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"Sigh..."
Another one, Naginata thought with irritation.
His investigative assistant Kushida had been releasing those distraught sighs all day as they walked around town, searching for Kushizashi Tsuranuki as usual.
Was it because it was so close to Christmas? Did he have preparations to do? If he didn't want to be dragged along to a Kushizashi hunt today, he should've said something. Naginata might have a face that frightened small children, but he wasn't heartless.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?"
Kushida's red eyes were round with surprise as he looked up at Naginata, a single fang peeking out under his upper lip.
"You keep sighing. Are you hungry?"
"No, that's not it! The meal we had earlier was very filling! Thank you, Naginata-san!!!"
"Too loud."
Though he grumbled, Naginata didn't hate being thanked by Kushida. He reminded him of his own past self. So, Naginata passed on the kindness that had been given to his young self when he'd lived on the streets, by Kamiarizuki and Miki. That's why he'd latched on to Kushida in particular, why he felt so drawn to him. Wasn't it?
"What are you upset about? Out with it."
"Um, well..."
Kushida hesitated, eyes downcast. He probably wouldn't tell the truth. Kushida was usually the straightforward type who shouted his feelings out. He laughed loudly and he cried loudly. But sometimes, he got an unreadable expression on his face as he stared at Naginata intensely and wouldn't say anything. Sometimes, he'd get an evasive look on his face and insist on leaving the scene.
He might seem simple, but he carried a darkness within him.
Naginata understood.
Nobody ended up on the streets without a painful past.
So Naginata asked, but he didn't pry when it seemed like Kushida wouldn't talk about it. This seemed like one of those times. So he prepared to drop the subject, but then.
"...I'm a good person, right?"
An unexpectedly heavy question dropped timidly from Kushida's mouth. It made Naginata freeze.
That wasn't something he could answer carelessly.
Naginata considered the question for a moment, before answering.
"...I don't think there's such a thing as a "good person.""
"But there is!"
Kushida insisted immediately, looking upset.
"There's good guys and bad guys! We're fighting the bad guys, so we're the good guys, right, Naginata-san?"
"Is that what you meant...? Well, we're fighting vampires that want to hurt people. I guess that makes us good guys rather than bad guys. But a good person..."
Naginata sighed. He didn't see himself as a good person. He was a man who became a Hunter to hurt those who hurt him, and, most importantly, to murder Kushizashi Tsuranuki painfully. That bastard vampire who dared to attack him and leave him scarred for life...!!
"Na-Naginata-san?!"
Kushida looked fearful, and Naginata forced himself to calm down.
"Naginata-san, why were you making that face like you were thinking about Kushizashi Tsuranuki? Do you... actually think he's a good person...?"
"Hell no. No way in hell. Absolutely not!!! I'll kill him!!"
Tsuranuki... Tsuranuki... Tsuranuki!!!
That familiar rage Naginata couldn't contain rose in him again, uncontrollable.
Whipping out his chainsaw naginata, Naginata cackled as the thought of cutting Tsuranuki to pieces rang in his head.
"Damn you, Kushizashi Tsuranukiiiii!!! I'll kill you!!! Hihihihihi... Hyahahahahaha!!!"
"Naginata-san! Calm down, calm down!!"
"All right."
Having let out his emotions, Naginata calmed down and put his weapon away, and Kushida gave a sigh of relief.
No matter how many times he saw Naginata like this, Kushida didn't seem to get used to it. Even Naginata's fellow Hunters had started to just give him exasperated 'put that away' sighs by now. But Kushida, who'd been by his side and seen his mood swings many, many times, was always as frightened. He was an earnest person who always took him seriously, Naginata thought.
"So. Why are you asking about 'good people' anyway?"
"That's..."
Kushida pouted with that downcast look.
"Because it's Christmas soon, right...?"
"Christmas... Yeah, tomorrow."
"Even though I've been a good person every year, Santa never brings me anything."
Huh.
Wait, hold on.
Naginata stared at Kushida's genuine sadness.
"Santa? As in, Santa Claus?"
Kushida nodded.
"I got presents when I was a kid... I think." Kushida said that with an uncertain frown. "So I was a good kid then. But ever since I..."
Kushida swallowed, a pained look in his eyes.
"Since I became... a vampire. Santa hasn't given me a single present on Christmas."
Naginata had no idea what to say. He stared at Kushida, something cold forming in his heart.
"I did my best to be a good guy! But every Christmas, nobody came! I thought, maybe he hates vampires... but vampires other than me are getting Christmas presents. So... maybe I haven't been good enough. I haven't done enough. I need to beat up more bad guys! Maybe then..."
"Wait. Wait, wait, wait."
Naginata held up a hand to silence Kushida, who looked at him with a puzzled face.
You believe in Santa?
No, Naginata couldn't say that. Even though he was shocked, he understood his duty in this situation. To upkeep the illusion.
He knew Kushida had a childish innocence and straightforwardness to him. It was unsettling, at times. But even this? Genuinely believing in Santa Claus?
Believing it was his own fault he never received gifts?
It was too much. It made Naginata's heart ache, his eyes sting.
"Wah! Naginata-san!"
Tears flowed out of Naginata's eyes as he sobbed, a burst of emotion overflowing him as he thought of Kushida spending every Christmas alone, huddled up somewhere in the cold, hoping for Santa to bring him something. His hopes dashed every year, blaming himself for not being good enough... It was too much!!
"Kushida!!" Naginata wailed, grabbing on to Kushida's shoulders.
"Wah! What?! Are you okay, Naginata-san?!"
"I'll hunt him down!!"
"Who?!"
"Santa!!"
Kushida gaped at him, face going pale.
"You're good enough! It's not your fault, Kushida!! That Santa bastard is at fault, not giving you your presents!! I'll hunt him down and bring you the presents he forgot to give you!!"
"W-wait, Naginata-san!!"
But Naginata was already dashing off, leaving a stunned Kushida behind.
Prepare yourself, Kushida.
Naginata had last-minute Christmas shopping to do.
----
"Naginata-saaaaaaan!!" Tsuranuki called out desperately, running through the alleyways.
He'd been such a fool, telling Naginata about that! Naginata was always worrying about "Kushida" and getting upset about his circumstances. He should've known he'd overreact and go off the rails like this! After all, even though he was kind to Kushida as long as he thought he was Kushida...
He was the Hunter Naginata of Hell, and he was determined to kill Kushizashi Tsuranuki. The hero of justice, Kushizashi Tsuranuki! If he was willing to do even that, of course he wouldn't even spare Santa!!
What was Tsuranuki supposed to do, now? If Naginata attacked Santa...
Kushizashi Tsuranuki would take him down.
It was his duty, as a hero to all good kids.
Waaaah, but it was so sad!! Why couldn't Naginata just be a good guy! It wasn't Naginata's fault, all those other Hunters and the VCD lead Naginata down the wrong path, telling him Kushizashi Tsuranuki was a bad guy! Even though he was a hero of justice who only took down bad guys!
(The fact that Tsuranuki had stabbed Naginata did not occur to him as being relevant to this situation. Kushizashi Tsuranuki Was A Hero. That was the worldview that kept him going. That was the worldview that would not be shaken.)
The longer Tsuranuki ran with no sign of Naginata, the more he realized how skilled Naginata was.
No matter where Tsuranuki went, Naginata was always able to track him down. He'd say he sensed Kushizashi's presence as he greeted Kushida, then asked him to go along with him on a hunt.
He made it seem so easy to find him, but Tsuranuki couldn't find Naginata at all!! Was Naginata even more incredible than Tsuranuki thought?? If that's so, he might just find Santa! Even though Santa was super fast and super incredible and went all around the world in a single night!!
No, wait, maybe Santa could beat Naginata...? That was bad too, Tsuranuki didn't want Naginata to lose! If Naginata had to lose, it should at least be an epic duel against Kushizashi Tsuranuki!!
"Oh, I thought I sensed a handsome vampire I could capture, but it was Kushida."
"Huh? Kiss-san!"
The sausage-like vampire with three mouths, the Hunter Passionate Kiss, had appeared while Tsuranuki was lost in his thoughts.
"Kiss-san, perfect timing! You can track down handsome guys easily, right?"
"That's right. Princess Kiss is a woman who gets it done."
"Then can you track Naginata-san?!"
"Impossible. He's not handsome."
"What are you talking about?! Naginata-san is so charming! His tempting kimono, his slim but muscular waist, his handsome face, his strong back and shoulders, the sliver of his neck visible under that ponytail! He's not just handsome, he's cute, beautiful and cool!"
"Chase your man all you want, handsome boy with bad eyesight. He's not my type in the slightest. I'll find that short vampire lord with white hair in no time if you want."
"I don't care about him! I want to find Naginata-san!"
"Oh, I saw him in line for QFC earlier."
"You what?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
"You asked the wrong question."
"Gah! Thanks, Kiss-san!"
Tsuranuki took off running towards the QFC. Why would Naginata be there, though? Did he get hungry in the middle of hunting Santa? Well, he often paused their Kushizashi hunts to grab them both something to eat, so maybe!
"Oh, Kushida."
"Naginata-san!!"
Out of nowhere, he appeared! Tsuranuki slid to a stop on the icy street, then rushed to Naginata's side.
"Naginata-san, you-"
"Your place or mine?"
Naginata's sudden question cut Tsuranuki's thought process in half.
"...For what?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Naginata raised the white cake box he was carrying.
"It's almost midnight. I'm spending Christmas with you."
Huh?
"Huh? But, you... Didn't you go hunt down Santa?"
"I caught him and got your present. Then I went and picked up some chicken and a cake."
"My... present...?"
There really was a present for me? From Santa?
Tsuranuki shakily stared at Naginata, eyes wide, lips thin.
Then, he smiled. Naginata smiled back.
"I'll give it to you once we've arrived. So, my place or yours?"
"Mine...! My place, Naginata-san! I've put up decorations! I found a small plastic tree and some christmas lights in the trash! They're broken, but they're colorful and they look nice! I wanna show you!!"
"Oh, nice find. Let's go, then."
"Yes!"
Walking by Naginata's side, stealing glances up at him Tsuranuki couldn't help but feel something warm in his heart. Somehow, with Naginata carrying bags and going home with him, it was like... like... like they lived together.
Naginata had offered, once, to let Tsuranuki live with him. Tsuranuki refused, because Naginata wanted Kushizashi Tsuranuki dead. But maybe one day, when Naginata learned Tsuranuki was a true hero... Maybe then, they could live together and walk home together like this, every day.
"By the way, Naginata-san... Is Santa okay?"
"Of course. He wished you a merry Christmas and apologized he couldn't find you before."
"So that's how it was..."
What a relief. So Santa just didn't find him. Tsuranuki was a good person all along.
The two spent Christmas night together in the ruins Tsuranuki called his lair. The present Santa had gotten Tsuranuki was a Gandaman action figure, just what Tsuranuki wanted! Not only that, but Naginata had gotten him a bottle of blood wine as a present from himself! Tsuranuki told him it was too much, since he'd also bought him cake and food, but Naginata deflected it, saying those were his own Christmas meal, too.
"I'll get you a present too! In return for the blood wine!!"
"No need. I just wanted to give it to you."
"But..."
"Stubborn. Pay it back to someone else, then."
"To someone else?"
"Listen, Kushida. I'm only here now because people gave me kindness in the past, when I had nothing."
"Naginata-san..."
"I hated being in their debt, back then, but now I understand how they felt. Now, when I see someone who reminds me of how I was, I want to give them kindness in return. If, one day, you can afford to give that kindness forward... then that's good enough for me."
"Naginata-san, you're so cool..."
Tsuranuki was pretty sure Naginata was around the same age as him, but he was so mature it was hard to believe.
But one thing was for sure. Naginata really was a good guy!!
"I'll do my best! I'll help people like you helped me!"
Naginata just nodded and smiled.
"By the way, Naginata-san! What did Santa give you?"
"Huh? Ah... I'll find out when I get home."
"You didn't take it from him?"
"Don't worry about it."
"B-but what if hunting down Santa means he won't give you a present anymore?!"
"Don't worry about it."
"But..."
"Gaah, enough!! Just don't worry about it!! Eat your cake and say 'Okay, yay!'"
"O-okay, yay!!"
Well, it'd probably be fine. Naginata was a good person, after all. Even if he stabbed Santa, he was a good person, so Santa would understand.