Magical Boy ~ English version

Chapter 101

"After that, I absolutely wanted to do something back. They even left a place for Hatase in the cemetery, in the middle of the Uchiri family. Oshiro-san taught me everything he knew. I worked alongside him until his retirement and since then I have been the one and only Uchiri butler."

Nanaya, Nakamara and Hyokko had remained silent throughout Thoki's story. The magical had transcribed everything on his tablet as the butler spoke, but he wanted to scream. It was unfair. Thoki just smiled softly as usual. As if these events did not affect him.

The magical finished writing and silently stood up, attracting the curious gazes of the two men and the guardian. He walked over to his butler and hugged him.

Thoki was surprised. Nanaya was only beginning to show his emotions a little more and to understand those of others. He managed to show his affection for his father and sometimes his friends. But it was the first time since his childhood that he hugged the immortal.

"Young master," Thoki muttered, patting his arm gently, "I'm fine, that was a long time ago."

"Maybe," Nanaya whispered, "but it's unfair. You were a child."

"When you live this long, it's wiser to remember the best memories. If I spent my time cursing those who hurt or persecuted me, and dwelling on the bad times, my immortality would be even less bearable. Also, Uncle Hatase burned down the village. As far as I know, there was not a single survivor. There is no point in holding grudges against the dead."

"You should have told me all that," Nakamara muttered, "you know you're not just a butler to me... and I feel like I don't know anything about you... no, actually I don't. I really don't know anything..."

It wasn't as if he had to know absolutely everything about the lives of his lovers, but he would have liked to know these kinds of details. What if he did something that reminded Thoki of bad times? He didn't remember treating him badly, but since he only had him, the butler had to endure every one of his tantrums everytimes. He couldn't always remember the things he had said.

Thoki smiled and turned to the magical boy.

"Go back and sit down, young master," he suggested, "I don't think your report is finished."

"Really ?" Nanaya wondered, returning to his tablet, "come to think of it, some details on how your power works would be a good thing..."

"Exactly... it's a very bad memory, but this is something that helped me to know more about my power."

"A bad memory, again?" Nakamara grunted.

"It was in 2007. I was captured by scientists."

The householder clenched his fist in anger. At a time when powers and mutations were rare and anomalous, scientists were to be avoided at all costs.

"They belonged to the rival company of Uchiri Corporation," continued Thoki, "a pharmaceutical company based around the world. But to compete for the top spot with your family, they also got into military technology, aerospace, computing... I think they even had a cruise line."

"Why would a pharmaceutical company absolutely want to rival a technology company?" Nakamara muttered, grimacing. "These people had a serious problem."

"Because at the time, Uchiri Corporation was mainly involved in the manufacture of weapons, military equipment and medical machinery."

"Your point ?"

"Pharmaceuticals was just a cover. This company worked in the shadows on the creation of biological weapons."

"Thoses idiots ! As if that sort of thing was easy to control. That's why I prefer machines."

"Exactly. To be honest, the company had already gone bankrupt when they caught me, because they nearly caused the end of the world at least twice. But some of their secret labs were still in operation. They hoped to regain their place by creating new weapons."

"And what did you have to do with it?"

"They captured a few rare people with powers. I know there was a woman who could do lightningbending because I heard the guards talking about her. But we were really rare at that time. They wanted to use our DNA to give the same capabilities to their weapons."

Nakamara shivered. He could only imagine an immortal, lightning-controlling monstrous being. How did they even expect to control something like this?

"The prisoners were mostly ordinary people," Thoki continued, "and mostly orphans."

"Children?!" Nakamara was indignant.

"Yes. I don't know exactly what they wanted to do with them. I think they were intended to test the viruses they were making or... maybe to become the weapons themselves. As far as I'm concerned... they tried every possible way to kill me."

"By all... you mean..."

"Pistol, submachine gun, grenade launcher... I think they must have used all their armory on me. They also burned me alive but that I already knew I would survive. Not to mention the dismemberment, butchering and decapitation..."

Nakamara felt sick, almost on the verge of throwing up. Hyokko rushed under the sofa cushion to try not to hear. Nanaya continued to write on his tablet but felt slightly shaky. He didn't want to know more but there was at least one question he had to ask for his homework.

"Thoki-san," he hesitated, "your body regenerates at different speeds... it depends on the severity of the injury? What about... um... when... something like... beheading..."

"It does not necessarily depend on the severity," replied simply the butler, "the size and depth of the wound are also to be taken into account. My heart pierced by a knife may be faster to heal than my completely scraped leg. For a missing limb...or my whole body in the case of a decapitation, healing depends on several factors. Let's take an example. If I cut my hand right away, but kept it close, it would just be drawn like a magnet to come and attach itself to my arm. But if my hand is destroyed, hidden, or too far away, a new one will grow back instead. The regrowth time also varies. A finger regrows in less than an hour, a hand in a day... but my whole body takes two full weeks."

"They had time to do all that..." Nakamara muttered between his teeth.

"Yes...I stayed there for six months. I shared my cell with a child. I promised him that I would get him out... that's why I resented the Uchiri for coming to get me, without releasing anyone else. Even though they let the Mexican military deal with it, the lab exploded and they couldn't all be saved. If they had freed everyone, there wouldn't have been more victims... but that's all over. I am still grateful that they came to save me."

Silence fell over the room. Only the sound of Nanaya's fingers tapping his screen was heard. Nakamara clenched his fists so hard that he dug his fingernails into his palm. He would have gotten everyone out. Even going there to save Thoki, he would never let the other prisoners. He couldn't help but feel guilty, as an Uchiri.

Nanaya finally finished writing and got up almost immediately. He sketched a smile.

"I've finished my homework," he announced, "let's go!"

"Go where ?" Asked his father.

"At the cemetery. I would like to express my gratitude to Uncle Hatase and the Uchiri of that time. Let's buy the best incense in town."

Thoki looked at his young master in surprise, before smiling too. He also got up and came closer to hug the young man.