Brothers In Another World Chapter one: Isekai

Part One: Worlds Apart

Wait, are you sure?

Let's have just as much fun as them!

We'll just find each other in the next world.

Shoto awoke in a daze.

"The next world?" He muttered, "Man, what a weird dream."

He looked out his window, sitting up to stretch.

The cerulean sky filled him with serenity.

"Crap," He grunted, getting up from bed.

He looked in the mirror.

His face was sticky with drool.

His body was sore, although it was worth it for his well-toned body.

He threw on his black vest.

It went very well with his brown flooding pants and black sandals.

His blue hair, still a little messy, fell before his emerald-hued eyes.

Although he avoided looking at them.

"I guess I look okay," He said, fixing his hair, wiping his face, grabbing his beige cloak, and draping it over his vest.

He went to pick up groceries for his mom.

Rushing down the stairs, past his mom in the kitchen, out the door, jumping over their fence

Going down the dirt path. Over the stone bridge.

He reminisced about the dent on the rail from the sword fight he had with his dad.

Finally, coming upon the stone slabbed road that led into town.

He approached the town center to find his favorite stand, Farmer Joel's Produce Stand.

With a big grin, he was admittedly excited to see Joel, to the point where he almost yelled.

"Hey! Any expectations, Mr. Joel? How's business?"

Joel greets him with a basket of spotted eggs and vegetables

"Ey kid, ow long as it been," Joel asks.

Shoto cracks up, loving Joel's krausin accent.

"About a month and a half, so anything new going on with you guys?"

"Nothing in pah'ticular. What bout yourself?"

Shoto, letting out a chuckle, answered.

"Eh, just as boring as always, what about mavis?"

"Ehasy, after that ole dream fiasco, I don't know if I c'an trust you with er anymore."

Shoto, almost bursting into a full laugh, regained his composure.

"Ya don't have to worry about that, she's not really my type, and besides, I'm not forcing her or anyone to join."

Joel let out a little chuckle.

"You say t'hat now, but just wh'ait until puberty its, and then we'll see if you're a man of is words."

Shoto's smile turned into a grin,

"You know my eighth birthday is coming up,"

"I know wh'atchu want. It just depends if you've been an elpful boy this year."

Shoto kept his grin and gave Joel a thumbs up.

Joel chuckled and returned the gesture.

They exchanged goodbyes, and shoto went to a few other stands to get milk, spices, and meat.

Lastly, he had to get bonemeal for his mother's plants. Unfortunately, the stand that usually sold it was out.

The clerk had told him if he could get him some bones, they could make him some for half the price.

Shoto accepted and left all his groceries there to keep them safe.

They gave him jewels to exchange with the guild, and he scurried off.

Making great pace, he wondered if he could return home by sundown.

As he arrived on a busy road, he decided to do something he saw an adventurer do.

He sprang into the air, just high enough to land on the roof of a carriage.

"Mavis!?" He said.

He was surprised to see the crimson-haired girl right where he was about to land.

Before landing, he opened his legs and spread his arms.

Mavis finally noticed him, surprised to the point of freezing before the inevitable fall.

Recoiling from the landing, he fell to his knees, his ankles and shins throbbing in pain. \

Although, he was too worried about mavis to care.

"Are you ok?" He asked, lifting her head to remove his hands.

Mavis shook her head.

"Really? Guess I wasn't fast."

As she opened her eyes, her heart started racing. His face was inches from hers.

Her nose started bleeding.

She covered her nose and closed her eyes.

He let go of her head to examine the rest of her body.

Not seeing anything wrong besides her nose, he picked her up and took her with him to the guild.

Upon arriving, he asked if a mage was in the building, and three raised their hands.

Realizing his mistake, he rephrased.

"Oh, sorry, I meant a mage with healing magic,"

Only one kept her hand up.

He rushed Mavis over and asked the mage to heal her.

She obliged and stopped her nosebleed.

"So, how do you feel?" The mage asked as shoto went to get tissues.

"I feel great! Thank you." Mavis bowed.

Shoto thanked the mage once more before continuing his business.

Shoto went to the lady at the front desk to ask for bones. Unfortunately, they just ran out.

He contemplated for a moment and concluded that he should just get the bones himself.

Mavis, confused, followed him to find out how.

They ended up back at Joel's stand.

Shoto explained what happened, and Joel understood but still had one more question.

"Why did jou come here?" Shoto grinned a bit.

"To borrow your butcher's knife."

He stated.

"No way! You can't go by yourself!" Mavis yelled.

Joel, for clarification, asked what he planned to do.

"I'm gonna get bones to bring back to the bonemeal shop." He said nonchalantly.

Joel refused to give him the knife.

Shoto nodded and walked away.

"Wh'ere are you going?" Joel asked.

"To get bones." Again, he said nonchalantly.

Joel reminded him that he was supposed to be good for his birthday present, but shoto rebutted that not trying his best to get everything on his mother's list wasn't really good either.

At least if he tried and failed, he could say he tried everything, so Joel grabbed his butcher knife and his steak knife.

"Foine, but ah'm coming with you."

Joel told his daughter to stay behind and watch the shop.

They got to the forest entrance, and Joel grabbed his shoulder, asking him if he was sure about this.

Shoto nodded. Joel handed him a long and slender steak knife.

"I want the butcher's knife," Shoto complained.

"No, the butcher's knoife is too heavy you're beh'er off with that one."

Shoto snickered a bit. Although he wanted it, he agreed with Joel, confusing him a little.

"Before we go in, stick out your hand first," Joel, confused, asked why.

"Just do it, I'm about to teach you a cool trick."

"Now, close your eyes and stretch your fingers more. Now, imagine your arm is filling with energy, tense your muscles just a bit."

Joel felt energy slowly fill his arm.

His arm tensed increasingly, and suddenly, a great shock rippled throughout his arm.

He recoiled in pain. He let out a deep groan, trying his best not to yell.

"Are you okay? I told you to only tense it a little!" Shoto nagged.

Joel stopped himself from snapping at Shoto and walked towards the forest. Shoto followed. "Have you been doing that o'ften?" Joel asked.

"Yeah, it really hurt the first time, but I've pretty much got it down now."

Joel, a little annoyed, asked him what would happen if he did it right the next time.

"Oh! You'll be able to run really fast, jump super high, and pick up really heavy things!"

Shoto said, so excited he could barely stop himself from jumping up and down.

"Do you do it o'ften?"

"I used to do it for exercising; now it's almost as easy as flexing a muscle."

"Is that whoy you could come here without any fear?"

Joel looked at his face for confirmation,

"Sure, but it's not like I'm not nervous at all. There's never a hundred percent chance of winning a fight, but you have to trust in your abilities."

Joel was surprised, he was turning out to be a pretty strong warrior, just like his father.

To think he's doing this for bonemeal. He thought.

They get to a deep enough place in the forest, but right before they start to look around, they hear something rustling in the bushes.

Another sound came from above them, rustling in the trees.

A quick green blur flew at shoto, missing only by a few hairs.

Landing on the ground, shoto saw a serpent!?

It was green with blood-red eyes.

From the bushes lunged a white tiger with blood-red eyes, passing shoto and rushing straight at Joel, tackling him to the ground.

Widening its jaw, it tried to bite down on Joel's head, but Joel grabbed the top of its mouth, pushing with all his strength giving him enough time to shove the butcher's knife in between its jaws, stopping it from biting down.

However, its persistence proved difficult as it drove its claws into Joel's shoulders, weakening the grip on its mouth, and allowing it to crack the butcher's knife.

Shoto focused on Joel and let the serpent retreat back into the trees.

He rushed over, but the snake lunged at his neck.

He caught a glimpse of it in the corner of his eye. Raising his knife in time, he stopped the snake from biting down.

But the force had snapped the blade and caused him to lose his balance.

He used the momentum to roll off his back to his feet, stumbling to regain his balance.

The serpent sprung back into the trees and quickly aligned itself for another attack, but by then, Shoto was focused on the serpent's position.

He brought his blade around, having his elbow cover his neck, turning his body to reveal his side without losing sight of it.

He focused the energy throughout his body. Feeling it rise from his chest and neck, it slowed down at his jaw.

The memory of him first trying to focus energy into his body shot through his mind.

The world of pain he experienced.

If it was that bad for my body, how will my eyes react?

He thought.

But with how Joel was struggling.

"I guess I don't really have the right to complain." He said.

He closed his eyes, focusing his energy into them.

The serpent took this as an opportunity and lunged full force at Shoto.

He opened his eyes, and to his surprise, he saw it!

He actually saw it!

He lunged to the serpent's side while it was still in mid-air.

In one Swift motion, he slashed, the knife entering the serpent's extended left cheek going through its body and finishing with its stomach, splattering blood and venom all over the ground.

Before the energy had time to wear off, Shoto rushed over to Joel and quickly stabbed the tiger in the neck.

Unable to stop his momentum, he slammed it into a tree.

The tiger died from blood loss, the snake, on the other hand, was desperately trying to slither away, not going anywhere because it was in a pool of blood.

Eventually, it just stopped moving.

After seeing both corpses, Shoto felt remorseful, apologizing to them.

Joel let Shoto bury the snake and helps him carry the tiger to the guild, where they meet the same mage that healed mavis. She healed them both.

"Are you taken?" She asked Joel in a sultry voice.

"So'rry, but yes."

"Aww, guess she's a lucky woman to have such a strong man protect her." Joel was about to correct her, but Shoto butted in,

"That's right, he's the strongest guy I know!"

"Hey wai-" "-Anyway, I got my bones. I'll see you later!"

Again, Shoto cut him off.

Shoto finally got to the shop. He saw a new girl behind the counter she looked his age.

Before getting too close, he was pushed and nearly fell.

He turned around to see a familiar face.

"Sorry, it was supposed to be a pat, but I got a little excited."

"Oh, hey.", He said unenthusiastically.

"What! That's all you have to say to me?"

Shoto's blank face turns into a slight frown.

"Is that really the face you should be making at your future wife?" The girl asked, giving him a little wink.

Shoto finally had enough and ignored her, continuing to the counter.

She yelled at him not to just walk away from her, then charged at him, jumping onto his back.

He gave the bones and silver to the lady, she thanked him and ground it up into bonemeal, then she poured it into two mid-sized sacks and gave him change in bronze.

Shoto, still with the girl on his back, put the money in his pocket, grabbed the bags and the groceries he left earlier, and headed for the door stopping right in front of the doorway.

"We're not actually together." He said with a smile and a wink then he walked off.

The girl blushed a bit before laughing.

He walked back to Joel's shop to pay him a cut for helping out, of course, Joel tried to decline, so shoto came up with an idea.

"Fine, get Leia off my back, and I'll keep the money." Joel agrees and helps shoto.

At first, it seemed difficult but then they figured out she was ticklish, so they tickled her until she came off.

Shoto then left the money on Joel's stand and ran, he got to the path that lead back to his house and saw another familiar face

"Mavis?"

"Who else?"

She asked, but shoto shakes his head and says

"I just didn't expect you to be waiting on me."

"Well, I wanted to spend some time with you since you're barely in the village often."

So she asked to go with him, and shoto let her walk with him since he didn't mind.

They got to his house a little late, so they wanted to hurry inside but for some reason, shoto got a bad feeling.

He thought he heard voices but ignored them, they got inside the house and saw a man with a cloak and a Western hat that triggered the word cowboy for shoto.

He also wore a face mask that covered his mouth and nose.

His skin was also darker, it looked like the perfect tan, but before he could admire it, he heard a click as the man put his hand on his hip as a reflex.

The man put down a sack filled with coins.

"This the kid?" To a regretful nod from his dad.

At first, he was confused, but the sudden realization hit him like a truck as the guy started walking toward mavis and him.

Shoto noticed the door was still open.

"Sorry." He told Mavis as he launched her out the door, of course, he held back, but she was still launched pretty far.

She got up in pain, scared, and confused about what to do, she hit both her cheeks to snap out of it and tried to go get someone to help, but then she saw them, not shadows but people surrounding her, trying to corner her.

She rushed back inside next to shoto, angry she came back, he tried to push her back out but saw shadow figures creeping closer.

He realized the full weight of their situation, so not having much of a choice, he ran at the man in front of them, hoping to take him down for his guns.

He poured all of his energy into his arm and swung with all his might.

The man caught it, quite easily too.

He felt a heavy pressure pressing harder and harder on his stomach, the man had kneed him. He lost all of the strength in his body and fell to the ground, he couldn't breathe in or out, his stomach started burning, his ears were ringing, and his vision was getting blurry, he was scared. Not because he thought that they might kill him but because he didn't know what they were going to do to Mavis, and that thought terrified him.

He saw the man in the cowboy hat walk to her. He tried to speak, but instead, he tasted iron in his mouth, and something warm fell down his cheek and pooled around his face, he looked down, seeing the blood reflect his tear-filled eye.

"Damn it!" His last thought before his inevitable blackout.

Part Two: Boiling Point

Shoto started to come too. All of a sudden, his body was being tossed around, forcing him awake.

He was in a dark, cold box and remembered what had happened.

So he was pretty sure he was in a carriage.

He couldn't see anything and could barely feel his hands and feet.

he tried to feel around, touching only cold hardwood until he felt something warm, he had an idea of who it was, and he started to regain feeling in his fingers and now felt how soft it was.

Confirming his suspicions, he kept his hands there to warm them up.

Suddenly he felt the carriage stop, footsteps started from the front of the carriage, behind him, to the back of the carriage, in front of him.

Now all he had to do was wait, he got into a lunging position as the door started to creak.

A lunar light started to pour in.

Finally, he saw someone as the door got to its halfway point, and he rushed at them.

Loud and heavy footsteps on the wood, he poured energy into his arm, not holding back, swinging with his full might.

Suddenly the doors swung open, revealing the tan-skinned, cowboy hat-wearing man.

He easily caught his fist and sent him right back to where he started.

"Don't you get tired of getting your ass kicked, boy," he said, looking down at shoto.

Another guy stepped up laughing, his appearance just screamed cocky, with his slick back hair, plump and punchable cheeks, his stupid pride-filled grin, and his eyes gave a gaze that just aggravated shoto.

"Wait a second, buck, we still have to deal with your punishment," the man said.

"Oh, right," Buck replied with a dejected voice.

The man pulled out one of his guns, a revolver, not that shoto would know more than that.

"Do you wanta challenge?"

The man asked?

"No," Buck replied.

He takes out five bullets, then closes and spins the chamber

No way, he can't be serious. He's not actually going to-

*Bang*!

The gun fired.

A bullet flew straight through buck's skull, taking out chunks of brain matter with it.

The man looked back directly into shoto's eyes, making it clear this wasn't just a punishment but a warning.

The man holstered his gun.

After such a loud noise, Mavis woke up, yawning right after.

"What's going on,"

Not giving a response, Shoto grabbed her head and planted it into his chest.

He was terrified, this was the first time he had seen a human get killed.

He thought he would be ready, he thought he could handle this, but he just couldn't.

The very sight of all that blood made him want to vomit.

And the sight of a lifeless body sent waves of fear throughout his own.

He was scared, terrified at the thought of dying like that.

"Hey, let go!" Mavis yelled.

Shoto, realizing he had tightened his hold around her, let go.

Mavis kicked him back.

Trying to escape, she turned, running into the wall behind her.

She turned around, ready to fight, calming at the sight of Shoto.

She was happy, lunging at him, hugging him as tightly as possible.

After realizing he wasn't hugging back, she pulled away to look at his face.

He looked shocked. No, it was something else, but it was so hard to read his face.

She didn't think she'd ever seen him like this.

His eyes wide, his mouth quivering, and his hands shaking, it almost seemed like he was scared.

But she knew that couldn't be it, the shoto she knew could never be scared of anything, at most, he'd be worried about her.

"All right, come out,"

The man said after letting them have their little reunion.

Shoto stood up, taking mavis's hand.

They get off the carriage one by one, with the man standing in front of the body shoto hoped he could keep mavis from seeing it.

The blood started to pool, so he tried to rush her past it, but she misinterpreted.

She let go of his hand, going in for a kick.

But the man stepped aside to shoto's distress.

*Splat!*

She slipped in the puddle of blood.

She tried to stand, slipping. Her hand felt something slimy and warm, she looked down.

The man stepped aside, giving shoto a view.

Her jaw dropped, her eyes wide.

He heard her hyperventilating.

'Don't look!" He yelled, Rushing to her side and covering her eyes.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Mavis let out a bone-chilling scream, desperately grasping onto shoto as if to hang on to the last of her sanity.

She dug her nails into him, making sure she had him.

It was so tight that shoto couldn't even look at her face.

"S-s-s-shot-to," she stuttered.

Barely able to speak, she tried to push herself.

Still hyperventilating, she moved her mouth, but nothing came.

The image of the corpse burned into her mind, tears overflowed, and emotions built up.

All of a sudden, her stomach felt weird, she was going to vomit!

She didn't know whether to pull Shoto in closer or push him away.

Throwing up on shoto added to her guilt, but she just couldn't bring herself to let him go.

After a while, the man brought them to a bathhouse behind a shed.

"D-don't let go," Mavis said with a shaky voice.

Still holding on to Shoto, they walk into the bathhouse, it had a smooth wooden floor with two long shelves on both sides with two towels on it and a wooden door separating this room from the baths.

A creak yelled out from the wood with each step they took. On the other side of the door was a white tiled floor with three shower heads on the left side, a large bath in the back, and a drain in the middle of the room.

"Sorry," Shoto said, washing mavis's hair, he didn't know what else to say, it may have not been completely his fault but, he felt so remorseful not being able to protect her.

Mavis didn't respond, in fact, she barely reacted to anything other than shoto letting go of her.

Shoto poured water on her, washing away the last of the blood on her body, mavis not reacting to the hot water scared shoto a little.

He washed himself up and walked mavis out, noticing their clothes were now neatly folded and clean.

They put on their clothes and were taken to the front of the shed by the man.

"Call me Finn from now on." The man said.

He opened the door revealing three boys and seven girls lined up in front of a staircase, a closed wooden door also in front of the stairs to the left, and four other wooden doors, one in each of the vacant corners and one beside the base of the stairs.

"Meet your new family," Finn said, walking them in.

"Introduce yourselves," He practically yelled at the kids.

"My name is Dexter," the boy furthest from the right said, he had blonde hair, blue eyes, and glasses, he was ten, he wore a white long-sleeved shirt that showed off his skinny body and some grey baggy pants, he didn't have any shoes or socks on, but then again, none of the other kids had theirs on either.

"Blake." The boy next to dexter said with a low voice, he had red hair, blue eyes, and wore a black short-sleeved shirt, his body was the opposite of dexter's body he was buff, muscles Stretched his shirt, and he was the tallest kid in the cabin but only by so much since he was thirteen.

The boy at the other end spoke up "My name is Jake and I'm eleven," he said in with a calm exterior, he had brown hair, hazel eyes, and he wore a white short-sleeved shirt with loose black pants.

"I-I-I," the girl in the middle tried to speak but tears began to flood her magenta-hued eyes, and her long brown hair kept falling in front of her face.

Finn interrupted her, "Fine, why don't you two give your introductions, and we'll pick this up in the morning."

Shoto a little nervous, took a breath.

"I'm shoto and this is mavis, I'm eight and she's nine,"

The room fell silent, did he do something weird, had he been making a face, or did they just not like him?

"All right I'll be back in the morning, bedtime at twelve, and don't do anything stupid," He looked at shoto.

He walked out and shut the door, they all heard the loud click of the lock.

The girl in the middle fell to the ground.

"They brought another one, it's happening already!"

Two other girls comforted her. They both had blonde hair and red eyes.

Everyone else dispersed, two of the guys went upstairs alongside two of the girls, and one of the boys went into the kitchen along with one of the girls, and one of the girls went up to shoto. She had gray hair, but it could be mistaken for silver, and her eyes were a reddish-orange.

She wore a big dark gray shirt covering most of her body.

She grabbed shoto's hand.

"Sorry, your welcome couldn't be more heartfelt. My name is Elizabeth, the girls call me Betty, and the guys call me Liz. Feel free to call me whichever," She said with a big smile on her face. She went for Mavis's hand.

Mavis pulled shoto in front of her.

"Sorry, but it might take a while for her to warm up to you guys." Shoto said, rubbing the back of his head.

"So you're eight, and she's nine?"

"Well, actually, I'm seven, but my birthday's coming up."

"So is she eight or...?"

"No, her birthday has already passed."

"So when's your birthday?"

She asked while holding his hand and looking into his eyes.

Shoto blushed a little bit.

"Oh, well, it's the fifteenth of this month."

Their conversation was interrupted by a sweet aroma, "Dexter started cooking!" Elizabeth said, running into the kitchen dragging shoto by the arm and mavis along with him.

"Whatcha cooking dexter."

A little girl with bright pink hair asked. She looked at shoto and smiled.

"How did they get you guys?"

"Oh, uh...he knocked us out," he was a little weirded out by her smiling while asking about something that traumatized Mavis and him quite a bit.

"I Meant, did you get traded, or were you kidnapped?"

"Maybe you should think before you ask such personal questions." Elizabeth said.

"Nevermind, I got my answer."

Elizabeth was confused at first, but then she turned to shoto.

One look at his face, and she understood.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, but what gave her the answer was his rage-filled glare.

Elizabeth touched his hand, snapping him back to reality.

"Oh, sorry, ya know, I think I'll skip dinner tonight."

"I don't think that's a great idea, but if you say so."

Elizabeth said.

"I think you should listen to Liz. Tomorrow won't be a fun day." Dexter added.

A little bit taken aback by Dexter's kid-like voice, Shoto decided that Mavis should probably eat, so he stayed. After, they quickly go to bed, of course needing to be shown their room.

As they tried to sleep huddled in the spoon position, mavis, the big spoon to shoto's little spoon, she moved her head closer to his ear.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"If I were stronger-"

"-There wasn't anything you could have done." Shoto tried to end it with that.

Mavis's guilt was still eating away at her, along with her newfound fear.

"No, I'm the oldest, yet here I am, still holding onto you so tightly," she said, tearing up.

"I really am the worst, aren't I," She Said.

"Not really, especially since I was the one who brought you to my house," Shoto said.

"I came along because I wanted to."

"Maybe, but still, I could have said no."

" Besides, if I had trusted my instincts, you could have been saved. Because of my

thoughtlessness, you got scarred," Shoto continued.

He tightened his grip on her arms.

"I really am sorry." A silence followed his sorrow-filled apology.

Mavis felt something wet drop on her arm. She knew what it was, but she couldn't believe where it was coming from.

She said nothing, wanting him to let out whatever he had built up.

When she thought about it, she was honestly surprised he made it this far without shedding a single tear, although she was a little weirded out by how he cried without making any noise.

It made her wonder.

How many times had he done this?

Year: One

Time: Caerulus

Month: Renova

Mavis woke up to an empty bed.

A wave of terror washed over her body.

She shot up, freaking out and falling out of bed.

Darted to the door, she twisted the knob so hard she almost ripped it off.

The door swings open with great force.

Mavis stopped right after the door opened.

Shoto was standing on the other side of the door with a breakfast tray.

A plate of wheat cakes with a side of sausage and eggs and a glass of milk was on it.

"Oh, sorry, I wanted to give you breakfast in bed," he sheepishly said to a distressed mavis.

Mavis tried to calm down; she grabbed the tray, put it on the dresser to the right of the bed, then grabbed shoto's hands."Thank you, but next time, could you wake me up before you leave," she asked in a calm and beseeching tone.

From a glance, he could tell she was just barely holding on.

"Sorry, I just wanted to give you a good surprise to sho-"

shoto cuts himself off, shaking his head-

"Sorry, I should have thought about how you would feel." shoto matched her calm tone.

Mavis brought shoto to the tray to share some food with him.

…

"That kid is really good at faking his emotions," Dexter said.

"You noticed, too," Jake asked.

"Who cares? We can't have him screw up our plans," Blake continued.

"One of you, fill him in, and I'll train him."

After breakfast, Finn called the boys to the front of the house.

"Did you guys decide," he asked.

"Decide what?" Shoto asked, looking at the other three.

"Who goes hunting," Jake said while Finn pulled out two hunting knives.

"Jake and I will go," Blake said, holding his hand out for one of the knives..

"Well, if-"

"-Actually, I'll go with you instead," Shoto said, grabbing one of the knives.

"Are you sure," Jake asked.

"Don't worry, I'm great with a blade."

"That's not why I asked," Jake said, prompting Shoto to look behind them at the front window.

Mavis was staring back.

"Give me a sec," Shoto ran inside house.

She was troubled at the thought of him leaving her, fidgeting her fingers.

"Listen, I'm not leaving you behind. But I do need to do this, or I won't be strong enough to protect you from him." Shoto said, grabbing her hands.

She leaned in.

Shoto leaned in, giving her a hug, and she tightly hugged him back.

Before completely letting him go, she kissed his cheek.

"I-I'll be fine, just don't die.

He headed back outside, telling Jake and Dexter to watch over her.

Before they head into the forest, Finn gives them two bags with a rope each and bandages inside.

The others head back inside.

They went deep into the woods, and Blake started cutting huge amounts of bark off trees to make a sled so they could put the corpses on.

"So where ya from?" Blake asked.

"Homutaun village, why?"

"A village? And here I thought a village was the closest community to exist," Blake looked down in disappointment.

"Well, you'd be surprised," Shoto said, his smile fading.

"Did you get sold or kidnapped?" Blake asked shoto with empathetic eyes.

"A little of both," Shoto said, turning away from blake.

"Anyway, let's focus on hunting," Shoto said, trying to end the conversation.

"I thought you said you hunted before, we have to let them come to us."

"Actually, I said I was good with a blade," Shoto said.

"So you've never hunted before?

"I have once, but it was a few hours before I got knocked out and kidnapped.

"Oh, well-" Their conversation was interrupted by a roar.

"Guess that's enough of that," Shoto said, his smile returning.

"Yeah, get ready," Blake said, hiding behind a tree.

Shoto crouched behind some bushes.

A creature with a corpse in its mouth charged through, it had a crimson red flame as a mane, and every step it took, left a scorched footprint on the ground.

"What the hell was that!?" Shoto yelled as quietly as he could.

"That's the king of this forest, as long as we don't get in its way, it won't attack us," Blake starts digging a hole.

"Let's start building traps."

Shoto looked up, seeing a serpent almost directly above them. It lunged at Blake, Shoto pulled out his blade and slashed upwards.

But this one was stronger and not to mention bigger than the one he faced before.

At the very least, he stopped it from killing Blake, and now it was out in the open.

Its head was black, and so was the tip of its tail, the rest of its body was a dark green with black spirals, allowing it to hide in the trees undetected.

"An Ishirin!?" Blake said, surprised.

"That's their name? I've just been calling them serpents."

"Of course, you don't know anything about it. But right now, we have to focus. Don't take your eyes off it!" Blake yells to Shoto.

"You're taking this way too seriously. I've killed something like this already, I can handle it alone." Shoto said confidently.

"Idiot! Not all ishi are the same!"

"I thought they were called Ishirin?"

"No, this one's called an Ishirin because it's a forest serpent. Its scales are tailored to the forest specifically."

"Well, as long as it acts the same, it doesn't really matter," Shoto said, still confident.

"That's just it, it doesn't just use the trees like other, weaker serpents, the fact that it's still alive means it evolved from a regular monster, meaning it... Wait, where is it?!" Blake freaked out a little.

Shoto closed his eyes and focused his energy on hearing.

"Behind you! Get down!" Shoto yelled, pulling the energy into his legs and launching himself at the Ishirin.

He swings again, only deflecting the serpent's bite.

"Damn! Why can't I cut it," Shoto yelled, frustrated, watching the Ishirin slink back into the bushes.

"Like I was saying, it's evolved." Blake continues, "Now that I told you something, I want you to tell me something."

"I'm kinda focused on this right now," Shoto said, closing his eyes again.

"Fine, but we're talking about this after," he said, putting his back against Shoto's.

Shoto was silent but knew he wouldn't just drop it, judging from his tone.

The Ishirin attacked from above.

Shoto drew energy into both arms and swung, deflecting it and cracking its teeth.

The ishirin recoiled in pain, giving Blake just enough time to attack.

He raised his blade, and without holding back, he brought down his blade, decapitating it.

"I guess we make a better team than I thought," he said, meeting Shoto's disapproving gaze.

"I thought you did this before," Shoto said, slightly annoyed.

"Oh, right. Sorry about that, I just needed to test you."

Blake said with a smile that annoyed Shoto.

"So you risked your life for a stupid test?!" Shoto yelled.

"No way, if my life were in actual danger, I wouldn't leave it up to you to save me," Blake said in a happy-go-lucky tone.

"Now, about my question," Blake continues.

"Actually, I'd like to ask a few." He said, looking at the snake's fangs.

"That's too bad I'm only answering one," Shoto said, turning his back to him.

"Fine then, tell me how you did this?" Blake said, pointing at its fangs.

Shoto turned his head.

"That's simple, training."

"Training? You couldn't even cut through its hide a second ago, and then you practically shattered its fangs."

Shoto stuck his arm out to the side.

"Stick your arm out and close your eyes," He said, already demonstrating.

Blake indulges him.

"Relax your arm and focus on your fingers."

"What does this have to do with my question?" Blake asked.

"Imagine energy being pulled from your shoulder and filling your hand?" Shoto continued, ignoring him.

Blake focused. His arm started to feel warm and a bit tingly.

He started to feel pressure build in his bicep. Suddenly his arm tensed up, causing great pain.

He grunted, stopping himself from yelling.

"There, you have your answer," he said, starting to dig a hole.

"You go through that every time?"

"You get used to it, now, come over here and help me."

He helped Shoto finish the trap.

One Hour later.

"Ok! It's finished." Blake said.

"Yeah, now let's get go-,"

Blake swung his blade, Shoto jumped back, slamming into a tree.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Shoto yelled.

Was he trying to kill him? That was definitely aimed at his head!

"I need to know something." Blake declared, pointing his blade.

"And that is?"

"Can you kill one? A human, I mean."

You can't hesitate, kid, here it's kill or be killed.

A faceless voice invaded Shoto's mind.

What the hell? He thought.

"Answer me!!!" He yelled, leaping into the air.

Shoto jumped left, rolling over the stone-filled ground.

"Hey, wait a second!" he tried to plea.

Blake rushed, slashing. Shoto ducked, standing on his hand.

Blake went for a downward slash.

Shoto pulled energy into his arm, jumping. He pulled the energy into his leg.

Blake hurried, moving his blade in to cover his left side.

Shoto used all his energy in a devastating kick.

Shattering Blake's blade and launching him into a tree.

Shoto stood up exhausted, falling back down, his right leg vibrating with sharp pain.

"Ahhhh!!!" He yelled, clutching the grass, ripping it out from the ground.

Blake stood up, holding his side.

"Sorry about that. But I can't have you hesitate when it's ti-." *cough* *cough* blood poured from his mouth. He fell. Struggling to get back to his feet.

"Idiot," Shoto's last thought before his vision faded to black.

Time: Rubrum

"Just leave him, if he dies, he dies."

"Sis, that's cold, we should at least fix his leg."

"I said no."

"You rejected the others, we don't know anything about this one. Please?"

"Fine! But that's it. Honestly, what is it, you and these humans, especially this type?"

Shoto woke up in a cold sweat, covered in dirt and grass.

He looked around, his vision blurred.

He stood up, realizing blake was gone, and so were their bags.

He walked around but found no sign of him, hearing a noise up ahead, he crouched down, slowly walking towards cover.

He walked around but found no sign of him, hearing a noise up ahead.

He crouched down, slowly walking towards cover.

He peeked through the bushes.

It shocked him. So many corpses and Blake was stacking them.

Tying them down to the makeshift sled using the rope from Shoto's bag.

He walked through the bushes to get a better view.

"Why'd you leave me on the ground like that?"

"So you're awake, huh?"

"Obviously, you gonna answer?"

"I was gonna come back for you, I just had to do this first and make sure we go back with enough food."

"Do you usually kill this many?"

"No, I had to make it look like we both hunted, so I got twice what I usually get." Blake continued.

"The good news is we can stay a bit longer. The bad news is this is enough for three months, meaning we won't be coming here for a while."

"Maybe we don't have to." Shoto continued.

"I think I have an idea, but you need to tell me a few things."

Time: Umbra

The two return, dexter and Liz, with company, were waiting outside.

"What took you guys so long," Liz asked.

"We ran into some trouble, but we're okay," Blake answered.

They brought the sled near the front window of the shed, blocking half of the view.

"You should head to the bathhouse," Dexter said, looking intently at Shoto.

"Okay…" Shoto looked around.

"You go, I'll help them out with dinner," Blake said.

"Whatever," Shoto said, leaving.

He saw Mavis in front of the entrance, and she rushed to him, tightly hugging him.

"Come on, I'll wash you this time." She said, taking him into the bathhouse.

"Sorry for being so clingy,"

She said, washing his head.

"That wasn't your fault, You were in shock because I couldn't keep you safe,"

"That's not an excuse, I'm older, you shouldn't have to protect me,"

She rebutted, washing away the soap.

"I don't know why you keep saying that, I'm the only one of us with actual combat training." He said, lifting his head.

"Still, though, I threw up on you, and I wouldn't let go of you, you even had to wash me." She said, starting on his back.

"Speaking of which, You also washed my front…" She continued, her cheeks flushed.

"Oh yeah, sorry if I overstepped, you also vomited on yourself."

"I know, but what I meant was…"

She grabbed his shoulders.

"Never mind!!!" She said, jerking him back and forth.

"Mavis! Please stop!" He pleaded, grabbing her hands.

"Oh, sorry," She said, snapping out of it.

"Listen, no matter what happens, I'll get you out of here,"

"I know, no matter what happens, I know it'll work out somehow,"

Shoto said, looking up into her eyes.

"Isn't that a little optimistic?"

"Someone has to be,"

"I guess you're right,"

"So, uh…"

She started fidgeting her thumbs.

"Hm?"

"Do… you want me to… uh"

"Are you okay?

"Yes… I just uh… wanted to know if.. you wanted me… to wash your front?" She asked, her face as red as a rose, still fidgeting her thumbs, her eyes darted back and forth.

"Nah, I got it." He chuckled and stood up.

He turned, and she quickly covered herself. He pecked her on the cheek.

"There, I owed you for this morning."

He said, washing the rest of his body.

She got in the bath, looking away, her nose starting to bleed.

When they met up with others, dinner had been made, a hearty meal using a bunch of the meat.

The man gave them the skin from their hunt since the weather was aligning with the season of winter. They ate as much as they could. After dinner, the girls got to work on their winter clothes, Shoto joining them.

At first, Jake and Blake exercised to keep warm, and Dexter was washing dishes.

After it got late, most of the girls fell asleep before they could finish, leaving Shoto to pick them up one at a time and put them in their beds. Eventually, all the girls fell asleep, leaving Shoto by himself.

Or at least for a bit since the other boys joined him.

"I assumed you guys didn't know how to do this," Shoto said.

"Of course, I can, but you know the saying about too many cooks in the kitchen,"

Blake said, his cheeks red.

"There's that, or you didn't want the girls to see you," Shoto teased.

"Actually, I find this a little difficult, could you explain?" Dexter asked, connecting two stitches.

"Me too, please," Jake joined in.

"Well, first you wanna know what you want to make, then imagine the design." He said, showing one of the vests he had made.

"Then you want to make an outline with a line of thread where the stitching will connect." Blake chimed in, showing the stitching of the cap he was making.

"Wow, you guys are pretty good at this," Dexter said.

"I actually learned this from my mother," Shoto said.

"Really? What kind of person was she?"

"W-well, she was kind and beautiful, but personality-wise, she was kind of a, reserved woman." He continued.

"She didn't really talk a lot, and she always hid her emotions with a smile."

"Was she that hard to read?"

"For most people, yeah, but I could tell by the way she spoke how she felt, and dad could tell with just a glance."

"When I asked you earlier about being kidnapped or sold, you said it was a little of both. What did you mean?" Blake asked.

"I'd rather not talk about now."

"Oh, sorry, I guess I did spring that question on you,"

"No problem,"

The room went silent as they focused on their needlework.

Year: One

Time: Caerulus

Month: Shimo

Mavis awoke, her body felt stuck, like someone had tied her up in rope.

She tried to sit up but couldn't.

It was weird, she was moving her arms up and down, yet she still felt restricted by something. She started rocking her body.

She got closer and closer to the edge and braced herself for the tipping point.

"What are you doing?" A sluggish voice asked.

"What the hell! Where did that come from?!"

"What are talking about?"

The blanket started to rise.

"Ah, no! My chest? How?!"

"Are you still half asleep or something?"

The blanket slid off, revealing her bag-riddled childhood friend.

"S-Shoto?"

"Who else, Sherlock?"

"You said you weren't gonna call me that again,"

"No, I said I wouldn't call you that if you stopped stating the obvious," Shoto said, getting up from the bed.

"Fine! What were you doing sleeping on my chest?"

"Oh, sorry, was I too heavy?"

"What, n-no, yes? Just answer my question!"

Shoto yawned.

"I guess I mistook them for pillows." Shoto said, putting on his new fur-lined clothes, along with his new fur cloak.

Mavis got out of bed, blushing, she couldn't believe she was getting used to this.

She changed from her night clothes into her fur-lined outfit, a fuzzy sweater with similar pants and fuzzy boots.

She checked herself out in the mirror, admiring her new clothes.

They were a little snug, but that's how she liked her clothes, especially during this time of year.

They both went downstairs for breakfast.

As they walked down the stairs, Mavis stopped Shoto.

"Last night… Did you stay up by yourself and make these,"

"No, not by myself,"

"You and Blake,"

"Actually, all the boys helped out."

She sighed in relief, he started to get along with them, and he finally started to trust them.

"Wait, who made my clothes,"

"I did."

She let out another sigh of relief.

"How did you get my measurements,"

"Isn't it obvious?" He said, a devious smile crept across his face.

Her face became as red as a tomato.

"I'm just kidding, I just guessed it," He said with a chuckle.

They walked down the Stairs, their breakfast ready.

Part three: Pride before the fall

It had been a year since we came here,

Mavis had turned nine, and we had a little celebration, we being her and me.

Everything is going well.

Blake said if it kept up, we'd be able to escape in six months.

The real question is what to do after we escape.

Fortunately, nothing bad has happened these last few months, and my training has ended.

I guess you could say I had gotten confident. Little did I know I was in over my head.

In fact, what would happen next is something none of us could have seen coming, nor would it be something we could have ever prepared for.

Year: Two

Time: Caerulus

Month: Renova

The forest shook with excitement as Shoto and Blake bounced back and forth through the trees.

The clashing of metal created a grating yet euphonious ringing throughout the forest.

"You've really got the hang of it now," Shoto said.

"Yeah, although it's still hard to maintain," Blake continued.

"Besides, I'm nowhere near as good at it as you are,"

"That's just because I've used it longer. You'd be just as proficient if you used it as long as I have,"

"Yeah, well, let's find out the real difference between an amateur and a pro,"

They raise their blades, resuming practice.

Time: Rubrum

They washed off by a great lake.

"I think we're ready," Blake said.

"I don't know. We should probably train for a few more months or so, just in case."

"We can't wait any longer. That woman is coming soon."

"Woman?"

"Right, this is only your second year," Blake continued.

"Every two years, around this time of year, a woman comes to check in and see how many… "Products" were gained this year. While she's here, she uses one of the boys as her toy.

By the end of her visit, if she isn't dissatisfied with the…."Products" she takes at least three of the girls to sell,"

"And if she is dissatisfied?"

"She takes one of the boys,"

"When does she usually come?"

"By snowfall."

"Then we have time,"

Shoto walked over to the sleds by the trees and took a few shuchi bunnis off.

"Wait, what are you gonna do," Blake asked.

"We'll take a few, so we have an excuse to come back here tomorrow."

"Why, we've already gotten as strong as we can."

"No, we still have one more challenge."

"And that is?"

"The king of the forest," Shoto said with a smirk.

Blake laughed, not being able to resist after seeing that stupid smile.

"I can't tell if you're brave or just an idiot."

"Can't it be both," Shoto said, chuckling to himself.

They head back with barely anything in haul, Mavis and the others greeting them at the front door.

"That's all you got," Elizabeth complained.

"Well, to be fair, it was bound to happen eventually with how many animals you guys hunt a month,"

Dexter said.

"Well, it's enough for tonight,"Jake joined in.

"Exactly," Mavis agreed.

After taking baths, Shoto and Blake helped out in the kitchen, after they all sat down to eat, Shoto was mesmerized.

Even though they had only been there for a year, the others were starting to feel like family to him, and he was sure Mavis felt the same way as she and the other girls acted like sisters.

Of course, he realized they were all forced into this situation, but it finally didn't feel like it was all bad.

Time: Caerulus

After breakfast, Blake and Shoto grabbed their gear, saying goodbye to everyone, which struck them as a little weird.

"Wait, what are you guys gonna do,"

Dexter asked.

"I can't go into details here, but if all goes well, we can start the plan at the break of dawn."

They all nod. Finn came out, holding their blades.

"This is the last hunt you'll go on in a while, so bring back as much food as you can." He said, handing the blades to them.

"Right," They both said, knowing they only had one shot before waiting another year.

...

They set a plethora of traps using bunnis as bait.

"So you know how long this is gonna take," Shoto asked.

"Not really, it is close to its hibernation cycle, so it should be hunting for a lot of food right now.

"So what are you gonna do when we escape?" Blake asked.

"Well, first, we have to make sure they don't come after us anymore."

"I meant after that, when this is all over,"

"Well, I had this dream ever since my sixth birthday. I want to create a harem."

"Oh, well, I guess that's a goal,"

"Any reason," Blake asked.

"Actually, yeah, but I'd rather tell ya after we escape," he said in a playful tone. Although he was a little surprised, no one had ever asked him why before, it was a breath of fresh air from the usual reaction.

"So, What about you?"

"I've had a dream ever since I was four. To become one of the greatest adventurers of all time. so great that even the legendary mages of war would respect me," Blake said, admiration in his voice and a fire in his eyes.

"You have a great dream. I'm sure you'll make it real."

"I bet you'll make yours real, too," Blake said.

He was genuine too.

But why? Shoto couldn't understand how anyone could say something so genuine to something like his dream.

"Did you still want to know what I meant when I said a little of both,"

Shoto asked?

"If I had to guess, you thought it was a kidnapping, but then you remembered a bag of coins or something, and that makes you wonder?"

"Actually, I saw him give the bag to my dad after asking if I was the kid."

"Oh, I'm so-"

"-Don't apologize for something you didn't do."

"Right, let's focus on the task at hand,"

Blake said.

...

*Snap!*

Finally, after three hours of waiting, the beast showed itself. It was bigger than last time, its bright red flame was now dark blue, and its soot-colored fur was now white as snow.

"This is it," Blake said.

"Is it me, or did it get bigger?"

"Long story short, this what happens when it gets ready for rejuvenation."

As it ate the bunni's and effortlessly dodged their traps, it walked in between the trees they were perched on.

They jumped down, blades at the ready.

It jumped back, letting out a huge roar!

"Crap!" They say in unison.

It charged them, its claws glowing a dark orange.

Blake jumped near a tree, getting ready to dodge.

"What are you doing?!" Blake yelled.

Staring down the beast, shoto stood his ground.

"Don't worry," He said with a confident smile

He closed his pooling energy throughout his body.

Flash step!

As the beast raised its claws furiously, slashing down.

Shoto flickered behind it. Steam emanating from his blade.

Its claws left a searing imprint on the ground, steam coming from its stomach.

"You did it," Blake cheered.

The beast growled and lunged at blake, scratching the tree he ducked behind.

The tree caught fire in a matter of seconds.

"Why isn't it dead?" Shoto asked, jumping back, building energy.

"I don't know. Maybe it can heal since it's the king of the forest or something."

"Oh, that is such bullsh-," Shoto yelled, the beast charged at him in full fury.

"Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!!!" Shoto yelled, avoiding the beasts' attacks.

"Hey, I have an idea switch with me!" Blake tells Shoto.

"If you insist," Shoto said, running behind Blake.

Blake ran in the opposite direction catching the beasts' attention.

Having a lot more trouble dodging its attacks, Blake ducked behind trees every chance he got.

Finally, making it back to the great lake. Unfortunately, it was bittersweet since he ran out of cover.

"Shoto! Time to switch back!"

Blake charged at the beast as it lunged at him. He ducked and rolled under it.

It landed in the lake, creating a cloud of steam.

"Get ready to toss your blade," Shoto told Blake, pooling energy into his legs.

The water boiled as the beast growled in anger, it lunged at Blake, its mane sparking with rage.

"Now!" Shoto yelled, launching himself.

Blake tossed his blade toward the beast.

"I meant toss it up, but fine!"

Shoto punched the ground, changing his momentum. He flipped over Blake, grabbing the blade.

Twirling the blade, he slashed the beast's throat.

He spun in the air, holding his blade with a backhand, slamming it down into the beast's spine, paralyzing it.

The beast slid, its legs giving out. As it tried to heal the damage, it let out a weak growl before its body evaporated.

Both Soto and Blake look on in shock.

"What the hell just happened!?" Shoto asked.

"I don't know!?"

"You knew everything else! How come you don't know this?"

"Just cause I know a lot of things doesn't mean I know everything."

As the smoke cleared, an oval-shaped stone was left behind.

With an orange glow, it created warmth throughout the area.

Shoto picked it up, he felt immense energy coming from it.

He tossed it to Blake.

"If things get sticky, use this thing."

"How?"

"I don't know. Try enhancing your body like in training except with the stone in your hand."

"And if it doesn't work?"

"Then we'll die anyway." He said nonchalantly, walking past Blake.

Blake sighed, they both load up their sleds, preparing the best they could.

Stuffing small wooden stakes into the corpses, and Blake hiding the stone in a hidden pocket in the back of his vest.

They made it back to the cabin, but something was off.

No one was there to welcome them back.

They left the carts in front of the cabin windows, and went inside.

As soon as they opened the door a strong repugnant smell hit them. A funk that smelled like sweat, blood, and….something unfamiliar.

With it were strange muffled sounds. A weird grunting accompanied by a strained moan.

And one more sound, it sounded like.…Clapping?

They inched closer and closer to the door in the back where the sound was coming for.

They stopped, Shoto held the doorknob, they both looked at each other for confirmation and nodded at each other.

They opened the door with haste.

A wave of shock and disgust hit them.

"That's right bitch! Take it," He yelled.

What a disgusting site it was.

Tears flooded from Elizabeth's eyes, overflowing with each forceful motion. Her mouth covered, turning her screams of pain into grunts of agony.

The man had a sadistic smile, his eyes warped with malice, growing more and more ferocious.

It was a nauseating sight.

Shoto shook, disgusted and afraid, but there was something else, something building in him.

Rage.

He grit his teeth, and energy built up throughout his body.

Without even realizing it, he was in a lunging position.

The wood creaked under his pressure.

*Crunch*

"Ah! What are you doing, you bastard?!"

His arm snapped, and shattered at the point of impact.

Shoto was surprised.

Blake moved faster than him, no, what shocked him the most was Blake's killing intent.

If it weren't for his quick reaction, Blake would have broken his neck.

The man fell on his back, trying desperately to crawl away.

Blake wouldn't allow it, feeding him blow after blow after blow.

Shoto draped his cape over Elizabeth.

He tried to help her up, but she wouldn't stand.

"What the hell is going on here?"

A chill went up Shoto's spine as Finn spoke.

Blake lunged at Finn without hesitation.

His body was stopped in mid-air as blood shot out of his mouth from the knee in his gut.

A deafening thud rang in his ears as Blake's body hit the floor.

"Take her upstairs and meet me in the kitchen."

Shoto took Elizebeth to her room.

Taking a deep breath, he walked down the stairs.

His heart dropped upon entering the kitchen.

Finn had emptied out his pistol, placing one bullet inside the barrel.

"Come take a seat," Finn said.

His apathetic voice sent chills down Shoto's spine.

He sat between Blake and him.

The *click* of the barrel had all three of them breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Koi, do you want to challenge me?"

"Well, actually… I don't really know what I did wrong."

"Is that so? You brought down the value of one of our products."

Blake clenched his fists, for he could only sit there and stew in his silent rage.

While Shoto sat in a depressive reticent, overwhelmed by oppressive thoughts.

"But I thought since it was one of the older ones, it'd be fine."

"A foolish mistake it was." He continued, "If there's a next time, I hope you'll do well to learn from this."

"Now." He said, aiming his gun at Koi.

"Do you wish to challenge?"

"No, sir."

"Fine."

He changed his aim towards Blake.

Blake's arms started shaking, all his rage was replaced with fear. And all because of his powerlessness.

He closed his eyes and braced for the worst.

No way.

Shoto thought. Blake was more likely to survive the one out of six chance.

Maybe Finn wanted to give them a chance to take him down.

After the shot, all we have to do is knock him out.

Even if the bullet is just one click away, I can take the shot.

Shoto looked at Blake, tapping his foot.

He looked confident, as if to tell him to get ready.

He built up energy in his legs, preparing to lunge at full power.

*Bang!*

What?

He thought, blood splattered onto his face.

He looked down.

Struggling to even gasp at such a horrific site.

NO WAY.

His body began trembling.

NO WAY.

His breath escaped from him, he struggled to inhale as waves of fear and despair flooded through the cracks of his mind.

NO WAY.

NO WAY.

NO WAY, NO WAY.

Tears flooded his eyes. His mind felt numb.

NOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAY*click*NOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAY

*Click*

"There, now it's time to clean this up." Finn said.

"Yes, sir!"

"That goes for you too."

Finn waved his hand in front of shoto's face to no reaction.

"Hey, the boss is talking to ya!" Koi yelled, kicking Shoto's chair over.

His body fell limp over Blake's corpse.

Finn chuckled to himself. He had finally done it

Finally, his mind had been broken.

Leaving only a shell of what was sitting there before.