Chapter 14 – The choice.

Star was slowly coming too.

The room was a blur, but soon cleared after a few blinks. At first, she thought the room was empty, until she saw someone standing at the foot of her bed. "Garou?" she said weakly.

"You still ask for him… even after all this?"

Star rolled her eyes. "How come you keep coming back Amai?" she asked. "You and I are through. I am not going back, I am not your assistant, and quite frankly… I don't give a damn if the one you got now isn't working out."

Amai Mask didn't say anything at first, instead he merely stared at her with disappointment. "I thought for certain, once you saw the real Garou, you would have kept your distance from him. Instead, you insist on being at his side. For what? Why him? What has he done for you that I never did?"

Star smirked. "Is that what's brothering you?" she said. "Garou and I are a lot alike, in case you haven't noticed. We are both loners, we both endured hardships that not many others have seen. Also, he gets my name right. You never bothered to try!"

Amai Mask sneered. "Do you know why that is? I know many people, bad people who would LOVE to get their hands on a Brawler. I know of your family, and they are legendary to many, others consider them a plague. Your family has done great good in this world, and some don't take that kindly, especially when your family ruined their underground businesses. I was merely protecting you."

"I'm sure that is the case. But you keep forgetting, I am a Brawler, my family lives for the fight and we never back down from one either. You were saving face before your fans. After all, I am certain they wouldn't take too kindly to your rough and tumble assistant now would they? Especially when you focus more on your elegance and beauty."

"At least you understood that." said Sweet Mask. "But now, I am offering you a chance, to return to my side and we can rule the A class heroes! I know your skills are second to none, and I also know the reason why you stopped accepting the letters from the heroes association from the general public. Your image has been ruined thanks to that monster, Garou!"

"I never cared about what the people thought of me. As long as I did my job, I was happy. I am still happy to do my job, and even more so to have a partner I can trust in it all…"

"YOU CAN'T TRUST HIM!" scolded Amai Mask. "You can never trust something that vile! He is scum, he is a monster and heroes defeat monsters!"

"Yes, heroes defeat monsters." She said. "But heroes can also make them." She was getting tired again. "How about you leave now, I would like to rest."

Amai Mask sneered. "Very well, sleep well my Starlight. I know you will come back to me, sooner than later." He left shortly after. Star then turned to the window.

"He's gone, you can come in"

Garou was perched outside of the hospital window. He was quick to let himself in the moment Amai Mask left. "Hey," he said. Star saw something in his hand, a glass container that held a single flower in a small pool of water. With care he set it at her bedside.

"Hey" Star lifted her head slightly, when she noticed Garou's face. "How did you cut your cheek?"

He double checked the wound, it no longer bled but the marking was there. "Had a little disagreement," he took a seat next to her, she could see he was agitated. Something was troubling him. With what strength she had, her hand reached out to his arm. She was barely able to grasp it, but made certain that he knew she was listening.

"What's the point of all this?" he demanded. "No matter how hard I try, or what I do. It's not enough! It's never enough. I can't undo the past mistakes. I can't fix everything wrong with this world and I cannot change this!" he said and pointed to himself. "Why do I even bother?"

"That's a good question. Why do you bother? Why do you put yourself through this Garou?" she asked. "There has to be a reasoning for it, and it's beyond redemption. Why do you do this? Who are you really doing it for?" she asked.

He turned away from her for a moment. "I do it for you."

Star fell silent. "Me? Why?"

"Because, you have been the only one, the single person who has spoken the same to me since the day we met. You know of the struggle I face, you know the challenges I have had and what we have accomplished together… I felt good being around you. I felt I had a purpose, I felt… wanted."

Star tried to sit herself up, but he insisted she didn't try. "Garou…"

"This wasn't a pity party for me, what it?" he asked of her. "Did you feel sorry for me?"

"No," she said. "If I felt sorry for you, I would have bought you dessert that night we met and only dessert."

He smirked. "Yeah, that would have been a pity party, nothing but desserts!"

"I know what you did, I told you before too. People make mistakes, and they try to fix them however they can. Not everyone will see that, not everyone will want to. It is easier for them to focus on the darkness of a person than to see the light they are trying to bring into the world."

Garou chuckled. "Since when in hell did you become so spiritual?"

"Five minutes ago."

The two snickered. But Garou was quick to stop. "I don't want to be part of the Heroes Association." He said. "If they can't see me beyond this, than what the hell is the point?"

Star nodded. "I agree, for that matter. Why should I be part of it? I'm only in it to piss off Sweet Mask. We don't have to do this; we don't have to do anything. We can do whatever the hell we want too, if that's what you want."

He was surprised. "You would leave the association?"

"Bounty hunting pays a lot more."

He gave but a half smile. "Yeah, you and me. Bounty hunting… I like it."

"We won't be tied down by the rules, ranks or anything of the sort. I'm in if you are."

Garou smiled. "As long as I don't have to go to any more of those damn meetings."