Chapter 27: Taste of Devil Hunting Part II
[Word Count: 1274]
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With the final fiend defeated. The weight of his actions mingled with the stale air of the abandoned building, and the metallic smell of the blood spilled on the floors of the building filling the dirty hallway.
Turning away from the lifeless fiend, Leo surveyed his surroundings. The shabby room revealed signs of its former purpose, now lost to time. Dust-covered furniture lay scattered, a testament to the building's forsaken state. Once a barrier against the outside world, the boarded window now held the remnants of the fiend's futile escape attempt.
Exiting the building, Leo covered his eyes from the morning sun, he hadn't spent too much time in the building but he spent enough for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
As his eyes adjusted to the sun, Leo saw Kishibe and Quanxi standing outside. Kishibe was the first to move as he shook his flask before he walked up back to his car.
"C'mon," Kishibe called out. "We got more work to do."
Leo glanced between Kishibe and Quanxi. Quanxi remained motionless, her gaze fixed upon the dilapidated structure. Leo didn't voice his thoughts, merely shrugging in response before following Kishibe's lead.
Opening the car door, Leo settled into the passenger seat, securing his seatbelt. As the engine roared to life, he seized the opportunity to address a practical concern.
"Hey, if you're going to be having me hunt devils all day could I get a change of clothes?" asked Leo. "I rather not get my uniform dirty."
Kishibe put the car in reverse before looking at Leo, but he didn't say anything.
"Blood is a bitch to get off, and I rather not have to order another uniform if this one gets stained," Leo explained.
Kishibe still didn't say anything as he stared at Leo with a bored but analyzing expression.
In the end, Kishibe didn't say anything and turned to look at the back of the car as he reversed back into the street.
Leo let out a sigh as he leaned back in his seat. He really didn't want to order another uniform, plus it would be a problem if he came back home covered in blood that wasn't his.
Turning his eyes to the sidewalk, Leo thought up any solutions to his problem.
As the car weaved through the vibrant streets of Tokyo, Leo's mind continued to ponder potential solutions to his uniform predicament. He considered stopping at a nearby clothing store or mall to purchase spare clothes but quickly dismissed the idea. Knowing Kishibe's no-nonsense approach, a detour for shopping seemed highly unlikely amidst their devil-hunting mission.
Lost in his thoughts, Leo was jolted back to reality when Kishibe broke the silence with a sudden statement.
"I have spare clothes in the trunk," Kishibe spoke, his voice devoid of any inflection.
Leo's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze shifting towards Kishibe. He hadn't anticipated such a straightforward resolution to his problem.
"Seriously?" Leo asked, a mix of relief and skepticism evident in his tone.
Kishibe nodded, his attention focused on the road ahead, giving no further explanation.
While doubts about Kishibe's consistency lingered, Leo couldn't question it at that moment. With the car in motion, he had no choice but to trust that spare clothes awaited him.
Leaning back in his seat, Leo found solace in the rhythmic hum of the car's engine and the anticipation of a change of clothes. The passing scenery of Tokyo's bustling streets offered a distracting backdrop to his thoughts.
As Leo contemplated the upcoming day at school, he couldn't help but imagine the inquisitive gaze of Him
eno, his classmate, when she would inevitably ask why he wasn't at school. He knew she would inquire, and he would skillfully evade the question, leaving Yuki to cover for him at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, Kishibe's car smoothly maneuvered through the city, occasionally jolting as the sound of glass bottles colliding emanated from the back. Leo paid little attention, accustomed to Kishibe's frequent indulgence from his flask. He imagined the bottles required replenishment, hence the distinct noise.
Glimpses of the city's eclectic architecture and colorful street art flashed by, painting a vivid backdrop for Leo's musings. The energy of Tokyo was infectious, and even amidst the weight of what would soon come.
The car suddenly came to a halt at a red traffic light, interrupting Leo's train of thought. The brief pause provided a momentary respite, allowing Leo to glance at Kishibe, who sat stoically behind the wheel. Kishibe's face revealed little, his eyes focused on the road ahead. They eventually turned green and the car resumed its journey, seamlessly merging into the flow of vehicles.
As Kishibe's phone rang, the familiar sound echoed through the car, signaling another assignment. Like before, Kishibe remained silent, listening intently as the voice on the other end conveyed the details of their next mission.
"I see," Kishibe muttered, ending the call with a brisk motion.
The car veered into a quieter section of the city, where tall buildings loomed overhead, casting long shadows that stretched across the streets. Leo couldn't help but notice the shifting atmosphere, the air growing heavy with mystery and anticipation. It was a distinct departure from the bustling energy of the city center they had left behind.
Eventually, Kishibe parked the car alongside a narrow alleyway. Leo unbuckled their seatbelt, preparing to retrieve the promised spare clothes from the trunk. Stepping out into the cool breeze, a tingling sense of imminent danger coursed through their veins.
With a click, the trunk revealed its contents, confirming Leo's worst suspicions.
Instead of spare clothes, the trunk was filled to the brim with bottles upon bottles of booze. Not a single article of clothing was in sight.
Pinching the bridge of their nose, Leo let out a frustrated sigh. It seemed Kishibe's promises had once again proven inconsistent. Resigned to his fate, Leo decided to make the most of the situation. He knew avoiding stains was nearly impossible given the circumstances, but he could at least minimize the visibility of any obvious marks. Removing his blazer, Leo carefully folded it along with the white dress shirt and placed the tie on top, creating a neat pile.
Balancing the stack of clothes, Leo carried them back to the car, opening the back passenger side door and setting them down before closing it with a gentle thud.
Approaching Kishibe with a pointedly unamused expression, Leo met his gaze, silently communicating their dissatisfaction. In response, Kishibe simply pointed toward the towering structure that stood before them.
The building, once a bustling factory, now stood as a haunting monument to a bygone era. Its weathered walls bore the weight of time, paint faded and peeling to reveal the skeletal structure beneath. Broken windows, some boarded up and others shattered, offered glimpses into the desolation within. The silence hung thick in the air, occasionally broken by the ghostly whispers of wind rustling through forgotten machinery.
"There's been reports of a devil residing in this area. Track it down. You have until backup arrives," Kishibe informed Leo.
With an irritated sigh, Leo took a deep breath and extended his hand toward Kishibe.
"
Knife," Leo stated plainly.
Kishibe raised an eyebrow, questioning Leo's request. "What about the one I gave you?"
"Left it in the car," Leo replied, a tinge of frustration in his voice.
Kishibe stood in silence for a moment, contemplating the situation, before finally responding. "I only carry one. Go get it."
Grumbling, Leo walked back to the car and fetched the knife Kishibe gave him.
Leo was finally reaping what he sowed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone