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]

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.

[redstray]

There's more then one?

[toremainbehind]

There's a lot of choices, Eric.

[redstray]

[ Hearing that makes his head hurt already. ]

I see...

[toremainbehind]

Here.

[He hands him the glass of water.]

Like I said, take your time.

[redstray]

[ He takes the water and has a sip of it. ]

Alright. I'll try my best to get used to this. It's just different from what my previous owner would ask of me. Plus to regain memories, it seems unlikely.

[toremainbehind]

It'd be good to remember that not all owners are the same.

[A head tilt.]

It's only unlikely if you think it is. It just takes a trigger to get rid of that block.

[redstray]

You're the first I've met that's like this.

[ He's met lot of other owners, and they were all basically the same, in how they treated fighters. Never had he met one that cared for them so...well? Interesting? Like however Kusanagi was. ]

Like, going berserk...right?

[toremainbehind]

Then let's hope you don't run into Munakata. He's...an interesting person.

[Because there's just something creepy about the man that makes Izumo uncomfortable.

Even if the other man usually means well.]

That's right.

[redstray]

Alright...

[ He's not sure who this Munakata is, but he will avoid him then if Kusanagi says so.

But, he frowns, trying his best to think. ]

I had gone berserk, but...I don't remember what happened, or why...and no memories have been regained. They told me after I killed my previous owner, I became calm again and willing to listen to orders. Is that why, I didn't remember anything?

[toremainbehind]

Mm, it's a possibility.

[Izumo looks thoughtful.]

Yours is a rare case since very few fighters would become calm again after going berserk. Most of them are terminated while still in that state, but it seems that the serum administered to you is stronger or the trigger hasn't been big enough.

[A glance at the red marble Eric has.]

All I know for certain is that if anyone takes that away from you, you might become triggered.

[redstray]

...I was told that...my serum was quite strong, being ready for another generation of fighters. To take it young as well helps.

[ He brings his hand over to the marble at its mention and fidgets with it, frowning. Was that the reason? Would he try and take it away to find out? ]

I...didn't think that it was that important for that to happen.

[toremainbehind]

The serums are getting stronger, but it weakens as you gradually get older because it hasn't been formulated yet to deal with the adult mindset as compared to a child's.

[Izumo tilts his head, watching.]

Sometimes, it's just the little things that are the important ones. I can give it a test if you'd like.

[redstray]

[ He had been taken when he was younger, and although he was a teenager, his brain was becoming that of an adults soon. Perhaps that's why so many fighters were younger, the older ones were terminated before they could snap out of it.

He pauses in thought at the idea of Kusanagi touching his marble. Was it a good idea? ]

Uhm...

[ He nods, because he was curious. If it was a trigger, what would he remember? ]