Chapter 37: Salan's Mystery

*Fire crackle*

Aku and Yaki sat next to a fire as the surrounding area started to get dimmer in lighting. Tarin, a few feet away from them, was setting up a 2nd tent next to another one that was identical.

"Pssssp Aku."

Aku turned to his sister who sat criss-crossed.

"Hm?"

"Why is he only setting up two tents?"

Aku looked back over at the tents.

'She's right, it seems he's only brought tw…wait a minute NO WAY!'

"Are you and that old man sleeping together?"

Yaki giggled.

"HEY, TARIN!"

Tarin turned to Aku as he stood up and something appeared to be wrong.

"Yeah?"

"Where's the other tent?"

"I don't have another tent?"

Yaki burst out laughing after hearing Tarin's response.

"We are NOT sharing tents!"

"Relax kid, we aren't sharing tents so don't blow a gasket. Also, you two had better stop calling me old. I'm only 30, and I still look as young as you guys."

Yaki's laughs started to dull into giggles as she went to ask Tarin a question.

"You're only 30?"

"Yep, 30 years young."

"I think you mean 30 years old."

Aku corrected Tarin's statement with a confident smile.

"I know what I said, Aku. Besides, why do you two think I'm so old?"

"Your Hair."

"The way you carry yourself."

"Dad jokes."

"How you dress."

"Wrinkles-"

"WOAH…that's where I'll stop the two of you. I have clear and very smooth skin. Not a single wrinkle in sight."

Tarin felt his face for reassurance.

"Mhm."

Yaki looked at Tarin's funny face. Tarin pulls a pole up as he finishes the tent. He walks past Aku as he pulls something out of thin air in between two trees.

'What the?'

Aku watched as suddenly, in a matter of, few seconds, Tarin sets up a mini condo-themed hammock with a mini bar right next to it.

"Ta Daaaaa."

Tarin displayed jazz hands, showing off his set-up.

"Is this even considered camping at this point?"

Yaki asked with concern.

***

-A few moments later-

Aku sat next to Yaki as they both listened to Tarin's snores in his hammock. They had a perfect view of being on top of a hill with a clearing that overlooked a lake that the moon shined on.

"This isn't a normal forest, Aku, I'm not stupid."

"I never thought you were. Where'd you hear about this place?"

"We learned about it in class. In our Jouyoung Geography Unit, It is one of the most dangerous places in the world. Being a completely unauthorized zone. Full of monsters and beasts alike."

"Why didn't you ask to leave then?"

"Same reason you didn't."

They both fell silent as they thought of Tarin.

'How could I be scared, with him, with us? Salan isn't a place to tread lightly, even for the strongest.'

Aku thought back to the memory of The Boss talking about the forest.

'He'd always say he'd like to visit it occasionally, but he would never bring any of us. He always said it was too dangerous.' 

Aku looked back at Tarin, and then back to the scenery.

'I guess it'd be irresponsible to get too comfortable out here even with Tarin.'

"Come on Yaki, we should get some sleep. No telling when he'll wake us up for something stupid."

Aku stood up, and slowly walked over to his tent. Yaki then stood up as well.

"Yeah, you're probably right."

***

Aku walked into his tent taking his shirt off. He looked at his sweatpants changing into them.

He heard Yaki in her tent getting ready for bed.

"Goodnight Yaki."

Yaki laid down gently holding her pillow while lying on it.

"Goodnight Aku."

***

-A Few Hours Later-

*Heavy gurgling breathing*

A beast standing on its hind legs slowly approached a hammock. It made sure to make as little noise as possible, almost being silent. It had two sets of mouths with different shades of gray fur. In one of its mouths were 5 sets of tongues licking its face while looking at food.

'Food'

It looked at the hammock being right next to it hearing the snoring of a man. It lunged.

*Crack*

Both of the creature's jaws broke as the man held its face as he and the beast suddenly stood many feet away from the hammock now. Tarin's eyes glowed in the night as his perpetual Shiryoku looked ghastly. The creature squirmed in his hand as Tarin's face resembled to have no remorse for the being.

He smiled slightly.

*Splat*

He crushed the creature's head completely.

"The rumors must be true..."

With blood all over him, he looked back at the campsite.

"This might just be fun after all."