Chapter 11

Hey guys! Just a little reminder: Isamu still calls Yata by 'Masaki' since the little lie Yata told him back in their first meeting. Enjoy! XD

Sorry for not updating for such a long long time! Just to let you know, I've not given up on this story and am still writing. Update will be slow for the next few chapters! :)

Yata's POV

"We need to talk, Masaki." Isamu said, crossing his arms over his built chest.

Having heard the seriousness of the other male's tone, he gave a nod. "What is it?"

Isamu let out a sigh, running a hand through his golden hair. "You see…um….." His voice trailed off, trying to find the right words to break it to him. "Don't go near Shinki. She's not in her best condition now."

Yata shot Isamu a questioning look. "This is sudden. Does this have something to do with me?"

"She's really unstable now. She's going through really tough things that even myself, could hardly imagine" he trailed off for a moment. "Well to answer your question, then yeah. If she doesn't want to join Homra. Don't force her into it."

Having heard this. Yata gave a grunt. "Problems? If she joins Homra then we'll beat up anyone who is troubling her—

"Woah woah, steady. I don't mean it that way, Masaki. She's just a little different from us."

"Different, how?"

"She's a Strain, I believe; that's why she is sensitive to auras."

"Sensitive?"

"I guess there is no use in hiding it…We're all Strains, Yata—Shinki, George and I. I can guess you clansmen have heard about people like us, right? That's why you're after her. We all have different abilities—much different from all of you clansmen. In Shinki's case, her abilities are passive, meaning she can't control those powers of hers. It doesn't help her to fight—that's why we guys are always around her, keeping her safe from the Blues. Though she may be a good swordfighter, but even she can't stand against the power of a clansman."

"By Blues, do you mean Scepter4?"

"Yeah, those dogs. I was just about to get on to that. Those bastards are trying to capture all of us Strains, and they succeeded in fact. The only reason we're still here now is because of Shinki. She's our tracker. She could sense a clansman from a mile away."

"Really?" Yata asked, unbelievingly.

"Yeah, if fact, I bet she could tell that you're here now. Her abilities are rather helpful for people like us, don't you think?"

"So they know you're here?"

"Obviously. I'm not sure how much they know about us, but I can tell that Shinki and I are definitely in the bingo book. We've encountered and even fought our way through some of them before. I bet they'll want to lock us up once they get a hold of us."

"Why stay here then? Why not leave Shizume City?"

"We're in a school, Masaki. There is no way they can hunt us down. It's against the law."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I—What are you implying?"

"If they were to infiltrate the school, what would you do?"

A pause. "I'll fight. That's what I'll do! I'll never give in to those bastards. Do you know what they do to Strains like us?!" Isamu hissed. His voice was filled with so much venom that even Yata was stunned. "They'll lock us up—keep us inside cells for the rest of our lives—if not killed."

Isamu bore his fangs, a soft growl escaping his lips. Something about him changed, and by the looks of it, he had activated his Strain powers. There was a strange red aura around him now—which almost seemed demonic.

"Hah. Find it hard to believe? If I had proof of their harassment, I would have sued all of them by now. But what the hell—they are all above the law. Even the police can't do a shit against them. Shinki, George and I had been together since we were children. As we grew up, we made friends with similar people—Strains." Isamu's eyes were growing red with fury. There were tears in them too. "You-you don't know what we have been through…..we had a little girl with us. W-we-we were supposed to take care of her. She was the youngest among us…but-but…we lost her to the Blues."

"They caught her?"

A cruel laugh left the blonde's lips. "Wrong, kid. She was killed—murdered."

"Those fuckers, h-how could they?! She's just a child, isn't she…?!"

Yata was indeed speechless. Why hadn't he known about this? Why hadn't Mikoto told him about this before?

"She was only 11…! I'm an idiot. I couldn't even keep her safe…! The look her parents gave me—I felt like shit. I couldn't even protect her with this power…..We can't help being born with these abilities. We just want to live our lives as normal people—not like how we are living in fear now!" The barrier collapsed and tears were flowing down his reddened cheeks. It was not every day you would see someone as strong as Isamu break down. Yata's eyes hardened. Those bastards…how could they kill a child?

Anna was 11 too…The thought of losing her made him even more disgusted of Scepter4.

"Hey, Isamu….Strain or no Strain, the Blues are way stronger than all of you. You can't do this alone. There's no way—

"If you're thinking of me asking for Homra's help, forget it. I don't need your help. I CAN PROTECT SHINKI ALONE!" His voice echoed through the deserted hallways.

"I NEVER SAID THAT. Now, will you just listen to me? You've never even fought with them! How do you expect going against the whole of the Blue Clan?" Yata tried to reason him. But with all of that trauma in Isamu's head, he doubt he could even think straight.

Though he hated to admit it, he had a soft spot. He held sympathy for people like him. Yet deep inside, he refused to let his emotions take control of him.

Just when Yata was about to speak. Isamu said, "What I have been through is nothing compared to Shinki's. You probably don't know this, but….her parents are dead and her brother is still missing."

That was what Kusanagi had told him before.

Yet, if he let her go…Would it be the right thing to do? Yata only realized it now, that these people were always in the run—trying their best to make something out of what little life could offer.

"Even if I may not be of use to Homra, I'll be willing to take Shinki's place. If that is what it takes to make her happy. I'll swear my loyalty and serve Homra for as long as I live." Confessing, Isamu kneeled down before Yata. "Just please….don't take Shinki away…I don't know what I'll do if I can't ever see her again….."

One look in his eyes, confirmed it; he was dead serious. Determination burned in those eyes, and Yata knew that there was no way he'll ever let her go.

Silence echoed the hallways. The atmosphere was getting heavier by the minute.

Yata's brown eyes were fixed on him. His expression remains unchanged.

"Get up."

"No."

"GET UP." Yata finally snapped. "If that's what you want, then….I'll leave. I'll try to talk to Mikoto-san, to reconsider things. We'll leave you bunch alone." A pause. "But don't expect me to come back when you need our help."

Isamu's eyes were wide. "A-Are you serious?"

Yata nodded. "Her life is in your hands now. Whatever happens to her then, will be none of our business." Yata said, gritting his teeth.

The other male got up finally, immediately bowing to Yata. "T-Thank you…thank you so much, Masaki." Almost immediately, the crimson aura from before vanished and his fangs had retracted.

A blush rose on Yata cheeks. Looking away, Yata couldn't help but ask. "You're in love with her, aren't you, Isamu?"

Meanwhile, at the dorms…

What was this scent? Why hadn't I noticed this before?

Panic rushed into me as I sprung up from my bed. No, no, no, this can't be happening…..Scrambling onto the ground, I reached out under my bed. My fingers wrapped around a sheathed blade. This wasn't the usual shinai I used for kendo. This was the real thing; a saber.

When it comes to kendo, I'm pretty much confident. But, I am not too sure about one handed swords. I guess that's because western sword fighting isn't really common in these parts of Japan. Using a sword with one hand means I'll have weaker blows, thus, giving me a disadvantage.

I drew the curtains shut and switched off the lights.

I heard footsteps stopping outside my door. My heart stopped, when I heard the doorknob slowly turned.

Unsheathing my sword, I then hid at a blind corner, just behind my wardrobe.

My breathing became ragged, when the door flew open—whoever that bastard was certainly knew how to unlock a door.

Personal safety was not what I was worried about. I was more worried about the others—the other Strains.

I heard shuffling of feet and the clinking of metal; most probably from metal buckles. Straining my eyes to see through the darkness, my eyes caught a familiar sight of a blue uniform. My heart immediately crashed through the ground. This can't be…

It was faint, but indeed I could feel it.

The Blue Clansmen, they are coming for us.