"...Fuck." It was the only Ren could say. It was the only word that had enough strength to crawl from the depths of Ren's throat. As more words continued to climb Ren's boiling anger climbed up along with it "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!"
"Why?" Ren snapped "Why me? Why do I have to sacrifice myself just to get my little sister back. Why can't you just give her back to me?" Ren's wrath flowed like a raging tide, crashing everywhere without a single target in sight. "I don't get why you insist on continuing to act like a complete prick."
Ren let out a steaming sigh billowing his anger. But doing this only added more fuel to the fire. "I'm not going to ask you again." Ren's voice changed, growing a bit deeper and far more stern. "Give Nyssa back to me." Ren raised his hand extending it as if waiting to accept a gift.
Ren wasn't going to take no for an answer even if it meant he'd have to take her back by force. Even if it meant he'd have to fight the strongest hero of this generation.
Mei raised her head slightly abandoning her exaggerated frown in exchange for a venomous smirk. The look Ren had reminded her of herself, not willing to submit to anyone regardless of the power of the foe. "Good..." She thought "This is the will of a King."
Unlike Ren and unlike Mei, Michael's expression did not change. He kept his usual pompous smirk followed by a wave of light. Even under these circumstances an everlasting glow seemed to be present on his body. An endless glow that was carried by his confident smile.
"No, I already made you an offer you cannot refuse." Michael lowered one of his hands and placed it on his hip. "An easy solution end your futile search for Nyssa, while simultaneously unburdening her of her own sins." Michael's smile brightened producing a glow akin to a divine light. "Do as you as you're told boy. Accept this compromise as a generous gift, I am rarely this nice to criminals."
"Criminals..." Ren growled, noticing Michael's arrogant stare. A cold stare. A stare that looked at Ren as if not even acknowledging him as human. Ren bit his tongue and felt his chest tighten. "That's all you think of us as?" Ren asked the question despite already knowing the answer. Michael had long explained his distaste for Nyssa for what she had done. Then likewise with his feelings towards Ren.
Ren was the son of a sinner.
Nyssa was an abomination who had sinned.
In Michael's eyes both Ren and Nyssa were no different than any other criminal. Any other villain who tried to cause havoc, and any other vigilante to defied Michael's justice.
As if guiding a wave of silence Michael slowly raised his arm pointing a single finger at Ren. Even though he said nothing Michael's glare told Ren everything he needed. The only answer that Michael could give.
Michael's verdict, was death.
Once coming to that conclusion Ren was struck by an attack he couldn't see. An attack so fast that Ren's Kuso couldn't even keep up with it. Within a fraction of a second Ren stumbled back feeling his shoulder grow heavy and eventually go numb.
"He hit me..?" Ren's mind was still suspended in disbelief "How did I get hit..?" he couldn't process it. The idea of being hit by something so fast that even Kuso couldn't catch it. To be hit by something that was invisible even to a gifted eye.
As Ren fell back he saw Michael's angelic smile. Large and wide like an expansive arch. "Just a taste..." Michael muttered, reminding Ren that this was only a taste of what he was capable of. Once again solidifying the distance between Ren currently and the Number One Hero.
"Ugh..." Ren stopped himself by hooking his feet, allowing his Phoenix talons to pierce through his shoes and sink into the tile floor. Just by a wave of his feet the flames that erupted incinerated Ren's shoes turning them to ash.
Ren held his shoulder feeling the pain but also being a bit hesitant to even see the damage that was done. He could tell based on how badly his shoulder was screaming that the wound he had received was probably far worse than anything he had suffered before.
"Don't look..."
"Don't look..."
"Don't look..."
Ren's mind screamed at his body. Begging him to avert his gaze and keep his mind focused! A single stare would be enough to crush his will. A single glance would be enough to tell Ren that what he was doing was stupid. A single look would be enough to make him give up.
Regardless of his mind's warnings.
Regardless of his mind telling him not to do it.
Ren lowered his gaze, choosing to look at the wound given to him by his former idol.
"...?!" Ren felt his throat swell. What he saw was much worse than what he had expected. "Ugh..." the main sunk in like a viper's fangs. Reminding Ren repeatedly of the stupidity of his actions with an electrifying pain. Blood flowed from between the cracks of Ren's teeth as it forced its way out through violent coughs.
"You are a fool, just like Irene." Michael's words struck Ren's back like a hot knife, making him cough up blood more violently than before. Michael altered his gaze focusing on the hideous wound left by his parting shot. "Tachibana."
Ren's shoulder had been completely blown apart. Just looking at the wound Ren's entire left side felt numb. He couldn't feel his shoulder, nor his arm. Everything from the neck down felt like it had gone to sleep.
Michael's illuminating smile lost its usual glow. Now donning moonlit frown with a stare of bitter nostalgia.
The wound given to Ren was the exact same as what Irene had given to Michael many years ago. Back when Irene drove her sword so far into his shoulder that it nearly tore his entire arm off.
Ren now was going through the same pain as Michael. Ren stared at his wound with eyes of dread. His shoulder had been obliterated, leaving only mangled flesh and seared bones. Ren looked to his arm which was barely holding on to the rest of his body. Only keeping itself there with a handful of muscle fibers.
Blood poured from the wound splashing onto the ground like a shower of red rain. "Ugh..." Ren desperately tried to hold himself together, both physically and mentally but every time he did it felt like pieces of glass were shattering more and more. "Fuck fuck fuck..." Ren didn't even have the strength to shout. He wanted to scream at Michael, curse him for the piece of shit that he was. But he couldn't, all the remaining strength he had needed to be perserve to heal and survive.
Otherwise...
He'd die.
Nyssa would die.
And everything he had done up until this point would be for nothing.
Ren's vision slowed as he looked around. He first set his eyes on Nyssa, watching her float inside of the tank as if in an eternal sleep. Ren then looked to Winston who watched with eyes of glee. Ren figured if he fell here Winston would probably dissect him and turn him into a mindless puppet like he did Damien. Then Ren looked to Mei expecting to see her watch him with eyes of dread, but reality couldn't be further from that.
Mei watched Ren with eyes of lust and euphoria as if this outcome was one she had been dying to see. "Trust you..." Ren thought "Fuck that...everyone here is screwed up..." Finally Ren turned to Michael solidifying his gaze. It was difficult to stare at him for long, mainly due to Ren's vision becoming spotty and Michael's glow growing even brighter.
"Brighter? Why is he getting brighter?" Ren watched in a daze presenting a face that only resembled a child that was still not fully awake. But as the glow erupted filling the room in an immense bright light Ren saw the truth. Truth in the shape of wings.
Ren saw the truth of this battle.
This wasn't a fight he'd be able to win.
Just like his mother before him he'd lose.
Just like all who opposed Michael, Ren's face would be smacked into the dirt.
"...uh..." Ren felt his mind grow heavy as his face did as well. Ren felt his eyes burn growing far too sensitive from the intense light.
This was the end.
The end of his dream.
The end of the foolish mistake he had made by challenging him to begin with.
Ren's eyes swelled in frustration at the realization of his mistakes. It was irritating being this weak. No matter what Ren had ever done it always seemed like someone would come around and smack him in the face.
When all Ren wanted was to protect Nyssa, Mei stopped him from doing so.
When all Ren wanted was to help Suzume, Sayuri took him out before he'd be able to do so.
When all Ren wanted was to free Nyssa, Michael beat him to the ground so he wouldn't be able to do anything.
Tears gushed from Ren's eyes at the thoughts of his failures. Creating waterfalls of guilt and sorrow. "Fuck fuck fuck!" Ren shouted no longer caring about saving his strength. With his only usable arm he punched the ground cracking the tiles beneath his fist. "Fuck fuck fuck! Why am I so damn weak!" Ren's skin split revealing the bones hiding beneath. "Why can't I save anyone no matter how hard I fucking try!" Ren's fist battered the ground grinding away at his knuckles with every strike.
"Why is it that I am the one who always ends up battered and broken with nothing to show for it!" Ren growled smashing his fist against the ground for the final time. After letting out a heart crushing wail Ren rested his head in a puddle of his own blood, falling into a violent sob.
Michael said nothing as he watched. One again being reminded of himself long ago. When he was weak, when he was pitiful, and back when he saw the world burn.
"That's enough." Michael's words were stone like "I'm tired of hearing you wail about nothing." Michael took a few steps forward easily closing the distance between him and Ren. "Raise your head boy."
Ren didn't listen, he didn't to give Michael the satisfaction of seeing how distraught he was. "Look at me, Tachibana." Michael kneeled grabbing Ren's face by force"I want you to remember this pain, what it feels like to be helpless, and what it feels like to be weak." Michael spouted "Because those with weak hearts don't deserve to become great heroes."
"As a Hero you only have one job. To protect those you care able no matter what, regardless if it will kill you in the process." Michael spoke with Ren with simmering emotions "You failed in that regard, but I am willing to allow you to make up for your past mistakes."
Michael let go of Ren and slowly stood up "My offer still stands, if you trade places with Nyssa I'll grant her freedom in exchange for yours." Ren said nothing breathing softly and starring. It pissed him off seeing how the light was binding to Michael in this moment. As if God itself was supporting his offer. "Perhaps only after the surgery will you be capable of undoing Irene's mistakes with the strength you had gained."
Ren's breathing grew more ragged the longer he tried to maintain consciousness. But remained silent saying not a single thing to Michael.
Michael slowly shook his head, taking Ren's silence as adolescent angst "...still stubborn even now." Michael raised his head and gave Ren a less sympathetic stare, now his eyes were as dark as blood "How about I rephrase my question."
"Tachibana, how much do you value the lives of your two sisters?"
***
Later that day
"Are you sure this is the place?" Olivia asked with a degree of uncertainty. Starring up at the gates. The gates of the Fumiko Estate were unlike any other, they were massive being about three times the height of a normal man. They had a massive dragon symbol along the front signifying the Fumiko's relationship to dragons.
"Should be, there is no place in town quite like it." Dustin joked staring at the gate. Even though Dustin was messing around he wasn't all that far off from the truth. Compared to every other home in Vermillion City the Fumiko Estate was by far the largest. They had massive coops of unoccupied land, and had a Japanese style home that was around the size of an entire city block.
However Sayuri had built a border around the home a handful of years back, so very few people had ever seen what the home looks like now. Leaving most of the public to only know about the home based on the gates.
"I dunno about this." Olivia sighed "I don't see why he'd flee here aren't him and Suzu in a weird spot right now."
"Well yeah?" Dustin frowned "Only because of you." Olivia gave Dustin a stiff glare but then he quickly looked away. He figured staring for too long would lead to him getting bitten "...Erm well anyways, lets go in. I'm sure Ren would hide out here if he had no where else to go."
Dustin walked towards the door and pressed on it. "Shit...it's really heavy." he thought just after the first shove. Dustin pressed his hands against it again and pushed feeling nothing aside from his own body being forced back. "Ugh...dammit."
"Hey Olivia come help me with this yeah?" Dustin called quickly running out of breath. Olivia on the other hand was looking at the ground kicking rocks. Up until this point both she and Dustin had been driving all around town searching for Ren.
The Fumiko home was now the last stop.
"Olivia..." Dustin called once more, believing she didn't hear him the first time. Olivia said nothing only swept the rocks with the bottom of her feet. Dustin slowly turned half expecting her to lash out with rapid words like she had usually done. But unlike any other time Olivia finally had fallen silent.
With a quick jog Dustin broke the distance between them, grabbing a hold of her as he turned her around "Hey Olivia?" his voice was unsure "You alright? Is something wrong?" Olivia quickly shook him off "Nah, I just don't get it."
Dustin lowered his hands, her reaction was somewhat expected. Girls never liked being held by him. "What don't you get?"
"I don't get you or him." Olivia sighed "Like fuck? What the fuck is wrong with the both of you?" Olivia didn't raise her voice like she normally did. Only falling short between breaths dousing her voice in her own confusion. "Ren talks all this shit, and even calls you a coward. Yet you go out of your way and do all this shit for him. Why? I don't get it, why are we wasting our time finding this asshole?"
"Like what is so special about Ren that you are willing to waste your entire day looking for him huh?"
Dustin adjusted his glasses. Listening to Olivia's somber words with a hint of guilt. From the outside eye Dustin understood how something like this seemed strange but, to him it wasn't strange at all.
"I don't really know." Dustin admitted.
"You don't know?" Olivia narrowed her eyes giving Dustin a look that she'd normally give Ren. The biggest dumbass she knew at the time.
"Yeah I don't know." Dustin repeated raising his voice a bit more. "Think about it, do you really need a reason to justify why you act the way you do? Especially for the people that you love? No you don't. You just do it because you care about them, and there is no other reasoning any more complicated than that." Dustin said bluntly.
Dustin took a deep breath, calming himself before Olivia. He had no reason to be angry at her, and no reason to scream at her. All he wanted was for her to understand why he felt the way he did.
"Look...Olivia...you may not get but Ren...he's my best friend." Dustin slowly admitted building up the strength to continue with his tale. "If it weren't for him I really don't think I would have made it as far as I have."
"Why do you say that?" Olivia asked "What is so special about Ren that he kept you going for this long?"
"Nothing, that's the thing he isn't special." Dustin clarified "Ren isn't much different than you and I. Sure this personal life is a bit more complicated, but at the bare bones Ren isn't much different than anyone else. He's cries, he gets angry, and he laughs. Not much different than any of us."
"But the reason why I value Ren so much is because he is the one who saved me." Dustin further instilled in Olivia's mind "Ren, no one else. Before I met Ren I used to get bullied a lot. A lot of the meatheads at school used to beat my face in because I was nerd. They didn't like that I enjoyed reading. They didn't like that I was smart. They didn't like that I wasn't strong, and they couldn't accept the fact I wasn't much different than them. I liked talking about girls, and I enjoyed seeing the heroes on action on TV." Dustin softly frowned "But whenever I expressed my feelings for those things I always ended up getting my ass kicked."
"At least until I met Ren. He saved me from them, the bullies." Dustin repeated "He never judged me for being who I am, and always gave me strength whenever I needed it most. Like when I faced you in the tournament." Olivia then frowned. Being reminded of how she lost to Dustin all that time ago.
"Sure, if someone else came along and saved me the situation may have changed. But it still doesn't change the fact that it was Ren who saved me." Dustin repeated "So I wanna do my best and save him. I don't wanna see him get all eaten up by his own hatred, I wanna see him smile just like he used to." Dustin admitted "So even if you don't wanna help or anything, it doesn't bother me. I'll figure out how to get this door open or even climb over it if I have to if it means that little bastard." Dustin snuffed.
Olivia said nothing and only sighed, watching Dustin return to pushing open the gate with the little physical strength that he had.
"God dammit..." Olivia then rushed over and helped putting all the force into her arms to try and push the door open. Dustin smiled a bit surprised by Olivia's cooperation. As Dustin opened his mouth to speak Olivia cut him off with a hiss of her tongue "Oh shut up and wipe that pussy smirk off your face. I am only doing this so I can beat that idiot's head in."
***
After an hour or so Dustin and Olivia collapsed at the gate drenched in sweat "That fucker is tough as shit." Olivia admitted leaning against the door. Dustin who was laying in her lap and stuck his tongue out like a dog panting as if ready to die. "Yeah it is, it didn't budge an inch!"
"Well if we can't get it open what the hell are we supposed to do?" Olivia wondered "We gotta get in somehow, and we can't just sit here all god damn night!"
"Yeah yeah, I know. I'll think of something just let me rest for a bit longer." Dustin muttered rolling over.
However after turning over a strange sound came from the gate. Olivia raised her head, alerted by the sound as she saw it slowly open. "Dustin Dustin!" Olivia hissed slapping Dustin's head to grab his attention "Ow ow what?" Olivia then pointed "The gate it's opening."
Dustin raised a brow in confusion. After spending an hour pushing that gate he had come to the conclusion that it wasn't even possible to open it. At least without some gargantuan amount of strength like from someone like Mei or Erica.
"Hello?" A familiar voice came from the other side of the gate as Suzume popped her head out from within. It didn't take much effort for her to push the gate open, considering it was something she had done ever since she was a child. "Strange, I thought I heard something..."
Suzume soon stepped out, it was rare for anyone to approach the Fumiko home. Most of the public feared to even cross the home let alone confront it. With a few quick snaps of her head Suzume then noticed a leg hanging from behind the metal gate.
"What the...?" Suzume stared at the leg dumbfounded. It was the first time in days she had even left her house. Let alone seen another person.
"P.....help." A voice came from the gate, leaking from it like some sort of ooze.
"Eh...?" With the drowsiness of the evening sky a ghostly chill rubbed Suzume's back causing her to shiver. It wasn't even cold, the distant summer winds were still hot and heavy dancing around her frequently as each day went by. However despite these hot winds Suzume couldn't abandon the eternal chill that was caressing her back.
"It hurts...I can't breathe..."
Suzume stepped back hearing the voice once again. The voice was weak and sounded as if it were an endless cycle of pain. "It's dying? No it's already dead???" Suzume spat stepping even further from the gate.
"Suzume..."
Suzume's calm exterior broke in seconds. Quickly being melted away by a constant rain of nervous sweats "It knows my name..."
Since childhood Suzume has always been fearful of the dark. There were always things crawling within it.
Snakes.
Ghost.
Bugs.
And even people.
Suzume watched in absolute silence as she saw the leg move. Twitching like the undead snapping to life. "Suzume..." The voice called, bringing another chill to dance down Suzume's back. The voice now had a form, falling to the side before poking its bruised head from the other side of the gate.
When the figure poked its head Suzume locked eyes with it. Seeing cracked glasses and a violet stare. "Suzume..." The figure called again, but Suzume's expression shrunk in horror. "Kyaaaaa! A ghost, why is there a fucking ghost in my house!"
"A ghost...? Wait? SUZUME DON'T!" Before the voice (Dustin) could even do anything Suzume summoned a diamond bat and bashed him repeatedly.
***
"Sorry sorry, I didn't realize you guys were coming to visit me..."
Dustin sat in there with a blank expression as Suzume continued to patch him up. Wrapping enough bandages around his head to make him look like a mummy. "Why does this always happen to me..."
"Ahh come on" Suzume pouted cutting the last bit of bandage off and strapping it to his head "Don't be like that I said I was sorry. Besides look at Olivia she isn't being a baby about it." Dustin glanced over at Olivia who had a massive black eye from the gate smacking into her face.
"That's because Olivia didn't beaten over the head with a diamond bat..." Dustin sighed.
"Oh quit acting like a baby. This isn't much different than the usual right?" Suzume charmed, Dustin only side being reminded of the one sided beat downs Suzume would give both him and Ren. Whether it was because of the jokes they'd make about her breast or because of Dustin's other perverted antics. Regardless most of their conversations would end with someone being bandaged up like this.
"I guess..."
A shadow of warmth caressed Suzume's face in that moment. "Anyways what are you guys doing here? It's kinda weird for you to visit me without Renji." Dustin's face dropped, dropping so far you'd think he had jumped off a cliff. Noticing this Suzume soon turned to Olivia, who's expression hadn't changed much. She looked mildly irritated, crossing her legs and looking away at the mention of Ren.
Feeling the tension rise like a wave of heat Suzume's face cleared, becoming dark and stone-like "What happened?" Suzume asked with the narrowing of her eyes. Focusing her attention on Dustin like how a hawk would its prey.
Dustin looked away with hesitance in his voice. He already knew how Suzume was, and how overprotective she was of Ren. At the slight mention of Ren being in any sort of danger Suzume would always be the first to jump to action.
It was a bit unsettling to say the least.
"We haven't been able to find Ren at all today." Dustin admitted.
"Find him?" Suzume glanced over at Olivia with a glare as hard as diamonds "Is he lost? I thought he was supposed to be living with Olivia for the time being?" Suzume asked, slowly raising her voice with each question. Dustin began to sweat, feeling his body growing hot in fear of the incoming storm.
"Well you see-"
"I kicked him out." Olivia flared hammering her words into Suzume as bluntly as she could "He was being a dick so I threw him out." Olivia crossed her arms and turned to Suzume giving her a toxic stare.
"Dammit Olivia why you'd have to go saying it like that?" Dustin shouted. As usual Dustin quickly calmed himself looking back at the two girls sensing the oncoming storm. On the right he could feel Suzume's anger rising manifesting into a flaring heat that couldn't be cooled down. On his left he could sense Olivia's bitterness cracking the air like a strike of lightning.
"What do you mean I only said the truth?" Olivia's bitterness was like a sponge sucking up any form of rationality left within the room.
"Yeah but..." Dustin stopped himself, he knew Olivia was right. What she said was the truth she just chose not to fabricate it, not that she had to. There were very few ways she could make throwing a friend out sound okay. "Suzume look I-"
"What did he say?"
"What?" Dustin asked raising his head.
"What did he say?" Suzume asked it again with a voice of clarity. For once Dustin didn't see Suzume wrapped in anger regarding Ren. Her voice was calm, and her face matched that. Reminding Dustin a bit more of Sayuri rather than the firecracker Suzume that once he knew.
"...Ren he" Dustin sighed, searching in his dictionary of a mind for an answer. "Had another vision." Suzume's cool expression cracked like ice, now showing worry in the form of a blazing stare. Suzume's mind immediately leaped back to the reiki training remembering clearly of how Ren reacted to one of his stronger visions. "What did he say?"
Dustin's eyes sunk as if falling to the bottom of the ocean "He didn't say much about the visions really at least not explicitly."Dustin's mind treaded over the memory, swimming around it unsure if he really wanted to reflect back on it. The words Ren said back then were true, Dustin already knew in his heart of hearts that he was a coward. He didn't possess a strong ability like Ren or had the spirit of a hero like him. He was just a guy trying to find his place in this warring world. No different than anyone else.
As Dustin reflected back on Ren's words he slowly pulled himself back into reality, remembering the meat of the situation. "He told us a lot of things..." Dustin sighed feeling his chest tighten from anxiety. Just thinking about the mountain of information Ren dumped on them made Dustin feel like someone had dropped a boulder onto his chest.
"First of them being that he is the Wolf with Devil's blood."
Suzume stared at Dustin blankly not really understanding what that was supposed to mean. It sounded like a title of sorts, the the epithets some of the pro heroes had. "What's that?"
"His lineage." Dustin clarified "Ren's the son of the war criminal Irene Wolfe and one of those Fujiwaran guys from the text books." In truth Dustin didn't know much about the Fujiwara, in history class they'd tell most of the students that they were devils that Sawyer had saved Vermillion City from but aside from that his knowledge on the subject was fairly limited.
On the other hand for Suzume it was quite different. As a member of the Fumiko clan she had been taught about the Fujiwaran devils since childhood. How they would preform rituals by consuming the hearts of people, or how they would dance beneath moon to take their monstrous true forms.
Just at the mentioning of Ren's lineage everything began to make more sense. Sayuri's distaste for Ren, not only because of what Irene had done to her years ago. But also because of him being the Fumiko clan's biggest enemy. The biggest mistake created on their behalf.
As the information sunk in Suzume's already pale skin became ghostly white. Giving her a look as if she had died but her soul still remained. Suzume could hear the gears in her head clicking, putting everything together like an unfinished puzzle.
"I see..." Suzume didn't know what else to say to that, in fact she couldn't say anything else. All she could do was wear a face of confusion and concern. A face that could say so much yet so little.
Seeing the worry on Suzume's face melted Dustin from within. Even though Suzume seemed to always be worried about Ren she never reacted like this. Usually Suzume would explode fit of lovingly rage before taking off, but now she was quiet. Like a dormant volcano never to erupt again.
"Even though Ren's lineage did surprise me that isn't what worried me. It's actually what he said afterwards that bugs me the most." Dustin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly unsure whether or not he wanted to continue. But after taking a quick glance at Olivia and then Suzume he knew he had to. He had already come this far, it would be cruel not to tell Suzume everything now.
Dustin walked over to the couch and sat down. His legs already felt like jelly, being shaven down considerably with his razor sharp anxiety.
"He said he wanted to destroy it." Dustin slipped "Ren wants to destroy Irene's dream." Dustin's words sudden spewed out, bursting forth like an overflowing stream coming from a broken dam. "I don't know what that means exactly, I don't know a whole lot about Irene so I really cannot say but! Ren made it very clear that he wants Lupus to be destroyed in its entirety."
Similar to before Suzume said nothing. Only listened sensing the distress in Dustin's wavering voice. She could hear his tone and pitch shift up and down. Increasing and decreasing in volume with every emotional shift.
But after hearing Dustin's rough explanation something didn't click Suzume's head "What's wrong with that?" Suzume muttered seeking clarification "What's wrong with destroying Lupus entirely? Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing?"
Dustin froze for a moment. Suzume's response wasn't all that different than Olivia's which Dustin somewhat understood. He could see why someone would have no hesitation to do certain things within times of war, but Dustin didn't feel the same.
"Everything!" Dustin suddenly shouted letting his emotions to get the best of him. He smashed his fist against his own leg in frustration. "I don't wanna see Ren turn out like those guys. I don't wanna see Ren be consumed by his own hatred, because that's not how heroes are supposed to be." Dustin gripped his thigh in an attempt to console his own anger. "To be okay with killing that many people...just doesn't sit right with me." Dustin lowered his tone with his sleeping frustration "I just don't see what would possess someone to take someone else's life..."
Suzume slowly frowned. Not necessarily upset, and partially understanding why Dustin would feel this way. Many heroes were against killing seeing it as one of the worst things you could do to someone.
But Suzume didn't necessarily feel the same. Even though she hadn't personally killed anyone there were plenty times in her life she wish that she had. Suzume's frown stiffed, delving deeper into a sea of contained rage. For years she wanted to kill Sayuri for everything she had done, for how she'd beat her endlessly without any reason for why. There were times when Suzume wanted to kill Ryota for his nightly visits, but she was far too weak to do or say anything.
So to some degree Suzume understood why Ren would be perfectly fine with killing the Lupus members. After all they were the people who took out Erica, and will cause more problems in the future. "I see. Was that all? I can't imagine it was only because of that Renji was thrown out of Olivia's house."
"Cause, from what I heard she doesn't seem to be too against killing either." Suzume jabbed. Olivia said nothing to this, only placed her hand on the side of her face and held her silence. Ignoring Suzume's words like they were a weightless punch.
"About that..." Dustin still seemed bothered by Ren's harsh lashing "Olivia only threw him out because of what he said to me...because I disagreed with his methods and I told him that Erica probably wouldn't agree with them either. He got pissed off and called me a coward."
Suzume then sighed. That reaction didn't come all too surprising to her. Ren had a tendency of being hot headed, and with his mindset after waking up from a vision was never really right. Suzume closed her eyes for a moment collecting herself, before reopening them and standing up.
She walked over to Dustin and placed her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to ease his emotional mind. "Don't take what Renji said to heart. I'm sure he only said it because he was angry not because he truly meant it." Suzume then gently rubbed Dustin's cheek choosing to be nice to him for once rather than beat down on him like she usually would. "Besides I don't think you are a coward. If you were I don't think you would've had the strength to come here and tell me all of this. So thank you for that." Suzume softly smiled at him before lowering her hand.
"Anyways, you two should probably get going my ma-" Suzume hesitated still trying her best to break out of the mold. "My Mother..." the words sounded strange coming from her mouth, like someone learning how to speak English for the first time. "She will be on her way back soon, and I'd imagine you'd want to be as far as possible from this place when she arrives. You should know she doesn't take all too kindly too outsiders."
Dustin looked to Olivia taking that as his cue to leave "Yeah! You're right I'd rather not come across Mrs. Fumiko..." Suzume then nodded "Yeah...I'll do my best to look for him, and if I get any leads I'll make sure to give you a call."
Dustin smiled warmly and nodded "Thanks Suzume you're the best." Dustin then quickly hugged her. Which was a bit odd for Suzume. Even though she and Dustin had been friends for awhile now, they never really hugged. In most instances there was no reason for them to, plus Dustin was a total pervert who would probably try to squeeze her ass if she did.
But this was different, Suzume didn't sense Dustin's lust trying to caress every part of her body. Instead only a warm hug, a hug you'd expect from any close friend. After a moment Suzume then hugged him back "Visit soon yeah? Hopefully next time on better terms."
They then said their goodbyes and Suzume escorted them out, only to sigh immediately afterwards. "...I swear there is always something happening in this damn city." Suzume complained to herself as she walked up the stairs "Once all this blows over I'm just gonna sleep until my body won't let me."
With a quiet yawn Suzume entered her room only to see Ren sitting on her windowsill bathing in the moonlight.
"Yo, how have you been Suzume?"
Chapter End.