Crimson Bonds
|Prologue|
The air reeked of blood. The rancid stench was enough to make even the strongest stomachs lurch in disgust. Crude, dark splatters of dried blood decorate the off-white walls. Several empty syringes lay discarded on the bloodstained floor, along with shreds of bloodied bandages and bloodied scalpels. The room itself wasn't very big, enough to fit about four people, dimly lit; and contained nothing but an old steel operating table that sat in the center of the off-white room.
Firmly strapped to the operating table, lie a small boy, no older than thirteen. Dark blood oozed from several deep cuts along the boys' arms and chest. I. V's and needles were embedded in the boy's arms, some connected to fluid bags full of strange serums. Two, lifeless, carmine eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Anyone would've thought the boy was dead if not for the faint rise and fall of his chest. A soft sigh came from the other side of the room.
Footsteps approached the operating table, and then looming over the young child was a tall, dark-haired man in his late thirties. Two, dark magenta eyes stared down at the boy. "You did well today, Shuji-kun..." The man said softly as the boy rolled his head to the side to gaze silently at the elder male. "Thank you, Mori-san..." Shuji mumbled as he looked back up at the ceiling. Mori let out another sigh as he began carefully pulling out all the needled and I.V's in the boys' arms; tossing them onto a steel tray next to the table.
Once everything had been removed, with delicate hands, Mori began undoing the thick leather strap binding Shuji to the steel table. Shuji stayed deathly silent as he rose from the blood-slicked surface, wincing at the pain in his chest. Shuji watched as Mori left to retrieve a roll of bandages, scissors, rubbing alcohol, and towels to clean his wounds and all the blood. Once Mori returned, he began carefully dabbing at the blood oozing from Shuji's wounds before wiping them down with the rubbing alcohol. Shuji stayed silent, completely ignoring the faint sting of the alcohol.
Once all his wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, Shuji jumped down from the table, wincing gently at the pain it caused. "May I go home, Mori-San?" He asked softly as he turned to the older. "Yes you may, you are dismissed for today" Mori purred as he strode over to hold open the door for the small child. Shuji nodded and bowed respectfully before exiting the room.
Mori watched silently as Shuji walked silently down the massive corridor; ignoring the horrified glances he received from the other members of the organization.
Though Shuji was only fourteen, he had intelligence that exceeded any of the other members of the Port Mafia. Both frighteningly intelligent and observant, Shuji was by far one of the most valuable assets of the organization. Yet, almost everyone knew, the boy had yet to reach his full potential. "he'll be the perfect weapon...very soon" Mori chuckled as the boy disappeared from view.
Shuji walked quietly through the crowded streets of Yokohama. Several people gave him a series of concerned and confused glances as he walked past them. Yet, Shuji kept his gaze glued to the ground, ignoring everyone around him. "Hey there, Little guy, are you lost?" a soft voice murmured, causing him to halt in his place. Shuji slowly looked up to see a girl at least four years older than him, with short purple hair and kind lavender eyes full of concern.
Shuji shook his head tiredly, "I'm not lost, I'm going home" He croaked as he looked down at his feet. "Oh? Where do you live? I can help you get home if you'd like?" The girl offered, tilting her head to the side as she spoke. "In a shipping container at the old, abandoned harbor" Shuji stated bluntly. The girl stared at him for a second before giggling. "A shipping container? Rea-" she began but abruptly cut off when she saw no glimmer of humor in the younger boys' eyes. Fear began trickling through her veins, "W-what?" She stammered.
The girl's eyes widened in pure horror when she met the boys' cold, dark gaze. His eyes completely dull and horrifyingly lifeless. "W-Who are you?" She cried as she took a step back from the brunette. For a split second, a look of sadness flashed in Shuji's eyes as he smiled. A smile that seemed to scream for help as he spoke. "My name is Shuji Tsushima. Weapon of the Port Mafia."