Changing Masks

by Nicholas Metelsky

  'Good evening, Okhayashi-dono.'

  'Let's do without all these ceremonies,' Okhayashi Dai said as soon as his son sat down in the chair next to me. However, it was one in the corner of the room.

  'Whatever you say, Dai-san.'

  At that moment, a good-looking woman entered the office, bringing in coffee and cakes. She put everything on the table in front of me and San and then left.

  'My son has a very high opinion of you,' the man started after taking a sip of coffee. 'In fact, he has such a high opinion of you, that I wanted to meet this extraordinary individual.'

  'Rydon is mistaken, Dai-san, I'm just an ordinary guy with plenty of negative qualities.'

  'Then it means even more. Being able to mask those qualities so well.' Where is he going with this?

  'You have what you have. Life is tough, and you have to make your way through it. Negative qualities are only called negative because no one likes them.'

  'For instance?'

  'Excuse me?'

  'What qualities are you masking?'

  'Khm, do you want to hear the full list or a summary?'

  'Ha, ha, ha. Let's go with a summary.'

  'Laziness, pedantry, mindlessness, irresponsibility, indifference, grumpiness, intolerance, selfishness, unfriendliness, short temper, rudeness, greed, bloodlust, pettiness, vanity, vindictiveness, effrontery...'

  'Wait, wait, wait. Let's stop here,' Okhayashi shook his head, smiling. 'I hate to think what else might be there. Have you noticed any positive qualities about yourself?'

  'Modesty.'

  'Heh, so your modesty does not allow you to say more?' I shrugged my shoulders apologetically. 'I must apologize to you, Sakurai-kun.'

  'Apologies, Dai-san?' I asked, assuming the conversation about nothingness must have ended.

  'You don't understand? Eh. It doesn't matter. The thing is, that boy, who was in the fight with you, Sate Shinichi, used Bahir. My people noticed and did nothing. They didn't even stop the fight. Sate is my daughter’s husband to be and they've never heard of you. However, I don't like it,' he finished with a strong and slightly evil intonation.

  'My father, Sakurai-kun, like me, believes that you cannot break a word once given and violation of the same rules... It's hard for me to find an analogy.' Yeah, yeah. I didn't believe it. However, what he said corresponded with what Akeno had told me about the Okhayashi.

  'We only have one excuse,' Dai continued. We found out about what happened at the ring too late. When those two idiots let him know about the broken rules, it was too late. It wouldn't be good for you or us.'

  I agreed with that. On the one hand, the public would have learned that the Okhayashi cheat. On the other hand, Sate would have taken offense and chosen me as his object for taking it out on. It definitely wouldn't be the Okhayashi.

  'I agree, Dai-san. It was not worth making a fuss.'

  'That's what we thought. Ultimately, Sakurai-kun, I just have to apologize to you. A material apology is too blatant; therefore, my son and I have thought about it and decided to grant you the right to visit the Okhayashi neighborhood any time you want.'

  Holy crap. That’s not the same as I have in the Koyama neighborhood, but pretty darn close. I doubt there are many people given the same level of acceptance here. If I understand it right, they just made me a mediator in the Koyama-Okhayashi relationship. Something like a binding link. I wonder if I can gain any benefit form it, besides it being a pain in the butt?

  'I really appreciate it. This is a great honor for me.'

  'No need to thank us, Sakurai-kun. I hope to see you more often at our house. Just like Rydon and Aniko.'

  What? What did he just say? Aniko? That's funny. It seems like their engagement is a bit complicated. What does that have to do with me though? Oh, I get it. They are telling me not to worry about Sate and his line. Why do they think that...? Oh, Aniko must have told her father what Shina said about my taking a dive in order to avoid a conflict with the bastard. They must think I’m scared of him.

  'Thanks for the conversation, Dai-san. It was very interesting.'

  'Thank you, Sakurai-kun. Go make Rydon happy. He'll be happy to find out that you can visit him any time.'

  'Good-bye, Okhayashi-dono.'

  'Goodbye, Sakurai-kun.'

  * * *

  'Is he gone?' the father asked his son, who just returned.

  'Yes. He ruined all Rydon's plans for the night.'

  'What did you think of him?'

  'He's a serious fellow. He won't be putty in anyone's hands.'

  'Yes, he can't be bossed around by anyone. Remember how he started listing his negative qualities?' the elder Okhayashi smiled. Then he, suddenly, adopted a serious expression: 'Your plan is accepted. Make your sister happy. This Sakurai turns out to be an even better candidate than I imagined.'

  'Sate?'

  'He crossed the line. I'll try to terminate the engagement peacefully, but the fact is that there will be no wedding.'

  'In that case, we have to expedite our reconciliation with Koyama before they accept him into the clan.'

  'They won't. Convergence with Koyama should be as reliable as possible. That's why we can't rush it. Neither should we hit the breaks.'

  'Why are you so confident about Sakurai? I mean...'

  'I know. It's experience. It will come to you over time. In the meantime, just accept it: Sakurai will not obey anyone. We will have to talk to Aniko about it.'

  'Hm, whatever you say, father. What should we do with our troublesome judges?'

  'Send them to clean the bathrooms!'

  'Hehe-heh,' San let out a chuckle. 'No, seriously?'

  'Do you think I'm joking?' the head of the clan was fuming. 'Those bastards cast a shadow on our entire line! They should be happy with getting away with that. Darn Knights.'

  'Khm. For how long?'

  'Until I calm down.'

  'Umm, okay,' Sen stretched out uncertainly. 'It'll be done. Then,' he scratched his chin, thinking,' the next step is the presents…'

  * * *

  Leaning back in the seat of the car, I was finally able to relax. I'd have to attend these events more often in the future. It was no wonder that Kenta always tries to avoid them like fire. Could I not think about it on my way home?

  'Tell your grandfather that I was granted a pass to the Okhayashi neighborhood,' I told the girl sitting next to me.

  'Whatever you say, man,' Shina answered, not without a pinch of venom in her voice.

  Hmmm. So much for relaxation. I half-closed my eyes and adopted a tired look.

  'Is there something you’re not happy about?'

  'Oh no. Of course not. Everything's great. Just wonderful.'

  'I don't like your tone.'

  'That's your problem.'

  'Is it my problem that I had to bring you into line not so long ago?'

  'Yes,' she responded, somewhat surprised and obviously mimicking. 'I won't be the one whose neighbours break my arms and legs tomorrow!'

  Opening my eyes, I calmly turned my head to Shina. She was furious. She slowly stretched out her hand to my neck and began choking me. I couldn’t respond in this position without looking pitiful so I just raised my hand and placed it on top of her wrist.

  'Ouch.'

  A twisted hand doesn't hurt that much. She could have put on 'the armor' if it had come to it.

  'If you do something like that ever again,' I said, letting go of her hand, 'we won't be friends.' Then I let out Yaki and added, 'This is the last warning.'

  She moved away from me, rubbing her hand and glancing at me with suspicion. As if she wasn't a Master.

  'You hurt my feelings,' she finally asserted.

  'Your butt hasn't been spanked for a long while,' I said, inhaling.

  'What do you know about spanking?' My eyebrows rose unwillingly from her soulful cry.

  'Well, obviously, less than you.'

  Looking at the embarrassed, red-faced girl, I felt my anger subside.
<
br />   'It's your fault,' she muttered. 'Everything's your fault.'

  'Sure, sure. I am the reason for your misery, right?'

  'Yes.'

  'And you're just an angel, right?' She was silent. 'Right?'

  'I was wrong a few times when I blew off. But then you went to tell grandpa on me right away.'

  'A few times? You know, I never complained to your grandfather or your father.' It was Kagami, who threw her under the bus in front of them. 'Your apologies are just the nonsense of a pouty child.'

  'You've never told mom?'

  'No.'

  'You're lying,' Shina said although she didn't sound that confident anymore.

  'Believe me, cutie. Even if I wanted to tell on you, it'd be senseless. Everyone can see when you're up to no good.' I sounded angrier now to add more meaning to my words as I knew it worked on her. 'That is what makes me sick: if you lose it, be quiet in front of other people.'

  'What are you talking about? It was you who ... right in front of everyone'

  'Shina, baby, you do it all the time. I only made sure you didn't say anything stupid. You started spouting out some nonsense in front of everyone.' If she says now that she didn’t say anything like that, I’ll finish the conversation and keep my distance.

  'You could have done it differently.' I wasn't going to bother replying. 'And what do you mean 'up to no good’? Give me one example… no, two.'

  'Shina, I don't believe you'll change even if you hear it from me. I'll tell you one thing only: if you put me in an uncomfortable situation one more time, stay away from me because I'll do everything I can to make you stay away from me.'

  I remembered once, I caught a terrible cold after one of my jobs. I was bed-ridden for two days. When I was 12, I was an average warlock. Shina stayed in my room the whole time, taking care of me. Even Kagami couldn't get her out of there. It'd be a shame if we couldn’t be friends anymore. Perhaps I should complain about her or talk openly to her mother about it? Before Dakisyuro, she wasn't so crazy, but now, only a month had passed and I she was driving me mad. That's what I would do. But later. First I’d give her the chance to make things right. But I would definitely talk to her. Perhaps not everything was totally the way I saw it. Maybe, I was the idiot.

  I dropped her off at home and then went home myself. I closed the door and just stood there for a few moments. I tossed the keys on the coffee table in the living room and dropped onto the couch. Now I could finally take a breath. It was a tough day. What else awaits me in the future? Okhayashi and their pass... Come on, Max, cheer up. I have to keep looking forward, with my head up. Life isn't easy and something tells me mine won’t be straighforward. Get yourself together, Koschey the Deathless, your world didn't break you, and this one won't break you either. It's too bad Maclaud and Dandy aren't here, but I'll pull through. You're gonna do it, Max. You're gonna take over this world or die. That means this world is doomed because even you don’t know where your death is, Koschey the Deathless.

  Epilogue

  'Ma-a-ax...

  Max?' Who could be calling me that in this world? Open up, eyes. What a weird feeling when you are almost awake but still half-dreaming, when all you want to do is sleep. I need to open my eyes and get up. If someone has discovered me... but no one knows me in this world. No one. They can't know me. Not my name.

  'Ma-a-ax...'

  Get up. Get up and fight. I’ll tear them apart with my hands and teeth, break their spines, explode the surroundings. They won't get me alive. Never. Hold on a second. My name is not known to anyone in this world. There is no way. Neither in this world nor the other one. Maybe... Yes, exactly. I was injured and must have exposed myself. I was hit in the back, and now I'm coming to my senses. In a hospital... No, this isn’t a hospital. The floor is made out of stone, polished. Is it marble?

  'Kosche-e-ey...'

  I somehow rolled over onto my stomach and pushed myself up off the ground. I opened my eyes... and couldn't see anything. Darkness. My peripheral vision enabled me to see something flashing, which proved the fact that I wasn't blind. It was just too dark in here. I raised up to my knees and looked around. I had the impression of being in a cave: I could feel the space, but I couldn't see anything. Only darkness.

  'Max!' Out of the darkness, as if out of nowhere, Dandy jumped out next to me. So, it was just a dream, after all. 'Max!!! I found you, bastard you deathless. You really are Koschey! The Deathless!'

  'Wait... Hold on! Dandy, where are we? Darn it. What’s going on?'

  'You're right. We don't have much time. Listen and don't interrupt. You can ask questions later if we have time.' He squatted cross-legged next to me and continued, 'So, here's the deal. You died over there.' No. 'You just walked down the street and fell down dead all of the sudden.' God, no. 'Nobody could understand what happened. The Americans squealed with happiness. They thought you just burned out. However, our people know that's nonsense, but the real reason... Well, that's not important. We'll take care of your girls. Don't worry. Maclaud... Just don't freak out now. He asked Sveta to marry him, and she said yes.' What a snake—first, he was Olya's godfather, and now, he’s taking the role of stepfather. That sucks.

  I felt... I felt lousy. But it was the best way. Sveta shouldn't be left all alone. Good old Maclaud is the ideal candidate for her. He and I went through hell together and came back. Dandy, Sergey Volkov, wouldn't make a good husband for Sveta. He would be a great father figure for Olya, but he wouldn't abandon her now either way. Back then, Andrey Maclaud Vyatov and Dandy had a word fight over the right to be godfather, which was, eventually, resolved in the usual manner by drawing lots.

  'Olya has graduated from school and has started studying law in college. She will take over your firm, umm, sorry, corporation. She follows in your footsteps and already knows five languages. Bran, your shaggy dog, is still alive. He almost kicked the bucket after you left. He didn't eat anything for a week, but Maclaud, Olya, and I changed his mind about dying. Now he's following your daughter everywhere like he used to do with you. What a smart animal, after all. Anyway.'

  Bran. My labradorious creature. Darn, darn, darn!

  'The little pimple has found a guy, by the way. He's alright. If anything happens, you know me. I'll choke him with my own intestines.'

  Well, if Dandy is saying that the guy is 'alright,' then he must be. He worries about my daughter even more than I do.

  'We're keeping your competitors at bay, so let your mind be at peace. What else? Dovakin gave up on his venture. He's on to something new.

  Dovakin, heh. Twilight—aka Mazday, Pinocchio, Luke, Jedi, Piper—he probably has five more other nicknames that he has given himself. He's the second Absolute in Russia. He likes fantasy and computer games. Kind of a nerd. If he sees something somewhere, on the Internet or in video games, he always wants to try it out or develop new tricks. A couple of times, he even managed to pull it off. He's just as nasty as me. Plus, a little nerdy. I never liked him.

  Suddenly looking back, Dandy grimaced:

  'Time is running out. Go ahead with your questions, Max.'

  'Where are we?'

  'No idea.'

  'How did you get a hold of me?'

  'You know me,' he snorted in response. 'I always get myself in some kind of a mess.' That's true. Dandy is like Mouse, only cooler. Sometimes he finds trouble, and sometimes trouble finds him. Just like Mouse, he always survives. 'This time—don't laugh—a shinigami from another world came to me in a dream and asked for help. As payment for my services, I asked for a means of contacting you. First, I wanted to get you back, but he refused to budge. He said something about mean guards and some shield. I found out about you accidentally. The barefooted looter let it slip.'

  'What? Looter?'

  'Never mind. Just an inside joke.'

  'So I can't go back?'

  'I don't know how, neither does he. Darn it! Hold on just a little longer!' he yelled facing back. 'It's time, Max. I could say hi from you to everyon
e, but who's going to believe me?'

  'Maclaud. We've been through so much. He's a believer. Tell him and remember yourself: I'm fine. A different world that is almost like ours. I got into the body of a child; therefore, I have fine prospects. If anything should happen...' I know I shouldn't say it, but I can’t resist. 'I'll find him in the other world, you know me.'

  'That's for sure. Now words take on a different meaning. It turns out that your tale about Chechnya's soldier-ghouls wasn't made up. I thought you were pranking me back then.'

  'It's not something to joke about. Thank you, Dandy. For everything. Tell Andrey. Thank you for this conversation. You could have simply...'

  I met his gaze.

  'No I couldn't. None of us could. That's it. I gotta go. Don't score a point off the warlock's glory. To glory,' he raised his fist in front of me.

  'To the name,' I stretched my arm out in response.

  As our fists touched, Sergey Volkov melted into thin air.

  End of Book 1

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