Chapter 6

“Okay,” Kenji set down the two mugs of tea and the plate of biscuits, “so what gives?”

What do you mean by what gives?” had he figured something out already?

“I mean, I gather this guy is not your boyfriend, so why is he here?” he gestured up the room towards the door, “and why was he so blatant about his dislike for me?  What did I do?”

“For one thing, no he is not my boyfriend,” Nanako scowled at the very idea, “and I have absolutely no idea why he doesn’t like you but you shouldn’t worry anyway, the guy’s weird.  He’s only staying here ‘cause of my mom.”

Perhaps that wasn’t a complete lie, who knew anymore?  This whole thing was just getting weirder by the minute and it didn’t matter to her why it was all happening so long as it went away fairly shortly.  It wasn’t as if she could keep up with what was going on anyway.

Nezaki walked into the room and stopped dead between the couch and the armchair.  His blond hair swung into his face as he jerked his head towards Kenji.

“What have you told him?” Nezaki asked Nanako, jerking his thumb towards her brown haired friend and giving him a searing, hateful glance as if he was a mortal enemy to all their kind.

“Nothing,” she answered him, “what did you think?  As if anyone would believe it anyway!”

“I don’t think you should talk to Nanako like that in her own home!” Nezaki spun towards Kenji as he stood up.

Kenji was the taller of the two by a few inches and looked to be slightly better built, but if it came down to a fight she had her money on Nezaki.  Come to think of it, if it did come down to a fight she was rather scared for Kenji.  Nezaki didn’t look all that fierce unless he wanted to, but she had seen what he was capable of, and most likely he was capable of a lot more than that besides.  She didn’t know how well Kenji fought, he had always been the kind natured one in school, but she could bet her existence that he was no match for Nezaki.

“If I want to I will!” Nezaki narrowed his eyes at the taller boy, “you don’t know the half of it.”

“It’s her house you ungrateful little shit!” Kenji tightened his hands into fists and glared back at Nezaki.

“Stop it!” Nanako shouted, “What are you fighting for?  I can’t believe you guys, you don’t even know each other.”

“Well I know a lot more than him,” Nezaki put in as if that settled the whole argument.

“You would be surprised how much I do know,” Kenji stood his ground and continued to glare, picking the argument back up as if it had never been dropped in the first place.

“You would be surprised at the information I know and not just because I know it.”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Kenji answered with a cruel smile and narrowed his eyes in a threatening way.  He grabbed at Nezaki’s throat but only managed to catch the coin that was hung from his neck.  He glanced at it and then did a double take and stared at the gold disk in his hand as if it was the most important thing that had ever entered his life.  He had a far-off look in his eyes as if he had forgotten who and where ha was and what he had just tried to do.  He didn’t seem to notice the seconds ticking away as the other two watched to see what he would do next, neither daring to make a move because of the strange way in which he had just suddenly done that and stopped motionless.

“W-where… where did you get this?” he looked up shocked.  Nanako thought it was probably because the coin looked so exotic, at least she couldn’t think of any other reason.

“From my home town.  Like it has anything to do with you,” Nezaki snatched back the gold coin and dropped it down the neck of his black top so it sat nestled against his chest.

Kenji, thinking he could catch Nezaki off guard, struck out at him, but his fist connected with nothing but air.

Nanako saw a dark shadow zip up behind Kenji and take a hold of his neck.  The shadow became substance and Nezaki appeared holding Kenji by the throat.

“Not a good idea,” he said smoothly, his voice low and dangerous, whilst still keeping a hold on Kenji’s throat.  The tone to his voice made Nanako shiver and take a step away from him unconsciously.

“What are you?” Kenji asked, struggling to break free and being unsuccessful.

“I’m an ademot,” he grinned wickedly, “and you shouldn’t have done that, because I wouldn’t like to say what you’ll be after I’ve finished.”

“Stop it!” Nanako cried.  She grabbed hold of Nezaki's tail and pulled.

He spun on her and tried to remove his tail from her hand, but she held fast and shook her head.  He looked around the room for inspiration and help but, short of hitting her over the head with some heavy object, he could find nothing that he could use.

“Will you two stop fighting!?” she stared at each of them in turn, “there is no need for this, what’s the matter with you?”

“I don’t trust him,” both of the boys said this in unison; it would have been comical if there wasn’t the danger of someone getting hurt.

“Well you’re both going to have to learn to trust each other then, because I have enough on my mind without having to worry about the two of you ripping each other to pieces,” she looked to Nezaki, his tail still in her hand, “don’t you think so?”

“Yes I suppose you do,” he was aware that Kenji didn’t know what was going on and decided to drive the metaphorical dagger in a little deeper, “especially after all you’ve been through, and all you still have to go through.”

“What are we now talking about?” Kenji looked extremely puzzled as he wiggled free of Nezaki’s now loosened grip and turned to Nanako, “did something…” he noticed Nezaki's tail in Nanako’s hand and remembered how fast Nezaki had moved when grabbing him, “what is he?  What are you?” this was a little too much for him to comprehend all at once.

“He’s an ademot, he already told you that,” Nanako looked at him with understanding eyes, she knew how hard this was to take on-board.

“Yes, I know, but what exactly is an ademot?  I presumed it was a race of people or something, but I don’t know anyone with a tail,” he was totally exasperated now.

“It’s a race alright, but not of humans, and anyway I’m the only one left on earth so you needn’t worry about it too much.  It’s the lowba that you should worry about, especially if you’re friends with Nanako here.”

“Lowba?” now he sounded intrigued, “does somebody mind telling me exactly what is going on?”

Nanako dropped Nezaki’s tail and walked over to Kenji, “Sit down and I’ll explain it to you, I think, after all this you have a right to know anyway.”

She led him to the couch and sat down next to him.  The cushions yielded to allow her to sit in a comfortable little hollow.  As she tried to explain everything she already knew to Kenji she realised just how strange it all was.  In fact, she seemed to be having more problems with it than he was.

Nanako was rather surprised when; at the end of her explanation Kenji lent back in his chair and nodded.  He actually believed her?  He didn’t seem to be shocked at all; he was just pondering the situation over in his mind.

“So, what is it you have to do?” he seemed calm, and more collected than she was.

“I don’t know yet, I’m part of this big plan that, apparently, my mother was also part of until she had me, but I have no idea what it is I have to do.”

“Hey, tail boy, what’s all this about?” Kenji looked over at Nezaki, who had been stood motionless the entire time.

“I can’t say it isn’t my place,” he glared at Kenji, “and don’t call me that!”

“What’s all this – it isn’t my place to say – crap?” he ignored the last remark, “it’s Nanako’s life on the line and I think that you should tell us what you know right now?  It may help, and besides, if you know what we have to do we can get on with it.”

“I can’t tell you, there are rules to follow that can’t be broken, and anyway, what’s all this we stuff?” he gestured to himself and Nanako, “she’s the vessel, I’m the guardian, and you, my friend, are not going to get involved.”

“You think I’m leaving all of this to you?  For all we know you could be one of those lowba, maybe you’re just pretending to be nice so you can get close to her and then-”

“He’s right Kenji,” Nanako cut in, “he has a job, I have my destiny, or whatever it is, but you can leave before you get too deep, and you should.  I don’t want you to get hurt on my account and anyway you can trust Nezaki, don’t worry about me.”

“I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him-”

“You couldn’t catch me to throw me,” Nezaki chuckled, “give it up and go home little boy.”

“Little boy!  I’m eighteen!”

Nezaki chuckled again, “And I’m one hundred and eighty four; not so old by our standards, but I have a lot more experience than you I’ll warrant.”

“One hundred and…” Nanako gasped.

Nezaki nodded, but Kenji didn’t look surprised.  He just looked annoyed and turned away.

“If we want to eat I will have to go shopping,” Nanako thought it was about time she changed the subject before things got out of hand and they started to fight again.

“You can’t it’s dangerous,” Nezaki’s mind was instantly back on his job again.

“So come with me, protect me, but I have to go,” Nanako said firmly.

“I’ll come too,” Kenji replied quietly, his back to both of them.