Raising The Stakes

~Six~

   "Ah. . .Ahahaha. . ," Hinata laughs emptily, "How unfortunate. I should've known. That's too bad, I guess, huh, Komaeda?..Komaeda?"

   Komaeda is staring down at the body with a puzzled expression. "I should've known. Why didn't I see the signs? I must be getting pretty old."

   "Old? We look like we're the same age so I thought-"

   "I don't recall ever telling you my age. I'm an old man, Hinata."

   "No way."

   "Yes way," Komaeda sighs, folding his hands together and mumbling a quick prayer for the fallen werewolf, making the hunter frown.

   "Demons pray? Aren't you all evil?" The brunet asks when he's finished. Komaeda rolls his eyes at him. 

   "Sure. Just because this is what I am now, doesn't mean I'm a bad guy. I don't know why you're so convinced I am. The only bad thing I really do is get force-fed souls by Enoshima." He grumbles, moving away.

   Hinata chooses not to answer, instead offering up a prayer of his own. 

   "Come on, let's get back and break the news."

     "Ah yes." Komaeda snaps his fingers, making the corpse levitate with just a little help, "Let's get back now, then. I'd also like to treat your injury before it can get infected. Can't have our best hunter dying on us!"

-

   Hinata sits on top of their bed, watching as the demon gathers up supplies to treat his injuries. He takes it all and sets it next to Hinata on the bed, absentmindedly swiping his finger over a bit of the hunter's blood and licking it off of his finger.

   "Delicious." He praises with a small smile, getting a disgusted look from the said hunter.

   "Yeah, what the fuck?!"

   Komaeda wets a cloth, adding a touch of soap before he starts to gently cleanse the wounds, making Hinata flinch at the stinging sensation.

   "Sorry about that, I couldn't resist. It smelled too good. A little bit of history for you," He goes on, Hajime surprised at his amazingly gentle touch, "Most demons used to consume human flesh and blood as regular snacks and meals. It was even rumoured parts of the soul resided in the flesh and blood. Not as many demons engage in that sort of this anymore and of course, I never have, I just wanted to steal a taste."

". . .Please never do that again."

"Apologies, sweetheart. But you know I'd never hurt you, right? You're way too cute-wow, Momota-san cut deep. Not to worry, I'm prepared."

"Don't call me that."

"Apologies, sunflower. Ah, by the way, how did everyone react when you brought them the body? You know, since you forced me to just come back here." He wonders.

   Hinata sighs. "Not well. Momota-san was a very popular, reliable man of this village. He did so much. No one expected at all that he. . ," He sniffs, "I was thinking I could even be on my way to becoming a friend to him as well."

   "You are sad," Komaeda observes.

   He shrugs. "I can't help but be. Also, we're leaving at first light. I already got my payment and no one seems to want the person who killed Momota around any longer. Although they can't exactly blame me, it's my job to eliminate threats."

   Komaeda ducks his head as he finishes patching up Hinata's wound. "Whatever you wish. I'm going to go feed Villanelle. You get in the bath, beloved."