Kanashi gasped for air like a fish plucked from the water as he woke up, his body covered in freezing cold water.
Looming over him with a freshly empty bucket and a scowl on his face was the public janitor. “動きろクソ外人やろう!” (Get a move on you Foreign bum) He roared his face bright red.
“Cho-oto Mattene.” (One sec) Kanashi groaned. His head felt like it’d been crushed by an anvil and his eyes refused to focus on anything before him. Placing his head in hands he tried to recall anything from the previous night.
“てめえは小便の匂いやろう!” (Come on ya’ smell like piss) The janitor yelled, throwing the empty bucket at Kanashi who knocked it away.
“I can barely understand you!” Kanashi argued. Stumbling to his feet: he found it extremely difficult to stand. “T-te wo kudasai…” (Give me your hand) He grumbled reaching for the Janitor.
“なんだよ!? (The hell) ふざけないやろうホモじゃない!” (I’m not a fag so don’t mess with me!) The Janitor yelled, jerking backwards.
As he did so Kanashi fell forwards, nearly falling onto the janitor who stepped aside right just as Kanashi slammed into the stall wall.
“Fuck!” Kanashi yelped as his face smashed against the cheap metal.
”お前!” (You) The Janitor yelled and grabbed Kanashi by his collar. He lifted him up off the ground until they were eye level with one another.
“Shit!” Kanashi grunted, his mind still foggy.
“死ね!?” (Die!?) The man repeated his face growing nearly beat red. He threw Kanashi to his feet and pulled his arm back ready to throw a punch but as he took a step back he slipped in a puddle of piss and fell backwards. His head fell perfectly into the toilet full of other people's waste with a splash.
Kanashi seeing this despite his drunkenness recognized the disgusting accident and felt the urge to vomit rise in his mouth.
“!”
Clasping his hand over his mouth he quickly ran out from the bathroom stall sliding across the tile as he did so until he fell outside to the busy mid day street outside.
“Blegh!” He gagged as he rolled across the sidewalk.
Looking up he saw a small crowd of people of all ages looking at him with a mix of disgust, anger and pity.
“Ah man, I really messed up.” He sighed letting his head hit the pavement.
# # #
The airport was busy, yet despite that no one came within a few meters of Kanashi, probably because he reeked of both piss and alcohol despite changing into a new set of clothes.
He’d somehow managed to find his way back to the subway stations public lockers and retrieved his backpack before stumbling into the airport. Finding his way to the ticket attendant he sat waiting for his number to be called so he could book his flight.
“Number 17!” The women called out eventually.
“Here!” Kanashi yelled as he slowly walked up to the counter, the woman's face contorting as she saw his pitiful state.
“H-how can I help you?” She asked nervously.
“I need a flight to Iboria.” Kanashi answered, letting his head rest on the counter.
“Were in Iboria exactly?” She asked.
“I don't care, just somewhere close to the Saharian border.”
“Well, I have a flight to Jerome at 18-”
“Too far.” Kanashi interrupted.
“Well… the only other flight option for today is Maynard but that’s at 23…”
“Maynard?” Kanashi repeated while raising his head.
That’s also pretty far but I might be able to catch a ride through Willows Deep to Geza and then hitch hike to Havasu. I think Martin (My Cousin) still lives there. But I haven't seen him since like 86’ right? Well he should be happy I’m alive at the least. Kanashi thought.
“Alright that one sounds good.” He sighed.
“Well before booking I must warn you that there aren’t going to be any flight returning to Edoland for the foreseeable future-”
“I don't plan on coming back, if I even can.” Kanashi interrupted once again.
“Well…” The attendant muttered a vein growing on her temple. “I’ll just need your Identification and payment to book the flight.”
“Alright.” Kanashi groaned, pulling his train pass and wad of cash from his pocket.
With a sigh the attendant took the crumpled up piece of paper and bills but her expression changed once she saw the writing across the train pass. “Oh!” She yelped, straightening her posture. “I’m sorry I was not aware of your importance.” She said quickly typing on her keyboard, “I’ll apply the serviceman discount to your ticket and also upgrade you to business if that’s agreeable.” She smiled.
“Importance? Pft… I’m not important, I’m a coward… A piece of shit coward.” Kanashi said as tears dripped down his face.
“Well….” The attendant said between puckered lips. “Your total will be $71 with the discount applied.”
“That should be enough.” Kanashi said motioning to the wad of cash he’d handed the woman who began to count the bills.
“Perfect! Then here's your return, a total of $11.06.” She said counting the change back to Kanashi.
“Thanks.” Kanashi said, forcing the change into his pocket and grabbing his ticket.
“Come again!” She called out as Kanashi limped away back to his seat in the lobby.
# # #
With each click of the clock Kanashi's heart seemed to double its pace, he’d been sitting in the airport for nearly six hours meaning in another three his flight would be ready.
Is this really the right choice? He wondered clenching his fist as hard as he could. That thought had been plaguing his mind for the past six hours without pause and no matter what conclusion he tried to come to they all lead to the same answer.
No. This is the wrong choice… He sighed, “But I already made it, not like I can go back on it now…” He muttered leaning back in the airport's uncomfortable metal chair. Not a single person had dared sit next to him, foreigners and or natives both stayed clear of his presence, in fact they purposely avoided his aisle, instead crowding in the ones behind him.
“What’s even going on? Is this God punishing me for my choice? Is this how the rest of my life is going to be?” He laughed, at first his laugh was soft, a slight giggle which grew into a ever so slightly louder chuckle, however before long it was a full hyena like howl.
“Goddamn it! What am I supposed to do then!? I’ve messed everything up so far! Not a single thing I’ve done has worked out! It’s all backfired on me! I thought I was going above and beyond yet the only achievements I gained were more obstacles! I thought I made the right choice! I thought I did the right thing so why am I regretting it!? Why am I regretting this!? Why do I always make the wrong choices!? Why am I always the one who fails? Why am I the one who always ends up alone!? It’s not fair! It’s not fair damnit!” Kanashi yelled as he leaned forwards in his chair, curling nearly into a ball.
Not a single person approached Kanashi, they all kept their distance which grew even further and whispered amongst one another. Their words congealed into a glob of imaginary curses and insults which assaulted Kanashi ears.
“Listen to them, they’re all laughing at me now, they’re talking about how the world would be better off if I died. They know just how pathetic I am…” He cried pushing his head into his hands.
The whispers grew louder until it was almost deafening, like the high pitched cry of a static TV flickering through channels during a storm.
“Excuse me?” A female voice asked from above.
Kanashi lifted his head up slowly, his blood shot crystal clear sanpaku eyes were like spears which pierced the woman's soul.
“Ummm, you’re causing a disturbance so we ask that you take your leave until your flight is ready.” She said with a forced smile.
“...” Kanashi didn’t make a noise, he didn’t speak, laugh, sigh or click his tongue. He simply got up, grabbed his bag and left the lobby, as he walked away two security guards followed closely behind both rather small and skinny men.
Kanashi's mind was blank as he walked down the hallway. Everyone he passed by cleared a path and whispered amongst each other as he walked past them,
“...” Clutching the straps of his backpack tightly he closed his eyes and shook his head softly, a sense of deja-vu washed over him.
Inside his mind and before his closed eyes the airport warped into his highschools hallways. He was no different than he was then. An unwanted pest and that realization only hurt more.
“Damnit.” Kanashi sighed, clutching his shirt tightly, “It’s just the hangover messing with me, I’m fine. Nothing bad is happening, breathe slowly, inhale through your mouth and exhale out of your nose in 5 second intervals like mom taught me.” He muttered.
He took a deep breath which filled his lungs with cold air for a total of five seconds, he then held it in his chest for another five before blowing it from his nose slowly. Repeating this process countless times he tried to calm himself but to no avail. The pain in his soul was still present and violent. It tore as his mind ripping it to shreds, all of his life's regrets flooded his mind and his breathing increased to a hyperventilation.
“Damnit!” He grunted slamming his back against the wall in an attempt to catch his breath. His body was dripping with sweat and his skin had turned a ghost white.
The security guards both looked extremely worried as they hurried to his side.
“Ru Okei?’ One asked, patting Kanashi on the shoulder.
“Boku ga, Sick… desuyo.” (I think I’m sick) Kanashi choked out.
# # #
The electric clock read 21:40, in one hour and twenty minutes Kanashi would board his flight.
He sat in a sterile white room with nothing other than a white table in the middle and two white metal chairs. Across from him sat a man of around fifty years of age with slicked back white hair and tired half opened eyes.
“Sarumalder Kanashi…” The man read aloud as he traced his finger across the train pass.
“...”
“My name is Gogoroko Minamoto and I’m the head of security here at [Soragou] airport. I just wanted to ask you a few short and simple questions. If you don’t feel comfortable answering them that’s fine.”
“Should I ask for a lawyer?” Kanashi asked nervously, his leg shaking uncomfortable under the table.
“No, this is not that kind of interview, I’m simply just interested in you as a person.”
Is he with the Toumeikan? Are they trying to kill me before I can leave? Kanashi wondered nervously. “Why’s that?” He asked after a short pause.
“This train pass here is why.” The man said, tapping the piece of paper. “For a foreigner of 18 years of age to gain such a thing is truly unique and I’m fascinated by it.”
“...”
“Well then, how did you get this pass exactly?” Minamoto asked.
“I… helped a police officer who was injured during the Izumika Incident in Midorigawa prefecture, a piece of rubble had crushed his leg so I helped him to a safe place and called for help.” Kanashi answered.
“The Izumika Incident?” Minamoto repeated as raised his eyebrow. “That’s truly a unique incident, thankfully the casualties were few and the Toumeikan was dealt with swiftly.
“How’d you know it was the Toumeikan?” Kanashi asked, The papers I read didn’t mention anything about the Toumeikan…
“How do you know?” Minamoto asked, his face stern.
“I don't, I was simply asking how you would have known.” Kanashi shrugged. “I didn't hear anything of the sort about it and they didn’t mention the perpetrators in the newspaper. Only that it was a long and explosive standoff between the police and violent individuals.” As Kanashi spoke his leg shook fast enough to catch on fire.
“Yes, it’s true that the newspaper didn’t report who caused the incident. But a friend of mine who was visiting Izumika at the time spoke of seeing the Toumeikan there. But he could have just imagined things during the panic, I thought perhaps you’d be able to clarify for me since you were so close to the front lines.” Minamoto laughed.
“I’m sorry I can’t answered that question like you’d hoped, I didn't get a chance to look at the scene exactly.”
“It’s fine, it’s more just my sick curiosity. You can’t help but be interested in such morbid events, we as humans are drawn to them. The mystery of the world, the excitement it brings us who live meager and boring lives slaving away.” Minamoto sighed. “Ah, what am I talking about, please don’t tell anyone that complaint.” He laughed once again.
“Don’t worry, I feel the same way.” Kanashi replied, his shoulder relaxing.
“Well your flight is in 70 minutes, so would you mind sticking around and speaking to me some more?” Minamoto asked.
“It’s better than being stuck outside.” Kanashi answered.
“That’s true, it’s rather dangerous outside at this hour, with the partying at all. I’d hate for a foreigner to get caught up in that and do something reckless.”
“...”
“Hm? What’s wrong Saurmalder-San? Are you not feeling well again?”
“No, I’m just… thinking about stuff.”
“I see, would you mind telling me what you’re thinking about?” Minamoto asked, resting his chin in his hands.
“Umm sure I guess, but why?”
“You seem stressed out and I can’t help but want to help you in any way I can. It’s just the way I was raised.” Minamoto shrugged.
“Yeah, I am stressed out right now…”
“What happened to make you stressed out?”
“...”
“Is it something you don’t feel comfortable sharing?”
“No, I’m just trying to think of a way to explain it… well here imagine this. You’re someone who doesn’t know what to do with your life, you feel like everything you want is too difficult to attain and that you're destined to be a loser…but one day you find a job that really interests you, Like it has everything you would want. Good pay, benefits and a high future.”
“...”
“You start working there and it’s everything you could want and more, it’s like your dreams are coming true!”
“...”
“But you soon realize it’s not as easy as you thought it’d be. The loneliness of it and the fatigue it puts on both your mind and body is way more than you can handle. Even though you still love the job itself you keep messing it up and making it harder for others to clean up after you.”
“...”
“You keep messing up more and more until finally you realize that you’ve done nothing but make things worse since you started.”
“...”
“At the time it seemed like the right choice, like you were doing the right thing. You’d done nothing but mess up the whole time you worked there so if you weren’t there things would be better right? But what if you regret it? What if you feel like you made the wrong choice afterwards? I know I probably sound like a rambling mad man and messed the story up but I guess I want to ask if I’m selfish for wanting to go back?” Kanashi asked, looking up at Minamoto with a weak smile.
“Yes.” Minamoto said, his face stern.
“Oh- Oh okay…” Kanashi muttered in response, nodding his head slightly.
“You make the tough yet correct decision, from your description it seems like you were nothing but a cancerous tumor leaching onto the company and dragging the others down with your failure, it is most definitely better off without you. Your feelings of regret are indeed wrong and selfish.”
“...” Kanashi couldn’t muster a response, his lips grew dry and he turned his head downwards to hide his expression. Why am I disappointed? Did I want to hear that I wasn’t being selfish? That I should go back? Maybe I explained it incorrectly! Maybe If I explain it better he’ll agree that I’m right for the job! That this is my purpose! That I should be a part of the Venator Society! Kanashi looked up with a strange expression, his face dripping with sweat and his lips curved upwards in a nervous smile. But before he could speak he shook his head and looked back down at the floor, biting his lip as hard as he could he felt the jolt of pain shoot through his body.
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No, he’s right this is me being selfish, I’m just trying to come up with more excuses for myself. I’m only going to make things worse by going back. That is even if they let me back on. Like I said before they have no reason to believe in me, I ran away when things got tough. What’s to make them think it won’t happen again? Why should they believe I wont run away again when something even worse happens? What if I run away when they really need me? When I’m the only one for the job? How can I trust myself not to run away from it?
BEEP
BEEP
The beeping of a clock brought Kanashis mind back to the real world where he looked up to see the clock had struck 22:30, his flight would take off in just thirty minutes.
“Oh, it seems like the time has come for you to depart.” Minamoto sighed as he looked at the clock behind him. “How unfortunate, I was enjoying our conversation.” He frowned.
“I’m sorry to leave the atmosphere in such a sour mood, I didn't mean for it to turn that way…” Kanashi said, bowing his head solemnly. “Thank you for letting me hang out here.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it, I’m simply doing my job” Minamoto laughed, patting Kanashi on the shoulder.
“Now, you should hurry up and get out there before your flight takes off without you.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Kanashi grinned as he stood up, a new sense of assurance and determination flowing through him.
“Oh by the way there was something else that my friend mentioned seeing in Izumika.” Minamoto said as he opened the door for Kanashi.
“Oh? What’s that?” Kanashi asked, turning around and tilting his head.
“Well…” Minamoto muttered as his lips curled into a smile. “That there was a foreign boy with a black arm and large scar across his face fighting with the Venator Society. One who was most likely a member from the Venator Society mainland sent to infiltrate Edoland from the inside and destroy the Toumeikan.”
Kanashi's newly found confidence crumbled instantly, his heart sank and his eyes turned upwards in a panic.
“Oh, don’t falter now Sarumalder-San, you might miss your flight. You’re free to leave the country alive as long as you do so right now. Don’t let this act of kindness go to waste.” Minamoto chuckled softly as he closed the door on Kanashi.
“...”
Kanashi could only stand at the door in silence, his heart pounding like it was about to explode. A warm chill ran up his spine, one that burned him all the way down to the tips of his digits. Sweat dripped down his face and his teeth chattered.
“I… I did it again.” He cried softly looking at his shaking hands. “I-I-I really am hopeless.” He muttered, pushing his fingers into his eyes.
# # #
Kanashi left the wing of the airport he’d been in. The night's cold breeze filled with salt from the sea stung his swollen red eyes and burned his lungs.
The sound of planes and other vehicles hummed in the distance and people walked across the path in front of him chirping loudly.
“...” With his mouth slightly open Kanashi stood there, unsure of what to do.
I thought that If I left things would get better, but I’ve somehow managed to make things worse just by existing. Should I just kill myself at this point? Everything I do just causes more harm.
Kanashi let his head fall back and the cold wind blow through his hair, to say he was hating life would be an understatement, he truly from the bottom of his heart at this moment loathed existence in general.
“Plane 11-6 is boarding, I repeat plane 11-6 is boarding.” Called the intercoms, Kanashi reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the two slips of paper he had, his train pass and the ticket for the airplane he’d be boarding soon.
“...”
Staring at the ticket he bit his lip.
“I made my choice, I can only stick with it now. I need to stand proud and live by my actions. I’m sure Frairk messed up at one point, same with Jin and Julius. The only thing you can do is turn that mistake into a correction! Now begins the new part of my life!” He muttered aloud trying to hype himself up. His body trembled either from excitement, the cold or nerves. Kanashi wasn’t exactly sure which nor did he care. With a puffed out chest he strolled into the airport's main building and walked through it following the signs which read in “This way to boarding” in Shinkai.
As he walked he nodded his head and smiled at fellow tourists, some of whom returned the favor while others ignored him, seemingly off put.
This is exactly what I wanted right? The Venator Society was cool and all but I didn’t actually get to remake myself like I wanted to. To them I was still Kanashi Sarumalder, the loser who had no plan in life and spent his days playing video games and reading. But now I can be whoever I want to be! Nothing is tying me to my past. I can make up my own backstory and traumas, my own goals and connections. I can make myself a new person and no one can tell me otherwise!
Kanashi smiled wide as the prospects ran through his mind.
Okay first off, my name will still be Kanashi, that’s a given I don't want to change it too much because that’d be confusing. But my last name… well how about Aragon? The Sarumalders are distant descendants of the Aragon clan in Iboria so I can work with something I already understand!
Alright now as for my family, I was the bastard child of… who’s the Aragon family even composed of? I only know of the founders and important figures in history, not the modern ones… well they’re just politicians and boring stuff anyways right? So no one is actually going to check my accuracy, especially since I'm claiming to be a bastard child. Maybe my mother, who was a common bakery worker who caught the eyes of the Lord. Diego V. Aragon, or at least that’s the name he gave to her! Yeah, they were together for a year or two in secrecy until they were found out by the Aragons family head… what was that guys name again? Well whatever, the family head found out about the affair and then Diego broke it off with my mom and married a new noble woman! Yes, they left me and my fake mom out to die in the rain yet she raised me in the slums. After years of working my ass off and hearing the hate filled rants of my mother who died of the plague I’ve devoted my life to revenge!...
“Too complicated.” Kanashi sighed, “That might have fooled somebody a few hundred years ago but nowadays anyone could see that I just ripped that from [Last For The Lamb] by Arturo Alvarado…
Okay how about we ditch the Aragon name and instead go for… Jiminez? No, maybe Ahman or Habib? Nah, those aren’t good either, they're way too Saharian and I also have to live with this name for the rest of my life so it needs to be cool…
As Kanashi crafted his backstory the line he’d been standing in slowly moved forwards, his luggage was light enough that he could skip having it checked and stored completely. As the line moved and Kanashi grew closer to the front his heart beat increased further.
Okay! I got it this time, Kanashi Sarumona. I can keep most of my life the same except replace Azhar with Adoben… but what about my family? People are always going to be wondering where they are and want to meet them right? Well… I can write them away but that just feels… wrong… I guess I can get to that when it becomes a problem, for now I just need to decide what I want to do with my life…
“What I want to do with my life…” He repeated aloud, biting down on his lip hard enough it bled.
“Next!” The flight attendant called as Kanashi stepped forwards. “Ticket?” He asked.
“Here.” Kanashi said, passing the crumbled slip forwards.
“Business class eh? At your age? Not bad, kid.” The man huffed, stamping the slip of paper and handing it back to Kanashi.
“Thanks.” Kanashi muttered, taking the slip back and exiting the building. The cold breeze from before had been replaced with the flaming exhaust of jet engines, so hot the ends of your hairs were singed.
To his right was a long strip which led to a cluster of buildings which were a mix of radio towers and fuel banks. To his left was a field of jets and planes with people either entering or exiting their flights. In front of him were another two dozen or so people echo boarding the plane.
Well I have my whole life ahead of me right? Even if it’s tomorrow or in two years from now as long as I find a purpose I have one!
... No, I dont have my whole life ahead of me. Not if the Horseman Of The End aren’t stopped. But it’s not like I can do anything about that right? I mean I couldn’t do anything about it before either, I was just a useful pawn moving things along quicker.
But that changes now, even if I only have till 2500 I’m going to make the time until then one to remember! I’ll live life the way I want to.
“!”
As Kanashi finished that thought there was a signal sent out, one which only he could feel, a spike in aura, a large spike as if someone had unsuppressed themselves for but a moment.
Not only did they unsuppress their aura but it was weak, and feeble like that of someone on death's door. The roar of a dying star if you would.
“?”
Looking to his right where the signal was let off he saw and heard nothing, there was just a cluster of liberally sized buildings without so much as a cigarette lighting them.
“...”
What was that? Someone in trouble? Someone hurt? Is it a trap, a signal? Did I just imagine it?
“...”
Kanashi waited for another signal but he sensed nothing, there wasn’t a single peep.
“Oi, ya blind bastad’ will ya fookin moov?” A man behind Kanashi asked, pushing him further in line.
“S-sorry!” Kanashi yelped in surprise. The line had grown shorter; he was now only a dozen or so people far away from boarding from the plane.
“...”
Kanashi couldn't help but look back at where he’d felt the single.
Was it an animal? A dying old cat or something? No it was way too big, that had to be a person, but is it a trap? Is it someone trying to lure me to my death? Is it the Toumeikan trying to make sure I board the plane and don't come back? No, that doesn’t make sense! Why would they purposely let me go free and then lure me away right before I leave. It only causes them more trouble. So the only option left is a hurt person, somebody near death's door. Somebody trying to gain somebody's attention with that signal. Asking for help.
“Do I really hafuta tell ya again?” The man behind Kanashi yelled once more, pushing him further in line. But this time Kanashi didn’t pay attention to the man pushing him or his words. His mind was focused solely on the signal of aura he’d felt.
What should I do? Even if it’s not the Toumeikan, Minamoto said as long as I left immediately there’d be no issues right? Maybe I can reason with them? Maybe the plane will wait for me even after I run off? I return and tell them it was all a misunderstanding? Even if they do leave without me I can still just book another flight right? If the Toumeikan gets angry, can I explain myself? Will they listen to me and accept it or will they just kill me then and there? Do they have time to waste with my stupid anxieties? Do I have a reason to go over there and check out that signal? So what if somebodies hurt? I’m sure they’ll be found eventually right? Yeah, this is not my job. They’ll be found by somebody else and they’ll help them.
But what if they don't?
Then it’s not my problem! They were meant to die! Why should I risk my life to save somebody else's?
Will you regret it?
Regret what!? Saving my own life? Yeah right! I’m the most important person to me! No one else matters! I’m the only one I should be worrying about1
Do you really think that?
Of course I don’t! I want to help them but I’m afraid! I’m afraid of my own stupidness, my own anxiety and my own cowardice! I wouldn’t be in this situation if I’d just stuck with the mission in the first place! Even if I made all those mistakes I’m sure they wouldn’t have hated me for it! I’m the one who hated me, I’m the bad person. I’m the one who flaked out when I didn’t need to! I regret it! I regret everything I did! Everything that led me here I regret it!
Are you going to regret this too?
“No, I won't.” Kanashi said aloud.
“Huh? Ya wut mate? Y the fook r’ ya here if you wanna move up in laine?” The man behind Kanashi huffed, going to push Kanashi forwards once again.
However when he stretched his arms out to push Kanashi there was no one there.
Kanahshi leapt into the air with his enhanced legs, he must have been nearly 15 feet in the air and he flew down to the ground a good thirty feet away with a run.
Sweat flew off his face in the warm wind as he smiled nervously.
“I did it!” He laughed, clenching his hand. “I won't let another regret plague me!” With that cry he dove into the cluster of buildings with another leap landing into an small alley which four men resided in.
One man was curled up in a ball beaten bloody while two others loomed over him with metal bats. The fourth and final man was a familiar face to Kanashi.
“The hell are you doing here brat!?” The man yelled, turning around with a bright red wrinkled face.
“Long time no see, Minamoto-San.” Kanashi grinned with sweat dripping down his chin. Flicking his wrist he conjured his Katana [Itachi].
“Don’t give me that shit! Why aren’t you on that plane? Do you wanna die that badly!?” Minamoto asked as spit flew from his mouth.
“No, not really, I just don't wanna live with more regrets.” Kanashi answered, pointing his katana at the old man.
“Regrets? You left the Venator Society! They don’t care about your ass anymore! You’re going to regret your decision right now! You’re going to regret not getting on that plane and living the rest of your pathetic life! Kill him!” Minato yelled, snapping his fingers.
The two men with metal bats both charged at Kanashi, their barrel sized biceps flared with bulging veins and their weapons ready to crush bone.
“Tch, what the hell did I get myself into?” Kanashi muttered, raising [Itachi] above his head.
The first man came down with his bat from above preparing to bring it downwards like a hammer.
[Crescent Moon Style: Crescent Moon!]
Kanashi swung Itachi upwards, meeting the Metal bat with a loud bang, pushing the bat to the side. Kanashi then brought Itachi downwards in a circular pattern and slashed into the side of the man with a splash of blood.
“!”
The man scoffed as blood flew from his side and he fell to the floor with a skid.
“The Crescent Moon Style?” Minamoto thought aloud with a furrowed brow.
“What’s wrong? Did you think I sent was here without being able to defend myself?” Kanashi asked with a sideways smile. While his appearance was that of a confident man his right shoulder ached horribly from being over exerted, the newly formed arm not used to the speed and motion of using the [Crescent Moon Style].
The second man ran at Kanashi with his bat brought backwards like one would hit a baseball. Kanashi slammed his foot down casting [Bog] before him which shot out at the man forming a quicksand like muddy trap.
“!” The man caught by surprise instantly fell one knee deep in the mud.
From behind Kanashi appeared the first man who’s side had been cleaved open. Kanashis observation caught his presence at the last second and he turned his head around right as the bat came at him.
“!”
Kanashi jumped back and ducked down right in the Knick of time, the bat swinging less than an inch away from his face.
Enhancing his leg he jumped up and flipped backwards over both Minamoto and the man trapped in the now drying bog. He landed next to the beaten and bloody person who was slumped against the wall not making a sound.
He’s literally on death's door… but how? He can clearly use magic and these guys can’t. How did they overpower him?
“So it seems you can use magic then?” Minamoto muttered with a nervous grin.
“Of course I can, this is hopeless, run along now and I won’t kill you.” Kanashi said, raising Itachi to his chest.
“Fufufufu, how unpredicted, I guess that means it’s time to use it.”
“?”
Before Kanashi could question his statement there was a bang and a searing hot sensation in \his side.
“...”
Kanashi looked down and saw a bullet hole right in his stomach which barely missed his liver.
“!”
His eyes widened in a panic as his aura nodes and mana circuits went into a frenzy making them impossible to control. A transmuted bullet with magic negating properties!?
“Don’t worry, the bullet doesn't do any damage, but we do.” Minamoto laughed.
The two men with bats ran at Kanashi once again. At the same time they came at him from the side and above and Kanashi, unable to use Observation, Reinforcement or Enhancement was unable to dodge both. His naturally enhanced reflexes he’d gained from all his battle experience helped him avoid the overhead attack but the second one from the side smashed into his left arm and rib cage with a crack.
“Gah!” He coughed as bits of blood flew from his mouth. He smashed to the ground with a roll and the men came down at him with their steel toe boots and bats once again.
Kanashi sloppily somersaulted away from the attacks and ran away on all fours before climbing to his feet.
“Running away are you!?” Minamoto laughed as Kanashi limped away.
The bullet! I need to dig it out of my body! As long as it’s in me I won’t be able to use magic! He thought sliding behind a wall right as a metal bat came for where his head would have been.
Kicking off the ground and jumping backwards Kanashi smashed the top of his head into the man pursuing him’s chin with a crack.
“Kuso!” The man grunted, stumbling backwards.
“That hurts!” Kanashi whimpered with tears in his eyes. Without Reinforcement and enchantment he was fully exposed to the pain of a fight as well as the damage it took on your body.
[Kyoyu Style: Zaraki!]
Bringing Itachi overhead, Kanashi swung the blade down on the man's shoulder, though he sliced into his flesh the blade stopped at the man's collar bone, unable to break through.
“Damnit, I’m not strong enough!” He growled, ripping Itachi out of the man's shoulder and turning around to run away.
The second man chased after him with his bat at the ready, his speed incredible despite his hulking figure.
Seeing the bat come for him out of the corner of his eye, Kanashi ducked down right as the bat smashed into where his head had been a minute before. The brick wall instead being dented.
Kanashi continued to run away as fast as he could with both men chasing after him quickly gaining on him.
There! He thought, seeing a trash can which he jumped over and kicked behind him. The trash clan flew at the men who smacked it away with their bat. But once their field of view had been restored Kanashi was gone.
“Where’d he go!?” The men yelled to one another quickly searching around.
“Up here…” Kanashi laughed quietly as he slumped against the air conditioning unit of the building above. He’d quickly kicked off the ground onto a pipe and then pulled himself upwards onto the roof. With his rush of adrenaline he managed to do it within only a few seconds but he was severely out of breath.
They’ll find me eventually, so I need to fix this problem now. He thought, looking down at his stomach, Minamoto was correct when he said the bullet didn’t do damage itself. It had somehow traveled into Kanashi's stomach without actually piercing the skin instead materializing within him.
Looking at Itachi in his hand he nervously wondered what to do.
Do I carve it out of me? No way that’s way too dangerous to do right now! If I do it wrong I’ll just end up dying without accomplishing anything… Biting his now scared lip he crawled over to the edge of the roof. Peaking over he saw the two men below now looking up at him and though they missed his head they’d clearly considered him hiding up there.
“Shit!” Kanashi growled, pulling his head back and out of view. “Wait… I don’t actually have to fight them right now do I? Can’t I just go after Minamoto and take him out while those two look for me?”
Deciding that to be the correct choice Kanashi quickly got on all fours and ran across the roof jumping over a short alleyway which he barely cleared and ran across the second which eventually led to the alleyway where Minamoto resided.
“Gotcha!” He thought, jumping off the roof to the floor below with a quiet bang. “Ow!” He yelped, feeling a jolting pain in his knees and ankles. He’d grown so used to magic that he forgot the dangers of heights.
“How’d you!?” Minamoto gasped upon seeing Kanashi. He raised his gun upwards to shoot him but Kanashi swung Itachi downwards onto Minamoto's wrist.
“Gah!” Minamoto screamed as he involuntarily dropped the gun in his hand. Kanashi followed the attack up with a punch smashing his fist into Minamoto's noses with a splash of blood.
Minamoto stumbled backwards and Kanashi followed up with another punch but was met with Minamoto's knuckles which had a set of brass knuckles on them.
“Gyaaah!” Kanashi screamed as he was thrown backwards, his eyes quickly filled with blood and began to swell and his nose was cracked clean in half making it difficult to breathe as blood dripped from the two nostrils.
“Damn you, you stupid foreign monkey!” Minamoto yelled, his own voice nasally from his nose being broken as well.
Kanashi gritting his teeth jumped forwards and swung Itachi at Minamoto who jumped backwards barely in time, the end of Itachi grazing his chest and slicing the fabric of his suit open. “Gurrah!” Kanashi yelled, stomping forwards with another punch, at the same time Minamoto threw his own fist outwards and they both crashed into their opponents face. Kanashis knuckle dug itself into Minamoto's eye and Minamoto's brass knuckles further fractured Kanashis face this time shattering his left cheek bone. Kanashi fell backwards, his mind overcome with the pain but he caught himself and came forwards once more slamming his fist into Minamotos head once again this time following through with the attack, Minatmotos head smashing to the ground with a bounce.
“Damn!” Kanashi grunted feeling his knuckles swell with blood, the bones fractured as well. He stumbled backwards and Minamoto shakily stood up with a shriek.
“Damnit! Yusuke! Oda! Where the hell are you!?” He gargled choking on his own blood and saliva. He looked at Kanashi who despite being in horrible condition with a swollen and fractured face had eyes like a beast burning with determination.
“Tch, I’ll come back and kill you!” Minamoto growled before turning around and running out of the alley shakily leaving a trail of blood drops behind him.
“...”
Kanashi waited and heard nothing, no footsteps or yelling. Not a single sound came into his ears. With a sigh he fell backwards against the wall and next to the bloody and beaten man who’s signal started this mess. “Don’t die on me now…” Kanashi grunted out and closed his eyes.
I did it, I made the choice and did what I wanted to. What my heart was telling me was right, but now I’m surely gonna die. I can’t use magic and have Yakuza with weapons just around the corner ready to come kill me… I can’t say I don't regret this but I’m also happy with my choice
. Accepting his fate he let his consciousness begin to fade, his whole body and head throbbing in pain.
“!”
But then he saw it, the image which appeared in his head was undeniable and fierce. That of a massive tiger looming over him with an open mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Its eyes staring down at him curiously.
image [https://i.imgur.com/iWFYRSL.png]
“!”
Kanashi's eyes shot open and he looked upwards. Who stood over him was someone he knew. Though they’d only met for a few minutes his massive size and fashion was recognizable. It was Taishi from the bar.
“It’s as I suspected then…” Taishi muttered as he stared down at Kanashi.
“...” Kanashi wanted to speak but he found himself unable to, his energy lacking severely.
Just then the two men who were with Minamoto originally and wielding bats came from the room above. They slammed to the floor with their metal bats raised and coming down on Taishi who glared at them with narrowed eyes.
“!”
When the bats came within a meter of him they instantly melted, one second they were solid and the next they were transformed into globs of smolting metal which fell to the floor with a splash.
“Akatora-Sama!?” The two men gasped upon seeing who they’d just attacked. Though before they could plead their cases they were engulfed in a blazing inferno which quickly reduced them to ashes before they could scream out in pain.
With an annoyed frown Akatora reunited his attention to Kanash. “It looks like my investment was worth it after all. I’ve been wanting to speak to you, foreign boy.”
“...” Kanashi looked at Akatora in a silent panic, he’d just watched this man instantly vaporize two men like it was nothing of note.
“I want to form a pact with the Venator Society.” Akatora continued. “One against the Toumeikan.”