Hiroshi's mind kept spinning, trying to figure it all out. Wisteria had taken complete control now, leading the demon into the village.
Some people, especially young children, looked on in fear and a hint of disgust.
"It's alright everybody! This is Arnold, and he's going to help us solve this very important case!" Wisteria beamed, interlocking arms with the demon. Hiroshi was surprised at how calm Wisteria was, despite the situation. She had no trace of hatred or malice in her anywhere, nor embarrassment.
Hiroshi stood behind his second in command as they knocked on the door of the first house. She was collected and composed, and she seemed confident in what she was going to say before she said it. The door opened, and a middle aged woman with straight blonde hair appeared. At first she seemed very nervous to even open open her mouth.
However, Wisteria was able to calm her down and reassure the woman that all was alright. The woman answered all of Wisteria's questions, and had a big smile on her face as they left the house.
Was this what compassion was? Or was it empathy? Hiroshi wasn't quite sure.
They went around to all the houses in the village. Asking the same exact questions. Hiroshi found it so tedious. What was the point in looking? Even if they did find the man and apprehend him, there would be somebody else to take over and make the demons lives miserable.
That's just how humans were.
Another house. Another hard knocking on the door from Wisteria. Another smile. Another question.
So boring.
However, Hiroshi's boredom went away quickly when he looked up at the man that had answered the door. He was around Hiroshi's height, if not slightly taller. He looked as if he could be a grandfather, early fifties, with deep wrinkles and grey strands in his short, wispy brown hair.
Was this him? It matched the description Arnold had given him. It had to be him.
The man gave a big smile, and Hiroshi had to cover his mouth with his hand. He couldn't reveal to the man his thought process.
With that, Wisteria spoke up again.
"Hello, Sir! May I ask you a few questions?" Wisteria asked with her usual smile.
"Why yes, you may! And please, call me Pedro!" the man responded back with his own cheerful tone. Hiroshi frowned, the muscles in his face contorting dramatically.
What a fake.
Hiroshi loved studying people. He watched people all the time, and examined them. He could also tell if somebody was a lair. A cheat.
Guilty.
"Well, Pedro, my friend Arnold here is a demon, and his people have been taken over by somebody by this village, according to him. Would you know anyone like that?" Wisteria questioned, getting out a piece of paper and quill.
"No, young madam. I don't usually interact with many people in this village, only when I go for my grocery shopping every week, but no more. I'm a recluse, you could say," he laughed loudly and with joy, and Wisteria had her own little giggle.
"Do you recognize him, Arnold?" Wisteria asked the demon. Hiroshi walked around to the right side of Arnold, noting his features.
A small bit of sweat was trickling down from his forehead. His voice was almost dry as he spoke his mind.
"No. I have never seen this man before in my life. Let's not waste this gentleman's time," Arnold spoke, looking left at Wisteria. At a surface level, it looked like he wanted to look at Wisteria while he spoke to her.
Hiroshi interperted it a different way.
"Looking left, a classic way to tell if somebody is lying. Arnold is being dishonest, I know he is. That sweat is not because of a warm day. It's thick, and he's almost trembling. The biggest clue comes from him," Hiroshi thought to himself, focusing on the man in the doorway. "His smile is so fake. His eyes are narrowed when he speaks, and there's not a twinkle to be seen, where it would be evident in a real smile. This guy is so full of shit. He's speaking to Arnold with his eyes. 'Rat me out, and you and your family are dead'."
"Come on Wisteria, Arnold's right, let's go," Hiroshi said, walking away from the house. He had all the details he needed. Now was his plan to strike back. Wisteria thanked Pedro for his time and left his path in front of the house.
"What now?"
"Now, we hide and wait for him to leave back to the camp he has," Hiroshi said, speaking to the air.
"What do you mean, Hiroshi?" Wisteria asked, baffled. "Surely you don't think..."
"It's him. Arnold was keeping quiet for his family's sake. He matches Arnold's description, and that fake smile. It was so infuriating!"
"Well, your last analysis made me take innocent lives," Wisteria stated coldly. Hiroshi shivered as he turned around to face Wisteria. "I mean seriously Hiroshi! What were you thinking?! They never wanted to attack us!"
"I couldn't take that chance!"
"Oh really? Well now because of you, Arnold's friends are dead! I shot them Hiroshi! You know how terrible I feel?!" Wisteria yelled at him. Hiroshi sighed and looked at the ground. Being blamed again for everything. And she was right to blame him.
"I know what it's like for somebody to die and be your fault."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Wisteria stuttered, taken aback. Hiroshi waked over to Wisteria.
"A year or so ago, I made a wrong judgement. I got the only person that ever cared about me killed. I didn't want you to be killed too. That's why I took the chance. I didn't want another set of parents crying with their child in their arms, saying it was my fault."
"H-Hiroshi...I...I'm so sorry," Wisteria was almost speechless. She hadn't expected that at all.
"I don't want your pity. I'm fine," Hiroshi said bluntly. The two went as quiet as death.
"It's him," Arnold spoke up softly. "That man...he has us under his control."
Hiroshi stood up straight and sniffed, keeping up appearances.
"Excellent. Thanks Arnold. I'll take up a position at your camp, if you know where it is, and surprise him."
"T-Thank you Sir!" Arnold blurted out, his gratitude obvious, shaking Hiroshi's hand.
"It's just Hiroshi."
Now it was Wisteria's turn for her mind to race.
Was he protecting her? Really? Did Hiroshi trust her in her abilities? Was she a tool to him? Or a friend?
And who was the one person who cared about him?