2:24 PM
Fear is the only emotion which the boy named Kanjo Soten felt in that moment. His heart had become a painful lump in his chest, and the urge to vomit like an itch in his throat. The only reason he still moved at all was the adrenaline pumping through his blood stream. His legs wouldn't stop, they kept moving no matter how bad they hurt. Even when they felt like jelly or when his knees and ankles felt like unoiled gears scraping against each other he just kept moving. To where he didn’t know, just away from here, that’s where. The fear which chased him from behind like his own shadow screamed at him to surrender, to give up and simply fall to the ground. Surrender himself to his fate in the chaos. To let himself die. But he wouldn’t, not yet, tears ran down his face as he ran, he would not die, not here and not now, he couldn’t. He repeated these thoughts in his head over and over again.
He’d not achieved a single one of his dreams, he’d not become a baseball player, an idol, scientist, or hero. So he couldn’t give up yet, not when he was only nine years old. He had so much more to do, that was what everyone told him.
He’d been on vacation with his parents, and while they went to watch the famous La-Louviette Del Harmango drama in a theater, he instead was given permission to wander nearby and scope out local toy stores for windowshoping. The idea of watching a play- one with no action, no bad guys or monsters, just adults kissing and talking disgusted him So he walked the streets of Tousen for the next 3 hours. A small collection of coins in his pocket and a single $15 bill in case he got hungry. To western eyes such a thing would seem like a tragedy waiting to happen but in Edoland this being dangerous was a bizarre idea. The worst that could happen was Soten getting lost and even then there was always a police officer wandering the streets for just that occasion.
So of course no one bat an eye at Soten as he wandered into various toy stores alone and looked at new line display cases or played upcoming game demos. And why would they? It was just another boring normal day- That is until Soten felt it, something only he did. No one else reacted to that “shift” of the air, something which tickled the back of his neck like a cold breath. He was used to being the odd one out in that regard. He saw things no one else ever could, [Mist] of different colors wisping around people, ghosts and yokai lurking in shadows or under brush. He’d learned a long time ago that he was the only one to see something like that, and that telling others about it didn’t do anyone any good. It only brought doctors asking questions, long annoying tests and worried whispers from his parents.
But today was different because what he saw right after the air shifted was something everyone else did as well.
CRASH!
With a sound akin to cannon fire there was an explosion and a ball of fire burst through the store's front window with a spray of glass. Metal shelves snapped and bent under the weight of the ball- no the person who was on fire as he crashed through the store. It was something Soten had only ever seen in a movie or anime, nothing that he would have imagined possible in real life. He would have thought only he saw it if not for the screams which followed afterwards.
The man who should have been dead or at least heavily injured jumped to his feet without so much as a limp and thrust forward his two hands. Barking out something in a slurred accent, an inferno of twisting orange flames burst forth into the streets outside from his hands. Passersby who’d run over to check out the commotion, instantly engulfed in flames, began to scream as their flesh melted, the sound of their cries rattling in Soten's head.
The man who’d done such a horrible thing didn’t look like any Oni or Demon; he was of average height with blonde, greasy hair combed into a long elephant trunk and a black leather jacket snugged around his somewhat narrow shoulders. Carved into his back, however, in big bold white letters were the Kanji for [透明感], and though Soten could only recognize a single one, it was more than enough for him to know who he was. A Yakuza, a murderer, a rapist, a thief, and a criminal.
As the smell of burnt flesh and black smoke filled the store, people screamed as they trampled over one another to escape. Meanwhile, two other men, these foreigners, charged into the store and pounced on the yakuza. The battle that ensued was the likes of which Soten could never have imagined. Blasts of colorful energies clashing with fireballs and water formed from thin air- a katana- a real katana! Was drawn and used with killing intent. It was both the most amazing thing that Souten had ever seen, while also the most horrific. He would have stood there and watched the battle play out for hours in a mix of fear and spectacle if not for a woman grabbing him by the shoulder and shaking him roughly.
“Go!” Is all she screamed right into his ear before she too ran out of the store. Soten, quickly realizing that he was the last person in the store who wasn’t part of the battle, sprinted out into the street.
Then he ran, and ran and ran as hard as he could. Looking for anyone to help him- to save him, yet here he was, what felt like hours later, still sprinting down streets full of crumbling buildings, fires breaking out, gunshots, and he even saw one woman, another foreigner, being beaten into the ground by at least a dozen Yakuza wielding metal bats and crowbars. You’d assume she was dead by how much blood and gore there was, but she screamed out with both hands grasping through the air as if trying to find help. Then, in a flash,h there appeared another foreigner, this time a man who, with a single slash of his sword, cut the attackers down.
And that was only one of the incidents he saw- there were many more, though most not nearly as bleak. Yet not a single person paid attention to the child running lost and helpless through the streets, turning at every corner, only finding himself running in circles in this horrific maze of a city. Fear, despair, and anger all had long since broken the bottle in which Soten had tried to stuff them in.
He was going to die here; he wouldn’t do anything with his life, he would have had no purpose in living, he would simply die here and be lost to history. Not even his parents would know what happened to him, how his last moments were spent. If they were still alive that is. Where were they? Looking for him or did they already escape and hope he did the same?
CRACK!
The noise came from the building overhead and Soten looked up just in time as the car-sized piece of concrete rubble came flying down at him from above, its shadow enveloping. He didn’t have time to scream, to cry or even attempt to move. All he could do was stare at his impending doom while his insides curled into a tight ball of lead that hung down in his stomach. Hoping and praying for someone to save him- cursing himself not being born stronger, for not being a hero.
“...”
“...”
“...”
But the impact never came, he didn’t get flattened like a bug under someone's shoe or turned into jam like the movies.
Opening his eyes Soten looked up and saw standing above him a foreign boy who looked both too young to drink alcohol but also too old to be called a boy. He wasn’t tall, maybe just an inch or two above average height with a thinner build, his arms each a different color with one pale and the other blacker than black were rippling with veins and muscles as he held the giant piece of rubble overhead.
“Sandu! Kona tou era chutaro!” The boy called down to Soten who stared at him with a blank expression, he knew it was Shinkai but he couldn’t understand a single word of it. The boy's face contorted in fear and frustration as the long nasty scar on his left cheek wrinkled. Crystal clear blue eyes stared down at Soten with blood vessels spread across the surface like spider webs. “K-kari tou kao kaetaka tosukai!” He yelped, Soten once more looking up at him in confusion. “M-move, Move!”
That much Soten understood even though crude and with a heavy accent he obeyed. At first he crawled on his hands and knees a pace or so before climbing to his feet and jumping out of the way. Spinning on his heel he turned to watch what the boy would do next.
# # #
“Damnit this is heavy!” Kanashi cried out his muscles strained and he felt his aura pushing his enhancement to the max. If he had to guess this chunk of rubble might have weighed a literal ton. It wasn’t that large either, just a car sized slab of concrete yet it felt like any moment his joints would simply snap and it would crush him too.
“P-please move out of the way!” He said to the boy below him. But the boy didn’t move, he only tilted his head as if confused. Damnit, come on Edogo, Edogo… “U-Ugoku Ugoki!” He barked at the wide eyed kid, one with deep brown eyes and blonde hair ruffled into small spikes. He looked somewhat beautiful almost- so innocent and so pure you believe it if he told you he’d never thought about stealing candy or staying up past bedtime to play videogames. Something Kanashi couldn’t relate to himself. Not that I was a bad kid or anything… Wait! What the hell am I thinking about right now!?
The boy fell over to his side and began to crawl but after only a pace he stammered to his feet and performed a very lackluster run, during which he nearly fell over a few times until coming to a stop about five meters away. Spinning around to look at Kanashi with those wide eyes.
“Come on, don’t look at me like that!” Kanashi complained. “I’m not that cool!” With a grunt he leaned backward, flexing his spine and back muscles which surely made the face of a demon in that moment and the pose he struck similar to that which would make a vampire yell out “Wrry!” However he instead in a single motion dropped the concrete backwards to where it would fall away from his person and dove forwards. Not caring that the skin on his elbow peeled back as it scraped the asphalt road he only sighed in relief as he heard the loud bang behind him. The ground grew with vein-like cracks but not a single piece of Kanashi had been squished.
“I still feel like I’m gonna die!” He still complained, his joints ached horrifically, like he’d taken a baseball bat to each of them multiple times. But he was alive and so was the boy. I can’t lay here, we gotta move.
With a sharp pain in his knees as he rose up and walked to the boy and kneeled before him so their eyes met. “D-daijobu?”
“U-un.” The kid nodded firmly, his wide eyes trying to look sharp.
With a relieved sigh at the kid admitting he was fine Kanashi tilted his head to the side. “Alright then uh…” pushing his index finger against his temple he struggled to come up with a proper sentence, while his understanding of Edogo had become better in terms of listening, his speaking skills however hadn’t changed at all. “Ishouni wo araku ni… safe place!” He struggled out.
The boy tilted his head to the side for a moment but then nodded and reached his hand out as if to hold Kanashi’s.
Kanashi cringed at the gesture- he didn’t want to hold his hand but he also knew he couldn’t trust the kid to walk by himself, let alone keep up with him at a reasonable pace. “How about this instead.” kneeling down he patted his own back with a nod and the kid seemed to understand, latching onto him quickly. His breath tickled the back of Kanashi’s neck. It’s better than him getting lost or hurt. He told himself. Pumping his legs with enhancement despite the pain which rung in them he sprinted forwards, heading back the way he’d come and closer to the barrier which he could see overhead.
“W-what thing?” The boy asked in Shinkai, pointing to the bright red barrier overhead.
“You can see that!?” Kanashi asked with a gasp, he had to fight to keep his jaw from slacking. This must be one of those natural types huh? But he doesn’t know magic yet clearly… maybe I’ll have to mention him after this. “You can speak a bit of Shinkai then huh? Well what’s your name?”
“Namae? Mai nemu isu Kanjo Soten.” The boy struggled out.
“Sounds like we speak each other's language as well as the other huh?” Kanashi laughed. The streets of Shibuchu were truly maze-like so while he ran in the direction of the barrier he constantly found himself in twists and turns which led to dead ends and back to where he’d started. Despite how much he ran it didn’t feel like he was getting much closer.
“Kimi?” The boy asked.
“My name? It’s Kanashi, Kanashi Sarumalder.” Kanashi explained, though he wondered if the boy understood the order, maybe he should have said Sarumalder Kanashi.
“Soten like Kanashi.” The boy nodded , patting Kanashi on the head.
“Thanks, I like you too Soten.” Kanahis laughed, though his eyes began to crease further and he ground his teeth as he met another dead end. “Damnit where the hell am I going?" He muttered.
“Kanashi!”
The sound of that cry from a familiar voice made Kanashi whip his head around, and standing there, beaten, with torn up clothes and a grimace on her face was Ubaru Yuko. “Yuko!?” He gaped. “What the hell happened to you!?
“What happened to you!? Why are you out here and not hiding under the casino!?” She argued with a growl to her voice, which Kanashi felt his irritation grow at.
“Because thanks to Domushi, that Casino doesn’t exist anymore! Then I saw this kid on the way to the exit almost being crushed by a slab of concrete falling from the damn sky!"
CRASH!
There was a sound like that of a small explosion and the crunching of metal in the distance- from the direction where Yuko had just come from. Her eyes grew wide as saucers and face ghost white.
“What the hell was that!?” Kanashi asked.
“Some bastard who won’t leave me alone- and a Joshin at that!” Yuko growled, grinding her own teeth. Then as if on cue the exterior wall of a small two story building behind them burst open. Emerging was a rather robust man who wore nothing but red heart covered white boxers. His muscles rippled with as many veins as there were patches of curly coarse hair on his chest, arms and legs.
Kanashi gawked at the man but his speed was too great for any further reaction. Yuko lifting her hand up conjured what seemed to be some kind of weapon but before it could fully form the man smashed his fist into her stomach with a loud pop.
“Guwah!” With a cough Yuko vomited out bile with bits of blood as she was thrown backwards. Slamming into a wall which she bounced off of and to the ground- gasping for air.
“Yuko!” Kanashi screamed out. The man paid no mind to him and simply slow walked down Yuko who struggled to rise, like a slasher villain he seemed to take his time with each step. Kanashi clenched his jaw tightly to the point it hurt and tried to figure out what to do. Should he help Yuko or continue with Soten. If he did help Yuko what about Soten then? Would he place him to the ground and let him run away? No he would just get lost or hurt again, but as the way things looked right now Yuko might also get hurt badly or even worse killed.
“Kanashi go! You can come back and help me now but just go and get that kid outta here!” Yuko gagged as she sat up, blood trickling down the corner of her mouth.
“Where do I go!?” He asked.
“Take a left and go straight all the way! That will take you to the barrier in another half a kilometer!" Standing up with a hacking cough she looked to her attacker. “Come on you stupid bastard!” She screamed at the man.
“S-scary.” Soten whimpered into the back of Kanashi's neck.
“Yeah, but I’m scarier.” Kanashi told himself before whipping around and running the way Yuko had told him. “I’m scarier, I know I am… I just need to figure out how to make others see that!” He complained. So no one else has to suffer.
# # #
2:28 PM
Following Yuko’s directions it wasn’t long until Kanashi came upon a group of Venators and felt immediate relief. “Yo, over here!” He laughed running to them.
The Venators- a group of 3 women and 7 men looked at him with eyes full of questions and concerns as if they didn’t know who he was.
Shit of course they don’t! I’m a weirdo who’s showing up with a kid on my back and a raging aura, for all they know I’m about to attack them- it’s not like I can explain who I am either the only ones who know me are the top dogs of the Venator Society and that’ll look even more suspicious! Well they should at least take Soten right?
“Stop right there!” One of the men commanded with a bark, pointing a curved saber which he drew from his side at Kanashi.
“Hey what the hell man! I just wanna let this kid get to safety.” Kanashi complained, throwing his hands up.
“Don’t speak out of turn! Or I’ll cut you down without hesitation!" The man argued, his sword staying firm.
Bewildered, Kanashi looked to the others but they too had their blades drawn or aura ready to blast Kanashi and Soten to hell. “Why is a foreigner- and one as strong as you are here in Shibuchu right now!? You’re not a Joshin but you might as well be as strong as one, so who are you!? Some kinda spy!?”
Kanashi felt his head begin to grow hot, the crimson red ring on his right hand's middle finger even hotter, burning hot- so hot it felt like it was melting his flesh to the bone as teeth grit. “What the hell are you on about!? I’m a member of the Venator Society so don’t accuse me of being a spy! I’m the only reason you’re even here in the first place!” The Venators all scoffed in unison, one of the girls looking as if she might just try to kill him then and there. “Look, fine, at least take the kid and I’ll get outta here.” I need to help Yuko anyways.
“You’re not going anywhere!” The man with the curved saber snapped, you claim to be a Venator so show me your ID!”
“!” Kanashi grunted at that- he didn’t have one of course. He did at one point but it was lost back on the Cymba and he’d never gotten it replaced- not like he even had a chance to but these people wouldn't believe him. And they had no reason to, Kanashi did look suspicious, the long nasty scar across his face, one off colored arm and an aura far too powerful for any normal person to have. If he was on the other side of the coin he wasn’t sure he would be acting any different, they were just afraid for their lives here but still-
“Okay I know this is hard to believe but I don’t have an ID. I’m Kanashi Sarumalder but you guys don’t know about me because I’m the only survivor of Azhar and was trained in secret by both Jin and Julius to help set up this whole liberation. You don’t need to worry about me, just please take the kid!”
“What the hell kind of story is that!?” The saber wielding man asked with vein bugling on his brow. “Trained by two captains, a secret member of the Venator Society and the only survivor of Azhar. Do you think we’re idiots!?”
Kill them, they’re in the way.
It was a whisper in his head, the burning sensation of Itachi on his finger so intense he feared that if he looked down he'd see nothing but charred black bone remaining.
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Kill them, they’re in the way.
It repeated but he shook his head. He couldn’t spend time arguing with them about if they’re idiots or not right now even if really wanted to and could empathize with their situation somewhat. He did have an absurd wrap sheet but it still felt unfair that they didn’t believe him nor would they be willing to do so just to take the kid.
Kill them, they’re in the way.
Kill them, they’re in the way.
Kill them, they’re in the way
Can I? There's ten of them and one of me, if it was just three or four… I could pull it off but ten of them and Soten? Damnit why is this happening. Kanashi could feel Soten's fingers digging into his shoulders and his heart beat quickly against his back.
Kill them, they’re in the way-
“Sarumalder Kanashi!”
The shout came from above, a voice Kanashi didn’t know but one which commanded power. Landing to the ground with a crash and apparent authority as the Venators saluted his figure through the cloud of dust he kicked up was a man Kanashi didn’t know.
“I’m sorry if my men are giving you trouble, please forgive them, they’re simply on edge from this situation.” The man said with a slight bow. He was taller than Kanashi with a muscular silhouette holding wide shoulders and a thick neck, the top of his head covered by auburn red hair and two antenna-like strands hanging over each eye and down to his chin.
Kanashi wanted to ask who the man was right away but he didn’t have time for introductions, he needed to get back to Yuko but this man… he couldn’t have been a captain only Jin and Hayai came yet he might as well have been as strong as one. “Are you a vice captain?” He asked.
“Impressive.” The man hummed with a grin, “I am indeed, Vice Captain of Omega, Fleabius Roach at your service.”
“Perfect, so you’re super strong right? There’s an Edoland Branch Venator named Ubaru Yuko over there back the way I came who’s fighting with a Joshin and she needs help-”
“I’m sorry but I cannot help with that.” Roach said cutting Kanashi short. “While I understand your concern I am tied to this opening. If left alone it could jeopardize the entire mission. All it would take is a Joshin or Hachibuto coming for the barrier to be lost. I cannot risk leaving it in such dire circumstances.”
“Damnit, damnit, damnit!” Kanashi complained, “Damnit it all!” He had to be the one to go back and help Yuko against a Joshin. Now he really did need to prove he was scary, he needed to show everyone that he deserved to be feared, just like Jin was. Even if no one else thought so. “Alright fine then, here take the kid and I’ll go help her!” Kanashi swung Soten from his back and passed him to Roach who took the boy into his side and let him hang there limply, hands and feet out stretched as if to touch the ground Soten looked up to Kanashi with a tint of fear in his eyes. Forcing himself to look away from those eyes Kanashi spun on his heel ready to run back the way he came when-
“And who are you to decide that?”
“Huh!?” Kanashi grunted, teeth grit he spun around to meet Roach who looked down at him with a frown.
“Your safety was a top priority was it not? How then could I just let you run to your death in front of me? That would be against my responsibilities as a Venator vice captain you know.”
“Fuck your responsibilities!” Kanashi screamed, spinning back around. “I’m gonna go help Yuko and if you want to try and stop me I’ll kick your ass too!” He began as he ran back the direction he came.
“Should we go get him?” The Venator with the Saber asked, "Lieutenant of the Venator Societies Omega Division Enpishi Fugai.”
“He’ll be fine.” Roach said, shaking his head as he watched Kanashi disappear around a street corner. “You’re lucky I came when I did though, he might just have cut you all down to get through.” He laughed at which the Venators seemed to straighten up at. “Kick my ass though huh? He’s a wild one all right… but I can see why he was so interested in him.” He nodded to himself.
# # #
2:31
Yuko grunted as she slammed her hand into Yodan's side, pain shooting up her knuckles and wrist as if she’d struck a brick wall; the man merely stumbled for a moment before he spun around and slammed his fist into Yuko’s breast. The cushion having no effect she felt her rib cage bend inwards as if made of rubber and though nothing broke or fractured thankfully the pain was still enough for her vision to blur and red hot tears to drip down her bruised cheeks.
“That hurt!” She screamed. One more time she attempted to activate her spell; that way she could have a real chance at beating Yodan but it failed once more as Joshin slammed his head into her stomach like a ram would. Flying backwards she slammed into a concrete wall behind her which shook from the impact. A sharp burning pain flying up her spine as if someone had shoved a hot rod into the vertebrae she let out a gasp. “Ow ow wo!” She cried, “Damnit I’m gonna kick your ass so bad!”
[Kyoyu Style: Zangeki!]
With a flash of black and orange coming down from above onto Yodan was Kanashi and Itachi, the black blade leaving behind a trail of orange ribbons as it sliced into Yodan's back. The man who looked more like an oni now with the two canines on his bottom row growing up into tusks let out a bellowing roar as blood sprayed from the fresh wound.
“Kanashi!” Yuko laughed, “I could kiss you right now!”
“Don’t do that!” Kanashi yelped with a blush, distracted for a moment the Man who he still was atop of bucked him off like a bull with a shake and Kanashi fell to his back with a crash, his head bouncing off the asphalt his eyes blurred.
“Are you her boyfriend then!?” Yodan screamed, raising his foot and stomping it down as Kanashi rolled to the side with a yelp. Yodan's foot burying itself down to the ankle in the asphalt as if he’d stepped into mud.
“What the hell, no way!” Jumping to his feet Kanashi jumped backwards, Itachi raised overhead his orange mana coiled around it like electricity would an iron rod.
“Hey- wait, why did you deny that so fast!?” Yuko complained as she began to focus on her own aura channeling it into her spell.
“So she really is a slut then!” Yodan screamed, his cry making Kanashi barely resist the urge to clasp his ears from the pain.
[無限遊賭女: Endless Girly Gambler]
Yuko however ignored the noise completely and her face lit up instead. “Finally I got it!” She laughed, as a Gachipon-like construct formed next to her. The conjured machine fell to the floor with a crash, shooting out colorful flashing lights. It had a white paint job covered in various cutesy designs such as cats and chibi anime girls as well as other random small images. [安廉賭: Penny Pinching Wager!] Then in Yuko’s hand she conjured a small bronze colored coin no bigger than a penny with the Kanji [五: Five] carved onto it. Putting the coin into the slot she twisted the knob and with a clank a small plastic red and blue ball fell out, her prize being-
[Crushing Paw!]
“Perfect!”Veins spread across her cream colored hands and forearms with bits of muscle tightening enough to be just noticeable yet not overbearing. Yodan seemed not to care as he tried to lunge forwards with another attack aiming for her but this time was met with Yuko’s fist which embedded itself into his stomach.
“BLEGH!” Vomiting bile and blood, the man flew backwards across the street and through a street sigh which snapped under his weight continuing he continued even further until crashing through the front entrance of [便天: Benten Mall] over fifty meters away.
“That was amazing!” Kanashi laughed while running to Yukos side. He looked to the Gachipon machine but found it had already vanished with Yuko already having begun to run towards the mall.
“We have to hurry, this will only last for 3 minutes!” She yelled back as Kanashi followed.
Frowning Kanashi thought about Yodan, or rather his spell, he clearly was worked up into some kind of frenzy asking Kanashi about his relationship with Yuko and seeming to grow angry at his own made up delusions about them. So is it a mood dependent spell? Like as long as he's angry he’s strong? Shaking his head he bit his lip. No he’s too strong for that, I wasn’t pulling any punches and I doubt Yuko was either. It must have some kind of limitation, probably a time limit. But how long is the question, if it’s until he stops being angry he can’t just be mad forever eventually his mana pool will run out.
Yuko, how long has he been like this!?” Kanashi asked.
“I don’t know exactly but I’d guess it’s been about 15 minutes since I rejected him. He was just kinda weird and a bit creepy before but once he got angry he went all crazy like this getting big and strong!” She yelled back as the two entered the mall. Yodan's wails audible in the distance.
15 minutes already then huh… Kanashi grimaced. If he really did all hyped up like this after being reject then it must be a transformation. But the question how long would it last for? Is there even a time limit for it though? It really could just be that until he stops being angry or exhausts his mana pool he’s like this… No that would be too dangerous, it could easily lead into him burning out and dying. So I’ll bet on a time limit and I’m guessing on it being around twenty minutes maybe even thirty… Shuddering Kanashi shook his head. I’ll bet on it being twenty, because I don’t think we could last another fifteen…
# # #
2:34
Yodan stood to his feet with a struggle, pushing clothing racks off of him he saw the lingerie piles that now gathered around his feet and grit his teeth. His stomach ached as if he’d been hit by a sledge hammer. Blood and vomit dripped down his chin and onto his bare chest, congealing together with his coarse chest hairs.
“Look at all of these- these- these slut clothes!” He roared, grabbing a bra, he ripped it with a cry. “Ugly whore clothes! I'll make sure she can never wear these for that foreign monkey again!”
[Mudd!]
Suddenly forming around Yodan were golems in the shape of frogs and Salamander, an army of them the size of large dogs they circled him. The Frogs sending out their tongues and Salamanders charging forwards for a tackle, Yodan roared as he swatted his arms aimlessly at them like a hurricane. The golems blowing apart easily- too easily in fact.
“!”
When destroyed the golems burst into blankets of mud which latched onto Yodan constricting him he felt electrical currents suddenly surging through his muscles, foaming at the mouth he put out a cry and shook violently.
“Ara, Ara!” Yuko called out as she charged into the store and towards Yodan. One fist pulled back and the other thrown forwards she slammed her knuckles into Yodan's stomach with a sickening pop the man wheezing out a sound akin to a tire hiss.
[Shield: Rubber!]
As he was thrown back however Kanashi cast a shield with a rubber like property and Yodan was flung forwards back to Yuko who pulled her fist back and threw the other one forwards. Once more, shoving her knuckles into the man's stomach.
With a spine chilling cry Yodan flew through the lingerie store and wall into the next shop over where Kanashi met him with Itachi.
[Kyoyu style: Zangeki!]
The black blade of Itachi arched through the air leaving a trail of Orange aura behind as it sliced into the man's back, carving a deep gash into it, Yodan spewed blood.
However the Joshin was no punching bag- spinning around he grabbed Kanashi by the neck and smashed him through multiple shelves as he ran out of the store, soap and perfume bottles exploding they crashed through the front glass window onto the 3rd story walkway. Kanashi struggled to break free from Yodan's grasp but the man ran forwards off the balcony through a dry wall pillar and the pair fell down the full 3 stories to the cold tile before. A metal umbrella crumbling as they landed on it broke the fall somewhat as they bounced to the floor. Kanashi let out a dry wheeze as Yodan straddled him from above, fists raised overhead like a hammer. “I’ll kill you!” Joshin screamed.
[Bog!]
Smashing his first to the floor, Kanashi turned the ground beneath them into a slurry of mud. Shifting his weight as he sank down into it, he pushed down as hard as he could and submerged his upper half while flipping his lower forwards, bucking Yodan off of him and into the mud himself.
“Gyah!” Coming out of the mud and climbing to the hard ground with a gag and gasp for air, Kanashi felt the burning ache in his back and spine from falling 3 stories. Even though the umbrella managed to break his fall somewhat and prevent him from dying it didn’t offer much in the way of a cushioned landing.
[Electric Bog!]
Casting Electricity into the pool of mud Kanashi watched as Yodan writhed in the thick brown slurry. Not done yet Kanashi followed with [Freeze] turning the bog into dark ice which stretched higher up then he was tall, sealing the Joshin solid in the middle.
“God I’m in pain.” Kanashi groaned as he writhed on the ground clutching his lower back, letting himself fall limp into the soothing cold tile floor; he didn't care how many people walked across it every day with dirty shoes. He just wanted to rest for a moment and the cold felt so good.
Boom!
Crashing from above with a super hero like Landing was Yuko. “Kanashi, you good!?” She asked running over to him as he looked up at her with a weak grin.
“I think I broke my back.” He complained.
“If you can joke around like that then you’re fine.” Yuko frowned, looking at the ice she spoke. “Is it enough to hold him, you think?”
“I hope so, I put a shit ton of mana into it.” Kanashi sighed. He’d made the ice as hard as possible, focusing on the very structure of it as much as he could, he tried to make it harder than anything he could think of, and he dubbed even a diamond ended drill could get through there.
CRACK!
Yet the surface began to form deep cracks across it from the center, the sound of Yodan's furious roar emerging. “God damnit, come on!” Kanashi yelled as he struggled to his feet, even just standing up caused a throbbing burn in his lumbar.
Yuko, not waiting on Yodan with her own time limit pending, crashed through the ice herself and into Yodan. Her fist embedded itself into his face, one of his tusks snapped off as she shamed through the pillar behind him and through the glass behind it into the front of an electronic store.
“You almost killed me!” Yodan yelled, as he stood up, staring daggers at Kanashi who leaned against a table catching his breath.
“I’m the one fighting you, damnit!” Yuko complained, throwing a round house kick she slammed her leg into Yodan or at least intended to but he caught it mid air. His entire hand eclipsing her leg like a twig. “Shit..” Was all she could mutter before Yodan whipped her up into the air and slammed her down onto a marble display table covered in electronics which snapped and burst under the impact.
Not done with just that Yodan continued, picking her up again this time he slammed her into one of the pillars in the store snapping it in half- Yuko’s eyes rolling into her head at this point Yodan finished the assault by slamming her onto the bare hard ground itself. Her body bouncing painfully off the cold tile she slid away with a trail of blood.
“Yuko!” Kanashi screamed running towards the girl.
“I’ll kill you!” Yodan charging at Kanashi who grit his teeth.
“Move damnit you idiot!” Ducking under Yodan's arm with a skid, Kanashi twisted his upper body and used [Crescent Moon Style: Total Reverse Severance]. His Katana forcing itself deep into the man's under arm and slicing cleanly through the tough hide like flesh until stopping with a thud at the bone itself.
“Aiieeee!” Spraying blood like a sprinkler Yodan screamed and stumbled back, clutching at his arm. Kanashi, fully enhancing his leg, kicked off the ground. Twisting his body once more with a kick he slammed his foot into Yodan's front and with a bang the man flew backwards. Crashing through multiple fridges, ovens, washing machines, dryers and monitor displays he only stopped at the concrete wall at the stores farthest south- the structural wall.
“Yuko, Yuko!” Kanashi cried, his eyes dry and growing hotter by the second he dove down next to her and brushed her hair from her neck quickly. Struggling to find it for a moment he felt a weak pulse, then to confirm she let out a heaving cough, a bit of blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. “Oh thank god.” Kanashi laughed, wiping at his face. I shouldn’t move her, that could make things worse, but how do I call for help? Should I send a blast of mana into the air or something to get Medicine-Crows attention? Hearing the sound of Yodan hacking up blood, Kanashi snapped back to the moment and stood up quickly. Giving Yuko a nod he whipped around to stare at the man. Between them a large clock clicked to 2:33PM.
Two minutes… He thought as Yodan stood up. Blood still pouring from his arm which was slowly healing he glared at Kanashi with snarling teeth, limping forwards the distance was less than a dozen meters and between them a single round table serving as a help center. Kanashi walked to the left around the circle and Yodan the right, circling the other for a moment. Two minutes, can I last that long on my own? He’s hurt but so am I. My mana pool isn’t too bad, maybe 70% if I had to guess but I’m at like 30% HP… I need to stall..
“!”
In an instant Yodan charged forwards, leaping over the table and Kanashi met him halfway, kicking off the ground with enhancement with Itachi already raised overhead the Katanas black blade glowing orange.
Yodan's eyes widened as the Katana began to glow brighter until it seemed to be like the sun itself- up until that point Kanashi had only used the blade to slash and hack. He’d yet to show its true power.
[Kyoyu Style: Yuuka!]
“!”
There was a flash of orange light and the south wall of the mall, from the base foundation to the 3rd story was cleaved cleanly in half in but an instant. Flying through the opening and into the world outside was Yodan with a massive gash across his chest, blood spraying from the wound behind him leaving droplets falling through the air like rain. He only stopped some near hundred meters away with a meaty slam and roll, a trail of blood following.
Gasping for his breath and reaching out for the sky clutching the air as if hoping to find something Yodan laid on his back. And though upside down he could see Kanashi walking down the road towards him. Now taking him time to slow him down, Kanashi counted each second in his head, as he let Itachi carved a trail into the road behind him with a scraping sound.
“Y-you bastard!” Yodan grunted out as he rolled to his stomach with a struggle. Hacking up congealed blood.
“I’m against killing.” Kanashi said as he stood over the man, eyes like slits. “But I will stop you, even if it means breaking every single bone in your body. Slicing off each limb one by one, gouging your eyes or taking off your ears. You will stay down.” Kanashi commanded, surprising himself as each word came out with a tone he’d never before used. One of pure authority.
Yodan's eyes went wide and his teeth chattered, the hair across his body stood up and he began to sweat, pure fear filling his veins he grit his teeth as he saw Itachi drip blood, his blood.
“I’ll rip your dick off, you’ll never get to use it again!” He screamed, face turning red. He threw up his arm reaching right for Kanashi groin- Kanashi’s eyes going wide and face ghost white.
Use it again? He thought, I haven’t even used it once!
[大金拚賭: All In Gambler!]
Appearing above Yodan before his hand could reach Kanashi was Yuko. In her hand a cartoonishly large red hammer with a yellow end, [餅月: Mochizuki]. Though her 3 minute buff had run out her physical strength brought on my pure adrenaline and rage was still more than enough for the hammer to slam down onto Yodan's back and smash him through the very street itself which crumbled under the blow.
Opening up a chasm below roughly 16 feet down that seemed to lead into some kind of tunnel both Yodan and kanashi fell into it. Not even a cry of pain came from Yodan as he landed on the floor. Kanashi laughed and cast [Bog] below him. Falling into the mud slurry with a splash he sat up with a gasp. Struggling to his feet with what little energy he had left he waited for the dust to clear with his heart beating loudly in his ears.
“I-I’m so sorry…”
Laying there on the floor, beaten bloody and curled up into a ball was Yodan. Or at least what must have been him. He looked bone thin and far smaller in height. Weeping on the ground he let out soft whimpers as he shivered. “I’m sorry, no one loves me.”
Kanashi let out a deep sigh and flicked his wrist to deconjure Itachi, looking up he saw Yuko leaning on the handle of [餅月: Mochizuki] like a cane she looked down at him with a bloody-toothed smile. “He's done!” kanashi called up to her.
“Thank god.” She sighed, reaching into her jeans back pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper- a talisman which she let float down to Kanashi. Upon grabbing the slip it turned into a set of chains, [Sealing Chain.]
“Thanks!” Kanashi called up, but Yuko wasn't there already collapsed onto her back the pain and exhaustion setting in. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. Just arrest him and get outta there yourself." She said,
“Got it!” Kanashi answered. Taking the chains he walked over to Yodan and prodding him with his foot to roll him over he wrapped the man up in the chains for a few loops before tying them into a knot. The whole time Yodan muttered to himself as he wept.
“Gross.” Kanahis sighed before sticking his hand out, putting as much Mana into it as he could to try and keep it last for at least another hour he conjured a small stone box around Yodan. “We’ll come back for you, or at least someone will.” He sighed. As long as we don’t forget that is. He joked to himself, he wasn’t meant enough to say that part aloud.
Looking behind him he saw the tunnel he’d fallen into stretching for some distance, blackness masking their interior.
“Maybe this will lead out somewhere…” He thought aloud.
2:38 PM.
# # #
Peering down at the scene below the man's thin red lips curled into a frown. The boy- Kanashi Sarumalder ran under the falling rubble to save the child- Kanjo Soten who was only moments away from being crushed like a roach under the heel of a child's sandals.
He was a tall man, no- far beyond just tall he stood over 3 times the height of the average male with a figure perhaps double as wide. His form muscular yet dense and not overbearing was obscured by a long black coat nearly to his ankles which was decorated in red buckles,buttons and laces. Skin ghost white with a face one could easily describe as gorgeous was adorned with magenta iris and long black hair swept back over broad shoulders and ending in loose curls.
Seeing the boy- Kanashi Sarumalder pick the child- Kanjo Soten up from the ground and fasten him to his back like some kind of ape carrying its child the man spat and turned on his heel in a single elegant motion. Walking forwards he waved his hand as if brushing away a fly and the air began to scream with a sound like a thousand death rattles as it gave way to ominous dark swirling abyss which he entered into and closed behind him. The Neverborn departing.
8/19/2025 at 7:38 AM with the comment "I hope I don't upload this too much later in the year." Well it was only four months at least.
Kanji Time!
[感情祖天] Kanjo Soten - Kanjo means and is spelt with the Kanji for Emotion while Soten means “Divine Ancestry.” Sounds cool huh? I thought so too.
[無限遊賭女: Endless Girly Gambler] - The name is quite literal being “No Limit Play Gamble Girl” if translated literally.
[安廉賭: Penny Pinching Wager] - Cheap, Bargain Gamble, again literal.
[大金拚賭: All In Gambler] - Big Money Disregard Gamble.
[餅月: Mochizuki] - “Mochi moon.” In the west while we have the man on the moon in Japan they have bunnies pounding Mochi on the moon. And since Yukos name is Ubaru for “Rabbit Spring.” I thought it fit nicely. I made a whole sheet for Yukos magic like Gege did Hakari in JJK but I don’t think I’ll have a chance to use her again for a long long time. Well maybe I’ll explain it more in depth in a side story lore dump.
Originally Yuko yelled “Take this!” But that felt corny in English, so I thought to use Ora but that’s a little to masculine, so Ara sounds more feminine right? As a battle cry?
