Post by Fukushu on Sept 29, 2022 6:33:49 GMT -5
~21 years ago~
The Heran Fukushu awoke in a dimly lit room, unaware of where he was or even what had happened to him. The last thing he remembered was tracking down the man called Haji, the one whom he had unsuccessfully tried to rob earlier. Instead Haji found him, threw him to the ground and demanded to know what the boy wanted. After that? He must have lost consciousness. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the lighting of the room, and in the corner facing him he could make out the figure of a man.
"Who... who are you?" It was a dumb question all things considered. The man laughed and stepped forward, revealing himself to be the one he was looking for: Haji. "Who do you think I am? You think any of the cretins who live around here would actually let you into their home and prepared a bed for you? You're lucky I found you when I did; had you been on the wrong floor you would have passed out and then who knows what would have happened to you. The vultures would have picked your bones if not for me."
Fukushu tried to lean forward, but instantly regretted it as he was reminded of his broken arm, which had now been put into a sling. "Slow down there, kid. That arm's gonna take a few weeks at least to heal up; I did a real number on it. That cut on the back of your neck through? That wasn't my work. I wonder where it must have come from?" Uragi; that was his name. The one who had forced him out of the job, at least that's what he recalled.
He couldn't really be sure about how much Uragi had pushed and how much Korosu had wanted him out, but it didn't really matter any more. They had given Fukushu a mock execution and forced him out onto the streets. "It doesn't matter now." Haji let out a laugh while moving over to the side of the bed, picking up a cup that had been placed onto the drawers and forcing it into the hands of Fukushu. "Go ahead and drink up; this should make you feel better. Won't help your arm out much but nothing I can do about that other than leaving it to time."
Fukushu did as the man said and drank from the cup; he couldn't tell what it was, but he knew it was no simple tea. It emanated the smell of a hospital and went down much thicker than he expected. He almost coughed it back up, though he covered his mouth with his hand and forced it down. Fukushu's struggled only made Haji laugh again. "Yeah, probably should have warned you about that. It's about the same as I reacted the first time my father gave me the same drink."
Fukushu placed the cup back where it had been sitting and reclined into the bed. "You helped me?" The oddity of the situation hadn't really occurred to him until now. As far as Haji should have known Fukushu had come to rob or kill him, and yet after falling unconscious the old man takes him in? The boy should have been preparing for some sort of trap or trying to heave out whatever he had just consumed, but he was too weak for any of that right now.
And if Haji had wanted him dead then he'd be dead; he didn't need any tricks for that. The boy was out cold and completely defensives, and yet for some unknown reason he awoke well and rested. "I wouldn't say I've done anything of the sort. I dragged your body out of the hallway, but I expect the kind of enemies you've got won't let a door get in between you and them. If I had left you out there it'd likely draw attention to myself, and dragging you in here was much easier than dragging you outside."
Fukushu found the answer unsatisfying. "You think taking me in will help alleviate suspicion?" What was the old man trying to hide? His answer didn't make much sense, but Haji didn't seem to want to elaborate. Rather than answering Fukushu's query he instead walking out of the room, leaving Fukushu to stew on his thoughts.
For the first time in years the boy had to question his next direction. When he first came to this city he had a clear goal in mind: climb to the top. With the help of Wakita he was able to take control of Niku's small piece of the pie, then later on he was able to kill Niku and exert more control over the streets. Though he always answered to Korosu he felt like he was on the right path, and then almost out of no where it all came tumbling down. Korosu's paranoia combined with the ambition of Uragi led to the death of his allies and his own exile; now what was he to do?
Korosu had allowed him his life, but for what purpose? The whole situation made him seethe; the most obvious course of action would be revenge. Uragi was the one that he really wanted a crack at, but the kid was smart. Uragi knows that Fukushu is much more physically powerful than he is, so he's not going to allow himself to be caught one on one. He'll surround himself with others; by themselves not a threat, but together their numbers would be enough to overwhelm.
If he could study Uragi a little then that might make things easier; might allow for him to spot some kind of opening. If he could get in contact with Wakita again... Wakita. It was the first time he had thought about the boy in a while. What had happened to him? Had he betrayed Fukushu as well? He hoped not; he didn't want to imagine that. He thought he had done well by him, taking him in when he needed it, and giving him a good position after vanquishing Niku.
What reason would Wakita have for doing such a thing? He couldn't believe that the boy had really betrayed. After all, why would he risk his own life to save Fukushu against Niku, only to betray him later on? No, that didn't make any sense. What made sense was that they were keeping him held captive. He was in charge of a lot of the operations at the distillery; it would make the transition much smoother if they kept him around, under force and threat of course; he wouldn't willingly work with them.
A rescue operation then? That must be his next course of action. Revenge could wait so long as his friend was being held captive. Wakita had saved him from Niku; could Fukushu really abandon him after that? The young Heran would likely be an integral part of any revenge plot, for if they were truly using him to help run things then he'd have access to valuable information. He knew the distillery well enough, though they'd likely increase the guards expecting some sort of attack by Fukushu.
He'd probably want to lay low then, at least for a little while. He needed to lull them into a false sense of security; make them question whether or not he had truly decided to leave. Only at the point they let their guard down would he then strike. But... that left him back at square one. What was he to do in that time?
His thoughts were interrupted by Haji reentering the room, this time holding a book in his hands. Without saying anything to Fukushu the elder Heran took a seat next to the bed and placed the book on his lap. "I suppose you're right. I wasn't honest with you back then; not entirely. The truth of the matter is... well, this is kind of difficult to say. I'm not very good with words, which is why I brought this here with me; maybe I can show you instead."
Haji opened up the book and revealed to the young Heran the image of a group of men he didn't recognize. Based on what he could see they looked to be in their early 30s, with most donning scars across their bodies. "I know you won't know who most of these people are; if you haven't figured it out the one on the far left is me." Fukushu shifted his focus in that direction, spotting Haji exactly where the man said he'd be. He was surprised his eyes weren't drawn to him earlier, considering he must have been the largest of the group, though he hardly barely much similarity of the old man before him.
"A long time ago as you can see; so much I've aged since then, and so much I've lost. These were the men I told you about before; the ones who sought to make a difference on our world. They each have their own story as to why they wanted to, and how they had gotten to that point, but I won't bore you with each. In truth their stories are much the same as mine, and you already know how that one goes. What's really important is that all but myself have perished, and not naturally."
Fukushu analyzed the picture again. What stood out is how happy they all seemed; clearly from a time long ago judging by the angst that Haji carried with him. "Like I told you before... we were hunted. The petty lords of Hera wanted to stop what we were trying to do, and they invested all of their resources in making that happen. We were all Herans, so we knew how to defend ourselves... but we were also past our primes, and not prepared for the numbers we have to face. I don't remember who went first; all I know is how fast it happened. One moment we were so close, and the next..."
Fukushu didn't know what to say. Clearly Haji was in pain recalling the memories, but the boy still didn't understand what the point of all this was. Their cause had seemingly died out with the group, and it was no cause of his. Fukushu may have been betrayed by those he worked for, but that didn't mean he was going to turn good guy or anything like that. If anything what had happened to him only pushed him into a path of vengeance; as soon as he prepared he'd want to strike again.
He had a feeling he could predict what Haji would say next, and he wanted no part of it. "If you think to recruit me to your dying cause then you'd best think again. I'm no hero, and I have no interest in 'saving' Hera as you seem to think that's what it needs. I'm a young man with my own ambitions and unfortunately for you I think they conflict with your own. I have a friend I need to rescue, and revenge that needs extracted. Unless you plan on helping me with either I won't need anything more from you."
With that final word Fukushu attempted to get out of the bed so that he could leave, but as soon as his feet touched the cold, wooden floor he felt himself crumpling over. He had to place his good arm outstretched to catch himself from falling over, though even that proved futile as his arm quickly gave out and he fell face first into the floor. He rolled onto his back to avoid any contact with his broken arm, but that effort proved to sap whatever strength he had left. "Why... why do I feel so weak? I... I've been resting for so long... I should have my strength back by now."
Haji laughed and stood up from the chair, before slowly making his way over to the other side of the bed to where Fukushu had fell. "Sorry about that. I should have told you the drink would sap you of your strength; nothing to be done for it I'm afraid." That bastard had drugged him! He lethargically attempted to slap at Haji's leg with whatever energy he had left, but just raising his arm proved to be all he was capable of. His effort elicited another laugh from the old man, who picked Fukushu up and placed him back in bed.
"If I let you leave you'd only go and get yourself killed. You're quite stubborn, you know that? Rescuing a friend is an honorable cause, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume that the same people who did that to your neck and the ones that are holding your friend, right? They wont be so merciful a second time around. Even with two good arms you'd be overmatched, so you won't be going anywhere for the time being; not so long as I'm in charge."
Of course Haji was right. Fukushu had no plan at all of how he was supposed to rescue Wakita from Uragi and the others. He wasn't even sure if he was being held by them, though that's all he could believe right now. He supposed he would simply fly in, kill everyone and leave, but if it were really that easy then he wouldn't be in this situation right now. At the very least he'd need to recruit again, but how to do that without rousing suspicion? That had only given Fukushu his life on the presumption that he would leave; recruiting would point to a potential attack, and no doubt that'd get him in their sights again.
Every one of these thoughts was more frustrating than the last, with Fukushu incapable of deciphering what it was he was supposed to do next. It had been so long since he had felt this helpless, with his only ally seeking to push him away from his former life of crime. The only ray of light being that whether he liked it or not he'd be forced to rest in Haji's home for at least as long as it took for his arm to heal. He'd had plenty of time to think of something.
The next few weeks went over in a malaise, or was it months? He couldn't tell. Every few days he'd open his eyes to find himself still in bed; sometimes Haji would be looking over his arm, and others the old man was no where to be found. He'd never have his eyes open for more than a few seconds though; soon enough he'd be asleep again. On one such occasion he was able to feel the needle that had pierced his forearm, so that liquid could be pumped directly into his veins.
The next time he awoke proper he looked down upon his left arm and found no such fluids today. Though he still felt weak actually able to keep his eyes open this time, with no desire for sleep. A ray of light shone down from above him, as a window he'd never noticed before was left open. He could hear some sort of racket going on outside, but he wasn't able to reach it's height.
As he pulled himself out of bed he noticed that his other arm was no longer in it's sling. Though there was still some pain to it he was actually able to move it somewhat, though that only meant that the rehab process had just begun. It'd likely be many months until he'd be able to properly use it in combat again. This time as he stepped out of bed he found himself capable of staying on his feet, needing only minimal support from learning against the nearby wall.
The fact that the drug which kept him asleep had been removed from his veins told Fukushu that Haji wanted him awake for some reason. Speaking of the old man... where was he? The young Heran explored the home but found that he had examined every inch of the place in just a short amount of time with Haji no where to be found. He considered using this opportunity to try and escape, but with his arm still quite useless didn't have much faith in his own abilities.
As he paced back on forth, pondering as to what he should do next he heard another noise coming from outside. This one sounded much like a grunt, though again he couldn't pull himself up to the window to find out what it was. He let his curiosity get the better of him and decided to go outside and take a look for himself, hoping that whoever was out there meant him no harm. He put on a jacket that Haji had left out for him and descended back down those stairs he had traveled how many months ago.
The building was several stories high, and Haji's room had been near the top. It took around seven minutes for Fukushu to finally reach the bottom where he found a back entrance leading to a small communal yard area. Standing in the center of that yard was none other that Haji, though he looked different than before. In the past Fukushu had seen the man looking small and frail, always covered in thick coats. But now? He was someone else.
Haji had tore away those clothes to reveal a quite muscular figure. If he didn't know any better he'd have to say that Haji was training, but to what end? If this was supposed to be a part of the man's plan to recruit him then he was just going to end up disappointed, but considering that Haji had spent months taking care of him then he figured that he ought to at least hear the old man out properly this time. If nothing else he had earned that much from Fukushu.
"I was beginning to wonder whether or not you'd ever wake up again. I must have unhooked your IV three or four days ago now... maybe my measurements were off. But I suppose you're awake, and in good enough form to walk." It'd been so long since he had used his legs that they each felt smaller than he remembered; they must have atrophied while he was asleep. Now that he was up and about he could get back to training them to full strength again.
"What are you doing out here?" Haji frowned at him, as though the answer should have been obvious. "Training of course. Its been quite some time since I took it seriously, but considering our next move I'll be needing to get back in proper shape." Our next move did he say? What exactly was he talking about?
"Don't look at me like that: it's quite simple really. What you told me before going out again... well I've been thinking about it a lot. I'm not to win you to my cause any time soon, but perhaps you'll hear me out if I help you. You told me about your friend who was captured, about how you wanted to rescue him. I say that's a good enough cause for me. I'll help you to rescue him, but not yet. You're arm will still need work work, so that's what we'll do in the mean time."
Fukushu wasn't sure what to say. He just stood there, silent, until finally he found the words. "I never asked for your help... what makes you think I need it." Fukushu wasn't being entirely honest there. Haji was right that he'd need to train his arm back to full strength; right now he'd be slaughtered in any sort of fight. But he wasn't sure he felt comfortable owing the man any sort of debt. "Wakita is my responsibility; I need to be the one who does this."
Suddenly the thought of time came back to mind. How long had it been since he last saw Wakita? He hadn't even thought about it until now, but it had been months that he'd been out; at least enough time had passed for his arm to mostly heal. Was Wakita even still alive? He... didn't want to think like that. But at the same time he needed to be realistic about things. Knowing that kind of person Uragi was it was likely that he wanted to extract as much usefulness about of Wakita and then be done with him; the fewer variables at play the better. But as long as there was a chance that Wakita was still alive he wouldn't give up.
"Aye, it's your responsibility alright, but what's your plan?" He still didn't have one, but he wasn't going to tell him that. "Not your concern." Haji laughed at that; something about that laugh let Fukushu know that Haji knew more than he was revealing. "That's where you're wrong. You and I both have something to gain from this venture, and I'm not just talking about cooperation."
Fukushu was taken aback. Something else to gain? What could he be talking about? "Explain yourself, old man." Haji placed his coat back on and stepped forward, meeting Fukushu's eyes with his own. "I have to admit that while you were out I did some investigating; that scar across your neck just had me too curious not to. I followed the trail of blood you left and eventually came to an alleyway quite some distance away. When I first arrived there were two not so intelligent looking fellows packing bodies into bins, preparing to transport them somewhere else; probably to bury them."
His crew. Osorea, Kuru and Itami were the bodies he was talking about. He hadn't thought about them since waking up, but now the memories came flooding back. He failed to protect them... it was a difficult thing to remember. He'd get revenge on their behalf one day, but Wakita was still among the living; he needed to come first. Together the two of them would be able to extract the vengeance his squamates deserved.
"I did think about intervening but... well, it's been a while since I had properly trained, and though not bright they certainly looked tough so I disguised my abilities and kept to the shadows. Before departing with the bodies another young Heran appeared. This one certainly wasn't as strong as the others, but he had an air of sophistication about him. He was sharply dressed and looked to be in a hurry. He barked out some orders on where to go and then left."
Uragi; that must have been who Haji had seen. It was Uragi that convinced Korosu that Fukushu needed to be dealt with. In the eyes of Fukushu it was him that deserved the most of his wraith, though he hadn't forgotten about Korosu. No matter how much of an influence Uragi had on him it was still his decision ultimately.
"I decided to follow the young lad and eventually came across the old distillery, which looks quite different to the last time I saw it. Though I couldn't get inside I'd have to reckon that it was the home of whatever organization you were working for. They're rich and powerful; the exact kind of bastards we've tried to take down all those years ago... I can't do that anymore. I don't have the power or the time left on this world to clean up Hera like I wanted to, but I can still make a difference. Together, you and I can do this. After that? You can go your own way, but I have a feeling that by then things would have changed."
Well, the young Heran wasn't quite sure what to say. Help was appreciated, and he had seen first hand that Haji was being modest when it came to his own abilities. "Very well; I suppose I'll need a partner to help get my arm to full strength anyway, and It's not like I have anyone else clamoring up to help." Haji smiled at that, and immediately the two got to work training.
For the nest two weeks Haji and Fukushu spent more time out in the yard than outside. Fuksuhu might have been savage in battle, but his techniques were simple and unrefined compared to what Haji was capable of. The young Heran had plenty to learn, and tried his best to soak it all up. Haji ended up being quite the natural teacher, with Fukushu able to greatly enhance his fighting abilities in the short amount of time they spent training together here.
Haji didn't have much to learn from Fukushu, but the old man was rusty and was prone to making mistakes in battle. Though he often got the better of Fukushu there were a few occasions with the youth was able to get the upper hand. They took things easy at first, as Fukushu's arm needed time to re-adjust to fighting, but by second week he felt that it was more or less back to full strength, and from then on the two held nothing back as they spared.
By the end of the second week Fukushu felt as though he now exceeded his former abilities, and was eager to launch a full assault on the distillery, though Haji had to remind him that they were going in for a rescue mission, not an assault, and that the life of Wakita was what they were fighting for. Fukushu was embarrassed at the thought of forgetting that, but was focused from there on out on the task at hand.
The two of them waited until night to head to the distillery. Under the cover of darkness they were able to make it to the same rooftop that Fukushu had once installed a camera on so that he could watch the comings and goings of the business. Haji had little to worry about thanks to his ability to hide his power level. Fukushu on the other hand had no such ability, but if they were lucky the guards would be tired and left unaware.
The thought to use the same plan as before had crossed Fukushu's mind, but he knew that the scheduling for the transport of supplies was varied now, so they'd have no guarantee of when they would be coming. When discussing possible ways to get in Haji showed that he had more knowledge of operations that Fukushu had previously known about. He shared with the young Heran news that he had heard from a source he had that a very large shipment was being prepared.
Haji's source had told the old man that they were planning on departing tonight, and the shipment would require most of the available guars on hand to protect the goods. Based on the numbers that were brought up Fukushu had to guess that around seven or eight soldiers would be left over, though it's possible that the shifts had changed since the last time he was there. Haji had assured him that even if that were the case and there was a few more soldiers they should be more than enough to handle things.
Haji seemed quite confident in their ability, but the younger Heran wasn't quite as sure. Though the training had been successful he had yet to face real combat again. Things were sure to change tonight however, as the two of them leapt down from the rooftop and began their assault. As Fukushu had predicted the guard stationed at the door seemed a little drowsy, and was painfully reminded of his duties by the two of them. Fukushu and Haji quite effortlessly dispatched of him in a quiet manor before discussing their next move.
"Tell me of the layout boy; what are we to expect?" Haji hadn't actually seen the inside of the complex, but there wasn't much to explain. "We'll be heading to the left. To the right is where the distillery is, but it'll be locked up at this time of night. As long as you follow me it should be simple enough." He wasn't actually sure where they would be keeping Wakita, but he assumed that it would be near his own office if they were using him to run logistics.
The two used a key held by the guard to open the door, and as Haji had revealed there did seem to be a distinct lack of life. Looking down on the pavement revealed obvious track marks which indicate a lot of traffic had moved through here, but to the touch they felt cold. Whatever had come through had been gone for some time, which meant it was possible they were in their way back by now. Fukushu looked over to Haji, but he didn't seem concerned by that.
Fukushu took the lead as he had said he would, carefully walking over to the small office he had spent countless nights working in. Anyone inside and still awake would have felt him coming, but they might not know his ki signature. If they were lucky then they'd be merely suspicious instead of hostile, which might buy them some time. As he leaned up against the door he tried to sense Wakita, but he couldn't recognize him. He did feel a few sources which must have been mercs, but not his friend. He was worried at first, but he knew Wakita was smart. If Haji could hide his power then it was possible that Wakita had mastered this ability too.
Haji gave him the signal and Fukushu quietly opened the door and stepped on through, with the old man following in after. There wasn't anybody immediately visible, but he could sense their power level approaching. He quickly made a dash for his old office and threw open the door, spotting the young Wakita wound up in the corner. He rushed over and gave the boy a quick examination, discovering many wounds in the process.
It was clear he was in no condition to be awoke, but that didn't change the fact that they needed to get out of there. By the time he turned his head Haji was there, with a large, unknown figure caught in his headlock. Fukushu didn't bother asking any questions; instead he picked up Wakita, slung him over his shoulder and gave the word to Haji. The old man nodded and finished the merc off before turning and running back to deal with any others that might try and come.
Fukushu instead moved to the back of the room and took a seat at his desk. From there he placed one hand into the bottom drawl and fumbled around until he found the switch he was looking for. He gave it a flick and the hidden compartment underneath his desk flew open. "I was hoping they'd leave it untouched."
For a moment he considered his next move. Haji was still out there somewhere, and if he wanted to he could leave with Wakita, abandoning the old man. It was tempting... but at the same time he felt some sort of attachment to the old man now; the idea of leaving him behind felt... wrong. Against his initial instinct he called out to Haji, instructing him to forget about the soldiers and hurry back. With Wakita still slung around his shoulders the Heran jumped through his hidden exit, taking him down to the sewer systems below.
Haji followed shortly after, nearly landing on top of the two boys in the process. Fukushu could tell right away that Haji was wounded, but the old man refused to talk about it. Instead he grabbed Fukushu by the collar and attempted to drag him along, claiming that they'd likely be on them soon. Fuksuhu agreed and the duo rushed through the spiraling sewers in an effort to throw off any trail. Fortunately Fukushu had put a great deal of effort into mapping the confusing sewer system of the city and was able to navigate things quite confidently, and within the hour the three of them were relatively safe.
Fukushu directly Haji to a sewer exit and they soon found themselves back on the surface, and not too far away from Haji's home. After a thirty minute walk they had made it back, where Fukushu placed Wakita down into the same bed that he had rested in not too long ago, while Haji got to work preparing the same drink that had kept him asleep. He placed the liquid into the IV before the two of them left the room to discuss what had happened.
"So, what will you plan to do now?" With Wakita out of their hands the answer seemed obvious to him: revenge. "I'll go back there, and I'll wipe out every single one of them. I'll leave Uragi for last and force him to give me Korosu's location, assuming that he isn't there himself. Then I'll take him out, and anybody else waiting for me after him."
He expected Haji to try and stop him, or at the very least caution him against that, but to his surprise the old man smiled at him. "Good. Our planet needs cleaning, and I've still got a few good years left in me to help do so. Your old boss Korosu is just one of many petty lords of Hera; strike him down and I swear another will rise to take his place. We'll have to follow him to the very top; cut off the head and rest will die along with it."
Fukushu himself wasn't so sure about that; for him it was more personal than anything else. Still... he wouldn't say that to Haji's face; not after what they had just been through. The old man proved himself a formidable force, and the help he could provide would be invaluable. On top of that the young Heran was simply tired; he wanted to go to bed, and rest himself for the wars to come. Instead of getting into any sort of argument he simply waved Haji goodbye and strolled off to bed.
WC: 5,695
"Who... who are you?" It was a dumb question all things considered. The man laughed and stepped forward, revealing himself to be the one he was looking for: Haji. "Who do you think I am? You think any of the cretins who live around here would actually let you into their home and prepared a bed for you? You're lucky I found you when I did; had you been on the wrong floor you would have passed out and then who knows what would have happened to you. The vultures would have picked your bones if not for me."
Fukushu tried to lean forward, but instantly regretted it as he was reminded of his broken arm, which had now been put into a sling. "Slow down there, kid. That arm's gonna take a few weeks at least to heal up; I did a real number on it. That cut on the back of your neck through? That wasn't my work. I wonder where it must have come from?" Uragi; that was his name. The one who had forced him out of the job, at least that's what he recalled.
He couldn't really be sure about how much Uragi had pushed and how much Korosu had wanted him out, but it didn't really matter any more. They had given Fukushu a mock execution and forced him out onto the streets. "It doesn't matter now." Haji let out a laugh while moving over to the side of the bed, picking up a cup that had been placed onto the drawers and forcing it into the hands of Fukushu. "Go ahead and drink up; this should make you feel better. Won't help your arm out much but nothing I can do about that other than leaving it to time."
Fukushu did as the man said and drank from the cup; he couldn't tell what it was, but he knew it was no simple tea. It emanated the smell of a hospital and went down much thicker than he expected. He almost coughed it back up, though he covered his mouth with his hand and forced it down. Fukushu's struggled only made Haji laugh again. "Yeah, probably should have warned you about that. It's about the same as I reacted the first time my father gave me the same drink."
Fukushu placed the cup back where it had been sitting and reclined into the bed. "You helped me?" The oddity of the situation hadn't really occurred to him until now. As far as Haji should have known Fukushu had come to rob or kill him, and yet after falling unconscious the old man takes him in? The boy should have been preparing for some sort of trap or trying to heave out whatever he had just consumed, but he was too weak for any of that right now.
And if Haji had wanted him dead then he'd be dead; he didn't need any tricks for that. The boy was out cold and completely defensives, and yet for some unknown reason he awoke well and rested. "I wouldn't say I've done anything of the sort. I dragged your body out of the hallway, but I expect the kind of enemies you've got won't let a door get in between you and them. If I had left you out there it'd likely draw attention to myself, and dragging you in here was much easier than dragging you outside."
Fukushu found the answer unsatisfying. "You think taking me in will help alleviate suspicion?" What was the old man trying to hide? His answer didn't make much sense, but Haji didn't seem to want to elaborate. Rather than answering Fukushu's query he instead walking out of the room, leaving Fukushu to stew on his thoughts.
For the first time in years the boy had to question his next direction. When he first came to this city he had a clear goal in mind: climb to the top. With the help of Wakita he was able to take control of Niku's small piece of the pie, then later on he was able to kill Niku and exert more control over the streets. Though he always answered to Korosu he felt like he was on the right path, and then almost out of no where it all came tumbling down. Korosu's paranoia combined with the ambition of Uragi led to the death of his allies and his own exile; now what was he to do?
Korosu had allowed him his life, but for what purpose? The whole situation made him seethe; the most obvious course of action would be revenge. Uragi was the one that he really wanted a crack at, but the kid was smart. Uragi knows that Fukushu is much more physically powerful than he is, so he's not going to allow himself to be caught one on one. He'll surround himself with others; by themselves not a threat, but together their numbers would be enough to overwhelm.
If he could study Uragi a little then that might make things easier; might allow for him to spot some kind of opening. If he could get in contact with Wakita again... Wakita. It was the first time he had thought about the boy in a while. What had happened to him? Had he betrayed Fukushu as well? He hoped not; he didn't want to imagine that. He thought he had done well by him, taking him in when he needed it, and giving him a good position after vanquishing Niku.
What reason would Wakita have for doing such a thing? He couldn't believe that the boy had really betrayed. After all, why would he risk his own life to save Fukushu against Niku, only to betray him later on? No, that didn't make any sense. What made sense was that they were keeping him held captive. He was in charge of a lot of the operations at the distillery; it would make the transition much smoother if they kept him around, under force and threat of course; he wouldn't willingly work with them.
A rescue operation then? That must be his next course of action. Revenge could wait so long as his friend was being held captive. Wakita had saved him from Niku; could Fukushu really abandon him after that? The young Heran would likely be an integral part of any revenge plot, for if they were truly using him to help run things then he'd have access to valuable information. He knew the distillery well enough, though they'd likely increase the guards expecting some sort of attack by Fukushu.
He'd probably want to lay low then, at least for a little while. He needed to lull them into a false sense of security; make them question whether or not he had truly decided to leave. Only at the point they let their guard down would he then strike. But... that left him back at square one. What was he to do in that time?
His thoughts were interrupted by Haji reentering the room, this time holding a book in his hands. Without saying anything to Fukushu the elder Heran took a seat next to the bed and placed the book on his lap. "I suppose you're right. I wasn't honest with you back then; not entirely. The truth of the matter is... well, this is kind of difficult to say. I'm not very good with words, which is why I brought this here with me; maybe I can show you instead."
Haji opened up the book and revealed to the young Heran the image of a group of men he didn't recognize. Based on what he could see they looked to be in their early 30s, with most donning scars across their bodies. "I know you won't know who most of these people are; if you haven't figured it out the one on the far left is me." Fukushu shifted his focus in that direction, spotting Haji exactly where the man said he'd be. He was surprised his eyes weren't drawn to him earlier, considering he must have been the largest of the group, though he hardly barely much similarity of the old man before him.
"A long time ago as you can see; so much I've aged since then, and so much I've lost. These were the men I told you about before; the ones who sought to make a difference on our world. They each have their own story as to why they wanted to, and how they had gotten to that point, but I won't bore you with each. In truth their stories are much the same as mine, and you already know how that one goes. What's really important is that all but myself have perished, and not naturally."
Fukushu analyzed the picture again. What stood out is how happy they all seemed; clearly from a time long ago judging by the angst that Haji carried with him. "Like I told you before... we were hunted. The petty lords of Hera wanted to stop what we were trying to do, and they invested all of their resources in making that happen. We were all Herans, so we knew how to defend ourselves... but we were also past our primes, and not prepared for the numbers we have to face. I don't remember who went first; all I know is how fast it happened. One moment we were so close, and the next..."
Fukushu didn't know what to say. Clearly Haji was in pain recalling the memories, but the boy still didn't understand what the point of all this was. Their cause had seemingly died out with the group, and it was no cause of his. Fukushu may have been betrayed by those he worked for, but that didn't mean he was going to turn good guy or anything like that. If anything what had happened to him only pushed him into a path of vengeance; as soon as he prepared he'd want to strike again.
He had a feeling he could predict what Haji would say next, and he wanted no part of it. "If you think to recruit me to your dying cause then you'd best think again. I'm no hero, and I have no interest in 'saving' Hera as you seem to think that's what it needs. I'm a young man with my own ambitions and unfortunately for you I think they conflict with your own. I have a friend I need to rescue, and revenge that needs extracted. Unless you plan on helping me with either I won't need anything more from you."
With that final word Fukushu attempted to get out of the bed so that he could leave, but as soon as his feet touched the cold, wooden floor he felt himself crumpling over. He had to place his good arm outstretched to catch himself from falling over, though even that proved futile as his arm quickly gave out and he fell face first into the floor. He rolled onto his back to avoid any contact with his broken arm, but that effort proved to sap whatever strength he had left. "Why... why do I feel so weak? I... I've been resting for so long... I should have my strength back by now."
Haji laughed and stood up from the chair, before slowly making his way over to the other side of the bed to where Fukushu had fell. "Sorry about that. I should have told you the drink would sap you of your strength; nothing to be done for it I'm afraid." That bastard had drugged him! He lethargically attempted to slap at Haji's leg with whatever energy he had left, but just raising his arm proved to be all he was capable of. His effort elicited another laugh from the old man, who picked Fukushu up and placed him back in bed.
"If I let you leave you'd only go and get yourself killed. You're quite stubborn, you know that? Rescuing a friend is an honorable cause, but I'm gonna go ahead and assume that the same people who did that to your neck and the ones that are holding your friend, right? They wont be so merciful a second time around. Even with two good arms you'd be overmatched, so you won't be going anywhere for the time being; not so long as I'm in charge."
Of course Haji was right. Fukushu had no plan at all of how he was supposed to rescue Wakita from Uragi and the others. He wasn't even sure if he was being held by them, though that's all he could believe right now. He supposed he would simply fly in, kill everyone and leave, but if it were really that easy then he wouldn't be in this situation right now. At the very least he'd need to recruit again, but how to do that without rousing suspicion? That had only given Fukushu his life on the presumption that he would leave; recruiting would point to a potential attack, and no doubt that'd get him in their sights again.
Every one of these thoughts was more frustrating than the last, with Fukushu incapable of deciphering what it was he was supposed to do next. It had been so long since he had felt this helpless, with his only ally seeking to push him away from his former life of crime. The only ray of light being that whether he liked it or not he'd be forced to rest in Haji's home for at least as long as it took for his arm to heal. He'd had plenty of time to think of something.
The next few weeks went over in a malaise, or was it months? He couldn't tell. Every few days he'd open his eyes to find himself still in bed; sometimes Haji would be looking over his arm, and others the old man was no where to be found. He'd never have his eyes open for more than a few seconds though; soon enough he'd be asleep again. On one such occasion he was able to feel the needle that had pierced his forearm, so that liquid could be pumped directly into his veins.
The next time he awoke proper he looked down upon his left arm and found no such fluids today. Though he still felt weak actually able to keep his eyes open this time, with no desire for sleep. A ray of light shone down from above him, as a window he'd never noticed before was left open. He could hear some sort of racket going on outside, but he wasn't able to reach it's height.
As he pulled himself out of bed he noticed that his other arm was no longer in it's sling. Though there was still some pain to it he was actually able to move it somewhat, though that only meant that the rehab process had just begun. It'd likely be many months until he'd be able to properly use it in combat again. This time as he stepped out of bed he found himself capable of staying on his feet, needing only minimal support from learning against the nearby wall.
The fact that the drug which kept him asleep had been removed from his veins told Fukushu that Haji wanted him awake for some reason. Speaking of the old man... where was he? The young Heran explored the home but found that he had examined every inch of the place in just a short amount of time with Haji no where to be found. He considered using this opportunity to try and escape, but with his arm still quite useless didn't have much faith in his own abilities.
As he paced back on forth, pondering as to what he should do next he heard another noise coming from outside. This one sounded much like a grunt, though again he couldn't pull himself up to the window to find out what it was. He let his curiosity get the better of him and decided to go outside and take a look for himself, hoping that whoever was out there meant him no harm. He put on a jacket that Haji had left out for him and descended back down those stairs he had traveled how many months ago.
The building was several stories high, and Haji's room had been near the top. It took around seven minutes for Fukushu to finally reach the bottom where he found a back entrance leading to a small communal yard area. Standing in the center of that yard was none other that Haji, though he looked different than before. In the past Fukushu had seen the man looking small and frail, always covered in thick coats. But now? He was someone else.
Haji had tore away those clothes to reveal a quite muscular figure. If he didn't know any better he'd have to say that Haji was training, but to what end? If this was supposed to be a part of the man's plan to recruit him then he was just going to end up disappointed, but considering that Haji had spent months taking care of him then he figured that he ought to at least hear the old man out properly this time. If nothing else he had earned that much from Fukushu.
"I was beginning to wonder whether or not you'd ever wake up again. I must have unhooked your IV three or four days ago now... maybe my measurements were off. But I suppose you're awake, and in good enough form to walk." It'd been so long since he had used his legs that they each felt smaller than he remembered; they must have atrophied while he was asleep. Now that he was up and about he could get back to training them to full strength again.
"What are you doing out here?" Haji frowned at him, as though the answer should have been obvious. "Training of course. Its been quite some time since I took it seriously, but considering our next move I'll be needing to get back in proper shape." Our next move did he say? What exactly was he talking about?
"Don't look at me like that: it's quite simple really. What you told me before going out again... well I've been thinking about it a lot. I'm not to win you to my cause any time soon, but perhaps you'll hear me out if I help you. You told me about your friend who was captured, about how you wanted to rescue him. I say that's a good enough cause for me. I'll help you to rescue him, but not yet. You're arm will still need work work, so that's what we'll do in the mean time."
Fukushu wasn't sure what to say. He just stood there, silent, until finally he found the words. "I never asked for your help... what makes you think I need it." Fukushu wasn't being entirely honest there. Haji was right that he'd need to train his arm back to full strength; right now he'd be slaughtered in any sort of fight. But he wasn't sure he felt comfortable owing the man any sort of debt. "Wakita is my responsibility; I need to be the one who does this."
Suddenly the thought of time came back to mind. How long had it been since he last saw Wakita? He hadn't even thought about it until now, but it had been months that he'd been out; at least enough time had passed for his arm to mostly heal. Was Wakita even still alive? He... didn't want to think like that. But at the same time he needed to be realistic about things. Knowing that kind of person Uragi was it was likely that he wanted to extract as much usefulness about of Wakita and then be done with him; the fewer variables at play the better. But as long as there was a chance that Wakita was still alive he wouldn't give up.
"Aye, it's your responsibility alright, but what's your plan?" He still didn't have one, but he wasn't going to tell him that. "Not your concern." Haji laughed at that; something about that laugh let Fukushu know that Haji knew more than he was revealing. "That's where you're wrong. You and I both have something to gain from this venture, and I'm not just talking about cooperation."
Fukushu was taken aback. Something else to gain? What could he be talking about? "Explain yourself, old man." Haji placed his coat back on and stepped forward, meeting Fukushu's eyes with his own. "I have to admit that while you were out I did some investigating; that scar across your neck just had me too curious not to. I followed the trail of blood you left and eventually came to an alleyway quite some distance away. When I first arrived there were two not so intelligent looking fellows packing bodies into bins, preparing to transport them somewhere else; probably to bury them."
His crew. Osorea, Kuru and Itami were the bodies he was talking about. He hadn't thought about them since waking up, but now the memories came flooding back. He failed to protect them... it was a difficult thing to remember. He'd get revenge on their behalf one day, but Wakita was still among the living; he needed to come first. Together the two of them would be able to extract the vengeance his squamates deserved.
"I did think about intervening but... well, it's been a while since I had properly trained, and though not bright they certainly looked tough so I disguised my abilities and kept to the shadows. Before departing with the bodies another young Heran appeared. This one certainly wasn't as strong as the others, but he had an air of sophistication about him. He was sharply dressed and looked to be in a hurry. He barked out some orders on where to go and then left."
Uragi; that must have been who Haji had seen. It was Uragi that convinced Korosu that Fukushu needed to be dealt with. In the eyes of Fukushu it was him that deserved the most of his wraith, though he hadn't forgotten about Korosu. No matter how much of an influence Uragi had on him it was still his decision ultimately.
"I decided to follow the young lad and eventually came across the old distillery, which looks quite different to the last time I saw it. Though I couldn't get inside I'd have to reckon that it was the home of whatever organization you were working for. They're rich and powerful; the exact kind of bastards we've tried to take down all those years ago... I can't do that anymore. I don't have the power or the time left on this world to clean up Hera like I wanted to, but I can still make a difference. Together, you and I can do this. After that? You can go your own way, but I have a feeling that by then things would have changed."
Well, the young Heran wasn't quite sure what to say. Help was appreciated, and he had seen first hand that Haji was being modest when it came to his own abilities. "Very well; I suppose I'll need a partner to help get my arm to full strength anyway, and It's not like I have anyone else clamoring up to help." Haji smiled at that, and immediately the two got to work training.
For the nest two weeks Haji and Fukushu spent more time out in the yard than outside. Fuksuhu might have been savage in battle, but his techniques were simple and unrefined compared to what Haji was capable of. The young Heran had plenty to learn, and tried his best to soak it all up. Haji ended up being quite the natural teacher, with Fukushu able to greatly enhance his fighting abilities in the short amount of time they spent training together here.
Haji didn't have much to learn from Fukushu, but the old man was rusty and was prone to making mistakes in battle. Though he often got the better of Fukushu there were a few occasions with the youth was able to get the upper hand. They took things easy at first, as Fukushu's arm needed time to re-adjust to fighting, but by second week he felt that it was more or less back to full strength, and from then on the two held nothing back as they spared.
By the end of the second week Fukushu felt as though he now exceeded his former abilities, and was eager to launch a full assault on the distillery, though Haji had to remind him that they were going in for a rescue mission, not an assault, and that the life of Wakita was what they were fighting for. Fukushu was embarrassed at the thought of forgetting that, but was focused from there on out on the task at hand.
The two of them waited until night to head to the distillery. Under the cover of darkness they were able to make it to the same rooftop that Fukushu had once installed a camera on so that he could watch the comings and goings of the business. Haji had little to worry about thanks to his ability to hide his power level. Fukushu on the other hand had no such ability, but if they were lucky the guards would be tired and left unaware.
The thought to use the same plan as before had crossed Fukushu's mind, but he knew that the scheduling for the transport of supplies was varied now, so they'd have no guarantee of when they would be coming. When discussing possible ways to get in Haji showed that he had more knowledge of operations that Fukushu had previously known about. He shared with the young Heran news that he had heard from a source he had that a very large shipment was being prepared.
Haji's source had told the old man that they were planning on departing tonight, and the shipment would require most of the available guars on hand to protect the goods. Based on the numbers that were brought up Fukushu had to guess that around seven or eight soldiers would be left over, though it's possible that the shifts had changed since the last time he was there. Haji had assured him that even if that were the case and there was a few more soldiers they should be more than enough to handle things.
Haji seemed quite confident in their ability, but the younger Heran wasn't quite as sure. Though the training had been successful he had yet to face real combat again. Things were sure to change tonight however, as the two of them leapt down from the rooftop and began their assault. As Fukushu had predicted the guard stationed at the door seemed a little drowsy, and was painfully reminded of his duties by the two of them. Fukushu and Haji quite effortlessly dispatched of him in a quiet manor before discussing their next move.
"Tell me of the layout boy; what are we to expect?" Haji hadn't actually seen the inside of the complex, but there wasn't much to explain. "We'll be heading to the left. To the right is where the distillery is, but it'll be locked up at this time of night. As long as you follow me it should be simple enough." He wasn't actually sure where they would be keeping Wakita, but he assumed that it would be near his own office if they were using him to run logistics.
The two used a key held by the guard to open the door, and as Haji had revealed there did seem to be a distinct lack of life. Looking down on the pavement revealed obvious track marks which indicate a lot of traffic had moved through here, but to the touch they felt cold. Whatever had come through had been gone for some time, which meant it was possible they were in their way back by now. Fukushu looked over to Haji, but he didn't seem concerned by that.
Fukushu took the lead as he had said he would, carefully walking over to the small office he had spent countless nights working in. Anyone inside and still awake would have felt him coming, but they might not know his ki signature. If they were lucky then they'd be merely suspicious instead of hostile, which might buy them some time. As he leaned up against the door he tried to sense Wakita, but he couldn't recognize him. He did feel a few sources which must have been mercs, but not his friend. He was worried at first, but he knew Wakita was smart. If Haji could hide his power then it was possible that Wakita had mastered this ability too.
Haji gave him the signal and Fukushu quietly opened the door and stepped on through, with the old man following in after. There wasn't anybody immediately visible, but he could sense their power level approaching. He quickly made a dash for his old office and threw open the door, spotting the young Wakita wound up in the corner. He rushed over and gave the boy a quick examination, discovering many wounds in the process.
It was clear he was in no condition to be awoke, but that didn't change the fact that they needed to get out of there. By the time he turned his head Haji was there, with a large, unknown figure caught in his headlock. Fukushu didn't bother asking any questions; instead he picked up Wakita, slung him over his shoulder and gave the word to Haji. The old man nodded and finished the merc off before turning and running back to deal with any others that might try and come.
Fukushu instead moved to the back of the room and took a seat at his desk. From there he placed one hand into the bottom drawl and fumbled around until he found the switch he was looking for. He gave it a flick and the hidden compartment underneath his desk flew open. "I was hoping they'd leave it untouched."
For a moment he considered his next move. Haji was still out there somewhere, and if he wanted to he could leave with Wakita, abandoning the old man. It was tempting... but at the same time he felt some sort of attachment to the old man now; the idea of leaving him behind felt... wrong. Against his initial instinct he called out to Haji, instructing him to forget about the soldiers and hurry back. With Wakita still slung around his shoulders the Heran jumped through his hidden exit, taking him down to the sewer systems below.
Haji followed shortly after, nearly landing on top of the two boys in the process. Fukushu could tell right away that Haji was wounded, but the old man refused to talk about it. Instead he grabbed Fukushu by the collar and attempted to drag him along, claiming that they'd likely be on them soon. Fuksuhu agreed and the duo rushed through the spiraling sewers in an effort to throw off any trail. Fortunately Fukushu had put a great deal of effort into mapping the confusing sewer system of the city and was able to navigate things quite confidently, and within the hour the three of them were relatively safe.
Fukushu directly Haji to a sewer exit and they soon found themselves back on the surface, and not too far away from Haji's home. After a thirty minute walk they had made it back, where Fukushu placed Wakita down into the same bed that he had rested in not too long ago, while Haji got to work preparing the same drink that had kept him asleep. He placed the liquid into the IV before the two of them left the room to discuss what had happened.
"So, what will you plan to do now?" With Wakita out of their hands the answer seemed obvious to him: revenge. "I'll go back there, and I'll wipe out every single one of them. I'll leave Uragi for last and force him to give me Korosu's location, assuming that he isn't there himself. Then I'll take him out, and anybody else waiting for me after him."
He expected Haji to try and stop him, or at the very least caution him against that, but to his surprise the old man smiled at him. "Good. Our planet needs cleaning, and I've still got a few good years left in me to help do so. Your old boss Korosu is just one of many petty lords of Hera; strike him down and I swear another will rise to take his place. We'll have to follow him to the very top; cut off the head and rest will die along with it."
Fukushu himself wasn't so sure about that; for him it was more personal than anything else. Still... he wouldn't say that to Haji's face; not after what they had just been through. The old man proved himself a formidable force, and the help he could provide would be invaluable. On top of that the young Heran was simply tired; he wanted to go to bed, and rest himself for the wars to come. Instead of getting into any sort of argument he simply waved Haji goodbye and strolled off to bed.
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