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

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo would tell him more, but--doesn't for several reasons.

There is a reason why Izumo does what he can to avoid his family, and maybe after today, Eric will see why, too.

But as the ride goes on, he leans back in his own chair and closes his eyes.]

[redstray]

[ Eric watches as he closes his eyes, before turning his attention back to the window to watch the moving landscapes. It was a simple joy, for him, a small choice he could make. There was no harm, and no particular fun to it, but, it was something he liked doing.

He reached up to fiddle with the new necklace that was wrapped around his neck. It still felt weird to have no collar, he poked it every once in awhile, a foreign feeling. His skin felt weird, the grooves and all. He tried not to think about it. Instead, he turned to fiddle with the marble on his neck, that was familiar, calming. It was better to ignore his neck. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Far too soon for Izumo's liking, they make it to the house and he opens his eyes.

Already, standing there was a man who appeared to be an older version of Izumo, if only with narrowed eyes and a permanent scowl etched onto his face. Beside him stood a woman, beautiful even with wrinkles on her face, but her eyes were cold like ice and her smile sharp as razors.

The car slowly comes to a stop and Izumo places a hand on top of Eric's head.]

Remember what I've told you.

[redstray]

[ He ran through everything Kusanagi had told him about this visit and nodded. He will make sure to go by along those lines. ]

Understood.

[toremainbehind]

[A nod and once the car comes to a stop, Izumo leaves first.

"Izumo, it's been a long time," the woman greets, her smile widening and no less dangerous. "Where is your darling pet?"

Izumo merely musters a smile at his mother, tense and every bit as dangerous as hers - if not more so. Instead of answering her, he simply waves at Eric to come out of the car.]

[redstray]

[ Eric on the cue, opens up the door and steps outside. He looks up to the two people he figures are his masters parents and gives a bow in greeting. ]

[toremainbehind]

["How behaved. This is the same one who's killled his previous owner, isn't it?" There is a look of disappointment on his father's face, one that Izumo ignores.

Izumo simply smiles wider.]

He is. But he's mine, so I greatly appreciate it that you don't touch him.

[The threat is there and it has his father's eyes narrow at him sharply.

"Don't take that tone with me, boy."]

[redstray]

[ Word really travelled fast if they already knew. Eric stayed just behind Kusanagi, a little to the side as he was taught to.

It seemed strange to hear, but he was used to hearing strange things. He kept focus just enough in case they called him, but not enough to really listen. ]

[toremainbehind]

[His father makes a sound, shaking his head before he leads them inside.

Izumo breathes out, far from being at ease as his mother shortly follows after the patriarch for the family. He looks a bit ill, as if being even near them makes Izumo want to hurl, but he ignores it in order to lead Eric inside.

The inside of the house seems to resemble more of what should be a castle, servants greeting Izumo and by extension, Eric, as they enter the household. Standing at the top of the stairs were two other men, both of them who appeared to be watching them with thinly veiled interest.]

[redstray]

[ Eric follows Kusanagi silently, not showing any interest in anything and keeping his eyes down as taught. He only glanced a bit at Kusanagi, waiting to see if there was anything that he needed to do.]

[toremainbehind]

[Upon feeling Eric's glance at him, Izumo simply shakes his head.

He didn't want to cause any trouble, but it's only too soon when he hears one of the men at the top of the stairs laugh.

"Eh? A blond, huh? Guess you couldn't keep the redhead anymore, little brother. Let's see how fast this one adjusts."

Izumo clenches his jaw just as a fighter appears.]

[redstray]

[ Eric watches as a fighter shows up, tensing and frowning at him. He'll wait for any orders before acting. Another fight, seems simple enough. He wondered if he could hold off against an origins family fighter, they would have the best ones..right?]

[toremainbehind]

[A quick study.

Izumo recognizes him and he breathes out, glancing at Eric.]

You're to fight. Avoid killing, though.

[redstray]

Understood.

[ Eric walks away and in front of his master, watching as the fighter approached him.

It took a fee moments and a few cheers and heckling before the other ran to him. Eric put up his stance and charged as well.]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo stands off to the side, watching.

His jaw clenches as he hears his brothers making bets as to which one will win.

Eyes glancing over at them, he merely sends them a glare before he looks back at the fight.]

[redstray]

[ This was something Eric knew. This was whay he could do, and do well.

And this guy wasn't as hard as Mikoto.

Eric went into robotic mode, fighting, dodging, reading where the guy was going to strike. It doesn't take long, but the other fighter landed heavily on his back after a hard spin kick, too battered to get back up .

Eric resumed a casual stance, giving a small bow before standing in place, waiting for additional orders.]

[toremainbehind]

[There are some sounds of disappointment, but Izumo doesn't care.

While he hates it, he can't deny how proud he feels of Eric.]

That's fine, isn't it?

[Grumbling sounds before the patriarch claps his hands together, drawing their attention.

"Now that we've all managed to entertain ourselves - Izumo, come with me. Your fighter can accompany ours to their designated room in the meantime."]

[redstray]

[ Eric nods to those words. MNy fighters had a room to stay in when they weren't needed. That was something he waa also used to.

Still, he looked to Kusanagi, waiting for the dissmissive order. ]

[toremainbehind]

...You're free to go along with him.

[He's not happy with it, but he can't outright disobey the rules here.

Here, Izumo is under his own lock and chain.]

[redstray]

Understood.

[ Eric waits for the other to stand, and follows the fighter to where the room was. There wasn't a lot in the room, nothing compared to the rest of the place, but enough comfort to get by.

The fighter directed him to a spot he could sit and wait and Eric took it with a small nod of thanks. He drew his legs up to his chest and patiently waited for his master to get him. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It may take a few minutes before Izumo comes to fetch him, but.

But Izumo hates being in his family house, being both scolded and reining in his newest 'purchase', so to speak. He really hated being there, especially with the fact that it was his particular research that helped in forming the world the way it was now.

It's earned him a few hits and lectures because Izumo doesn't try to hide his disdain, the way he would frown in disappointment in response to his parents' subtle words of threat that if Izumo doesn't actuvely participate in their next 'outing', he would receive punishment.

So by the time Izumo fetches Eric, there's a fresh stain of blood on his shoulder from where his father had allowed his fighter to punish Izumo in his stead.]

[redstray]

[ Eric stands when the door opens and immediately walked over to him when he saw that red on his master. ]

You're hurt.

[ That wasn't good, part of a fighters duty was to protect their owners. If he hadn't been able to do that, that looked bad on him as well. He shouldn't allow that to happen. ]

Should I find and kill them?

[toremainbehind]

No, it's fine.

[Even if the wound still hurts.

He understands that it's a fighter's duty to protect their owners, but this was always the exception.

If an original injures another original in terms of punishment, then there was nothing anyone can do.]

It was simply my punishment.

[redstray]

Punishment? For what?

[ Was it because he had won the fight? Or had other factors played a part? Even though he had barely known this guy for 24 hours, it still didn't sit well with him, knowing that someone hurt his master and he coupdn't do anything. ]

[toremainbehind]

Information that I cannot divulge, but my family isn't particularly fond of me right now.

[A gesture to follow.]

Though, if you don't mind, I'd appreciate if you help me bandage this.