A Journey Across Terra

25

It was evening and all the bars in Columbia were bustling with life. However, there was one that didn't have the hustle and bustle but instead was rather quiet and empty for the most part.

Down the street from this bar was Yuki as he walked down the street and stopped right at the entrance of the bar. As he took his first steps in, he realized that this wasn't just your regular bar. It was actually one of the most high-end bars in the city. As he stopped to take in the sight of the fancy bar, someone caught his eyes.

A black and cyan tail, a pair of black and cyan wings. There was an empty seat next to the person who caught his eye.

"Fancy meeting you here, Ho'olheyak." Yuki sat down next to the Kukulkan woman.

She only chuckled at the joke that Yuki made before taking a sip of wine. "I suppose you have a lot of questions. Correct?" She tapped the counter, which prompted the bartender to pour a glass of wine for Yuki.

"Of course I do." Yuki said as he pushed the wine away slightly.

"C'mon. Your alcohol intolerance can't be that bad." Ho'olheyak pushed the glass closer to Yuki.

Yuki hesitantly took the wineglass and took a sip. "Happy?"

"Very." She chuckled. "So, you may be asking why I chose now of all time to contact you? Despite knowing of each other for quite a while."

"Yeah. You're not one to take the initiative unless there is something you want." He took another sip.

"Good to know that I wasn't the only one who did their research." she chuckled as she took another sip of wine.

"Well, it's not really research." The Pythian Boy shrugged. "Just heard a lot about you. Y'know, because of the whole Serpentine Wanderer thing."

"Touche. I could say the same." She leaned in closer to Yuki. "But I've done a bit more than just 'hearing'."

"Riiight. You've had your eye on me ever since I made myself known to the world as the Serpentine Wanderer."

"Of course I would. Wouldn't you be curious if someone shared such a horribly named title?" She took a sip before continuing. "Just think about how intrigued when I found out that it was one of the infamous Bivirgatus that shared my title."

"Yeah, how'd you think I would react when I found out I shared a title with an infamous Kukulkan." He chuckled as he took a sip of wine.

"You know, ancient Sargonian texts mention how the Bivirgatus and the Kukulkan worked together as an unstoppable force. The Kukulkan as the Brains. Whereas the Bivirgatus were sheer strength."

"This is new."

"That's no surprise. Not even other Kukulkan know of this as well. Despite our tremendous backlog of information stored in our brains."

"So? You want to recruit me for world domination?"

"Wrong." Ho'olheyak tapped the table for another glass of wine. "I want to help you."

"Help me?"

"Yes, particularly with your Bloodthirsty capabilities." The Kukulkan chuckled before leaning back in her seat. "Gotta say, three thousand in a single day with your own two hands. You are quite the efficient killer."

upon hearing that, Yuki's eyes widened for a second. "How'd you know that?"

"I have my ways." She flashed him an unreadable smile. "That aside, are you willing to let me help you suppress it?"

"You know full well that's not possible."

"Oh but it is. You've even said it yourself. Ouroboros is the most surefire method...But Nobody would willing put themself through that much pain."

"Yeah, what's your point?"

"But that isn't the only method. The next easiest method is seeing someone that is the single most important thing in the world to you."

"That has only worked twice." Yuki looked down at the empty wineglass in front of him.

"But what's to say it can't happen again?" Ho'olheyak leaned into Yuki. "Or maybe there is an even simpler method. You never truly know."

"And what do you gain out of this?" Yuki shot her an accusatory look.

"Never giving me the light of day, eh?" She sighed. "I get your trust and companionship. And you get mine in return. It's a win-win situation here isn't it?"

"...Promise you'll find a way to help me?" Yuki stared her directly in the eyes.

"Of course. You have my word."

"Then we have a deal." Yuki held his hand out for a handshake.

"Deal." Ho'olheyak smiled as she shook Yuki's hand. "Now then, shall we raise a toast for our new agreement."

"Of course." Yuki raised his empty glass of wine. "Oops. Probably should fill that up, eh?"

Ho'olheyak chuckled as she called the bartender over.

"To our new agreement." Yuki raised his now full glass of wine.

"To our new agreement."

{ - Adventures Across Terra - }

*Knock knock*

"Who is it?" Utage was the one to answer the door, revealing Ho'olheyak and a drunk Yuki slung over her shoulder.

"I've come back to return Yuki." Ho'olheyak walked past Utage and placed him on the couch. "Nobody told me he was such a lightweight."

"He's a lightweight?" Utage raised an eyebrow. "Wow. The more you know."

"Farewell Utage. May we meet again." Ho'olheyak gave a bow before promptly leaving the Motel.

"Huh. Would you look at that. Who would have thought he was a lightweight." Utage kneeled beside Yuki as she moved a piece of his hair from his face. "Now how to deal with you."

Utage stared at the drunken man as she mulled over how she was going to drag him to his room without waking him up. She eventually let out a sigh before resorting to simply picking him up to his room but just as she managed to hoist him onto her back, something slipped out from his jacket and fell onto the carpet below.

"Whoopsie daisy." Utage didn't try to look down at what had dropped, purely focused on moving her drunk friend to his room.

After a few more minutes of stumbling around the hallways, she eventually managed to tuck Yuki into bed.

She snickered to herself as she saw how Yuki had already begun to hug his tail like a body pillow. "Nighty night you drunkard."

"Now what did he drop?" Utage waltzed back into the living room to find what had dropped from Yuki. "A jar of blood?"

On the carpet was a small jar that was half filed with blood.

"Is that the rabbit blood?" Utage had a confused look on her face as she picked up the jar and inspected it. "Eh whatever. I'll ask him about it tomorrow."

Utage placed the jar of blood on the counter in the kitchen before returning to her room to retire for the night.

{ - Adventures Across Terra - }