Disclaimer: I do not own the game or anime.
A/N: I am so sorry, it's been so long! I just got really busy with general life. It's been a while since I have really wrote anything, so I am still trying to get back into the flow of things. Trying to write show, not tell is really tough! Also, there are other stories I have to rewrite again...
Edited: 1/06/18 Had to fix the last paragraphs a bit. Also, following the some of the scenes from one of the episodes.
Keep off your thoughts from things that are past and done;
For thinking of the past wakes regret and pain.
Keep off your thoughts from thinking what will happen;
To think of the future fills one with dismay.
Better by day to sit like a stone in your bed.
When food comes, then open your mouth;
When sleep comes, then close your eyes.
- Bai Juyi – Resignation
Chapter two
There was nothing but darkness. Nothing to see. Nothing to hear. Just a feeling of heaviness. Slowly blinking the first thing that caught the youth's attention was that the youth was sitting upright and what to be a warehouse, for storage. The youth's body was in pain and the youth could not move. It took a while to realize that the youth's hands were tied behind in the back and the feet were bound. There was sunlight seeping through under the door. The last thing I ate was in the morning, my stomach is telling me it must have been more than a whole day, about the time of the Wu. He sure hit me hard enough.
The youth was aware of the sounds that seem to be coming closer from the other side of the door. Sitting still and leaning forward to appear unconscious, the youth listened and heard the door being opened. Here to check to see if I am awake or to finish me off? The youth heard the sound of something being dragged through the floor. It did not take long for the footsteps to leave and the door locking. Not before the youth could catch them mentioned something about the 'prisoners' being used for something. Turning up to see what was dumped in the warehouse, it was another poor slob beaten as if he owed them money. Scanning the warehouse, the youth was relieved to spot the belongings and most importantly the youth's sword in the corner. Twisting around to pull the bound legs through the loop between the bound hands, tapping the foot, a small blade shot out from under one of the shoes. Second by second, minute by minute the youth managed to cut off the ropes. Glancing at the beaten man, the youth was sorry for the man, but could not risk the freedom that was within grasp. They could be back anytime now. Grabbing the sword and bag, looking up, the youth climbed atop the crates and barrels, leaping and grabbing onto one of the many pillars and columns. Perched on top of it, scanning from out the small window, studying the layout, planning where to run. Watching and waiting for it to become dark enough to escape into the night. I will have to aim for the time of Hai to slip pass without being caught.
It seemed like an eternity before the youth heard sounds coming from the other side of the door. In came a lone man, walking in with a purpose. The lone man stared for another minute, noticing that there was only one prisoner, but it did not deter what he came in for. The youth thought the beaten man was to be used to test the sharpness of a blade, but instead the youth caught sight of a vial that was filled with a bright liquid. The youth watched and could see if it were in the daylight the lone man holding the vial seem to be a weakling that paled in contrast to the group of men the youth encountered earlier. In the night and with the half-light that emanated from the flame of that feeble candle, it was different. Somehow, what the lone man planning to do now seemed sinister and almost frightening. The youth reached out slowly towards the window, and ran a hand down the panels, feeling the grooves where they were joined; it should have been easy as the man was distracted. But the youth could not look away, a feeling of dread crept up from the pit of the youth's stomach, the hairs rose on the back of the neck. Watching from above with morbid curiosity.
The man poured the liquid into the beaten man's mouth. All of a sudden, groaning and screaming with anguish, he writhed about on the floor. Sweat poured down the beaten man's face, as his hair changed from dark to white. The colour drained from his face, eyes glowed bright as hot coals, and his screams of pain became a guttural roar. It's a… monster.
With strength not possible for any human to have, as the man rammed the door, the door exploded outwards. Crawling on all fours that was truly fitting for a beast, dripping with thick strands of mucous and saliva. It almost seemed as if its mouth was bristled with row upon row of jagged teeth ready to rip and tear, staring wildly at all it looked at. Soon shouts could be heard; soon the others showed up, and with an unimaginable force, it propelled itself towards the roof of the nearby building. Leaping towards its escape.
It was another quiet night, alone in the kitchen, scrapping off the morsels from the bowls and plates. Sitting back, Ryunosuke wondered what he would do once he leave the crap-hole he is in, if he did not think of something it will be the usual chores and bringing sake to Serizawa each day. As he sat contemplating his choices, a yell suddenly cut through the silence. Running out towards the back where the yell was, all of a sudden something burst through from the side.
A dark figure loomed over in front of him. Its face hidden around the dirt that flew around it. Only to reveal itself with eyes that were … not human, a monster. Ryunosuke froze looking at the human creature. His legs felt like weak and he couldn't move. Sweat poured down his body as he was paralyzed to the spot. It looked at him and Ryunosuke almost let out a whimper. He thought that this was it, that he was going to die here. However, all of a sudden the thing just leapt on to the roof of one of the buildings and continued to leap over to the next ones.
Shouts were coming from behind him but all Ryunosuke did whimper and his legs collapsed underneath him. A hand lifted up to touch his shoulder. Ryunosuke looked up to see Heisuke and the others behind him. "Ryunosuke what happened? You okay?"
"Hijikata!" One of them shouted as they all took in the scene in front of them. Hijikata turned to Ryunosuke immediately. "Where did he go?!"
Lifting a shaking finger Ryunosuke pointed to the direction where the thing ran off.
"After Him!" Hijikata shouted. "Souji! Sannan!"
"Souji! Sannan!" The youth watched what appeared to be an imposing man with waist length hair, whose rank was high enough to bark out orders for them to search for the beast of a man who escaped. They scattered and only three of them approached the warehouse. The youth could see the lone man from earlier was now cowering. "Do-do you need something?"
"Don't play dumb!" One of the three men shouted. "That was a fury's voice."
The younger of three spoked as well. "Want to die?"
It would be almost amusing to watch, but what made the youth pay attention was that there was a name for what that beaten man had become. A…fury?
"Why all this fuss in the middle of the night?" a gruff voice suddenly spoke over from behind them. Soon the chief of the organization, Serizawa, had appeared unamused. "You're making a commotion."
The man crawled frantically towards Serizawa. "I-I was just testing the Water of Life," the man stuttered.
"Who did you administer it to?"
"Not one of our own," stuttered the cowering man. "I used the ronin that Serizawa sensei arrested."
The cowering man's mouth kept moving but the words disappeared. The man's eyes narrowed. He then found his voice again. "Well…there was supposed to be that foreigner that was bought here as well…but he was already gone when I came in today…."
"Niimi, why did you do that without consulting us?" A man with glasses asked.
Niimi is that cowering man's name…
"I did it to improve our results faster!" Niimi quickly explained. "Plus it was not a complete failure this time."
"He was able to retain his senses at first...," Niimi continued before he was cut off.
"But ultimately, you allowed a monster that will indiscriminately attack people break free," one of them said as he stepped forward. "How will you take responsibility for this?"
"E-even if you wanted me to take responsibility…," he began before being once more cut off mid-sentence.
"Henceforth, I will not keep my peace… Breaking the Code is punishable by honorable suicide," the man with the higher rank growled. "Don't forget that."
"I-I will be sure to beat that in mind."
"Now that we have come to an understanding," the man began. "Serizawa, what did you do with that foreigner?"
"Hm? I didn't do anything," Serizawa said dismissively. "Just had him locked in here."
"The door was still locked when I arrived here!" Niimi began to explain. "No one else knows about the foreigner besides the captains…."
After a brief moment the man with glasses said, "Hijikata, then the only explanation is that boy is still here."
Get out of here. Escape.
Torture. Blood. Death. The thought came with a hand inching out down the panels leading to the outside. A careful touch, slowly touching the sides. Breathe. Calm down. Focus. Eyes darted sided to side. Down and up to make sure they are still distracted. A hand grasped onto the hilt of the sword, swiftly one foot out, soon the other will follow. Carefully, quietly, halfway out, escape is within grasp. A little thump that echoed through the air; an insignificant piece of the tile rolling down the side, making the smallest of sound as it pluck into the ground made the youth realize what just happened- they have heard it.
All heads turned to look up, catching the youth in midst of escape. Hearing the pulse beating painfully between the ears, the youth lifted the other leg over the edge, a short scale of the roof. Looking down to gauge how far the drop was before leaping off completely. The youth landed with a thump, with only the moon as the only light, the youth quickly made a dash towards the nearest wall. The youth could hear the loud rhythm of the other men's feet as they beat against the hard ground. The youth could hear a pair of footsteps already gaining behind. With such lightning speed, the youth spun on nimble heels, flinging the bag. There was a gleam of light, slicing the bag. It was the younger one of the three, with sword drawn, prepared for a fight. Or itching for one.
The youth just turned and kept running through the open, choosing to escape rather than fight. The youth's heart skipped a beat; the escape was within reach. There were sounds of someone shouting in the distant. As the youth leap up towards the ledge of the wall, the night air carved through the youth's lungs, but it did not matter, freedom was right there. The sigh of relief of catching onto the ledge. It was short lived when a clawed hand closed around the youth's ankle, pulling down. Wrenching the youth's grip from the ledge of the wall, the youth cried out as escape was pried from desperate hands. The youth just barely broke the fall and managed to get to bent knees. Crouched, one hand on the hilt, the youth looked up ready to face whoever was closest. Instead, the youth was met with the very end of a sword, pointed squarely in the youth's face.
The youth's eyes slowly slid up to the eyes of the man called Hijikata. His eyebrows furrowed as his mouth was pressed into a thin line. He had a dangerous glint in his eyes that flashed a heavy warning.
"I wouldn't try it, if I were you."
Eleven. There are eleven of them in total. And the youth stood in the middle of them, until one of them kicked the youth behind the knees, forcing the youth onto bent knees.
Fear clenched in the youth's heart and throat. Feeling the fear slowly clawing its way. Drawing the youth into a feeling of suffocation. Eyes darted around accessing the size of the room and position of space the other men were occupying. There was a possible chance that the youth could just ram into the door, and when it breaks, make a run for it. The youth was relieved that the feet were left unbound, but having bound hands will cause some trouble.
"I remember him being brought in, but I didn't realize how short and scrawny he was," said one of the men who looked about the same age as the youth.
"You're one to talk!" said another who let out a belly laugh.
"He got the same build as you!" said another.
"Enough already," said Hijikata.
"Please excuse them," the kinder looking man said. "My name is Kondōu Isami."
So, that's his name.
"Why are you even bothering with introductions, Kondōu-san?"
"Eh, Souji..."
"We'll end up having to kill him anyways."
The one who was itching to kill...so that's his name.
The man called Serizawa finally spoke up. "So, what to do with you?"
The youth tried to stare at Serizawa unflinchingly, to betray no trace of fear, or any other emotions that threatened to spill out. It was clear that many have died by their hands, many who might have been stronger than the youth, but the youth would not give any satisfaction of letting them know how much fear was swirling inside.
"Since you saw all that…It would be easier to just kill you and be done with it."
"Serizawa-san, he's a foreigner," Kondou said. "It's most likely that he does not understand a word we are talking about…."
"Then just test the water of life on the foreign brat," Serizawa said dismissively. "Though, it would be more trouble, now wouldn't it?"
Serizawa returned a hard stare at the youth. "You've had a few kills on your hands, I see."
"Serizawa-san...," Kondou began to say before he was cut off.
"Do as you please," Serizawa said staring at the kinder looking man. "He's your responsibility now."
After that was said, Serizawa rose up from his position, and left, following closely behind to leave was Niimi.
Chuckling, Souji turned his head. "So, Kondou-san, you got yourself an attendant," turning his head once more, throwing a short glance at the youth, "Guess, you get to live a while longer."
"Hey, you should get that kid to spar Heisuke! Two shrimps duking it out!"
"Stuff it, Shinpachi!" shouted Heisuke.
"Inoue-san, could you bring a brush and paper?"
"Of course, Kondou-san," said Inoue.
Kondou moved to untie the youth's hands. "There now, that's better," he said trying to start a conversation. "As I said, my name is Kondōu Isami," he said, pointing to himself and trying to make a gesture of introduction.
Shortly, the man called Inoue came back with a brush and paper. "Could you tell us your name?" Kondou asked pointing to the paper and brush and then to the youth.
The youth picked up the brush and began writing. After drawing the many strokes, the youth handed the paper to Kondou.
"Ah, your name is Hayashi—"he started to say before the youth interrupted him.
"Rin Tohi (Lín Téngfēi)."
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope it was not too much of an eyesore to read!
-I will try to keep writing when I have time, because my schedule is going to be hectic for a while...
-Also, please leave a comment and tell me what you think! For the most part I have an idea for the story, but sometimes I ask myself if it is even interesting at all, and that would people even read it. haha
-Also the character 林 is Lín in Chinese and in Japanese it would translate to Hayashi.