Chapter 42: The Bell Brothers: Part 2
Seven years ago
"There was once a huntsman who entered the inside. Hoping to unify the residents who suffered the hardships of living there. He was quite the unique one. Most huntsmen uses weapons that ranged from swords and guns. However, he used his fists. And for thirty years, he fought day in and day out against those who made it what it is today. However, it was soon all for nothing as no matter what he did."
"So why tell us a story like this if he doesn't even win?" Mike said.
"Because. Not everybody can enter a lawless area such as this and fight gangs of people for thirty years using only their bare hands." Luna said. "It takes a lot of guts. Plus he was only one man."
"Well... I do think it's pretty cool that he goes around punching people." Mike had his hands on the back of his head.
"How come no huntsmen ever showed up to help us after that?" Nick asked.
"That's..." Luna didn't have a good answer for that. "Nick... you see... sometimes... we're overlooked... because of our background."
"Is it because we're trash?"
"Wha- no!" Luna yelled. "It's... because... they don't care for people like us."
"So he was right." Mike muttered before standing up. "Thanks for telling us a pointless story." He then went into the room.
"I thought... it was a good story." Nick stood up and hugged Luna.
"It's... good to have you boys back." She gave him a warm smile before he left.
Nick and Mike were laying in what use to be Bambi's room.
"Mike?" Nick said looked at his brothern who was staring at the ceiling.
"Yeah?"
"I'm... I'm tired of being treated like trash." Nick clenched his blanket. "Since coming back... it's been the same thing. Soon, Luna and Mikan will end up dying the same way that Bambi and Verity did. I don't want that to happen to them."
"Then... let's do something about it."
"How?"
"Nick. The reason why we lost all that money was because we were nothing but weak little kids." Mike leaned forward. "But thanks to that lady, we know what we're capable of now thanks to aura. So... why not use it?"
"You mean..."
"That's right. We're going back to what we use to do. Except this time, we're no longer gonna run away."
The following day, Nick and Mike were in the backyard. Mike didn't say it, but the story did inspire him in some way.
"Alright Nick, today's the first day of training." Mike began stretching out his legs before getting into a sloppy looking fighting stance. "Before we can march into their strongholds, we need to toughen ourselves up!"
Nick also got into a sloppy fighting stance. "Is... this how it's supposed to be?"
"I dont know?" Mike shrugged his shoulders before going back into his unpolished stance. "But if we're gonna be like that guy? Then we have to work hard! Now then. Come at me!"
Nick charged forth towards his brother, throwing a sloppy overhand right. Mike however, leaned back, avoiding the entire punch before throwing a right straight.
"Ah!" Nick was struck in the face and sent tumbling to a tree. "Ow... that hurt." Nick began to rub his face as he fought back tears. "I don't... want do this anymore."
"Come on Nick. I didn't hit you that hard!" Mike said. "It's only the first day and you wanna quit? What happen to no longer being treated like trash?!"
Nick gritted his teeth in anger. He stood up and charged towards Mike. Only to be swept off of his feet and nearly meeting a fist to his face.
"No offense, but you're too predictable. Charging in first with your fist. That's why you're on the floor." Mike got back into his fighting stance, which surprisingly, has gotten sharper than when the first time he did it. "Come on. Lets try again."
Nick gritted his teeth in anger. "I'm done!" He yelled. He then got up from the ground, and ran out of the backyard
"What a baby." Mike decided to go back to practicing, instead of chasing after him.
"Nick! Dinner will... be" Luna tried to speak to Nick, but he ran off with tears in his eyes. She could only sadly look as she watched him run out the church.
"Mike!" Luna walked up to Mike. "What happended to Nick?"
"He can't take a punch. That's what."
Luna pinched the bridge of her nose before taking a deep breath. "He'll be back before dinner." She didn't have time to reprimand him. So she left it as it was and went back to the church.
Nick continued to wipe his eyes as he walked through the streets of the Inside. Its been nearly a month since they came back and not a thing has changed. From destitute children trying to steal food, to washed up prostitutes trying to get a hit. However, Nick no longer felt pity for them. As his anger was directed towards Mike. "Stupid Mike. I'll show him "predictable".
As he continued to walk around, he realized something. The prostitute that was always watching him was no longer here. 'I... guess she finally left.'
Suddenly, something then caught his eye. A crowd of people were surrounding something. His curiousity got the best of him. So he went towards the crowd.
Two people were in the middle of a fight. One challenger, an elderly man being assaulted by a flurry of punches being sent from a younger fighter.
"What... are they doing?" Nick asked a man with lien in his hand.
"They're just playing house- what the hell do you think they're doing kid?!" The man yelled. "They're fighting!"
"Fighting?" Nick took a closer look at the older man. Who surprisingly was not being struck by the fists, but redirecting them. Nobody else saw it but him.
"Old bastard! I could've sworn I was hitting you!"
The elderly man said nothing as he tightened his fist and struck the younger man with such terrifying power, that it sent him flying into a building. Making it his win.
After the angry patrons left the circle, all that was left was Nick and the old fighter. His eyes widened in amazement. He couldn't believe someone as feeble as that old man could launch a punch of such power, let alone win what looked like a losing battle.
"How... how did you do that?" Nick asked as he walked up to the old timer.
"Curious?"
"Yeah! You were like "Hooowaaah! Witchaaaa!" Clumsily performing karate moves before falling on floor.
"Haha! You wish to learn how to fight boy?" The old man said.
"I..." Nick hung his head. Thinking about qhat he wanted to say before looking back up. "I'm learning how to. But..."
"How about I teach you the two basic techniques that I know?"
"Really?!" Nick's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Of course!" The old man laughed. Never did he see a kid so excited to learn how to fight. "Now! Try throwing a punch at me."
Nick didn't hesitate as he threw a punch. However, his eyes widened as he saw it get easily deflected, causing him to fall on the floor. "What did you do?!"
"Nothing special. I just redirected you strike in order to make you lose your balance. The best way to do it is to time the strike."
"Wow!" Nick shook with excitement.
"What power." The old man muttered. He shook his hand as the punch surpringly stung. "Tell me, is your aura unlocked?"
"Yeah..."
'To think a child his age is running around here with aura.' The old man had a small smile on his face. "I'm going to teach you one more thing."
"One more?"
"That's right. Im sure you saw that punch that i did earlier... right?"
"Yeah! And It was incredible!"
"Now then, pay attention."
Nick was completely focused. He was determined to learn how to do that punch and hopefully use it on Mike.
"Now... Stiffen your body to it's utmost limits on the moment of impact." The old man's muscles began to contract. "When you use it at the right moment during the punch, all of your joints will be fixed. It will be very difficult to do, but if you succeed, your fist will strike with the weight of your whole body. And then release it!"
He then launched the powerful straight. Creating a shockwave that was strong enough to send Nick on the floor.
"What... is it called?" Nick curiously asked.
"Goutaijutsu(Rigid Body Art)."
"Goutai... justu?"
"That's right." The old man said with a smile. "I wanted to one day pass these techniques to my grandson." He then hung his head. "But... he's been gone for so many years. He, my daughter and son-in-law. But now... I'm giving it to you."
Nick held his hand out as the elderly fighter placed his hand on Nick's open palm. "But... why? You just met me?"
"Something tells me that these techniques will benefit you... more than it did me. It will be hard, but so as long as you strive to move forward, the path will continue to open up for you."
"Thank you!" Nick smiled at the old man before running off. "And I hope you find your grandson!"
The old man smiled at Nick's determination before leaving himself.
Throughout the days, Nick continued to practice his newly acquired skills. The goutaijitsu that he learned continued to become sharper each passing day. As for the redirection technique, he felt that he needed to practice on an actual person.
"Nick! Come inside! Dinner is ready!" Luna yelled. However, Nick ignored her and continued to train. Three months after learning those two techniques, Nick decided to fight Mike again.
"You're not gonna cry this time, are you?" Mike got into his fighting stance. No longer was it the same sloppy stance from before.
"You'll see that things will be different." Nick's fighting stance has gotten even sharper than before.
Mike threw a right straight at Nick, however, he was able to predict the timing and redirect the attack. Nick smiled at the fact that it worked, causing Mike to stumble to the floor.
"That was incredible little bro!" Mike said as he got up from the floor. "What was that move?!"
"I'm... not telling you!" Nick stuck his tongue out.
"Well whatever it is? You won't catch me with that again." Mike charged forward, performing the same strike from before.
'I can see it.' Nick of course was able to tell what he was about to do. He then redirected the attack. However, Mike shifted his body and struck him in the face with a roundhouse kick, sending him to the floor.
"Told you you wasn't going to catch me with that same move again." Mike then stuck his tongue out.
"Dammit!" Nick struggled to get back up due to the minor concussion he has.
Mike went to finish Nick off. However, an alarm went off as he saw his little brother's body become stiff. Pulling his arm back, he launched the Goutaijutsu. Mike's eyes widened as he himself was able to redirect the strike at the last moment, leaving the younger bell brother open for an attack.
"Got ya!" Mike launched another roundhouse kick to Nick's face. Causing him to fall over. "Woah... what a punch. That was incredible!"
Nick got up from the ground as Mike walked towards him.
"If I wouldn't had dodged that punch, I'd be the one on the floor. Or worse!"
"Just watch..." Mike heard Nick mutter something as he wiped his eyes. "Just watch! I'm gonna win! Just you wait and see!"
(Made in Abyss OST: Gallantry and Recapitualtion)
"A declaration huh?" Mike had a smile on his face. "I guess we have to continue working on our skills."
"I'll keep challenging you until I beat you! And you'll never see me cry again!" Nick tearfully yelled.
And so time passed. Nick continued to practice the two techniques that he learned. However, when he was not practicing, he walked around to watch more fights where he watched many different techniques.
He saw a fighter whose footwork that made it looked like he was seeing double. And then a grappler whose submission techniques were polished to the point they killed the opponent. Nick made sure to memorize it all and, added it to his training regiment.
One night after training, Nick took a look in the mirror. He realize that he haven't really grown in height the past year. "I haven't even grown an inch." He then saw Mike, who recently gotten a sudden growth spurt.
"What's up little bro?" Mike said. All the while giving him a smile. Nick soon began to pout. He left out of the bathroom. Mike could only raise an eyebrow at ths sudden attitude.
Nick laid on the floor as he thought back to his promise to Verity. "I promise Bambi, Verity. I will become strong. No matter what it takes."
And so, he began to work on building up muscle, alongside practicing his techniques. On his first day he started from doing only a measly 30 push ups, 30 sit-ups and running for an hour during his first two months, alongisde practicing his moves. However, even with the constant training, Mike continued to defeat him every time.
"You're getting better. Mind if I use that redirection technique?" Mike asked.
"I don't care." Nick got back up before leaving.
"He was serious when he said that he wasn't gonna cry anymore." Mike said to himself.
"More!" Nick had his bowl out as he wanted seconds.
"I get that you're a growing boy Nick. But seriously, you're gonna eat us dry." Luna said in an annoyed tone.
"Whatever." Nick then stood up and left.
"Is it just me... or did Nick put on muscle?" Mikan asked.
Mike said nothing as he continued to eat.
Seven months later
"998, 999, 1000!" Nick completed his daily set of one thousand push ups. Nick looked in the mirror. No longer was he skinny and frail as he put on over 15 pounds of muscle. He then went back outside. He then stiffened his body, before throwing a powerful right straight, destroying the stone wall completely.
"Dammit Nick! What did i tell you about destroying the walls!" Luna yelled.
"I'll fix it back up!" He yelled back. Nick couldn't help but smile. However, he knew that it wasnt enough. Even then, Mike was also getting stronger.
"Luna, Mikan. We'll get you out of here. I swear on it." He then tightened his fist. "And then, I'm gonna defeat Mike."
Three years later
Anandoned buildings are the perfect hideouts for drug dealers to perform deals and addicts to shoot up drugs in peace. Considering that this was the inside, most gangs use these dilapidated buildings as a means of hideouts. However, it seems that they've been slowly taken out these past few years.
Nick and Mike were standing in front of an abamdoned building.
(Megalobox OST: Theme of Yuri (Fighting)
"Remember, not a single person leaves this place." Mike cracked his knuckles. "Got it?"
"I know Mike. We've been doing this for three years. I'm not stupid." Nick glared at the building.
"You know I can't help but remind you." Mike began to grin. "Let's go."
Ten minutes later
"You... Damn brats!" One thug yelled. He began letting bullets fly with an smg. Nick avoided each one before finally reaching the shooter. He then unleashed a jawbreaking uppercut. Sending him high up before crashing back to the ground.
"Tch...Twenty rounds a second, and you were still too slow." Nick then stomped the thug's head into the ground.
"I'm not slow, ya punk!" Another thug yelled, as he pulled out a gun. However, a bone crunching elbow strike was sent across his collarbone. Shattering it instantly. The goon fell to the floor. All the while howling in pain.
"I had him." Nick said with a scowl.
"Of course you did little bro." Mike had a duffle bag on him filled with lien. The two looked at the thug who was writhing in pain. "Well... he won't be moving ever again." Mike had a smile on his face. "I shattered his collarbone."
"Again... I had him." Nick muttered as he shoved the large amount of lien into the duffle bag.
"Come on, you're still worked up about that?" Mike placed an arm on Nick. "Tell you what? Next time, you can shatter his collarbone."
"Tch... whatever."
Mike looked at the thug. Who was trembling in fear. "Please... I... I have a family."
"Did you think about that when you were selling drugs to those poor women? Snatching kids up and selling them?" Mike lifted the guy up by his head. "Peices of shits like you piss me off."
"No!"
Mike then smashed the thug's head into the comcrete wall with tremendous force, killing him instantly. The two left out of the building.
Three years have passed since they began their training. In order to finally put these skills to the test, they went out and began running into mafia strongholds. Robbing the gangs that were ruling over the inside. No longer were they sneaking around to do so. This time, they were going in to fight.
"On that note. I'd say we have about 200 thousand lien." Mike sat down and took a breather. "With this, Luna and Mikan can finally relax. At least until the next plan goes into motion. Getting into Purgatory."
"Don't we need weapons in order to participate?" Nick asked.
"You leave that to your big brother." Mike said with a grin. "This plan will work. Trust me."
"Yeah. Yeah." Nick then realized something. "Shit. I forgot i have something to do."
"Another fight?"
"Yeah. Don't wait up."
A fist landed into the jaw of another fighter, who was on the ground. Creating a small crater.
"That kid's a demon."
"Yeah. Nobody haven't had a chance to beat him."
Nick took his fist out of the opponent's face, who lost all of his teeth due to the strike.
"I'll be taking what you owe me." Nick placed his hand out. Recieving a huge amount of lien.
"Same time tomorrow? No offense but it's not the same when you're not here." The man said.
"Maybe." And with that, Nick left.
Two days later, Nick and Mike were both in their fighting stances.
"Come on Nick. Everyday we fight and of course everyday, you know how this will go."
"I told you, I won't stop until I can finally beat you." Nick said. The two charged forth.
Mike threw a right straight to which Nick blocked. He then attempted to send a roundhouse kick to Mike's face. However, he weaved the kick before leaning forward and delivering a uppercut to the jaw, which was blocked by his elbow.
He was able to break through Nick's guard and strike him. Sending him flying in the air and causing him to fall head first to the ground.
"D... dammit." Nick wiped the blood from his mouth before getting back up. 'Even with aura, I felt the impact of that punch.' He charged forward before launching a powerful right straight towards Mike.
"Tch!" Mike blocked the punch but was pushed back from the force. "Damn... what power. You've perfected it to the point you don't gotta be still. So... are you still calling it Goutaijutsu?"
"Testsui(Iron Strike)." Nick then launched another strike just like the previous one. However, Mike launched a right hook as it over lapped the straight. Striking him in the law before sending him flying towards a tree.
"Shit... Nick!" Mike ran up to his fallen brother. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine." Blood continued to leak from Nick's mouth. He got up and left. Not saying another word.
"The inside of your cheek was bleeding pretty bad not too long ago." Nick and Mikan were sitting at a table as she went to clean his mouth. She was shocked to see that it was perfectly healed.
"He got lucky... that's all." Nick muttered.
"You and Mike have been fighting everyday. And everyday, you need to get patched up. It's been like this years."
"It's for a reason. That's all."
"For a reason?" Mikan began to tremble with anger. "Just... what happened to you two? You two just come and go... We barely see you anymore.. and then you two come back with all this lien."
"When did you-"
Tears began to well up in Mikan's eyes. "Anata-tachi... futari wa seikaku ni nani o shite imasu ka? (What exactly... are you two doing?)"
Nick turned his head. "Me and Mike... we're... keeping Bambi's promise."
"Keeping her promise? You two are only children! And she didn't mean keeping her promise like this! What you're doing is adult business!" Mikan stood up. "Do you know how worried we were when you both just up and leave... and don't come back until late?!"
"How can't we not worry?!" Nick also stood up. "Bambi... Verity... they both died because of "adult business!" The same thing that you two keep doing!" He suddenly felt a stinging sensation across his face. All thanks to Mikan slapping him.
"Nick... I'm..." Mikan held her hand. "We... we just don't want to lose you two again. We thought you were dead for two years. When you both came back, we saw how different you two were acting. We promised to never... never! Let you two out of our sights again!" Mikan began to cry as Nick hugged her.
"We promise... we'll get us out of this. Just believe in us." He the released her and left. Leaving Mikan to silently weep.
"Nick..." Mike and Nick were laying in their respective beds. "Tomorrow... might be the last time we see them."
"And why's that?"
"I finally got a plan. One that'll get us out of here." Mike began to smile.
"And what's this plan?"
"We're going to be enlisting in Sanctum Academy."
"Whatever." Nick turned his his head.
"Is... everything alright?" Mike asked. "I thought you would be more excited than that? I mean come on. We're finally getting out of here!"
"I'm fine. Tomorrow's the day you put this plan into motion right?" Nick said. "Well... I think we should just go without telling them."
"Yeah... anyways... night little bro."
"Night."
Welcome To Mistral
Nick and Mike finally entered the city dostrict of Mistral. To them, it was like being in another world. From cars to bullheads.
"Oh man! They have things that can make you fly!" Mike whistled in amazement at the bullhead.
"Aren't we suppose to be doing this plan?" Nick asked.
"In a minute Nick! It's just that... this is incredible!" Mike said. As they continied to walk, he saw something that caught his eye.
"Oh man!" Mike ran up to the glass. "Nick! Look! They have a thing that shows people!"
Nick walked up to the glass. He began to scrutinize the strang device. "Don't get too close. It might snatch our souls." Nick then looked up and saw the owner of the shop staring at them.
"Uhhhh... hello?" Nick weakly raised his hand.
"Something tells me... this is your first time seeing a television." The owner said.
"Television? So that's what it's called?" Mike poked the device.
The owner sighed a bit. "Come in, I'll show you." Nick and Mike was lead inside, where they were showned all sorts of electronics.
"What's that?" Nick pointed at the square like device.
"Oh. That's a scroll. It's how you communicate with people." The owner said.
"Communicate? You mean, we can use that to speak to people?!" Mike's face lit up.
"Yeah?" The owner raised an eyebrow at the two. "Tell you what. How about i give you a scroll to try out. If you like it, you can buy it off of me for half price."
Nick took out a large wad of lien. "How much for four?"
The owner's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe how much lien this boy had on him. "That much!" He was given the large amount of lien, and in return gave the Bell brothers four scrolls. "With this much lien, i can close up shop and retire."
"Come on Nick. Let's try these scroll things out." Mike had a huge smile plastered across his face.
"Thank you." Nick bowed before leaving.
"No kid. Thank you!" As they were leaving, Nick stopped to look at something that caught his eye. A pair of wireless over the ear headphones.
"Hey. How much for these?" Nick lifted them up to show the owner.
"Kid. They're all yours."
"Thanks."
"Come on Nick! We got more sightseeing to do!" Mike yelled.
"Yeah!" Nick then left out of the store.
"Strange kids indeed. Must've been sheltered their whole lives." The owner muttered. "Now then. I think it's time to start planning my retirement."
I've been writing and rewriting this chapter so many times, that I just stopped writing(or typing) for a bit. Especially since I'm a "write as you go" type of person, I tend to lose my idea of how to write the story. Anyways, this chapter explains the beginning of the Bell brothers' training and how they were going to participate in Purgatory. And yes, due to never seeing technology before, they were very technologically inept. Another thing is that while they know the concept of money, they were very ignorant on how to spend it. Also I know one question that you migh be wondering. Why does Nick have a face mask? Let's just say, he's a fan of superheroes. Anyways, be on the lookout for the next chapter.