14

He leans back against the wall feeling a storm in his stomach. Looking at the disfigured body in front of him and back at the scattered cash. And when he looks at the blood on his clothing, Shujinko hurled.

He looks at the only other person near him. The man was indifferent toward the corpse and only focused on the money in front of him. The man suddenly changes his focus to Shujinko.

His leg weakens, collapsing on his knees. He felt his heartbeat race a mile an hour. Shujinko tries to move his body with the wall as his guidance but only his hand move, scraping itself against the rough walls

The man in black smiled looking at his state, teasing him by taking his steps slowly. He gently pulls out the blade shining in the moonlight.

Shujinko saw it enlarge as dark mist began to gather around the man, covering his face. In its place was a skull while the once small knife change into a scythe.

The man proceeds to hop on him.

Shujinko saw the blade slowly coming for his neck and with his only functional hand slap the wrist away. He felt his sensitivity growing and regain control, grabbing hold of the shoulder.

Death revert back to the original man in black and Shujinko found himself rolling around on the ground with him. Blocking and parrying every close contact stabbings.

But then the man suddenly breaks free with his strength and have a good target to stab. He raised his hand and slam his blade down, breaking through the guard.

Ichiji suddenly lost vision in his left eye as he felt the blade stab through his eyeball. Thankfully because of his previous block, the blade didn't sink any further. But his left eye is completely ruined while his eyelid tore.

He did not feel pain but he realized he lost something forever.

Shujinko struggles a bit more and pushes off the man. That loss completely struck him as his body finally realize that it want to survive. Without hesitation, Shujinko uses his Quirk and soccer kick the man's knee, shattering it completely as his leg bend unnaturally.

Cold shiver down his spine as Shujinko heard the ear-shattering cry behind him. But Shujinko was more concerned about his left eye, hoping that it was not permanent. He felt droplets of blood drop on his hand as the left eye began crying tears of blood.

The volume of the wail grew louder bit by bit, Shujinko realize that it's coming closer. Afraid of the danger, he activates his Quirk and swings his elbow blindly.

With his remaining eye, he saw the jaw protrude from the once wailing man, his cheek torn apart and his eyes showing no light.

He watches as the body ragdolled against the wall. Not moving anymore.

Shujinko didn't bother to check if he was dead for real and walk slowly to where his remaining family was. Leaving the disfigured man to die in a pool of blood.

He was just supposed to be scouting today when he ran into a murder. Right now, they are hiding in a warehouse hidden from the sight of the employees.

As he walk his way home, he felt tears roll down his eye. The fear of nearly losing his life. The despair of losing his eye. The guilt of killing someone. And the bliss of not leaving his family behind.

He had mixed feelings and was in his emotion. The sound whispers invade his ears as well the clocking of a gun. Shujinko looks up and sees a duo of men in black suits sneaking toward their warehouse. One of them wearing an eyepatch.

Shujinko remembers the scene of seeing his dead parents. Immediately, he sends Shuyo and Kihon out to shop while he handles the situation. His heart was ripped to shred as he watch their dead faces as they were handled roughly by the police. But he didn't say anything.

He was the one to break the bad news and be the shoulder to his two younger siblings so they can take the shock easier.

He was the one who had begged on his knees for the H.P.S.C to hire him for his family.

He was the one to realize that something suspicious was going on and had to pull away his sobbing sister as they left their once warm home. Which caught on fire two days later.

The thought that he wasn't able to keep his family happy and safe weight down on him. Despite being older by a minute, he still took full duty as the eldest. Not because he wanted to but because Shuyo and Kihon were raised too sheltered and innocent.

They are calm now, not happy but at least not sad. But now this two sent by the H.P.S.C are going to destroy this peaceful time again.

'Everyone, is so selfish.'

The man that killed for his benefit. The friends who left them alone for their benefit. The H.P.S.C who decide to ruin a family for their benefit.

'Let me be selfish this time.'

Shujinko took the eyepatch off one of the agents and put it on to cover his left eye. He looks at the two dead men by his feet with their heads smashed in.

'They have their families too, unfortunately, I also have mine.'

.....

For the next two years, Shujinko protects his two family by killing each and everyone that comes for them, behind their back, in hope of keeping them calm and happy. He introduced some things like robberies for their survival while putting in the really dirty work.

He let Kihon do some of the thinking and Shuyo handled some light problems as he watch them grow with pride. Shuyo and Kihon are undoubtedly shallow in the underworld while Shujinko sinks in the deep end. Shujinko wish to prepare them for a normal society, as he was able to find some connection that can smuggle them to China. They will have a very low chance of less than 5 per cent to survive normally, but there's a chance at least.

But if they didn't meet Ichiji, he would decide to immigrate after the kidnapping. Maybe after things settled down, they can have the opportunity of a normal life too.

Even if it means exposing them to the dates of humanity. But he hoped that won't happen.

...

Silence permeated the darkly lit room with the sound of scribbling and movement of paper in the background. The room was cold despite the fireplace in the corner flickering wildly.

Shujinko had his arms crossed as he stare at Ichiji copying down the notes. They were alone in the meeting room. Kihon and Shuyo were downstairs chatting with others while once a while trying to make friends with Dabi who turn back into an aloof character once he's not interacting with Ichiji. Stain has returned back home.

However, it was very obvious that there is something wrong with Shuyo

Ichiji was quite surprised by Shujinko's angry aura that have murder intent hiding. In between his writing, Ichiji commented,

"I'm surprised, you're actually a veteran, I fell for it."

Shujinko remain unmoved, his arms still crossed though veins could be seen enlarging at the back of his gripping fist. He spoke in a surprisingly cold tone that raised Ichiji's eyebrow.

"What happened to Shuyo?"

Ichiji looks at Shujinko emotionlessly and answers with no hesitation or difficulty.

"He saw Stain kill someone."

One footstep and all the papers flew like birds, the chair dropped as Ichiji was raised by the collar. But his facial expression remains unchanged.

"Do you expect an apology?"

Ichiji felt the grip on his collar tighten but felt no fear neither did he attack. He understood that Shujinko was going through something that he wouldn't understand.

Shujinko was 180 cm tall, so despite carrying Ichiji, Ichiji can still reach the floor if he tiptoed. And with his leg, he was able to make Shujinko lose balance.

As both regain their footing, they glare at each other immediately.

"Why are you so mad, Shujinko?"

Ichiji watches Shujinko going through a breathing routine before asking kindly.

"Can I punch you with full power?"

"If it makes you feel better go for it."

With no hesitation, he sends one mighty punch that could blast a hole in a civilian. Ichiji didn't flinch and immediately asked what's going on.

Shujinko altered between his breathing routine and his explanation.

"I don't want them exposed to that kind of situation"

"Are you stupid? The moment we did these, it was bound to happen."

"I know. That doesn't mean I can't be pissed when you showed him that immediately. Have you ever thought about his mental state? Not everyone can be like you, and be indifferent to death.

I want to take it step by step with them. So that he won't have some nightmares or overlapping guilt."

"And how long would that take you? We have other plans too, we can't have our sweet time here."

They had planned other than recruiting more members, they will dip their feet in the market, including the black market too. And possibly a new and proper base with electricity, either legally or illegally.

Ichiji doesn't wish to have any burden just because they're afraid of some death.

"Give me two months, and I promise you that everyone will have some resistance to the death of others. However, just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Don't you dare force my siblings to kill someone, understood?"

"If the situation allows it. What do you take me for?"

"A monster of killing and destruction. Even though you have a conscience or a so-called sense of justice, doesn't change what you are from the very beginning."

"Why do you trust me, then?"

"Because I see a chance, you can do whatever you want, but as long as you can secure our safety and wellbeing, that's fine."

"So you trust me but at the same time not."

Shujinko ignore this statement and left, leaving Ichiji with his messy papers. Ichiji sighed as he stack the papers.

'Our group will seriously crumble in the future at this rate. Right now we only have the same goal, but there's no glue.'

Shujinko suddenly experience a paper cut on his right ring finger. He didn't feel pain but seeing his dark blood drop remind him of Shujinko's word on him. Ichiji muttered under his breath.

"Killing doesn't make me feel good too, you know?"

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I never plan for Ichiji to be so Charismatic. But it will grow along with his leadership in the future.

STONE AND REVIEWS!