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]

[ He tilts his head. ]

If he wishes to see me.

[toremainbehind]

[The two older men share a look.

Fujishima sighs while Totsuka lets out a soft laugh.

"I think he'll want to see you. After all, you did help him out in our stead so we're a little indebted to you as well."]

[redstray]

Understood.

[ He stands up from his chair and is ready to follow Totsuka to Kusanagi. It seemed strange that his master wanted to see him, but that was his orders.]

[toremainbehind]

[Totsuka simply smiles brightly, leading Eric out of the room and down the hall to Izumo's room.

Mikoto's standing guard at the door, eyes narrowing a bit at the sight of Eric, but not saying anything. He simply jerks his head towards the door, leaning against the wall and closes his eyes.]

[redstray]

[ Eric followed silently, his head down as Mikoto glared at him. Since he lost to him it was a sign of respect and being the lesser of the two. Totsuka tells him he can go inside and he nods, quietly opening the door and stepping into the room.

He peeks in, stepping lightly as he approaches the bed, not sure what to say or if he was allowed to say anything. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Well, it's fortunate Izumo's awake, even if the painkillers he's been forced to take are strong.

A blink at Eric, taking him in.]

...Are you alright?

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head. ]

I don't have any injuries, I'm fine. Are you alright?

[toremainbehind]

I don't mean physically.

[He means mentally.

Izumo isn't like his family members; he doesn't administer them anything to ensure that the memories of the past remains tucked away forever.]

I'm fine. I've dealt with worse injuries than these.

[There could be a yell of agreement from Totsuka outside of the door.]

[redstray]

[ He frowns, trying to think about what that meant. Wasn't that the most important part? What else would there be? ]

...I don't understand.

[toremainbehind]

....

[Izumo sighs quietly.]

Have you been suffering a relapse of some sort? Are you experiencing any memory recalls?

[redstray]

[ He thinks for a moment before he shakes his head. ]

Besides that one time, I don't think so, no. Why?

[toremainbehind]

I'm curious. I'm sure Fujishima has talked to you for a bit while I was being tended to.

[redstray]

He told me...that he was once a fighter, but got his memories back and you released him. He was also a part of the current generations fighters.

[toremainbehind]

[Leave it to Fujishima to get directly to the point.]

He was. [A simple confirmation.] The procedures used to make you all into fighters fade over time, so it's natural to administer more to ensure that fighters don't remember anything about their past lives. After all, what good would it do if a fighter recalls anything about their past life?

[His words sound a bit bitter at the end before Izumo's expression changes.]

I've taken in some fighters and released them. Does it confuse you as to why I do this?

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head as he listens. He remembers the check ups, the insertions of needles to make sure he was in fighting order. To remember your past life makes you forget what it means to be a fighter. You're only suppose to be one thing.

At the question he nods a couple of times. ]

It does. I'm sorry.

[toremainbehind]

[A smile.]

There's no need to apologize. As I'm sure you've realized, I'm not like everyone else. I have always been against this system ever since it was created.

[redstray]

But, you're a part of the family that created us. It's strange.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo blinks once, growing quiet.

His eyes slide over Eric's shoulder to the door where he can hear Totsuka talking.]

It's easy to grow to hate something when you realize just how much damage it'll do to the people around you.

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head ]

I don't understand, fighters are used to help the world, not create damage.

[toremainbehind]

That's a misconception. While fighters are used in the military, there's no evidence they're being used to help the world.

[A pause.]

Fighters are people who's been experimented on, usually taken away from their families or taken in after a tragic incident. They're used to kill, to fight, and to serve other people's needs, but more often than not, they're also treated as nothing more than pets. It can create psychological damage to the fighters, especially since they've been injected with the serum that makes fighters who they are. After all, what happens when a fighter breaks?

[redstray]

[ Eric listens, hearing the words and understanding them but, somehow it didn't fit. He was used to be told the complete opposite.

How as it he came to be a fighter? He frowned a bit, he shouldn't think about it. What had happened, happened. And he was an excellent fighter. Part of the top class in this generation, what else was there to know?

But maybe...he should.

At the question however he breaks out of his thoughts. ]

Normally, they're terminated. Berserkers generally do not come out of their rage and have to be terminated on the spot. However in some rare cases they can be calmed and either sold for other purposes or terminated as well.

[toremainbehind]

Exactly.

[He studies him.]

In your case, had I chosen not to purchase you, you would have been terminated. That is a law.

[redstray]

[ He nods ]

That's right, by the end of the day was what I was told.

[toremainbehind]

It's not bad to remember something, and that red marble you have is a clear trigger for you because it's a link to your past.

[redstray]

[ At the mention of his marble, Eric reaches up to it and fiddles with it. Was it a trigger? Sure it was the only thing he had left but...no one was allowed to touch it. It was something to him, he just didn,'t know what.]

We're not allowed to remember. Or else punsihment and possible termination.