09
It was heaven. Everything turned to gold, everything.
So much power, so much wealth. Little did he realize,
It was actually a living
HELL
It was his second venture out. His pistol laid ready in his backpack, and Mitsuru found himself filled with a newfound determination. He had given his father an awkward goodbye, his father telling him to come back soon, which Mitsuru told him he would.
Despite his efforts to reconcile, it was still difficult. Sudden movements still made him flinch, much to his father's displeasure. They attempted to be a peaceful family, yet a fake air held them, making it awfully plastic. It wasn't real. Yet, Mitsuru knew these pains were the path to recovery, so he endured them, despite the annoyances they provided.
It was about noon, and Mitsuru had just eaten his lunch, when he had decided he would try again. Packing everything, he had left the house, and now he was walking down his neighborhood street, wearing a white hoodie along with black joggers, a lean fit finished with clean white sneakers. His hair was smoothly slicked back, and he walked with a strange confidence, ready to face the challenge that was the abandoned city.
He was sure he wouldn't have to be saved again. He had to prove himself, no matter what. If that meant coming face to face with death again, so be it. Mitsuru had to be something. The sound of a pleasant neighborhood surrounded him as he walked alongside the river, his hands casually depositing themselves into his pockets.
It was a nice ambience that made for an even better walk, and Mitsuru found himself oddly smiling, glancing down at the waterside, where ducks swam along with their families, mothers hoarding their ducklings to their side. The previous night it had snowed, surprisingly enough. It was strange for snow to come this early, despite it being in the middle of autumn. On the ground, remnants of the white precipitate spread itself around, melting in the sun's rays.
"Mitsuru?"
The boy in question glanced over to the voice, where Kokoro stood, wearing a simple long dark blue sleeveless jacket, white shirt underneath it with light blue jean shorts to finish her look. Mitsuru had to admit, she did look quite attractive in such attire, and he found himself looking away quickly to contain the rapidly rising fire that threatened to expose his face.
"H-Hi, Kokoro," Mitsuru murmured softly, his hand reaching nervously into his hair. Ever since they had met on that riverside at night, they had a few more interactions during school, usually ending up in these awkward moments of indecision by both. "Whatcha up to?"
"Oh, I was just going to take a nice walk since the weather is so beautiful," Kokoro said, her voice a precious tone that carried itself straight to Mitsuru's awaiting ears. "How about you?"
"I was…" Mitsuru trailed off, unsure if he should speak the truth here. However, he decided there would be no harm in it, deciding to speak again. "I was going to head off towards the more abandoned parts of the city, where the construction was unfinished."
His words drew a reaction from Kokoro, whose light blue eyes brimmed with alarm as she took a step towards Mitsuru.
"Isn't it… Really dangerous over there?" She asked, one eyebrow dipping with worry, an action that Mitsuru found strangely adorable.
"Yeah, but I don't know…" Mitsuru trailed off again, unsure of what he should tell her. "It's like… I know it's dangerous and I could get hurt, or even killed, but it's just..."
He finished his words with a shrug, realizing how stupid his words sounded. There was no way she would get him, with the idiocy that was so visible.
"Yeah, I get it," Kokoro said, to Mitsuru's surprise. "It's the feeling to… Be more than what you are, I guess. To go after things you aren't comfortable with, to find yourself."
Mitsuru remained silent, each word she said bringing even further surprise within him. Her startlingly deep words strung a chord within him, almost matching his own dreams exactly.
"Of course, I could be wrong, and you want to go for other reasons," Kokoro quickly said, blushing as she looked away, slightly embarrassed.
"No, no, you're completely right," Mitsuru said, his mouth slightly agape in awe. "That's actually exactly it."
"R-Really?" Kokoro stammered, turning her rich blue eyes back to Mitsuru, and he found a surprising softness in them, as if they were pulling him in, like a riptide in an ocean. "I kind of feel the same way too…"
A comfortable silence fell on them, something that Mitsuru found strangely pleasurable. Silences between the duo were usually highly awkward, yet the words they both spoke to each other brought about a comfortability that Mitsuru greatly appreciated.
"Well, it's because of all that," Kokoro began, walking closer to Mitsuru's side before standing right beside him. "I've decided I'm going with you too!"
"E-Eh?!" Mitsuru exclaimed, jumping away from her as he shook his hands at her. "N-No way! You can't, it's way too dangerous!"
"Oh yeah? So what if it's dangerous? You're going, right?" Her eyes flashed dangerously as she crossed her arms.
"Well, yeah, but I can't guarantee your safety too!" He explained, shaking his head wildly. No, she could absolutely not go with him. Mitsuru had almost died last time, there was no way he would put Kokoro in that risk too!
"So? You think I need you to keep me safe?" Kokoro challenged, huffing as she turned her head defiantly away from him. "Either you take me, or I go by myself anyways."
Mitsuru found his jaw slamming wide open as she dropped the ultimatum on him, and he knew it was easily leaning to one answer. Sighing, he pushed his hair back further, looking to the blank sky for support.
"Fine," He said, giving in as Kokoro flashed a bright smile. "But, as soon as things get dangerous, we're turning back around and I'm taking you home."
"Alright, that's fine," Kokoro grinned, bounding over to his side excitedly. Mitsuru found himself smiling despite the situation, and he shook his head slightly. But, strangely enough, his heart found itself warming up to her, glad for her presence, and he began to walk, Kokoro to his side.
Zero Two. The thought popped into his head, and just like that, he was floating. Hiro blinked, his mind a peaceful blank slate as he floated along. Turning his head around, his movements were sluggish, and he quickly realized why. All around him was the deep dark ocean, a perfect hue of blue that held him in place, allowing him to slowly descend downwards into its endless depths.
Even though he could feel the urgency in his thoughts, he felt strangely at peace. It was like all his issues seemed to dissipate, dissolving in the ocean as he was allowed his freedom. The thought of the pink-haired beauty slowly slipped away from his mind, until there was nothing, just him and the endless expanse.
It took quite a while before another question popped into his vacant mind, arriving with a thud as it suddenly asked why he should even care for the pink-haired beauty. Hiro frowned as he considered it, unsure of his answer. Zero Two? Who was she to him anyways? Hadn't he met her just less than a month ago anyways?
Something suddenly pulled at his heart, and he was suddenly hit with the memory of a night sky stretching itself before him, its starry showcase shining down before a girl, who sat atop a rooftop. Her pink hair flowed slightly in the wind, and he felt a pang in his heart. She was lonely.
Zero Two. She was lonely.
…
It didn't make sense though. She was a gang member, she was dangerous. Why did she need someone like Hiro, someone who couldn't even find himself? Hiro was just… useless now. Ever since the accident, he had been a blank shell of his former self, addicted to the guilt that racked his body. The dream that his parents were still out there, alive. He… He missed them. And because of that, he was selfish. He stopped caring for others, despite the character he had built up for himself for all those years.
Zorome, Futoshi, Miku, Kokoro, Goro, Ichigo. All those were his friends, people that cared so deeply for him. People that he had once considered his closest friends. And yet, right now, he had never felt so far away from them. Pangs of regret flooded his body as he came to the realization. But it was how he was now. He was selfish.
But… He had still walked forwards that night, despite all that told him it was a mistake. He had walked forwards to the girl that sat alone atop that night sky, waiting for someone to reach her, for anyone. And Hiro had been the one to walk forwards.
Another scene flashed before his eyes as the night sky was ripped away from him, leaving him in his room, a girl peacefully laying on his lap, a thoughtful but guarded look in her alluring green eyes. Her mouth open, and soundless words entered the air, dancing in the atmosphere. Hiro couldn't hear them, but he knew exactly what those words were, and they echoed in his head.
Zero Two. He had asked her to run with him, and he remembered the worry in those sparkling emerald eyes as they gazed at him, her soft hand against his cheek. Why had he asked her to run with him? He had felt trapped. He was so close to something, and every answer seemed to be on the tip of his fingers, in touching distance. Yet he was so far at the same time. Something needed to change, he had been stagnant for the last three years, as if waiting for the opportunity, waiting for something.
He had wanted to run for so long. But he was scared. Something in him had changed, the presence of Zero Two pushed something in him that he hadn't felt in so long. Hope. Motivation. And in the rush of emotion he had asked her to run. Anywhere, really. He was desperate for answers, and he knew he would go even if she said no.
But he stayed. Those green orbs seemed to pull him back down to the ground, the pure emotion that vibrated in her eyes. It anchored him, and he felt the overwhelming sensation to stay just for her. He had to fight for her, to help her out of her own situation. His walls slowly began to crack.
She was his lifeline now. He woke up every morning, his mind stuck on her. He went to sleep every night, his mind glued on those beautiful features of hers. The way she was so easily able to make him smile, to make him comfortable, despite her overly flirtatious words that made his face an active volcano. Her existence gave him motivation to continue his own journey, and he went searching for answers even further, a quest he had stalled to complete.
Those comforting words that she said, the simple texts she sent his way that oozed with personality, a bubbly one that he fondly read with a smile, the openness that she displayed that Hiro was sure wasn't easily observable to just anyone. The way she expressed her affection for him by playing with him, tantalizingly brushing her lips against his, a teasing glint in her eyes as she strived for his complete and utter attention, the way she moved herself near him, as if she craved the way his eyes followed her. The way she touched him, pressing her tongue against him, as if he was a tasty morsel underneath those deadly canines.
The way she latched her nails right into him, digging for his veins as she held him against the wall, Hiro a mixture of physical and mental pain as he struggled. The red hue in her eyes as she brushed her teeth on his lips, the utter nonchalance at the way his forearms bled right under her.
And the doubt rushed into his head again, a darkness flooding him as he was locked by the image of her right on top of him, the absolute wildish gaze she had in her eyes as she played with him. She had hurt him, right?
…
Another image fleeted its way into his mind, a torch that scattered the darkness away as it made its way to the front of Hiro's psyche. The image of Zero Two backed against the opposite wall, her arms uselessly hung to her side as she stood there, her mouth agape slightly as her eyes tuned back down to its beautiful green. Regret oozed off her figure, and the sobs that racked her body physically pained Hiro to see. If he had the strength, he would have reached over to her, to tell her it wasn't her fault.
The way she couldn't finish her words, instead choking on them as everything in her seemed to break all at once. The tears that strolled down her perfectly white cheeks, staining them as they fell to the floor, splashing at it soundlessly. She had run, a blur in the night as she left Hiro in the alley.
Another ripple spread throughout Hiro's heart, and he was able to accept the final conclusion to the internal question. It was obvious at this point. He cared for her. But it was more than that. It was in a manner that he had never felt before, a constricting feeling around his heart that threatened to wrap around his very life as he considered the way she had run away, and the desperate feeling that rose inside of him as he wanted to chase after her, despite the torturous waves of agony that had took over his brain.
He had to wake up. He had to find her.
Heat. It was getting hotter. It was spreading throughout him, a fire that yearned for release. He struggled against the pressure of the water, enraged as it kept holding him back. He had to get out.
For her.
A part of his mind realized it was a futile attempt, to fight against the very ocean itself. Yet he kept trying, his punches uselessly hitting the empty sea as he kept thrusting every limb, as if a childish boy on a tantrum. Even as his muscles ached, whining their pains, he kept going, until he was left breathless, out of power.
He couldn't keep going, he had to stop. It was hurting now. It was time to rest, was it not? After all, the water around him seemed to lightly grasp around him, a soothing hold as it attempted to calm Hiro, and he could feel himself drowning in its efforts, his eyelids slowly closing.
One last image made its way forwards, weaving through the harmony of the ocean as it plastered itself right against Hiro.
The silhouette that had appeared out of nowhere, giving him light in the complete darkness that threatened to eat away at his very life. The hand that stuck out at him, the creamy skin of a child that seemed to emanate with hope. The large oak that stood right behind, its branches looming around him. And it all just clicked. The branches no longer pulsed with a malignant purpose. Hiro had been looking at it all wrong. The branches were protecting him, a hope that held him rooted to the ground.
Hiro was never the spectator of the tree. It was the other way around. The tree had been watching Hiro.
"Save me."
The silhouette's final words, fading away as she spoke her last breaths, a call of distress. He felt a pang in his mind, a clear call that shook away all the melodies that the ocean attempted to sing to him. There was more to this story than he thought.
A new energy flowed throughout him, however, it wasn't fiery, like the anger that had previously controlled him. It was electrifying, and every nerve in snapped to its proper position, calling to attention as it recognized the surge that rushed through him.
He wasn't sure what it was yet, but he certainly could feel its effects. He had to wake up, to find out everything. To find out what exactly these flashes were, if they were his memories or something else. He had to find that silhouette, the one that asked for his help. He had to find the answers to his parents, no matter what opposed him. But most important of them all…
He had to find Zero Two. He had to help her.
Power burst from his fists as he straightened himself, and he heard everything shatter around him, the calming ocean falling within itself as it dissipated, leaving him in darkness. But not the cold darkness that had previously attacked him. No, this one was a warm dark that held him, embraced him. It agreed with the passion that ran through him, empowering him even further.
"Hiro?"
A voice echoed throughout the open space, and Hiro snapped his eyes to it, and he was blasted by a blinding light that cascaded itself right into his eyes, and he winced at its sudden impact, covering his eyes with his forearms.
"Yeah, Mitsuru?"
His own voice resonated, and Hiro peeked his eyes open as he found himself a witness to another scene playing before him. He was in a playground, and the summer sun shone brightly down upon them. Hiro sat on a bench, casually flipping a woodchip in his hands as a cautious Mitsuru sat next to him, uncertainty vibrant in those green eyes.
They were young, and if Hiro were to throw out a wild guess, he would say they were around seven.
"I… Uhm… I wanted to… I need help, I think," Mitsuru trailed off, his eyes turning to look at the ground as the boy sheepishly moved his hand through his hair, and the younger version of Hiro paused, tossing the woodchip back onto the ground as he turned to the boy.
"Alright, tell me what I can do. I'm always here for you, Mitsuru," Hiro said, a kind smile atop his face as he looked at one of his closest friends, who turned to look back into Hiro's comforting eyes.
"Alright, well," Mitsuru began, slightly stumbling on his words. "I-I want to be… I need to learn how to be a hero, like you."
"Like me?" Hiro echoed his words, a playful smile reaching his lips. "Mitsuru, I'm no hero. Besides, why do you want to be a hero anyways?"
"It's just…" Mitsuru pursed his lips, pausing before he continued. "I want to be strong, because…because…"
Hiro's heart froze, and pain found its way back into his mind, pushing through his skull as it pulsed away, blocking any mental action form happening. He knew what would happen next. His heart swayed, and he heard the words echo in his head before Mitsuru even spoke. All his power fell away, leaving him a cold shell as the words rang out in his head.
"My dad… He…"
…
"He hits me."
"Wow, look at all the snow!" Kokoro exclaimed as she twirled around, admiration vibrant in her eyes as they locked onto the bounds of sleet that had fallen to the ground, still largely intact. Mitsuru couldn't help but share the sentiment, as the snow had mostly melted in the active part of the city. Yet, as they explored deeper into the abandoned districts, the snow was more compact, and it was a pleasant sight to see.
"I wonder why it hasn't melted at all over here?" Mitsuru pondered out loud, bending down to feel the snow softly spread through his hands, a cold feeling that lead to a slight shiver in the teenage boy. Standing back up, he amusedly watched Kokoro pick up the remnants of last night's sudden weather change, examining it closely as wonder expressed itself through her blue eyes in a child-like way.
Her eyes glanced over to his, widening as she seemed to realize the attention she had garnered as a splash of pink sprayed itself on her clear cheeks. She immediately stood, wiping her hands on her thighs as she coughed slightly, turning her head away from his.
"Ahem," She said, her voice wavering slightly as she spoke. "A-Anyways, let's keep going."
"You sure? You seemed to be enjoying yourself there," Mitsuru slightly teased at her, walking over to her side as his words seemed to incite an even further blush.
"It-It's fine. There's plenty of snow elsewhere too," She gave him a half smile as she began to walk forwards, further into the abandoned city. "Let's just keep going."
Mitsuru walked alongside her, and the two found themselves enjoying the scenes that displayed themselves before the duo. It was a rustic feeling, seeing the city stretch itself out as the two explored, finding little details that they previously would never have noticed. Abandoned pipelines expanded across the buildings, and soon they found themselves in a little city circle of sorts, a central area with a small park in the middle.
"Wow, I can't believe this was abandoned," Kokoro whispered, her voice fitting the complete silence that had encompassed the two. Mitsuru merely nodded, taking in the view. The small park was overgrown, given its vacant surroundings. A single large tree, an oak, stretched itself outwards, its broad branches surrounding the small park. On the ground, snow fell perfectly in place, giving it a wonderfully Christmas-like feel that pushed warm emotions onto Mitsuru.
Kokoro bounded forwards, excitement clear in her steps as Mitsuru slowly walked after her, his hands snug in his hoodie pocket as he admired the ambience. However, the abrupt stop of Kokoro's walk snapped Mitsuru back to attention, and he immediately whipped his hand to his backpack, ready to draw his gun if needed.
"I-Is that…" Kokoro's voice was small, shaking, and her finger outstretched to indicate something. Mitsuru followed the pointing, his eyes widening slightly as he saw. There was a body slumped on the floor, unmoving as snow covered most of it. It was face down, and Mitsuru could make out black hair.
He caught up to Kokoro quickly, extending his arm to hold her back as he slowly walked up, on his guard. He wasn't sure if the boy was dead or alive, but he had to ensure Kokoro would be safe. The boy's features were slowly getting more defined as Mitsuru crept closer, keeping his caution close. There were pools of blood around the boy's forearms that stained the white snow with a horrid dark color, and he frowned slightly as the boy's figure became more recognizable. It was slightly familiar.
He finally got to the boy, kneeling down to inspect him. Kokoro stood a few steps away, watching Mitsuru. He felt at his back, and its rising and falling indicated that he was still alive at least. Gently, Mitsuru turned the boy around, flipping him onto his back so Mitsuru could get a good look at his face.
Immediately Mitsuru fell back, landing on his rear as shock filled him, spreading down his veins as he gasped, the sight before him leaving him wordless.
"H-Hiro?!" He heard Kokoro shout behind him, and the flurrying steps of her feet hitting the snow, and she found herself immediately kneeled before the boy, shaking him. "Hiro!"
Mitsuru could only watch weakly, his mind in a state of disarray as he considered the situation. Why was Hiro here? To see the boy in such a state, fainted to the ground with blood pooled to his side. It would be a disgusting image had it been anyone else, but… It was Hiro.
Conflict arose within him as he debated over the topic, unsure of what to do. He felt a slight bit of satisfaction come over him, a feeling that he despised as he watched the helpless teen. He shouldn't feel this way, especially due to his grudge over Hiro being largely childish. But still, Mitsuru couldn't help but feel it, despite the sadism it suggested.
"Mitsuru," A voice called out to him, snapping him out of his thoughts as he looked over at Kokoro, her blue eyes wielding a desperate plea in them as she spoke. "Help me, please."
And just like that, everything snapped back into place for him. What was he doing? Regardless of his relationship with Hiro, Mitsuru couldn't just sit here and watch with glee. He immediately went to her side, examining the boy.
"I think we'll have to carry him back," Mitsuru said, as their efforts to wake him up ended futilely. It was an ugly prospect, given how far they had walked so far.
"I'll call Ichigo and Goro," Kokoro began, but was suddenly interrupted by a harsh coughing noise that burst open the air, causing the duo to turn to Hiro, the one who had emitted the noise. "Hiro?!"
The boy in question coughed again, and his eyes fluttered open, a warm blue that stared confusedly at the world around him, glancing with unease at both Kokoro and Mitsuru.
"K-Kokoro? Mitsuru?" Hiro spoke, his voice hoarse as he was sent into another coughing fit, and Mitsuru went over and placed his hand supportively on his back, lifting him up gently into a sitting position. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We should be asking that to you!" Kokoro's eyes flashed as she looked at Hiro. "Why were you out here, alone and… and…"
"And almost dead?" Hiro smiled slightly as he spoke, inciting a scowl from Kokoro. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."
"Fine? Hiro, you look like a ghost!" Her voice was shrill, and she quickly got her phone out. "I'm calling Goro and Ichigo."
Hiro frowned at her words, but nodded slightly, as if accepting her proposal. His blue eyes wandered over to Mitsuru, and the sudden attention caused Mitsuru to look away, keeping his eyes locked to the floor.
"M-Mitsuru," Hiro's voice was soft, and Mitsuru froze as he spoke his name. "I'm…I'm sorry."
Frost froze over his nerves, keeping him locked in place as Mitsuru heard the words. He's sorry?
"Shut up, Hiro, just rest," Mitsuru mustered out as he felt the ice melt over, replaced with a burning anger. How could Hiro even say something like that? Who did he think he was?
"All those years ago, I-I forgot. I'm sorry, Mitsuru," Hiro repeated himself, his hand coming to Mitsuru's shoulder, the contact pushing Mitsuru to look at Hiro. His blue eyes shone, regret pouring out of them, and it was sincere. Sincere sorrow.
"Stop it, Hiro," Mitsuru's voice was a whisper, a desperate plea for Hiro to heed to. Yet the boy continued, his mouth opening as he continued to pour his words out.
"I should never have forgotten. It's my fault, Mitsuru, and I'm sorry."
Those damn words kept coming, words that Mitsuru didn't want to hear. He couldn't. Hiro couldn't be sorry, he couldn't take back what he said. It would mean…
"Shut up Hiro!" Mitsuru roared as he forced his way up, backing up from the boy who stared back. "You… Just… You can't say sorry… Because it would…"
He was choking on his words, unable to convey anything. Kokoro went to his side, her phone call finished as she came close, her hand comfortingly finding its way atop his, a soothing sensation. Yet the anger flowed through him, but not directed at Hiro. No, it was never directed at Hiro. It never was.
Hiro stood up, his legs shaking as he nearly toppled over, catching himself before standing straight, his blue eyes wavering like a wave on the ocean shore.
"I'm sorry, Mitsuru."
It all broke. Mitsuru could feel the tears falling down his face, splashing against the melting snow below them. Hiro couldn't say that. He couldn't say he was sorry. Because it meant… Those words flashed back into his mind, the words that Hiro had said all those years ago.
"Why do you want to be a hero?"
The hatred roared inside of him, fueling the heaving of his breaths. But it wasn't directed at Hiro. None of it ever was. It was what Hiro's words had made him realize that had gotten to Mitsuru all those years ago. He had desperately tried to target his anger, his pure loathing towards Hiro, but it had all been a farce.
It was those words that had made Mitsuru realize what he truly was. Worthless. Useless. Weak. Forgettable. Just a piece of trash on the side of the road, never able to experience the grandeurs the world offered. He had never hated Hiro.
No.
It was always this way. It was the reason why he was so desperate to prove himself, not to anyone else but himself. He had to prove himself wrong, to find something to replace the empty void in his heart that threatened to expand and take everything with it. It had always been this way, since all those years ago.
He hated himself.
"What happened Hiro?" Ichigo demanded, her green eyes building a storm in themselves as she sat at Hiro's bedside along with all their other friends. They were currently at Ichigo's house, all huddled up in her room.
The boy in question seemed hesitant, his blue orbs evading hers as he instead inspected every other aspect the room had to offer before finally answering.
"I… I don't want to really talk about it," Hiro trailed off, giving a sheepish half-smile, one that nearly everyone in the room returned with a scowl. Ichigo could feel her blood boiling, and she made sure her eyes glared with a fire as she spoke again.
"Hiro. Tell us," She emphasized each word, a threat hidden in the undertone of each vowel.
Hiro wrung his wrist with his other hand, a nervous tic that Ichigo was very aware of. Hesitation seemed to fill his eyes, flickering from each person that was currently in the room.
"You're never going to tell us anything, are you?" A voice suddenly spoke out, breaking the silence that held them as Ichigo turned to recognize him. Zorome held a nonchalance in his eyes, yet there was a deep bitterness that seemed to stretch past his words as he looked at Hiro.
"Zorome," Miku spoke, placing her hand on his arm as if to silence him. Instead, Zorome shook her hand off, opening his mouth to continue.
"No. Not this time. We've waited for how long now? Three years. It's been three long years where we've waited Hiro," Zorome was letting everything out now, expressing all his thoughts he'd kept hidden. "For what? I don't even know anymore. It's been clear that you're never going to be the Hiro we knew, so I don't know why we wait anymore. I, for one, am done with this all."
With that, the fiery boy turned, heading straight for the door, resentment radiating off him. No one moved to stop him, and Zorome left, leaving the room in a quiet state. Ichigo couldn't help but relate to his words, the resentment behind it a feeling she often felt as well.
Hiro leaned back into the bed, unresponsive. Ichigo bit her lip slightly, unsure of how to proceed. On one hand, she found herself on the same boat as that of Zorome, hopeless. Yet, she knew she had to be there for Hiro, no matter how useless it felt at times.
Ichigo felt eyes watching her, and she turned to them, where Goro stood. He looked at her with a solid stare, and the way it flickered from the door to her made it clear that he wanted them to leave Hiro to talk outside. Why he wanted to, she wasn't sure yet, but the awkward atmosphere made it a tempting decision.
"Hey, Hiro?" Ichigo spoke slowly, trying to catch the boy's attention. Hiro nodded, acknowledging her. "Uhm, we're going to go outside and give you some time to rest. We'll be back in a bit, and if you're able then, just tell us what's going on, please. We're all your friends here, and we want to know because we care about you."
Another nod, one that Ichigo wanted to sigh at. It seemed her words had been barely processed, and it incited a resentful mood inside of her. Despite that, she went towards the door, motioning for the others to follow her.
Once outside the bedroom, Ichigo and the others made their ways downstairs, where Zorome sat on the couch, loitering away on his phone. The house was empty besides them, given that her parents were at work.
"Why'd you have to go and screw up everything like usual?" Miku began, her voice slightly irritated as she sat down next to Zorome, who scowled at her words.
"I was just saying what we were all thinking," Zorome said, looking at all the others. "I was just the only one brave enough to say it."
"He has a point," Goro sighed, pushing his glasses further up his face as he sat on top of the backside of the couch. "It's been hard trying to reach out to Hiro these past few years, and he doesn't seem willing to reach out to us either."
"Yeah, but we still have to be there for him," Ichigo began before being cut off by Zorome.
"Why? Who says we have to?" Zorome's voice was sharp as he spoke, bitterness clearly represented in it. "He hasn't cared about us for a long time now, so why do we have to care about him?"
"You're wrong," A voice spoke up, one that had been silent most of the time. Futoshi looked up at Zorome, who gawked at him in return. "Hiro does still care about us."
"Yeah? And why do you think that, huh?" Zorome's eyes narrowed at Futoshi, who quickly replied in return.
"I just know," Futoshi seemed to consider his words before continuing. "I think he's slowly returning to himself. Don't you guys see it? The way his eyes light up a bit more than usual, I think he's coming back to us. It's a process, it won't happen immediately, but it's happening."
Zorome clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth as he leaned back against the couch, puffing out one cheek as he sighed.
"Yeah, but it doesn't mean it's not fucking frustrating seeing him like that," Zorome murmured, emphasizing the curse. He stretched his arms outwards as he leaned back to look at Ichigo. "Speaking of which, I know you two know what's going on somewhat too."
He pointed at Goro and Ichigo as he spoke, an accusatory finger being raised. Ichigo quickly exchanged glances with Goro before speaking up.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo evaded Zorome's question, unsure of how to exactly answer given how elusive finding information had been thus far.
"Don't think I don't see you and Goro whispering all the time, talking about stuff," Zorome grumbled, crossing his arms as he raised an eyebrow.
"For once, I'm going to have to agree with Zorome here," Miku said, earning a loud "See! I told you!" from Zorome.
"You're right," Goro said, nodding his head as he sent a questioning look towards Ichigo. She hesitated, before realizing that if she were to refuse to give them the tidbits that they had gathered, she might as well label herself a hypocrite. She gave Goro the approving nod for him to continue. "We haven't learned much, to be fair, but we have our own theories."
"Ever since Hiro's parents died, Hiro's been acting… strange," Ichigo began, and the rest of the room agreed with her, giving stern nods. "It's pretty easy to say that Hiro's been sad all this time because of that."
"Yeah, but we all knew that," Futoshi pointed out. "I think Hiro's just been trying to cope all this time without his parents."
"Yes, I agree with that, but there's more to it," Ichigo paused, taking a second to collect her words before speaking again. "Hiro and I talked, after the funeral. Hiro thinks… He thinks that his parents' deaths weren't natural, and there's some nefarious plot behind it or something."
The room took a collective blink before Zorome spoke up to voice his own thoughts.
"Okay, but isn't that just… a coping method or something? He doesn't still believe that, right?" Zorome's voice slowly trailed off, processing the information given. He finally stopped, as if realizing that perhaps Hiro still did believe that.
"I don't know," Ichigo said strongly, before voicing over to another topic. "That's why I wanted to talk to Hiro about that. But there's still more. You guys remember when he got injured during that one summer when we were seven, right?"
Nods were spread around the room as each recalled the event.
"Well, we were never told why it happened. At least, you guys weren't. Goro and I have done some digging around lately because…" Ichigo stopped, pursing her lips as she tried to find the right words to say. "There's this girl that's begun to show up around Hiro. She calls herself Zero Two, and we're pretty sure that she's a part of a gang."
Silence held the room, each person garnering a different face to express their reaction as Miku opened her mouth.
"Okay wait. Hold up," Miku shook her head, holding her hands up. "Why… Who's Zero Two, why do you think she's a part of a gang, why is she around Hiro, and what does she have to do with his accident in the past?"
The barrage of questions left Ichigo speechless, as she tried to consider all the loaded queries. Thankfully, Goro decided to answer these as he spoke up, straightening.
"We don't know who Zero Two exactly is. We think she's a part of a gang because back in the past, Hiro's coma happened because he was kidnapped by a gang," Goro said, his words earning a laugh from Zorome. Everyone looked at him strangely until he stopped, jaw slightly agape as he turned to Goro.
"Wait, you're serious?"
Goro nodded, his glasses flashing as he turned to consider the seated boy.
"It's what Ichigo found out from her father. And it adds up. I asked my own dad about it, and he told me things. He said he thinks that Hiro's parents were a part of a gang as well," Goro said slowly, and this time Kokoro spoke up to respond.
"Hiro's parents? But… They were so nice and… They definitely didn't seem like they were a part of a gang," Kokoro's voice was small, as if everything she had known had just been challenged. Ichigo turned to look at her, starting slightly as she saw the boy next to her. Mitsuru.
In the chaos that Hiro had brought, she hadn't even realized Mitsuru was a part of it, which she considered strange. Once a close part of their group, he just left one day, though it had been a long time ago given their respective ages now. So, his presence here definitely wasn't expected.
"I know. My dad said they're not really gangs, but more like a mafia. A crime syndicate."
Everyone stopped, thoughts flying through the air as they attempted to breathe in all of it.
"This doesn't make sense. Like, at all," Zorome murmured, moving his hand through his hair.
"Yeah, that's what I thought at first too," Goro responded sympathetically, a small chuckle releasing itself from his lips. "It all sounds crazy, but it kind of adds up."
"Really? Because it still isn't adding up for me," Miku said, frowning as she leaned further into the couch as if giving up.
"Alright, well, you guys remember Project Apus? The thing that ended just before most of us were born?" Goro asked, receiving collective nods. "Well, it got cancelled because of rampant gang activity in the area. My dad would know. Apparently, the gangs were mostly two, called the Franxx and the Klax."
"Okay. So, you're saying that there's two gangs. These two gangs fought or something, and it caused Project Apus to stop. Hiro's parents were a part of one of them. So why did Hiro get kidnapped?" Zorome summarized, ending with a question. His tone held a sarcastic undertone, indicating that he still didn't believe everything that had been said so far.
"My dad said Hiro's parents were a part of the Klax. The ones that kidnapped him were supposedly a part of the Franxx," Goro responded.
"Okay. So, Hiro gets in a coma because he gets kidnapped by this rival gang. Alright. What does this Zero Two girl have to do with this?" Zorome returned with another question, one that Ichigo decided she would answer this time.
"When Hiro was still in his coma, he would occasionally wake up in extremely short intervals. In one of those, Hiro told me to remember one name: Zero Two," Ichigo began, adjusting her bangs as she spoke. "I asked Hiro's parents about it, and they told me to never tell him that name, because she was dangerous. And if she came, we had to protect Hiro."
"Huh," Was all Zorome could muster at this point, his dark eyes meddled with clouds.
"So, if this were all true, then that means Hiro's in danger," Kokoro said softly, and Ichigo nodded, confirming her worries.
"Yeah. That's why Goro and I have been trying to find things out, so we can figure out what exactly is going on," She said.
"Well, that's enough for me then," Zorome suddenly spoke up, standing. Ichigo cast him a wary glance, ready for another indignant reply about how this made no sense. "I guess it's up to us to protect Hiro then."
Ichigo blinked at the boy, surprised at his answer, and even Goro chimed in, slightly amused as he spoke.
"Weren't you the one that burst out at him earlier?"
"Hey! Just because… I blew up on him because I cared about him, not because I hated him," Zorome shot back, his voice trailing off slightly towards the end before he continued. "I don't know how much of this is true, or what it all means, or really anything at this point. All I know is Hiro might be in danger, and even with him being weird all the time now, he's still one of my closest friends. I can't abandon him now."
His cheeks slightly turned pink at his emotional speech, but Zorome stood his ground, his eyes scanning the room, daring anyone to challenge him. Instead, Ichigo gave him a respectful nod, something that she had never felt for the boy.
"You're right, Zorome. It is up to us to protect him," Ichigo gave him a warm smile, and Miku sighed, playing with her hair slightly as she gave an approving nod.
"I guess we should go confront Hiro now, see what really happened to him," Goro said, and everyone nodded in response. It was time. Ichigo felt her blood pump with a determination as she made her way upstairs, knocking on her own door as she told Hiro they were all coming in.
She twisted the doorknob, the door slowly creaking open as they entered. The window was wide open, wind streaming into the room as sunlight glared at them. That wasn't what caught Ichigo's eye though.
Instead, it was the empty bed that lay before them, the sheets moved to the side. Hiro was nowhere to be seen.
It was nice weather that accompanied Hiro on his way to the cemetery. The sun shone brightly, a nice face in the sky that seemed to form a pleasant atmosphere that anyone would grow to appreciate. The rays fell down on the floor nicely, providing a perfect avenue for anything but the activity he was currently partaking on.
The path to it was starkly seared into his memory, although he had only been there once, for the actual burial process. He hadn't been able to return, for a variety of reasons. But he felt he had to know, just this one time. After all the grievances he had committed to his friends, Zero Two, to everyone really, he was left feeling… Empty.
It was a hole inside him that had suddenly opened, steadily expanding as he realized what he had done. The way he cast aside his friends in his sorrowful state, a desperate search for answers so that he could find reason in his blank world. He felt pangs of regret pool throughout him, but he knew it wasn't over yet. He had to tell his friends, to share with them, they deserved it. But not yet.
He entered the cemetery. Bluebonnet Hills. It was a nice location, filled with plots of grass and trees, monuments that made it a beautiful area, despite it being a graveyard. He knew the exact path to his parents' stones, and his feet took him there instinctively.
It had been dawning on him for a while, but everything was slowly beginning to click together, like jigsaw pieces coming together. His coma when he had been young wasn't just an accident that had been a part of his life. No, there was something more to it. He wasn't sure yet, but he had to find out.
Hiro had forgotten things because of it. Namely: Mitsuru. Not all his lost memories had returned, but at least that one had. He still felt like throwing up when he thought about it, the way Mitsuru expressed his deepest insecurities to him, a serious issue that Hiro had been determined to help with. Instead, he had forgotten.
It was a painful memory, but that wasn't all. These flashes of strange occurrences weren't just coincidence. Those words that etched into his brain, burning its way to the front of his mind. Those were from the book, from the library. Hiro wasn't sure what its importance to him was, but it clearly was triggering repressed memories.
He had to figure that one out too. And then there was the case of the silhouetted girl, the one that needed his help. He wasn't sure what part she played in all this either, but that was just another aspect to this mystery that he hadn't even uncovered yet. He still wasn't sure who she even was, but he had to find out.
His parents' deaths was another one. He had made some progress in it all, but he still had so much left unanswered, and Hiro felt he was on the verge of a major discovery. He just had to figure it all out first.
And then, to top it all off, there was Zero Two. She had her own circumstances that Hiro had to help with, and the strange connection that bonded him to her was tighter than anything he had ever felt in his life. He was drawn to her, and he knew he had to find her, to make everything right again.
And just as he considered all these things, he found himself before the one place that he had always been scared to visit.
Their plaques were pushed into the ground, a smooth marble-like material that had words etched into them. Hiro went to his knees cautiously, swiping away at the small stains of dirt that sat atop his parents' headstones.
"Hey guys," Hiro whispered, all his thoughts coming to a close as he sat next to his parents. He fondly put his hand over their names, smiling as he remembered them. "I'm sorry I haven't visited, like, at all. It's just been… A busy couple of years, I guess."
He ended his words with a slight chuckle, his body tightening as he could feel the tears threatening to fall. He hastily wiped at his eyes, shaking his head as he opened his mouth to speak again.
"I've missed you guys, and maybe you guys miss me too. I've been living, thought probably not in the way you'd like me to," Hiro looked towards the sky, where gentle clouds walked across the sky, playfully chasing each other. "It's just been hard."
A peaceful breeze ran its way through the air, ruffling Hiro's hair as he felt the tears begin to drop, rolling down his cheek. He haphazardly rubbed at them.
"I know you guys are dead," Hiro finally stated, an obvious statement with heavy emotion stapled throughout its words. "It's been a long time coming. I mean, it's been three years, right? I think I've finally accepted it. I'm here alone now, and you guys aren't coming back."
Hiro's chest heaved, and his stomach twisted uncomfortably as sobs racked his figure. Hiro brought his knees closer to his chest, his hand still resting atop his mother's headstone.
"But that still won't stop me. You told me to be brave, even if that was some dream," Hiro murmured, recalling to the strange experience that had plagued his mind ever since he had been to Dr Frank's office. "I'm going to keep going. I'll figure all this out, even if it leads me to dangerous places. I have to."
Birds chirped away, fluttering their wings as they soared overhead, and Hiro watched as a single feather floated its way down, landing a few feet away as it rested on the ground, abandoned.
"I've met someone. Her name is Zero Two. I don't think you guys would like her, she's kind of dangerous and stuff," Hiro smiled, his eyes still locked to the red feather that fell to a standstill. "But if you get to know her, she's not that dangerous. No, she's caring, funny, beautiful, fun, and so much more. I don't think she likes me much anymore, but I still have to find her. There's something about her that just pulls me in. And it's not her fault that she's in a gang or anything."
Hiro paused for a second, before turning back to look at his parents' graves.
"Oh yeah, another detail. She's a part of a gang. It's not her fault though. We're trying to get her out, even if we haven't done much in that regard. But she's a great person, even if she was born into shitty circumstances," Hiro stopped, opening and closing his mouth as he tried to process the words he wanted to say. "She makes me feel… Alive. A way I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe it's because I've been so lonely lately or something, but I really care for her. I really do."
Hiro closed his eyes as he let his emotions consume him, and he finally felt something arise from his stomach, a peaceful feeling. It bloomed throughout him like a flower, expanding its petals as it spread throughout his body.
"I'm going to figure everything out. I'm glad I got to talk to you guys like this. I miss you, mom and dad. I love you guys, forever and forevermore," His words came to a close as he heard footsteps behind him, cracking down on the various autumn leaves that had scattered themselves onto the ground.
"Your friends are looking for you," A voice said, causing Hiro to turn around. Mitsuru stood behind Hiro; his eyes averted from Hiro's as he spoke.
"Yeah, I figured that would happen," Hiro smiled softly as he stood up, dusting at his jeans and wiping at any watery residue on his face.
"Your parents, I'm guessing?" Mitsuru asked, and Hiro gave a simple nod. "My mom was buried here too."
Hiro paused, eyebrows furrowing slightly as he processed the words. His mom? When had Mitsuru's mother died? Hiro felt a pang of guilt as he realized he had never even known his mom had passed. He was taken out of his thoughts by the sudden movement of Mitsuru, who began to walk past Hiro. The teen followed, a peaceful silence holding the two.
"Right here," Mitsuru softly murmured, gently dropping to a crouch as he looked down upon his mother's headstone. Hiro stood close by, his heart wrenching as he saw Mitsuru fondly touch at his mother's grave. "Cancer. It was pretty quick though, all things considered."
"That's… I'm sorry, Mitsuru," Was all Hiro could muster out, and Mitsuru quickly shook his head.
"It's fine, Hiro. It's already happened. All we can do is move on," Mitsuru said, his emotions pouring out of him as he finally turned to look at Hiro. Hiro flinched at the strong force radiating off of his green eyes. "Look, about what happened earlier, back at that park."
"I'm sorry. I-" Hiro began, before being abruptly cut off by Mitsuru.
"Stop it," He hissed, shutting Hiro up as Mitsuru took a deep breath, looking to the sky for support before continuing. "I get it. That coma you had when you were seven, it must have messed with your memories or something, right."
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Hiro asked, nodding.
"The others were talking about it," Mitsuru said offhandedly.
"It's still no excuse for forgetting though," Hiro said softly, shaking his head again as he opened his mouth. "I'm still sorry, Mitsuru. I should never have forgotten, especially something as important as that."
"It's alright Hiro, really. What's done is done," Mitsuru softly spoke, his eyes glowing with sincerity. "If anything, I should be sorry."
"Don't say that. You, of all people, shouldn't be sorry," Hiro objected, frowning at his statement.
"I was never mad at you, Hiro," Mitsuru continued, as if ignoring what Hiro had said. "I realize that now. Hiro, I… I've always looked up to you, though I suppose that's pretty obvious given that everyone looked up to you. Your words back then, they hurt me because they made me realize how utterly useless I was."
"Don't say that," Hiro tried to speak again, but once again, Mitsuru cut him off.
"Let me finish first. I never hated you. I hated myself. I hated myself for being weak, for being worthless, for being nothing. I think I still do somewhat. But, the point is, I'm sorry too. I already accept your apology, so you don't have to say it anymore, alright?" With that, Mitsuru finally finished, his eyes wavering as he held them to Hiro.
"Mitsuru, I…" Hiro choked on his words, unable to get them out as he felt his knees threaten to topple over from the emotional weight that had been thrusted onto him. "Does your dad… Does he still…"
"No, not since," Mitsuru trailed off, his eyes glancing over at his mom's grave. Hiro just gave a simple nod.
"I'm glad we can move on," Hiro began finally, straightening up as he looked at Mitsuru. "I'm still sorry, no matter what you say. But I appreciate you being here, and I'll try my best to make it up to you in anyway possible."
Mitsuru nodded, his eyes looking up to the sky before he looked back at Hiro again.
"Hiro, I don't know what's been going on with you lately," Mitsuru said, his voice hard as he continued. "All I know is there's been a lot of things, and you might be in danger. But I know that you'll still keep going no matter what, because you're Hiro. So, let me help."
"I can't," Hiro immediately responded, shaking his head no. "It's dangerous, Mitsuru."
"So? I can handle myself now," Mitsuru glowered slightly, his eyes a challenging green. Hiro smiled a bit at the look, feeling a bit nostalgic.
"You sure? Things are going to get hectic, and I think we just might miss a bit of school," Hiro grinned, a smiling etching itself across his face as Hiro already knew his answer. Mitsuru returned it happily, a determined look striking itself on his green orbs.
"Just like the old days," Mitsuru said, and Hiro reminisced to the days when the duo would skip class, exploring wherever they felt they wanted to go, having no regard to any boundary that threatened to inhibit their curiosity.
"I'll have to accept your offer then," Hiro held his hand out, and Mitsuru easily took it. Looking into Mitsuru's eyes, Hiro couldn't help but find himself in the past. Looking at him, it was clear that Mitsuru never needed to be a hero. No, with that spirit in his eyes, it was pretty obvious.
Mitsuru had always been a hero.
The Prince Assigns his Squire
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you guys are still enjoying, stay tuned for a new chapter here.
Author's Note (Extended): Alright, so I'm not an avid reader or writer on this website, so I'm not aware of many customs that happen on this website. That being said, I'd like to acknowledge the amazing amount of support that I've been receiving lately. I don't know if authors are usually PMing or even recognizing their reviewers, but I've received some amazing reviews lately so thank you guys so much for your continued support. It really helps knowing that you guys enjoy my story so far. Moving on from that, this story is beginning it's next story arc, which will be much more loaded in action, plot, and character delving. Thus, my writing process will be taking longer given that there are going to be a lot more details that are going to have to be processed, and I have to consider a lot of the story. Therefore, my current posting progress of nearly daily will probably be changed to be a bit more erratic. Currently, I post as soon as I finish writing and editing my story. I don't know if you guys like that or would prefer a more strict weekly update schedule. Whatever you guys prefer, just let me know. Finally, I'd just like to acknowledge you guys one more time. Thanks for the awesome amounts of support. I'll try to keep up with your guys expectations with this story!