"Ok so I'm thinking a sword, obviously enchanted so I can channel magic through it. Maybe I can modify the chaos dragon katana so it can do this."
'How's it going Rin?'
'Oh hey, Al! Its ok, just running through all these notes and coming up with ideas for a weapon I can make for myself.'
'Hmmm, did you check that one on your left?'
I look to my left at a design for a staff, this is a special staff however as it could absorb a weapon and turn into it. I could absorb a fire enchanted sword and later be turned into that sword and keep the same properties of it.
"Oh I love the sound of this, I can make a shit ton of different weapons and just absorb them into one. Just need a weapon as the base for it and learn how to use these magical seals."
'Why not use the Chaos Dragon katana? It's made out of dragon bone so it will be able to store some magic at least, it'll be easier for the seals.'
'Why not? I might as well, and this way the weapons will have the same pitch black with blue hue design as the katana.'
"Boss! Here is everything I've we found." In the two clones, arms were about twenty books each. All of the skill books.
"Holy shit."
"There are so many skill books here, all in the library. The ones here are all related to crafting and seals."
"Good work you two, ok so Al wanna tell me about this dungeon while I get to work?"
'Sure. It was a literal labyrinth, a massive 5 story maze system each floor had a mini-boss on it and the main boss is at the very last one. There are rooms scattered across each floor with chests in them, some are probably trapped. It's pretty big. I say it's a good thing you have clones now, you easily map out the mazes with them.'
'Clones huh?'
'What are you thinking about?'
"Well, I'm enjoying myself right now, designing and working on this sword. So maybe I should create a clone or two and just have them do the dungeon for me? Is that wrong? I mean I should probably do it myself but in a way the shadow clones are me, I can make 2 of them each with 500 mana or I could make one with 1000 and when my mana regens I can send another one."
'What about all the rewards? The chests? Can your clones access your inventory?'
"Can you guys?"
"Let me check. Inventory" The clone then picks up a sheet of paper off the table and puts it into the inventory.
"Inventory" I check my own inventory and see the sheet of paper. " Perfect. You two are dismissed." I decapitate them both in one slash.
'Jesus Rin, You are getting too comfortable with that.'
"What? They're just myself, I don't care."
'You're getting used to it though, you could end up getting used to killing people. You might start enjoying it, you'll become dark.'
"What's wrong with becoming dark? The only reason I'm here is that the gm wants entertainment, I have no other reason to be here. I should be dead. I don't have to be a fucking saint, I just need to entertain. That is my purpose in this world. "
'Do you want this?'
"OF COURSE I FUCKING DON'T." I roar at the top of my lungs, getting annoyed by Alduin. I slam my fists on the table as my magic energy surrounds me coating me in a bright violet light.
'Then it doesn't have to be your purpose, you can become anything you want to. If you want to be dark then be dark. But I once wished to destroy the world but believe me I regret it. I love this world we live in, I would be so much better if The Gm wasn't here. He doesn't care for any of us he just uses us as pawns. He was once like you, had the same powers to begin with. But he became dark and insane, now look at the world. It's fucked.'
"I agree, but that bastard is so powerful we have no other choice but to be his pawns."
'What happened to all that drive to become more powerful, didn't you want to kill the gm.'
"Well yeah but I cant, I'll be old and frail before I even come near his strength."
'So become immortal, hell you are already on your way to becoming immortal.'
"I am?!"
'Dragonification, remember?'
"Holy shit yeah, I forgot about that. Ether said he can only slow it down not stop it completely. But he mightn't even be able to do that because of gamers body. I need to learn more about this. There's probably something about it in the library."
Shadow clone jutsu
-1 mp
'You really are abusing the fact you can use clones aren't you?'
"What else will I use them for? Look through the library bring back any book you find about dragons or more specifically dragonification."
"Ugh yes, boss."
"Ok fuck it, I'm sending clones to the dungeon after all."
-1,000 mp
"You know what to do. Have fun" I say with a smile on my face as the clone turns around and starts running to the dungeon.
'Only sending one?'
"Nope, I'm going to put one stat point into mana which will refill it and send another one."
Stats
Name: Rinji Hearthfire
Race: Human/Gamer
Title: Student of Alduin
Level 13
XP to next level: 544/144,768
Points to add: 21
Health: 1464/1464 (Lvl 4)
Mana: 1,331/1,331 (Lvl 3)
Health regen: 30% per minute (439 hp per minute)(lvl 5)
Mana regen: 20% per min (242mp per minute)(lvl 3)
Movement speed: 100% (lvl 1)
Damage resistance: 6% (lvl 7)
Inventory space: 100 slots (100 Different items, an unlimited amount can be stored) (lvl 3)
Melee damage: 100% (Lvl 1)
-1000mp
"Join the other one." It nods and rushes to catch up with the other clone I sent.
'So you're really just going to let them handle the dungeon themselves?'
"Yeah, they are exact copies of me. They can handle it. They just have a little less mana than me, they'll be ok. Plus there's two of them."
"Boss I found a good one."
"Perfect good job, make yourself useful. Take all the metal dragon scales out of our inventory and melt them down, this forge should be able to handle it. Since there is a casting system maybe make a set of daggers, experiment as you wish. You can use anything that's in the inventory."
"Sweet. " The clone gets to work with a smile on his face.
"Now let's do some reading."
To sum up the long ass book, dragonification is the process in which a dragon slayer reaches the peak of their power. It is a power all dragon slayers would have aimed for if it had the possibility to change them personality wise. It could make them insane, power hungry, bloodthirsty. The obvious example would be Acnologia. But there is a chance for the dragon slayer to not have such a drastic change. Apparently, there was a member of the order who became a dragon, he actually wrote the book. He became more determined to become stronger, more greedy and he also became more anti-social. He hypothesized that it amplified your emotions and traits. He was already determined to become stronger and so he trained his hardest every day, but after becoming a dragon he sought out strong opponents to grow even stronger. He was a little greedy by hoarding techniques and weapons. After he began to seek precious items. He was an outcast, preferred to spend his time training. Again amplified even more.
His theory was that Acnologia already loved fighting and killing, he sought out strength and battle hence why he killed so many humans and dragons. It seems like it could be possible. Other side effects of dragonification are the immense pain the person goes through while transitioning. It could drive people to suicide as every part of their body is slowly corroded and gets replaced with their dragon counterparts. Halfway through the process your entire body, inside and out, is that of a human-dragon hybrid. The next step in the process is to use your slayer magic and kill a dragon, its blood will turn you into a dragon. The process of turning into a dragon is painful. Your entire body expanse, growing larger. Your body's twist, break apart and get rebuilt as you turn into your true form. While this happens your magic is expelled from your body in a massive pillar of raw power, covering you while it begins. This, the author believes, is to protect you while transforming. It only happens as you get used to transforming, once you get used to it you can control it and stop it from happening.
'Great I can't wait for this to happen. I just have to use my slayer magic and kill dragons to speed it up. Then I stop aging and become immortal in that sense, my human body becomes a lot more powerful and my dragon form even more powerful than my human form.'
'So glad I was born a dragon, turning into one seems very painful. And I thought turning into a human was bad enough.'
"Wait you can turn into a human."
'Yeah? How do you think I have not been spotted since I was sent here, sure I was at first but that when people knew dragons existed but when they slowly began to become extinct I had to hide.'
"Ok makes sense, will I ever meet you in person? I mean I feel like we're very close but I can't even imagine what you look like."
'We might, one day who knows.'
"Dick, a yes or no would've been nice."
'Time to through these books.'
Skill book: Magic seals
Skill book: Magic smithing
Skill book: Magic infusing
Skill book: Enchanting
Skill book: Seals
Skill book: Inscriptions
"Ok, I think these ones will do for now."
'Why are you learning seals and magical seals?'
"Because magic seals are basically the mastered version and are more specific to the topic, but different types of seals could also be used."
'Ok so I can inscribe an absorption seal into the sword, that should allow for me to absorb other weapons into it. I'll need a storage seal on it to store the weapons.'
..
.
{In the dungeon with the clones}
"Why does the boss make us do this shit? Like I mean id do the same but still, what a dick." Clone 1 says to clone 2.
"He is us, we are him. So we're dicks?" Clone 2 reasons with clone 1.
"But still, I fucking hate mazes."
"And bugs." Clone 2 says as they slice a giant fucking beetle in two.
"This place sucks, were still on the first floor too."
"At least we got some decent loot so far."
"Yeah, some new weapons. Kinda crappy but there are some enchantments on them. And the potions will come in handy."
"I wonder how the boss is getting on with the sword?"
"I don't know, we just gotta finish up here and report back to him. It's the best way to find out, either that or die and well be back to him anyway."
"Yeah but fuck that."
..
.
{Back at the mansion with Rinji}
"Is that prototype weapon ready yet?" Rinji shouts over to his clone in the room.
"Yup, just giving it a quick polish." The clone says with a small smile on its face as it polishes the long one-handed katana made entirely out of Metal dragon scales. Its pommel is made from hiding from the dire wolves Rinji fought a while ago.
"Good, I have all the seals worked out. Just need to test it out."
"What weapons are you going to absorb for the test boss?"
"I'll use two ice wolf fang daggers, hopefully, the magical effect stays on it. And I'm hoping if I absorb the two at the same time that I can use the two at the same time. If not I will only be able to use one weapon at once. The seals turn the weapon into the weapon it absorbs that's why it needs to be able to store magic, for the magical weapons obviously. My hope is that it'll split itself in two when I switch to these ice wolf daggers."
"Well try it out then boss, the swords ready."
"I just need to inscribe the seals into it and then it'll be ready for testing."
{In the dungeon}
"Ugh, this guy is annoying" Clone 1 shouts as he throws a dagger coated in fire at a giant black slime.
"It really is." Clone 2 says in a strained voice as it is building up a giant ball of fire and compressing it.
"I hope this works." The clone says while attempting to distract the slime from his brother.
"Get ready! Here comes one Ender dragon slayer flaming spirit bomb!"
-750mp
And with that, the giant black slime is reduced to ash. With one single attack it was vaporized and the unbreakable stone it stood upon was burned.
"Good job Bro. Time for the last maze, we better prepare for the boss."
"I think we'll do fine. After all, were awesome. And there's two of us so were doubly awesome!"
"Haha that we are."
{In the mansion... Again}
"Ok here goes nothing." Rinji holds the sword in one hand and slowly lowers it to touch off the daggers on the table.
'I made it voice activated so it won't
absorb every weapon it comes in contact with.'
"Absorb." And with a slight pop, the two daggers are absorbed into the shiny silver looking weapon.
"Switch! Twin Ice Fang Daggers" and with that, a silver dagger appeared in his hands, an exact replica of the ice fang daggers just more metallic looking.
'So they do adjust to the material of the main weapon. If I absorbed these in the chaos katana they would be black with a blue hue to them.'
"Now time to make the real thing. Clone! Will you look around the rest of the mansion, find anything interesting report back to me. I'll make a few more and ye will be doing some cleaning." Rinji orders his slaves.
"Ugh, you really are a dick."
"I know."
-10 mp
-10mp
-10mp
"Split up and look for anything interesting, and clean up while you're at it."
'Time to work on the real thing.'
{Somewhere in fiore}
"I think it was this way? I've been following that magic spike for a while now." A strange cloaked figure says as he overlooks the town of Hargeon. "I'm starting to think the talk about that energy spike was complete bullshit." The wind picks up and it blows off the figure's cloak. Revealing a tall brown-skinned young man with long black hair and red bangs. His piercing slitted red eyes scan the horizon as the man's mouth splits into a toothy grin showing his sharp teeth.
"I hope I'm not too far away, the main story isn't far from begging. I need to find them so we can get stronger, ill need them to complete my goals. His power will come in great use."
The figure then raises his hands and pulls his hood back up and begins to run through the air, heading to where he assumes the origin of the spike is.
'I will find you gamer, together we will shake the heavens.'
{In the dungeon}
"I FUCKING HATE MINOTAURS!" Clone 1 roars as he runs around with incredible speed as he attacks the bull-man with his magic coated daggers.
"Keep it up, try and disable it somehow! We can't afford for our finisher to miss." Clone 2 is pouring all its mana into one final attack, all 1000 points of mana into a single attack. He started off with making an ice spike but pumped more magic into it and molded it to a large spear. That wasn't enough for him though, he poured more magic into the spell attempting, and succeeding, in coating the large ice spear in lightning. He used the Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow to cover the spear in lightning, using it to get a feel for using lightning he replicated the feeling of forming the spell and could now use lightning magic. So he now held a large lightning infused ice spear ready to throw it at the minotaur.
"It's harder than you think!"
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow!"
-250mp
'YES! Its paralyzed.'
"Improvised spell: Ice chains!"
-150mp
The minotaur's legs and arms are now bound together with ice chains as clone 1 pours his remaining magic into clone 2. They then at the same time call out their attack as they throw the spear at the minotaur.
"Frozen Thunder Demonic spear!"
-1250mp
The spear hits the minotaur directly in its large muscular chest and continues through its body. Freezing the wound and spreading the frost and lightning across the bull man's body. It crashes to one knee as it lets out a roar of pain as it collapses and dies.
And with that clone 2 poofs out of existence. Clone 1 picks himself up and gathers the loot and runs home to the boss.
{Back in the mansion}
"So you say there's a training room?" Rinji questions one of his clones.
"Yeah, it seems to be completely powered by magic and many things can be changed. I think it's completely customizable by the user and so it's a great place to train."
"Yeah, it seems s- AHHHH FUCK!" Rinji clutches his head in pain as the massive influx of memories flood into Rinji's mind.
You have defeated:
Slimes (X20)
Large pincer bug (X15)
Large fire-breathing ant (X20)
Black Slime
Bug lord
Magma slime
Pinsir
AND the boss
The Minotaur
Rewards:
Slimeballs x50
Pincers x10
Fire sacs x 15 (Produce fire, great for crafting)
Black slime shard (Used for upgrading weapons)
Bug glasses (Just some weird looking glasses)
Magma slime (Molten hot slime, great for throwing or eating if you're immune to fire)
Pinsir Charm (Summon -150mp)
Minotaur horn (Very strong material)
Minotaur meat (Doubles damage and increases health regen and mana regen) (x15)
"Huh, I learned a good few new skills from that too. Frozen thunder huh? Maybe I can infuse my elements, it seems to create more powerful attacks. Maybe I could work myself to learning my own version of scorch release."
"Oh, honey I'm home!" Clone 1 says as he walks through the door.
"God you really are me."
"Yup"
"Good work, you're dismissed."
"Woah you're not going to kill me?"
"Damn even you guys are getting used to it? I won't kill you, you know that since you're still here and since you guys created new spells and shit why don't you go check out that training room. Train our spells? Maybe make some new ones?"
"Sure boss." The clone says with a small half smile on its face.
"God Maddison was right I am damn handsome."
"Yes, we are." Clone 1 says with a chuckle as it makes its way upstairs to check out this training room.
'Time to finish up these last few seals then test out the sword.'
With clone 1
"This place is cool. I guess I could train my sword skills since that's going to be our main weapon."
Clone 1 takes out the prototype weapon out of the inventory and gives it a few test swings.
"I'm surprised it's actually a good sword, considering I made it. Well, another clone made it."
"Yo clone 1! Check this out." A random clone pops out of nowhere and seems to boot up some program in the training room.
The entire room comes to life as the room turns black with floating boxes surrounded in a glowing blue and red lights begin to come towards clone 1.
"Holy shit is this beat saber?! Oh, fuck I need two swords."
"Here this program has two swords that you have to use, I think its a safety thing."
With that, the prototype weapon flashes into the inventory and one blue and one red sword appear in both his hands.
Clone 1 slices through the boxes easily, beginning to enjoy the beats that come off the boxes.
"Is this believer?" Clone 1 says in surprise.
'PAIN!' singing the song in his head as he cuts through the boxes. Struggling as they speed up.
Back with Rinji
"YES! It's finally done!" He shouts in pride as he holds the now complete sword in his hand.
{You have made a new weapon}
Would you like to name it?
Y/N
Selecting yes he types in "Ken no Ken".
"The sword of swords, I think it's only fitting."
'...'
"Who the fuck said that?!"
'...'
"No fucking way, did I just give a sword sentiance?"
'Ok Rin you have finally lost it, who are you talking too.'
"My sword! It talked!"
'No it didn't, and last I checked I'm the only voice in here.'
;'...'
"see it just talked again!"
'Rin I promise you I don't hear anyone.'
'...'
"Well, I can and apparently I'm the only one who can? Something about it being a creator's only thing."
'...'
"Nice to meet you too partner."
'Anyway, I got to go Rinji. I've already stayed too long I have to move on.'
"Wait what?" Rinji spoke with what sounded like pain in his voice.
'I'm sorry but I can't stay in your head forever, you don't need me anymore.'
"But Al you're my friend... Please don't leave me." tears prickle in his eyes, memories try to come to the surface but he squashes them down trying to get rid of the pain.
'I still am... I don't want to go, I have to. I can't explain but I won't see or speak to you again, not like this anyway.'
"I'll find you! Where are you I'll come to you." some hope and desperation appear in his voice, hope he'll see his friend. Desperation to not lose another friend.
'It's not that easy Rin, you can try but I don't think you'll be able to.'
"I will and I can. You're my friend, I will find you." Determination burns in his voice.
'You're too weak... You're just a weak human, you can't help me.'
Rinji feels heartbroken, the only friend he made in this world and he leaves him. Just like that.
'Goodbye, Gamer.'
"AL NO! " he gets no response.
...
..
.
"FUCKING BASTARD!" He roars into the sky, his magic skyrockets. So much so that the clones he made pop out of existence. His rage is so strong, he lets out a roar of just pain.
..
.
"Why... Why does everyone leave me... First Maddie, then Rachel... Fuck! This is why I never try to make friends. They either leave, aren't real friends, or they die. "
Pain rushes through Rinji's head as he drops to his knees clutching it in pain.
"No...no...No I don't want to think about them." He holds his head tighter, trying to stop the memories from surfacing...and failing.
(Flashback)
Rinji (4 years old)
"Hi! My names Maddison, me and my family moved here recently so I don't know anyone here but I hope to be friends with you all." a small girl around 5 or 6 years old, with short shoulder length hair tied up in a ponytail. Her green eyes reminded me of a forest, I thought they were the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. This was the day I met the one who was meant for me. The woman I would want to spend my future with... I just didn't know it yet.
A week later
Its lunch time on a Friday, my favorite day because the teacher lets me play inside because I don't have any friends. She always leaves me a chocolate bar too. But for some reason, Maddison didn't leave the classroom yet.
"Ummm, Maddison?" I hesitate for so long. I try and fight off the blush that spreads across my face. No success unfortunately for me.
"Yes?" Her eyes shine with hope, I didn't notice and I wouldn't have known either not until two years later.
"Why are you still inside? Don't you want to go outside with your friends?" Oh, my stupidity.
"I...I don't have any." She says as she begins to sob, tears fill her beautiful eyes. Like a forest becoming flooded, its beauty almost being washed away.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you sad." I begin to panic, I don't talk to people. I cant talk to people I'm too awkward around them. "I don't have any either."
"Oh." She says as she tries to wipe the tears away.
"You can stay inside with me if you want? The teacher always lets me stay in here and she gives me a chocolate bar too! We can share it!" I say with a slightly forced smile, I hate sharing my food but I don't want to see her cry. It feels like my heart is being clawed out.
"Are you sure?" She says as she slowly begins to stop sobbing.
"Of course!" I say with a half smile.
"Thank you!" She says as she wraps me in a tight embrace.
That was the beginning of our friendship which slowly developed into something else.
Two years later
"Hey ... How are you today?" Maddie's mother asked me as I walk in her door. Maddie's house has become my second home, and her parents became mine.
"I'm good, how are you, Mammy?" I always called her mammy, it started as a joke but slowly became serious. She's always wanted a son, unfortunately, she was never able to have one. Instead, she has two daughters, Maddie who is 7 and Jenny who is 4. They've become my second family, which became weird when I realized I had a crush on Maddie.
"I'm good, Maddison's in her room." I shoot her a quick thanks as I sneak my way up the stairs and slowly open her door as quietly as I could.
There she was, lying on her bed with her headphones on probably watching some anime on her laptop. I take off my shoes and slide across her floor silently. I reach out with my hands and grab her left ankle with one hand and tickle her foot with the other making her scream and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
I let her go and watch her cautiously as she turns around and looks like she's ready to strangle me.
"Hey, Maddie," I say, ignoring the death glare she was giving me. "Surprised to see me?" I begin to sweat as she doesn't answer just glares at me. "I know I'm hot but to you have to stare so hard?" I see her lip curve up but it quickly gets brought back down.
"Are you ma-" "Jen now!" With that, I get pinned to the ground by both her and her sister. Terror filled my eyes as I seen the evil glint in both of their eyes as they both tickle me.
I'm not very ticklish but they don't tickle they fucking scratch.
"AHHH OK I'M SORRY FUCK JUST STOP!"
"... STOP USING THAT FOUL LANGUAGE!"
"SORRY MAMMY BUT THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN AHH!"
"GIRLS WAIT FOR ME I WANT TO JOIN IN!"
'Shit!'
Another two years later.
Rinji (8 years old)
"Finally that's over," I say as I collapse onto my bed. I slowly loosen the tie around my neck.
"I know, I hate going to church. I'm just glad today's over. Who knew communions are so boring."
"Hey, at least we got some money?" I say with my cheeky smile.
I just get hit in the arm as Maddie joins me by throwing herself onto the bed too.
She rolls around and looks me in the eyes and smiles.
"Hey ..." I really wish I could remember my name, my real one. I can remember that I used to love hearing her saying that but I could never remember it. Not since my death obviously.
"Yeah?"
"You like me don't you?" She says with slightly red cheeks.
"Of course I do," I say, my cheeks also red. I play it off as if she means friends, I don't want to assume. Not when we got the 'talk' like a week ago. I wasn't supposed to get it but Maddie is two years older than I and she's already going through puberty so her parents gave it to me too.
"I mean like like. As in this." She doesn't say anything just kisses me on the lips.
"Umm." I was shocked, my mouth hanging open like an idiot. " Wow."
"What?" she says with a smile on her face and a rosy red cheeks.
"I wasn't expecting that...Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah I do like like you, I always have." I turn away from her in embarrassment.
"Me too," I swear I almost snapped my neck with how fast I whipped around to her.
"Seriously!" I couldn't hold back my surprise.
"Yeah, " she says with a giggle. I love that giggle.
I just pause, I don't know what to say. While I may be a bit more mature than most 8-year-olds I still don't have any clue what to do.
"Wanna be my boyfriend?" She just says bluntly and out of nowhere.
"Um yeah? I mean, of course, I do but are you sure?"
"Sure of what?"
"Sure you want to go out with me?" I look away, I don't want to see her reaction. She's too good for me, she has to be joking. Maybe Jenny dared her to do it?
"... Look at me," she says as she takes my face in her hands. I look directly into her eyes.
"I'm serious." I believe her, I'm sure of it. She actually does like me.
"Then I guess that means we're together then?"
"Yeah, I guess it does." She says as she kisses me again. The butterflies in my stomach won't stop doing flips, it felt like even they had butterflies inside them. That kiss just made me even more certain of my feelings. I love this girl, I always have ever since I first seen her in school. Ever since I first talked to her. First held her hand, first smelled her. Ever since that big beautiful smile filled her face, I just knew I wanted her. I wanted to be with her forever. I wanted to dedicate my entire life to making her every day the happiest it can be. I want to give her a future she can look back on when she's old and smile and not regret a single bit of it.
But I could never do any of that.
"Madison time to go home." Her dad called.
"Coming daddy!" we walk downstairs together, me with my big goofy smile on my face and her with her beautiful smile.
Her family were already in the car and waiting for her to get in. It was then I had a pit in my stomach, I thought it was just because I didn't want her to leave but in the future, I would know why I felt like this.
I would know why I soaked in every single one of her features, why I memorized how she looked. Every detail about her face, I soaked it in like a sponge as if it would be the last time I would see her again... Because it was... Alive anyway.
"Please be safe," I say to her as I grip her hand tightly. I give her my little half smile. I don't want her to worry about me I just want this feeling to go away.
"I will, I promise. Plus we need to finish watching naruto together remember? We only started it. You better wait and watch it with me." she says with that little 'you better do it' smile, it a little bossy but in a joking way. It's just so unique, it's so her.
"I'll wait for you to watch it with me," I say a little reluctantly.
*Honk* "Maddison hurry up" Her mom and dad shout getting impatient.
"I'm coming." She squeezed my hand one last time and gave me a peck on the cheek. "..."
I could never remember what it was she said to me as she left that day, the last words she ever said to me I don't remember, I hate myself so much for that.
Later that day Maddie and her family were in a car accident, Jenny died but her parents and Maddie were almost perfectly fine. Apart from a few cuts and bruises. And Maddie's mother was pregnant, with a baby boy. But she lost it in that crash along with her youngest daughter.
When she got out of hospital I remember running to Maddie's house and bursting through the door and hugging her mom.
"Its ok mommy, I'm here to help." I try my hardest to smile but the tears running down my face didn't help.
"Thank you... Thank you so much ..." She says as she hugs me tightly. "Can you go check on Madison, she hasn't said a word to either of us. She's in Jenny's room." She doesn't stop crying, just walks over to her husband and they both hold each other and cry silently to each other.
I walk up the stairs like I do nearly every day, but this time it so much more different. I have an ache in my chest, similar to when I saw Maddie cry when she left that day. I knocked on the door.
"Hey, Maddie? It's me... You know you're new boyfriend. Haha" I force a laugh out, trying to lighten the mood slightly. It never works, I've always been useless.
"Can we talk? I can't imagine the pain you or your parents are going through but maybe I can help?" Still no answer.
I slump against the door leaning my head against it hoping to hear her inside.
"I miss you so much, I've been so worried about you I actually ran here. Can you imagine me running here? I never go outside never mind running ." I tap my hands on the floor near the door trying to come up with something to say when something warm and slightly sticky touched my hands.
I look down at my fingertips which were now covered in blood. I panic, jump up to my feet and slam open the door.
And that's when I see her. Slumped in a chair with a pool of blood around her and a blade on the floor. A large cut on her neck.
I'm not even ashamed to admit I screamed.
the next few days were a blur, I helped out my 'Mammy' and 'Daddy' whenever I could. But I don't think they wanted me around much, I reminded them of a happier time.
I tried to move on from Maddie but I never could. I hid in my own shell, made friends but faked every moment with them. Stopped talking to them when I went to secondary school. There hoped I could move passed Maddie, still no success.
It wasn't until I was 15 when I began to open up to someone. Her name was Rachel. She was 3 years younger than me and was being bullied on my bus. I had a bit of a reputation at my school and on my bus for being silent but I had a very short temper. So I stood up while the bus was moving, pushed the bullies out of the way and sat down beside her and just offered her my left earphone.
And with that, I sat with her every morning and every evening and even some days ate lunch with her. She became my little sister. One day her mother got on the bus when it was Rachel's stop and invited me for dinner the next day. Rachel told her how much I was helping her and she wanted to thank me.
Her little brother looked up to me as an older brother, we played a few games on the PlayStation before dinner but I just kept thinking of Maddison.
"Thank you for the lovely meal, " I say thank you, being polite but it really was lovely.
"Anytime... You're welcome anytime." She says with a warm smile.
"If you say that you might find it hard to keep me away. I would much prefer your cooking than my dads." I say with a small laugh.
"I mean it, you can come over any day for dinner or even just to come over I don't mind and I'm sure Rachel doesn't either." She says with a smirk and a wink.
"MOM!" Rachel flushes red. I laugh at the sight along with her mother.
We go to her room after dinner and just chat, learning more and more about each other.
"How's the studying going?" I asked her, the junior cert is coming up after all.
"Not so well. I suck at studying." She says, clearly stressed out.
"Ok, then I'll help. Every Friday I'll come over and I'll help you study. Sound good?" I offer, I began to focus on my studies after Maddie's death. It's one of the only things that distract me from her.
"Really?!" She says in excitement.
"Of course!" she hugs me tightly and keeps thanking me.
I finally felt a little happy and cracked a small real smile. The first since her death.
"Now I have gotta go, my mom's outside. I'll see you in school," I say as I wave to her, grabbing my bags and going outside to my mom. I could just hear faintly as I was walking out
"He sure is cute, nice to see my daughter has good taste in men."
"MOM!"
Things were going well for a while until Rachel's mom phones me at 5 o'clock in the morning. Telling me that Rachel committed suicide.
She was still being bullied, the bullies bullied her in between classes. Only when they knew I wouldn't be near. And they blackmailed her to not say anything.
Want to know what they threaten her with? They were going to tell me that she had feelings for me. That is what made her not tell me, because she had a crush on me and she didn't want to ruin our friendship.
How did I deal with the bullies? I have a short temper for a reason.
I went into the canteen that day and hit the leader over the head with a stool. And beat the shit out of the other two.
I was held down by the two caretakers and everyone looked at me in disgust.
"I hope you three rot in hell for what you did to Rachel, she did nothing to you and you fucking killed her. Her blood is on your hands' murders." The news wasn't announced yet that she had died, so everyone was confused.
I surprisingly didn't get heavily punished, I got suspended for a weak and my parents got called in. That's it.
I always blamed myself for their deaths, Rachel more so. I could've actually prevented her death if I had been smart enough to know they were to bully her in between classes. I should've paid more attention, I should've made sure it stopped for good. But I didn't.
Rachel's dad called me up at the funeral and asked me why I wasn't there, I couldn't face him.
"Why didn't you come to her funeral?" he asks softly.
"I..I'm sorry. It's my fault. It's my fault your daughters dead. I didn't want to face you, I want you to have to see the face of your daughter's murderer. "
"SHUT UP!" he snaps at me, he's a lawyer. He's usually so calm and composed this is the first time I have seen otherwise.
"It's not your fault, those three little shits killed her not you. You were the only thing keeping her going, you're the reason she lasted so long. If you weren't there she could've died months ago. I shouldn't blame you, I don't, I should thank you. You helped her where I couldn't. So thank you ... For helping my daughter where I failed."
I just broke down, I couldn't hold back my tears. I lost my first friend in 7 years.
Flashbacks over
Back to the present.
"I thought this shit was over." Rinji sobs to himself, " Why do I have to lose more people."
'...'
"I know I wasn't strong enough, I never will be."
'...'
"How do you know I will be?"
'...'
"Yeah we are, let's do it! Let's become stronger together partner." and with that Rinji makes his way to the chair in the corner of the workshop and goes to sleep.
...
..
.
Author's note
So here's chapter 10, I thought I'd make it a bit longer than the others. I hope that clears up some of Rinji's past for all of those wondering, sorry I didn't have much action in it and it was a little rushed but I hope you all still enjoyed.
Any ideas or suggestions leave a review or pm me. Thanks again to Ripper264 for the idea for Ken no Ken and thanks to my beta for their hard work fixing my crappy writing.
(Beta Note: It ain't that crappy. I've seen WAY worse)
Hope you all enjoyed, leave your feedback as a review or a pm. I might start responding to them at the end of the chapters if people want that. If not then there's no point.
Until next time.
Beta: Have a beautiful time!