SACRIFICE FOR AN HERBIVORE

A BEASTARS STORY

CHAPTER 1

MOTIVATION

July 3, 2023.

At the hospital, Louis was sitting with his collarbone bandaged and he was in a white sling, looking down in guilt and sorrow, while Legoshi sat across from him, tears streaming down his face. Louis looked up at Legoshi, without moving his head.
"It's not your fault." said Louis.
"How?" Legoshi cried as he looked up at Louis.
"You didn't trust yourself and I kept pushing you." said Louis.
"I'm still the one that bit you and broke your collarbone." Legoshi cried.
Louis sighed.
"I should've told you this by now, but... I never thought about the possibility of these kinds of things happening to me." said Louis and took a moment. "My birth parents were murdered when I was 3 years old. At about 4 1/2, I was... taken to the black market. For the rest of the time I was there, I would only get food and water if it were on the last day I could survive without it. So... my bones are... underdeveloped... If I weren't handicapped, they wouldn't have broken. I shouldn't have kept this from you and I shouldn't have pushed you."
Legoshi took a moment before he spoke.
"This is never going to happen again." said Legoshi.

The following day.
Cherryton, Japan.
In the black market, Legoshi knocked on a door.
He then sighed as he waited.
"I should just leave Louis behind." he thought. "I don't know what I would do if I were to hurt him again."
He then looked to his right and saw a female sheep walking. He then walked up to her.
"Uhhh, excuse me?" asked Legoshi. "You really shouldn't wander around here all by yourself. It's dangerous around here. There was a friend of mine–"
"I know these streets." said the sheep.
"Wait what?" asked Legoshi, confused.
"I'm... a dancer..." said the sheep.
"Dancer, dancer?" asked Legoshi.
"Well you don't come around these parts for dance parties." said the sheep.
"Aren't you afraid that they'll eat you?" asked Legoshi.
"Them?" asked the sheep and laughed. "You don't sound very much like a carnivore."
Legoshi took a moment before he spoke.
"I don't like eating people." he said.
"Well, to answer your question, no." said the sheep. "I've worked in these parts for 5 years. It's probably where I'll die. I wake up every morning, never knowing if I'll see another. I don't dwell on it anymore."
Legoshi said nothing.
"I've gotta get going." said the sheep. "My name is Stella."
"Legoshi." said Legoshi. "Nice to meet you."
"You too." said Stella and walked away.
"I've never been scared for my life like them." Legoshi thought. "I can't imagine living like that. To just accept that one day, you may very well end up somebody's lunch."
"If you're done mingling, I'm sure you came here for a reason." said a voice behind him.
"Yeah." said Legoshi, then turned around to see a male panda towering over him. He had on a slate gray flannel shirt, blue jeans and wore tannish yellow boots. A lit cigarette was between his jaws on the right side of his mouth. The panda was 43 years old, 22 years older than Legoshi.
"I need to talk." said Legoshi.
"Hmm." said the panda and crossed his arms. "Come on in. We have some catching up to do."

In the panda's place, Legoshi was holding a cup of tea, sitting in a chair as the panda was standing, sharpening a piece of bamboo with a pocket knife.
"How you been, Gohin?" asked Legoshi.
"Same shit, different day." said the panda. "Although. I did get a hooker a few days ago. Damn, she was fine."
Legoshi chuckled.
"Anyways." said Gohin. "I'm sure you didn't turn up after a few years just to talk about me."
"Yeah, about that." said Legoshi. "I had an accident yesterday."
Gohin stopped sharpening the bamboo and looked at him, studying his face.
"You know." he said. "I recall 4 years ago, you desired my help getting strong enough to save a girl you liked. Somehow, I get the feeling you've done something you regret."
"She's fine." said Legoshi. "Our relationship didn't work out, but... I did marry an herbivore... who wound up in the hospital last night, because I couldn't control my jaw..."
"And now, you want me to train you to keep those urges at bay?" asked Gohin.
"Can you?" asked Legoshi.
"Let me ask you something." said Gohin. "If this was something you knew you were struggling with, why did you choose an herbivore?"
"Have you ever been in love?" asked Legoshi.
"I was once." said Gohin. "Then, the bitch cheated. Your point?"
"We don't choose who we spend the rest of our lives with." said Legoshi. "The heart wants what it wants."
Gohin was silent for a moment, then started sharpening the bamboo again.
"Come back tomorrow." he said. "I'll have everything you need then to start the training."