The young man seemed oblivious to all of it. He rushed into a room, and a moment later, a strange voice came from inside. "Where have you been running wild? I told you not to go out and get into trouble. Why won't you listen?"
Tetsu no Sosuke stared in disbelief.
There was only one person breathing behind the door!
He reached the doorway in two strides, one hand already on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade. He slid the door open a crack and peered inside. The young man was speaking in a careful voice. "Mom, I went to watch Little Black move house, and I made a friend. Can he stay for lunch?"
Just as Tetsu no Sosuke tried to see who the young man was talking to, the young man spun around, walked to the other side of the room, and spoke in a different voice. "A friend? You mustn't make friends with bad children. Let me see what sort of child he is first. If he's a good boy, I'll make you both something tasty for lunch."
"Yay! Yay!"
The young man spun around again, returned to the other side, and played the son, his face bright with excitement. "He watched Little Black move house with me, so he must be a good boy. I'm sure of it."
"Come outside with me first."
He changed his voice again and headed for the door.
Somehow, after seeing so many vicious demons, Tetsu no Sosuke no longer found them frightening.
But watching this young man play both parts—son and mother—made his scalp prickle!
He took an involuntary step back and waited for the young man to come out.
When the young man emerged, he merely glanced at Tetsu no Sosuke and said, "Wait here!"
The Patient
Wait here?