89 Makeup
[Word Count: 1630]
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"Not happening," Leo declared with a completely serious tone, although given the peculiar circumstances, it was challenging to take him seriously.
He was reclined on the couch in the living room, addressing Kishibe, while Ruby stood confidently on a chair behind the couch. She leaned forward, carefully applying some of Ai's makeup to Leo's face. Leo closed his eyes and looked up at the ceiling, maintaining his composed demeanor despite the ongoing makeover.
Ai watched the scene unfold with a restrained smile, her laughter held in check.
In the time it took Leo to drop off Reze at the old Blokes' warehouse, the previously slumbering residents of the bunker had awakened. Aqua, in particular, was quite surprised to find himself on the couch next to Ai, wearing a suit jacket. It wasn't until Leo arrived without his jacket that they pieced together the mystery of the sudden addition.
Leo remained silent as he took a seat on the adjacent couch. The day progressed as usual, except now Aqua had a front-row seat to Ruby's antics as she pretended to confront the supposed War Devil.
Several days had passed since Reze's disappearance, following her one-on-one confrontation with Denji. Denji had been disappointed by her absence for reasons known only to him. His excitement about a trip with Makima had been crushed when the news labeled him as a devil-human hybrid, putting a target on his back for foreign powers seeking to capture him.
All of these developments led Kishibe back to the underground bunker, where he aimed to recruit Katana Man as one of Denji's guards. However, Leo, or the War Devil, firmly rejected the idea.
"Not happening," Leo's voice reverberated through the spacious living room. Ruby made a displeased face as she gripped Leo's face to prevent him from moving while she continued her makeup application.
"Why?" Kishibe's voice remained devoid of emotion as he posed the question with a blank expression.
"Chainsaw allegedly killed Backenbert's grandfather, and he's still seeking revenge," Leo replied, slightly irritating Ruby as he inadvertently messed up the streaks she was creating on his cheeks.
"Stop moving," Ruby grumbled while trying to correct the smudged streak.
Kishibe processed Leo's words carefully, weighing the implications of the situation. The news of Backenbert's vendetta and the brewing tensions within the devil-human hybrid community were troubling, to say the least.
In his usual composed manner, Kishibe replied, "I see." His voice remained steady, and his gaze lingered on the scar across the War Devil's face. "We must weigh our options thoughtfully."
However, Ruby, as if sensing Kishibe's intentions, couldn't contain herself any longer. She broke the silence with unwavering determination, her youthful voice filled with conviction. "Nuh-uh, not happening," she declared boldly, her eyes locking onto Kishibe's. "War-chan stays here until it brings Papa back."
In her fervor, Ruby had accidentally smeared the makeup she was applying, creating streaks on Leo's face. Yet, she paid no heed to the cosmetic mishap, her focus solely on her impassioned declaration.
Kishibe looked at Ruby, his expression unchanged. He seemed to be considering her words carefully, aware of the determination behind them. The room remained in suspense, waiting for Kishibe's decision.
Kishibe's tone remained firm and resolute. "Not an option," he declared firmly. "If left unchecked, the devil hunters coming to Japan for Denji can easily turn into a repeat of the Bomb Devil incident. This time, however, we have the advantage of foresight, and we must use it to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again."
Leo rose from his seat, his actions deliberate and decisive. Ruby watched in slight dismay as he peeled off the layers of makeup she had painstakingly applied in a matter of seconds. "Ah..." she muttered, her efforts undone.
"Whatever happens, happens," Leo stated, his eerie red eyes locking onto Kishibe's calm, dark-brown gaze. He then began making his way out of the room.
"Come back soon!" Ai called out with a cheerful wave, offering a bit of warmth and optimism amidst the tension in the room.
Leo's exit from the room left an air of uncertainty in his wake. Ruby let out a sigh, setting aside Ai's makeup tools, realizing her efforts had been in vain. While she understood the gravity of the situation, there was a hint of disappointment that she wouldn't get to continue her playful charade with "War-chan."
Kishibe remained composed, his mind already working on strategies to handle the escalating crisis involving Denji and the incoming devil hunters. He recognized the potential danger and the necessity for a calculated response.
Himeno, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up. "What's our next move, Sensei?" Her voice carried a note of concern.
Kishibe's gaze shifted to Himeno, resolute in his response. "We prepare for the worst," he declared firmly, "and we do whatever it takes to protect Denji and the others."
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Leo stepped out of the bunker, his gaze fixated on the overcast sky. Time had been passing swiftly, making his stay in the bunker more manageable than he had expected. Tilting his head from side to side, he elicited a satisfying pop from his neck when his phone suddenly rang.
"Hello? Hello, hello?" a familiar English voice greeted Leo as he picked up the call.
"How's it going, James?" Leo responded, stepping into an alley to ensure privacy.
"Hey hey, matchbox, how's it going? It's been a while," James eagerly replied.
"Same old, same old. What's up with you, and how are the rest of the blokes?" Leo inquired.
"Well, we're not getting any younger, that's for sure," James chuckled before clearing his throat. "Anyways, I'm calling because we're currently in Japan for a job, and we were wondering if you wanted in."
"Oh?" Leo leaned against a lamppost, intrigued. "What's the job?"
"We got a call about hunting down a devil-hybrid, and we thought it would be a good idea for the boys to take it. We even got the president to triple the reward. So, you want in?" James asked, his excitement evident.
"Say, your target wouldn't happen to be Chainsaw Man, would it?" Leo replied, trying to glean information.
"How'd you know?" James responded, slightly surprised. "Did you get contacted about it too? Is Shouzou in on it?"
"Not really, at least not that I know of," Leo replied, adjusting his suit. "I only know about it because I've taken Chainsaw Man under my wing, so I'm up to date with most of his activities."
"Ah," James sighed. "Wait... You took Chainsaw Man under your wing?"
"Yes, recently," Leo confirmed.
"Damn it..." James muttered before shouting over the phone. "Jeremy, you bloody idiot, I told you we should've called Leo before coming to Japan!"
"Why, what's wrong?" Jeremy's voice came through the phone.
"Chainsaw Man's been taken under Leo's wing!" James exclaimed in annoyance.
"Shit..." Jeremy responded, his confusion evident.
"Say, you guys haven't gone after him yet, have you?" Leo inquired, idly inspecting his nails. Depending on the time, it was likely the boys had already embarked on their mission, securing disguises and making preparations.
"No, not yet," James replied, letting out an annoyed sigh. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Leo responded nonchalantly, offering a casual shrug.
"Well, we don't want to step on any toes with our business partners, so if nothing else comes up in the next few days, we'll be heading back to America," James explained, though his irritation still lingered. "By the way, since I have you on the line, do you happen to know anything about a girl who was staying in our old warehouse?"
"Was?" Leo questioned.
"Yeah, when we got to our old warehouse, the boys spotted a girl cleaning up the place. Since the place was supposed to be empty, they took her out with a precise headshot," James replied, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
"Who shot her?" Leo asked casually, seemingly unfazed by the fact that Reze had been shot on sight.
"It was Joey," Aldo's voice chimed in, clearly irritating his brother.
Even though he wasn't in the room, Leo could practically sense Joey's annoyance radiating through the phone.
"Yeah, I know her, or rather, I knew her. I placed her there for her protection," Leo explained, feeling a sense of déjà vu in the situation.
"Fuck..." Joey muttered, his complexion visibly paling as he grappled with the realization that he had once again taken a life he wasn't supposed to.
"Oh..." James chimed in, his tone reflecting concern. "This won't lead to any complications, will it?"
"Well, technically no. The girl is a devil-hybrid, which makes her nearly immortal," Leo reassured.
"Thank fuck," Joey breathed a sigh of relief, though his earlier mistake still weighed heavily on him, much to the amusement of his brothers.
"However," Leo continued casually, "it's just a matter of pulling the pin on her neck. Given the circumstances, there's a good chance she'll explode the moment someone does it."
"Sucks to be you right now huh, Joey," Aldo taunted his brother with a playful nudge.
Joey shot a fierce glare at his brother, but the situation they found themselves in was too serious for playful banter. Unintentionally killing someone with explosive potential was not something to take lightly.
James chuckled before returning his focus to the phone. "Anyway," he continued, "as I said, we'll be around for a few more days. Give us a shout if you need anything."
"Will do, James. Take care, say Hi to Richard for me," Leo replied.
As he put away his phone, Leo couldn't help but shake his head at the chaotic turn of events. He had his hands full with both Denji and Reze, but he was used to dealing with the unexpected in his line of work. Now, he had to figure out how to keep them both safe and out of the hands of devil hunters and other threats.
"The biggest issue might be Santa Claus, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," he mused to himself, a faint, wry smile on his lips as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
