Hey ya'll whats up. So I've been looking at the FAQ and Tech Support: Ask Questions Here Forum, and it seems like a lot of people are reposting and/or moving to Archive of our Own. I was wondering if that would be a good idea for me to do as well. I'd continue posting the story here, but I'd also have it on Archive of our Own. If anyone wants to share their opinions with me, I'd be happy to consider them.
Disclaimer: Don't own this awesome story known as One Punch Man. Credit as usual goes to One and Murata.
Chapter Fourteen: Weakness
Tatsumaki said nothing. Her arms remained by her side. Tatsumaki simply stared at this man's back.
"I was wondering when you'd come find me. It was only a matter of time," Ryu continued, staring into the sky.
"For the longest time, I would stare out this window, watching for a green haired little girl to come and claim me.
"And now, here you are," Ryu said, turning to face her. His eyes were gray, cold and lifeless. They held no compassion, no mercy.
So much like hers.
His face had begun to wrinkle with age, and a beard covered his jaw.
"You were the pinnacle of my achievements. You led to such advancements in my understanding of psychics. So much we could not have done without you."
"You tortured me," Tatsumaki whispered. "Broke me. You filled me with hate and set me loose on the world. You made me a killing machine."
"I did more than that," Ryu said. "I created the most powerful esper this world has ever seen. I created the second most powerful being in the hero association. The Tornado of Terror.
"Without me you never would have attained your level of power. Had we more time, perhaps you could have grown even stronger."
"Why?" Tatsumaki asked. "Why did you do it? You took me from my home and stole my childhood. You took away everything I cared about. But why?"
"Because of Blast," Ryu spat. "He was disrupting the natural order of the world. He challenged the monsters in the dark and brought them to the light. You've seen it. The increase in monsters over the years. Have you ever wondered why? Every time Blast killed a monster, two more took its place. It was a never ending hydra that would consume the world if I let it. The formation of the Hero Association only made it worse.
"'For every action there is an opposing and equal reaction.' Did you not think this to be true? Monsters appeared more and more frequently, and although most were not powerful enough to be a threat, some devastated cities before 'Blast' was able to kill them.
"I knew I had to put an end to him. To Blast. I didn't know how until I came across the Psychic Analysts Society of Science. Until I came across you.
"You were alive with potential. So young, yet already powerful enough to create earthquakes on the other side of the continent in your sleep. I did everything I could to make you stronger.
"And yet, even now, as you stand here stronger than you have ever been before, I fail to believe you have the power to beat him. Blast is simply too powerful."
Tatsumaki snorted. "Tell me something I don't know."
Ryu snapped his head to glare at her.
"What, did you really believe some kid was going to take down Blast? I'm number two for a reason. If Blast had been at the Monster Association, they wouldn't have even needed me. Psychos, Orochi, Black S, even Garou would have been nothing to him. You're a fool Ryu. Not only that but a coward. If you wanted to beat Blast you should have done it yourself," Tatsumaki snapped.
"And how exactly do you propose I do that?" Ryu asked.
"Uh, train? Look at Darkshine. He was once a scrawny kid, even weaker than you until he started training. Now look at him. He's second in strength only to King. If you really wanted to get the job done, man up and do it yourself," Tatsumaki declared.
"You're more of a fool than I thought, girl," Ryu sneered. "No wonder it took you so long to find me. You have no concept of reality at all."
Tatsumaki made a Darth Vader gesture and Ryu gasped, clutching his neck as he was lifted off the ground. Tatsumaki floated up to meet him until their faces were but inches away.
"Your reality is that you are powerless. And I am not. So I'll tell you what. I'll give you the choice of how you die. Falling to your death from a thousand feet in the air, or you can be slowly taken apart, ripped to shreds, one piece at a time," Tatsumaki told him, staring him dead in the eye.
Ryu grinned at her. "You don't have the stomach for it."
In response, Tatsumaki thrust out her hand, blasting Ryu through the window, holding him there in the clouds.
Ryu just laughed. "Come now Tatsumaki. I know you. You were too weak to kill that boy back then. You can't do it now. You can pretend not to care about collateral damage, but you cannot look someone in the eye and willingly kill them."
Tatsumaki remained silent.
"Look at me Tatsumaki. Stare me in the eye and prove me wrong. Kill me. Kill me and take your revenge. Kill me and finish what was started all those years ago. Become the weapon I always knew you could be," Ryu exclaimed, eyes burning. Not with hate, or fear. But with passion. With the knowledge that he'd won. Ryu stared at her, begging her to drop him. To end his life and prove to him that he was right all along.
And by all the gods in the sky, she wanted to. She wanted to be rid of him. To send him to his death and finally put this part of her life behind her. To know for certain that he was gone. She wanted so badly to forget about him so he could never haunt her dreams ever again.
But she couldn't. Something was holding her back. Tatsumaki stared into his eyes and failed. She failed to kill him. Just as she had failed to escape his clutches a long time ago. She was just as weak now as she had been when she was just ten years old.
"Do it!" Ryu roared, challenging her.
"No," Tatsumaki whispered. More to herself than to Ryu. But he heard anyway. "You're right. I can't kill you. I'm too weak."
There was a silence between them as Tatsumaki stood there, eyes downcast, and Ryu stared at her, floating in the air.
A devilish grin broke out on her face. She looked at Ryu.
"But I know someone who's not."
Tatsumaki landed on the pavement, Ryu hovering beside her. Seconds later, Fubuki burst out of the doors and leaped at her, throwing her arms around Tatsumaki's neck.
"Tatsumaki! Are you alright? Where have you been? Who is this?" Fubuki asked.
"Where is Amai Mask?" Tatsumaki demanded.
"He's in the main dining hall, why?" Fubuki asked.
"I need him," Tatsumaki said, floating herself and Ryu inside.
Fubuki ran in after her, but was quickly left behind.
Tatsumaki burst open the doors to the main hall. It was quite crowded. Many of Fubuki's group members were there. As were Bang, The Demon Cyborg, and the Caped Baldy himself, Saitama. Amai Mask sat with them, eating pork until she arrived.
"You," Tatsumaki pointed at Amai Mask. He was telekinetically lifted from his seat and hovered behind Tatsumaki. He was so surprised, he didn't even react for a full five seconds.
"What the hell are you doing?" Amai Mask demanded, struggling against her bonds.
"I have need of you," Tatsumaki said, flying through the halls. She passed Fubuki, who turned and yelled after her. Tatsumaki ignored her, flying down the hallway.
Tatsumaki led them to a secluded area, away from Fubuki's hideout. She dropped them both and turned to Amai Mask.
"Kill him," Tatsumaki ordered.
"What?" Amai Mask asked.
"Kill him," Tatsumaki demanded again.
"No," Amai Mask said, crossing his arms.
Tatsumaki shoved Ryu forward with her telekinesis, pushing him to his knees. "Kill him!"
Ryu started to shudder. The act drew both of their attention. Then he started to make a noise. They soon realized it was a laugh. Ryu's laughs grew louder and louder, throwing his head back.
"What are you laughing at?" Amai Mask demanded.
"The irony! Oh yes the irony indeed. After all this time, my perfect little war machine still can't do it!" Ryu said, laughing to himself.
Tatsumaki stayed silent. Amai Mask glared at Ryu.
"I laugh at your weaknesses! Your failures! Your flaws! I know you, Tatsumaki. I created you. I know that every time you look in the mirror you see a dead woman. You stare into your soulless eyes and wonder why you still live. You hide your insecurities behind a mask of self-confidence and place them on everyone else. You have to be enough, because if you're not, you're nothing at all, except a scared little girl, kneeling on the ground, staring at her bloodied hands."
Ryu loosed a breath. His laughs died. Ryu looked up at Tatsumaki. "I can change that. I can change you. I did it before. I can take away your pain. I can get rid of your fear. You can become whole, the monster you were born to be."
Tatsumaki stared at him. Ryu stared back up at her, offering her a choice. She could do it. She could end his life with a mere flick of her wrist. Ryu challenged her, demanding she make the motion. But she couldn't.
Slowly, Ryu's expression turned dark. His eyes contorted into anger and disgust. His mouth turned down into a sneer.
"And you fail me again. How disappointing. What I thought to be my greatest achievement turns out to be a coward. What a disappointment. You're a disgrace, Tatsumaki. A stain on everything I've worked to create. You're nothing. You're weak and pathetic and useless! You're weighed down by your humanity, your weakness. Let it go Tatsumaki! Free yourself from the shackles you chain yourself to! You could be limitless, free to build a life that is longer bound by this society's rules, where you don't have to take orders from anyone ever again! Where you'll never be captured and imprisoned! Where you don't have to hide!" Ryu screamed at her. "What has this world ever done for you? Why do you cling to it's hypocritical leaders and worthless laws? Burn it down and take what is yours! Start by killing me and exacting your vengeance from all those years ago!"
Tatsumaki flexed her fingers, every thought begging her to kill him, to do as he said. What a world she could live in where she wouldn't have to subject herself to anyone else, to never have to listen to anyone else ever again. She wouldn't have to fear anyone locking her up, or hurting her. She could release all the rage she had carried her whole life onto the world and let it burn as she had suffered her whole life.
But something stopped her. Some tiny voice in the back of her mind said No. This is wrong. And so Tatsumaki remained in place, staring at Ryu.
He sighed. "What a waste of potential. Imagine the things you could have done. Fine then. If you won't do it yourself, perhaps you need some motivation."
Ryu looked past her and smiled. "I'll kill your sister."
Enraged, Tatsumaki flung her arm out. She telekinetically grabbed Ryu by the throat and lifted him into the sky. "You will not touch her."
"Yes! That's the way Tatsumaki! Now finish it! Kill me once and for all! Claim your place as the strongest of them all and tear down this pitiful world you hate!" Ryu shouted.
Tatsumaki screamed, summoning more and more of her psychic power.
And yet, Ryu did not die.
Slowly, Tatsumaki lowered her arm. Ryu fell with it.
"You're right Ryu," Tatsumaki said. "I can't kill you. I'm not strong enough. And I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being weak. I don't want it anymore. I want to be rid of you! Why do you follow me everywhere I go! I'm tired of seeing you! I'm tired of seeing you every night when I go to sleep! I'm tired of seeing your face on every monster I kill! I'm tired of seeing your face when I look in the mirror! Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Tatsumaki sobbed, oblivious to those around her. Her world only consisted of her, and him. There was no monster, hideous yet beautiful standing behind him. Her sister who was her best friend and biggest rival did not exist. There was no martial artist who took her in and cared for her when she needed it most. There was no machine with a human face. No bald man in a yellow suit and white cape existed to shake the foundations of her world.
Ryu stood and approached her. He took her chin in his hands and lifted her face towards his. "You can make the nightmares end, Tatsumaki."
"No, I can't! I can't do it! Why won't you let me?" Tatsumaki asked, turning away from him.
"It's not me who's holding you back, Tatsumaki."
Tatsumaki knew this was true. Tatsumaki was weak. There was no other excuse. It was her weakness that prevented her from moving on.
This reality hit Tatsumaki a lot harder than even Saitama could.
Weak. She was weak. She had always been weak. She had failed because she was weak. She had lost because she was weak. It wasn't Saitama's fault, it wasn't Bang's or Metal Knight's or Ryu's fault. This was her fault, because she hadn't been strong enough to do anything about it.
Tatsumaki flinched at the sound of a sickening CRACK, followed by a THUD.
Tatsumaki did not move when a large green hand placed itself on her shoulder. She barely even felt it. Fubuki came and gently placed her arms around Tatsumaki. Even this failed to rouse Tatsumaki. She simply stared forward without looking.