One Rainy Day

Across the city was a bleak grey ceiling, the distant wail of sirens, and the bustle of cars below created a monotone ambiance across the rooftops drenched in rainfall. A haze rose through the city as shadows danced and flickered between billboards. Two, in particular, flew across the wide gap between two buildings and the busy street below.

An effigy of black and lilac flames snapped its talons forward, ensnaring the forearm of a hooded figure as they headbutted a sign. It slid across the roof, pinning the target before they could recover from the impact. "Raaaaa -!"

"Oh, shut up!" The figure hissed, blasting its unhinged jaw full of black smoke, flinging it off their chest.

The figure slowly shambled to their feet while a tail flicked behind them, pointed and spiked as it too was draped in the cloak, ripped and weathered at the ends. It stood tall, somewhat hunched while spikes jutted from the vertebrae.

Arms and legs wrapped with rough bandages, locking the clothing underneath to the person, everything but their left eye exposed under the hood as it adjusted it with two sharp fingers, the white nails sharpened.

Mist seeped from torn shreds in the cloak. A single, dark magenta glow peeking through a gap in the hood where the left eye should be. "So, where's your spawn?"

The vigilante known as 'Viral', he's been one of the most consistent and elusive characters across Japan, no matter the tactic, be it reason or violence, he always got away, but while his actions were of good intentions, that didn't excuse his sometimes vicious attacks on certain villains and crooks, some just disappeared when he was around. Much like what he was staring at in the sky.

"Grraaaaah!" I lunged, tearing up the ground with long, spindly arms as dirt and concrete blinded Viral before being tackled off the rooftop over the glowing lights below.

Its large, tattered wings flung back embers as the two squabbled through the air, kicking and flailing as the creature slammed Viral's back into the side of the skyscraper, tearing him through several stories of glass panes as it pulled back to slam him through into an office block, startling those working as the Nightmare was flung through desks and papers.

"Tch, Vile Spine!" Slapping his hand to the nearby pillar, the purple glyph sent several vicious spikes to puncture the ground where the creature landed, slicing its feet as it wailed only to choke on Viral's tail laced in sub-zero rime. "Coldheart!" The light blue arc swept through the ceiling above, carving the monster's flaming head clean off, leaving only the lower jaw as the elongated fingers clasped the tail, dragging Viral through another window.

The two spun and two searing feet slammed into Viral's stomach, propelling him into another building's glassy exterior, seeing a few recoil from the window in fright as claws ravaged his face, dragging Viral through the air by its feet, smashing his body down the glass building. Gripping the concrete edges, Viral plucked his head upright, leaping forward to evade its flaming claws with two ghostly hands extending from his own.

"I've had it with you!" Snapping the frenzied vulture's jaws shut, Viral balled up the other gloomy fist to sock it across the dark skies. "I have been smashed through windows for twenty minutes!"

*Bam!*

Something sharp and fast plunged a large, scorching blade through his sternum, barely missing his soul by a cinder as Viral collided with another office floor, that same, burning sensation in his chest swung him wide, tossing his body through several floors above until he rolled out onto the rooftop in a smoking heap.

"That was smart, using your smoke to reduce my accuracy," The newcomer announced, seeping from a shadow cast by a water tank. His body was embroiled with robes a priest would wear only dirty white, stained with lingering embers spat by a large, blazing sword in its right hand. "I see my other half kept you busy?"

From the sky, the animalistic shadow of the Nightmare conjoined with the original, disappearing into his body before Viral's eyes as he groaned, pulling himself from the ground. "Figures, of all Nightmares it had to be you, Shadow Play,"

"Ah, you do remember me? I'm touched, truly," He patted his heart, his one eye like a crescent slit across his face, mouth nonexistent, leaving his expressions to his actions and curving eye that bent into a flat line. "Much as I'd love to chat, really I do, I'm afraid this is where we part ways, your afterlife awaits,"

"Ugh..." Viral pinched his nose, "Can you stop with the act? Everyone in their right mind knows you're far less constrained when talking," He saw the Nightmare's eye curve to form a jagged 'V'. "That's right, I know you - the butcher, flayer, torturer, hehehe, you can hide behind that facade all day long, but nothing's going to change how drugged you are on bloodshed,"

"Shut up..." With a whisk of his sword, an arc of flames collided with a light blue shield between them, through the flames, Viral smirked, even as his wounds dripped with blood and mist. "Go then, run away, it's all you're good for," Shadow Play dragged his sword across his own cheek shakily. "I'll enjoy hunting you down."

"And keep playing pretend," Viral hopped onto the edge, gathering a strong compression of smoke at his calves, a large light grey seal circling his soles. "It's all you're good for, byyyye~!" With an overly charismatic wave, he evaded a wide swing of the blade, leaving a sonic blast of smoke in his wake, disappearing into the clouds with a furious rumble.

In the brief moment to silence, Shadow Play sheathed his blade, turning around to sprout a pair of flaming wings attached to spindly membranes that appeared like branches from a withering tree. With a thresh, he too left the scene of the chaos.


[Somewhere else...]

Walking down the gloomy street under a dark blue umbrella, a petite, fair-skinned girl with a slender build. She had triangular, lazy-looking onyx eyes staring down at her phone while she mindlessly scrolled. Her hair is short, only around chin length, and is dark purple in color with an asymmetrical fringe, and two reflections shaped like heartbeat monitor waves on either side of her head.

A pair of headphones kept her ears warm while she strolled down the street. Her ears had a pair of flexible, plug-like earphone jacks hanging from each of her earlobes at the end of two thin cords. Despite the gloomy conditions she was smiling slightly, bobbing her head subtly to her music.

"So, what are you going to choose, Jiro?" One of the girls in her class asked while she remained fixed to her seat, eyes staring absentmindedly at the blank page on her desk before her, pencil tapping to her own heartbeat. "I know it's still months away before middle school's out, but I'm curious,"

"Hmm? No clue, I was thinkin' UA, but..." Again, uncertainty sprouted while the girl went to commune with the others in her class, leaving Kyoka to sit back and stare off into space, eyes tracing the raindrops as they fell

"What I choose...?" That had to be the twentieth time she's repeated that same line in her head, throwing off her beat. She was growing exasperated by the idea. She was certain about applying to UA, her Quirk had both offensive capabilities and support for scouting and recon, and her overdramatic Dad's self-defense training would certainly keep her on her toes

Then there was her hobby strapped to her back in a black case, music. She treasured it like her parents, learned and sang with pride albeit without anyone watching, and she enjoyed seeing her parents smile when she did play, the teaching they gave her, she didn't want that to go to waste either.

Kyoka stopped before a shop, peering through the glass to eye the musical instruments inside, some vintage while others looked to be straight off production lines. But more importantly, she saw herself, conflicted, anxious, it was starting to fester inside her and she could barely drown it out with her music.

With downcast eyes she kept on moving forward, the rain was getting worse by the hour and she'd rather not tempt it by contemplating her next step in life. "Just choose something, how hard can that be!?" Sighing, she shook her head. "I still have pretty much a whole year, guess I shouldn't mull over it..."

This would keep her up all night she reckoned, and not once did she look forward to it. Peering up at the gloomy clouds, she saw a crack of lightning split the sky, the tail end of a bolt falling from the sky... it was actually getting closer, somewhat directed toward the alleyway as... She blinked, then realized what exactly it was she was witnessing.

"Oh, crap..." Her eyes followed the dark figure as it collided with the roof nearby, body spinning as it crashed into the narrow streets a few alleys away from her. Without thinking she ran to see who exactly it was. "They might be in trouble, who just flies about in a lightning storm!?"

She took a sharp left, ignoring the cold rain on her skin as she spun around a final turn, leaping over some boxes as she followed the contrail of black smoke to its source. Kyoka brought her foot down, keeping herself back while she winced, spotting the figure as they hit their head off an escape ladder, landing in a number of piled garbage bags with a groan and cough.

"Not a good way to land... I think I broke my everything," They wheezed, slumped within the bags by the time Kyoka moved to help, tossing her umbrella aside to reach whoever it was that hit the ground with enough force to shatter bone

"Yo, you okay!?" Their eyes followed the girl as she slid down beside them, inspecting 'his' injuries with shock. A large gash bled from his right bicep, a few other cuts and scrapes dotting his torn clothing, the cloak he wore was ragged and worn, drenched in grime and water as the hood clung like his hair to his face, revealing only a single, green eye. "Jesus, alright, I'm going to move you so... look, just don't make any sudden movements."

His left hand bent back to wave with two fingers. "...I thank you... but," He winced, pushing himself forward only to fall back with a groan. "I... can't stay here..."

Kyoka narrowed her eyes, flicking his hand with a jack. "Right, because you can so move right now, hold still," She breathed, wrapping one arm around the back of his shoulder blades, carefully tugging him upright and out of the garbage. The strange thing was he smelt like burnt ash

Once again her eyes met the sky, seeing the gap in the clouds fill, then her surprised grew, "Did he seriously just fall from the sky? How can anyone walk out of that?" Again she looked to his ragged form as she felt him push her away, limping. "H-hey, wait-"

"I... got to... keep..." He stumbled forward again, and his eyes rolled up into the back of his head. "...running..." What was supposed to be the cold, hard ground was damp and slightly warm, two appendages wrapping under his arms as his conscience faded

Gritting her teeth she adjusted his weight to her right side, hoisting his arm over her shoulders. It was stupid not to ask for help or to call the cops but given how badly he tried to get away, muttering about running she thought against the idea, for now, opting to take a less scenic route back home, she was thankful he decided to fall from the sky close to home.

"A... hah, hero... protects people... h-hears them out when they're in trouble," Each breath was heavy, and every step taken was shaky, but Kyoka kept her spirit alight, bearing the weight for the sake of another's wellbeing. "Man could stand to lose some weight, weighs a ton..." All she received was a pained groan. "Yeah, I know, I know..."


Not long after, Kyoka exhaled sharply, her head felt dizzy and hot and her arms and legs were throbbing but she made it close enough to knock on the door, her shoulder jiggling the handle to open as she felt the warmth of home hit her drenched face.

"Kyoka? Sure took your ti - honey!?" Her Mom stood there somewhat unable to say anything as Kyoka smirked weakly, the mystery teen still passed out in her arms

"Hey, Mom, kinda brought a guest home, mind giving me a hand?" Since hers were practically limp now

While the commotion rose inside, the shadow of the boy shifted in the light, an empty eye socket formed on the shadow as it continued to peer outside into the storm, a great chill running down its own astral spine as it watched the older woman shut the door, and its eyes vanished as it rejoined its creator, intending to listen to the two women talk and question the sudden arrival.

"This place will do, she's nice, I like her."


"...akey wakey~" A gravely, almost unnatural voice cooed in the boy's ear, he wasn't really awake, his mind a blur while his pupils adjusted to something that wasn't the dirt where he last remembered face plating spectacularly, it was oddly warm though for dirt during a storm. "That's because a nice guardian angel came to save us, I.E. you."

"Viral?" He coughed under his breath, sitting up in... a bed? Then he nodded to himself, Viral said he was helped by a 'Guardian Angel', which then raised further questions, more so than his location or why he was bandaged up. "A 'Guardian Angel'?"

"Not often we get one, usually, it's us before those, ahem, 'heroes' show and thrash us about in response to a job well done," His snark wasn't alone, even as the boy sat on the edge of the bed inside a blank room that looked to be used for storage, he too didn't quite understand why they were seen as bad people for saving others. "Best not to dwell on issues like these, we're safe here, the people here are nice, patched you up for me! Bonus!"

The boy got up to carefully pop his aching muscles, each letting out a pop of satisfaction even though he was still injured. He was a slender-looking teen with faux-brown, slightly wavy hair, and green eyes, his complexion cream-colored. He wore the only shirt he had, now cleaner and stitched back up. His skull necklace remained, polished off. A pair of black cargo pants though the knees were still ripped with two chains linked to his left hip.

Both his shoes, cloak, and bandages were placed atop a box, the only real worldly possessions he owned, and ones he treasured as his only keepsake of anything to who he was before. With a slight twitch of pain, he shuffled to the door, hand held before the handle as a shadowy palm pulled it back.

"Hmm, best we take the silent route," With that, he placed his palm on the wall, slipping through the solid surface and out the other side with not so much as a peep. Checking the hallway, he slowly edged his way toward the pair of voices coming from a living room. However, the boy froze with a shiver as a booming voice rattled the whole house. "What the hell is in there...?"

"Pure angst my boy pure angst." Even Viral wasn't so sure how to act as his shadow warped back to following the boy, the two then crept between the edge of the hallway to inspect the noise

The large open space had wooden walls lined with many bookshelves containing records, CDs, and obviously books. Another wall beyond two sofas and a coffee table was a mantle with pictures to speakers and a TV projector, a carpet placed before it with a kitchen door hung open to the other end.

Meanwhile, a man with wavy, shoulder-length, light-gold hair and hardened, triangular onyx eyes was arguing with a girl roughly half his size. Her appearance made the boy's eyes widen, and he remembered her, the same girl with the odd earjack things when he crash-landed in some alleyway. "Is she the 'Guardian'? She looks nice."

Viral chuckled with a snort, "You wouldn't be saying that an hour ago, they were alot worse before the third person showed up, and yikes was that scary, even Eraserhead would tremble!" He cackled, but that then brought the boy's attention to another note

"Wait, where is the third person...?" He murmured, trying to get a closer look

"It's good to see you're doing fine after that awful fall of yours," His blood froze over and he yelped, tumbling out of his hiding spot and landing on his back as a woman appeared behind him, somewhat worried for his reaction. "Sorry, are you alright?"

"Hey, you're up!" Jiro blinked, disregarding her Dad's ranting to meet the boy's gaze again with her hands on her hips. "Really, the first thing you try to do is sneak around? Well, guess I get why, but..."

The woman from before stepped forward to help the boy back to his feet, himself still unsure of what to do. The third person as Viral mentioned looked very similar to the girl his age, her hair short and dark purple with the bangs falling to the right side of her face.

"...s-sorry, I didn't know where I was... and my track record of waking up involves a scare or the cold, so actual bedding, four warm walls and people not trying to hurt me is a strange relief," He murmured, rubbing the back of his head, sighing while eyeing the girl. "Thank you for helping me, even if it was probably best that you left me there."

Jiro's brow quirked. "You kiddin'? It was a downpour and you were bleeding all over the place," Then she scowled at his eagerness to be left in the cold. "Better question, why exactly did you fall from the sky? Unless your Quirk is flight or something?"

It was his turn to raise a brow, unsure of what she was implying, "'Quirk'? Um..." He lifted his hand, opening and closing it

"Your superpower genius, we discussed this," His ears picked up on Viral's facepalm as he nodded slowly

"Yes, I... can control smoke, mist, anything in a gas-like state," Suddenly, his voice caught in his throat as he stumbled back, feeling hazy as his vision shifted somewhat. Thankfully, a pair of arms kept him straight as the girl helped him sit down. "...that was unpleasant."

"You got up and started walking around, whatcha expect?" She retorted, then the man walked over, arms crossed while inspecting the boy's tired attitude. Jiro recognized this look, sighing through her nose. "Dad, seriously, you're being overdramatic, again."

"Mmm, she's right, Kyotoku," The woman replied evenly, "You have been rather negative about him ever since Kyoka brought him here, I mean just look at the state he's in, I doubt he could hurt a fly."

"That's the least we could do," The boy held back a scowl at Viral's mindless commentary, but his thoughts were to the girl who was still glaring back at the older man.

"So her name was Kyoka? And the grumpy guy is Kyotoku." It wasn't useful information but now he knew who to thank for atleast patching up his shirt and himself after that headfirst collision with concrete at terminal velocity

"-I understand that but we don't know where he's from, why he fell from the clouds and survived, absolutely nothing!" Jiro's dad continued to remain firm on his suspicions, more so for his family's safety. Even with a Quirk like he described it would be impossible to survive a fall like that with minor injuries. "I'm just trying to be a concerned father, Kyoka!"

She rolled her eyes. "Tch."

"He's right though..." The boy broke the argument, a deathly silence eased into the room as he remained with his head low in shame and fear for these kind people. "I don't stick around places, it took me ages to find a place he couldn't find me," His hands trembled, eyes startled. "If he finds me, everything dies around him." He cupped his temples. "He never cares for anyone...!" His teeth knitted themselves. "Why... why can't we be left alone...?"

Viral remained silent this time, allowing his host the chance to vent out the anguish of seeing so many perish in vain, they were innocent, they didn't deserve to die because they helped some cursed boy and his own shadow run and hide. How many lay dead at their feet now? And how many more would join the rest?

"Hey," A hand, warm and tender, pressed to his shoulder, forcing his head to uncontrollably lift to meet a kindhearted smile and confident eyes of Kyoka. "Whatever it is you're runnin' from won't get ya here, relax."

He couldn't, no... not again! It'll happen again, they'll die and he'll be to blame! His eyes trembled, "You're nice... which is why I can't accept that," Kyoka fell forward with shock, the boy having melted into a shadow as it zipped off across the floor, that soon followed with a window sliding open somewhere, in a flash, a vacant window battered against the wall, a cloak, bandages, and shoes missing


"...You sure that was a smart move, kind of rude." Viral hummed at the idea of them running away so quickly and without even a proper thanks. It was still raining, thankfully not as heavily as the boy's feet stomped against the puddles across the road, chasing the clouds in a direction anywhere from society. "Running, day-after-day... wonder how long it'll last? We've ran out of Gatestones,"

"Forever, and I know; I'll bury myself underground if I have to, just until we have the mana to open a rift…if I knew a warp gate spell, that is," He seethed, tripping over his own feet as he hit the dirt, coughing and slumping into the pavement. "Why do I have two left feet again...?"

"You don't you're just clumsy." It was a figure of speech but the boy wasn't concerned for the semantics, rather, he was more lost in thought over the girl, Kyoka, and her family. They seemed nice, patched him up too, but how many times has that been the case? Just how many died not long after providing him refuge when all other options seemed hopeless? "Two lost souls on the road of the damned, heh, fitting for a Nightmare and his Host."

"'least we have each other," That was enough to draw a small, comforting smile as he tugged himself to his feet again, wiping the dirt off his face. "I need to keep going, I have to..."

"In this rain, and with your injuries?" That voice, sweet but haunting as his head snapped around to see Kyoka at his back, arms crossed over her jacket. "Really suck for pleasantries, don't you?"

"Sorry," He breathed with a tiny smile. "I just can't put anyone through what they've been through,"

"Again with this... level with me, who exactly is after ya?" She questioned in the hopes of keeping him around a little longer. She knew her abrasive exterior made it harder to understand but she generally was worried for him, the state he left was... horrible, he looked like a lost child, afraid to trust anyone. "I won't spill a word, just between us."

"If you knew you too would be scared," He took a step back. "You should be, the monsters that go bump in the night, the Boogie Man as people call it, even it would would be scared of this... Nightmare." Breathless, hollow at the word and Kyoka grasped some idea of what he was running from

With horror-filled eyes, he bit his lip. "I... I don't want anyone else to die." He sighed, tugging at his hands. "You... don't need to help me..." He pulled away, hand scratching his bandaged arm gingerly. "...thank you, but I... I'm not a good person..."

"And?" Jiro retaliated, stepping forward, arms crossed as she flicked one of her earphone jacks toward his nose. "Yeah, no one's perfect, I'm not, and you don't strike me as the sort to do something horrib-"

"I've seen people die in front of me, home burned to ash, meadows left to rot," He admitted out of fear for her safety, the way he kept his distance from her wasn't the sign of a person who'd purposely harm another, maybe it was out of his control, but that didn't make him a bad person.

She breathed heavily, stomping forward, "Honestly," Jiro shook her head, grabbing his wrist to keep his fingers from scratching at the bandage. "You want to disappear, fine, but so long as I'm here that won't happen, you're hurt, you can barely stand, you dolt," She pointed out as though she was the only one who noticed. "God... just, don't run away from your problems, otherwise you'll run out of places to hide."

Was he really only running from the problem? Was that why they kept dying because he ran instead of helping, too weak to face the very demon chasing his shadow across worlds? Who could blame him, he was scared, even now he was terrified that if he didn't turn and walk away from this kindness it will be spilled like blood sooner or later.

Yet a part of him yearned for it, a safe place to rest that wasn't some forest, ruins, or construction site. A place that... was warm, embracing, that gave him a chance to piece together what fragments of his memory remain intact, to help Viral grow stronger, to confront that darkness. He wanted... a friend.

"Why... why help a complete stranger?" It befuddled him greatly, he helped out civilians in need out of guilt for the ones he couldn't save because his spirit was weak.

Jiro huffed, flicking his cloak with an earphone jack. "'Cause that's what good people do, what a hero would do for someone who needs it," She patted his shoulder, and he fell into pace with her. "Come on, last thing either of us wants is a cold, this weather sucks." She peered up at the dark sky, meanwhile, the boy did the same but with a strange curiosity she couldn't quite place

"... Akio... just Akio," He murmured, tugging his cloak closer to his form. "That's my name..."

Jiro put her hands behind her head, pursing her lips with that same, aloof expression. "Kyoka Jiro, 'bout time I got a name from you."

"Yeah... sorry," The two walked, himself slumped at his careless disregard for manners, even as her fist jokingly nudged his shoulder

"It's cool," Jiro did the same, pulling her hood up while tucking her jacket closer to brace the chilly afternoon a little longer

"Really?" Akio added after a long silence passed between them, and she saw his flat eyes creep from behind the cloak. "Of all words, 'Cool' is the last thing I want to hear."

Jiro snickered slightly, and unbeknownst to them both, Akio's lips lifted ever-so-slightly, say for the shadow that watched them both inquisitively


"And so begins the tale of trust and camaraderie, of a runaway and his Nightmare who... found a place took stay... if you would go through the DOOR!" Viral's abrupt commentary startled Akio into finally placing his cloak on the coat hanger, following Kyoka back inside somewhat nervously

Kyoka smirked, nudging his side. "Relax, my parents are cool with you sickin' around, don't buy into my old man's 'Tough Guy' act too much," She winked then both entered the room, Akio noting only Kyoka's father was present as he turned on his seat, a hardened expression that now Akio could properly understand was a front, he seems sincere.

"These parental types are always so strange..." Viral murmured both their thoughts as the man stood up to address them both, more importantly, Akio

He looked hesitant, but Kyotoku remained as stoic as they entered. "Hey... look, kid, I don't want to pretend like there isn't something going on that you ain't fully tellin' us," He paused a moment, sighing. "But, letting you rough it out on the streets isn't right either, you got a place? Family?"

Akio shrugged, though with little emotional care given his lack of memory. "No clue, my whole mind feels like it's in bits and pieces, has been for months, for all I know I do," Akio rubbed his neck gingerly. "And for your first question, no again, running, and I've been everywhere, sometimes a small town, recently in tunnels, bridges, and the like - Spent a night in a graveyard once, not the brightest idea."

"Wow, that's pretty cool and creepy," Kyoka's slight humor made him chuckle

"Yeah, the groundsmen thought I rose from a grave or something," He smiled sheepishly

"Alright, you can stick around for the night, still got to work things out come the morning." With a subtle hint of reluctance, he agreed to allow Akio to stay, while happy enough Kyoka then stared at him flatly, pointing a jack to her Dad

"Really, that's the best you got after that whole depressing guilt-trip you started having when he ran the first time?" Kyoka sighed, crossing her arms while facing Akio, his curious eyes watching her Dad's entire personality flip with a whine. "He started getting all overdramatic, 'What have I done to that poor boy', pfft!"

"Oh come on, Kyoka I'm just trying to be a cautious parent!" He admitted, but she wasn't phased, still keeping her lazy expression firmly away from her old man

Then she chuckled, putting a hand to the side of her mouth to whisper loudly to Akio's inquisitive look. "You should have seen how my Mom berated him about it, priceless." Akio tried to hold in a small snicker while Viral chuckled giddily.

"I like this girl alot," That was something both could fundamentally agree on. Watching these two argue about what transpired when he left, how generous they had already been, it wasn't uncommon for Akio to witness, something that was different, he couldn't place it completely but the energy these two alone gave off was... comforting, and he felt somewhat safe. "Trust, like what connects us, and separates us from Harbinger."

Just the name alone gave Akio a shiver, fingers brushing the marking that surrounded his left eye. It was faint, but a light purple tattoo of sorts in the shape of three wisps meant to symbolize wind curled around his eye, the mark of a bond with a Nightmare.

"Honestly, you both need to learn about the concept of inside voices!" Mika's voice shot through the commotion like an arrow, but as she shut the door to the kitchen she smiled at seeing that the boy was back and safe. "I'm sorry about them."

Akio shook his head. "It's a refreshing change of pace when the yelling isn't toward you," He blinked, slapping his face. "I'm an idiot, sorry, manners slipped me, I'm Akio, and thank you for... well everything." He quickly bowed his head to them, then, Akio peered at his shadow, seeing it blink.

Mika nodded with a gentle laugh, "Having someone who isn't quite as eccentric as these two is a relaxing change of pace, I'm Mika, and the rather expressive man is my husband, Kyotoku."

With another nod of his head, Akio motioned to his clothing. "T-thank you for patching my clothing too, I really can't thank you enough."

She hummed with a kind wave of her hand. "Think nothing of it, really."

The arguing pair gawked slightly, "I feel like we just got brushed off."


Later that afternoon...

Kyoka wandered around the house, eventually spotting the whimsical Akio staring off at the night sky that had cleared up some time ago, his green gaze lost in the stars. Stepping through the door she put her hands in her shorts pockets. "You look happy, that's a change of pace?"

He fidgeted but hummed, "I'm normally not so... withdrawn, just my little crash landing and... having recurring memories acting up wasn't pleasant," He frowned slightly. "Again, sorry for my melodramatic attitude earlier."

She shrugged, resting her arms on the balcony. "No sweat, given the state you were in beforehand I can't imagine anyone taking that on the chin, but you stuck around so must be a first, right?" She tried to pick up on anything else to his past, hopefully, find out the reason he was being chased outside of just the simplicity of it

"He calls himself, Harbinger, crude and derivative as it may be," Now Kyoka was convinced he could read minds or he was generally this openly trusting of people, which could be why he's kept on the move for so long. She observed as his hands tensed on the wall. "He's a monster, plain and simple, it didn't matter if you were elderly, a child, hero, or villain, you got in his way and he'll treat you like a bug under his boot."

Kyoka felt a little uncomfortable hearing this, how... demonic Akio made him out to be, "Sounds like a real deal villain from way back," The villains today are more like small-time crooks, but there were a number of truly vicious people out there, and this Harbinger sounded like the kingpin above them. "Why is he after you? Did you cross paths or something?"

He chuckled dryly, eyes lost in the stars. "He... took something from a friend I know, and now he's after me too; he's chased me through many places, eventually I'll run out of corners to hide in," He cupped his hands. "It's why I'm afraid to stay here, encase he finds you too," Akio paused, dashing off the horrid memories. "Be it months or centuries, he wouldn't stop until I'm dead, be great if I had some inkling of why but hey, beggars can't be choosers!" He swung his arms high momentarily as Kyoka snorted.

"Ain't that the truth," Kyoka's own choice on her future was still present in her head, and she still had no concrete answer for her parents. She wanted to be a hero but music meant so much too. She sighed, pushing off the wall. "Today's been a blur, come on, food's ready anyhow."

"Oh, okay," Akio hasn't actually had anything homemade in months, typically sticking to things he'd find or buy with whatever world currency was available, his stomach growling a little from the lack of food all day, Shadow Play had put a damper on that idea when he arrived


True to her word, Akio found himself before a table of freshly made food, it looked like the kind he bought at a side vendor along a beachside, only with more care and consideration for texture and variety. Even as he reentered the home he could smell the aroma unlike any he's smelt before.

However, one issue remained as they sat down to dig in, and Kyoka watched him critically examine the chopsticks in his hand, and as if he was hearing someone whisper in his ear, he tried to adjust his hold on the sticks with great difficulty. His frown creased with a funny pout as her Mom watched curiously alongside her Dad.

Sighing, she poked his shoulder, effortlessly twirling her own like a pair like drumsticks. "You're applying too much force. Put the first between your thumb and forefinger, then the other between your first two fingers, see?" She helped adjust his hold while he stared blankly, but his eyes twitched slightly with surprise as Kyoka smirked slightly. "Then just move your top stick 'till you get a rhythm for it."

"Something you clearly lack..." Again, Viral made his dry remarks to his clueless host as he attempted again to grab a piece of chicken, and with some slight prodding, he eventually managed to grab it with ease. "Harbinger may have strength but with your newfound power over the chopsticks we may prevail."

"Hardy har," "Took me months but I have mastered the chopsticks." Akio sighed

"Seriously?" Kyoka questioned somewhat humorously but saw the honesty in his face

"Pretty much, didn't want to make a fool of myself so I stuck with using a fork or my hands half the time," He didn't want a repeat of last time where he may or may not have caused some slight property damage

With a grateful chomp, he downed the chicken satisfied, but slowly his chewing stopped, the flavor seeping onto his tongue for a moment before swallowing, his eyes fixed on the dish before him with... some abnormal feeling.

"Akio...?" Hearing his name, he looked up from the food before him to find their eyes upon him, worry stretching across their faces as he blinked away the slight irritation to his eyes as he lifted a finger to his right cheek, feeling a warm liquid drip down his chin, it was strange but it was a tear

"Why am I...?" He trailed off, wiping his eyes as the tears kept falling, and he had no idea why, Viral wasn't conscience right now, and why did his chest hurt? "...crying?"

Then, a small, insignificant image flickered in his mind like a buzzing bee. His eyes hesitated as they filled a gap in his webbed mind, like a jigsaw piece. A blurry image of a woman smiling motherly toward him, similar food set before him as he remembered the powerful flavors filling his mouth, warming him from the inside. It felt like he was home.

Now, he slowly rubbed the eye with the marking, shutting his eyes as he remembered a trace of who he was, vague but moving to feel again. Lifting his head slowly, he grabbed his chopsticks with a second-nature hand, a smile slowly crawling up his face. "It's... it's really good," He soon dug in despite the misty eyes he wore, but not once did he feel sad as he ate with gusto

The three relaxed again, Kyoka's eyes resting on his blissful expression as she went back to eating.


Akio stood inside the small, spare room that doubled as storage, contemplating tomorrow with a diligent mind. He had no real destination, more just a journey until he maybe decided to leave Japan to escape Harbinger's reach further, it may prove to be a more valiant effort. Like a needle in a haystack.

"Akio?" A light tap at the door brought him back around, setting his cloak down on the bed. It was Mika. "May I speak with you a moment?"

"Sure," It was the least he could do given the amazing dinner, if he could he'd eat it again but then Viral would complain about trying to relieve stomach pain for the eager brunette. He sat down on the edge of the bed while she took a chair sat before a stack of boxes. "I just wanted to say again, thanks for your hospitality, finding people like you, your husband, and your daughter is... hard, but nice to see when the world seems so taut between chaos and peace."

"You've seen it yourself, then? How easy it is to forget we're in a society of heroes and villains?" He nodded to her astute observation also, and she sighed contently. "I can't imagine what a boy your age has seen, and to go through it alone for so long."

He waved gently, again to put her sorrowful emotions at ease. "It's been interesting but I help out where I can, and being on the move, seeing many places and things has been fun, even with the looming threat of my pursuer," Akio then patted his cloak. "Sadly, I have to carry light so this is all I've got, I do have a few things hidden in my cloak but those are just keepsakes from people I've helped or met on the road."

Mika smiled, fascinated clearly by the boy's experiences while feeling more inclined toward hers and her husband's suggestion, it was rather abrupt but given all the innocent boy before her has been through, it wasn't such a bad idea. "Akio, I wanted to suggest something to you," That kept his critical attention while she adjusted her glasses. "This decision is completely up to you, and you don't have to give me a straight answer until tomorrow,"

"First, do you have a source of income, I can't imagine living off the streets is easy?" Mika lightened the mood, and Akio chuckled, pulling out a wallet from seemingly nowhere

"I do the odd job, and you would not believe how many fetch quests people have," Having a Nightmare to advert death comes with perks such as not needing to carry a weapon. The many things he found and sold on his quests left him pretty well off depending on the world.

She nodded, taking his... odd profession into account before moving on. "Right, well I guess we can rule out schooling and other permanent activities given your lifestyle."

"Not that it matters the only friend I have has been filling in the gaps for me, like a tutor."

"I am not Wikipedia," Viral grumbled, then heard only static in Akio's head as he released a bitter sigh. "It's an information site, like social media only more text and fewer influencers." That made more sense to Akio than simply scouring pages of political drama and news feeds

"So, the offer is this, you can live here, under the condition of paying rent, and helping out here and there, and if you chose either to go on your way now or later we won't force you to stay," Mika explained calmly, closing her eyes a moment. "I understand your fears but that doesn't mean anyone would feel right watching you wander back into the streets, spending nights in alleyways and bridges."

He didn't reply, keeping somewhat stiff while he heard her out. It was an odd request, he never liked sticking around for the very fear of innocent lives being lost, but that was roughly two months ago, and he was alot stronger now.

"If we keep running, say we evade him all across this world, he'll either give up and conduct his plans without us, or..." Viral's voice was low, imposing the solemn reality of their grave situation clearly. "We'll finally run out of places to hide."

Akio wanted to interject, it was written over his face and his hands clenched his jeans, it would be easier to run, to hide away until this world or even Harbinger's forgot about them. But what good is it if there's not a world waiting for them in the future? What if they kept running, world-after-world with no rest? How long could someone run to infinity?

"How many lives are too much? How many more battles can I take before I break?" It was a horrid way to think, but he didn't know what else to do, there was fleeting hopelessness in continuing as he was, but a risk to those if he stayed, however long it takes for him to finally catch their trail

"I... need to think..." Without a word, Mika got up to leave him to his thoughts, "Mrs. Jiro?" She stopped before the doorway, eyeing him over her shoulder to see his eyes full of compassion. "Thank you." It was only above a whisper, but she caught it

"Goodnight, Akio." The moment she shut the door, Akio sat back with his head against the edge

"...goodnight."

To Be Continued...


Another new Nightmare is on the loose and Akio is left to make a decision, flee or risk it all and stay. Can you tell this was written a while ago before I ever thought to publish it? I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter, Renegades!

Next Chapter: Invading Your Life

The boy from the sky makes his choice, and Kyoka's life begins to change further because of it.