Chapter Summary:

This chapter features a focus on Gray, the barbaric leader of the Gray Skies Mercenary group. While his interactions with the rough rider were limited and harmless, the recently abducted Ryuk is forced to endure the older's whims and torment. Along the way, he will discover exactly what kind of man the cowboy truly is. Chronologically, this chapter would take place several months after the events of the main story and can be considered canon.


TEAS: The Lost Archives –

Chapter 1: See No Evil

The young knight's eyes could just barely open. As soon as they did, blurry distorted shapes began to make themselves known. The room appearing to spin as masses of colors and shadows started settling in where they belonged. The rustling sounds and noises of what appeared to be a sandstorm echoing around him in every direction.

Attempting to distinguish anything only brought out a submerged pain which had been mentally ignored until his sense of awareness returned to him. Even the shortest of breaths would cause a slow throbbing pain to emerge from the upper left corner of his face. A constant soreness there all the same.

With an a long but weak moaning breath, Ryuk's golden iris' blinked rapidly to adjust to the area's low lighting and finally make sense of the world around him. With proper vision returning, the up and coming blacksmith teen was quick to distinguish that the room he was in was not only below him, but upside down.

Below him was an old run-down bar of a saloon that seemed long since abandoned. Sand littered the establishment, brought in through the many worn away holes of varied sizes painting the walls and ceiling. Small sand dunes in almost every corner and even some walls. A few crooked round tables set up in what seemed to be a random arrangement, the spares thrown unneatly under a staircase which led up to the second floor.

"Hey, boss. The kid's finally awake." A foreign voice announced from somewhere beyond Ryuk's swaying cone of vision. Something above him creaking with every passing pendulum movement.

With a familiar sounding chuckle, the knight's eyes were yanked almost completely below him. "Is he now?" The tone hoarse, but far from tired.

With widening eyes, Ryuk looked down underneath him. "Gray?" The question needed be asked. While the voice was differential, all he could see was the top of a messy scalp of someone seated against a decrepit bar. When the owner looked up, the boy was met with a red headband he knew all too well. Slanted, it covered one eye as the owner's hair finished the job. Squinting to make out more of his features in the dim lighting only caused the pain on his face to return from being agitated. The black haired youth grunting audibly as a result.

Despite his poor state, the adolescent was able to make out the other's form. A tall built body type with lean and limber appendages. A muddy red headband binding a long messy pale brown mane. A steel tremendous gauntlet adorning his left arm. The weapon synonymous with the twenty-something year old.

There was no mistaking it anymore. This was without a doubt the infamous cowboy the younger had been given the displeasure of becoming acquainted with some time ago. A blind renegade and warmonger who worked for whichever side of the war favored him that day of the week.

Gray simply laughed at the youngster's pain. Any signs of empathy long since deserted. "Easy there, kid. My boys tell me ya got quite the shiner on ya."

Even in his dilapidated state, the other's irksome grin was clear as day. "What...?" Ryuk called out with uncertainty. His mind still hard at work trying the piece together what delivered him into the state he currently found himself. "How? Why am I...?" His inverted vision derailing his attempted thought processes whenever they would begin.

"Think about it, kid." The cowboy calmly advised. The sounds of shifting ice cubes alerting the younger of the glass in his hand. "Think back. Wha' do ya remember?"

Ignoring the growing headache, Ryuk submitted to the instructions of the bothersome male. Closing his eyes, he collected himself. The morning's events playing back in his head. The basement which acted as his headquarters and its usual inhabitants flashing into his mind before continuing.

His mind pulled out an image of Zigbur, a small mechanical mechaniod of one his comrades. It had received an alert of some sort and was trying to express its importance to its master. Its small arms, flailing zealously to garner attention.

"Anya, got a call." Ryuk mentioned allowed as he retraced his day. "There was some issue, in a town near the South. A place called Rei— Regis...?"

"Reyes." The bounty hunter corrected, not wanting the knight's recollection to be thrown off course. His nauseating expression widening across his face upon doing so.

"Reyes." Ryuk repeated aloud to himself. His eyes reopening, he stared off at some barren wall in front of him. On the cusp of realization, he wandered through the corresponding information he recalled pieces about his day. "There was a problem in town. You were there. After taking care of the issue, you were trying to extort money from the locals."

Turning his head away, Gray placed his glass down. "Extort is a strong word." He added in his own commentary, which was promptly ignored.

Following the events in his head, the adolescent continued. "We got into an argument. I tried to stop you. And then..."

Suddenly, a vivid memory played out in his head.

Both he and Gray were debating something near the town square. Forced into an exchange of blows, Ryuk got in close and attempted a quick roundhouse to the head. His strike being parried by the older's offhand, he was pushed back. Before he could retaliate, Gray grinned widely stepping closer. Pulling back his thick gauntlet, the last thing the knight could remember was the clenched metal connecting dead center with his face.

"YOU!" The teen shouted in aggravation.

With a proud snide look, the cowboy clapped his hands together in amusement. "Oh? Finally remember now, eh kid?" A wave of uproarious laughter emanating from somewhere behind the two.

Upon the realization that he had no clear make up of how many people were really in the building, or how large it was for the matter, worry shook him. Direness finally reaching him, Ryuk yanked his head from below to examine his state. The reason he saw the room upside down was because his feet were bound by the ankles, suspended by a rope attached to the banister of the second level guardrail which left him hanging nearly a dozen feet off the ground floor.

A scowl marred his face when he saw that his gun holster was missing. Further examination revealed that not only was that missing, but his katana and entire upper half of clothing as well for that matter. The only things left stripped from him being his pants and cowboy boots.

He was alone. Where was his partner?

Gritting his teeth, the knight looked down to face the cowboy once more. "Where's Alice?" When the violent man withheld answering right away, the teen's hands balled in growing rage. "Gray, if you touched one hair on her head, I will—!"

"Easy, easy." Gray finally spoke, feigning fear as he held both his hands up in a mock surrender. "Never laid a finger on the girl. Took you and told her I'd send ya back when I was done with ya."

A more serious expression settled on the older man's face. This alone seemed to bare the knight's full attention. "I've heard the stories about you. Yer name's been popin' up everywhere I go these days. Yer graduatin' into a fine, respectful display of a real man." Slowly raising his right hand, he pointed up at where the apparent budding youngster was hoisted. "And I just can't allow that, kid. Bad for business. I'm sure ya understand."

Not intimidated, Ryuk started fussing with the ropes on his ankles. To his surprise, as soon as he began doing so, one of his legs slipped out fairly easily. One of his spurs jingling accordingly.

Staring up above blankly, his bangs and lowered headband obscured his eyes entirely. Gray scratched the underside of his chin with one hand. "Did you just...?" Turning away, he cut himself off. "Alright. Which one of you numbskulls did the shoddy rope work? Out with it. I want the truth."

After a decent pause, a gruff sounding man responded. "It was you, boss."

Gray's expression dropped rather earnestly at this. "Oh. Huh. Ya let me do it? Well that was stupid of you lot." This only giving rise to another rowdy laugh amongst the group.

With the older man distracted, at least for the moment, Ryuk began swinging himself forward and back. Once at an acceptable apex, he brought his free leg up and swiped it against the rope. Planting a cut roughly halfway through with his spur, he kept swinging. Escalating tension the string began to diminishing. Just as the rope snapped, he swung upward again and reached up between his legs. Grabbing just above the severing point.

Still dangling a dozen feet off the ground, the knight to be began scaling up the rope. After a few grunts and slipping holds, he reached the end and fastened his grip on the top of the rail guard. With one final huff, he threw himself over the second floor guardrail and flopped over onto his back on the hard wood floor. This earning him a few moments at the least so that the blood which had been rushing to his head could recirculate properly.

Sighing, Gray leaned heavily on the rotted wooden bar. "Somebody catch the kid before he wanders too far off." He ordered lazily, making a circle gesture with his right index finger, instructing them to hurry up.

Flipping over onto his stomach, Ryuk leaned over the edge to see over a dozen rough dressed men and women come barreling out from the area which was previously hidden from his gaze. Grimacing, he pushed up off the creaking floor and onto his feet. The sudden motion almost causing him to lose his balance in his weary state.

Turning around, the black haired teen discovered that the walls which normally would have separated the rooms for guests had all been torn down. A giant hole showed a series of mats sprawled out, littering the open area above the bar. With Gray's men fast on the approach, he had no other options but to run inside.

Planning on cutting through a hole in other side of the room, the adolescent stopped short when a trio of Gray's men cut him off and blocked his path.

With shifting eyes, Ryuk darted his head around the sleeping quarters before turning back around. About to head back the way he came, a single unit of the cowboy's crew stood before him.

The man wore a bulletproof vest over a plain white wife beater. Ripped up jeans underneath and on top of warn-in boots. Scars, bruises, burns and welts running up both muscular arms. A thin, slanted scar on his forehead. Messy and long stringy brown hair draping over his shoulders and back, ending near his pectorals.

As Ryuk stared down the new obstacle standing before him, he grounded his stance, but was more than prepared to bolt in any direction at the need of the moment.

Taking a second, the new arrival took a deep breath and shut his eyes. Exhaling, his breath was visible in a shrunken cloud despite the mid-day desert heat. Opening his eyes, the sciera were dyed from white to pitch black. The iris turning from brown to practically a neon blue. Pale scales growing in over his shoulders, halting at the end of the biceps.

When the teen took a step back in precaution, the man in front of him smirked. "What's the matter? Never met a half-breed before?" A sinister undertone in his voice.

Taking the time to at the very least appreciate the situation, the knight offered a few quickly controlled snickers. "Only one." He replied calmly. "Never liked the guy, talked way too much."

Releasing a huff, the man swayed and leaned on one side. "Figures. You're all alike!" He roared with an immediate change in attitude. Running forward, he held back his right hand, as though preparing a punch. Swiping his left arm at the air ahead of him, water appeared over the forearm and ran down to the fingertips. Within seconds, the liquid froze to make a thin frozen claw.

Not intimidated, the youth dodged around him like he would any wide swinging attack. With a short hop, the teen leaped low to the ground and outstretched his arms, intending to brace his fall and divert his momentum into a safe recovery roll.

Before his hands and arms could even make contact with the floor, a firm, yanking sensation gripped his back leg. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that the iced over claw from earlier had shot out from the owner's hand, linked via a cycling tube of water which anchored it to the brute.

Barely able to react, the proclaimed half-breed swung his body around, using Ryuk's own momentum against him. After a full rotation, he was released and sent flying out of the gaping hole in the wall he had entered from. Soaring fast and without a means to halt himself, the knight could only reach out for the guardrail, but only his fingertips could barely so much as graze the sides, that alone grab hold of it.

Barreling over the railing, the young swordsman could only brace himself as he was hurled down onto the center of the first floor lounge area. Tumbling in the air, he landed heavily and brutally on the center of his barren back against one of the propped up decrepit tables. The rotted wood collapsed under the new pressure and fell to pieces. Ryuk rolled over onto his stomach and flat on the floor.

Letting out steady, whimpering gasps from the pain, Ryuk's eyes stared across from him over to the seated blind man.

Holding his head up with one hand, Gray grinned and laughed aloud. "Oh boy, that sounded like a good one!" When the younger failed to respond, still sprawled out in pain, a hint of worry overtook the older momentarily.

Raising his free hand in the air, the cowboy snapped his fingers once affirmatively. "Monica!" The man shouted so that his voice carried throughout the declining structure. "Check the kid out. Make sure he ain't bleedin' internally or nothin'." After waiting a second longer, he plopped his hand back down. "And Jericho! You busted up the table, you clean it up! And tie 'im back up while you're at it. Bound his hands behind the back."

When all of Gray's men started coming downstairs in the mass of a crowd they were, the knight's eyes never wavered. They were glued firmly and determinately on his captor ahead of him.

. . . . . . . . .

It had been a little less than an hour. Plopped up in the opposite side of the room, Ryuk had been seated, legs crossed. His back leaned up against the wall opposite of the bar and since discovered open kitchen area. Ointment since applied to his back and the swollen upper corner of his face from Gray's gift of a black eye. Simple bandaging hooking around his torso and slinging over one shoulder blade for support. This exposing a healing gunshot wound in the opposite shoulder.

Beside him, sat one of the culprits himself, Gray. He was in one of the rickety looking chairs. Sitting on it backwards, his arms rested above the back end and cushioned his chin. Neither facing each other as they instead stared blankly forward.

Both faced a since created mosh pit just in front of the bar. Two of the men slugging one another while all the others watched and cheered in excitement. When the two had eventually tackled each other onto the floor, the crowd only jeered and cried out for more as opposed to stepping in and stopping them.

Watching the barbaric scene in front of him, Ryuk had noticed something he hadn't before. The Gray Skies mercenaries all seemed to come from different backgrounds. Their skin tones were shades of pale while, tan, and dark. Their ages were significantly in contrast as well. The youngest seeming quite a bit below their twenties while the oldest could have passed for his fifties. Gender as well seeming to be split almost down the middle if not favoring men just barely. As if Jericho wasn't enough of an odd one out, the knight could have sworn several of them even seemed to be Deigleyian. People of all ethnic and cultural barriers brought together under the pursuit of money and violence.

All of a sudden, the elder released a single lowly chuckle, breaking the silence between them as well as the other's concentration. "Let me guess. You were blown away by our combat medic's superb medical mumbo-jumbo, weren't cha?" The comment seeming to come out of no where.

Still gazing off in front of him, Ryuk responded. "She was fine. A little to handsy at the end though." He remarked without much emotion, looking away even further. Given Gray's handicap, such a sign of disrespect would have normally been pointless, the youth was instead doing it for the sole purpose of studying his surroundings. He attempted to find the best escape route into the harsh whirling dessert storm still brewing around them.

"Huh." The older replied in the kind of way that seemed like he'd heard such a complaint before. "Guess that's how she lost her license." He said without much concern.

Looking down at his dressed wounds in worry, a scowl painted his face. "I didn't need to hear that last part, Gray." The younger criticized.

"So, kid..." The cowboy opened up, immediately skipping over the complaint. Apparently still determined on keeping up the farce of a conversation. "...Ya never told me what you think a the main HQ a the Gray Skies mercenary company?" A proud smile creeping across his face.

With a narrowing stare, Ryuk finally shifted to face the recently talkative man. "I think there's a reason this place looks condemned, Gray." His words much more blunt as they were aiming to be more hurtful than normal.

When a suddenly more powerful gust of wind blew against the seemingly tilted structure, all the boards on the East side of the compound creaked and rocked against the nails holding them in place. As this happened, Gray had tilted his head so that he could make out every last sound of the passing event until the winds subsided. "Oh there's a reason. The whole town's like this. Whole place is deserted. Dunno why. Not enough commerce or trade. Maybe the place just couldn't sustain itself so far off the beaten path in the middle of a wasteland. Either way, this is our home now. Their paradise lost, our fallen oasis." His tone far more genuine than the younger had every heard, or even thought possible from him.

Letting out a small huff, Ryuk stared up at the seated man beside him. His eyes locking onto his proud expression before speaking up. "What's your angle, Gray? What are you after?" Instead of responding, the man only smiled wider. This action only riling up the other further. "I've had the pleasure of being in your care and company for hours now Gray, and I still can't wrap my head around it. What are you aiming for? What are you hiding from me?" His words, far more to the point than usual. Understandable, given the circumstances.

Slowly, the mercenary turned his head in the direction of the knight. The corner of his smirk twitching noticeably wider. "If you really want to know..." His head turned away again. "...I guess I really just need to test something."

"A test?" The teen repeated, both lost and annoyed.

Just then, the doors of the disheveled bar were kicked in. The brawl halted in its track as they and all other onlookers ripped their heads to the entrance.

Leading the way was a man who was forced to shuffle his feet in order to burden the wait over his shoulder. A long dead tree branch hoisted between him and a woman several steps behind. A massive dead bi-pedaled crab monster strapped to it by its limbs. Its size tripling the two which carried it. A blue liquid dripping out of the many cracks in its copper tinted sturdy shell.

"Look what we picked up today during our scouting patrol, boss?" The woman bringing up the back exclaimed proudly.

With a smirk, the cowboy turned in the direction of his returning crew. "C'mon. At least give me a hint!" He jeered, his voice mimicking the elation in her tone. The rest of his men all turning to enjoy the show as the trophy was brought in.

"Its yella!" One of the women in Gray's band of mercenaries shouted over by the bar.

Rubbing the underside of his chin, the tactless cowboy nodded. "Yellow?" He repeated in thought. "Where'd you boys find a giraffe in the middle of the wastes?" His joke earning a hearty chuckle out of the others.

Rolling his eyes at the obnoxious showing in front of him, the adolescent leaned back on the wall behind him more abrasively. In doing so, he began fiddling with the tight ropes which restrained him. His actions hidden between his back and the wall.

With a low chuckle, Gray turned back over his shoulder. "What'a ya say kid? Are they yankin' my chain?"

The youth's head jerked over in the direction of his captor. "Y-Yeah." Ryuk began, steadying his voice. "They've been stringing you along from the start." An unneeded smile forced onto his face as he spoke casually, not wanting to draw attention to himself while he worked.

"Are they now?" The older replied, somewhat surprised by the other's all of a sudden forthcoming nature. "Figured as much. Why not hand me a lead if they're so deceptive?" His words, ensnaring as he faced the younger in an unreadable manner.

There was something about Gray's attitude. The strictness of his easy smile and concentrated blind gaze came off partially unnerving.

Keeping up his unnecessary facade, the knight remained unfazed. His breathing held steady while he silently fiddled with his binds. "Just one. I won't be folding that easily." After a light chuckle from the other he proceeded. "Its got a shell."

With a nod, Gray turned forward once more. As he did so, his recent arrivals carried their hunted beast into the cooking area in the back of the warn down saloon. "Well, if its gotta shell, we're runnin' outta choices here. It's either a turtle..." He started, coyly. "...or ya found yerselves a sand crab. How big is it? Got enough for the whole class?" Gray asked, standing up and shuffling over toward the bar. As he did, the man stumbled over one of the broken table legs from the recently destroyed table before catching himself without any trouble.

. . . . . . . . .

It had been roughly half an hour. The hunter's prize since prepared and cooked in the saloon's old kitchen area. The machines were far from functional, but the section served its new found purpose as a fire pit adequately. When the smell of cooked meat began to fill the air, the group of mercenaries all getting uppity.

With his back still pressed against the side wall, Ryuk hadn't made much progress with the rope which restrained him. His limbs bound in such a way that it was impossible for him to use his spurs as a knife like he had previously.

Walking back over, a plate in hand, Gray plopped himself down at a nearby table. Crossing one leg on top of the other, he leaned over on the back end of the chair. Placing his chipped plate of cooked crab meat down while he balanced back and forth. "Say kid, ya hungry yet? You've been here a while, ain't cha?" He teased with a small grin.

Ignoring the tantalizing aroma at this point, the younger of the pair returned a weak smile. "I wouldn't want to impose. You've been so hospitable already..." His expression becoming more confident the longer he went on. "...and as it is, I'll be leaving any minute now anyway. So there's no point."

After an amused chuckle, the cowboy sat more normally. His offhand rising to cover a growing look of bemusement on his face. "When ya talk like that, kid. A guy might start thinkin' ya don't care for his company."

As his golden eyes narrowed in detest, the knight's smile stood adamant and defiant. "Now Gray, where did you ever go and get a crazy thought like that?"

"You're right." The cowboy replied, standing up slowly back onto his feet. "Prob'ly jus' my imagination." Without warning, his plate was tossed onto the ground right in front of the adolescent.

The already chipped porcelain shattering easily upon impact with the hardwood floor. Broken off shards flying off in the nearby area. The just recently prepared meat left abandoned on the layered dirt of the ground. Even when the older would begin to talk again, Ryuk's eyes would stay glued to the forsaken meal.

"Whoops whoops!" The adult in name only mocked unabashedly. "I'm all thumbs today." He commented as he turned away and gave the other his back. "It'd be a waste. Don't cha think?" A lowly smirk surfacing from his words. "Eat up, kid."

For a time, Ryuk was silent. His head hung low as he looked over the discarded meat. The teen's black bangs overhanging his eyes. Both of his hands balling into fists behind his back. With a deep inhale, the knight pulled back as his chest projected in front of him. Exhaling, he leaned forward again and dove back down. Opening his mouth, he took a thick decisive chomp of the filthy platter on the floor.

Not cooked thoroughly enough, he was forced to nibble on it in his hunched over state to sever the chunk. Finally completing his task, he sat back upright and minced the protein in his mouth with slow somewhat trembling clenches. Processed enough, a deep gulp was uttered which probably could have been audible from the bar across the room. The meat's juices watering down his long since dried thought as the bits of dirt and sand were swallowed unpleasantly after.

Panting lightly, Ryuk kept his mouth agape temporarily before swallowing once more in an attempt to clean his mouth. With one of the most heavily forced smiles he'd ever forced, the teen shot daggers from his eyes that were pointed to the back of his captor. "Thanks for the meal, Gray." His voice restrained from what was most likely initially a detestable growl. "I'll be certain to reciprocate you for every deed you've done me today. You can count on it."

Unbeknownst to the youth, the gallantless man wore a wide spread grin from ear to ear at the cool threat. Likewise, over by the bar where the rest of his men had stationed themselves, each of them wore a similar coy look of amusement.

. . . . . . . . .

It had been several hours since the adolescent had forced himself to eat. A sunset noticeable even through the harshness of the still raging sandstorm. The only things remaining of his meal being a limp pool of the meat's original juices on the floor. A stain on the corner of the knee of his pant leg from the same source.

Since the prior event, the young swordsman had been keeping to himself. His barren back pressed up flat against the wall while his head stared down at the floor. Still seated legs crossed with limbs bound behind him. He was as contemplative as he was lifeless and still.

Expected at this point, the leader of the mercenaries had walked over to accompany his captured guest. After waltzing over at his own pace, he leaned back on the wall too, barely a foot away. "Ya seem miserable, kid. What's wrong?" A minor smirk flickering across his lips as he spoke. He relished moments like these, moments when he knew and could feel another's breaking point draw close.

Raising his head, Ryuk no longer went to the trouble of wearing any of his facades. Tired, only sheer defiance remained sullen onto his face. "I've had enough of this, Gray." His words much more to the point than normal.

Seemingly ignoring the remark, Gray stared off blindly in another direction. "Ya remember when we first met?" The cowboy brought up, completely changing the topic. "We made a wager, 'member? If ya won, I'd leave that town alone. The job, free of charge. But if I won, you'd owe me a favor." He paused for a brief period before unnecessarily shifting his head down to his forced guest beside him. "Wanna know what I would of asked?"

"Gray, I honestly couldn't care less." The teen replied, unusually cutthroat.

Smirking at the response, the blind mercenary went on. "I'dda made you work for me." He admitted, partial excitement written on his face. "Offer still stands, ya know."

"Not interested." Ryuk shot back. When Gray opened his mouth again to speak, the younger continued. "But maybe we could double down." The inviting words causing a wide grin on the other.

Chuckling, the long haired man crossed his arms. "Now you're speakin' my language, kid."

With determination overtaking him, the knight fussed in place so that he could face the gruff man more naturally. "Another bet. You wager my freedom, and I'll do the same with my loyalty." The younger proposed in partial desperation.

Stroking the underside of his chin, Gray seemed more than intrigued by the idea. "And how would we settle this little wager? Not too good at cards. Prob'ly figured that out already though, 'aven't ya?"

Scowling in disapproval, the knight stared forward. "We'll settle it with the only thing you're good at. Violence. A duel."

With elation, the older of the two males let out a mirthful laugh. Unfolding his two arms, he reached down and grabbed the other by his shoulder with his massive steel gauntlet. With ease, he hoisted the youth up and back onto his feet. With his slouching posture, despite the height difference, the two stared face to face. "Now that's a gamble alright. For you, that is." A cocky snicker escaping him.

"We'll settle things in here, since there's the storm outside." Ryuk began, ignoring the many aggravating tendencies of the one in front of him. "After you cut me loose of these ropes, you return my weapons to me and then—"

Surprisingly, Gray stepped closer halfway through his currently listed conditions. Reaching around him with both arms, the older grabbed one of his wrists with both hands. Before anything could be said or shouted in protest, they were pulled apart from each other and the binding snapped instantly.

Upon being released, Ryuk grabbed one of the rope fragments and Gray stepped back over to where he was previously. Looking down, the knight could only stare wide eyed after noticing just how thick the roping turned out to be. "H-How did you..." He was noticeably awestruck at the show of strength.

With a shrug, the mercenary chuckled aloud again. "We'll say you loosened 'em for me." After a moment however, his grin dropped. "As for ya weapons, you ain't getting 'em back."

"What?" The swordsman barked indignantly.

Sighing, Gray rubbed the back of his head with his offhand. "Look, face it. We both know yer close to crackin'. Heartfelt or not, you'll swear yer loyalty to me sooner or later. I jus' wanna speed up the process. Sorry kid, but I ain't givin' ya an inch. An' given the circumstances, I take it you won't be sayin' otherwise, am I right?" A conniving smirk worming its way onto his mug.

Gritting his teeth, Ryuk almost took a step back, but caught himself beforehand and remained standing tall.

Dammit, Gray. I knew you were a snake, but I never thought you'd be this smart. I figured I could use your pride against you, but you were leading me on all along. You wanted this.

"Fine." The youth agreed begrudgingly, only being given the illusion of choice.

All of a sudden clapping his hands in front of him, Gray started strolling out into the center of the ground floor. "Alright all you lazy bastards! Clear the room!" He shouted, practically grandstanding.

One by one, the company of mercs all arose and started heading up to the second floor. All lining up over the second floor guardrail while space was available. Clearly, all intended to watch.

As the cowboy waited in the rooms center, he began cracking his neck. A slightly chilling amount of eagerness to his actions. A gust of wind encircling him and fading away as he clenched and unclenched his enchanted gauntlet.

Not too dissimilar to a man walking up to the gallows, Ryuk walked slowly but determinately to the area across from the rowdy male and by the building's lopsided entrance. Taking a calming breath, he bounced back and fourth on his feet to warm up and reacquaint his body with the feeling of spry movements.

His footsteps pattering off, the teen came to a stop and stared down his decided opponent. "To be honest, I was on the fence about you for the longest time." Ryuk admitted with a stern expression. "But thanks to today, I've finally come to a decision. I loathe you, Gray."

undeterred, Gray shook his arms out at his sides. "You'll change yer tune once you start wavin' around my flag, kid." Cracking his neck one last time, he stared forward. "Ready when you are."

Without anything to arm or busy his hands with, they remained at the knight's sides. Looking over the head mercenary's person, his eyes settled on the series of revolvers strapped to his left pant leg. Those are my only option. Taking a deep breath, he began his sprint forward, a reachable goal in mind.

After the first step of the younger's charge, Gray pulled back his left hand. Balling his gauntlet into a fist, he stepped into a straight jab. When his punch ended, a cannonball like burst of wind was sent outward ahead of him.

Dodging out of the way with a roll, the freak gust blew over half of the crumbling tables as it traversed the ground floor. Making it to the very end of the bar, it collided with the entrance doors and blew them straight off the hinges as well as causing them to fly far off into parts unknown.

Gulping at the sight of the cowboy's destruction, Ryuk carefully rose back onto his feet. Upon standing upright, one of the spurs on his boots let out an incredibly delicate jingle from the shifting weight.

As soon as it did, Gray's head lurched toward his new position instantly. Swiping his gauntlet at the air in front of him, separate streams of wind howled, crossing over to their prey. The teen lunging out of the way again as the wooden furniture was torn and ripped to tiny pieces. Some of the floor boards themselves being uprooted and tossed all about.

"That's why you left me my boots. I may as well be waring bells!" Ryuk accused, preparing himself to once again jump out of the way of any of the rouge's oncoming strikes.

Turning to the knight, Gray wore a sardonic expression. Slowly, he began walking toward his younger dueling opponent. As he did, he spread both his arms wide, as though inviting the other to come in close. Seconds later, gusts of winds started cycling around him in a violent stream. His slow walk uninterrupted.

Unsure, Ryuk backed up. Attempting to create space between the two of them while he contemplated his next steps. Stepping back further, he bumped into the front end of the bar.

"Give it up." Jericho advised directly above the knight, leaning over the second floor guardrail. "No one's better than Gray when he's got the wind to his back." Pride on his face as he spoke.

Keeping his attention forward, the adolescent started inching toward the recently ejected doorway. He's right. I've never seen anyone wield the elements the way Gray does. His mastery, it's almost primal. Glancing up, if only for a moment, the knight found that all of the cowboys men were watching in excitement, their cries and cheers being blocked out until just now. They're all here because they want to be, unlike me. Each of them were drawn in by him one way or another. His attitude, lifestyle, his strength. I suppose in a way, that's a more twisted kind of charisma too. I guess in at least that one aspect, we're the same.

With Gray drawing nearer and nearer by the second, the teen gritted his teeth, pushed onto the defensive from the very beginning. In desperation, Ryuk dashed away from the bar and bolted for the former doorway. I'll lose him in the desert. There's no way he'll be able to find me in the storm. After I can—

Before the youth could traverse half the bar, Gray had appeared directly in front of him. A powerful gust of wind coming from where he previously stood. A wicked look painted on his face. Swinging the backside of his gauntlet and forearm in the other's general direction, Ryuk was forced to duck. A strong burst of wind that followed after causing the teen to slide back a few inches despite his grounded stance. Trying to make the best of a poor situation, he reached down for the revolvers the mercenary had strapped to his left leg. Getting close, the cowboy pulled back his thick steel toed boot. With the boot glowing a pale hue of green to match the gauntlet, Ryuk was forced to take a direct hit to the gut. The wind being knocked out of him as he flew back across the room. His body flailing before knocking roughly against one of the few standing tables and tumbling onto the ground.

Like before, Gray began a slow approach. "Y'know, I heard a while back, that when you break yer bones, they heal up stronger than before. I ain't no doctor, but I'm willin' to test it. On you, that is. For your future." The male remarked, chuckling to himself at the end.

Staying on the ground, Ryuk allowed air to naturally refill his lungs. A hand trembling flat against the ground as he let his mind and body readjust. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and winded exhales after as the healing process came to completion. Rolling over onto his stomach, he pushed up onto his knees then back up into a stand. Two pilfered revolvers gripped fiercely in each hand.

Hearing the rattling of free rotating revolving chambers across the way, Gray loosely shook the leg they previously belonged to. When a less then expected amount of chattering metal chimed in, the owner silently laughed to himself. "That's more like it, kid."

Lifting up the handgun in his right, the knight took aim ahead of him. "You asked for this, remember that." The black haired teen announced, his finger tracing over the trigger of the pre-cocked firearm. Aiming slightly away from the center of Gray's chest, the gun was fired.

No sooner than the bullet left the barrel, an aura of wind howled around the cowboy's person. When the projectile neared, its path started to askew. Pushed further and further away from its original target, it ended up missing him entirely before soaring passed and landing in the center of the wall behind. The impact dislodging dust and sand off the nearby planks.

Displeased, the knight attempted another round, this time, his sights dead center with the middle of the older's chest. With another straight shot, it was lead away just like the prior. Tracing along Gray's shoulder blade before landing above the doorway.

Narrowing his gaze in frustration, the young swordsman barred his teeth. His left hand clenching slightly, his index finger barely made contact with the trigger before another gunshot cried out. This time landing straight into the ground next him. "What the—?" Examining the firearm more closely, the teen's eyes widened. "Gray, are you insane? This is a hair-trigger! You've mounted these on your leg. One false move and you'll shoot your own limb up!"

Snickering at the worry in the others voice, Gray shook his head. "As long as ya know you won't make a stupid mistake like that, then there's nothing to worry about, kid." His words were confident as he kept on the approach. "Besides..." He began, stopping and lifting up his left leg. "...how else could I do this?" When the older male pulled the limb inward, Ryuk sprinted behind a turned over table and used it as a makeshift shield. Kicking the air, a hail of bullets all shot forward, some scrapping along the outer ridge of his boot. The shots ripping into the wooden table and creating a series of holes randomly throughout it.

Stepping out from behind his less than helpful cover, Ryuk stood tall but hesitantly. My backs against the wall no matter what I try to pull with you, Gray. You're faster, stronger, and twice as ruthless. I can't usurp you in the first two categories, but maybe...

Pressing in the hammer of the revolver in his left hand, the adolescent safety stored it in his adjacent pants pocket. Steadying himself, he gripped the gun in his right with both hands. The barrel pointed at the ground as he widened his stance.

Done waiting, Gray delivered a sloppy roundhouse with his right leg. The steel toed boot lighting up mid-delivery. Upon completion, a tempest of whirling winds were sent over across the room.

With half the tables being hurled violently in his direction, Ryuk remained steadfast as he steeled himself before sprinting forward to meet them. Jumping off a nearby stool which had been flung over near him from an earlier scuffle at the bar, he leaped high into the air. Landing on one of the many soaring tables, he ran across it then hopped off. Kicking off another, he was able to clear the immediate danger as he fell back toward the ground. Landing, his performed a forward roll, lessening the impact and converting his momentum as he began sprinting immediately after. The wave of debris crashing behind him.

Thrilled by the dead on charge, the cowboy ran forward to meet him. Pulling back his left arm, he once again swiped at the air in front of him, sending out another powerful gust.

Having covered enough distance, Ryuk dodged the blow by sliding low to the ground feet first on his side. Jumping onto his feet, he took aim for Gray's head which was now less than half a dozen feet away and closing. Leaning forward, he leaped in. While in mid-air and shortening the distance by the second, the same aura of winds originating from below him kicked back up again. When they did, Ryuk altered his trajectory and let the barrel end point-blank alongside the other's right ear. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

The powerful gusts coming from Gray were more than enough to ware off any harm which would come from a bullet. The one fired from his gun couldn't even clear the barrel entirely before being shoved right back in where it came from. The real damage was already done however. Directly beside the man's earlobe cracked the violent and loud explosion of the ignited gunpowder.

His face writhing into shades of agony for the first time, Gray's mouth was left tremblingly agape. Frantic for a moment, the winds died off as he flailed his right arm. With Ryuk still air born, he could only bring up his hands to block the blow which knocked him tumbling away. Even after his successful hit, the mercenary was forced onto his hands and knees. His right hand hovering over his ear as a small trail of blood trickled out of it.

Pushing off his knee, the captured knight rose proudly back onto his feet. Without remorse he started slowly closing in on his opponent, malice in his stare. "At that range, I've punctured an eardrum. If you get it treated, it should heal within a few weeks or months. No promises." These remarks along with his earlier action earning him a wave of out-lashing boos along with other insults from the remaining Gray Skies mercenaries still watching from their stands above.

Opening his left hand, Gray caught some of the dripping blood off the side of his face. An excited grin slowly creeping over his trembling jaw brought about from the waves of pain. "You sayin' I should quit now? Just when I'm startin' to have some real fun?!" The man roared, flinging his acquired blood up at the teen who damaged him.

Even by pulling his head back, Ryuk couldn't avoid the mass of crimson from making its way into his eyes. Grunting, he stepped back as he rubbed his face to clear his sight. Squinting out a feint resemblance of vision, it was already too late.

Back on his feet and directly in front of his captured prey, the cowboy reached outward and cradled the back of the other's head with his offhand. Tightening his grip instantly, he tripped the younger's feet out from under him and pulled him down forward and toward the ground. Taking a knee, the brute guided the younger's head so that it would slam face first with the floor.

The cowboy stood back upright. Gray rose his steel toe boot, intending to crush the back of his head in further.

Rolling away, the young knight was barely able to avoid the follow up as he scrambled onto one knee. Gray's boot smashing through the floorboards of where his head was previously. Motivated, the teen reached for both of his stolen guns which he had holstered in his pants pockets. As soon as he grabbed onto the handles of both, his dueling partner had started the preparations for a downward swing.

"Too slow!" Gray insulted, balling a fist and aiming it beneath him. A violent straight unleashed and barreling forward.

Working quick, Ryuk drew one of the guns and immediately began dragging it upward. Realizing Gray would reach him beforehand, he fired early.

The bullet shot out away from both of them, but the kick from the gun had resulted in the younger's arm practically doubling its rising speed and distance.

Just before the older could land his hook, the top end of the his enemy's firearm was smashed along the side of his face, pushing him away. His feet staggering back as he almost lost his footing. The arm flailing off couse.

Undeterred, the ruthless mercenary came right back for more. His other hand pulled back this time, a whirlwind circling the clenched fist. Like before, Ryuk grabbed his holstered weapon as he rose into a stand. Pulling it out, it was by default aimed at his feet. Repeating his action from before, he shot early, this time hitting the floor as he slammed it upward. The action knocking the iron barrel into his opponent at the bottom of his jaw. The hit forcing the owner to completely whiff his oncoming strike and further messing up the furniture of the ground floor up as winds howled and blew the place about even more.

With his harsh adversary disoriented from the mix of the consecutive blows as well as thrown off balance from his asymmetrical hearing, Ryuk took his chance. Dislodging one of the revolver cylinders, he took out a couple bullets. Bashing the ends against a nearby table, the sealed ends were cracked open and the teen was swiftly able to toss away the caps. The gunpowder inside completely exposed.

Making his way over to the wobbling cowboy, Ryuk pulled his head down by yanking his messy long hair. This act propping open his mouth involuntary. "C'mon Gray, have some of your own brew!" The knight shouted as he shoved the gunpowder down the other's throat.

Knocking the younger away, Gray was still left choking and coughing as a result. Forced onto his hands and knees, he couldn't prevent himself from spitting up a black dust from his throat. The slightest of breaths upsetting his currently volatile state and sending him into another coughing fit.

Marching onward, the teen halted once he was in front of his opponent. Pulling back his right leg, he spun around and gave an unguarded back kick to the side of the cowboy's head, the spur slicing his cheek and knocking him away onto his side. One of the many lopsided tables collapsing over on top of him.

Getting more and more exhausted as their duel went on, Ryuk couldn't hide his tired state. Leaning forward, the black haired swordsman held himself up by grabbing onto his knees and taking deep rampant breaths. Some blood dripping off the corner of one of his eyebrows from the other's previous offensive.

Not letting things become too relaxed, a massive torrent of wind originated over Gray's body. This hurling all the partially destroyed and lopsided furniture away from him as he rose back up onto his feet. Once getting settled, the winds calmed to a point of ceasing fully. "I knew you had it in ya." The older seemed to whisper, his voice more hoarse than usual. Ryuk himself most likely the culprit of that. A large gash on the side of his cheek oozing out more blood.

Scowling in disgust, Ryuk stared down his opponent. "You talk too much, Gray." He stated hypocritically. "And that means something coming from me." His breaths noticeably winded.

Stepping forward with his steel toed boot, Gray shot himself forward, a destructive wind pushing him outward. Stomping down with his other boot, he was already face to face with the knight. Eyes widening at the unexpected speed, Ryuk couldn't stop the older male from holding him in place with a firm grip of his gauntlet over his shoulder. Pulling back his offhand, Gray gave a quick and precise jab just below the younger's left ribs.

Feeling only minor discomfort at first, his pupils dilated when he all of a sudden gagged. Leaning forward, he spat up blood onto the cold destroyed flooring.

Easing his head down, Gray stopped when his mouth was parallel with the teen's ear. "Ya got two kidneys, right, kid?" His smirk stretching further into the corner of his face yet again. "Don't worry if ya lose one."

Not finished just yet, the mercenary tightened his grip with his gauntlet and lifted the younger up into the air. Turning around, he tossed Ryuk overhead and caused him to land back first onto the floor over near where he was standing previously. His body bouncing before tumbling over onto his stomach.

Staggering back from his exerted actions, Gray was able to steady himself for the most part. Pulling back his enchanted gauntlet, he set lose a wild uppercut at the air in front of him. From where he was standing, a shock wave of clawing winds ripped up the floor and traveled in the direction of his uppercut. Moving forward, it ended at a table beside the knight's body. The furniture combusted on the spot, its debris littering the room.

"L-Let's try that again." The cowboy commented, still woozy as he wobbled side to side.

Warily pushing off into a stand, the black haired teen took a weak step to the side, the second shock wave soaring right passed him before colliding with the back wall. One of the round tables rolling away from the blast on its side, it traveled right passed Ryuk at a slow pace as it headed near Gray.

Getting an idea, Ryuk hopped up on top of it and started balancing himself as he rolled it forward. His feet backpedaling as it wheeled ahead. Pulling out both of Gray's stolen handguns, he prepared them accordingly then pulled back the hammers. Alternatingly, while still balancing himself on the rolling object, he began firing one after another.

His sense of balance still thrown for a loop, Gray started retreating with staggered back steps. While his aura of wind protected him, he still kept both hands raised, crossed over his face in precaution. One by one, the projectiles all became diverted as they painted the wall behind him.

Out of bullets, Ryuk started picking up his pace as he quickened his footing. Pulling back one of the empty handguns, he flung it low to the ground near Gray's feet. Bouncing off the floor, the surge of wind blew it upward violently. This caused the unloaded weapon to bash against the underside of Gray's jaw before flying off and away.

When his block weakened from the unpredicted strike, Ryuk jumped off the rolling table and gave it one last kick to send it on its way. Tumbling heavily forward, the table rammed straight into the cowboy and forced him onto his back before the lopsided wooden table ran him over. It then proceeded to collapse loudly a few feet away.

Knowing even this wouldn't be enough, Ryuk walked over, stopping only as he loomed over the older. Reaching down, he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and lifted him onto his feet. Just when the other's footing stabilized, the knight placed both hands on the adjacent shoulders. Taking a step back, He delivered a short knee into the man's ribcage. Landing, he did the same with the other leg to the opposite ribs. The pain arching Gray's back down, the teen altered his grip and held the back of the mercenary's skull with both hand. Pulling it down, he gave one final and decisive rising knee to the center of Gray's face, gushing blood out from the side of his nose as he flew away and landed roughly onto his back.

His own actions taking their tolls, Ryuk was forced to take a few steps back. Staring over his adversary's body, he couldn't help but allow himself to take rapid and deep breaths. More sweat covering him than ever before in his entire life. His hair damp and soaked as it laid flat against his forehead.

After a while, Gray simply began chuckling to himself. Sitting upright, he shakily rose shakily back up. Blood dripping off him as he did.

Frowning, Ryuk narrowed his gaze. "How many times do I have to beat you?" He mocked in aggravation, admittedly on his last legs.

Shuffling forward, the older shook his head slowly. "Not yet." He uttered in a tired manner. "I've been waitin' for this one kid, for longer than you know."

Shaking his head as well, Ryuk strengthened his footing as he brought up both hands. "Really? You've been itching for a fight? You don't say?" His words callus.

His grin no longer able to be beaten down, Gray trudged forward. "More than just that. Y'see, we're more alike than you realize." This remark earning the other's attention. At least for the moment, he would allow his opponent to speak. "For lack of a better word, I can see a lot of myself in you. You can pretend all you want. You can wear as many masks as you like, but you can't hide— change what's underneath." These words spawning a scowl on the younger's face. "Deep down, underneath all those forced smiles and displays of valor, I know what you really are; a ruthless fighter who'll do whatever it takes to survive. Just. Like. Me."

Speechless at first, the only response at the older's words seemed to be a pair of balled fists which were clenched so tightly they were trembling at the sides. "I can't believe this." The knight complained. "Now I get what you were trying to do." Placing a hand on his hip, he glared across from him. "I never thought you were such a coward, Gray." An obvious bitterness to his voice.

Appearing lost, Gray shrugged his arms, licking a bloody lip. "Wanna try running that one by me again? Think I lost ya a few steps back."

"You do see yourself in me, a lot more than I'd like, to be honest." Ryuk brought up, moving quick to his explanation. "When you started hearing the stories about me, it made your blood run cold. I bet when we first met, you thought it'd only be a matter of time before I ended up just like you, but you were wrong." While originally hard to tell, it was apparent that Gray's face grimaced by the end a little.

His rage still unsettled, the knight continued, and nothing would have stopped him from doing so. "The more time went on, the more clear how different our paths were. Fear and uncertainty started writhing around inside you. Oh, but there was no way the great cowboy Gray could have been wrong." The annoyance in his tone giving way to mockery, if only momentarily. "So you dragged me here and began your little test. You pushed and prodded until you got the rigged answer you wanted!"

A look of resolute defiance and ire was forged in the youngers golden iris. "Too bad, Gray! I'm not you, and if this whole thing has taught me anything, it's that I'll never be you. We're done here. I'm leaving." Turning away, Ryuk ignored the older as he started walking toward the blasted open doorway in the front of the building. Both Gray and his gallery of onlookers dead quiet as he did so.

He'd face the ensnaring dust storm. Harsh the bleak desert elements. Anything was better than staying a moment longer in the other's rundown HQ.

With a monotone look, Gray allowed both his hands to drop to his sides. A few seconds later, his offhand rested in his pants pocket as he stood more casually. The more time went on, the further his head began to drop until it was facing the floor. "So that's your decision, huh?" The man asked, halting the younger who stood at the precipice of the exit way. "You'll refuse me to the bitter end?"

Ryuk didn't respond, he didn't even so much as turn around.

Huffing reluctantly, Gray turned away. "Whatever. That's fine. I won't stop ya." Finally raising his head revealed a deep scowl eroded onto the lower half of his bloody face. "Just know, when your dead, alone, bled out and lifeless, I'll remember that. I'll remember your answer." Clenching his gauntlet, a small breeze started pulling into the bar from outside. "And that day may be sooner than you think." He warned lowly.

The cowboy's gauntlet began trembling in a rage similar to the other's a short time ago. The razor winds outside began picking up in a torrent. "What's the matter?" He asked, speaking softly at first. "My way of life ain't good enough for you or somethin'?!" Gray all of a sudden roared. His outburst causing a mighty and gigantic whirlwind to resonate around him. All the blown about furniture on the ground floor pushed away and up against the closest walls and bunched into corners. All the sand pushed back so that the center of the room seemed almost spotless.

Even his men on the second floor were forced to grab onto the railing and each other to avoid being blown away. "Y-You gotta calm down, boss!" One of his men shouted fearfully. Some of the others calling out his name in hopes of snapping out of his blind fit of rage.

Finally turning back around, Ryuk addressed the man more properly. An arm risen up to his face to shield his eyes of any oncoming sand and small debris. "I think I said it best the day we first met." The teen replied, barely speaking louder than usual amongst the screeching storm winds. "I just don't like you." He stated dryly. It was as though stating a fact rather than an opinion.

When the knight took just one step further toward the exit. Gray pulled back his left arm. In a wild motion, the man clawed in front of him, the gemstone in his gauntlet shining to a blinding extent. Miniature tornadoes sprung forth from him and crashed all around the head wall of the building. Becoming ripped apart at the seams, the entirety of the front most wall was ripped off of the main building and carried out into the harsh sandstorm outside.

After separating completely, the planks began being to tear off bit by bit until each one was torn off of the main surface like scattering puzzle pieces lost in the wind. When Gray stomped his foot, a similar light arose. The storm became more violent, a massive hurricane ensnaring the building and trapping every party inside. The thickness of the sand within blocking any view of the outside world.

Baring his teeth like an animal, the winds surrounding Gray only continued to strengthen. "You're not leaving until I say you are!" The mercenary screamed.

The gale force winds almost enough to lift the knight right up off his feet by this stage. Turning around again, he wore a look of dire resentment. "Gray!" He called out, unsure if his voice could even reach the other at this point.

As the winds outside worsened by the second, Ryuk saw that the winds surrounding the outlaw withered away from his lack of self-control. Taking full advantage, the knight aligned himself with his target as he took a step forward, still shielding his head.

"You can stumble around in the dark for as long as you like, Gray, but I think it's time..." Dropping his hands, the young swordsman sprinted forward with all he had left. Drawing closer, the cowboy continued to stay oblivious to the world around him. "...for you to face the light!" Jumping up, the snaring winds carried the teen further as he delivered a fierce double footed drop kick to the center of the mercenary's face. Blood flying out from a previous injury as the man fell back first and arms sprawled out onto the abused floor of the headquarters.

Once Gray hit the ground, the winds outside trickled off. The raging storm subsided and the sand dropped back off onto the ground. Scattering completely, it almost seemed like the entire desert tundra had become quelled in that instant. A large handful of planks of wood raining down outside and littered the surrounding area.

Finally free of any storms or barriers, the fleeting rays of the day's dwindling sunset painted over the marginally destroyed building. Patches of orange sunlight cast though the gaping whole in the front of the complex. One large spotlight shining down on both Gray and Ryuk who now laid on their backs, staring up at the sky, side by side.

"You're a moron, Gray." Ryuk commented weakly.

"Sounds about right." The older replied. If he had enough energy, he would have nodded in agreement.

With a drained sigh, the teen looked over at the man next to him. "Sometimes we know we've made the right choices in life. Others, we don't. But that doesn't mean you can force others into making the same ones as you, just so you can lie to yourself into thinking you made the right one."

The apathetic man remained silent at this, perhaps in contemplation, maybe in sourness. He stayed motionless nonetheless.

With the clatter of footsteps, all of Gray's men surrounded the duo. One reaching down, grabbed Ryuk by the forearm and pulled him upright. Before he could do anything else, or barely get his footing, another had tossed the rest of his clothes into his arms. Another slipping his sword under his arm, a third laying his holsters and guns over his shoulder.

Ignoring the youth, the rest of the mercenaries circled their leader. One squatting down next to him as he lightly slapped him on the side of his cheek. "Ya look like shit, boss." The man remarked lightly.

"Yeah, and to make matters worse, you're all cut up and bruised too." The offhanded insult springing up a lighthearted laughter amongst the group.

Dressing himself more properly, Ryuk couldn't help but smile softly down at the scene. This was cut short however when the sound of a vehicle stopping outside stiffened up the whole crowd. Noticing this, the teen knitted a brow. "Expecting company?"

All of a sudden, Gray's mercenaries all scrabbled to clean up the place up. A few helping their boss back onto their feet. Leaving them be, Ryuk walked toward the front of the building to get a better look at who had just arrived.

Parked out in front, was what appeared to be a former Deigleyian jeep. The military's emblem since crossed out. The words 'Free Trade!' Written over top it in thick white paint.

The owner stepping out of the driver's side was a beautiful woman of moderate age, closely appearing to be in her early thirties. A cold icy stare behind her brown eye showing far more years of experience however. She had dirty blonde hair which was tied up in a messy bun. Her skin, a flawless, partially pale white tone.

Her outfit consisted of a mix of elegance and functionality. Boots and dark colored cargo pants made traversing the tundra easier, the upper half contrasted this as it held a white blouse with a long black overcoat resting atop her shoulders. A distinct black eye patch over her left eye. A very detailed silver image of a blooming rose printed over it.

As the woman approached, the knight saw that she carried a pair of thick beige folders under one arm while the other held an inconspicuous black duffel bag.

Taking her first eloquent steps into the building's interior through the gaping hole in the front, she shook her head. "I'm not even planning to ask what you've been up to today." Her tone pristine, but unfavored. Heading toward Gray who had since been sat down by the bar, she gave a passing glance at the young knight as she passed by. Noticing that he was not of the usual company immediately.

As Ryuk watched her momentarily, a new pair of footsteps came up from behind before stopping beside him. Looking up and over his shoulder, he was greeted with the sight of Jericho, who too was watching the woman, along with many of the other mercs. "Meet Cassidy. She's the Gray Skies manager. Meets with the clients. Gets us jobs. That sort of things." After the informative tip, he gave the younger a quick pat over the shoulder before walking over to some of the others.

Even in his current state, Gray was able to smile as the gorgeous woman approached. "Evenin', love. Ya look more stunning every time I lay eyes on ya."

Without even replying, the stern woman tossed her folders onto the bar next to him. "Here are these week's jobs." She stated, direct and to the point. "The first three in the second folder need to be done within seventy two hours, but the rest need simply be handled by the end of the week. Am I clear?" The head cowboy nodding if just to appease her.

Taking another look at the woman's jeep, Ryuk turned back around to face the owner. After, he strolled over to the pair conversing. "Excuse me." The knight called out, pulling away the woman's attention off the rowdy mercenary. "It seems I'm a bit stranded at the moment. Even though I don't have anything to offer, I'd greatly appreciate a ride to Reyes." His head held low in humility if not derived out of exhaustion alone.

The blonde woman raised a brow at the younger's wording. "Stranded?" She questioned. After, her eye then narrowed over Gray. "And I suppose that's this one's fault, is it?"

With low but clearly unnerved and forced laughter, the cowboy glanced away. "Stranded is a—"

"Exactly." Ryuk spoke up, cutting Gray off before he had a chance to talk or misconstrue anything.

Rolling her eye, Cassidy released a huff. Apparently more than accustomed to cleaning up after Gray's messes. "Reyes, you said?" After a confirmation nod, she continued. "I am traveling South at the moment. I suppose I can make a short detour and still uphold my schedule."

Plopping the duffel bag on the table, she unzipped it down the middle to reveal the inside was packed, lined with tightly arranged high marked bills. Reaching her hand in delicately, she removed a short stack and placed it in her overcoat. "Here are last weeks profits. Excluding my cut, of course. And I'll be taking this for traveling expenses for that one." She said, pointing over to the teen with her thumb unnecessarily.

Pausing, she took a moment to examine the numerous fresh cuts on her business partner's face. Glancing behind her, she noticed a similar freshness on the swordsman's person. "It's rare to see you so bruised. Must have been quite the spar."

Hopping up off his stool, Gray laughed aloud. "Us fight? Never." As Ryuk rolled his eyes internally, the older male started shuffling over closer. "We're two of a kind. Kindred spirits, love." Leaning over, he suddenly extended one arm over the teen's shoulder before roughly pulling him in close. "Friends to the end, or so I always say."

Growing a wry smile, the knight lifted one hand and abrasively shoved the other off of him. The cowboy stumbling back before landing in and returning to his seat. "Think what you want, Gray. I can't stop you. Clearly."

Laughing in amusement, Gray walked back where he came and leaned casually against his bar. "Stop by sometime if ya ever wanna make some cash on the side, or if you just get bored, kid."

Sighing deeply, Ryuk pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head in disapproval. "Why couldn't you have offered me that this afternoon and just called it a day?" The youth complained aloud, knowing full well he wasn't getting a response. "Would've saved us both a lot of time and trouble." As expected, the only thing Gray replied with was a lazy shrug.

With Cassidy beginning to walk off, Ryuk planned on joining her when she stopped in the center of the room. "Oh, Gray..." She brought up, her tone more soft than before. "...why is it I received a report that you skipped out on a payment while you were in the West a few days ago."

As another poorly concealed nervous laugh escaped him, Gray looked away again. "Oh, that? Just, must'a forgot is all. No big deal, love."

Cassidy remained idle for some time. The remnants of the mercenary headquarters and all inhabitants dead silent. Reaching into the interior of her overcoat, she turned around. "Don't fuck with me!" She cried out, her tone completely devoid of the properness or consideration it had at the least impersonated earlier. Out from under her coat she pulled out a sleek silver revolver who's barrel matched the length of her arm, the iron sight aimed over Gray's distraught face.

Jumping up from the stool, Gray rose his gauntlet up like a shield, his surrounding tempest of wind flaring up again in a flash.

Pulling down on her trigger, the revolver's recoil shot up at a near ninety degree fashion before resetting to a more neutral position. The long golden colored bullet that came out passed right through Gray's wind veil and impacted against his glove. The steel may have stopped the bullet, but the forced however pushed it in to his chest and blew him back first over the bar. All sorts of dust and debris bursting outward from the drifter's impact.

Ryuk stared agape. "Seriously? It-It went straight through." He uttered in complete shock.

"Yes. Armor-piercing rounds tend to have that effect." She mentioned, blowing a single misplaced strand of hair away from her face as she hid her weapon away back on her person. "You give that man an inch, he'll take from you a mile." She concluded shaking her head.

Many of Gray's men called out after him and sprinted over to check up on their leader's well-being. In the meantime, Cassidy turned around without a hint of worry, now facing the exit once more. "Come along, young one." She instructed, taking eloquent steps back outside and to her vehicle.

A little more timidly than before, the knight followed after the woman. "Say, how do you make rounds like that, just outta curiosity?"

. . . . . . . . .

The two had been driving down the desert road for around thirty minutes. The path spurred from consistent use alone as no roads would ever have been laid this far into the badlands. The dwindling sunset lighting the bleak desert if only partially.

As the vehicle had no top, both passengers were fiercely clutched and surrounded by roaring winds on all sides. Both hair and leather alike blowing behind as they did their best to stay attached to their owners. Thankfully, Ryuk had become used to the feeling to an extent that the breeze wasn't much of a bother.

The silence finally getting to him, the adolescent gazed over at the driver. Even in the harsh winds, her expression wasn't burdened at all. Her eye, focused ahead of her above all else.

"Can I ask you something?" The teen shouted across the seats, having to compete with the rough winds.

As before, Cassidy kept her gaze squarely in front of her. "You can ask. No promises I'll answer." Her stone-like response explicit as it was candid.

"Why follow Gray? What's in it for you?" The young knight asked, vexed. "I mean, I can understand a few washouts here and there, troublemakers or conmen. You're not like them. You're skilled in a trade. You're not the only one either. He had a doctor there, even former soldiers. Why? What is it about that guy that draws people in?" The youth beseeched.

A scowl marred the blonde's face at the question. Huffing, her shoulder's sank. "It's because he's attractive." She replied flat.

The swordsman's expression dropped at the mostly disenchanting response. His arms crossing as he twisted his lips.

"Don't give me that look." The gunwoman reprimanded without even having to glance over. "I meant his lifestyle. We're locked in a cold war. Some embers here and there, but otherwise, not much is simmering. In a time where both sides are screaming at you to pick a side, that guy did neither and both at the same time." A smirk gracing her lips for the first time at her own words. "To some people, that mentality is respectable. Commendable, even."

"I still don't like it." Ryuk remarked, bitterly. "If you ask me—"

"You can think what you want, boy." Cassidy stated, cutting the other off and impishly adding her insultingly indicative title at the end to boot. "And we'll do the same."

An impassive atmosphere filling the noisy vehicle, the two once again appeared to return to their all but silent journey.

"I'll be frank," The driver brought up, apparently having one last point to amend. "He's a warmonger and a violent fool." No trace of joy in her tone or face as she spoke this time, however. "A necessary evil. One I'll support."

"I see." The knight to be remarked. Running a hand through his messy hair, he earnestly attempted to wrap his head around the other's point of view. "That's what you like about him."

"Like is a strong word." The blonde stated with audible contempt. Her hands gripping down the leather lining of the steering wheel.

Ryuk held his tongue this time, a wry smirk filling the void. Instead, he remained still in his seat as he stared and admired the steadfast woman. Turning his sights ahead again, he saw a black spec in the distance begin to grow as the two continued their fast approach to Reyes. All the while, he was certain that this long day, and the conversation he'd just experienced would stick with him for a long time.


Author Notes:

This was the first piece of bonus content I ever wrote for TEAS, the baseball chapter excluded of course. The rest of the anthology will not follow this pattern, it just so happened that this isolated incident seemed like a good starting point.

Gray was always treated as a powerful and ruthless character in the story, but he never really got a chance to shine. This chapter was an attempt to highlight just how dangerous that strength really was, both physically and psychologically.

While Ryuk is gungho on becoming a knight, due to his circumstances, he could just as easily defect to become a soldier or even abandon both ideals and choose to be a cowboy like Gray instead. This chapter was meant to give him a glimpse into that world.