Melody of Bones

Chapter Ten

Aki and his squad stood in front of the hotel, they were preparing to go in. And Aki was thinking about what Ozzie said to him last night, why should he show sympathy with a kid who makes friends with devils, even less the Blood Fiend.

Well... Ozzie was a Fiend, what's the difference?

With a shake of his head, Aki pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. "A devil is lurking somewhere inside this hotel. And it's not just any devil, either." Aki spoke as he raised his hand, and within it was a string connected to a Gun piece. "This piece of the Gun Devil's flesh is being pulled toward it. There must be a devil that ingested another piece here."

"You sure the Gun Devil up self ain't here?" Denji spoke up and made Aki look at him with a form of disdain. Or at least one that scrutinized how idiotic that question seemed at first. "The larger the chunk, the stronger the pull. This pull is too weak for that."

"I want that! Give it!" Power shouted, like usual, but now wanting the fleshy piece in the string. "You two... Didn't I tell you to speak respectfully?" Aki asked as he looked back at them. "Huh?" Denji and Power asked at the same time.

"Who would suck up to you if it doesn't get 'em anything?!" "HUMANS ARE ARROGANT FOOLS!!" While the two of them ranted on Aki pulled out gum, one for each of the devilish people bunking with him. In the second that Aki pulled the gum out the two of them calmed down. "Kurokawa, sir." "My liege."

"Better," Aki said as he handed the two the gum. "Sweet!" "Wah!" Denji and Power exclaimed quietly in happiness.

"Sir... Can we really trust those two with our backs? As teammates fighting Devils with us?" Arai spoke up, he's the tall guy with the scar on his cheek. "One's a Fiend... and the other is, well... a street punk... Personally, I don't trust them."

"We won't trust them with our backs. When we're out on extermination missions, we'll generally have them take point. If they run away or double-cross us for the devils, we'll kill them."

"You're treating us like crap!" Power exclaimed in a slight amount of frustration. "You two don't get human rights!" Aki yelled back annoyed.

"Dude's mega pissed off! Must be because of this morning..." Denji whispered to Power when their backs were turned to the top-knotted man. "That prank definitely did go too far..."

"THAT!! WAS WAY BEYOND A PRANK!! I'LL KILL YOU!!" Aki yelled, a string had been broken in his mind. "Scary... what the heck happened...?" Himeno, the green-haired, eyepatched lady spoke with a nervous tone before calming down.

"C'mon Aki, you can't be strict with them all the time," Himeno said in a calmer tone. "Yeah, what she said! That bat almost killed me, and now it's straight back to work! Gimme a reward!" Denji shouted at his taller companion which gave Himeno an idea to boost the morale of her comrades.

"All right! I'll throw you a bone!" Himeno began, drawing the attention of Denji and Arai, along with some of their group. "The lucky winner who defeats the devil this time geeets... a kiss on the cheek from me!" Both the tall, scar-cheeked man and the dirty blonde boy seemed stunned at this proposal. I mean... it is intriguing.

"That's inappropriate!" The cowardly Arai shouted, "A young woman shouldn't give herself away before marriage like that!" Arai kept shouting like it was illegal to do something like that.

"Awww! But having a reward is so much more motivating! Right?!" Himeno asked as she flung herself around Kobeni who was really shy. Denji was still stunned by the green-haired cyclops's words until he remembered his conversation with Makima.

"Eh, I'll pass on that kiss too... but it's cool... I'm plenty motivated." The chainsaw boy said which made Himeno look at him in some manner of shock, or more like intrigue. "I already decided who my first kiss is gonna be. Like, I'm gonna collect these meat chunks or whatever for her... and murderize the Gun Devil. I'm not smooching anybody till then."

In a moment of silence that filled Aki's mind, he was suddenly flashed with his past, shock plastered on his face. "You, kill the Gun Devil...?" Aki asked in a shocked and slowed manner. Himeno grew a smile on her face and approached Denji. "Well now, pretty ballsy to say that in front of Aki!" She said with a smile on her one-eyed face. She reminded Denji a lot about Ozzie.

"Plus, I got taught somethin' important. Naughty stuff feels good when you and your partner really know each other. I don't even know your name. I couldn't be less interested in your lips!" the boy said which managed to impress Aki. For a short time.

"Oh really?~" She drew her words out as she became extremely close to Denji's face. "Okay then if you take down this Devil... I'll kiss you with tongue.~" And within 10 seconds, Denji was set to go.

"Acting independently is dangerous!! Stop!!" Arai shouted as he practically ran behind Denji who was rushing through the halls. Aki was stone-faced while Himeno was snickering at the boys fighting and one chasing the other. "Man, nothing's more entertaining than teasing boys!" The green-haired cyclops said with a smile on her face.

"Oh no... ohh no..." Kobeni silently muttered to herself as she was sweating from seeing Arai and Denji being so fast through the halls. "I want to drink some blood." Power spoke, being Power.

Soon, the bigger of the two men in front rammed Denji into the wall, stopping his rushing. "Himalayas no has trained me for less than half a year. I'm in her debt! If some punk from who knows? Where is going to steal her lips... Then I'll take the kiss on the cheek instead!!" Arai yelled directly into Denji's ear. "Move it! I don't want some guy pressing up against me!! It's creepy!! Go to hell!! You and I got different burdens man!!"

"Do your new Hunters seem useful?" Aki asked his compatriot who was walking ahead of him. "What Arai lacks in actual ability, he makes up for in drive," Himeno replied, "Kobeni's the opposite. Timid, but pretty talented. How about yours?" "The Blood Fiend's strong, but a hothead. It's still possible she'll betray us. As for Denji... too many unknown factors. It's still too soon to say."

"Think these four newbies can survive?" Himeno questioned her partner, his gaze temporarily went past her before focusing back. "Both the new hunters I think are strong... and the ones I don't... end up either dead or moving to the civilian sector within a year." "Sure dodged that question..."

"Don't you die, Aki."

A few years ago

A younger Himeno stood in front of a grave with flowers in front of it, beside her stood her current mentor, Osmond Kurokawa. She was in rough shape, bandaged all over. Soon, a tall grey-haired man and a dark-haired boy showed up, Ozzie flashed the boy a soft smile.

"Himeno... this is your new buddy." The aged man spoke in a gruff tone. "Name's Aki. 'Sup." The younger Aki said in a deadpan voice. "The kid's rude, but we've trained him to be at least a little useful. Just make it work." The aged man spoke again before leaving.

With a moment of contemplation, Ozzie left as well, but not before giving the green-haired female a pat on the shoulder, and ruffling Aki's hair as he went by.

"Are you useful?" Himeno asked emptily. "Dunno... guess so..." "You're my sixth buddy. The others are all dead. They all died because they were useless nobodies."

"Don't you die, Aki."

Back in the present, the group kept walking along, until Himeno stopped, and as such they halted too. "Aki... Here it comes." Himeno spoke with a serious tone.

The door opened slowly and what seemed to be a head walked out, having a single foot and hand to use to get around. Denji, Power, and Arai were stunned by this thing's sudden appearance, as well as looks.

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