Demons of Death- Hunted

Chapter 10- Relations

"Why did you let me kill her?" Hiko wanted to know. "I was testing you to see if you would stop me.... Is that how you treat your comrades?", "She never was my comrade," Assaku replied coldly. "She was just using us. She came to us because she knew we were after Oathbreaker. She was an Angel of Revenge who had to keep herself alive by eating the souls of others. She was never here to fight for our cause or for anyone elses. She was merely selfish and treated everyone else like garbage. Only because she wanted to be a leech. On top of that, she acted like a bitch, I knew that, if she became too unpredictable and dangerous, I would have to kill her myself at some point. I just waited until she was of no use to us anymore. I just returned the favor she sought for. She had it coming. I don't care about her, just like she never cared about anyone. I was fed up with her attitude. And I swore I'd kill her if she were to threaten or insult anyone else. Azuni has suffered under her hate tirades enough already..." He had unconsciously clenched a hand to a fist and relaxed it now with tense shoulders. "She was a vile person that preyed on the innocent. A being as nasty as her isn't worthy of having a life. And now ask yourself, would you stop someone else from killing a person that threatens to kill you? Certainly not. How dare you take the word 'comrade' into your mouth? Do comrades kill each other?", "..." Hiko didn't reply. "Of course not. So don't try to guilt trip me for doing this. I have zero fucks to give about her and I feel no remorse. Also, I didn't kill her. You did. So don't try to twist this on me.", "That roast was tasty", Yuki commented. Hiko glared at her. "Excuse me??", "He literally burned you, Hiko. Even tho YOU'RE the one with the Fire Magic."Hiko pulled a face, snorted and crossed her arms. "Well, anyway. What are the next steps going to look like?" Assaku turned towards the window and looked outside. "... We've disposed of Oathbreaker before the war, but not all of them. Some are still out there... Some Arashi who fled the battle field are still out there... Now, we don't have to take care about them anymore, we can fairly share the job with the demon hunters now. Badly enough, they don't make differences there. It's not save to go outside as how things are now. We have to keep observing what's going on... and decide when the right time is to take action. I am not interested in any more slaughter... I hate to be kept entangled into it. I don't think negotiations will stand on save grounds though, I don't put my hopes too high. I have a faint idea where this will be going in the end. But regardless of the result, I can still say that I tried. That must suffice.", "Hey, uhm... May I ask something?" Yuki asked. Assaku looked over his shoulder. "In case I'm not mistaken, you already asked me something.", "... Well... Yeah.", "Owww, the buuuurn." Hiko mocked her. Yuki kicked her shin bone. "Shut up, firebreather!"Assaku rolled his eyes, but said nothing. "Anyways." Yuki looked at him again. "Did Sytria tell you she attacked me and Fusaaki once?", "Did she..." He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. "Go on.", "Yeah, she did. She tried to kill the both of us.", "Hmh... Even though I clearly told her not to... She is a real piece of work, but I prefer her over Skeletron thousandfold. I think she won't attempt this again tho. She's scared of me.","Is she though? I mean, she seemingly disobeyed you.", "Then, I'll remind her of what it means to piss me off. Thanks for telling me.", "Alright. Second question." She pointed at the pile of ash on the floor. "Do you have hand brush and dust pan anywhere?", "There is a storage room right next to the kitchen. Don't worry, I'll do it." He walked past them to clean the skeletronic ashes up. Yuki followed him. "Hey, I got an idea.", "I wonder what kind of idea that would be. Something fun?", "No, I was just suggesting that we... could probably tell Fusaaki what's going on and invite him over here. He's an ally of the Raucos after all. He might be able to help.", "He's a human, isn't he?" He put his hand on the handle of the storage room and looked at her. "Yes. But like I said earlier, he bears a crest.", "..." Assaku halted. "Well... I'm not gonna lie, the idea might not even be that bad. As a human, he won't be attacked by demon hunters or exorcists... He might be able to cover us up to a degree.", "Yeah, that's what I thought too.", "Hold that thought." Assaku entered the storage room and came out with the cleaning stuff. He went upstairs, brushed the ashes onto the dust pan and dumped them into the next garbage can. That's where she belonged, after all. Majoria noticed that. "...Uhm...", "Just putting the trash where it belongs.", "Did you clean up the fireplace?", "No, I cleaned up Skeletron's leftovers.", "Skeletron's what?", "Leftovers."Majoria looked at the ashes sitting in the trash can. "...So she's dead?", "Well, unless ashes are alive, I do think she's quite dead, yeah."Majoria smiled. "Yes!! Finally! I didn't like her anyway!", "Oh, she got reduced to ashes?" Sytria joined them too. "I've been waiting for that day! Sad I wasn't there to watch... So that's what all the screaming was about.", "Yeah." Assaku nodded. Sytria giggled. "Can I have a moment to dance around the garbage can?", "No. I gotta speak to you. You can do that later.", "Ngh... Fine." She sighed and followed him up to his room. Once there, Assaku turned around. "Yuki told me you attacked her. Is that true?"Sytria instantly turned pale. "Uhm...", "So you did." His eyes darkened threateningly. "Bold of you to disobey me like that. What's your defense?", "I... I'm... I'm sorry... That's... what my nature is like...", "I don't give a flip about your nature, that's nonsense. You did it because you had a problem with them, Miss Racist.", "I'm not a-", "Don't even bother trying to deny." He came dangerously close to her and she started shaking. "You can't lie your way out now, Sytria. Disobey me one more time and it will come to bite you. You know my words are never empty. Your blood is worth nothing because it's the blood of a bunch of traitors. Don't pride yourself on it, a traitor's blood is worth nothing good. Oh, but I forgot... You betrayed your own blood anyways, didn't you? All because you weren't made the successor to the throne. Now, there is no throne anymore. Betray me... and I'll kill you. There will be nothing that protects you aside from my leniency. Consider this your last warning or you may soon to be joining Skeletron, who knows. Do you understand me?", "I... I-I do.", "Good. Now get lost."She left the room faster than anyone could follow.  Majoria watched her. "What did you do that you need to run from him like a startled deer?", "None of your business.", "You must've messed up big time then.", "...", "Gotcha." She smirked. "Just leave it, Majoria..." Sytria left. Shurax looked up from the dishes, but said nothing. "...", "Man, Assaku sure must be scary if he can make her shiver like a leaf in the storm", Majoria commented. "...", "Oh, I forgot. You're not very talkative, huh. What's the deal with you anyway, Shurax?", "...", "Hellooo? Did you forget how to speak?", "Drop it", he replied. "I don't like to talk about myself.", "Why is that?","...", "You really are an anti-social kid, aren't you?", "I'm not a kid", he responded. "Just accept my silence. It doesn't concern you.", "...Fine." She sighed. "Keep to yourself then.", "Thanks." Majoria left. Instead, Assaku joined him in the kitchen. "You knew about Sytria's attack, didn't you?", "Yes.", "Why didn't you tell me?","Because I didn't want to be an asshole and tell on her...", "... I see..." He crossed his arms and leaned himself against the table. "This whole thing must really be a burden to you, huh... Risk is high you're gonna meet her again.", "Her, huh..." Shurax blankly stared at the dishes in the sink. "...","Don't worry. I won't let her get to you this time...", "It's fine. Don't bother with me.", "... You don't bother me, Shurax. In fact, I like you.", "...", "I'd do anything to help, you know. Because you're my friend.", "Friend...?", "Yeah. I know you have trust issues and I respect that... I don't expect you to trust me. But I trust you, if that helps.", "..." Shurax turned around to him slowly. "I'd like to see you smile one day, Shurax. Not a lifeless fake smile, because it hurts. I want to see an honest one on you someday. One you don't need to be ashamed of.", "... She always slapped me when I smiled... She hated it...", "A smile is nothing bad. She did it because she didn't want you to be happy. But I want that. And I think you deserved a hug.", "I... what?", "Come on." Assaku grinned at him. "I'm honest here. I'm not gonna force anything on you, but I'm just saying what is on my mind.", "I don't get the meaning behind a hug...", "It just means that someone cares about you, alright? You don't have to hide from me, just so you know.", "...", "I know you're used to being all alone and hide yourself because you're afraid of getting hurt again, but honestly, I won't hurt you. I'd like to hear you laugh some day, but even a smile would be enough.", "... Most people are tired of dealing with me after three minutes... But you're still here...", "Well, that is because I, too, am a bit lonely at times because everyone is scared of me... So I can kinda relate.", "...", "And to be honest, many others dislike my scent; are literally disgusted by it. I'm smelling like blood all over... but I cannot get rid of that scent with any amount of soap or shower gel ever. It's like it's stuck on me. So I can kinda share in your pain here.", "..." Something briefly flew over Shurax' face. A smile, vague and fleeting, but also honest. "Hey, I saw that." Assaku's grin grew wider. Shurax instantly turned his head away. "...", "You know, that one made my day. Thank you.", "You're... thanking me over a smile?", "I told you. I like to see you smile and that was the first time. It is a beautiful smile, by the way.", "A beautiful smile...", "Yeah. Haha... Don't listen to me. I'll get out of your hair now. But remember you can always talk to me when you need something." He patted Shurax' shoulder and left the kitchen. Shurax clenched a hand to a fist above his chest. His heart was beating faster. "..."