Shura's Quest - A New Situation

Scene 10 ------------------------------------------- Mukakai's House

* The general is still awake, unable to sleep because of his knowledge of what he thinks is taking place at this very moment on the other side of the main city. He sits at his small table sadly sipping at a cup of tea. He whispers to himself angrily, unaware of the small presence that has made its way to his house. The dark flatting shadow materializes near his window and lifts his face to sniff the air. He then silently leaps up to cling to the ridged window ciel so he can peer through the window. His hearing easily picks up Mukakai's mumbled murmurs.


Mukakai- (Murmurred) It's wrong! It's just.. so d--- wrong! That poor boy is innocent.. It's not his fault what that.. maniac has done.. If Hiei does find out that his son.. was here.. (Shudders) I sure as h--- don't wanna be here..


* Having heard enough, the small naked boy leaps back down to the ground, glances around, then flits around to the front door of the small house. With his instincts guiding him, he pauses to hunker low and peer around to be sure nobody else is around. Then his already-highly developed intelligence takes over and he raps his hand on the wooden door. Inside, Mukakai looks toward his door, but he doesn't move until he hears the knocking again. It is a bit more insistant so he goes over to crack it open. In an instant a black blur blows past him so quickly he almost misses it. Then he hears hissing behind him and spins. The sight of the small, naked, ebony flame-haired figure crouched in the middle of the floor makes him shut the door quickly and press his back against it.


Boy- (Snarled) Father.. coming here?!


* The general swallows, but gathers himself and nods. He then forces himself to relax when the boy seems to settle and look all around sniffing curiously. Mukakai swallows again when he notices a soft tiny glow emanate from the boy's forehead. But he doesn't have much time to be alarmed about the implications of this discovery before the boy looks back up at him again. Almost immediately the general no longer feels threatened.


Boy- You.. hide me.. till Father comes?


* Mukakai tilts his head. The boy's intelligence astounds him.


Mukakai- Hide you?


* The boy's hearing cathches a noise outside and blurs so quickly under the general's bed that Mukakai's eyes can't catch where he went. Another knock sounds on his door making him leap away from it with a start. Mukakai takes a couple deep breaths then checks the door again. This time Youda pushes inside quickly.


Youda- General,..


* Youda looks up at Mukakai in time to catch the man looking around his one-roomed house nervously.


Youda- Is something wrong? Was that thing here?


* Now Mukakai glares down at Youda.


Mukakai- He's not a thing, sir! He's.. I mean, he would be just a scared, confused.. But you..

Youda- Stop playing games, Mukakai! Was he here?!


* Not wanting to lie to his superior, Mukakai just stares blankly at Youda. The boy's instincts are very strong and they guide him to remain complete still in his hiding place until this stranger leaves.


Youda- General, that.. boy.. escaped.. He was gone when I got there and has killed three demons so far.. I suspect that he may possess a natural jagan.

Mukakai- Where would he have gone? Can we dare to hope that he's gone to kill Shura?


* Mukakai once again lets his eyes scan around the room. Unless the boy has the ability to slip through walls, he knows that he must still be in his house somewhere. Then his eyes fall on his bed and he smirks just as Youda looks back up at him.


Youda- I'm going to go continue the search. If it does kill Shura I won't complain, but it may not stop there.. He may remember your face and come searching for you. I just thought I'd warn you of the potential threat.


* Mukakai looks back down at Youda nodding.


Mukakai- I'll keep my eyes open.

Youda- Keep your mind guarded as much as you can as well.. We have no way of knowing just how powerful and dangerous it really is.

Mukakai- Maybe the boy is intelligent enough that we can deal with him..

Youda- General,.. my judgment on.. him has not changed.. That creation is too much of a threat to be trusted..

Mukakai- I'll do what is necessary should the need arise, Sir.


* Youda studies the taller demon a moment then nods and leaves. Mukakai follows him to the door, watches the short demon flip his dark hood over his head, and hurry off down the street. The general then closes the door and lets out his breath as he leans his forehead against it. He soon feels the boy reach out to him mentally and turns to look toward the bed.


Mukakai- It's okay now, Boy.. You can come out now. Our mad little friend is gone.


* Mukakai watches the boy slide out from under the bed slowly and raise his head to sniff around cautiously. The tiny jagan in his forehead is still wide open and glowing. Mukakai looks away quickly.


Mukakai- I know you're scared.. But you can trust me.. Can you close your third eye? Or do you want to hurt me?


* The boy scrambles to his feet and crosses his arms.


Boy- Not scared! Angry.. But not you..


* Mukakai nods and calmly locks his door, then moves back to his chair to sit down as he thinks. The boy closes his natural jagan as his true, bright red eyes follow the general.


Boy- You.. help me?


* Mukakai sees that the glow is gone and relaxes to look at the boy. He nods and motions him to come over closer.


Mukakai- Yes. I want to help you, Little One.. But I'll need you to trust me, okay? I can't help you if I'm dead.


* The boy tilts his head as he looks up at Mukakai curiously.


Boy- Dead?

Mukakai- Not living.. Like the ones back at that other building..

Boy- Man in white hurt me.. tried to stop me, put me back in that ball.. Other two looked mean and yelled at me..


* Mukakai sighs and the boy lowers his eyes.


Boy- I do.. wrong?


* The boy sinks to sit on the floor and hugs his knees. This gesture, alone, speaks volumes to the older demon.


Mukakai- No, not really.. You followed your instincts to defend yourself.. Any scared, lonely child would have done the same.

Boy- Not.. scared.


* Mukakai calmly reaches down and gathers the boy up into his lap. He feels him trembling slightly and wonders if it's from fear or his state of undress. The general also feels how weary the small boy is. When he looks down to check him he finds that he has already slipped out into hibernation. Mukakai can't help but smile slightly at how innocent the small child looks. At the same time, he realizes how much the boy must feel safe in his arms to be able to relax enough to hibernate. Mukakai sighs deeply again and settles more deeply into the chair. His mind begins to contemplate what he'll do from this point on. But he can't shake the feeling that he must not allow this boy to be destroyed. Up to this point he's had no major qualms about doing whatever was deemed necessary for the cause of irradicating the other boy that has proven himself to be a menace. But is he now holding the solution to that problem, or someone that will be more of a threat to Demon World. Again, the gentle urging to protect this child flares to life so strongly that it is almost as if an aura surrounds him. Then Mukakai raises his eyes when the presence feels almost familiar.


Mukakai- (Whispered) Banashima,..?


* As soon as the name is uttered the presence melts away. Mukakai looks back down at the boy when he snuggles closer against his chest.

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Sorry the scenes were messed up there for a bit. I just noticed it and fixed them.