakurai squeaked, while Aiba held his hand tightly, looking as if he was about to cry too

“Just make sure you’re decent” Nino sighed moving forwards, ignoring the laughter that resounded around the hall. Matsu followed Nino, quickly almost disturbed by the hall of candles, as he saw tiny names on each one. He tried to get his heart ready for what he would see inside, he had been expecting a large skeletal figure dressed in black robes with a scythe, what he saw was a young, slim, fairly good looking man, with long light brown hair and a neat trimmed beard, he did wear black robes, but they were no worse than the ones Nino wore or himself, the room was circled with candles, but even though there was a lot the room only had a gentle, almost homely glow.

“If you’re here again, demon, I can only guess you have found the piece of the puzzle” The man sighed getting up from his desk, and looking at Matsu’s neck. Matsu froze as he realized this was Matthew, or the living embodiment of death.

“Yes

“And you wish to reclaim the three?” Matthew asked

“Yes...”

“If you just ruled it would be so much easier...” Death sighed shaking his head, “Ohno risked a great deal on giving you a second life... Why waste it?”

“Because I made a promise...”

“But Hana is no longer alive; you were there when I came to collect her,” Matthew said “I gave her a peaceful end; she was a nice woman...”

“And we were grateful...” Nino smiled quickly his eyes showing his gratitude.

“Yet, you still want to go ahead with bringing back the three? Even though you know what it means?”

“Yes”

“So why are you here? You have everything you need; I would have been there to collect you...”

“I need to talk to you... Me and the hunter alone...”

Death stared at him in silence, while Aiba and Sakurai were fidgeting nervously, death wasn’t the skeletal figure that they had imagined but the cold calculating look in his light brown eyes, made him seem, much worse. After awhile Death nodded and another door opened, he motioned for Nino and Matsu to follow him. They went to a smaller office and Matsu was surprised to see three leather chairs and a bright fire burning brightly in the hearth. There were more candles here, but these were smaller, and Matsu soon realized these were the candles of children. It was almost impossible not weep when he saw Matthew gently blew one out, knowing that it was a life tragically cut short, a few seconds later though he lit another, before turning and sitting in the chair facing them.

“Nino... If you are here to ask for my help, you know I can’t get involved my role is to watch and take those that have passed... I don’t take sides” Matthew told him.

“I want you to take Masaki...” Nino said softly

“What?” Death and Matsu said turning to look at him in unison.

Comments

[serial-translat.livejournal.com]

Matsujun always loves Nino, he doesn"t hate him although his pas was awful and that he hasn't always been a nice person. Every person has its shortcomings. ^.^

For the end, Nino, what are you talking about ? O.o You want the Death take Masaki with him ? re-O.o

[denyclamp.livejournal.com]

Oh my god i laughed so hard, the other 2 kings are Kame-kun and Yamapi?? Oh god that's awesome, i love this, maybe uncle Johnny-san should be death, i'm waiting for him to appear xD
Looovveee sakuraiba so much, and nino so cute, now he has a new plan? The drama never ends, i love it >w