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 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.

[toremainbehind]

Eric, I'm not going to punish you or terminate you.

[But he knows that it'll take a long while before it finally does sink into Eric's head.

Everyone else he's taken in has gone through the same, but then again, they had someone, too besides Fujishima.]

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head, a strange statement.]

Understood. But still, remembering anything is very difficult to retain. Wouldn't it just be better to keep a fighter?

[toremainbehind]

No, because anyone is able to fight. There's nothing really special about that.

Being given the chance to be your own person - that's significant.

[redstray]

Being your own person...is that so?

[ He thibks about it for a moment, he didn't get it very well. But...it didn't seem so bad. It waa a strange request but he's had worse orders.]

If that is what you wish, I will try.

[toremainbehind]

Mm.

[A nod and Izumo finally feels the painkillers kicking in.

Apparently sensing the end of the conversation, Totsuka quietly enters the room, followed by Mikoto who immediately went to sit in a chair in the corner.

"Come, let's let Izumo rest. You can help me cook, Eric."]

[redstray]

Ah, of course.

[ With one glance to Mikoto before he looks back at his master and nods in respect. He then goes to follow Totstuka to help cook. He waan't sure why, but he will follow the strange orders once again.]

[toremainbehind]

[The next few days pass by uneventfully with the exception of Fujishima occasionally visiting in order to talk to Eric while Izumo is currently on bedrest.

However, it didn't take very long for Izumo to mostly recover aside from making sure not to pull on his stitches, and he's decided to bring Eric to the one place he would consider home away from home: HOMRA bar. Totsuka and Mikoto tagged along, the former excitedly telling Eric about the bar, explaining how Izumo has practically built his own kingdom from the ground after a fallout with his parents that temporarily cut off his 'inheritance' so to speak.

It was also the place where Fujishima works and where there were some freed fighters lingering around.]

[redstray]

[ Eric was weirded out the most by Fujishima's visits, but Totsuka had said to try and get along with him so he tolerated them. It was strange for someone to talk to him like this. However it seemed like the red head would leave when he saw Eric was too uncomfortable with the interaction.

The trip to the HOMRA bar was...interesting to say the least. Totsuka talking his ear off about how Kusanagi had made it and how a lot of the people that were regulars were former fighters he had released.

Eric was unsure about the place, mostly because there was a lot to absorb and he wasn't suppose to be in the corner just waiting for a command. He found a place for himself though, sitting on one of the couches. He rarely moved from it unless Totsuka or Kusnaagi gave him something to do.

He was on there right now, watching the others socialize and Fujishima work by clearing some of the tables. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It's only after everything slows down a bit does Izumo decide to allow Fujishima to have a break, watching the redhead give a brief nod before he goes to disappear in the back.

As he allows Totsuka to take over briefly, Izumo grabs a glass of water and goes to sit down next to Eric.]

Is this all overwhelming for you right now?

[redstray]

[ He looks at his owner and makes a small nod. ]

It's...very different from what I'm used to. I'm sorry, I'll adapt as fast as possible.

[toremainbehind]

Take your time. It can be a lot to take in all at once.

[redstray]

Ah, right...

[ He looks over the bar, watching Fujishima talk with someone. Chitose...or something like that. ]

May I...ask how many fighters you've released?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo leans back against the couch, watching them.]

Mm, a few. Perhaps five, if I can recall properly.

[He glances at Mikoto who gives a brief nod of confirmation.]

[redstray]

That so?

[ He tilts his head, trying to think. ]

And you're trying to make me your sixth?

[toremainbehind]

Yes and no.

[Izumo takes out a cigarette.]

I'm simply here to see what choice you'll be willing to make. There are some I have taken in who finds being a fighter to be easier even after regaining their memories. Others, like Fujishima and Chitose, wanted to be able to live their own lives.

All I simply want to do is see which choice you make once you've been given it.

[redstray]

[ To choose, if he would continue to be a fighter, or choose to live a life where he could be free from that. But, it was easier to be a fighter for sure, why would he choose otherwise? ]

A choice...that's quite strange to have. And regaining memories, I didn't think that was possible.

[toremainbehind]

[A soft hum.]

Choices are what makes people who they are. But like I've said, I'm going to give you a choice once I present you every path that's available to you.