Chapter 3: Will to live

Seo walk to the entrance door and reach his hand to the doorknob but once he hear another doorbell , it wasn't from this apartment but instead it's coming from the other side , his apartment. So , he open the door and peak his head outside then he see Katashi who happen to ring the doorbell of his apartment.

Seo: "Yes ?"

Katashi turn around to see Seo poke his head out from the door. He's confuse;

Katashi: "Um....did I ring the wrong one ?"

Seo: "No , I live there."

Katashi: "Then why are you over there ?"

Seo: "Well , you see..."

Few minutes later at Seo's apartment , Katashi sit in the living room then Seo serve him a cup of green tea.

Katashi: "Thank you for the tea."

Seo: "You're welcome."

Katashi: "So , this neighbour of yours , Iwami-san was it ?"

Seo: "Yes."

Katashi: "Where is she now ?"

Seo: "She's currently stay in the hospital. Her uncle is taking care of her."

Katashi: "Her uncle ?"

Seo: "Mhmm. Her father , Ogata , passed away from the incident of car accident that involves her mother and herself. Her mother survived though and she's also miraculously alive but both her legs were paralyzed as a result. That's what her uncle told me. But then....a month ago , her mother took her own life without any motives. Her uncle is the only relative she had left."

Katashi: "I see.....then , why are you calling me here ?"

Seo: "Oh , about that..."

Seo walk to the kitchen to get something. After that , he return back to the living room and give Katashi a mail letter. He check the mail letter;

Katashi: "Hmm...there's no details of its sender."

Seo agreed , then Katashi continue to check the content of the letter;

Katashi: "An address huh ? , It's not far from here."

Seo: "Yeah , I discovered that letter this morning so I need you accompany me to that address. Is that okay ?"

Katashi: "I'm fine with it. But , are you sure ?. It could be some sort of a prank."

At the same time , Seo's phone begin to ring and both of them look at each other for a brief moment. Then , Seo pick up the phone and answer it;

Seo: "Hello....?"

Unknown

(on the phone): "Where are you ?"

Seo: "Um...I think you called the wrong numbe-"

Unknown

(on the phone): "You're already found that letter , aren't you ? I need your help."

Seo: "What can I help you ?"

Unknown

(on the phone): "A group of bad people are coming after me."

Seo: "Go find a place to hide. I'll be there as fast as I can."

He proceed to hang up the phone and look at Katashi;

Seo: "We need to go..."

5 minutes later , Seo and Katashi finally arrive at the certain destination which lead them to a local small park. As they walk along the path , a figure fall out from the bush and startled both of them.

The boy: "Ow ow ow...."

Katashi: "What is the boy doing here ?"

Seo: "I don't know."

Seo proceed to walk to that boy and lend him a hand.

Seo: "Are you okay ?"

As the boy get up from his fall , he look upward to see Katashi and Seo. Then , he somehow notice them and proceed to hug Seo.

Seo: "Woah...!"

The boy: "Help me...they're here."

Both Seo and Katashi realize a group of men wearing black mannequin mask appear behind them as these group spotted the boy. Seo and Katashi stand in front of the group to prevent them from getting closer to the boy.

The boy: "Onii-san...?"

Seo: "Stay behind me , kid. You'll be fine."

The boy: "Mmm..."

Now that Seo and Katashi are facing against these strange group , Katashi begin to ask;

Katashi: "Who are you people ?"

There's no respond coming from them.

Katashi: "What do you want from the boy ?"

Again , no respond from them.

With no time to waste , Katashi is about to draw his blade but Seo prevent him from doing so.

Seo: "Let's just use our hands for now."

Katashi: "...Very well then."

As all the group take out their weapons , both of them dash forward and manage to take down all of them in less than a minute. Soon after , all group of men gets up one by one from their defeat then leave them alone. Then the last member of the group look at Seo one last time before leaving;

The group member: "You'll pay for this."

After he leave , Seo walk back to the boy and ask;

Seo: "Why are they looking for you ?"

The boy: "It's because...it's because I have important informations that can help you."

Seo: "Important informations ?. Are you the one that send me that letter ?"

The boy: "Yes , it's me."

Seo: "Look , I have no time to play such prank. I'm glad that you're alright but you need to go home now , kid."

Seo and Katashi are about to leave but the boy is annoyed by what Seo said.

The boy: "I'm not lying !!!. I really need your help , Seo-san , Katashi-san."

Katashi: "You know us...!?"

The boy: "Yes , those guys you fought earlier are not some street gang. They are part of the crime syndicate. There's a lot you need to know about this city."

They look at each other for few seconds. Then;

Seo: "What is your name , boy ?"

Akio: "My name is Akio Scarlet. I need you to follow-"

Suddenly Seo's phone begin to ring then he take a look at it and it is from an unknown caller. He answer it;

Seo: "Hello..."

???: "You think you can get away with it."

Seo: "Huh...? , Who's this ?"

???: "The girl that you hold dear , I will take care of her....soon"

His heart begin to drop;

Seo: "Don't hurt her !. Who are you ?"

He only hear a beeping sound which indicate that person is already hung up the phone.

Seo: "Damn it !"

Katashi: "What's wrong ?"

Seo look at him with worried.

Meanwhile at the hospital , Iwami is looking at the night view through the window while resting on the patient bed.

Itoki: "It's already time for you to sleep now."

Iwami: "Can I stay awake for a while ? , Uncle."

He sigh;

Itoki: "Alright..alright. Only tonight and make sure to go to sleep before midnight , okay ?"

Iwami: "Yes uncle."

He take his belongings then go toward the door to get a drink. As he open the door , a doctor suddenly appear in front of him and startled him.

Itoki: "Oh god , you scare me there."

The doctor just standing there without saying anything.

Itoki: "Um...can I he-"

He suddenly get punch in the face by the doctor making him fall down to the floor.

Iwami: "Uncle !!"

Itoki try to crawl away from the doctor but he keep on approaching him and continue beat him down to a pulp. Iwami could not do anything but bear witness to her uncle getting beaten up by the doctor. The doctor finish him off with a kick to his face and knocking him out instantly. He then change his view toward her and take out a syringe from his coat. He walk toward her who terrified of him then , without hesitation , he stab the syringe on her neck and forcing her to fall asleep.

Iwami: "N-...no...."

Doctor ?: It's nothing personal , kid. It's just business..."

Few minutes later , Seo arrive at the hospital then proceed to rush toward the patient room. Once he goes inside , he see Itoki who begin to regain himself.

Seo: "Itoki-san , are you alright ?"

Itoki: "I'm fine. The doctor....I heard him bringing Iwami to the roof. Go...go save her..."

At the rooftop , a person wearing a helmet of black mannequin with the symbol of Spade standing at the edge of the roof while looking at the view and carrying Iwami with both hands then soon after , Seo arrive. The spade doesn't even turn back on him so he slowly walk toward him with caution.

Seo: "Please...I beg you.... don't do it."

But the spade did it anyway and drop her off the roof.

Seo: "No !!!"

He try to run as fast as he can then reach his hand toward Iwami's hand. Seo almost get her hand before falling down to her death but....

He manage to save her just in time. He is struggle to pull her back up with one hand but the spade is already point the handgun at him. Seo look directly at the spade while holding her hand and suddenly Itoki appear out of nowhere and try to attack the spade with a crutch. The spade manage to dodge it easily then punch his guts and proceed to hold him hostage. Soon after , Katashi arrive at the rooftop and see both Seo and Itoki in trouble. He draw out his blade and point it at the spade but he couldn't do it because the spade use Itoki as his human sheild.

Seo: "Katashi , don't !"

Katashi: "But , I have to stop him."

The spade then push Itoki at Katashi and begin to run away.

Katashi: "Stop !"

Seo: "Leave him be. I need your help to pull her up."

Katashi hesitate for a brief moment then decide to help Seo.

On the next day , Iwami manage to recover from the attack yesterday and currently resting at a new patient room. Seo who look at her from outside feel helpless for not being there a lot earlier. Itoki who stand beside him then tell him;

Itoki: "It's not your fault , Seo. You did everything you can to save her."

Seo then begin to walk away from Itoki;

Itoki: "Hey , where are you going ?"

Seo: "I have unfinished business to do. So....I won't be back for a while."

Itoki: "Oh...I see."

Seo continue to walk but Itoki call him out one last time;

Itoki: "Hey Seo. Be sure to come back alive , okay ?. I won't forgive you if you don't."

Seo: ".....sure."

After Seo leave the hospital , Katashi is waiting for him.

Katashi: "So , should we go then ?"

Seo: "Yeah. Let's go meet Akio."

As they begin to start their journey , suddenly, they hear someone calling their names. They try to look where it came from but , when they look at the sky , they see Cupid is on her way flying toward them.

Cupid: "Katashi-san , Seo-san."

Katashi: "Cupid-san , on your way to deliver some mails ?"

Cupid: "No , today is my off day. So , someone gave me a letter without the details but the letter inside said to find both of you."

Katashi and Seo look at each other;

Katashi: "Did she perhaps..."

Seo: "We're already going in deep to this situation. If Akio need her to find us , then we need to tell her everything."

Katashi agree then look at her;

Katashi: "Cupid-san , come with us. There's something we need to tell you..."

Soon after , they decide to stay up at Akio's place until night. Seo is looking around the house then;

Katashi: "Seo , come over here."

Seo: "Hmm ? , What is it ?"

Katashi point his finger toward outside;

Katashi: "Are those people....waiting for us."

Seo: "What...?"

He look through the window and he surprise that a lot of people who wear a black mannequin mask holding their weapons while waiting for them to go outside. Akio who just come out from his room ask him;

Akio: "Seo-san..."

Seo: "Go to your room and lock the door."

Akio: "Okay."

He reach to the entrance door then Katashi and Cupid follow him from behind. Seo take a deep breath;

Seo: "Here goes nothing."

Thus Seo , Katashi and Cupid continue to protect the house from the invasion of people that wear a black mannequin mask.

(End of Chapter 3)