The Red Hand

Chapter 159 – Not Funny.

"Don't even joke about that!" Akagi screamed. "That's not funny!"

"But would you? If I asked?" Kana didn't back down.

"No!" Akagi slammed on the table, startling Alice. "I will not accept a job to kill your parents for you. That's not happening, end of story!"

{Why they hell would you even ask that?!?} (Akagi)

"But you were more than happy to kill other members of the family! You even killed the Mitsuhide family for Naomi!" Kana replied.

"I killed the Tomogawa who fucked with me, there's a big difference there. And who said I killed the Mitsuhides for Naomi? Why would she want them dead?" Akagi wouldn't admit who her client was, even to Kana.

{Did Naomi tell her?} (Akagi)

"Don't try and lie about it. I'm not stupid, Onee-chan. I figured out who hired you for that a long time ago. I always found it strange when Naomi talked about her family, and I guessed the Mitsuhide were involved in their deaths. When I confronted her about it, she told Mika and I the truth." Kana sighed. "I'm not happy that she used you for that, but it's whatever."

"Well, I don't disclose who hires me, so even if she did, I wouldn't confirm nor deny it." Akagi shrugged.

"Either way." Kana moved back to the other topic. "Why wouldn't you kill them if I asked?"

"Why? Are you serious? Kana, I've held off killing them because of you!" Akagi got increasingly irritated as this conversation continued. "I don't want to leave you an orphan and have you go through the loss of your parents. My issues with them aside, they genuinely love you. You don't need to hate them for my sake, and asking me to kill them is absurd!."

{I appreciate you being angry on my behalf, but calm down and think this through!} (Akagi)

"So even if I tell you it's fine, you would refuse?" Kana said.

"Yes! Because it wouldn't be fine." Akagi gritted her teeth in anger. "You're angry with them right now, but once I'd kill them, you'd be sad and depressed. Don't let temporary emotions make you do something you'll regret! Plus, if I kill them, you're going to have a problem with me, even if you think you don't it will likely manifest as an unconscious resentment! You'll always see me as the person who killed them, and that might very well tear us apart!"

{You're smarter than this, dammit!} (Akagi)

"I'd never hate you!" Kana exclaimed. "And they deserve it after everything they did to you. So go and do it!"

"I will not!" Akagi stood up and screamed, causing Alice to slide off her lap. "Kana, don't tempt me. Please, you have no goddamn idea how much I want to kill them. I hate them so much that I've made a game of coming up with fun ways to do it. Hell I've made copies of them in my shadow and tortured them for fun! So don't try and weaken my resolve like this!"

{Don't tempt me! Please stop!} (Akagi)

"But-" Kana was cut off.

"As the old saying goes, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR BECAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT!" Akagi slammed down on the table, causing it to crack. "Now drop it! And never think of killing them again, unless you really want me to get mad at you!"

{I'm surprised she resisted it that much. I assumed she'd jump on the opportunity...} Kana was a bit surprised at how fierce of a resistance Akagi put up over the issue. {At least she's got enough self-restraint to hold back.} Kana was only partially serious. If Akagi had accepted, she would have gone along with it but would have preferred she not kill her parents. {Sorry for testing you.}

"Fine." Kana sat down. "I'm sorry for pushing you."

"Good, just understand that it's a very bad idea to push that particular button." Akagi sighed as she sat down.

"Sorry, Alice." Akagi patted her lap, and Alice hopped back on.

{I might have gotten a bit too worked up. But dammit Kana, don't say things like that!} (Akagi)

"It's ok, Mama." She hugged her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just my pain in the ass sister over here aggravating me." Akagi said.

"Oh? So it's fine for you to aggravate me but not the other way around?" Kana laughed.

"Two very different kinds of aggravation, Kana." Akagi glared at her. "Don't hang a piece of meat in front of a dog and be shocked when it bites." She continued. "Don't forget that I'm still the Demon Lord, and those violent instincts are still in here.” She tapped on her chest. “Even if the compulsion is gone, the temptation is still around. Yumi got to see what happens when I indulge in my base instincts the night I hit the compound, and believe you me, it wasn't pretty."

{That night was the REAL me. For what that word's worth anyway. And trust me, Kana, you don't want to see what happens when I drop the human act.} (Akagi)

"I thought you had yourself under control?" Kana asked. "Wasn't that the whole reason you were able to become the Demon Lord and not go crazy?"

"I do, at least as much as is possible when talking about being a living killing machine." Akagi sighed. "I don't have to worry about being driven mad, or forced by my power to do anything, but my base desire for carnage still exists. That's why I pushed back so hard, since it's not easy to hold back when something so tempting is placed in front of me."

{Hence the dog and the meat comparison.} (Akagi)

"Are you really holding that much for my sake?" Kana asked.

"Kana, I want to kill them. More than you can ever imagine, and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to march to that house and do to them what I did to the others." Akagi's eyes showed how serious she was. "God only knows they deserve it. On Friday, when they tried to trample over your choice to be with me, that pushed me to the edge."

"It's ok, Mama." Alice rubbed against her. "You've got all of us here, so it will be alright."

{Don't get all angry, you don't need to be...} (Alice)

"I know, I know." Akagi smiled as she rubbed her head. "And I'm grateful for that, my child." Akagi looked over at Kana. "So please, don't say things like that again, Kana. It's not a good idea. I might be your sister, but I'm also an unstable monster, pushing me can easily result in undesirable results."

{My own internal issues with Kana also mean that if I get heated because of her, there's no telling what I might do. I sincerely doubt that I'd actually kill her, but I'd rather not chance things. I thought Naomi was suppose to have a sit down and explain things to her, but I guess that didn't happen yet.} (Akagi)

"I won't, but those two need to be given some kind of punishment for what they did." Kana sighed.

"That will be up to you to decide." Akagi said. "I'd imagine a complete break from them would be the harshest thing you can do. Not that I'd recommend that option, since having no parents sucks."

{Lord knows I wish I had them...} (Akagi)

"I've got no idea, but..." Kana thought for a moment. "How about this? We meet with them one more time, together. I know that's asking a lot, but I want you present this time."

"What do you have in mind?" Akagi asked.

"I want to present everything to their face and give them a single chance to admit their mistakes and own up to what they did. If they still deny everything or play it off as unimportant, I think that will be it." Kana sighed. "I can't keep tolerating them anymore, not after everything you've told me."

{I love them, but after hearing all this. Finding out what they did to her. I just... I can't continue ignoring that. I won't be happy knowing that behind those smiling faces are two monsters.} (Kana)

"I don't mind coming with, but you understand what that means, right?" Akagi stopped petting Alice. "You'll be effectively orphaning yourself if you break with them."

"Does it matter at this point? My sister is the Demon Lord with her own country and infinite money. On top of that, you love me more than you probably should and spoil me rotten." Kana shrugged. "Sure, the emotional thing will exist, but I can get over it. It's not like I'll be on the streets."

{I don't want to cut ties with them, but this needs to happen.} (Kana)

"Those two are never going to change, Kana." Akagi sighed. "I'll go, but don't get your hopes up. They couldn't swallow their hatred of me long enough to comfort you, so I think expecting them to have some epiphany is asking for the impossible."

{Even if they apologized, does Kana really expect me to forgive them? I doubt it, but I think she wants to try and salvage something here, and I hate to tell her this, but I'd sooner kill the two of them than forgive them. Even if Shima came crawling to me, begging for forgiveness, its too little too late. They stole something from me that can never be returned, and no matter how much they might change, they can never give it back.} (Akagi)

"Maybe you're right, but I'd like to give them that chance." Kana said as she started swiping on her AR. "I'll message them and ask for a time to meet with the four of us in the coming weeks. I'd say do it here, but..."

"Yeah, no." Akagi laughed. "I doubt they'd leave alive, since most of my family wants them dead. Plus, I don't want them stinking up my home."

{If she thinks I hate them, trust me. Chloe and Yumi actively PLAN methods of tortuing them for if I give the go ahead. Those two might even hate them more than me, and that's saying something.} Akagi chuckled. {Yumi I understand, but Chloe... I know our bond as Master and Student is important to her, but I guess I sometimes forget just how it significant it is to her.}

"I guess they won't get to meet their granddaughter." Kana chuckled as she looked at Alice. "Do you want to meet grandma and grandpa?"

Alice shook her head. "Mama doesn't have parents! Only mean evil people that hurt her!" Alice clung to Akagi.

"Ain't that cute? She's protective of mommy." Kana smirked. "Aren't you happy to have such a cute daughter, mommy Akagi?" She was enjoying poking fun at her sister for being a mom.

Akagi shifted her jaw in thought before getting an evil look in her eyes. "Hey Alice, you've got lots of fun puppets, right?" She asked her.

"Yup!" Alice smiled. "Did you need one in particular?"

"Yeah, you see Alice, Kana over there really likes clowns, and she wants you to show them some to her." Alice grinned as she looked at her sister.

"You wouldn't!" Kana growled. "Don't you dare!"

{She wouldn't!} (Kana)

"Can you get a few out for mommy?" Akagi laughed.

{She would!} (Kana)

"Sure!" Alice smiled, oblivious to what was going on. "How many do you want? I've got a few."

"Alice, don't you dare!" Kana stood up. "I will destroy them!"

"But why?" Alice looked sad. "Clowns are nice..."

Seeing that cute face gave Kana pause for a second, but she stuck to her guns. "I hate clowns. Onee-chan is just trying to pay me back for messing with her."

"What's wrong with clowns? They're so much fun." She asked.

"Yeah, clowns are awesome!" Himari spoke up.

"Quiet you!" Kana scolded her. "I thought I told you we hate clowns!"

"I mean, if I recall correctly, you told me that I'm a person with my own life. Thus, I don't have to agree with you on this since you're my friend, not my master." Himari was being a smartass.

{Man, Himari just got her good with that one.} (Akagi)

"Damn you past me." Kana bit her thumb in irritation.

"Mama, let me get out the clowns! They've got some funny outfits, and we can have some fun!" Alice was now excited about the clowns.

Akagi looked at Kana. "What will it be, Kana? If you don't want the clowns, you have to give me something in return." She was enjoying this.

"What do you want?" Kana growled.

{Why do I do this to myself?!?} (Kana)

"Lets see.” Akagi thought for a moment before her lips curved into an evil smile. “How about this, for the rest of the day, you must call me Onee-sama." Akagi's eyes glinted. "Do that, and the clowns will remain sealed away."

"O-onee-sama..." Kana stammered. She debated in her head if that was worth it and came to a decision.

{Mark my words, I shall have my vengeance!} (Kana)

"Please keep the clowns away, Onee-sama." Kana's eye twitched as she said that while gritting her teeth. Calling Akagi in such a respectful, and frankly cringey, manner killed her on the inside.

{I know how much she hates calling me that, and boy is this going to be a fun day.} Akagi laughed in her head.

"Sorry, Alice. We can play with the clowns with just the two of us later, ok?" Akagi pat her on the head.

"That's fine." Alice smiled. "But we should work on making Kana like clowns."

"Yeah, maybe I should get a nose and shoes!" Himari cheered. "I can be the clown sword!"

"Himari, you do that, and you're going to be used for some very unpleasant activities." The anger radiating off Kana was immense. "Or we can find a way to turn you into a Demon Sword. I think you'd look good in black."

"Please, no! I don't wanna be cringe!" Himari cried out. "I was just kidding! I actually hate clowns too! Ha-ha-ha." Her monotone laughter hid a cry for help.