Defy
Chapter 10
Author Notes: I like how it hasn't even been a week and I've already hit 10 chapters...I thought I was making a mini series god dang it! I do not own Nanbaka.
3rd P.O.V
"You two have an hour, then Number 11 is being escorted back to Building 13." Kenshirou despite his cold demeanor was a nice guy, like Hajime, but way less violent. "Thanks Kenshirou." Uno watched as the ex police officer huffs, clearly able to see his sour mood.
He was still incredibly salty that Mitsuru practically blackmailed him for this-he could've just asked! Still he trusts there to be no troubles and simply leaves. Giving the two some privacy. "Don't mind him, these days he's more bark than bite."
Uno hummed in thought as he finally got a good look at Musashi, taking in the dark skin, short red and yellow hair and covered eyes. Musashi was sitting, his back resting snugly against the cement.
"Sorry for randomly asking to talk to you out of the blue." Uno sits across from him, trying to get comfortable. Honestly how on earth can Jyugo sit on the cold, hard floor like this for hours!?
His companion shrugged, completely calm. "It's no issue for me, other then Kenshirou not too many people approach me. But that just leaves two questions. Who are you? And why did you want to speak with me?" It was now or never.
Uno swallowed his nervousness and decided to get to the point. "My names Uno, i'm a friend and cellmate of Jyugos'. I wanted to know if you could tell me about His past." All he got was silence, and unattractive sweat started to drip down the self-proclaimed handsome mans' face.
Maybe he shouldn't have been so blunt. "So you know?" At first he nodded in response, before remembering that the prisoner in front of him was blind. "Yeah, I accidentally stumbled on it. I want to help Jyugo, but he told me to keep my nose out of it. Still he sent me to you for answers."
Musashi laughed, a hollow sound. "That doesn't surprise me. He was probably hoping you would give up, or trust your instincts and back out before you got hurt. Same old Jyugo-always wanting to be the protector." There was a slight bitterness to his tone, though Uno didn't say anything for a moment.
"Please Musashi, I care about Jyugo. I want to understand." In all honesty Musashi never thought he would ever be placed into such a situation, playing the big brother card. But hearing Uno's sincerity, knowing this guy is willing to do anything to help Jyugo made him both happy and protective.
Still Musashi gives him one last chance to back out. "You know if I tell you there'll be no going back. I'm placing my trust in you to watch over him." Straightening his posture, Uno promises.
He had always planned on having his friends back, just because he was a girl wouldn't change that, especially with the danger she was facing. And he made sure to tell Musashi that. The blind man chuckled, believing his words.
"Alright, so let's rewind time and tell you a bit about me. My real name is Zen, and my parents worked for a company called 'Lock N Chains,' a company that developed security systems for corporations and prisons, much like Nanba."
Lock N Chains was a small company, but was well praised for their craft, though the company was unfamiliar to Uno. Since it was a Japanese organization, and he only came to the small country this past year to enter Nanba. Still he kept his mouth shut, letting older boy talk.
"Often times when I was a kid, I would go with them to work, where I played with their co-workers' kids, and even the owners daughter." He smiled as nostalgia hit him. All those times where he and his friends got into mischief.
God he missed those days. "LNC's owner, Jun was a crazy bastard, the good kind. He treated all his staff like family and often was clowning around. He prided himself on making quality tech, but his daughter was his literal bundle of joy." Musashi truly respected Jun, he was like the fun uncle he never had.
Even after he lost his wife while giving birth Jun stayed strong raising his little girl on his own. "Her name was Aki. Much like her namesake she made the world around her sparkle." It was good times.
He remembered how happy he was back then, the first time he met her she was five, and him ten. "Often times Aki would help her dad with testing the security systems he made. She was really smart and loved puzzles." For awhile Uno stayed quiet.
Listening as Musashi fondly told him all sorts of stories of Aki and some of the other kids he played with. And it was really heartwarming, Uno was honestly content just listening to those wonderful memories, however he couldn't let it stay.
They were on a time limit, plus his curiosity was getting the better of him. "What changed?" A sigh hissed out of the story teller. His hand forming a fist as he gritted his teeth. A complete change from the kind smile on his face just seconds ago.
"When I was twelve, a rich rival corporation called 'Picksmithy' tried burying LNC. Using their money, influence-what ever was at their disposal to force Jun to close his business." He still held resentment for the man who caused so much agony.
He remembered feeling anxious when he was younger. "He obviously didn't, he cared too much about his employees and business, he fought them tooth and nail." Even though none of the adults said anything, he and all the kids knew something wasn't right, especially Aki.
So many times she held Musashi's hand and cried, wondering why things were going wrong and why everyone was so upset. Back then he had no such answers. Despite being the eldest among their little group, he was just as confused and scared as the rest of them.
"However within a year LNC lost most of their revenue, and people were on the verge of being laid off." It was hard times. Jun struggled day in and out to protect his staff. But it didn't matter to Picksmithy who was hurt so long as they got what they wanted.
They were nothing like LNC, who actually gave a damn about people. "Then the owner of Picksmithy came to Jun with a proposal. He had a son who he wanted to take over when he was older, and offered an arranged marriage to combine the two companies."
It was a set up from the get go. Musashi knew that now, but back then he had no idea why they targeted LNC so badly. They wanted Aki under their control. "You can imagine Jun was dead set against it." Uno could, though he had never met the man before.
He could easily imagine that the idea of handing his over his precious princess over like some tool or bargaining chip disgusted him. If it were Uno in his shoes, he would've told the guy to fuck off-and more for how they were wrecking his life.
"Aki was always the kind of girl who was willing to do anything to help someone, even if it meant her getting hurt in the process. And though she didn't understand everything going on since she was only seven, she was willing to go through the marriage to help out her old man."
If only he could turn back time, Musashi would've done anything and everything in his power to dissuade her. Oh how naive they were. "Every summer and winter break from school Aki would spend time with her Fiance and his family for about two weeks. She did it for two years." That was when things really went wrong.
Yes the company was still around and kicking, but there was constant tension among the group. Always looking over their shoulder so to speak as Picksmithy literally held their fate in the palm of their hands.
"I remember towards the end of Christmas break going with my parents to visit Jun and Aki. It became a tradition that we'd visit and spend the holidays together, since our families were so close... I had found her in her bedroom, crying her eyes out, and bandages wrapped around her hands and stomach."
Uno felt sick, afraid to ask what happened. She was only nine...what did the little shit do to her? Much to his dismay, Musashi didn't let up on talking about this horrible fiance. Telling him his name. Elliade Loris Finime...otherwise known as Elf.
Hearing his name made the gambler's blood run cold, as there were some nights when Jyugo would have a night terror, uttering that very name as he tossed and turned. He had always thought he hated Christmas and Santa, with how he would scream for Elf to stay away from him...
"It had turned out that her fiance was that selfish and greedy kind of kid, who always wanted to be in control. She and him were constantly fighting, with him being violent because she refused to obey him."
There was a seven year age difference between the two. He was always able to easily overpower her, and that season he had gone way too far. With his temper and a knife he slashed at Aki, it was only by miracle a servant caught witness of the incident and called the authorities.
Though she was fired for doing such a thing. "Jun was furious-as was everyone else. It was clear this couldn't go on, and Jun immediately backed out of the agreement. Even if it meant losing his company, he would take it over losing his kin. And we backed him every step of the way." That should've been the end.
Aki should've lived the rest of her life happy, eventually taking over her dad's business. But when it came to reality, that was never the case. As one could easily see since both Zen and Aki were stuck behind bars.
"Of course Picksmithy didn't like being defied, so they made sure to harass Jun, putting in ten times to effort to ruin his life. They were determined to have him crawl on his hands and beg for forgiveness." Not that he ever did.
He stood proud and tall, ignoring their taunts and feeble attempts, to Aki, her dad was a hero, and vowed to follow in his footsteps. That all changed on Aki's tenth birthday when Picksmithy had done the unthinkable.
Revealing just what kind of scum they were. "Eventually they had enough of Jun, and tried taking Aki by force. Goons had broken into their home, killing him and setting their home ablaze. Fortunately though Aki had managed to escape, and made her way to my house."
She was shivering as she ran through the ice and snow, nearly falling as her shoes had no traction. Tears glazed her eyes as she made her way through the abandoned streets. Unable to forget the horrible image of her dad lying on the floor in a puddle of red.
The young girl desperately wished this was a dream, a terrible nightmare she could wake up from. But this was real, as she had the painful burns and scars on her body to prove it. "Almost there." She knew the way to Zen's home like the back of her hand, and was grateful that he lived close by.
Right now the only thing keeping her upright and going was her adrenaline and fear. They had been so close to taking her away, it was only by luck that they didn't manage to find her when she hid in her laundry basket. If she stopped now, she may never be safe.
She choked, relief coursing through her veins as she at last made it to the familiar house. Desperately she smashed her small fist on the door. Praying that someone was home. "Please! Open the door!"
Her voice was hoarse, whether it was from screaming or from the smoke that infested her lungs she couldn't tell. But she hurt, coughing into her hand as the door finally opened. "Oh my lord-Aki!? What happened?" She hugged her brother figure tight, unable to do nothing but cry.
So badly she wished that it was her dad she was hugging tight.
BuT HE wON't evEr HUG HeR AGaIn!
"The cops refused to do any sort of investigation, automatically calling the arson an accident since the Picksmithy's were heavily influencing them. My parents, worried for our safety shipped us out of the country. Sending us to a good friend of my mothers." Uno couldn't believe what he was hearing.
And frankly he didn't want to believe what he was hearing. "Shortly after we met up with my mothers' friend, we found out my own parents were killed, in a similar fashion to Jun. Aki and I were in danger, so we changed our names and created new lives for ourselves. I became Musashi, and Aki became Jyugo."
Musashi was about to continue when both turned their gazes to the door. Kenshirou had opened it and entered. "Times up you two. It's time for Number 11 to return." Immediately Uno wanted to protest, there was no way it's been an hour already.
"Oh come on Kenshirou! Just a bit longer." The watch on the supervisor's wrist however proved his statement true-technically it was over an hour. "No. I gave you an hour. Either I escort you back, or Hajime can." Any other protests died on Uno's lips...he really didn't want to face baldy's anger. "Fineee."
So he stood, sulking, only to wince at the aches in his spine. He didn't even realize it, but he hadn't moved an inch from his spot since he sat down, entirely engrossed with Zen's(?)- Musashi's(?) story.
Said man also rises from his seat, cracking his neck to the side. "Thanks for listening Uno." It's been a long time since he's opened up to someone. Even though the memories were painful to recall, he felt lighter, more relaxed, as if his burden had lessened.
"Thank You for telling me Musashi. It really helped clear some things up. Though you'll have to finish your story next time. I still have some unanswered questions." He receives a small snort. "Didn't scare you away huh? Maybe next time you can bring Jyugo with you? I miss him."
There was a stinging sensation in Uno's chest as his smile turned hesitant. "Sure." He quickly berated himself, now was not the time to be feeling any sort of jealousy. He had bigger things to worry about. Like what kinda excuse was he going to give his friends for going missing for an hour?
To be continued
Author Notes: Man this was a long chapter, but i'm so happy I got it done! I'm honestly what to do for the next chapter, personally 1 i never thought i'd get this far so fast(darn you plot bunnies) and 2, I have certain scenes in mind, but i'm not sure if i want to type them.
We'll have to see, however that's for me to worry about. Guys if you like this series so far, please feel free to fav/follow/review as I appreciate all the support and love my stories get. Tchao for now!