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]

Understood, I'll follow. Is it bad if they catch us?

[toremainbehind]

Think of it almost as a game of cat and mouse. We're the mice.

[A grin.]

And we can't let the bad cat catch us.

[redstray]

[ Eric really didn't understand the reference or why it was like this now. But, he wasn't meant to understand things, only to follow. Even if he didn't know what was going on or why they were playing a game like this with his masters parents.]

Okay...just tell me what needs to be done.

[toremainbehind]

I'll tell you soon.

[But for now, he leads Eric out of the room and locks it once more once Eric is outside.

With that, he leads him down the hall.]

[redstray]

[ He nods, and as quietly as he can, follows along Kusanagi, just a bit behind in case of anything. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The trip is relatively quiet, though there are signs from around the house of servants milling about.

Izumo soon steps into a room, though Eric will notice just how red it appeared with a small display case of familiar red marbles inside. The marbles seemed cracked, though and looked as if it had seen better days.]

[redstray]

[ He tenses as he enters the room, seeing all the red. Something made him on edge. Looking at the marbles in the display case made him reach up to fiddle with his own marble necklace, a bit nervous. ]

Ah...

[toremainbehind]

If you're uncomfortable, you can wait for me outside. I just need to pay my respects.

[redstray]

[ He nods a few times, quickly and quietly leaving the room, standing outside the door as if on guard. He did not like that room, he didn't like it but he had no idea why. His fiddling with the necklace increased and he frowned. Something in his mind was itching

A small...with white hair...red eyes...a marble. Someone tried to grab it, but it was his!

Red...a different kind of red.

He shut his eyes. He wasn't allowed to remember. It was bad to remember the past, the formula should be taking care of that. But why wasn't it? Perhaps...he should talk to this family. A fighter was suppose to report times when they weren't functioning the way they should after all. Maybe they would figure out what was wrong with him and fix him.

He looked down the hall, but made no movement. He was told to wait outside for his master, so he shall. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo somehow gets the feeling he understands why Eric has left, but Izumo can't bring himself to do it yet just.

Almost absentmindedly, he fingers the marble he wears around his wrist.

It was the last thing he received from her before she died, her illness quick to take her despite being such a young age. No one in the family really liked her, labeled as 'odd' since she was born as an albino. It didn't make her childhood happy, but Izumo was always there for her.

If it was her, he'd do anything, and it was in her memory that he's resolved to fix this mess.

To bring an end to everything.

But Izumo also knows there's still much time left before he has to put his plan into motion.

After he finishes paying his respects, Izumo exits the room and immediately checks to see if Eric is still there..]

[redstray]

[ Eric jumps a bit, being knocked out of his thoughts as his master opens the door. He did not think that the other would be out so soon.]

Ah...fin...finished?

[toremainbehind]

I am.

[A quick glance at him to check on how Eric is faring.]

Ready to go?

[redstray]

Yes, of course...

[ He nods, ready to follow orders. ]

[toremainbehind]

Are you okay?

[redstray]

Ah...

[ Eric tensed a bit, wondering if he should explain. The thought of giving a vague answer crossed his mind but it would do no good.

The truth. He had to give it.]

I...feel as if I might be defective. Even though the formula I received is suppose to surpress memories from before the treatment, I started to remember something. I surpressed it however. Perhaps if we talk to your parents, they could find the cause and create a solution.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo listens to him quietly.

It's curious, in a way, to hear that the formula on Eric is beginning to wane, but then the thought ends the moment he hears Eric's suggestion.

The answer is immediate:] No.

[But he stops, breathing out deeply.]

No. It won't be good to bring it up to them.

[redstray]

R-right, understood. I'm sorry.

[toremainbehind]

[He'll apologize to Eric later, but right now, Izumo needs to get out of the house before his parents find them.

So he's leading Eric through a hidden passage in the house, one that'll lead them outside.]

[redstray]

[ Eric follows along quietly. Keeping guard to protect Kusanagi as neccessary. There were questions in his head but he turned them away.

It wasn't his right to ask questions, just to follow. ]

[toremainbehind]

You're free to ask.

[redstray]

Huh?

[toremainbehind]

You have questions that you want to ask.

You're free to do so.

[redstray]

Why...why would it be bad to see your parents to help?

[toremainbehind]

Because they'll make things worse.

[redstray]

How so?