Chapter 58 - The Horrifying Sight of Crimson Painted on the Grey Wall and the Realization of It All
Louis took a deep breath and looked up at the brick building that housed the hyper drug operation and, as he and Roku confirmed the night before, livestock trade.
Ichi had deduced that the deer's job would be to go in as a customer, get a layout of the interior as well as personnel and defenses, and then leave to report so they could move in with the attack. It seemed rather hasty, but Ichi reasoned that any more time they waste means more chance a kid could die.
The deer opened the door and stepped in, glancing around.
What met his eye was something he had never seen in the black market. Carnivores of all species and sizes were standing on small, wooden stages, naked, which showed off the tattoos on their skin which sectioned off parts of their bodies and informed the buyer what effects they'd have.
A small meerkat approached Louis, confused but eager. "Ah, I see we have an early customer! Makes sense, since the herbivore customers always arrive when it's light out."
"Yes, I'm here to buy," Louis responded.
The small carnivore took him by the hand. "Yes, yes, right this way! Oh, I bet we can find something to heal your eye!"
"Really?" Louis blinked.
"Certainly! What happened to it?"
"Ah...Just an accident."
"Perhaps a reptile's regenerative properties may help! We have one around here..."
As Louis was led around, he locked eyes with a wolf leaning against a wall nearby. It was the same gray wolf from yesterday. The canine's eyes lit up with recognition and he started to saunter over.
The buck felt his heart leap, but he kept his smile.
"Hey, it's you again! Eyepatch deer!" The wolf turned to the meerkat. "Yo, Marcel, check this out!" The wolf grabbed the deer by the shoulders and shoved his muzzle in front of his face, growing and lifting his lips as he and his companions had done just yesterday.
Louis laughed, softly. "Hello, again."
"Man, I was wondering why a herbivore like you was wandering around here yesterday, but I guess you found what you were looking for, eh?"
The smaller carnivore cocked his head. "What the fuck are you going on about, Madarao?"
"Me and the boss ran into this guy yesterday and he's literally unfazed by everything!"
Marcel blinked. "Woah, even the boss! That's pretty nuts!"
"Your boss is very pretty, might I add," Louis injected.
Marcel held a hand over his mouth and laughed. "Oh my god, no way!"
"What?" Madarao leaned down to him.
"This dude's a total carniwhore! Ya know? Those herbivores that are carni-crazy!"
"Why are you talking like that?"
"He's probably in here to ogle the naked carnivores!"
"That is false, actually," Louis shook his head. "I have no interest in perversion."
"Uh-huh, suuuure." His guide winked. "So, were you looking for anything in particular?"
"Fangs."
"Ohh? Any species in particular?"
"Wolf." He smirked at Madarao.
The canine covered his mouth. "Oh, nuh-uh. I'm not on sale! And there are no wolves here, today, so you'd best be packing, deery!"
Louis laughed, again. "I never said I wanted your fangs."
"Well, like I said! You won't find any here, today. What does a deer need with wolf fangs, anyway?"
Marcel elbowed him. "Hey! Customer confidentiality!"
"Exactly," Louis nodded.
All of the carnivores on display turned away, knowing none of them would be picked.
"Well, anything else you might want? Strength, fur shine, libido..." Marcel started listing off a myriad of benefits the carnivore parts could give Louis.
It was sickening. This was sickening. But the buck kept his smile. "Perhaps libido."
A few carnivores jumped up hearing that.
"Hawk talons can increase libido in herbivores!" one of them claimed.
"No, no! Bear ears ground up and inserted into the nose!"
"Alligator genitals! There's no better boost!"
Louis was taken aback by the carnivores all so anxious to sell themselves, suddenly.
The buck kept calm. This is worse than I thought.
Madarao's hand grasped his shoulder as he ducked down, slightly. "Alright, do you need me to tell you which ones are bluffing?"
"That's fine." He looked at the hand on his shoulder. "What about claws?"
"Not on sale, like I said. You really that desperate for a piece of me?" Madarao sneered and cocked his head.
"I enjoy wolves. Call me whatever you want, I don't care."
"Ah, ah! I was right!" Marcel beamed.
"What happened to you and 'customer confidentiality?', then?"
"Shut up, Mads! This guy is oozing it."
The wolf snorted. "Well, sorry, buck! You'll have to find parts for your wolf collection elsewhere."
"I don't have a collection," the deer responded.
"So, you came back here to start one? No wonder I never saw you around before. Well, if you go after the Okamigumi for that, you won't get far, I'll tell you that, deer!"
Louis rolled his eyes. "I have no interest in that or starting anything."
"Then what are you really here for?"
"What else can you sell me?"
"Go see for yourself! All of their body parts are labeled!" Marcel chimed in.
"...Ah, alright."
The deer looked around, at each of the labels and the carnivores perked up as he did so.
Louis took a mental note of them. He reminded himself that they were also selling kids here and that...couldn't stand.
He looked around the room further, which was a fairly large open space with some doors in the back. One of them would no doubt lead down to where they were keeping them. "I apologize, but where is your bathroom?"
"Oh, just through that door and the first door on your right," Marcel pointed.
Louis walked forward and went through, closing the door behind him. The buck took a few moments to gather himself before he began sneaking around, opening the doors quietly and peeking in the rooms.
Every door that opened revealed simple offices and nothing more. One of them was the back exit he and Roku were scouting last night. He kept moving along, constantly checking this way and that for anyone who might catch him.
He eventually got to a door that was locked. The only door in that back area. It had to be the entrance to where they kept the kids.
After he got the intel he needed, he went back to where Marcel and Madarao were.
"Made up your mind yet?" Marcel asked.
"I think I'm going to wait until wolf parts are available."
Madarao shuddered. "Ugh, don't say it like that."
The meerkat, however, wanted to guarantee this transaction. "Hey, if you give me your contact info I can let you know when a wolf comes in willing to sell!"
The deer nodded. "Perfect. Ready?"
Marcel took down the number from his flip phone in a notebook he kept in his shirt pocket.
"Will that be all?" Louis asked.
"You tell me. You're the customer."
He nodded and gestured to the two. "Have a good day."
"Yeah. Don't get eaten," Madarao called after him.
"As if you care," Louis mumbled, then exited. The buck walked away from the building and took out his phone, dialing.
"Shi," Ichi's voice came deep and plain from the other end.
"Hey. I snuck around a bit and I found the room where they're keeping the kids. It's close to the back entrance."
"Okay. How's the opposition?"
"There are only two animals here. A wolf and a meerkat."
"Hmm, surely there will be more. Wait by the back entrance and stay out of view. We'll be there, momentarily."
"Okay." He did just that, waiting.
Soon, Ichi and Ni appeared, donning their uniforms and masks: Ichi, a lion, and Ni, a bear.
"The rest are coming. Ni will go in and clear the main room," Ichi said, casually. "We will wait for the rest of the team before moving in on the livestock trade."
"What do you mean by 'clear'?"
"Kill the meerkat and wolf you spoke of, and any carnivore selling themselves that proves to be a problem. We need a clear and safe exit for the kids," Ichi explained, calmly.
"K-kill them?"
The older deer blinked. "Do you have a better plan?"
"We can't just subdue them?"
Ichi and Ni exchanged a look, not speaking.
Louis blinked. "Well?"
The leader crossed his arms. "Shi, if we subdue them, then what? They will get in our way, later, and we'll just have to kill them, then. These are dangerous animals that exploit others to survive. I understand your attachment to your wolf clouds your logic, but this is something you will need to learn in the black market."
"But—"
"Just let me do my job," Ni interjected. "Keep quiet and do as you're told."
Louis swallowed. "...Okay."
"I won't expect you to do any fighting," Ichi assured. "Just keep your guard up and stand by to help the kids."
"And you said Hachi will be assisting me, right?"
"Correct. They'll be coming with the others, soon."
"Alright. Sorry for before."
"You're new. It happens." Ichi turned to Ni. "So, what do you think?"
"I think this will be an easy mission. I could even take them out without them seeing me."
"That will be best. Of course, there will probably be more than those two. How are you with kids?"
"In what way?"
"You won't accidentally kill any, right?" Ichi's smirk could be heard on his voice through his mask.
"No promises," Ni joked.
Louis blinked. "Try not to, please."
"Want me to assist?" Ichi asked the serow.
The goat turned. "I don't need your help."
The leader sighed and walked forward to lean against the wall next to the door. "Come back when you're done, then."
Ni huffed behind his mask and walked past them. "This will be quick."
"Of course it will," Ichi remarked.
The goat disappeared and Louis looked at Ichi.
"You have your mask, right? Might want to put that on, soon."
"I do." Louis took the item out of his satchel and got it situated on his face. "We're...doing a good thing here, right?"
"You have doubts about saving children who were born to be eaten?" Ichi cocked his head, scowling.
"Ni isn't going to kill those carnivores being sold, is he?"
"If they don't attack him, probably not."
"That's somewhat comforting."
It was eerily silent for a minute, Ichi staring off to the side the entire time. Louis noticed his blood vial was now decorated with a wooden deer skull, wooden antlers inserted into holes on the top.
The buck smiled a bit behind his mask. "Is that what you were whittling?"
"Yes."
"Well, it looks nice."
"Thank you."
"How do I look in my mask?"
"Odd. I think that has more to do with your growing antlers, though."
"Not the fact that it's a despicable wolf?" Louis teased.
"We all wear carnivore masks, although the reason you chose yours makes me uncomfortable..." Ichi explained.
"Oh, get over it." Louis' head tilted up a bit, clearly rolling his eyes.
Ichi looked away again and clicked his tongue. At that moment, loud bangs emanated from inside and a moment later, a few naked carnivores burst out of the door, screaming.
Louis jumped back, eye wide, watching them.
Ichi chuckled. "Ni got sloppy. That's rare for him."
The noises inside continued, sounding like rapid fire gun shots. Ichi drew his own gun, a machine pistol with an extended mag, and peered into the doorway.
Louis did the same, albeit with some fumbling. He did not want to kill any carnivores today, or ever.
Madarao suddenly rushed past them down the hallway, seemingly not noticing their heads poked through. He had a submachine gun clutched close to his chest. Ichi stepped in and stalked after him.
"Ichi! Don't kill him!" Louis shouted.
"He's going to get help," Ichi replied, coldly. "Where do you think you're going?" he called out after the wolf.
Louis stood still, watching the deer.
Madarao turned around and aimed, but something stopped him. Louis saw Ichi tense up, and suddenly the wolf started to shake.
"Wh-wh-what the fuck, man? What the fuck!"
"Drop your gun." Ichi commanded.
Louis noticed Ni watching from the other end of the hall, his one-handed scythe bloody.
Madarao wavered, his weapon swaying. "Wh-what the fuck are you?"
"I'm here to bring justice." Ichi was upon the wolf in a few seconds, grabbing the gun from his hands and throwing it down. Madarao's back was against the far wall, cowering.
"N-no! Help! Someone!"
"Nobody's here to help you. You'll pay for what you're doing to those kids."
"I-I don't do anything to them! It's the others! I only d-deal with hyper drugs! Pl-please!"
"Ichi!" Louis called out.
Ni came forward quickly, to him. "Shut it, Shi. Let him take care of it."
The deer swallowed. "But he's going to kill him!"
The serow raised his weapon. "Do you see this? It's covered in blood."
Louis watched a drop of crimson fall to the ground. "But..."
"That's just how it is back here. Our work is bloody work, but wouldn't you rather kill this one wolf and save ten kids?"
The buck leaned against the wall and looked down, shaking his head. "This is too much.."
Ni turned to Ichi. "Go on."
Ichi had been intimidating the wolf the whole time. He now held the gun to his forehead. "You are still culpable by working with carnivores that sell children to be eaten. Face your death with dignity, at the very least."
Ichi's Chimera proved to be too much for the wolf, who had been reduced to sobbing and repeating 'I'm sorry!' over and over.
Louis just watched in horror. What else could he do? Ni was right here. He would stop him if he tried.
The whimpering was cut off by a BANG, and Madarao's body slumped to the floor. Ichi turned on his heel and walked to the others. "I can hear movement below. We will regroup outside with the others." He looked at Ni. "What of the meerkat?"
Ni answered him quickly. "I disposed of him as well. Let's get moving."
Louis stared at the blood that had sprayed on the wall, feeling hot all of a sudden, his ears ringing.
Before he could think any further, the serow grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly along. "Snap out of it. This isn't the time for this."
Outside, a truck with a small, covered trailer had pulled up, driven by Roku. Hachi, Kyuu, and Go hopped out.
"Alright, show me where them kids are at!" Go spouted, but Hachi put a hand on his arm and shook their head, pointing to themselves. "Oh, right. That means I get the fun stuff!" His eyes landed on Louis. "Try not to let all the carnivore deaths around you distract you."
The buck was still shaken from the one he'd seen before. Madarao looked similar to Legosi…
The group walked forward, stopping outside the entrance as they heard a door inside open, followed by some footsteps. "Holy shit, what the fuck happened here?" a voice was heard.
Louis was just looking at the ground, his mind racing.
Go moved forward. "Looks like we have more to take care of."
"Astute as always," Kyuu muttered.
"Well, someone has to be!" Go fired back. "Come on, come on, come on!"
"Yo, you hear that?" someone from inside asked.
"Quit making so much noise," Ni told Go and he got an eye roll in return.
"It's fine, Ni," Ichi said. "We'll lure them out and pick them off."
"Lure them out?" Go frowned. "We can take them if we rush in."
"If they have guns, your claws won't be very effective," Ni explained. "Have some patience."
"Hey, the back door is open!" All the herbivores stepped away once they heard that, ready for the first animal to show up. As it turned out, it was a fox with a pistol drawn.
Kyuu jumped into action, throwing her rope around him and yanking him forward. The fox yelped, but before he knew it he was tied up.
Ichi walked over. "We'll hold him hostage and draw all of his little friends out."
Louis was having a tough time, clearly, but Hachi grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it, then stepped in front of him.
Go groaned at this. "You can't protect him from this forever, you know."
Hachi just squinted at him.
Louis felt a little more at ease. At least Hachi was looking out for him. He decided they were his favorite member at the moment, beside San.
The fox stopped struggling as soon as he realized it was pointless. He started to shout. "Guys! Run! It's the mask freaks! They found us!" There were noises from inside.
Go looked at Ichi. "Welp. He gave us away. Can I finish him off, now?"
"Some may still come for him, and the ones that don't will clear out of the building, which is what we want anyway. Do gag him, though," the buck ordered.
"Aw...ugh." Each member, besides Louis, was given multiple objects to gag animals with, and now Go took out one of his, going to the fox and gagging him with it. "You better let me at least get one, Ichi. You didn't last time."
The vulpine's legs squirmed as he was gagged, leaving only desperate grunts.
"You will, Go. Calm down."
Soon, a few more carnivores appeared by the doorway, only to find themselves held up by Ichi's gun and Ni's scythe brought up to their necks. They held their hands up and dropped their guns at the buck's orders.
"Wh-what do you want?" one of them asked.
"How many more of you are in there?" Ichi asked, calmly.
"Only us left," a dingo answered. "Rest ran off."
"The kids. Are they kept under this building?"
The carnivores nodded, slowly.
Hachi looked to Ichi for their orders.
"Hachi, take their guns and put them in the truck."
The elk was already moving after he said this, taking the weapons from the carnivores and setting them in the truck, gently, along with any extra ammo they may have been carrying.
Louis watched, astounded. At least they were only disarming them and nobody else was dying. He stayed alert, anyhow, knowing the children still had to be saved.
Ichi looked over his underlings, and then back to the carnivores. "Do you lot know how to fight?"
The carnivores just stared at him, dumbfounded.
"We've levelled the playing field. You no longer have your guns, and four of these herbivores have weapons to match your claws and jaws. I think now is a good time for a spar." He stepped back, holding his hands up. "I have a firearm, so I must step out for this one. Don't run away or you'll die, instantly."
Go looked at Ichi, astounded. "You really mean it, boss?"
"Of course! Ni, Kyuu, Hachi, that means you too."
The goat just looked to the side.
Hachi pointed to their sword and tilted their head.
A Tasmanian devil shouted, "You're fucking insane!"
"It's a chance to live, though," a raccoon pointed out, although he sounded unsure of himself.
Go clicked his claws together. "A little one. Oh boy, this is gonna be fun!"
"Do you have to act like such a child?" Ni came forward. "Ichi, can we use our weapons? That's what Hachi is asking."
"I said the weapons level the playing field, so yes."
Even though he was reprimanded, Go made a noise of excitement. "Which one of them is the biggest one? I wanna take him on!"
Hachi came forward, pulling Louis and pointing to go stand next to Ichi, which he did, remaining silent, all the while. This was insane.
"Oh, Kyuu? Untie that fox. It'd be barbaric of us to kill him while tied up," Ichi called out.
The rabbit did so, and the fox scrambled to his carnivore friends.
Louis felt sick at that. What do you mean? You killed a defenseless wolf...Is it because he looked like Legosi...?
The four herbivores got prepared for the fight, Go bouncing back and forth on his feet, Hachi drawing their blade from its fancy sheathe, Ni getting in position with his sickle, and Kyuu reaching into her ears for her knives, which still stuck out despite her panda mask.
Ni had his eyes on the biggest carnivore there, a black bear, and Go noticed this. "Uh- uh, no way. That one is mine! I called it!"
"You can't even reach his head."
Go fumed. "I can reach your head, fucker."
"Please. You'd be dead in an instant."
"Whatever. Fine, I'll take the fuckin' fox."
Louis couldn't comprehend this. These herbivores were treating this like some game. They may be saving children, but this...this was too much. Maybe one of the carnivores would win…?
Ni spun his one-handed scythe. "Shall we begin, Ichi?"
Ichi had his hands casually in his trench coat pockets, the wide, glass eyepieces of his lion mask staring out, eerily. "Go ahead."
The alligator mask-wearing Roku opened the window of the truck and leaned out to watch.
The goat breathed slowly behind his mask, stepping in front of the black bear. "I'll let you have the first move."
The ursid sneered. "You're really wearing a bear mask while fighting me? That's ridiculous."
"10 seconds to make the first move."
"You know you're going to lose, right?"
"7 seconds to make the first move."
"Come on."
"4 seconds."
The bear grunted and rushed forward, swiping with his big paw, but Ni was incredibly fast, dodging his arm and spinning as he moved past him, swiping for the carnivore's head.
In one swift moment, it was clean off the animal's shoulders and Louis felt his stomach drop, running off to the side and ripping his mask off, vomiting almost immediately.
Ichi looked over to the barfing deer, and then looked forward again. The bear's carnivore friends had about the same reaction Louis did. The ones that didn't just looked terrified.
Kyuu stepped forward, avoiding the large corpse that now lay on the ground. "Ichi, if one of them wins their battle, they get to go free?"
"Yes, that seems fair."
The rabbit turned to the carnivores. "You hear that? Whoever can beat me gets to go free."
The carnivores talked amongst themselves, and the raccoon emerged, being one of the smaller animals.
"A-alright! I've taken some martial arts classes before! I can disarm an animal with a knife!"
Kyuu smiled. "Disarm this." She attached her knives to the ends of her ropes and began to swing them above her head in a hypnotic motion.
The raccoon's eyes were soon drawn above her head, a baffled look upon his face. Kyuu used the distraction of her Chimera to bring the ropes down, wrapping around him. She wasted no time grabbing one of the knives and moving it forward, slicing his jugular open.
The carnivore went limp as she released him, his blood draining onto the pavement, pooling around him. She flicked the mess off her blade and went to join her teammates.
Go clapped, his claws clinking in the process. "My turn! Come here, foxo!"
After seeing two of his companions die, the fox was clearly disturbed to the core, shaking as he stepped forward.
The red panda came forward, lifting his mask. "Don't worry. You can have the first blow for free. Go ahead and punch me in the face."
"What?"
"Just do it!" He held his arms out. "I'm ready!"
"U-uh...Okay..." The fox reared his arm back and brought it forward, Go's head whipping back as he was punched in the face.
Blood began leaking out of his nose, dripping onto the pavement, but he grinned behind his fox mask, bringing a clawed hand up, digging into the carnivore's chin and bringing him over his body, slamming him into the ground, hearing a snap as the animal's neck broke in the process. "Shit! Fuck! That was an accident! I meant to kill him with my claws! I guess I brought him down at the wrong angle. Whoops."
Ni looked at him. "And you wonder why you weren't allowed to kill last time."
"Hey! Fuck you! I'm usually good at it!" He looked down at the dead fox, frowning as he put his mask back down. "Why'd you have to die so easily?"
Louis was sitting criss crossed now, mask lifted on his head and face buried into his hands. This was too real. He had just started getting comfortable with the group, but now...he was thrown into a crimson sea and there was no swimming to shore.
Hachi was next, stepping up to the dingo they were going up against. The canine didn't seem as phased by the deaths as the fox did. "I'm starting to think this was never a fair fight."
Hachi just stared at him, intensely, katana at the ready.
"I'm gonna go all out. Let's do this!" He moved forward and started punching and swinging, the elk dodging every move with grace.
"Haha! They're playing with him!" Go laughed. "Ichi, can I kill the devil while they do that?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah, there's an extra one. Yeah, you need to get your claws wet."
"Fuck yes! Move aside!" He ran forward to take care of the carnivore.
Hachi continued to dodge every swipe and attack from their opponent, at one point, using an opening to cut his arm off, even cleaner than Ni had done to the bear's head.
He screamed out in pain as blood sprayed from the wound and Hachi grabbed his other arm, looking him in the eye (the animal only seeing their snake mask), as they stabbed him, skewering them with their sword and then pulling it out quickly, the dog falling to the ground, dead, blood still spilling from the wounds.
By this point, Louis was sobbing, his hands wet with tears. He thought he might be tough about this. He was even a little confident, at the start, but now...knowing carnivores were dying right now, seeing a canine that looked similar to Legosi get shot...He felt like throwing up again.
"Okay! Got him!" Go called out, taking his right hand's clawed fingers out of the Tasmanian devil's eye sockets and cheeks, and his left hand's out of his gut. He came over to the group, the metal still dripping red. "That was a lot better than the fox. Guess I have been shirking my training lately."
Ni shook his head. "I told you, but you never listen."
The bloody red panda waved his hands. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's go get those fuckin' kids already."
Hachi moved to Ichi after wiping their blade clean and sheathing it, pointing to the still crying Louis.
Their leader crouched down and placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. "It's over, Shi. We're going inside, now."
"I can't do this. I can't do this, Ichi. You never told me it was going to be like this," Louis sniffed. Being with Legosi had made him soft and vulnerable. Usually, he would hide his feelings, but now, they were on full display.
"I told you many times, Shi. Of course, nothing would prepare you for the actual thing. Although, I must say, today was a bit different, but that was only because I was feeling chivalrous. We usually don't give them a fighting chance."
"That's even worse. I saw a bear get decapitated, Ichi. I want to go home. I want to be with Legosi," Louis said, shaking as he spoke.
"This operation is almost complete, Shi. Please see it through to the end." Ichi hoisted him up with surprising strength. "Hachi, calm him down, please."
The elk came over and turned around, bending their knees, and pointing to their back.
Louis sniffed. "You want me to...get on?"
They nodded.
It would make it easier. He did so and they lifted him up, looking at their leader, nodding again.
"Take your masks off, as well. The children will be frightened," Ichi explained.
"Pffft. The masks are the least of their worries, once they see the blood," Go chuckled.
Louis' cheek was pressed against the elk's back, and they held his legs, which made him feel comforted, in a way. At least there would be no more death. They just had to save the children.
What if it had been Lee in there? Louis would definitely do what it took to save him...right? What if it were...him in there? He would want to be free as well. He did want to be free when it was him.
These kids deserved to be rescued. But...what then? Did Ichi have a plan? He hoped so.
Ichi entered the building, on guard in case any other carnivores were around. Hachi and Louis followed, the buck trying his hardest not to look at Madarao's corpse as they neared it to get to the locked door, now wide open. There was a small platform that led to descending, stone stairs.
They continued down the steps, the sound of their movements echoing on the walls as they descended.
Louis kept his eye closed, picturing Legosi. He knew he should be strong, but how could he? Any sane animal would have reacted how he did. At least it was almost over.
They came to the bottom of the stairs, the only lights around them being naked bulbs screwed into the ceiling.
Murmurs and whimpers came from behind the only door down there. Hachi pushed it open.
Inside, was a small room with four cages in it. One had two calves in it, another a bunny, and a third had a lamb.
It was the last cage that caught Louis' attention, however. Curled up in the corner of his cage was a wolf pup, eyeing them with fear and curiosity.
Louis felt tears again, but he didn't let them fall. "Hachi, please put me down."
The elk did as was asked, and Louis quickly went to the wolf pup's cage, being the only animal not tainted with blood. "Don't be afraid. We're here to save you." His eyes were still moist from the previous bout of emotion.
Hachi, themself, went to the cage with the two calves, pulling out a small yellow flower (having gotten a little crushed) and smiling, showing them they meant no harm.
Footsteps came from the stairwell and soon Roku entered. "Ichi sent me, saying he found a keyring on one of the corpses. Probably opens the cages." He stopped once he comprehended the scene, fully. "Holy shit...I'm glad those bastards paid."
Meanwhile, the wolf pup released a noise in between a whine and growl, crawling over to Louis. Like the other animals, he had no clothes and his fur was matted. Having researched wolves quite a bit the past few months, Louis determined that he was a Mongolian wolf.
The buck smiled, trying to comfort the boy. "Hey...Come here."
The horse walked over with the keys. "Woah, they sell carnivore kids, too? Guess you're in your element, now." He unlocked the cage, which creaked as it swung open.
The wolf flinched back, but then crawled forward
again.
Louis waited for him to get close, ignoring Roku. "I promise I won't hurt you."
Hachi waved him over to unlock their cage.
The equine moved to do so, and the wolf pup crawled out of the cage, standing up. He looked to be around five years old. He turned to the other animals in the cages and started to whine.
Louis stayed squatting. "Can you come closer? They're going to be okay."
Hachi handed the flower to one of the calves, keeping their pretty smile. They reached their hand out for one of them to grab it.
Roku moved to unlock all of the cages, helping Hachi coax them out as well. The wolf stood by Louis, watching the other animals with big eyes.
The deer slowly reached up and pet between the wolf's ears, softly.
The pup's small tail waved slightly, and his shoulders relaxed, but his gaze was still on his fellow children. They all, eventually, came out of their cages, and once they did, the wolf ran up to wrap them up in a big, group hug, causing them all to wail out, loudly.
Louis felt his heart break a little at this. "Can we please leave, now? I don't think I can take much more of this."
"We just have to coax them upstairs, or convince them to let us carry them," Roku concluded. "They're clearing the bodies up there so the kids don't have to see them. Ichi wants to bring them to a clinic back here in the market. Says he knows the panda who runs it."
"That sounds good. I know that panda as well." He walked over to the group of kids, still looking at the wolf pup.
Hachi gestured for the kids to go up the stairs.
The wolf growled slightly and held the kids closer.
Louis put a hand on his head, rubbing. "It's okay. You're safe now."
"We have some food in the truck. Uh, I guess they can't understand us, huh? I'm just saying they might come if they know there's food." Roku crouched down and pretended to eat something before rubbing his stomach. The kids just looked at him in confusion.
"We might have to have someone bring something down," Louis suggested. "I don't think they get what you're telling them and Hachi can't speak, so they definitely can't understand them."
"Try to pick one up, maybe? We need to clear out before the Okamigumi comes and checks in. Which means we need to leave, like, now."
Louis slowly reached down to grab the wolf boy. "It's going to be okay..."
The child's hands reached down to his friends as he cried out.
"Let him know he won't be separated from them," Roku suggested. He picked up the rabbit and the sheep, standing close to Louis.
"It's okay!" Louis said, keeping his voice calm and soft. "You're not going to be separated from your friends." He held him close, even though he was thrashing around.
Hachi grabbed the two calves and they began making their way back up the stairs.
After a few seconds of being embraced, the wolf calmed down and his breathing started to slow. All of them ascended and were in the hallway, once more, Madarao's body now gone, leaving a bloodstain.
Louis couldn't help but shield the child's eyes as they moved past, exiting the building quickly and meeting with the group again.
"Wow. Shi actually helped? With the way he was crying, I thought we were gonna have to go down and rescue him, or something," Go laughed.
Ni whacked the back of his head with the pommel of his blade. "Quiet. Get back in the truck."
"Damn! Okay!" Go hissed, but turned and did just that.
Ichi looked at the entourage emerging from the building, his mask now removed. "Were there any empty cages down there?"
Roku shook his head. "No, sir. Four cages, and the calves were sharing one."
"I see...I just hope we saved as many as we could. Anyway, I'll give you the directions to drive to." He turned to Louis, opening his mouth to say something, but then stopping. "...Really. A wolf? What were the chances..."
"Shut the fuck up, Ichi. I'm done for today." He walked past him and set the pup inside the car.
Ni looked at the deer with the tangled antlers after what Louis had said.
The deer blinked before shrugging. "Fine. We'll take it from here. Drop your stuff off at the tower and go home."
"Thank you." Louis honestly felt numb at everything that had happened, and his eyes gazed over at the large amount of black blood covering the pavement. "Do I have to go alone?"
Ichi looked over everyone there. "Anyone want to escort our newest member back?"
No one, not even Hachi, volunteered, but after a few moments, Go broke the silence. "Sure, I'll do it, I guess. Maybe I can tease him along the way."
Louis just looked at him with a blank face, unwavering.
Everyone else piled into the truck, putting the children in as well. Go got out.
The two bid farewell to the animals and set off, the red panda putting his hands behind his head, claws now put away. "Man! What the fuck was that back there, Shi?"
Louis didn't respond.
"You can't be a pussy like that every time we go on a mission. It's pathetic."
Still, nothing. Go shut up after that.
After a while, he spoke again. "You're disappointing, you know that? Ichi built you up to be the greatest animal whoever lived, or some shit, but then we get this bullshit instead? I mean, a carniwhore with a canine fetish? It's the last thing we need."
Louis still paid no mind to him, looking forward as Go continued on.
"And then when we go on your first real mission, you curl into a ball and cry like a little bitch? It's just...wow, Shi. We really were better off without you."
Now, Louis turned to him, looking down at his face.
"What?"
WHACK!
Go crashed to the ground, yelping. "What the fuck?! What's wrong with you?!" He got up and brushed himself off.
"I don't want to hear it. Leave me alone," Louis snapped.
"You need to hear it, dude! I'm telling you to wake up and shape up! If you're just gonna hold us back, then there's no need for you."
"I never asked for this. I was forced into it, remember?"
"Considering your wolf's life is on the line, you better never hit me again."
"I apologize, but you're not exactly the most pleasant to talk to, right now. And my head is jumbled up with everything. I still feel like throwing up. Can you please just stop hating me for one second?"
The other herbivore rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, fine. I'll give you a break. I think I know what the issue is, though. That span of silence got me thinking."
"..."
"Well, think about it. You've never killed anyone before, right? So your mind is still pure. Death isn't normal for you yet. But back here, in the BAM, it is normal, and I think that's why you don't fit in," Go explained.
"..."
"So, what I'm saying is, you just need to get your first kill! It will make the rest much easier, man!"
"..."
"I don't want to talk the rest of the way," Louis said.
Go crossed his arms. "...Fine. But think about what I said."
Once they arrived at the tower, Louis spoke to no one as he put all his things away and then exited, hastily, ready to completely collapse from the sheer mental exhaustion he was facing.
San poked his long neck out from his cell when he saw him. "Hey, Louis?"
"I don't want to talk," the buck answered.
"Oh, okay. Are you going home by yourself? It's getting dark."
"I honestly want to die, myself, right now. I don't know. This is too much. I need sleep."
San walked toward him. "Well, that's not a good outlook to have while walking alone in the black market. I'll go with you, but I won't talk if you don't want me to."
Louis looked at him, seeing his soft gaze. "May I get...a hug? I'm sorry, I just need some comfort."
The alpaca smiled and his arms were around him in an instant. "I know why you're feeling like this. I'm sorry."
"I don't want to talk about it." He squeezed him tighter. "I still feel sick." The plushy wool was helping, even if just a little.
San squeezed him, tighter. "I'll try and talk to Ichi about it. Maybe you can fulfill a role closer to mine. I don't see much action, after all."
"...Maybe. I just want to be home."
"Then, let's get you home."
Dinner for tonight was macaroni and cheese. It had actually been finished for around an hour now, and Legosi kept looking at the time. It was almost 9 PM.
Louis did mention the job going a bit into the night, but he didn't expect it to go as long as the previous night.
He grumbled as he turned himself on the couch, his stomach growling. He wanted to avoid texting Louis and possibly distracting him from whatever he was doing.
The door unlocked and opened, slowly, and shut behind Louis as he walked in, with a tired and traumatized eye.
Legosi sat up, smiling, but the cheerful expression disappeared as soon as he saw the deer's face. He got up and scurried over. "Lou? Lou? What happened?!"
"Legosi..." And then he shattered, falling against the wolf's chest, sobbing out loud and legs turning to jelly. He could barely stand.
Legosi lifted Louis up so he wouldn't fall, carrying him over to the futon and placing him on it, quickly laying on top of him to try and give him some sense of security from whatever happened today. He stroked his head, whispering, "I'm here, Lou, I'm here. You're safe now. You're home."