Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 6: FORGETTING THE NIGHTMARE

The Face Eater was a mystery to most. Not even ERIS knew much about him. It was said that he was the original Break.

He was called the Face Eater because his facial appearance changed regularly. He did not keep the same face for long.

Oftentimes people became Breaks specifically because of the hearsay surrounding him. Rumour had it that he could grant any wish that a Break had, but he would only grant it if they gave up something precious to them. This precious thing was not their life. Only the Face Eater knew what it was. He decided what it was.

It was also said that ERIS agents who happened to be unlucky enough to meet him never made it out alive. Who knows what he did to those agents? There was talk that he dropped parts of their corpses into the homes of the families. Or maybe he turned them into Breaks and tormented them until he got bored of them.

But these rumours were just that, rumours. There was no proof of any of it. There was no way of knowing who he was or how he came to be. He was shrouded in mystery.

The flashing purple and blue lights of the ERIS clean-up force was the only thing Hayate could concentrate on. He could think of nothing but the horrifying experience that he would need weeks to get over.

Ayumi joined him where he leaned against a wall. "Are you okay?" she asked. Hayate glanced at her, she looked anxious, too.

"How does he know me?" Hayate asked.

Ayumi shook her head. "I don't know. You had many enemies, especially toward the end of your life. Maybe you killed him, and he bears a grudge."

Hayate crossed his arms in front of his chest. "How did Ryogetsu Naguchi die?" Ayumi's eyes widened at the sudden question. "There are no records of him. If he was as great as you say he was, there should be some proof of him. But there isn't."

Ayumi's face darkened. She was quiet for a long time. Hayate thought she would not answer so he opened his mouth to say something else.

"Suicide." Hayate's brows furrowed. Ayumi's expression was unreadable. He waited for her to elaborate. She cast her eyes downward, "In the last years of your life you were a different person. You lost your mind. You massacred clans and burned down your ancestral castle. Any proof of our existence was lost in the fire." Ayumi met his gaze. Resentment washed over her face. "Everyone died in the fire. You—however—did not. I remember seeing you walk out while the ceiling was coming down. Kaguya thinks you slit your throat."

Hayate looked down at the dirty sink in the restroom near the collapsed building. He concentrated on the sound of the water as it poured down the drain. The bathroom was cramped and tiny. He had washed his face and water was dripping down his cheeks and his nose. One even slid down from his forehead and got caught in his eyelashes. He raised his chin and stared into the dirty mirror.

His finger stroked over the thin birthmark. Was this it? The wound the sword had left when it slit his throat. Could he be Ryogetsu Naguchi?

Friday night came. Hayate had not expected to be so thankful for the plans that had been forced onto him.

He needed to forget. Forget the Face Eater. Forget Breaks. Forget Wielders. Forget Ryogetsu Naguchi.

He and Kimiko had a late class on Fridays. She drove them to the bar.

"Are you the designated driver?"

She shrugged, smiling. "Since I drove to campus, I don't have much of a choice."