Request

"So, tell me a little bit about the man we are meeting." Eclipse said, large coat draped over his body, the soft, carpeted floor under his bare feet. "What is he like? Is there anything I should not be doing around him?"

"Hmmm. I want to say yes, but just from interacting with you for a while, I feel like you are going to do whatever you want anyway, so I am not even going to bother." He said, looking at Eclipse from the corner of his eyes, seeing the glint of mischief in the man's eyes.

"Aww~. No fun." Eclipse said, still holding the all too big jacket wrapped around his body. "Well, whatever. I hope I will get along with him."

"I will tell you this though, he is a hard man, someone that is very hard to please and he is also easily angered, as you are … new. I think you should observe for the time being." Ash said, tilting his head at the man beside him as Eclipse nodded back.

"Sure. I will observe and see where this goes." He said, the smile never leaving his face.

"We are here, boss." The man leading the way stopped in front of a massive door before turning to the two and then opening it. "Please, go inside."

Nodding, Ash walked into the room with Eclipse following him from behind, waving at the man that stood at the door, looking at the two closely.

But, the moment Eclipse entered the room, he could not help but feel that something was not right in the room. But one look at the others and he could see that no one else noticed it.

I will need to keep a close eye out. He thought, looking at all the antiques that decorated the entire room, from paintings to vases and even curtains.

There are little, wooden antique cupboards at some parts of the room, reflecting the luscious colours of everything like red, gold, silver, bronze and everything else.

"Pretty." He mumbled, looking at the gold dragon embroidery against a red backdrop, almost like a scroll, plastered on the wall.

"Right? I really liked this painting." Ash paused, looking at the embroidery. "This took four years to make, from what the Big Boss told us and it also took him quite a bit to be able to obtain this. He cherishes it so much."

Reaching out, Eclipse gently touched the cloth, a strange sense of familiarity coming from the cloth. But, again, he could not understand why.

It seems I am very familiar with this place, or my body knows many of the things here. But I cannot comprehend how or why that is though I hope to soon.

"It really is pretty." Eclipse said, looking at the delicate embroidery again. "I seem to be quite familiar with this too, Aseko. Was this a famous work?"

"Not that I know of." He said, shrugging while staring at the embroidery and then at Eclipse. "But, maybe you were a fan? We could ask the Big Boss about the artist."

"Sure!" Eclipse said, beaming as they walked to another door that they had to enter to get into the bedroom. Eclipse immediately stopped in front of the door, grabbing Ash's coat to stop him as well.

A putrid smell came from the room and he could not push back this … uncomfortable feeling that seemed to overtake his entire senses.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked, looking at Eclipse's slightly frowning face. The only thing the man could think of was, he looks like a rabbit. Or a baby fox.

"Something is not right." He said, touching the door before quickly pulling his hand away from it. "Something is definitely not right."

Seeing how serious he looked, Ash also became slightly more serious as well, "What do you mean by that? What do you feel? I don't sense anything."

"Something … I don't know … curses like." Eclipse said turning to Ash with a slight smile on his face. "Sorry, I am not very good at explaining myself. Maybe it is nothing."

"Better be safe than sorry." He said, snapping his hands as two people, completely covered in icy blue smoke, obscured everything about them.

"You called, boss?" A man's voice came from one of the figures.

"Is something the matter?" A woman's voice came from the other as they both bowed to him.

"Keep hidden and scan the room," Ash said and they nodded, disappearing from their sight.

Eclipse could still make out where they were but they were pretty much gone to anyone else, even to Ash.

"There, now shall we go?" He asked, opening the door as the two entered in. Eclipse easily put on an innocent, nonchalant expression on his face as they entered the slime infested room, in Eclipse's vision.

"Ah, so you have come." A frail old man's voice came from the bed in the middle of the room but Eclipse had a hard time making him out from the slimes that strung all around the place, trying to keep himself from avoiding them because he knows that no one else sees it.

Strange, why am I seeing this though? And why can't Ash see just how man there are around the room. It should be unavoidable, right?

"We have, sir," Ash said, walking to the man and kissing his frail, wrinkled hand. "You called for us, if I am not wrong."

"I did." Eclipse did not need to see the man to be able to tell that he is looking at him. "So this is the person. Where did you find him?"

"Amongst the snow. He does not have any memories of his past." Ash suddenly said and Eclipse whipped his head to him so fast he heard something crack on the back of his neck.

Aside from the slime-filled room, it is covering Ash as well. The slimes dripped onto him as he stood there, unaware while the slimes could not maintain a grip on Eclipse, falling on him and then to the ground before dissipating into dust.

Ok, so I am not going to be able to rely on this man, it seems. But this is high-level magic. How is someone like this frail old man able to control it? Unless … it is not the frail old man.

That is plausible. I don't know how or why but I don't think this is the man they know him to be. Maybe an entity took over him or something.

Eclipse continued to observe the two men talking, listening to their conversations as they blatantly ignored him while discussing about him, in front of him.

I wonder what his plan is. Does he want to take over this entire organization or …? It seems a little more than that though. If I could touch him, I could, perhaps, figure out what is wrong but … that will raise too many suspicions.

Not to mention, I am someone that is not a part of these people, they will not believe a word I say, especially if it concerns that man in front of me. But … of all people … Aseko will believe me, or at least he will humour me.

Ok. I have an idea now. This will be my way of repaying you for saving me last night.

_______________________________

"How are you feeling?" Eclipse asked, walking behind Ash who was slumped against the chair.

"I have known that man ever since I was a child. He was always so strong. So, every time I go in there and see him like that, it takes a toll on me." Ash said, pinching his temples.

The moment the man was done talking to Ash, he sent them both on their way, allowing Ash to do whatever he wants with Eclipse, inviting the man as well, after giving him some warning, that is.

Sure, it is because you cannot bear to see him like that. Not because of the curse that is sucking the life from your body that is coming from that room.

… Right.

"I see." Eclipse said, beginning to massage his shoulder. "You are so stiff on your shoulders."

"Ah. You are good at this." Ash said, leaning back against the chair before suddenly sitting up. "Wait a minute, why are you doing this? I am so concerned."

"I knew you would catch on." Eclipse said happily, clapping his hands together. "I need to ask you for a favour, Aseko."

Ash looked at the man, a very cautious look coming on his face, "What is it?"

"It's nothing too bad. Don't worry." Eclipse said, messaging his arm. "Wow. So stiff. Damn."

"I work out," Ash said nonchalantly. "So what do you want me to do? Let me guess, it has something to do with the Big Boss."

"How did you know?" Eclipse asked, literally beaming like the sunlight.

"Who else would it be?" He asked, laying back on the chair, eyes closed. "So, what do you want?"

"I want the Big Boss's underwear."