Raising The Stakes

~Seventeen~

"Hello?" Hinata calls out, "Enoshima, Shirogane, I know you two are in there. . .Um. . ."

He turns back to Komaeda, helpless on what to say. "Challenge them." He advises. 

Hinata turns back. "Um. . .Hey! You guys are supposed to be the greatest despairs, right?! And you're going to plunge the world into Despair? Well, if you're so determined to do that, then you'll come out and fight me to the death! 'Cuz I'm on the side of Hope, and I want you guys gone!"

Komaeda smiles proudly. "That's the way, Hajime." He calls.

There's no response.

". . .Nagito, there's no response, what do I do?"

Komaeda sighs. "They probably didn't hear you then. It looks like we've got to go inside."

Hinata stiffens. "What?! No, it's probably all booby-trapped and stuff. I'll die before I even have a chance to fight them."

"We do not exactly have another choice, Hinata." Kamukura points out.

". . .Fuck. I guess you're right. Komaeda, you go first, um, since you know the place so well. Or maybe Kamukura, since they're strong."

"No, the sibling isn't dying first in this case."

"Damn it, Hajime, be strong!"

The brunet groans. "Fine! Off to death, I guess."

"Chin up, Hajime."

Hinata tests the doorknob; it's unlocked. "Alright. It's unlocked. Let's go."

"For the record," Komaeda comments as they head inside, "I've never seen or heard of Enoshima using traps. She prefers to inflict pain directly."

"And what of Shirogane?" Kamukura asks.

"Enoshima doesn't prefer keeping Shirogane close to her unless she needs her. Or at least that's what I've found in my time here. She should be easy to take out. Enoshima is the one you really need to worry about, however. She has that power, and once you kill her, you need to be prepared to receive that power." Komaeda informs.

"Actually, I have heard about that power transfer thing before. Since Hinata is fully-human, his body is ineligible to receive the power. It will go to the nearest supernatural entity, so you or me, Komaeda-kun."

The fluffy-haired demon's eyes widen. "Oh, I didn't know that. Erm, a favour if you receive the power then, Kamukura-san?"

"Yes, of course, Komaeda-kun."

The demon wrings his hands together awkwardly. "I don't want to eat by harming human existence anymore. So please. . .use your new power and make it sure I can feed off of their energy; by just having souls around me."

Kamukura dips their head, long raven hair falling into their face. "Of course."

Suddenly, Hinata raises a hand to silence his sibling and his partner, listening ahead attentively.

"He's here. I could sense his stupid Hope from a million miles away."

"So you're just letting him enter, Master? Shouldn't we just kill him right away and get on with our plan?"

The first voice snorts. "Nah. I want to have a word with him before I rip him limb from limb. And his little friend he's got here as well."

Hinata tenses. Does that mean they've got Nanami too?

"Hajime is going to kill you!" A third voice that sounds a lot like Nanami spits.

The first voice laughs. "But of course. He's certainly welcome to try."