Hunt In Reverse

Peace settled over the room as I set down my cutlery and raised my glass in return, a silent toast to loyalty and friendship.

I didn't bother with empty pleasantries. With a man like Butcher Garcia, straightforward and gruff, sometimes it was better to let actions speak louder than words, and give him space to process his emotions.

Butcher Garcia, a genuine smile finally returning to his face, sat back down at the table.

Kongo Shintai had trampled his dignity, ground it into the dust. But tonight, that humiliation had been avenged, his honor restored.

Realistically, what could I possibly do to help? Garcia thought. But Kane... Kane treated me no differently than he had back in Pinewood County. Like an equal.

"I'm taking the boy and leaving Seattle for a while," Garcia announced. "We'll find a small town to lie low in. I'll send word once we're settled."

I understood Garcia's motive. I'd just defended him in front of thousands of witnesses. There would be no shortage of people eager to use Garcia as a stepping stone to curry my favor.

But Butcher Garcia saw the danger in that. These were perilous heights, not meant for a man like him. And those seeking to exploit him... they could easily use him as a weapon against me.

"Stay safe," I said with a nod, respecting his decision. I turned to Max, who sat beside Garcia, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Why are you staring at Garcia like he's your father?" I asked, a hint of amusement in my voice.

"…"

Max rolled his eyes and sat down.

If only his parents had been so insightful, he thought. They wouldn't have clung to their little shop, only to die at the hands of vampires, leaving him and his grandmother depending on each other for survival.

He watched Butcher Garcia and the boy, their relief palpable, and a wave of melancholy washed over him. The Admiral was a good master, but he wasn't exactly known for his warmth or compassion.

"Grandma said I've changed a lot lately," Max admitted with a sigh. "She wanted to thank you in person." He flexed his still-healing arm. "I suppose I have changed," he mused. "Haven't been able to spar with anyone. It does wonders for one's temper."

"Tomorrow, then," I replied. I was surprised to find that, as my circle of acquaintances grew, there were people in this world who sincerely cared about me. It was a novel sensation. Not entirely unpleasant.

The three of us drank in comfortable silence, then retired to different rooms. In a world plagued by vampires, getting blind drunk was a luxury we couldn't afford.

… …

The following morning, Butcher Garcia departed early. He offered no farewells, only a deep bow towards my door, his child clutched tightly in his arms.

Later that morning, Max arrived carrying two bags of oranges. I emerged from my room, having traded my colonel's uniform for a simple black jacket from my Pinewood County days.

"Leaving already?" Max asked, taking in my attire. So, Chloe really had given him the bell. This restless energy, this eagerness to be on the move... Max had only seen it once before, in another Vampire Hunter. No wonder Senior Sister Hightower spoke so highly of him, they were truly alike.

"I can't remain idle," I replied, stepping out of the courtyard. "Just a bit of exploration." That half-volume of the Crystal Realm body tempering technique burned in my mind, a constant temptation.

We soon arrived at the Admiral's courtyard. This was my second visit, but my perspective had shifted. I no longer felt like an insignificant supplicant, but a man of power and purpose.

"June, be patient. I have a young man I'd like you to meet."

"Oh, grandma..." the girl whined. "I'm just here to deliver Major Vierkant's salary. I'm not interested in..."

"Just meet him, dear."

"But I'm busy..."

Their conversation drifted from the courtyard, the girl's reluctance evident. As Max and I entered, she turned, her gaze flicking over Max before settling on me.

"Oh!" June dropped onto the stool, her earlier reluctance forgotten. "On second thought, I'm not busy anymore."

Max gave her a pointed look. "Go about your business," he said.

"But I'm really not that busy..." she protested. "Hey! Stop pulling me... Colonel Kane! Remember me? I helped you pick your techniques!"

Max, brushing aside her protests, pulled her to her feet. As he led her away, she kept glancing back, her gaze lingering on my face.

"You impudent whelp!" the grandma scolded, swatting him playfully. She then turned to me, a warm smile gracing her face. "You made it. It's so good to see you."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I replied with a nod, surprised to realize she had been serious about setting me up on a date.

"Come, come, sit. I'll make you some lunch."

The old woman was a chatterbox, her questions revolving around mundane matters of family and daily life.

I, however, didn't mind. I answered her patiently, a strange sense of peace settling over me as I sat in the sun-drenched courtyard.

It was a comforting normalcy, a stark contrast to the chaos and violence that had consumed my life.

Soon, it was midday, and a simple meal of porridge and vegetables was laid out on the table. A special addition for me: a bowl of braised pork belly.

"You put that rascal in his place last time," the grandma said with a chuckle. "He's been much better behaved since. Eat up! And next time, don't hold back!"

Under the grandma's watchful eye, I picked up my cutlery and selected a succulent piece of pork belly. Just as I was about to take a bite, the silver bell in my pocket vibrated.

I paused, my expression unchanged, then popped the morsel into my mouth, savoring the rich flavors.

"Delicious," I declared, a genuine smile on my lips.

"Really? Then have some more!" the grandmother beamed.

"Perhaps another time," I replied, quickly finishing my porridge. I rose, a hint of apology in my eyes. "I must take my leave."

Max Vierkant, sensing the urgency behind my sudden departure, looked up. "Be careful, Colonel Kane."

The dangers faced by a H.A.R.M. agent were nothing compared to those encountered by a Vampire Hunter.

"It's okay," the grandma smiled. "You youngsters have your duties. Tend to them. And do come visit again when you have the time."

… …

Once Kane was gone, the grandma's smile vanished. She sat back down at the table and swatted Max's arm.

"Honestly!" she scolded. "Why must you be so reckless? A fine young man like that... if he had a wife waiting for him at home, would he be risking his neck like this?"

"But you can't just go about it randomly," Max muttered, curling his lip in disapproval.

"You're not wrong," the grandmother conceded with a chuckle. She paused, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. "You know, your senior sister is quite similar to him."

"Senior Sister Hightower?" Max frowned. "She is dating my senior brother, General Laurent."

"No, no, the one even prettier," the grandma interrupted. "Aisha. They both seem cold and aloof, but they're softies at heart, really. Perhaps you could play matchmaker?"

Max shuddered. "Grandma, please!" he begged. "Colonel Kane might seem cold, but he's just quiet. Senior Sister Patani... she's a completely different breed! You've got them mixed up!"

Seeing his grandma's skepticism, Max Vierkant glanced around, then lowered his voice conspiratorially.

"Senior Brother Laurent told me about Senior Sister Patani," he began. "When she was a child, she survived a vampire attack. Crawled out from a pile of corpses. When Master found her, she was with a golden monkey, another survivor of the massacre. They'd relied on each other, sharing a single cake, keeping watch through the night. Even after such a harrowing experience, their eyes still held a spark of hope."

"But then she met Master," he continued with a sigh. "Master taught them both martial arts. They both learned the sword. ... That monkey... its entire family had been slaughtered by ape vampires. It had no choice but to flee. He and Senior Patani had been through hell and back together."

"Just a few months later, the monkey had grasped the basics of sword technique. Master gave him a treasured sword and sent him out into the world. But not long after, Master called Senior Patani aside. He told her the monkey harbored a deep rage, that its first priority would be to seek revenge. He gave her a month. One month to break through to the First Realm, and he would take her to save the monkey."

"And? Did they succeed?" the grandma asked, her eyes wide with concern.

"Of course not," Max replied, a sad smile on his lips. "Senior Patani pushed herself relentlessly, sleeping only two hours a night. But it wasn't enough. She couldn't reach the First Realm in time."

"But that's not the point," Max said, waving a dismissive hand. He sighed. "The point is, from that day forward, Senior Patani never mentioned the monkey again. She never even set foot in the place where he died. She cast aside all attachments, all emotions. She dedicated herself to becoming the sharpest sword in Cascadia, a weapon forged in grief and loss. It's not that she's cold on the outside and warm on the inside... it's that she truly... doesn't care about anything anymore."