The Bounty Hunt, Redux

DATE: October XX, 202X
TIME: 11:23PM
TARGET: DR HUMBOLDT
It's certainly the perfect hideout for a madman. Or maybe it looks that way with the faint orange glow of the moon behind it. A chill has started creeping through the air sitting here, waiting for any sign of movement. I let out a little shiver as I try readjusting my position. A faint giggle drifts down on me. I look up to see my partner in crime, sitting on a branch with all the poise and posture of royalty. Her silver hair shining just enough in the moonlight to distract you from the 2 horns jutting out her forehead. Her tail hypnotically moving side to side as she looks at me. More important than all that, she has my jacket draped over her shoulders.
"Aw, I thought you told me the cold didn't bother you?" She taunts from her perch.
"It was either me being cold or listening to you complain all night." I shoot back at her.
She gives me a pout before hopping out of the tree, taking extra care to make sure her skirt didn't fly up down. Even her drop is elegant to the point that she touches down gently.
I guess you need to know who we are. My name is Bando Ichiro, 5th Generation Demon Hunter. The troll wearing my coat is Nessyra or Nessy as I call her, a half-succubus and my girlfriend. Together both of us are first years at Bonyari High School and members of the Paranormal Club.
Why am I taking my girlfriend out on a hunt with me? Well, she has a knack for sniffing demons out and all it costs me is half my pay. It's a bit steep I know, but she's helped me out a lot.
"Sense anything?" I ask.
Nessy shakes her head. "Nothing. He's too well hidden in there."
"Well, we knew what to expect taking this bounty." I sigh as I pull the binoculars back to my face. The building remains silent. Maybe the intel was wrong? About a million other questions run through my head as I continue to look.
Our target tonight was known simply as Dr. Humboldt. A mad doctor of sorts. It's believed that he experiments on his captives before taking their life essence. His usual prey is fit women and despite Nessy volunteering herself to infiltrate, it was thankfully pointed out she was too short to meet Humboldt's criteria. She wasn't happy about that remark.

----

TIME: 11:58PM
How long exactly have we been out here? All this time staring through the binoculars has just about sapped all my energy and I feel like taking a nap. Nessy, bored, decided to have a little fun by standing behind me and resting her arms and head on my head.
"You know, you can look can look through these things too if you really need something to do." I tell her, trying not a yawn.
"I'm fine. Besides, this is more fun~" She says, pressing herself closer to me. Suddenly, my freezing face was burning hot. I ignore her flirting and continue looking when she shoots up.
"I feel something!" Nessy whispers.
A few seconds pass, and a bloodcurdling scream pierces the dead night followed by a thud. I quickly pull the binoculars up and see the silhouette of some goon with a woman slung over his shoulder.
"Looks like we're on the right trail. Let's move." I say standing up. I reach down on my leg to check my dagger. It's a nervous habit of mine. The metal of the sheath was freezing cold but at least my mind will continue with the mission. I check back on Nessy to see her horns and tail have vanished. We exchange a nod andmake a beeline to the building.

----

TIME: 12:03AM
It felt a bit wrong how quickly that guard went down but I don't have time to second guess. One quick strike with the hilt of my dagger and he dropped like a sack of bricks. With that out the way I stroll over to the door. Locked. I look for a weak point to kick down the door as I feel Nessy smacking me on the back of the head. I shoot her a death glare only to be met with a set of keys dangling in my face.
"Did it ever occur to you to check the guard for keys?" she mocks.
"Sh-shut up." I snap back.
She smirks moving me aside and unlocking the door.
"After you~" She teases me with a flourish.
I walk through, ignoring her and look around. It is your bog standard dimly lit building. However, the hallway and walls looked pristine. Almost as if this was a hospital.
"Man, he really likes to keep to character." I think to myself.
Nessy walks around me and ventures down the hallway.
"Come on. I've got a lead on him."

----

TIME: 12:10AM
This place was a maze. Through twists and turns Nessy leads me around, hot on Humboldt's trail. The closer we got to him, the louder screams could be heard echoing through the place. Soon, we stop at a door where everything has gone silent.
"Humboldt's on the other side." Nessy whispers going to unlock the door with the guard's keys. She fiddles with the lock for a few seconds before leaning back clicking her tongue. "None of them work."
I crack my knuckles and give a little smirk.
"Guess it's my time to shine then." I say sizing up the door. One step back and I launch a kick right at the lock of the door, sending it voilently swinging open. Our target was hunched over a table, a shirtless women gagged on it.
"Step away nice and slowly Humboldt." I say commandingly.
Humboldt stands and swings around. True to his name, he's dressed to the nines in Doctor's attire, with one of those masks over his face. Despite being a demon he looked to be more of a man in his 50s but of course looks are always deceiving.
 "I'm busy with a patient right now," he responds, his voice as rough as sandpaper. "I'll be with you shortly."
"Cut the crap!" I shout charging him. I catch him off guard as we both tumble to the ground. Instantly, he tosses me off him as I reach for my dagger.
"Nessy, get her out of here!" I yell standing up, "I'll keep him occupied."
I can't see what's going on but I hear Nessy helping the woman to her feet.
"Bando," she says with a pause. "Be careful."
I hear them head out as I watch Humboldt stand up chuckling.
"They must be really desperate over there at The Tribunal," he says, his voice dropping a few octaves but not losing any raspiness, "To think they'd send out a green hunter and his little girlfriend...after ME!"
"You talk big for a middle of the road demon," I fire back at him, "Either way, your life will be the perfect atonement for your crimes."
"That phrase..." Humboldt trails off before clapping his hands. "You're the Ichiro kid aren't you?"
I don't repond to him as I slowly reach for my blade.
"So daddy dearest decided to hang it up huh?" He says, circling me, "Well then, allow me to send him a gift."
Humboldt sprouts a pair of horns plus a second pair of arms ending in scapel like blades. He growls and lunges at me quickly to gain the upper hand. I duck under and in one quick motion draw my blade and slash at him. I hop back up as Humboldt turns around. All my counter managed to do was tear at his scrubs. I charge at him, going for quick jabs at him but he sidesteps them easily.
"Is this really the best you can do!?" He mocks me before throwing a punch at my side. It hits like a cannonball but I stay upright. It'd take more than that to knock me down. He rushes back in, jabbing at me with his lower arms. I continue dodging side to side and with one quick flourish I land a solid slice him across the chest. This time I do see some blood seeping through.
"Good! Good!" He barks, shedding his human side and going full demon, "Show me the strength of the Ichiros!"
I feel the blade synching with my body. The energies of the dagger pour through me, heightening all my senses and putting me in the killing mood. Humboldt charges again, going to swipe at me with his arms on the right. Without a second thought, I spin around to his left, and get a couple more stabs in to his side. He spins around with a punch but I manage to get my arms up in time to block it. Next thing I see is a blade arm coming at me. I throw my dagger up in time to block but I never saw his second arm come in and nick me in the side. It wasn't a deep wound but it did just enough to intensify the trance.
"Can't leave an incision unfinished like that!" Humbolt shouts throwing his dagger arm at me again. I dodge to the side and thust my dagger into his arm. He howls in pain as I drag the dagger up the length of his arm. He lands a solid punch and I stagger back. However I manage to see the arm I attacked sitting limply at his side.
"I guess I had you pegged wrong boy!" He spits out, "But, that'll be the last hit you get on me!"
I smirk and charge at him, ready for the killing blow. He sees me leaping at his neck and casually leans back. His hand grasps my face and I slam down on the operating table.
"Now then, you might feel a bit of pain." He cackles. I can't see anything through his hand so I flip my dagger around and using as much momentum as I can muster, I rock my body around and plunge it deep into his arm. He pulls away but there's a loud thunk. I turn back to find Humboldt has lodged his blade arm into the table. How sharp is that thing? I quickly yank the blade out his arm and use this advantage to finish him off.
"Goodnight!" I yell going for the throat again. Humboldt, unfazed by my last attack, yanks his arm out the table lunges at my face with it. I catch it in just enough time to throw my dagger in the way. It deflects enough to where it slices just below my eye. I have enough time to collect myself to see Humboldt collide with me at full speed and pins me to the wall.
"I'll say it again, I had you pegged all wrong boy," Humbolt grumbles out. "I guess that's the Ichiro in you. However..." He trails off seeing me trying to sneak another attack and smacks the dagger out of my hand using the side of his lower arm. "You just came up short."
The trance is slowly fading away. I try to think of some sort of coounter but right now, his hand is clasped around the bottom of my neck and squeezing hard.
Humboldt draws his blade arm to the free spot of my neck and flashes a sadistic grin, "I won't mangle you too badly for your father. There's nothing worse than a closed casket funeral."
I stare death at him, powerless to do anything else. He brings the blade closer to me when a bolt of energy slams into his shoulder causing him to drop me. I collapse to the ground, trying to catch my breath when I hear Nessy talking.
"You forgot about me didn't you?" She asks, teasing him as if she were talking to me.
"You little bitch!" Humboldt roars.
I hear the commotion and scramble for my blade. When I make it back up, Nessy is basically taunting Humboldt. He lunges at her only to be denied as she effortlessly sidesteps the attack or counters them with her magic. Perfect! Now's my chance to strike! I begin to prep but I see Humboldt picking up on Nessy's dodging as she's getting desperate. Before I find an opening, Humboldt makes a stab at Nessy, that she dodges but he follows her and connects with a punch directly to her gut. He grabs her by the hair. I don't think at this point as I slam my dagger hilt first into the sheath and charge at him. All my momentum goes into shoulder check that throws him into a wall and off Nessy.
The dagger in my hand now crackles with energy as a spectral blade forms overtop it. The trance intensifies as it fully envelps me. I grab the hilt with both hands, now wielding my dagger as a sword. Humboldt sees me approach him as his eyes grow wide. He lets out a guttral roar and lashes at me with his blade arm. I hoist the ghost sword up and with lightning speed, bring it down trough his arm. He screams bloody murder as his arms drops to the ground and sticks upright by the blade. I reposition myself and thrust directly into his gut, shoving him back into the wall. It's now his turn to shoot the death glare as I grab his neck and yank the bade out.
"Now, repent and face judgement by my hands." I say lining the blade up with his head. One quick flourish and Humboldt finally goes down. I drop down as the trance leaves me and everything goes black.

---
DATE: October XX, 202X
TIME: 2:13PM
Nessy and I walk out of the Tribunal giggling like, well, schoolkids.
A day of recovery was all it took us to get back in shape and down to the Tribunal to collect our reward. I count while I walk, getting more and more excited with each passing note.
"Come on, don't leave me in the dark!" Nessy says bouncing up and down trying to look.
I finally finish counting and compose myself. "You're looking at a cool 115,000 yen!"
That number seems to drop Nessy's properness, "You're kidding me right?"
"Not at all! Look!" I tell her holding the cash out. She snatches the stack, quickly counts it, then peels off her share.
"Thanks Bando~" She says, handing the remaining cash back.
"Y-yeah no problem." I repsond, following her to campus. We sit quiet for a few minutes before Nessy finally speaks.
"So I've been thinking." She starts.
"Go on."
"Well, it's just that I did save your life against Humboldt after all," she continues, "So I think you owe me a little something extra."
"You want more money!?" I jump to, "Was the..." I stop to count but Nessy waves her hand.
"No, no. I don't want any more money." She says, "I was thinking of two things actually."
"Couldn't you say that first?" I thought before answering, "Alright."
"First, stop and kneel down." she commands.
Confused, I do what she says. Parts of me crying out in protest after the fight. Nessy jumps onto my back and wraps her arms around my neck.
"A piggyback ride?" I ask, still confused, "That was one of the things?"
"Of course. Your savior shouldn't have to walk anywhere!"
I roll my eyes, praying she didn't catch that. She's caught up in her delusions to notice thankfully.
"You're Queen also demands you treat her to dinner!" She proclaims.
"You're a queen now!?" My confusion is getting worse.
"Yes and your queen says you should take her to dinner!"
I finally gain my senses, "Don't I do that anyway for date night?"
"Oh right." she mumbles, "I got it! Take me to a fancier dinner then!"
"Like how fancy?" I ask.
"Oh and a big bag of candy!" She continues on with her excitement rising each second.
"Are you even listening to me!?"
"Don't tell me you are going to argue with your queen, are you?" She says with an added level of silk on it.
I weigh the option of arguing with her but it becomes apparent that I'm losing this. Plus I do owe her for saving my bacon.
"You know what, fine." I finally say defeated, "I'll do all that stuff"
Nessy squeezes her arms around and pushes herself closer to me. "I knew you wouldn't go against your queen, Bando!"
"I mean, it's not that bad?"
"I've got more ideas than just that~" she whispers into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, "But let's go celebrate with the others over our winnings."
"Right!"
I take off back for Bonyari ready to forget the last conversation but it still gnaws at the back of my head.
"What the hell did I agree to?"