Encounters And A New Place
Parting ways with Hibiki on the lower apartment floor, I was on my way upstairs when I heard a familiar voice trail into my ears.
"She was…A little busy with practice so she couldn't come, she told me to say sorry to Sakura for her though," as I kept climbing upward, I noticed Hakumi standing in front of Saki's apartment with the open door.
"That's alright, just make sure to bring her next time so we can all have dinner together," although I couldn't see her from where I stood, Saki's voice replied to Hakumi from the other side of the door.
"I will, thanks again, Misses Imai," quickly bowing her head, Hakumi turned to the stairs to leave.
However, the moment our eyes met, her entire body froze up as if she'd seen a ghost. Still, as Saki closed her front door, Hakumi's face contorted into a frown before she stepped closer to me.
"Are you following me?" She asked, crossing her arms.
Blocking the path forward from the edge of the staircase, she commanded an answer to make her move.
"The apartment next to Miss Saki, I live there," reaching into my pocket, I took out the apartment keys and jingled them in front of her eyes.
"Oh, wait...You really live here?" Like a deer in headlights, she blinked her eyes a few times with apparent confusion in her gaze. "Why didn't Sakura ever mention it then?"
"We don't exactly get along, besides, she probably didn't even know we've met before don't you think?" I responded.
Dropping the surprised look on her face, she appeared to see reason.
"Anyway, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Just checking on a sick friend, why? You object?" Much like Sakura her tongue was a serpent, ever so ready to throw around sass.
"Heard something about someone not making it? That Matsuri?" Not knowing what happened to her after Ifrit dropped Matsuri home, I was a little curious about her situation.
"Yeah, bitch says she's sick too, but I doubt that's the case, probably shooting something in her nerves with Kimura and lost track of time," talking about Matsuri, Hakumi's eyes began to twitch with annoyance.
'She doesn't like her.' Even back when I first approached her, she mentioned something about Kimura sending Matsuri to her, yet I didn't have enough information to put the puzzle together.
"Dig in her head a little, maybe you'll get to know a way to Kimura through that Matsuri girl," Mizuki whispered into my ears, her head still lying heaving over my shoulders.
'Planning to, but not now, we've wasted enough time today already.' Hearing her voice after what she pulled in front of Hibiki a while ago, just felt like nails on a chalkboard.
"Well then, goodnight I guess," finally getting out of the way, she gestured me to keep walking.
Nodding my head, I walked past her, and she began descending down the stairs as well. Walking up to the railing, I kept my eyes on her as she made her way to the boundary walls of the apartment complex, but then, turning she surprised me.
"And ahhh…Akira, was it?" Raising her hand slightly, she gave me a wave. "Thanks for talking to me that day."
Feeling as though I'd changed her mind somehow, I waved back. Turning around again, she left soon after. Yet I could've sworn that I saw the faintest flicker of a smile the very moment she looked away.
"Bitter by nature, yet sweet heart, reminds me of me," Mizuki whispered into my ears again.
"Sweet, you? Yeah yeah, sure, just like the poison apple from snow white," with that I headed into my apartment.
Not wasting much time in the stinkhole, I quickly freshened myself up and changed my clothes before heading right out. Mizuki, however, kept attached to my back like a bat because of lack of power. The ecstatic energy she's gotten after receiving those Malice points seemed to have waned altogether.
"So, what's this 'Rathole' exactly?" I asked as I descended the stairs.
"A…" Yawning a drawn-out yawn, she nuzzled up to my neck before continuing. "A neutral zone, the current demon lord has set some rules, remember? No stalking, no fighting, no camping outside the entrances, no following anyone for at least two hours after they leave the place, they're all just a few of the rules attached to this place."
"You're telling me, that no demon there will attempt to break those rules?" Seeing Hibiki leaning against her room's door outside, I gestured her to lead the way while I talked to Mizuki. "And why are we even going there exactly? What's supposed to be the point?"
Perhaps having overheard the conversation, Hibiki was the one to answer.
"Like any survival game, this place is a hub for players to meet, exchange information, even form alliances, and do some commerce with goods and services as well," glancing back at me from over her shoulder, Hibiki kept walking forward. "But don't let your guard down, this is still a demon's den with only a handful of demon lord's personal goons to enforce the rules."
"Sounds like you've been there quite often," I asked.
Hibiki turned her head to the front before responding.
"Yeah…But I never killed a master before so I couldn't afford the service I wanted," With a looming dread in her voice, she faked a few coughs. "Besides, Miss Mikato never lets just anyone partake in the deals down there."
'Mikato again, who is this lady?' I wondered, having heard the name a thousand times from Mizuki.
"Don't look forward to meeting her, Akira. She's one mean capitalist, won't take a shit if it didn't profit her in some way," Mizuki complained out loud.
"As foul-mouthed as always," Ifrit shot back, a mean expression plastered over his head. "Leave that arrogance of yours here because if you piss her off-"
"I know, you hot head," Mizuki interjected before he could finish complaining.
"Akira," calling out to me as we approached a dark alley, Hibiki turned to me with a warning. "If you don't want the rest of the demons hunting us, please keep a leash on that girl's mouth. Because if you don't, I'd rather side with Mikato and the other demons."
Taking a moment to just soak in what she meant, I nodded in response.
"Alright, let's meet this Mikato person," I let out.
"Demi-goddess," corrected Ifrit and Hibiki.