Chapter 005: Punishment

"Good morning, Ren. Did you sleep well?" Sakura asked him as he entered the kitchen. "Yes. What about you? Did you get any sleep at all? You look like you've been up all night." he said. "I couldn't sleep." she told him. Ren looked at the clock. 11:30. "Hey, what time do you go to work today?" he asked her. If she didn't go to work before he had to be at the abandoned schoolhouse, he would have to make up an excuse as to why he was randomly leaving the house to go who knows where. "My shift starts at 3:30, so I'll have to leave by 3:00, why?" she asked him. "Oh, no reason. I was just curious." he tried to sound believable. "Alright. Sit down, I made breakfast."

The few hours until Ren had to leave seemed to pass by far too quickly. It was now 3:15 and he was on his way across town. "Couldn't she have picked someplace closer to meet?" he thought to himself. But then again, where else could they meet that would be away from the public? Sure, the tower doesn't get many visitors this time of year, but it was nearly spring. It will be a lot more popular when the flowers start to bloom, since that's what gave the area its beauty. That and the incredible view from the top of the tower. On his way to the schoolhouse, Ren tried to take the less popular routes, but, that also meant that he would have to go through the most dangerous part of town. He figured it should be fine, after all, who would be so bold as to try and kidnap him in broad daylight? As he neared the northern area of town, or, Kiken Alley, as it was more famously called, he noticed how different it was from the rest of the town. To the right, a man, clearly drunk, who seemed to be harassing a young girl, to the left, broken down buildings, shattered glass, fire, rising smoke. As he looked straight ahead of him, he realized that the infamous 'Osoroshi Boys of Kiken,' as they called themselves, were watching. It was as if they were waiting for him to take one step into their territory, daring him to try. After a few minutes, he decided that he had no choice but to hope they didn't bother him. He would've just gone another route, but, this was the quickest route and it was already 3:45. If he didn't get there on time, he couldn't be sure that Okami would wait. She might assume that he wasn't coming and come after him or Sakura. He just couldn't risk it. He sheepishly took one step over the line that the Osoroshi Boys had engraved into the pavement when they had first claimed this area several years ago. "Well, well, well, boys. What have we here?" Maou, the leader of the Osoroshi Boys, asked. "Looks like someone was brave enough to enter our territory without asking. What do you think we should do with him, Maou?" Akuma, the second in command, asked. "What's your name, boy?" Maou asked Ren. "Ha! I'm surprised you don't recognize me, Kage, we knew each other for long enough. I noticed that you go by Maou now." Ren said. "You know this guy? And why did he call you Kage?" Mazoku, the third member of the Osoroshi Boys asked. "I don't know who this man is, and I do not know anyone by the name of Kage. What I do know is that if he doesn't cooperate, we will be the last people he ever sees." Maou said. "Hm... Different name, same old Kage. Hey, where is Ryu? Did he finally get sick of you and realize my warning was right? Or did you finish him before he got the chance to?" Ren asked. "Hm... I thought you looked familiar. Hello, Ren, it's been a while, hasn't it?" a voice called out from behind him. Ren turned around. Standing there behind him was Ryu, he looked almost exactly how Ren remembered him, but now there was a scar over his left eye. "It sure has, Ryu. Do you still believe that I'm the one who killed your sister? Or have you finally come to your senses and realized that I was the one who tried to protect her as Kage tortured her?" he asked. Ryu only glared at him, his bright blue eyes cold as ice. "Ah, I see. You still think it's the other way around. Alright. Oh, I thought you might like to know, my parents are dead." he told them. With that last sentence, Ryu's expression changed from anger and hatred to sorrow and shock. "How did it happen?" Ryu asked, forgetting that the rest of the Osoroshi Boys were there. "White Wolf." those two words were enough to turn anyone's face pale with fear. "W-White Wolf?! How long ago?!" Ryu asked. "Only a couple days ago." Ren glanced at his watch, 4:03. He was late. "I-I need to be going now. I'll be out of your territory soon enough, I'm simply passing through." Ren told them. "You really think we'll let you go that easily? You may be only passing through, but you still entered our territory without permission. You need to be punished." Maou said. "Oh? You punish me yet let those other's be?" he said, motioning towards the drunk man who was still harassing the woman. "These people are members of gangs and the few who we allow to live here. They pose no threat to us. You, on the other hand, are an ex-member of the Osoroshi Boys. Now, boys, what do you think is a suitable punishment for our old friend?" Maou asked. "Come on, Maou, maybe we should just let him through. He's just passing through, after all." Ryu said, trying to reason with Maou. "If you have a problem with how we run things here, maybe you should join your best friend and get punished with him." Maou was clearly annoyed. "'Best friend...' What an interesting choice of words. You sure didn't think Ryu and I were 'best friends' when you betrayed me and killed Ryu's sister, did you, Kage?" Ren wouldn't let Maou get the best of him, not this time. "Oh, I think you're mistaken. It wasn't my intention to kill her. That was your job, after all." Maou said. When Ryu looked shocked, Maou said, "Oh? Didn't your best friend tell you that? It was his job to kill your sister in the first place. If he's really so innocent, why didn't he tell you that part?" "I didn't say anything because it wasn't important. I refused and Kage decided to take things into his own hands and then blame me for his crime. Nothing more, nothing less." Ren said. "You're really getting on my nerves. You know, you actually gave me an idea. Why don't I give a demonstration of how I killed Ryu's sister, on you." Maou said. "What?! You're crazy!" Ryu said, stepping in front of him. "Hold them." Maou told Akuma and Mazoku. Akuma grabbed Ren to stop him from running and Mazoku grabbed Ryu to stop him from trying to interfere. "Good. Now, time to show you what we do to those who enter our territory without permission."