The Witch Hunter (Part 11)

Title: The Witch Hunter

Author: KrystalKatz

Genre: Action, Adventure, AU

Ratings: R for some violence

Length: Chaptered

Pairings: Matsumoto Jun/Ninomiya Kazunari, Ohno Satoshi/Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho/Aiba Masaki

Disclaimer: I only own the plot... Sadly.

 

“You want me to take your son?” Matthew asked, Nino nodded calmly, while Matsu was trying to take it all in

“You want to kill Aiba?” He asked

“I want you to take the witch part... It is possible, isn’t it?” Nino clarified Matthew stared at him and then nodded

“It is technically possible” He agreed “But it would be dangerous... And there is a chance that even if you manage it... Aiba would die...”

“And you wouldn’t step it?”

“I can’t stop it; you know it doesn’t work like that... Even if I wanted to step in...”

“Don’t give me that, you meddle all the time when it suits you...” Nino snapped “I’ve seen you do it enough...”

“I take lives Ninomiya... I don’t give them, I’m death...”

“For an old friend...”

“You’ve used up, your allowance of ‘Friend’ requests” Matthew sighed, “It’s not that simple anyway... What you would be doing would be extremely dangerous, it’s not like the witch part of Aiba is a real separate person, and you just ripped him in two when you did the rite of the un-holy king...”Nino sighed knowing it was the truth, he did know the risks, but hearing them spelled out for him made it harder to stick to his opinion that this was the best action. “And then there’s the risk of those going in... You I can understand, but you’d risk the hunter? Or the monk?”

“The monk? I wasn’t planning on the monk...”

“You really don’t think that once you’ve told him he wouldn’t want to join you in your little adventure?”

“I wish someone would tell me what was going on” Matsu almost snapped regretting it when Death turned to face him, his cold eyes seemingly driving a hole into his soul,

“I want to kill the witch part of Masa’ so when the dark ones are cast down, he won’t be, he’ll be allowed to live freely with that useless monk of his if he wants... but as Matthew has just pointed out, doing this could also kill the none witch part of Masaki”

“How would you be able to kill the witch part of him anyway?”

“I would send you into Aiba’s mind and you would have to clear a series of tasks” Matthew shrugged as though it was the simplest thing in the world “But while you were in there the risks would be very real and you might lose yourself or worse...”

“Death can do that?”

“Only in special circumstances...”

“Only if he really feels like it” Nino cut in rolling his eyes, “But there are risks...If Masa’ knew about them he wouldn’t let us even try... But I can’t let him be cast down, not alone...”

“I’ll do whatever you decide” Matsu told him and Nino grabbed his hand tightly, “But I think you should include Aiba and Sakurai...” Nino nodded while Matthew sighed,

“You’re as stubborn as he is” He mumbled, “I have my work to attend to, if you still wish to go ahead with your foolish plan... I will make sure everything is ready”

They went back out into the larger office and found Sakurai and Aiba standing where they had been left, relief flooding into their faces. Nino led them to a sitting room, and Matsu wondered how many times Nino had been there, and after taking a deep breath the demon explained what he wanted to do, Aiba’s eyes widened

“I won’t be a witch anymore?”

“No, you would still have some residual power, but it would be more like that of a hunter and there would be no chance of you ever becoming a witch and you when the time came you wouldn’t be cast down, you could live happily...”

“But you would be on your own...”

“Masaki... I’m not going to survive... For us to bring the kings back I have to die...” Nino whispered softly, he hadn’t wanted to tell Aiba the truth not yet but it was the only way.

“No...” Aiba whispered staring at him tears filling his eyes; Nino smiled his eyes flashing with sadness,

“Hey relax; I’m fine with going... As long as I know you’ll be okay...” He said

“It’s too dangerous... You said so... You...” Aiba stammered

“There is another reason... You are a part of me, if we don’t do this you might have to be killed too...” Nino told him, he took him awhile to convince Aiba but since both Sakurai and Matsu were siding with Nino he eventually agreed. Nino smiled patting him on the shoulder. They went back out and were surprised to see the hall of candles had vanished, transformed into a courtyard and Matthew standing in the centre holding a scythe

“I assume you’re going ahead with it?” He said

“Of course”

“Just remember the things that you face, will be what you create but they will be very real” Death told them, as he scratched runes into the stone floor with the scythe, “Aiba stand in the centre, I assume all three of you will be going in?”

“Yes” Sakurai said quickly before Nino could say anything; Nino looked at him and then nodded

“All three...”

“Then stand at the points” They did as they were told and then Matthew began to chant softly the rune began to glow and they found themselves falling forwards into a black pit that had opened up beneath them. Nino landed with a bump on a cold wet floor, the demon groaned as he rubbed his head wondering where he had landed and where everybody else was, he looked around a dank small space, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness the only window was boarded up, and the place smelt strongly of mould. Once he had gain his night vision he saw a small boy dressed in rags sobbing in the furthest corner, he inched closer to the small boy, The boy looked up at him, wiping his wet eyes, with a grimy hand and Nino saw the mark on his neck was bloody “Who are you?” Nino almost hissed as he recognized him as a smaller younger Matsu, he looked around again remembering that he had seen this place in the hunters’ memories, the basement where his dad had kept him and beat him for almost nine years of his life.

“I’m Nino...”

“You’re not meant to be in here... If Dad finds you...”

“I’m not afraid of your dad...”

“You should be!” chibi Matsu said his eyes wide with fear, “He’s huge! Bigger than you...”

“The bigger they are the harder they fall...” Nino just smiled, although his anger was building in his chest, this was only a shadow of Matsu’s life, but he had still been treated like this, he couldn’t believe anyone would nor could treat their flesh and blood so badly. He was a demon but he had never even dreamed about treating Aiba like this. He knelt down in front of the miniature hunter, gently wiping the blood on his neck away, “What’s your name?”

“Matsumoto Jun...”

“Jun-kun, what happened to your neck?”

“I’m not allowed to talk about it! It’s bad!”

“It’s not bad... It’s the mark of the kings, ne? That’s not bad... Only brave people have them... Special people and you’re going to be the bravest one of all, Jun” Nino promised “But first we have to get out of here...”

“There isn’t a way... Dad keeps the door locked...”

“Where is the door?” Nino looked around again but only saw four brick lined walls, Matsu shook his head,

“It’s too dark... It only opens when dad comes... But he said if I’m really good and not tell anyone I can go up soon...”

“When does your dad come?”

“Soon... its food time soon...”

“Jun... Don’t you want to be able to be up there all the time? And live with all the other people that have the same mark?”

“Other people have it?”

“Yes... Lots of other people” Nino smiled, when he saw the hope in Matsu’s eyes “But first you’re going to have to be really brave, okay?”

“W-what do I have to do?”

“We have to beat your dad...”

“M-My dad? No... He’s scary...”

“That’s why you have to be brave”

“I can’t he hurts me so much...” Matsu whispered shaking his head, his small body trembling, Nino smiled

“I’ll be with you so he won’t hurt you, okay?” Nino said holding up his pinkie, remembering that he would always do that with Aiba. Matsu stared at his face and then at his finger, not knowing what he meant.

“You promise?” He said nervously biting his lip, Nino nodded and linked their fingers.

“I promise, we made a pinkie promise I can’t break it,” The demon smiled, the hunter looked at their linked fingers and then nodded although fear was in his eyes. “Good boy”

“W-what do we have to do?”

“When you dad opens the door, we have to attack him with magic...”

“But I can’t use magic...”

“Yes you can... You can use more magic than anybody...”

“But dad say’s I’m not allowed, that I’m a monster...”

“You’re not a monster, Jun... You can use magic because it is a very special gift from the three kings... You have to use magic to help people...”

“Like you?”

“And yourself, you shouldn’t be locked away in here” Nino told him, tiny Matsu looked at him and then nodded slowly, biting his lip. They waited in the dark, and then a bright light filled the room, what stepped inside was the manifestation of the fear the young hunter had for his father. Fire blazed in the creatures eyes as he looked at Nino and Matsu,

“Jun... You been a very naughty boy” He growled Nino gripped his small hand and gave it a squeeze, Matsu nodded a look of determination flashing in his face as he looked at the monster. Matsu stepped forwards, taking a deep breath, he could feel a strange tingling in his body, and the water rushed out, little Matsu gave an excited shout as his ‘father’ was sent backwards

“Brilliant... I knew you could do it...” Nino said, Matsu gave a shy smile and continued to control the water, repeatedly smacking his monster father over the walls of the basement with the water. Nino beamed surprised that the young hunter had so much control over his powers. He sent out sparks of lightning shocking the monstrous father that let out screams of pain. Nino shouted the binding spell at him and the tiny hunter screamed it at the monster, which was suddenly bound and gagged on the flood. Nino sent out flames burning the monster before grabbing Matsu’s hand and dragging him through the open door. They stepped out blinking in the sudden light; an elderly hunter was talking with a middle aged woman, and then pointing at Matsu.

 “You have to go with the hunter” Nino said softly “You will go to the halls and become a brilliant hunter, ne?”

“Can’t I come with you?” Matsu asked clutching at his hand tightly “Please, I’ll be a good boy...”

“Not yet, you have to go with the hunter... I’ll see you soon though, okay?” Nino smiled wiping the tears away with his thumb “You were so brave...” Matsu flashed him his first real smile and then went slowly to the hunter. As he reached the hunter the world they were in started to crumble and Matsu grew big staring at the demon, with a slightly embarrassed expression on his face

“Now there’s my Jun” Nino grinned, happily running his eyes over him.

“What the hell was that?” Matsu asked, “That never happened... But I did get out of the basement, that day... This is weird”

“I have no idea what this place is” Nino admitted looking around, at the blackness that had over whelmed them as they moved on to another scene, there was a small farm, the hay stacks were on fire, and from inside they could hear the terrified screams of a man and a woman. “I guess this is the monks past?” The demon said quickly,

“His family was killed by a demon...” Matsu nodded “So we go in?” Nino nodded and they both moved forwards quickly “If it’s his past don’t we have to get him to confront it like you did with me?”

“I think so... I wasn’t completely sure when I did that with you” He admitted as they reached the caved in door,

“Well it worked” Matsu said trying not to look at the broken bloody bodies on the floor, and the demon that was eating their flesh, his sent a wave of water, knocking the thing away

“You’re getting better” Nino smiled and then looked around “So he was in a cupboard right?”

“I think so” Matsu nodded keeping his focus on the witch, which was now trying to get through Nino protective fire. Nino found the cupboard and ran to it, finding a curled up boy inside

“The screams...” The boy sobbed holding his ears “They won’t stop”

“It’s okay...” Matsu said coming to them and holding his hand out to the frightened boy “Well make them stop...” There was a loud explosion and Nino looked back at the witch, while Matsu tried to get the sobbing Sakurai out of the cupboard, Nino muttered an incantation and the froze as he recognized Aiba, the witch laughed seeing the expression on his face the fire died and Nino sank to the floor when Aiba hit him with an attack. Pain ripping through his body, he felt his demon side trying to take over but there was no-way he could attack his son, he was dimly aware that Matsu was trying to encourage Sakurai out of his hole, but he was focused on Aiba’s face that was twisted with evil, his normally kind eyes full of rage, as he kept ripping at Nino with spell after spell.

“Nino attack! Fight back!” Matsu shouted staring at the demon that was just kneeling on the floor while Aiba attacked him, laughing manically.

“I can’t” Nino whispered “He’s my son...”

“That isn’t Masaki...” Sakurai snapped coming up behind them, obviously the hunter had managed to convince him to face his fears “That is just a thing that looks like him; Masaki would never even try to hurt you...”

Nino blinked realizing he was right, there was no way that this thing was his Masa’, he thought looking at the witch, the normal easy confidence returning to his eye, this was the reason they were here the only way he could save him, the one good thing he could do for his son. He nodded to show that he was back to normal and murmuring a silent apology he attacked, at the same time Sakurai and Matsu did. The witch gave a scream, as the ground spilt around him and then enclosed him, like a stone prison “Yamashita’s earth” Nino grinned looking at the hunter who had a surprised expression on his face “Now try Kamenashi’s fire” He said ignoring the cries that sounded just like Aiba, reminding himself that it wasn’t his son. The hunter concentrated feeling a strange fire start in his stomach, and then spread out over his body until he felt it in his finger tips, and Matsu sent a deep purple wave of fire into the stone prison. The world broke as the witch screams died, and they found themselves back in death’s courtyard Aiba was laying on the floor while Matthew was looking at  a candle in his hand, a sad expression on his face, Sakurai flew to Aiba’s side gripping his hand tightly Nino grabbed deaths robes tightly “What happened!? I thought you would look after him...”

“I did what I could... But... It was too much for him” Death said softly

 “Save him... Please” He said, Matthew shook his head slowly

“I can’t I’m sorry...” He murmured, Nino felt his shoulders sag as his grip lessened.

“Nino...” Matsu said motioning to Aiba whose breathing had lessened, movement of his chest falling less and less, Nino pushed past Matthew running to his son’s side, his heart pounding against his chest, he looked into Aiba’s pale face, and held his free hand tightly silently begging him to wake up, Matsu looked at Aiba’s candle its light was already fading, and Matthew let out a sigh moving his free hand towards it, “If you touch that candle I’ll kill you” Nino spat, not looking up from Aiba’s face. Matthew stared at him almost sadly, as the candle gave another flicker and then went out, leaving only a puff of smoke.

 

 

A/N... >”<... Sorry... I might not be posting tomorrow... Damn real life keeps getting in the way L