End x Beginning

The sky was grey and overcast, rain cascading down in healthy sheets over the hovering freeway bridge. Flanked by turbulent green waters, the bridge was home to countless vehicles that followed it's shining magnetic lanes. Out of the hyper-speed lanes creating arcs above and below, one vehicle stood out in lacquer red, it's window lowered to let the rain in.

"Sir, you'll get wet.." Soft spoken but persistent, a young man in beige suit with wheat blonde hair looked back. He was currently driving the hover car but used a free moment to check on his passenger.

"Eyes on the road." This passenger easily reclined against the white leather seat and talked back, resting against the door, letting the droplets hit his closed lids. "..just for a bit. This is soothing."

"Are you not looking forward to the ceremony? You'll be honored as the youngest CEO of a billion dollar enterprise. What could be more soothing?" The driver and personal assistant was enthusiastic, no amount of rain could dampen his mood.

"I'm looking forward to it. So much so I need to calm down. Feels like my head's on fire." Laughing, he at last rolled up the window, taking a towel from the seat compartment to wipe his face and hair.

"Of course. After all your hard work, I'm surprised you didn't get one sooner. Oh! Your family has been given the link to the live stream. They can see you go on stage and give the speech!"

"..Always doing what you shouldn't.."

The CEO admonished with a lazy tone and picked up his tablet, scrolling through articles with 'GenX' in the header. "I'd rather keep my family and origin connections a secret. I'm not ready to see any.. 'Founder of GenX Corporation Has Country Bumpkin Past' articles in my feed. So..include my family if you must, but never let those vultures harass them."

Rounding a sharp turn on the freeway's magnetic track, the driver nodded in assent. "Money tends to change people..but I'm glad these ten years, you've never changed.."

The CEO looked up from his tablet, an eyebrow raised. "I have changed. You just get special treatment. Ask anyone: I'm ill tempered and as fickle as they come. Count yourself lucky we were roommates in uni."

Smiling to himself, the assistant didn't press the issue. "Uh huh. Though, I meant who you are inside. You yell and swear a lot..but you don't lie or abuse anyone, and still protect the people in your world. No one is neglected and no one goes hungry. I would say, you're very nice, Rooi."

The handsome face carved from honey turned ugly. The CEO gave a displeased glare, jade-green eyes, fiery and fierce. "Quit brown nosing, Luce. What nice.." Embittered, he pushed up the gold framed glasses on the bridge of his nose a little higher. And rolled down the front windows to drench the flattering assistant.

"Okay okay!" Laughing as he regretted nothing, Luce was pummeled with summer rains and glanced through the rearview mirror. Seeing the countenance of the CEO, which looked annoyed but casual, he smiled.

So petty.

"Hey. Roll them back up..it's hitting me now." Rooi moved on from their previous exchange and focused on his tablet.. Crossing long legs, he ran a hand through his hair, the length short and dark; silky, airy, and stylish. The dark blue suit with faint white stripes and a grey kerchief at the breast pocket, gave him the appearance of a young master of an extremely privileged background.

Luce pressed the button to raise the windows, but paused as a blaring noise sounded from above.

"Caution. A Transportation vehicle of size class D, has lost control. It's whereabouts are unknown and it's driver, unresponsive. All operators please stay alert. The authorities are en route."

"With all the recent upgrades, they're still having problems like this?" Luce quietly murmured, giving a check to all their mirrors.

"This is just what happens when you don't dismantle and recycle the old tech. You get fools who sell and buy it for cheap. Of course it malfunctions to hell."

Luce nodded, somewhat absent minded, the rain no longer a peaceful reprieve. Although hover cars had impeccable autopilots, due to past events he couldn't trust them completely. "Sir..I think we should

The screech of metal assaulted both senses. Chaos descended. Flames and scorched bodies dangled atop the runaway vehicle with macabre flare, the runaway unit descending from above, barreling down at speeds too quick to evade.

"HOLD ON!"

Rooi's eyes widened as he shouted at the top of his lungs. On the far left lane of the hyper-highway, the lacquer red vehicle was sliced in half by the flaming giant, it's magnetic adhesion system completely malfunctioning.

Glass flew, as did the two bodies, and shrapnel rained from above. Collectively they were swept off the lane, over the guard rail and down below…

"LUCEEEE!"

Rooi, blinded in one eye, could neither catch his breath nor reach for the best friend plummeting as fast as he was. He only felt the chilled waters raging below drawing near..only felt unspeakable rage at the scalding metal burning his flesh.

.

.

.

"The master is sleeping soundly. Don't make a fuss!"

"But it's been several weeks..We should wake him up or call a doctor. Wasn't he found floating in the White Sea? Nothing should survive there.."

Loud.

From the dark of his lids, from the fringe of consciousness, Rooi was disturbed by two plaintiff sounds. They weren't so much sounds, as they were 'voices', high pitched, wanton, forever caught between a squeal and a moan, knowing full well that was their intent. But these kind of fetish tones didn't make him giddy or swell with pride..They were nails on a chalkboard. Made him want to strangle something.

"We can't! Boss said to give this master the utmost care and attention! We've been looking after him all this time and he's breathing fine!"

He clenched his fists under a veil of warmth that was probably a blanket and hoped they were fading nightmares..

Please.

"That's only because this master looks so distinguished. The boss thinks he'll reward him handsomely! You know, he looks like one of the chief.."

Just be quiet.

"Don't say it! If boss catches us talking we're in for it! Let's wash him up for the night."

The hell you will.

"..b-but..what if he wakes up.."

I'm already up, you idiots..Can't move..

"This master is..really handsome..do you think he'll.."

"PLEASE..JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!"

Rising with a roar of pain and fury, Rooi sat up abruptly and startled the two women onto the floor. One had a mature facade and voluptuous curves, stuffed into a black maid uniform. The other, short and petite, with no curves whatsoever, dressed in pink lace and sporting two pigtails.

Rooi gaped. Not at their 'types', but at the flickering wolf ears on the tall one and the pointed elven ears of the other.

"You..Those are.."

Beginning to stammer, Rooi was briefly at a loss for words. The women shared a glance at one another and suddenly fixed their posture, on their knees with palms on their thighs. They spoke sweetly and in unison.

"Welcome back, Master!"

"Huh?"

"Welco-"

"ENOUGH! Fix your voices! I am trying to rest and recover from the worst car accident of my life! And here you are-!"

Wait a minute.

Rooi paused his raging to look down at his hands for injury. The once caramel tone of his skin was replaced with the pale hue of the dead. "Why do I look like this? WHAT DID YOU TWITS DO?!!"

Adrenaline pumping, he whipped the red blankets back and got to his feet. He was still the same height and had the same athletic physique. He touched his hair and it was still airy and dark. The room around him was polished but bland. Someone else might consider the wood floors, canopied bed, and ornate furniture, a luxury, but Rooi was a contemporary, and hated everything from the past.

"Let's see the damage.."

Facing a mirror, Rooi looked at his face and was relieved to see two jade-green eyes. They were a thing that made him unlike anyone else, so it would hurt to lose them. Moreover, underneath his right eye, a small red mark in the shape of a diamond lingered tastefully. His nails were black and the tips of his ears were slightly pointed. It didn't seem like makeup..

"I'm going to ask you two.. ladies..some questions."

The women had huddled against the wall, trying to stay out of sight. Had the man not been near the door, they long would have escaped.

"Tall one. I'll ask you some questions and you'll nod or shake your head. I don't want any whiny explanations with tears in your eyes..and if you blush without reason, so help me.."

The flush on the older maiden's face disappeared and her eyes dried. She straightened up her back and stood at attention, eyes clear and focused.

"Finally.. I'm talking to a real person." Rooi sighed, then continued calmly. "Is this..a cosplay convention?"

A shake was given in the negative.

"Is this..a human trafficking house?"

Again, another negative.

"Have you given me any mind altering drugs? Don't worry, I went to college.."

And yet another negative.

With each subsequent question, Rooi's countenance darkened, transitioning from impatience, disbelief..and lastly, to incredulity..

Impossible.

The truth seemed to be, that the two women in front of him were real non human entities. And he was not in Z city anymore, the shining metropolis of the year 9999. He was somewhere else..and 'someone' else.

"I've actually been..transfigured...transitioned..no..

..transmigrated!"

Mumbling to himself before the women, Rooi experienced an epiphany and exclaimed in triumph. The women looked on in trepidation, but were relieved his focus had shifted.

All at once, the countless light novels read came back to him. They were suitable for reading during long flights and especially while waiting for the train.

"Damn. That stupid truck did me in. Why is it always a truck?! ALL TRUCKS CAN GO TO HELL!!" Causing his white silk robe to tear, Rooi raged and kicked a stool into the wall. He cared not for the scream of the two maidens and began to pace with bare feet firmly against the floor.

"Oh. That's right. A system! I should have one!" He looked over at the women who had darted from the wall by the window..to the wall nearest to the door. They seemed to be caught up in their own bit of trauma, trembling with wet eyes and clutching one another.

"If you're not going to help..then get out! And don't let me see you sashaying in here again!" An oval pillow was hurled at the retreating figures, the door closing with a frantic thud as the women scattered.

Alone, Rooi could finally breathe.

"Hello? System? Your mc is hereeee. Are you around? I'm ready for assistanceee.. "

He looked up at the ceiling, and down at the floor, waiting for something to show up. When nothing appeared, he made some common hand gestures, taken from shows to activate things..

"No system? What the hell kind of cheap isekai.." Disgusted, Rooi strode to a tall window and thrust it up. He immediately regretted it.

You've got to be kidding.

Clusters of black cathedral buildings flanked either side of a cobblestone road. It seemed he was in some kind of city. A cacophony of sounds assaulted his ears, rivaling that of Z City during rush hour.

The dwellings held gothic spires and luminous stained glass windows, emitting ghostly auras of varying hues and shades. The cobblestones had a glass sheen and one could see through them to a silver lined bottom.

The air held a shimmering haze of neon green, contrasting an indigo sky spattered with pink stars. Rooi scanned the cobbled walkways, noting wisps of energy with faces, fluttering through the crowds and speaking to each other. He saw creatures both humanoid and not human at all, congregating in harmony.

"It's not even a future world?!" He shouted at no one in particular and didn't care who craned their neck to see him. Slamming the window shut, Rooi stalked to the boudoir and found it empty. He looked down at his own ankle length 'nightgown', and left the room to head downstairs.

.

.

.

"Oi! Get over ere darlin!..I got sumthin for ya!"

"...."

"Hard of hearing? Get yer ass over there and serve the man!"

"Y-yes boss!"

"Mini! Bring this to table 5! Drop it again and you're dead!"

"Yes sir!"

Below the boarding quarters, a bar with a dining area and private booths was filled with raucous patrons. Staunchly male, the only feminine presences were the two women who had just escaped the madman from upstairs. Scurrying under the watchful eyes of a pot bellied lizard, the 'boss'...they wheedled and preened before foul-breathed men, serving drinks and food while calling 'Master'.

"What.. is all this?"

Rooi narrowed his eyes and grimaced at the stench, descending one step at a time. He'd only come down a few stairs and already wished he could run back up. It was obvious the place had character, but had been run into the ground by scum. He could now understand why the women behaved as they did and no longer abhorred them.

"I thought I told you to get me 20 silver! Not 15! I spent 2 hours trying to catch that bird for him!" Owner and barkeep, the lizard man lashed his forked tongue and brandished a thick splintered cane over a child. The lizard stood in the corner by a great hearth, wailing on that small person, only covered in a giant tattered cloak.

"Grrr.."

"Not you again!"

Bursting out of a wooden box labeled 'Punishment', a beast erupted from within its place in a corner of the hall. It darted across the room, in layers of golden fur that touched the ground. Gold eyes bright and white fangs bared, it was clearly ready for a standoff.

"Stay back! I know how smart you are!" Although he stopped beating the youth for the moment, the barkeep still waved his cane and hollered. "Come any closer and I'll hit his head next! Just be a good dog and scram!"

The golden beast looked down at the shaking person hidden by garments. It's large claws dug into the floorboards. It was unwilling to part with the child and howled angrily.

"Mangy mutt!" Spurred on by the crowd now watching him, the boss raised his cane to unleash more violence..

"Hey."

Silence descended on the bar and dining hall. A man stood casually beside the lizard man...and his hand had caught the weapon before it struck.

"Oh! You're awake!"

Snap.

One cane was snatched and used to smack a lizard to death. The angle and force of the swing had turned its neck 360 degrees.

Falling with a 'thud', many looked at the being whose life was cut short so quickly. And at the tall beauty with gold rimmed glasses, gazing down nonchalantly.

"So. It's dead now." Kicking the body to the side with a foot, Rooi stood before the youth on the floor. "This business is now property of the GenX corporation."

"He killed Old Bastard!"

"Old Bastard deserved it." Rooi cast a condescending gaze on the pile of green flesh. "If you're sentient and can still behave that way..don't be upset when you get what's coming."

"Monster!"

"I'm probably the least monster thing here?"

"How could you do that to Old Bastard?!"

"For one, because he is an old bastard.."

"We don't get it!"

"Are you all..dumb?"

The crowd erupted in fury, strange weapons loaded and locked. A wall of flaming rounds was fired in Rooi's direction, on the heels of threats and feral yells. "KILL HIM!!"

Flaming rounds came hurtling forward. But before they'd hit him, the women, beast and child were sure to catch the brunt.

"Get down!"

Acting on instinct, Rooi thrust his hands out to grab the collars of the unsuspecting, not expecting that those flaming spheres would also stop in mid air.

"Ah."

"Look!"

"..it would be weird if I didn't have powers.."

"I told you he looked like one of them! CEO scum! Use the bigger rounds!"

"What have you got against CEOs? Don't tell me you're anti-corporation..."

"Call the Judges!"

"Look. Now's the only time to save your stinking lives by getting out! I can't hold this forever!" The forces holding the attacks were dwindling. Rooi was sure they were going to be ricocheted back without discrimination.

"All tha way out ere?"

"Don't blame me if you turn to ash!"

"I never saw uh-"

Too late.

Unable to control the wall of flaming assaults, Rooi lost his psychokinetic hold. Each patron was soon engulfed in flames, blocks of ash that stood silent and smelled burnt.

The golden beast gaped, and the women screamed bloody murder, stumbling one over the other. The door was ripped open and they charged outside, heels thudding against the pavement until they were out of sight.

Rooi didn't want to draw attention to the scene, and quickly slammed the door that closed with a bright jingle. He drew the drapes to hide the interior before anyone cared to peek in. With deadly silence all around, he nodded to himself while appraising the interior.

"Looks like this used to be a cafe.." Rooi went behind the bar and opened every drawer. A cash box with silver and gold coins was aptly placed on the tabletop. From a ledger of old transactions, even older documents, and photos he'd found, the original owners were an old couple likely swindled by the lizard and then killed off when convenient.

Finding a broom in the back kitchen, Rooi poked the charred bodies in the hall. Immediately shrinking into piles of ash, they were thoroughly swept up and tossed in a bin at the backdoor.

"Dog. Little person hiding in the corner….Let's talk."

Until this moment the young man had ignored the two existences. But now that he had disposed of all the bodies, he decided to look them over.

"Rao!"

"Thanks for trying to save that little person. I'm sure they would be dead without you." Rooi reached out and gave the furred head some gentle pats. "I'll call you..Knight. I'm going to be counting on you in the days ahead."

"Rao!"

He turned to the mass of torn gray rags. "Alright, let's see what you look like. I'll find some better clothes for you."

"....."

"The sooner you let those rags go, the sooner I can treat any injuries you have."

"....."

"Do you want to leave?"

"NO!"

A small boy of about ten years old thrust off his rags and ran up at the mention of leaving. The gray robe fell from his shoulders, revealing a non human being of great beauty.

"You..don't look like you belong here..did you transmigrate too?"

Pale light blue skin with a faint rainbow sheen covered the youth from head to toe. Touching the floor, his hair was silky, voluminous, and violet..this included his shapely brows and long lashes. Two eyes with amethyst hues glowed softly and shined like glass. Unclothed, his back revealed translucent markings in the shape of wings.

"..trans..mi..grate?"

Rooi was starstruck but quickly came back to himself. "Yes. But nevermind that. You really don't look like you belong in this place. No wonder you hid yourself. Bad things tend to happen to small and beautiful things.."

The kitchen held several prepared meals in it's cold storage. Rooi grabbed a plate with piled high sandwiches and poured two glasses of what smelled like juice. He casually stuffed his face and shared his hoard. "How did you get under that lizard's claws?"

The youth jumped up nimbly onto a stool and attacked a sandwich with shapely fangs. He gulped down the drink offered and looked with devotion at the man who was now bringing Knight some dried meats.

"I don't remember. Things have been..troublesome..for a long time."

"Being given rags, not fed, and being beaten is just 'troublesome'?" Rooi looked over at the youth who had half his face in a sandwich.

"..It doesn't really hurt and I can eat when he sleeps. As long as I shake and curl up, he'll stop sooner.."

Rooi looked over, his gaze complex. "Death's too good for that kind of filth."

"You're..angry for me?"

"Not for you specifically." The CEO frowned in thought, pushing his plate away. "..it's the principle of the thing..to protect innocence. You should be kept safe and taught properly..not, whatever the hell that lizard has done to you.."

The youth looked curiously at the man while he spoke, and then looked down at his lap and fell silent. He whispered to himself, eyes watering. "..you're the first..to ever think so.."

Coming out of his thoughts, Rooi stood up from the bar stool suddenly and pushed it to the center of the room. Both Knight, and the non human child turned to look at him as he stood atop it and appraised them.

"What's your name, little person.."

The little person sat up straight under those brilliant jade eyes with veiled excitement. "I don't have one!"

"That's nothing to sound cheerful about." He scoffed, lids lowered, hand on chin. "You can always change it when you're older, but for now...

"..I'll call you..Mugen. It means 'infinite' in another language from my world. MuMu for short. What do you think?"

"I want it!" Trembling in his seat, the youth jumped up with abnormal reflexes and stood atop his own stool, fangs on display as he smiled from ear to ear.

"Hm. Not going to ask why I chose this name?"

"I want it!!!"

Chuckling, Rooi couldn't help but crack a smile."Well, it's yours. Now have a seat before you fall..I have something to say.."

Taking a breath, he straightened his nightgown and rolled up the sleeves. Pointing to the golden beast and magical child, his tone was clear and pleasant.

"I am now the CEO of this establishment. CEO stands for: Chief. Executive. Officer. You two... are now part of the 'founders' team. We will expand our business in this half baked realm, and gain wealth and information to serve my purposes.." To get the hell out of here!

He paused, giving each of them a look. Mugen was very perceptive and stood up from his stool and saluted with shining eyes. Knight, with a higher awareness than most mammals, jumped on its two hind legs and gave a resounding 'rao'.

"Good. Since there are no objections, we'll move on. Benefits come later.."

Slowly walking the length of the main floor, Rooi looked around and began to analyze. "The concept of this place was scum, but I do agree that we should build on the fact that it was a quaint and unique site to eat and congregate. Did it have a name?"

"The Wet-n-Wild Tavern.."

"Disgusting. From now on it will be called... the GenX Lounge."