a/n Hi guys! Well, things are finally getting back to normal for Ren, aren't they? Yeah, this chapter is one of those more lighthearted ones, probably the next one will be too before we start the final arc of the story.
Still, I don't think the story will be over just yet. I have written loads of scenes (or even chapters) that I later cut out for various reasons, but in most cases I still think they're pretty good and would love to share them :) Plus, Royal comes out pretty soon so after I complete it I will probably be willing to write some scenes based around the new stuff, or just release a "complete" and improved version of this story, we'll see about that. For now, let me know via the PM if you'd like to get some "deleted scenes" after I finish this story. :)
The stress of the past few days was still quite high in Ren, and the teenager felt like he was about to explode from the excess of energy. It was, however, still quite early in the morning, so most of his favorite places were closed, and he was not going to school that day because he didn't feel like it. So, he figured, the easiest way to blow some steam was to do some chores around Leblanc. The teen wasn't too proud about unwillingly helping Sojiro out, but well, there surely was a way he could make the man repay later.
„Bunch of assholes." He hissed, angrily squeezing the mop in a bucket „To think I was nearly stuck in that shithole forever..."
Rapidly, the door to LeBlanc opened and Sojiro entered his cafe.
„Where the hell have you been the entire day?" The bartender demanded to know, but quickly dropped the attitude „Listen up, we need to talk."
„Can't, busy right now." Ren denied not even looking at the old bartender.
Sojiro eyed him for a moment as the teen was still squeezing the mop and immediately paled.
„What on earth are you doing!?"
„Washing the floor, are you blind!?" Ren turned to face him „You could be a little more thankful, you know."
„But… But that's not a mop! That's a dead cat tied up to a wooden stick!"
„OK, listen up: First of all, he's not dead." The teenager took the cat out of the bucket „Right Morgana?" The cat, however, did not reply. „...Mona? Hey, wake up!" The boy demanded and shook quite violently, however without any effect. „Well, serves you right for ditching on me, you asshole!" The boy declared angrily before throwing the mop away and looking at the bartender.
Just as he did, however, he realized something is not right. It was way too early for Sojiro to open the store. What was the man doing here? What was he up to?
„It's way too early for you to open the store." Ren declared „What are you doing here? What are you up to?"
Sojiro already felt this situation will spin out of control quite soon. He, however, was not the one to back down anymore. Not after what that brat did to Futaba. He was not going to deny that he was scared of the boy, but there are some situations you need to stand your ground no matter what.
„I'm not going to deny that I am scared of you." The bartender started with a trembling tone „But there are some situations you need to stand your ground no matter what."
Ren rolled his eyes. This conversation already took too long. Either Sojiro would spit right now what he meant, or the teen was simply gonna leave. After all, he just remembered that the fishing area was open day and night.
„Look, this conversation is already taking too long. Either you spit right now what you mean, or I am leaving. After all..."
„You're going nowhere." The bartender blocked his path, and Ren raised his eyebrows surprised but also honestly a bit impressed by the man's sudden guts.
„OK, OK." the boy raised his hands defensively „Just tell me what you're talking about."
„I'm talking about Futaba." Sojiro reached into his pocket „I've found this in her room."
Angrily, the man placed something on one of the tables. It was an MP3 player, and the one Ren was very familiar with.
„Oh." The teen could not help but snicker „You did, huh? Did you enjoy it? I think I did especially good job with the fifth recording, I almost sound like the Prime Minister..."
„You have gone too far, kid." Sojiro interrupted him, clearly finding no humor in this situation „You have something against me – fine. You wanna wreck this place – fine. You have my fiance kidnapped by her military nutjob of a boyfriend – fine. But by raising your hand at Futaba..."
„Shut it, gramps." Ren raised his tone „I'm tired, you won't believe what I just went through. I am going to take a bath, when I come back your curry better be ready."
„You're going nowhere." Sojiro repeated himself „Not anymore. I am finally standing up for myself."
„What!?" Now really angry, Ren kicked the bucket between them causing the insides to spill out and walked so close to the bartender that he could feel his breath on his skin. „Whatever is that supposed to mean?" He asked, looking straight into the man's eyes
The bartender felt cold sweat literally dripping from him. Instinctively, he took a few steps back, but he was not going to run or back down. Not after he's gone so far.
„It means this is over, you brat." He tried to make his voice sound strong, but he realized it's cracking „I have called the police."
In this moment, the world started to spin uncontrollably around the teenager. His heart began pounding, he felt he was lacking oxygen. Alternately, he was feeling cold and hot and the vein on his temple pulsed more and more with every second.
„YOU DID WHAT!?" Ren yelled as he found the right words „YOU OLD FART, I'LL KILL YOU!"
Sojiro gasped, clearly not expecting the teenager to react this strongly. He tried backing away, but he slipped on the water from the bucket and fell painfully on his back.
Ren was always terryfying, but this time, he seemed to be absolutely out of his mind. There was something inhuman in his eyes. This was not Ren Amamiya, the guy who messes with people mostly for the laughs anymore. This was a full-on psychopath standing above Sojiro and the look in his eyes was more than confirming it. His face, usually simply twisted with a cocky, sarcastic smile now was nearly animalistic. The boy barred his teeth, breathing heavily before roaring and nearing in to the bartender, who desperately tried to back away..
It was at this moment that Sojiro Sakura knew he fucked up.
With one quick move, Ren reached into his pocket and soon in his hands was a shiny, sharp, 12- inch knife.
„Help!" Sojiro cried out with terror, but there was no one in LeBlanc. „Somebody help me!"
„You piece of trash!" Ren hissed as he had the man cornered against the LeBlanc door „Why? After everything I have done for you!?"
„What did you do for me?" The bartender protested weakly „All you did..."
„What? WHAT!? Are you serious right now? Answer me this, you bastard: When I burned down your house, did I also burn down LeBlanc? No, I did not! And could I have done that!? Yes, I could! Have I slashed your beautiful Futaba's throat when she was sleeping? No! And could I have done that? Yes, I could! So shut your mouth and don't ever ask me again what have I ever done for you!" Ren roared again as he rose up the knife preparing to strike down with as much force as he could. Sojiro closed his eyes and waited for the end.
With a small, almost unnoticeable „pop", a black cat respawned near the stairs. Having noticed the situation, he gasped with horror and immediately charged at the teen.
„Joker, NOOOOO!" He collided with Ren with full force, causing the boy to trip over Sojiro and bump into the wall as the bartended, still in shock, weakly crawled away from the door.
„You goddamn bastard cat!" Ren yelled as the furball landed next to him. „Are you on in this, too? You traitor!"
„Joker, calm down..." The cat started but soon two strong hands tightened up around his throat.
„Shut the fuck up!" Ren hissed „This time, don't come back."
The more Morgana was choking, the more Ren pushed on his throat. Sojiro was slowly coming to his senses. The situation continued until suddenly Ren heard someone clear their throat behind him. The teenager turned around and noticed two men in black suits glaring down at him.
„WHAT!?" He yelled, letting go of Morgana.
„Ren Amamiya." The man closer to him started „That is your name, yes? Charges have been filled against you. The person who raised those allegations is Sojiro Sakura, I'm assuming you know him."
Ren slowly turned to face the old bartender, who was now sitting near one of the tables, panting heavily.
„Had that been it, we wouldn't be here right now." The second man in black continued „However, your previous record of assault and setting fire to your grandmother's pancake restaurant, as well as drunk driving without license and three cases of attempted manslaughter means you're currently on probation, right?
„I didn't do anything wrong!" Ren yelled angrily
„Well then, you're coming with us." the first man in black declared „I'm sorry, but it has to be now."
„Finally." Ren turned back to Sojiro, who was now smiling „It's time you learn your place, you brat." His smile, however, grew smaller every second. „What? What is going on!? Arrest him, for crying out loud!
Ren looked back at the two men, who looked at each other.
Then, the one closer to Ren started to chuckle, and the teen, as well as the other man in black soon, joined him in what quickly turned out to be wholehearted laughter.
„Good one, good one, Iji-san." Ren smiled „You almost got me there for a second. How did you know?"
„Are you joking, sensei?" The man replied as he helped the boy get up „How would we forget the name of the person that is paying us so well?"
„Wait, what the hell!? Sensei!? What is going on!?" Sojiro yelled in shock, and the two men nodded at each other and began taking their suits off, but before they shown him their tattoos, Sojiro already knew what was happening. „Oh my God. Oh my God, you guys… you're his…!?"
„That's right!" Now it was Ren's time to smile at the man „Don't you know by now? I fucking rule this town. Police? Journalists? They're all mine. Hell, even the firefighters are in my pocket now."
The teenager slowly got up and neared in to Sojiro. Sure, his basic instinct told him he should just stab the man like he planned to do before, but… wouldn't that be too simple? Surely he could come up with a better revenge scheme. Right? He walked around LeBlanc for a few moments, contemplating and pretending not to see the once again pale Sojiro.
Morgana was observing him with fear, but couldn't really do anything, let alone run – as soon as he came back from that Inaba place, Ren contacted his gang members and soon after he received the electronic ankle monitor that fit just perfectly on Morgana's little paw. As the teenager explained installing the device on the cat, if Morgana ever had the guts again to walk more than 50 feet away from the teenager, the device would generate a shock of 10,000 fucking volts, grilling him on the spot.
Finally, the teenager looked straight at the bartender.
„Protection money."
„Protection money?" Sojiro asked „You mean, like..."
„That's right." Ren nodded his head „I expect 50.000 yen paid weekly in cash.."
„50.000 yen!?" The bartender yelled „But that's nearly the entirety of my weekly salary!"
„Okay, okay, then let's say 49.000 yen." Ren waved his hand „This is all your fault, so you could at least stop complaining, you know."
„That's right." One of the men in black nodded his head „We usually take only around a thousand yen per week, and if a business is poor we even offer financial assistance and all kinds of insurance, but you pissed off our leader, so..."
„...So you really have no right to protest." Ren equipped his knife „Well, unless you'd rather..."
„No, please!" The bartender jumped away „Okay, I'll do it! I'll pay you however much you want!"
„You better be." The teenager patted his shoulder as he walked past him and made his way to his room upstairs.
He could not help but snicker quietly. Sojiro probably thought he got away fairly safely, but Ren was not done with the man yet. Oh, not by a fucking longshot.
LINE BREAK
The air was so hot and dry in this place it was hard to breathe or even think, let alone protect a 15-year old grey-haired girl from dangers and Shadows.
„Wh-where are we?" Futaba asked, her eyes glassy as if she barely comprehended who she was „Y-you said..."
„I told you, didn't I?" Ren asked gently as the girl desperately clung to his hand „We're going to see your mother. You want that, don't you? Don't you want to see her again? To tell her how much you love her?"
„Yeah, but… but t-this place..."
„Just trust me, okay?" He gave her a warm smile „I know what I am doing."
Suddenly, yellow light started to gather up the stairs and Ren cursed in his mouth as a person appeared over there.
„Futaba Sakura! Remember..." The girl in the pharaoh's clothing started some kind of boring monologue.
„GAAH!" Futaba hugged the boy tighter „Who's that?"
BANG!
„Noone important." Ren answered calmly as he hid the gun in his pocket „Not anymore. Come on, let's go."
But in this moment, the foundation of the Pyramid started shaking suddenly and debris began falling from above.
„Ah, shit, I forgot." Ren facepalmed and picked up the pace. „Come on, let's go."
The two quickly rushed upstairs. Ren opted out of engaging in any combat, simply headshoting any Shadow. Futaba was still alive, contrary to every other person whose Shadow Ren eliminated before, which seemed to prove Ren's theory that being present in her own Palace will keep her alive until it totally collapses right. Thank God, everything in his plan relied on this unconfirmed theory. It truly was a gamble.
Finally, they reached the final door.
„Wakaba-san!" Ren yelled as they reached the top of the pyramid „Someone wants to see you!"
Rapidly, they were both quickly overshadowed by something. The teenagers looked up and the girl gasped as she stared at the winged figure with a familiar face.
„FUTAAABAAAA!" The creature hissed, hovering just above the Pyramide.
„What… What is this?" The girl asked confused and noted that suddenly Ren moved a few steps away from her „That's not my mom!"
„BUT I AM!" The creature hissed „BUT YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT! YOU'RE NO DAUGHTER OF MINE!"
„Wh-what?" The girls' eyes filled with tears „What do you mean?"
„YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A DEMON WHO STOOD IN MY WAY! I WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN! THAT WAY I COULD HAVE ANNOUNCED MY RESULTS WITHOUT HAVING TO WASTE MY TIME ON YOU!"
The girl fell to her knees.
„Mom, s-stop that..."
„I POURED MY HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS RESEARCH! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DISCOVERY OF THE CENTURY!"
Futaba hid her face in her hands, sobbing quietly
„YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!"
The girl looked up with terror.
„W-what?"
„THAT'S RIGHT! THIS TIME YOU ARE THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO DIE!" Futaba's mother yelled „YOU SHOULD HAVE BEHAVED YOURSELF! WHY COULDN'T YOU BE LIKE THAT KIND BOY OVER THERE!"
Upon noticing both of them glaring at him, the boy took a few steps forward.
„Well, I see that you two are in for a long, personal talk." He bent down in front of the creature „I do not wish to eavesdrop, so is it okay if I just leave?"
„SURE, KID. THANKS AGAIN!" The creature smiled at him „SORRY I DON'T HAVE ANY TREASURE OR ANYTHING THAT I COULD GIVE YOU. OH, FEEL FREE TO USE THAT SUPER-SECRET EXIT BEHIND THE COFFIN, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REACH THE ONE YOU CAME FROM."
„Will do." The boy bent down again „And don't mention it, I should be the one apologizing to you. I know that after Kaneshiro I sort of forgot about you, I hope you're not offended.
„NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST" Wakaba smiled as the Pyramid shook dramatically „WHOOPS! WELL, YOU BETTER GO!"
The boy nodded his head and quickly ran in the direction of the coffin. Futaba was observing him with her jaw dropped before he disappeared.
„H-hey, no!" She tried charging after him „W-wait!" But it was too late. The moment she extended her hand, the boy disappeared.
Futaba was left alone at the top of the shaking pyramid. Her mother's lookalike disappeared suddenly alongside with Ren. At least that's what she was thinking until she looked up and saw a huge silhouette lunging at her from the sky with its' claws opened.
„FUTAAAAAABAAAAAAAA!"
LINE BREAK
The same evening Ren went out into town to shop for some groceries, books and illegal chemical substances. He was on his way back to LeBlanc when his bag became very heavy without a clear reason. The teenager took a peek inside.
„Oh. Hey."
„Oh, hey!?" Half of the cat hissed from the inside (the other half was apparently still in the process of respawning) „Is this everything you have to say to me!? You fucking killed me, Joker! Again! And then you tried to do it once more!"
„Come on, it was a long time ago, don't tell me you're still angry."
„What the hell are you talking about! No, it was this morning!"
„Wait, I didn't choke you, did I? How come you're respawning?"
„How do you think?" The cat hissed „I ran after you! I tried to stop you, I was almost on top when a falling brick hit me right in the head! Do you have any idea how many times I've died because of you?''
„Six, I think?" Ren answered after a short pause „Or was it seven?"
Morgana's jaw dropped.
„That was a rhetorical… You know what, not important. Just please tell me you didn't actually do the thing I think you did?"
„I actually did the thing you think I did." The boy answered proudly „And it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!"
The cat bit his lip. How was it possible someone was so stupid.
„Joker." He took a deep breath „Don't you see what is happening? None of this is supposed to happen! You weren't supposed to do any of this. Think, Joker. The distortions seem to be getting worse! If a distortion was strong enough to cause a physical plot hole to appear, who knows what else has changed!?"
„Excuse me!" A young man handed Ren a leaflet „Please, sir, consider voting for Taranosuke Yoshida. Let's purge this mighty country of all the unworthy scum roaming its streets."
Intrigued, the teen skimmed the leaflet.
Half of the front side was taken by Yoshida's party logo (awfully similar to a swastika, but with arms bent in slightly different directions). Below was a message from Yoshida himself, mostly claiming that his party is not fascist, has no connection to fascism and doesn't support any kind of nazi ideologies, as well as threating legal actions against any person that claims otherwise and spreads the lies of the „liberal media".
The reverse side was taken up with a brief rundown of Yoshida''s ideology. According to the leaflet, the politician wanted to create mass internment camps for „the foreign cockroaches and homosexuals". Yoshida proposed also an ethnically clean state with no place for the „slanty-eyed Chinese" as well as execution of the currently ruling party members by publicly hanging them all.
„WOW." Morgana apparently finished respawning, as he climbed up on the boy's shoulder to read the paper and his jaw was now dropped. „What a sick bastard."
„You don't say.' Ren angrily squashed the leaflet „What the hell? These are all MY ideas! This dude stole my entire ideology!"
„WHAT!?"
„Oh my God." The teenager stopped suddenly with a smile.
Not so long ago, he hated visiting that place. But after all that shit he went through just recently, the sight of the familiar red door and of a red-dressed girl sitting at the top of them cheered him up like he never thought possible. That was the first time he felt he is back at home. The teen quickly ran in the direction of the door.
„Hey, been a long time, hasn't it?" The teen smiled „May I come in?"
But… Caroline did not react, simply staring off somewhere in the distance
„Hey, are you deaf!? I asked if I can come in!"
Still no reaction. The teen shook his head, irritated.
„Fine, I'll do it by myself."
He tried to grab the handle of the door to the Red Room, but as soon as he touched he felt an immense pain, almost like the handle was on fire.
„Ow! What the hell?"
Suddenly, the girl jumped down, but she still avoided eye contact with the boy.
„Our master." She stated suddenly „Was most displeased when he found out about your sudden departure. Your rehabilitation was marked as incomplete."
„What?" Ren raised his eyebrows „What the hell, I didn't even want to go anywhere. It just… kinda happened."
„Sorry, but to you, the Velvet… Red Room is closed. My master made sure my sister and I are aware of that. He..." Her voice cracked a bit „… He even made us kinky swear we will never speak to you again."
„What?" The teenager scratched the top of his head „Don't you mean… pinky-swear?
„SHUT YOUR TRAP, INMATE!" The girl lashed out at him suddenly, clearly not controlling herself „I KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" She widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hands „Crap, sorry, I didn't mean to yell, I..."
„Caroline, what are you doing there for so long?" A strong voice asked from behind the door before adding, more angrily „You better not be trying to get the mortals to save you again, you know they can't hear you. Hurry up and help us, this goddamn elevator is stuck again!"
The girl paled, mouthed a quick „sorry", opened the Red Door, and walked inside. The door disappeared soon after, leaving Ren dumbfounded.
„Joker, what the hell?" Morgana's voice brought him back to reality „What are you staring at a wall for? Whom were you talking with? Come on, let's just get home, you must be tired after today, let's get some sleep.
Line break
Ren was staring impatiently as Sojiro was preparing his favorite curry, his body still shaking in fear. The man kept looking at a clock every five minutes, and Ren suspected he knows exactly the reason why.
„Futaba's still not home, huh?" The boy asked as he calmly took a sip of coffee „Who knows, maybe the special school bus driver suffered a mental shutdown?"
The man nearly jumped in terror at the thought of such a situation, but bit his lip and continued his work without saying a word. When he went back to the refrigerator to get some more ingredients, the teen decided to seize the opportunity. He quickly squeezed the piece of paper he prepared before in his pocket and threw it under one of the tables.
„Wow, what's this!?" He yelled as the paper was in the proper place „You think Futaba just had enough and decided to write a suicide note?"
The man dropped all the dishes he was carrying (judging by the sound) and quickly ran out of the kitchen, but Ren was obviously quicker. He quickly ducked under the table, picking up the paper he just placed there.
„I'll read it." The boy cleared his throat „It says: Dear Sojiro, I am running away. I am sorry, but I could not stand the ridiculous living conditions you have offered me and your tasteless curry. Really, learn how to cook. Since I've moved with you my life has become more and more shitty with every year and I just realized you are the main reason it has been such a trainwreck. I am really thankful for all the things you did for me, but I am also not thankful, because wow, if this was the best you could offer me then you really are just an old bastard. Please, do not try to find me. Love you forever, Futaba."
Ren looked up at the man, whose lower lip was now shaking dramatically.
„Wow." The teen added „Are you proud of yourself, Sojiro? Look what you've done."
The bartender could not take it anymore. He straight burst out with tears and ran out of Cafe Leblanc without bothering to even lock the door. The teenager in tur, could not help but smile to himself.
That's what you get for messing with Ren Amamiya.