Sinners and beggars don't play a part here

[toremainbehind]

[Auctions.

Izumo hated those with a passion, and his family coming and forcing him to partake in one is enough to raise his shackles. It's inhuman to sell people for entertainment, especially ones experimented on to be used as fighters.

He's lost his taste for them quickly the moment his family has decided to use Mikoto, his best friend, as one of the earlier models. Reining in his best friend was easy at first until he's gone control, forcing Izumo to submit control over to Totsuka. While it hurts, Izumo can trust Totsuka to care for Mikoto, allowing them to stay in his house so that Izumo can find a way to reverse whatever's been done.

Nothing's worked out so far, though.

Izumo ignores the excited chatter as he makes his way through the crowd, his disgust for it evident on his face.

"It'll be okay, it'll be okay!" Totsuka's voice rang in his ear as Izumo presses his phone against it. "King and I are fine--so will everything else. Don't worry too much."

Izumo has to hold back an urge to sigh, ending the call after Totsuka promises him to give him an update on Mikoto's condition.

He idly listens to the seller list off the 'products' when Izumo's eye catches sight of a young blond man.

Still in his teens, but looks as if he's seen through enough fights in his life.

Izumo frowns, interest piqued, and he makes his way to the front.

His family wants him to get something? Fine. But it'll be on his own terms, and he's not going to allow anyone to touch what belongs to him and tell him what he should do with whomever he decides to 'purchase'.]

Comments

[redstray]

I'm sorry...I...do not remember that either.

[toremainbehind]

Hm, then don't worry about it.

[A glance at the leash before he decides to discard it.

He has no need for it.]

Let's show you to your new home then.

[redstray]

[ Eric watches as the leash is discarded. He vaguely thought that was interesting but that was his owners choice. ]

Of course.

[ He nods, ready to follow him. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He's going to have a difficult one, isn't he?

But Izumo simply inclines his head, gesturing Eric for him to follow. His status speaks for itself when they enter a luxury car and a drive to his home.

It's something that resembles a mansion, but at the same time, not quite. Izumo's quiet on the way there, though he's aware of Eric's presence in the car.

He sends one text message to Totsuka, though there is a nagging in the back of his mind if this can really be considered a good idea.]

[redstray]

[ Quite possibly.

Eric simply follows, not minding the luxury. They weren't supposed to be impressed by these things after all. Eric sits in the back seat, head down but slightly looking at the window to watch the scenery go by.

When they arrive at the mansion, Eric merely waits for orders. During the first time one receives an owner, they are suppose to be complete complacent, and wait for more rules to judge on how to act appropriately. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo breathes out, not minding the cheerful greeting from Totsuka as the other man comes bouncing out of the mansion.

"Welcome home, Izumo!" And behind Totsuka is Mikoto, who musters up a faint smile at Izumo before he notices Eric and immediately tenses.

Izumo gestures for him to calm before gesturing Eric to come forward.]

Eric, this is Totsuka and Mikoto. [Totsuka immediately greets Eric cheerfully while Mikoto continues to scrutinize Eric as if trying to determine if he's a threat or not.]

[redstray]

[ He would have returned the greeting but seeing someone else like him tense, he tensed as well, ready for a fight.

He still nods his head in greeting but he doesn't keep his eyes off of Mikoto. Was this someone he was going to fight? ]

[toremainbehind]

[He sees Eric tense, sees Mikoto staring Eric down.

Izumo immediately steps in between them, causing Mikoto's eyes to flicker at him.]

He's fine; he's mine. No one is going to fight.

[His words are strong, enough to have Mikoto backing down and Totsuka to smile a bit.

Totsuka turns to Eric. "Hi, I'm Totsuka Tatara. What's your name?"]

[redstray]

[ As Mikoto backs down, and at the order, Eric relaxes. No fighting, at least not right now.

He finally turns his attention to the other man. Totsuka Tatara. He blinks a bit, mildly surprised by a friendly greeting. ]

Eric.

[toremainbehind]

[Totsuka tilts his head, glancing at Izumo who shakes his head.

No time for questions.]

I'm going to take Eric to his room.

[Totsuka nods and Mikoto huffs a bit.

Izumo glances at Eric, gestures for him to follow as he leads him up the stairs to the second floor. It's spacious enough, no sign of what can be considered the house of an origin family that thought up of these fights.]

[redstray]

[ At the gesture, Eric falls in behind him and follows, remembering the route that was taken so that he could find it on his own. Knowing all of the house was a requirement after all.

If he was allowed to after, he'll explore the place to get better bearings of everything, just in case. ]

[toremainbehind]

Once you're settled in, you're free to explore the house.

[Izumo stops in front of a room and opens the door to reveal a spacious bedroom.]

This will be your room.

[Izumo glances off to the side, seeing Totsuka gently leading Mikoto away into another room.

He looks back at Eric.]

Mikoto and Totsuka are also both living here, so don't be too surprised if you see them around.

[redstray]

Understood.

[ There is a small amount of eyes widening as he see his room. It was quite impressive, and bigger and better then anything he has called his room before.

He turns to look back at Kusanagi as he continues talking, nodding in understanding. ]

Of course.

[toremainbehind]

[He watches Eric closely, watching to see his reaction.

He hums a bit. Izumo wonders if he should tell Eric his plans, but he figures it'd be better not to overwhelm him so much on his first day.

Izumo has to take care of a few matters first, after all.]

Another thing: listen to Totsuka and do not fight Mikoto.

[Izumo doesn't want any fighting in his house; better yet, he doesn't want them to fight at all. But he knows it's been encoded in Mikoto already, so Izumo has to do what he can to prevent any fights from breaking out.

Fighters living in the same household isn't odd, but there was some distance needed to be kept between them or their encoding will prompt them to fight another.

Izumo didn't want that happening.]

[redstray]

[ There was a small tilt of his head as he heard those instructions. But, he nodded all the same. ]

I will listen to Totsuka as well as not fight Mikoto.

[ Simple rules so far at least. Generally many fighters in the same place meant chaos, although some people liked to see how good the new blood was. A no kill spar, if it worked out properly of course.

Eric looked once more around the room. ]

Am I to stay here tonight?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo gives a nod.]

This is your room, so it's yours permanently.

[redstray]

That so?

[ He tilts his head again before he nods, understanding. ]

Is there anything you need me to do for tonight?

[toremainbehind]

No, you're free to wander and do whatever you want.

[Aside from the obvious rule of no killing.

But right, Eric is wearing the collar, so Izumo gently brushes his fingers against it, eying it.]

When was the last time you've eaten properly?

[redstray]

[ Eric tenses ever so slightly as his collar is touched. It was always bad if someone was close to it, used to choke or dragged around. The shocks were bad enough but that didn't happen nearly as often.

The question however catches him off guard and he ponders for a while, frowning lightly. ]

I'm...not sure about properly. But I suppose for a complete meal, a few months? Normally there's food once a day, twice if there is a fight approaching.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo fingers the collar before his thumb brushes against the latch. As he thought, it was screwed in a way where simple screws won't cut it.

He'll have to make a call.]

How much can you stomach if I give you three courses a day?

[Because Izumo can understand that some fighters aren't fed properly enough to be considered healthy. But this is different.]

[redstray]

[ He tenses a bit more as Izumo continues to be near his collar, waiting for any sudden moment. He needed to be ready to go limp to cause less harm on his body.

He blinks a few times, not used to these kind of questions. Three meals a day, there was such a thing? He takes a moment to think. ]

Probably something small each time. Perhaps a medium sized course for one of the meals but that could also push it. [ He shrugs. ] It depends on the food I suppose.

[toremainbehind]

[A nod of understanding and he finally releases the collar.]

I'll tell the chefs to cook you something to eat then.

[A pause as he studies Eric. He drops his hand and blinks once.]

Do you want that collar off?

[redstray]

[ He relaxes for just a small moment before he hears the strange question and he jumps slightly.

He shakes his head. ]

Collars aren't allowed to be taken off or else there is a severe punishment.

[toremainbehind]

[A sound, Izumo shakes his head.]

If that's what you want.

[He won't push.] Get yourself settled in then. I'll call you when dinner is ready.

[redstray]

[ It wasn't about what he wanted, he could be killed or hurt if people knew who he was and wasn't wearing a collar. It just, never happened. But he said nothing about it, only nodding to the command ]

Understood.

[ He turns and walks more into the room, taking a seat on one of the chairs and pulling his legs up to sit down. ]