claretswritings

[claretswritings]

Made for a gift exchange a while ago.

Experimental dialogue only.

[claretswritings]

UwU speak and airhorns

[claretswritings]

It’s for work, but people like to have fun.

[claretswritings]

History, introductions and the subway.

[claretswritings]

I’m going to explode if I think about this chapter any longer.

Anyways microwave. The one oc I yell about every now and then on my main

[claretswritings]

I made this to cope. I can’t elaborate I’m just in pain.

[claretswritings]

A Life Chosen, Is A Life Made

Prologue

First Fic of Paths Converging

Garmadon was changed to his previous self after the battle with The Overlord. He makes his own choices and chosen himself a life of peace but now... He thinks and wonders. What if I gave someone, Somebody a chance at a new life?

Garmadon groaned from underneath the rubble. He was dazed and aching but altogether fine, so he got up rubbing the dust and dirt off himself. Placing a hand into his hair, he didn’t stop to look around until a sound cut through the air.

“Dad!” The wind is knocked out of him as Lloyd- His son- hugs him. “I’m so glad you’re back!” He’s excited from adrenaline and crying. “He’s Gone! He shouldn’t come back- But-” Lloyd coughed into his chest and Garmadon sighed lightly. He glanced upward and turned to Misako.

“It’s good to see you, Misako” Garmadon said. “And I’m sorry.” She opened her mouth to speak but Garmadon stopped and raised a hand, causing her to hush. “I’m sorry I lied to you, that letter wasn’t me. It was my brother’s.”

He hears her gasp but he continues onward. “I- I thought I loved you too, I really did but. There never was a connection to go off of. It didn’t feel like you were giving it your all.” He stops to breathe and let her take over for the moment.

“I did love you, Garmadon. But you were dangerous. I couldn’t let Lloyd run off into danger with you.” Misako replied after taking it in. He shakes his head.

“I understand, Misako,” And he turns to Lloyd, his boy, his son. His everything. Lloyd had looked sad but understanding. “I just-” He sighs again, finally ready to take the rest of the garbage out. “I just wanted to close this. It’s not worth keeping if we’re going to stay apart like this.” Lloyd nodded and took his hand.

“I want to stay with you, dad.” He must’ve looked surprised because Lloyd quickly looks away and continues, speaking faster. “You were always there for me. Even when- when you were away.”

“What about your mother? Was she not-” Lloyd quickly shakes his head again.

“She wasn’t! It’s frustrating how alone I felt before all this happen! Before I even saw her again!” He begins to shake as he held his father, “She just left me in a school, where everyone hated me! I don’t want to be the outcast anymore, dad. Just please let me stay with you.” Lloyd pleads and guilt consumes him.

Oh, oh. Garmadon thought as Lloyd continued to shake and almost tear himself apart in emotions. He hesitated, at first but nodded. Turning to his brother and wife, Garmadon saw them both disappointed but somehow understanding.

“I suppose this is where we should split.” His brother replies, long white beard in tow. Misako opens her mouth again to speak but changes her mind and doesn’t say anything. “I’m sorry he felt that way about you.” Wu says placing a hand on Misako’s shoulder.

Garmadon watches the group leave, but he also sees a few ninjas turning to look back at the both of them. The spiky haired kid especially. Eventually he seemed to make up his mind and ran back up to them.

“Lloyd! You’ll come back and visit us, right?” The teen asks breathless. Lloyd didn’t want to talk any longer and chose then to nod.

“Great! I’ll see you later, Bro!” The ruffled red gi flashed from their views and Garmadon finally sat down and sighed once more.

“So what now?” His son asks him, as they looked around the ruins.

“We look elsewhere and make our own lives. Live to the fullest in hopes for peace.”

[claretswritings]

Guardian.

Cherished protection and outside forces.

AO3 Google Docs

Ronin and his brother were outside. They were training by themselves, not a care to the world. Wu needed to do something, having headed inside. Neither of them knew what it was about, the only clues being some political nonsense. It wasn’t something they thought to bother with, the processes and words being confusing jumbles.

They use the time to relax, fooling around the various contraptions. Ronin had climbed onto one of them, standing proudly with a shit-eating grin. He wasn’t balanced precariously but still, Morro had on him a look of worry. Ronin sat down on the contraption and laughed out loud.

In the moment, he was joyful. Nothing there to stop him from doing what he wanted and nothing there to stop him as he fulfilled himself. Admittedly, it wasn’t much. But with how hard it was to avoid the things thrown at him, he had to take what he could get.

Ronin stays on top of the contraption, and he turns to the sky. It’s a cloudy day and the wind has been ruffling him. Despite everything that happens, he smiles to himself. He has an anchor and the restless spirit to defend himself. It didn’t matter if the world went against him. It didn’t matter if he had to fight.

Morro gives him a cursory glance, his worries and fears still visible. Their master hasn’t came out in a while, longer then what they usually expected of him. It felt unusual but they didn’t question for what they thought was a gift. Time was a sacred essence almost. Hard to find, and hard to catch.

“Ronin?” Morro eventually calls out. “When are you going to come down?” Ronin turns to him, shrugging. His brother sighs from underneath him. He’d managed to stop the machine and was now sitting in it, by the main structural pillar and between the many walls used to throw them off.

They sit there again in silence before Ronin gets an idea. He motions his hands upward creating a beast. The beast almost looks normal if it weren’t for it’s shimmering fur. It's a rather large bear, big enough to hold and hide them both. Ronin jumps from the machine and lands laughing into the arms of the bear.

Morro looks up and smiles, it hasn’t been the only time he’s seen his creations. They were always more vibrant then the real things, spiky and sharp but soft at the same time. The bear’s eyes shine iridescently in the sunlight, cycling square formations that made up the pupils.

His brother gets up and hugs the creature, which only snorted in response. The bear sits down roughly, a loud thumping noise as they plopped downward. Ronin giggles, his love for the creature and his brother pulling his soul up in a happy embrace. Morro still holds on from his side, and his smile turns into a grin.

They stay like that for a while, laughing and smiling in the silence. Every now and then the bear would still snort, large puffs of air getting into Ronin’s face. It’s warm being surrounded by the bear, no matter how fake or real it was. He felt comfortable with it. Comfortable to be himself, and comfortable to live. At least for a while. For that time.

Morro eventually moves from his spot to sit with Ronin. The bear proceeds to hold them both in a semi hug with their large furry paws. It’s big enough to almost cover their entire bodies and Ronin’s laughter ends up muffled.

“Well, I see you’re comfortable.” Morro says as he sees Ronin bundle himself farther and farther into the fur. “You’re going to burrow yourself in it.”

“So? It’s fun.” Ronin’s voice comes out still muffled. He gets up from underneath the paws. His clothes is rumpled and his hair a mess but he’s smiling, his grin is wider then what Morro was used to seeing and he himself was happy for that.

Ronin frowns. “But-” He turns to the door, and his worry spills out from inside him and onto the ground. He’s scared, he still is. It’s only natural for it to remain. He doesn’t say anything for a long time as he stayed watching the door. “I don’t want this to end.” His brother gives him a questioning look so he continues.

“Where everything is- Happy I guess. Where I don’t have to struggle to live. I don’t even know what I did for Master- Master Wu to be like that.” He tries not to whimper thinking about it, but it was hard just to say it out loud.

“You didn’t do anything to cause that.” Morro cuts in. “I know he keeps saying you’re at fault for existing but it’s not. You didn’t choose for this happen.”

Ronin nods but doesn’t say anything again. “I personally think your element is great. Being able to make something real but it’s not? You could tell stories with it! Not just doing so called evil.”

“I- I guess so..”

“Well, don’t just guess. I heard his rants. I know what he’s making you think. And it’s not you at all.” Ronin relaxes slightly but he still finds himself having little faith on his situation.

“How did you know about that?” Morro shrugs this time.

“Wu’s not exactly subtle.”

“And are you really sure that I won’t-..” Ronin trails off his mood changing to despair. Morro nods, firm in his conviction. He lays a hand on his shoulder that Ronin lets him do so, having their trust being a link between them.

“I’m more then sure that you won’t. It’s all a choice. Isn’t it?” Morro gives him a small smile. He waits for Ronin to respond and eventually he nods again.

The bear seemed to melt, but not vanish. Ronin doesn’t pay attention, lost to his thoughts. Even as Morro kept telling him, he didn’t know who was right. Wu’s words already so ingrained that he couldn’t do anything. And a voice that would whisper to him, about how he couldn’t keep running. About how he should give up and just go back to Stiix.

But it wasn’t home, not anymore. And neither was the Monastery, which was instead a prison. He was constantly restless, without a home and always forced to fight. He had no choice in how he lived, everything else choosing for him.

The door opens and Ronin nearly jumps, the bear disappearing in a show of sparks. Fur falls around them before vanishing away into the air. They see Wu and he has a look of contemplation. Ronin’s fear spikes up but he hides it, shielding himself.

For a moment, no one says anything. Wu only stands there still thinking. The silence that once was comforting changes into being tense. It felt biting, a strange coldness holding them all there. Then he leans against the doorframe, with a smile that spoke volumes of what was to come.

He speaks. “You haven’t stopped, have you?” Morro gets off the stony ground to glare and grind his teeth. Ronin sees sparks flies off him in his sea of anger.

“So what if we did? You don’t give us breaks at all!” Morro’s tone was demanding and angry, filled to the brim with the unspoken injustices Wu wrought them. He keeps going, his anger rising and rising. “I don’t get it. Why is it that I get more then Ronin. That he has to scramble just to get to my level!”

He takes a breath but Wu speaks, not letting him finish. “He doesn’t deserve it. Is it not simple enough for you?” Morro only narrowed his eyes in response.

“Ronin hasn’t done anything to deserve this. He’s being hurt for no reason-” And there, their master laughs. Airy but not quite smooth, they found it jagged and Ronin only shrinks backward. Ever constant fear and barely held together courage, he swallowed down bile and took a hold of his brother’s hand.

“No reason? You know little about him at all,” Morro chooses then to interrupt, refusing to hear anymore of the spiel.

“I don’t need to know.”

Master Wu laughed again, “He hides things, creates lies to trick you into caring. Doesn’t he?” A switch is flipped and suddenly, he couldn't hold onto his brother anymore. Ronin cries out, desperate to still hold onto him.

In a way, he didn’t look human. He was translucent, held together by nothing but wind. It was all there was. Spiralling air, spiralling desires, spiralling anger all formed into one. That was Morro and Morro was that. His brother glares harder at Wu with sharp glowing green eyes.

Ronin was almost reminded of Kichiro, but the only semblance were their eyes and nothing else. The fast growing winds were sudden and whips everyone’s hair. He almost couldn’t see through it yet somehow, he could tell something was different.

The first thing heard through the roaring windstorm was Wu’s voice.

“So I was wrong.” Morro responded by screaming in rage and lunging forward. He doesn’t have a weapon, so he only tries to punch Wu. But he gets sidestepped and misses, barrelling into the building. Morro gets off off the floor and keeps glaring with those shining green eyes.

Ronin doesn’t know what to do. Or what Morro has become. It’s different but nothing like anything he’s ever seen. Wu hadn’t reacted at all beyond his few words. They stay like that for a while, a deep tense silence there once again.

Ronin decides to walk to Morro, getting closer and closer until they were once again by each other’s sides. “Morro?”

“There’s nothing wrong, boy.” WU says over him, and he flinches but tries to hold himself together. “It’s only his unlocked potential. A telling sign of what he’s not.”

“He’s not- He’s not what?” Ronin asks once again holding onto his brother. The air somehow solidifying into Morro’s body. Wu doesn’t answer him, instead tearing his hands off Morro. Ronin gets shoved away and he falls hard on the flooring. He winces from the pain.

“Don’t touch him.” Morro finally says, still as the wind bellows around them. His anger is sharp and still there, fiery hot and surrounding him like wings on a seraph. “You don’t know the truth about him, you never did. Never bothered too!”

Morro took a deep breath and kept going. “If anything, you’ve lied to him. Telling him he’s safe and protected when he’s not. He just wants to live and you’re not giving him that.” Wu opens his mouth to speak but Morro glares again, not letting him a choice but to listen. “But you don’t care about what he wants, do you? Giving him punishment for something he had no control over.”

The wind fades over and Morro comes back to normal but even then, he kept talking. “I don’t understand, but I don’t think I want to either.” He shrugs in a show of nonchalance. “He’s not a liar, nor is he evil. You’re just a fool who thinks he’s right!”

He ends it with a sharp point towards Wu. Who doesn’t respond for a small moment, before chuckling a little. “Maybe not, but just as so he could be. Now about the green ninja.” Morro stops briefly but his stance remains stringent as ever.

“What about it?” He asks through gritted teeth. Master Wu waved his hand away in a dismissive gesture.

“Later, training is over and we have to talk. Alone.” Ronin looks to his brother and he’s grinding his teeth with an obvious show of anger. Except Morro nods then and they leave. Ten seconds later Ronin follows and waits outside the room they enter.

He couldn’t hear much outside the closed door, every word muffled. But he saw and felt the growing anger. There was nothing he could do to stop it, nothing that he knew that could help. He only had to trust Morro and hope that he would stay. Hope for his only anchor to be there and help him live.

[claretswritings]

Fear.

Actions lead to wrongs.

AO3 Google Docs

He wandered the halls of the temple. Just looking around, it felt like everything was empty. His master was likely meditating and knowing him, he couldn’t interrupt. Ronin doesn’t know where to go, or what to do.

So he opens random doors, checking inside to see if they have anything of interest to him. Most were empty, filled with nothing but storage. He coughs up dust from most of the rooms and he slams the doors, often on accident. But they creak and wheeze from the state of their time.

It was old, it's always been to Ronin. He heard and felt every piece of wood creak. How the building still stood, he didn’t understand. Opening another latch to a door hidden away in the back, he was surprised at what he found.

Sunlight streaming through windows, bookshelves scattered but placed like dominos. He saw that each were filled with books, stacked to the ends of every wall. Ronin closes the door behind him and looks around farther. There’s a section in the far right corner used for lounging.

Dusty chairs covered with vibrantly patterned cushions surrounded a blackwood coffee table. He heads for the center and finds a larger table with taller chairs. Ronin quickly finds himself loving the room.

Heading for the first set of shelves, he checks for the genre. There isn’t much, it seemed. The only biggest distinctions were the labels of Fiction and non-fiction scattered around. The main thing was the disorganization with books randomly placed in an order but not the same. It’s a bit of a mess, he thinks and he grabs several books at a time and tries his best at putting it back to together.

Breathless from the dust, he still felt a shine of happiness. Books were always a haven. They weren’t- Hard to come by but it was a time where Ronin never really got the choice to relax. And it had only been a short time with his new master before he started tearing into his heart.

It was a different kind of attack but it seemed to be just as effective as what had been the last. He couldn’t guess who last did them but his mind would provide glimpses every once in a while. It was.. Confusing with what he had forgotten from his past. It seemed like he should’ve remembered completely but leaving made that null.

Yet he knows, he knows that he should’ve felt safe here but he doesn’t. It’s not safe, because instead of caring for him truly as the caretaker did in Stiix. Wu blamed him for incidents he never knew, called him evil with every step. Worthless, evil, a danger, it was all that was repeated to him.

He didn’t think he could protest. Not with how Wu used his authority. But it was also becoming background noise, static from the distances of his mind. Ronin puts his mind off the situation and glanced through the books.

He’s looking for something specific. Something like the book he’d gotten once from a dream. Collections of myths, of stories that described the world in a perspective of an assumption. But even so, it felt that they really could’ve happened. There were threads that seemed to connect them to the real world. Threads that seemed influence every action of the world around him. Ronin couldn’t explain it, but it seemed.. Right as it was.

They weren’t other worlds but apart of this one. Smaller chunks to the biggest piece. It was a puzzle, with so many pieces scattered about.  It wasn’t likely that he would find them all. But the thought nonetheless was nice.

He ends up grabbing several books, all that were next to each other. The books only fit one story and he had to hold back disappoint. He leaves the section and goes to sit down in middle of the room. The covers don’t tell much but he finds them to be what he’s looking for.

For a moment he wonders if he should leave, he doesn’t know how long he’s been there. But he changes his mind and begins to read. Taking his mind off of everything and letting time fly by.

The first book was somber. A story about a war between two tribes. It’s been going on for several hundred years, every new generation taking control. But then two boys start to secretly meet up. At first to talk of mundane things, complaining over nagging authorities and then slowly planning a rebellion. A side against both. They found it annoying, the ongoing war. They wanted to do something about it.

They plan for ten long months until it was time. Quick and precise, they strike at the heart of the problem. Their own parents, but the confrontation itself wasn’t smooth and many people were injured. The boys are weakened, unable to go any farther. But they try and try. Only, it causes them to lose everything and the two shells of influence were broken.

Nothing was the same anymore. Buildings held marks of destruction and people were killed. The two boys, they weren’t dead but very very close. One feels regret, the other wishes to create more. It’s already a disaster to say the least. And the disagreement causes the chaotic one to vanish.

Some would call it a good thing, others not so as the result of him leaving is crumbling towers and a missing fuse to light the world. Every person was a component and they had forgotten that in their war. Their society is left crumbling, until they were simply nothing more then history. This was their consequence and everyone fell for one man leaving.

The door slams open, scaring Ronin and instinctively he grabs his books hiding them somewhere between his arms and his clothes. He hopes none of them are seen but he’s never certain anymore. Ronin looks up and sees Wu. He freezes still hiding the books.

“Slacking off?” The older man says. Ronin grips the books tighter to himself. “I see you found the library. I do hope you haven’t touched any of them.”

He shook his head but his mouth felt dry under the looming threat. Wu beckons Ronin forward and he walks to him.

“Put those books back, I can tell you’re hiding some.” Ronin nods and moves again to put them back. Back where he last placed them. He wants to come back to the room and make it a safe haven.

The next moment, he finds himself being dragged by the arm. Ronin struggles under his grip as they head farther and farther from the library. Fear takes over but he can’t do anything. They reach the nearest closet- His room and his fears keep increasing as Wu grabbed his neck and doesn’t quite throw him in but it wasn’t gentle either. The door closes and immediately, Ronin felt panic.

He runs to the door, banging on it and yelling but no one answers. Ronin starts trying to turn the handle finding it locked. His cries only grow louder and louder. He could wish and hope he would be freed. But it just seemed unlikely.

He didn’t know what to do. Ronin felt he couldn’t stay put but he was locked there with nothing else. So instead, he curled up crumbling like a dry leaf. Time passes and his stomach growls, he hasn’t had anything to eat since breakfast.

He tries to open the door again but the results are the same. He nearly cries, coming so close. He ends up laying on the ground, his boredom mixing with sad hopelessness. Time continues shifting their sands with Ronin still in the middle. He doesn’t know how long he’ll last. He doesn’t know if he can.

He ends up falling into a dreamless sleep. Every moment spend in the darkness of the closet he just watched the walls. Ronin couldn’t tell what he did wrong. He closes his eyes again, a low sigh escaping his lips.

Ronin woke up to the door unlocking and he stands up immediately. His joints creak and he feels pain creeping on him but he doesn’t care. It was godsend to him that he even got a chance to leave. It was frightening being alone with his thoughts. And even worse when he had nothing else. Wu was in front of him and his aura still missing. He’s blocking the way so the boy could only wait.

Finally Wu moves to the side, giving him an exit and he takes it quickly. He almost runs if it weren’t for his fear holding him back.

“So you won’t be doing that again, will you?” Wu asks, his tone demanding. Ronin stops and nods, his fears still there. Wu doesn’t respond for a moment.

“I’m letting you go just this once. It’ll be worse for you if you don’t.” Ronin nods again. Just the small interval of silence later and Ronin runs. He keeps going until he’s outside and stops by a wall. Leaning against it, he silently holds his breath. Trying to keep himself from crying.

To an extent it works, but his breathing feels cut off and every gasp is almost a sob. Ronin slides to the stony floor and curls up. He should eat but he didn’t feel like doing that. Instead he just stayed there.

He didn’t think it would get worse. But it had, and did he have a choice in not taking them? He didn’t think so. He felt in that moment that the forces were against him. He didn’t know why and he wasn’t going to get answers.

So he’ll have to suffer through it. Whether he broke first or died. He had to keep going. He had to stay as strong as he could, even if he was ceramic. Eventually he gets up again and heads back inside. He still had to do what he could to survive.

[claretswritings]

Revelations

There is no more comfort.

AO3 Google Docs

The sun was coming up from across the water. Ronin could see all around the mist and fog. A drear day, he guessed but still. He stepped onto the dock. Ronin just stood there alone as the wind flowed around his hair. He continues forward until he’s at the end and standing before the great blue.

He sits down, his legs loose atop the waves. A moment away from the town. A moment away just for himself. It was for now, a melancholic mood. These were the times where he enjoyed his loneliness.

Ronin was- Weary, he’s always been. But now, now it seemed to intensify to the point where he couldn’t bond. And his brother was always away, always planning something. Always working or perhaps, maybe even making friends.

He’s not sure how to feel about his brother, after what happened in the old theater. He dreads his ever presence and hates his confidence. He’s not jealous, per se. But everything about Sohei exuded something different from himself. Something more- More- He doesn’t realize what.

He coughs violently for a moment. His sinuses getting to him. Ronin doesn’t know if he wants to call Sohei his brother. Because what he wants to do was wall him up. He wasn’t- Fine being alone but he’d take it to always staying with his brother.

He’s still watching the sky, and it’s comforting. For what it was. He was smaller then the world but that just was how it is. He didn’t mind it, not being able to deeply affect the world. Briefly, he glances at his hands and he remembers the self-created light show.

It was beautiful and he could potentially do it again. But he feels he needs to hide it, only doing small tricks instead. Out of boredom, he manifests an animal next to him. Just a small fox, with silky orange and white furs that Ronin pets. The manifestation has eyes of gold, bright and ever looking. It’s tail swishes and lands around Ronin’s neck.

The creature curls up around him and Ronin sighs in contentment. What he craved were bonds, with family and with friends. But it was so hard finding those very things. And his last one, with Sohei was already so weak and fraying. He doesn’t know what to do. He can’t go any farther or he might end up lost in his own abyss.

The fox trills and he’s shaken out of his thoughts. He sinks himself farther into the creature’s fur. He’s surprised by how warm it is. Surprised by the feeling of protection it gives of, like it’s always been there. Been apart of him. He curls into the fox and breathes in the smells of wood and dew.

The next moment, he hears footsteps. But he doesn’t look up or pay attention until he hears the voice.

“There you are, I was looking for you.” Ronin jolts out of his reverie. The fox disappears instantly in a shattering shower of both sparks and fur. He looks behind and sees Sohei. His brother is standing there with a small grin and he can’t tell why. Ronin tries to smile back but he’s shaking. Imperceptibly but enough that he crosses his legs in an attempt to stop.

“H- Hey.” Sohei walks closer until he’s next to him and sits down. Just like Ronin was, he’s staring towards the horizon as the sky washes away in clouds of purples and reds.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Ronin doesn’t respond, instead watching his brother. Sohei doesn’t seem to notice or care since he continues on. “You always visited the docks, and I wondered why.” Sohei turns to Ronin and his grin turns wider. “I can see now.”

Ronin nods and swallows down bile. The weariness is back and he couldn’t run. Not from his brother, his sibling, families were supposed to be there for each other. Wasn’t that the point when their father left them? To have them help each other? Save each other? But Ronin was doubtful now, doubtful that Sohei had felt the same. Doubtful that Sohei would be there for him, death was just another coming and Sohei wasn’t going to be there.

“But,” Sohei lays a hand on his own and Ronin freezes. “You’re a coward, you run from everything.” Sohei pulls him close with his arm around his shoulder and Ronin shivers by the warmth of Sohei’s body. He’s still clasping Ronin’s hand, holding it as if he was something precious. But there’s a sort of uncanny wrongness to the way his brother was treating him. “Always cowering, always disappearing off to where the gods only know.”

“You- You do the same to me.”

“So? What’s the point when you don’t do anything?” Sohei looks at him and he’s not smiling anymore, “What’s the point when you’re always leaving me behind?” Ronin balls his other hand into a fist, his nails digging into his palm.

He protests, not quite yelling but not quite whispering. “I’m not! It’s not- It’s not like that! We- Wasn’t it always us being seperated?” Sohei shrugs, his gaze leaving him. Ronin hadn’t noticed but the fishermen were out working. Nets and fishing poles surrounded the two.

“Maybe.” None of the workers are paying attention to them. Instead doing their share of work. A few would glance at them every once in a while but just as quickly, they go back.

It’s not the same, being cradled by Sohei. Where there was a feeling of protection. What was there in its place vague imprisonment. “But you had a choice to stay. We could’ve been better. We could’ve ruled with what we had.” Sohei finally let go of his hand and Ronin sighs quietly in relief. But then he feels his brother’s arm shift from position and a palm behind his back. “But you gone and went, having something better.”

Sohei turns, looking him in the eyes. “But that won’t matter anymore.” Before he knows it, Ronin hits the water. The current pulls him deeper and his clothes soak dragging him down farther. He grabs at the surface, trying to pull himself up but the heavy water keeps him there.

He hates it, he hates his brother. Betrayal, fear, and anger coalesced into one and it was all he felt in that moment. He pulls himself to the surface and he looks around frantic for something to hold onto. But all was just boats. The current takes him again.

He struggles under the water, trying not to scream. It grabs and throws him around. Somehow, somehow he doesn’t get caught by the lines. No nets seem to catch him either but he sees more and more around him. He gives up sinking down farther closing his eyes.

He’s alone again. Standing in a yellow field of tall grasses that he sees leading to a beach. There’s a void in the bottom of his stomach but he walks. Toward the beach and toward the water. He reaches sand and sits down. Holding his legs, he only watches the waves push back and forth.

He balls his fists, his nails digging through his skin. It’s painful and he doesn’t care. He gets up standing and he screams until his throat feels hoarse. The sand changes, from the beige to a dark black. He wasn’t sure why he was here. A wave of vertigo hits him and he stumbles.

He touches concrete and brick. Grey stones and a railroad. He looks around farther and he sees it's a tunnel. Ronin only saw those in storybooks. On the other side, he sees a bright blinding white light. He feels something fluid between his nails and Ronin rests his hands. There’s nothing to do here. Was he dead, now? He didn’t feel like he was.

He looks to his left and finds a book. Brown hardcover with a mark of two swords crossing. He takes the book and tucks it underneath his arm. He had no reason to take it but he does.

There’s a roaring of wind that suddenly picks up. From behind and in front, surrounding him in a vortex. The wind picks him up and leads him to the exit. He wakes up delirious in a bed. Too weak to move, he gazes around. There’s a woman in the room.

Midnight hair and worried steel eyes. Ronin tries to talk but coughs instead. He doesn’t remember exactly what happened except water and struggling just to breathe. She looks his way and it’s unexpected, the hug.

“Oh baby, I’m so sorry.” Variations were repeated and he’s confused. The woman lets go and her name tag shows clearly reading as Hitomi. “You’re in the orphanage right now- You were caught in a net. It’s what saved you.”

The woman- Hitomi stands up and goes to leave but then she stops by the door. “Do you know where your brother went? He wasn’t there with you when you- fell in.” Ronin shakes his head and she sighs.

“I was hoping it’d be something else.” And then she leaves. His arm uncurls around the book and opens it. He finds out it’s a book of Stiix’s myths. The past few days were spent in the bed reading. His head ends up filled with stories and adventures.

The day he gets out, he stops visiting the docks. He looks elsewhere. He avoids his brother more constantly. Things were changing again. More rapidly then ever.  

[claretswritings]

Defenestrate.

Accidental destruction leads to more.

AO3 Google Docs

Ronin was sitting out in the courtyard of the monastery. Bright morning and chilly winds, he was staring at the sky. He didn’t have anything to do that day. Wu pulling him from his duties for reasons he didn’t know.

He was really really bored. Wu never gave him much to do and he already did the training for the day. So here he was, doing nothing. He hated being alone. Something whispers in the back of his mind, to run back to Stiix but he shakes his head. It was too late now. He made his home elsewhere.

He decides to wander the temple instead and he gets up from the stony ground. Ronin opens the door back inside and heads in a random direction. Directionless, fluid he moved through the temple away from Wu. He didn’t know what he wanted to look for.

Ronin finds himself outside the library. He never sees Wu in there so he doesn’t understand why he couldn’t just take some. He opens the door and starts to search through the books. He finds himself back in the mythology section. Most he’s already read back in Stiix but a few he’s never touched.

An old red leather book catches his eye and he pulls it out. Ronin doesn’t see a title on it so he opens the book. The title read “The Eyes of God” with golden imagery of a nekomata toying with a small rat. That’s enough to have kept him interested and so Ronin closed the book and moved to another section.

Roaming the nonfiction area, not much catches his attention but he finds a book on blood sorcery. He goes back to his small room carrying both books. There’s a small stash of books in the closet, mostly myths he’s already read while some were just information he got curious about. He grabs a flashlight and begins to read the book on blood sorcery.

Blood sorcery is stronger then normal magic. It’s nothing like ordinary magic, where people could learn to and fro and every which way. No one knows truly how it came to be but many, many lines began at the same time. Giving off the same magical energy. Wielders could connect with those of same family, telepathically speaking to them if they so chose too. Doing so also allows them to find their family members again. It was generally known that the connection is weak, but through methods from outside. The blood connection will grow stronger. The stronger the connection, the more the wielder could do with the connected. From forcing memories to reading thoughts. Blood sorcerers could do many many things to their chosen link. Whether they wanted it or not.

The connection could be created without knowing. But just as well maintained without awareness. The only thing truly mattering being the will and the want for it. The wielder is the only one who can cut off the connection. Either by choosing to weaken it or cutting it off entirely. But the strongest connection cannot be broken, for reasons unknown. People have said that cutting one off could very well kill them both but no such evidence has been revealed.

If the other has a power or a magic of their own. The blood sorcerer could potentially use it. But only indirectly. It’s forbidden for such a thing to occur but many accidents of that has happened. Proofs upon proofs of the incidents cataloged in village books and histories. But there aren’t much of the sorcerers that are strong from the start. There only being a rare few who already have such a strong bond with their magic. It being the only thing that would allow them power.

It was a personal art. One that could be made unique is the user so tried to. Blood magic was specialized and not at the same time. Being able to use it for multiple purposes while also having one direction. It was unpredictable but controlled in one person. And this sort of uniqueness was what made the sorcery so rare, so hard to find.

There’s no known record for the strongest use of blood magic. Or if there even is any such thing. But most sorcerers were known for strengthening their magic. Using any means necessary. They are not evil, despite it all. But it’s from the person’s control for what they do and what the magic is used for.

He stops being able to read, shivering uncontrollable from something. His hands are shaking and every word becomes unreadable. An already strong magic was interesting, but being able to strengthen it. He felt a little scared at the thought. He tries to stop shaking- to change his thoughts. But his curiosity creates bigger problems.

He thinks about what might be the strongest blood magic. But he gets nothing except the thoughts of families on strings. A person no longer human, but a puppet simply to play with. A toy not a man. He grabs the other book he brought and quickly begins to read, if only to distract himself from his terrible thoughts in his mind.

The eyes of God opens with the nekomata walking on a sunny dirt road. Out on the countryside. His name was Masumi and he was known for his great adventures. Travelling from outskirts to the cities. Fighting beasts of evil or simply handing a bit of advice for growing crops. He disappears constantly, no one knowing where he’ll end up next.

Masumi enjoyed that. He didn’t want to be found. His virtue lying in that fog of mistiness. He was his own and nothing was going to restrain him. Masumi finds himself stopped by a small rat.

“Hello! I am Yori, I’m looking for something.” The rat squeaks.

“What sort of something?” He asks curious. Something of power? A tool? His thoughts are quickly stopped by the rat climbing onto him.

“Yes! A circlet of eyes!” Yori replied from over his head. Masumi wants to ask what it does but Yori continued on. “I might know just where it is. But can you help me?”

It’s sudden for Masumi, to be asked of this. He wanted privacy but being asked of something so- Major was interesting. He only ever did things for himself. Never truly caring for others. Sure, he may have given advice and saved villages but all in all. He was a selfish creature.

But he nods anyway. “I suppose I can...”

“Great! I’ll lead the way.” Yori responds and already he’s pointing in a direction of where to go. Masumi shrugs to himself and walks.

The first few days were in wandering, passing through forests and small towns. They ate their shares and passed on through the days. Masumi is exhausted and annoyed.

“Are we there yet? We’ve been searching for days now.” He finally grumbles out one day.

“We’re nearly there! Don’t worry.” Yori says. They eat quickly and head onward once more. Masumi was at the point of not paying to where they were heading, so he was surprised when he found himself in a dark damp cave. Yori climbs off of him and starts running deeper into the cave.

Masumi has to catch up before he loses the rat and walks after him, as fast as he allowed himself too. Curiosity was his starting point but even he realized how little he knew.

“What is- That circlet of eyes for? Is it a trinket? A toy?” He stops talking once he notices the rat isn’t within his vicinity and sighs in annoyance. He clammers after him, tripping a few times over rocks and constantly losing his only glimpse of his guide.

His only indication that they reached it was a glowing hole and Yori standing by it with a grin. “What did I tell you? I knew where it was!” Masumi grabs it before Yori could say any farther and the circlet’s eyes turn sharply to look at him.

It’s unnerving and realistic, the eyes turning every which way to look around but especially at them. They weren’t- squishy but it was hard to tell how they were made. Nearly glowing white with veins of blood flowing through, The pupil moving around surrounded by a deep purple iris. The circlet’s metal was a tarnished silver that held together strongly while the eyes seemed to struggle.

He goes to put it back but Yori stops him. “Don’t do that, we need it.”

“No we don’t,” Masumi protests, glancing a bit back at the staring glowing eyes. It scared him, he didn’t want to admit. The eyes kept looking at him. Looking elsewhere for a second and then back at Masumi. “We don’t even know what it does!!”

Yori just stares at him, quiet and then responding. “You don’t but I do. And I can’t wear it so maybe you should.”

Masumi stares back, “Wear it?” Yori nods. The yokai stops and turns to look at the circlet again.

“Go on, it’s for you. A gift.” And he does, pulling it closer and raising it above his head to put it on but he hesitates. Only a little but just enough. He puts it on and only then does he realize that there are also black shadowy tendrils surrounding the circlet. They start to wrap around him and he doesn’t fight back. It envelops him in power and the glow shifts from the crown to his soul and body.

There’s so much power and so much he could do. He finds himself grinning and Yori sweats. He starts to realize he was lured there, for what reason yet. He didn’t know. Daintily, he picks up the rat and looks him in the eye.

“Was this a trap? Were you spying on me? Tell me, what did I do wrong.” Yori panics and throws his hands up in surrender.

“N- No! It’s not! I tell you!” But then he squeezes and Yori screams in pain. A moment later and he stops. “Fi- Fine, the villages see you as hazard and they wanted you gone.”

“So you tried to kill me? Now that won’t work now, will it?” He flies off out of the cave and into the night sky. There were examples to be made. Particularly with one liar. Masumi goes higher and higher until they go even above the clouds. He smirks and looks at the rat. “What if I dropped you, right here, right now?”

Yori doesn’t know how to respond. He’s fearful, of course he is. But he can’t react without angering Masumi and he wanted to save himself. So he doesn’t, and waits instead for salvation. A presence of old shows up in the form of a ghostly voice. Masumi seemed to recognize it and grew smug as he watched for retribution.

“Now what is happening here?” The voice calls out with authority. Masumi shrugs.

“Oh, I’ve been fooled! I’ve been tricked by this lowlife rat!” He’s dramatic, trying to pull at heartstrings. It’s only a voice rather then a full appearance of the higher up god. Yori points at Masumi and starts babbling for his life.

“No no, I didn’t. I was trying to save us all. He stole the Eyes. Not me!” Silence falls.

“What has been taken?” Yori sighs in relief.

“The Eyes of God, sir. He has taken them from my grasp.” The higher up seems to think, and neither know what will happen.

“He shouldn’t have grabbed it, but you also led him to it.” Masumi stops, he’s getting punished. Isn’t he? And so, from the sky they are struck down and left falling from the highest height in the air.

As they hurtle toward the ground like stray comets, they see a hole opening beckoning to them both. It was be their seal, their prison and nothing more then that. The circlet falls off the moment they enter the ground.

It’s out of reach and the hole slides them away. They end up in an endless war underneath the earth. No one notices but no one cares. It just is as it was.

Ronin closes the book and glances outside. It’s the middle of the day and he needs to eat. It’s only lunch but he has problems remembering some times. He sets the book down along with the rest and opens the door again.

Walking out, he feels his joints creak from idle sitting and he winces. The closer he moves to the temple, the more the smell of food entrances him. He’s hungry and he could feel his stomach grumbling.

The smell is of salmon and it reminds him of home. His old one, Stiix with it’s old crumbling wood and harried down people. The boy is too impatient and he runs through the halls toward the kitchen. It’s all a fit of impulse when he crashed through a window by his master.

Wu yells in shock and it was only lucky that none of the food got covered in glass. Ronin had some of the gall to look sheepish but he found Wu’s reaction funny. The master sighs and rubs at his temple.

“I was going to call you but I suppose I don’t have to anymore. Just eat.” Ronin just nods and grabs a plate of food. Mischief was always there and he wanted to do it again. With how Wu already was to him, he had to do something in response. A small and short rebellion. Who cares for a little property damage?

[claretswritings]

Home.

Where do you live now?

AO3 Google Docs

Ronin’s dragging Morro into another room in the temple. It’s dark and kinda damp but he’s excited. It’s been something he’s been wanting to try and something he’s been wanting to talk about. To him, it’s been forever since Stiix was last spoken about. He almost thinks that Wu had forgotten it existed.

He finds a room that’s large and far away from Wu. So he slams the door open and sits in the middle of the room. He knew it was going to take a lot of focus, but he thinks of Stiix and knows it’d be worth it. Morro glances at him before sitting down a few feet away.

Ronin breathes and changes the landscape of the room. The wood becomes more rotten and wet feeling, and there’s a fog but it’s not hard to see through. Morro looks around as the room turns into a town. He sees his brother knock on the wood and it flickers but doesn’t change back.

“So, this was where you used to live?” Morro asks, looking at the buildings. Ronin just nods excitedly before the ocean starts appearing. He freezes a little but ignores it. He tries to think nothing of it as Morro heads for the docks area. He could faintly remember someone pushing him into the water, vague shapes and a resemblance to self.

He shakes his head, it’s not what he should be focusing on. But it creeps into his mind and he could almost remember what happened. He forces his thoughts into another direction. He remembers Hitomi, the caretaker and mother. He misses her, and hopes she’s okay.

“Hey, can you tell me what it was like living here?” Morro shouts to him, from around the docks and he jumps startled. In that moment, he finds himself unable to speak but nods and runs to sit with him. He’s not getting tired yet, so he conjures some images.

“It was- It was loud and always active,” Ronin gestures and a crowd of small boats show up with blank faced people using nets and fishing poles. “There would be fisherman at the docks for almost the whole day and lots of travellers,” Another conjuration, this time of more blank faces. They were carrying backpacks and other kinds of equipment. “I- I think there were stalls out all the time? I don’t remember much but, I liked it there.” The final image was of shops upon shops near the edge of the water. Restaurants and tourist shops being the center of it all.

Ronin thinks of what to talk about next about his old town. The conjurations fade in place of another one with the room still the same. He doesn’t mean it when the orphanage shows up next to them. But it causes him to light up and he leaps off the dock to run towards it.

It was hardly a sprint, the building being right next to them but he knew the place. With its familiar walls and familiar people. Morro gives him a questioning look when he turns to grin.

“It’s- This was the old orphanage in Stiix,” The only safe place he felt truly at home, he doesn’t say. But Morro is patient and only nods to him. Ronin continues as he looks at the building. “The- The caretaker was pretty strict but being around her felt-” The door opens and he sees her again, but faceless. He holds back disappointment as she sweeps past them into the streets. Her metal shoes clanking against wood.

He nearly forgets she’s just an illusion and almost grabs her apron. He stops himself staring ahead. Watching her, Ronin doesn’t shake himself from it and the illusion begins to crumble changing shape into something else.

It changes into the old empty theater and he sees something he recognizes but Ronin doesn’t remember what it was. Morro walks past him, looking over all the masks. Ronin vaguely remembered three masks but doesn’t say anything. He notices Morro dusting off one of the masks and it starts changing shape. His brother jumps a little, startled by the movement.

“Ronin, what the fuck?” Morro’s waiting for an answer and Ronin could only rub the back of his head sheepish. Ronin then shrugs in response. His memories were flooding into the illusion and taking its own control. He looks over Morro’s shoulder to see that the mask was of one fox, bright red with green eyeliner and black bangs.

“Huh, isn’t that Kichiro?” Morro says in bemusement. Two more masks change shape and it’s just like before. Dark brown with red hair and a cream white weasel. “And that’s Tadao. When did you see this?” Morro said pointing out the other fox mask.

“B- Back at Stiix, I-” The mirrored image shows up in his mind again. He doesn’t understand but it fills him with fear. Who was that? Who was it? Why now were they appearing? He could hear a chuckle in the back of his mind.

Morro places the mask down and all three shatter in loud cracking noises. Morro backs away and Ronin flinches. They see Kichiro’s shatter into something unrecognizable, just pieces left. Then the weasel with a large crack going through until it reaches the other ends and simply breaks apart. The dark brown fox’s- Tadao’s meets the same fate as Kichiro’s.

And he burns out, taking the landscape back to its former self. But- But something remains, the mask shards begin to form into something- someone else. Ronin finds himself backing away when he sees brown hair that flowed like his. The faceless figure picks up the weasel mask and the two large fixes themselves up.

He hears the chuckling again. “Did you really think it’d be that easy? Did you really think you could run away from your own life?” It's too stable, too real and every syllable felt like a dagger through his heart. He doesn’t remember who that is but it’s not him. It’s not him, but he doesn’t know just who that was. The figure continues.

“You just go and abandon your dear little brother alone to survive on his own. Aren’t you adding to his problems? My problems?” Ronin whimpers and falls on his knees. “It’s pathetic how alone you are.” He can’t listen to this. He can’t but the figure keeps going. “But it’s your fault for that. It’s your fault for everything.” Silently, he raises a hand, tries to remove the illusion. Tries to get rid of the specter but he can’t.

It’s strengthened by something and he couldn’t tell from what. In fact, it seems to just vibrate from under his control and the figure starts to laugh.

“You’re just playing with dolls, brother dearest.” They start to advance and Ronin starts to shake. Why won’t it leave him? “You were never the strongest. Always so weak. I’m surprised you made it this far without me.” He looks up and he sees Morro, his expression is unreadable but his aura is frantically flickering. Horror mixed with confusion. Ronin tries to crawl to him but the apparition kicks him and he wheezes, the breath out of him. It laughs a discordant tune before he gets grabbed by the collar again. He’s lifted off the ground and forced to look the faceless creature in the eyes.

It seemed to smile at him, the barest twitches of a grin but never quite there. “Go on, cry. No one will be there for you in the end.” When he doesn’t do anything, the specter slams him hard against the wall. Ronin whimpers again and tries to kick the illusion off, every movement hits air and he feels a crawling hopelessness climb his back.

He begins to grip the illusion’s arm that was holding him and starts to dig his nails in. It hisses and jostles Ronin, trying to get his nails off but he keeps holding on. It was foolish move but what was he to do? The mirrored illusion starts growling and both he and Morro notice that it's gripping the mask with an iron hold.

“You can’t escape forever. You can’t just keep running.” With reckless courage, he ignores the words and tries to kick at the mask. Maybe it was the source for why it was still there. For why it kept haunting him. The image only moves the mask away. What it doesn’t expect was for Morro to tear the mask away from it’s hand and to throw it across the room.

It crumbles away like leaves floating in the wind. Ronin falls to the floor and the only sounds were of them breathing heavily. The room was completely bare, with no evidence of the previous illusions. Ronin starts to sob loudly. He could still laughter, still hear sounds of his failure.

Morro goes to sit next to him, whispering quiet assurances until he calms down. He sniffles rubbing his eyes and his brother- His actual brother hugs him. Cradling him in his arms.

“I don’t completely understand what happened but that’s not your brother. I am. Brothers don’t.. Do that.” Morro finally says under the heavy silence that followed. It’s awkward and there’s so much both have learned but it’s devouring them. A brother Ronin doesn’t remember and a past better left hidden.

He didn’t know anymore where his home was but Morro was there. Morro was his real sibling. He wasn’t going to lose him. And the past wasn’t going to get to him. He was going to live. As best he could. As much as he tried.

[claretswritings]

Fool.

It’s the fool’s game.

AO3 Google Docs

This is the beginning. The start of the story. A path of a story not meant to be. But yet? Here it is, from the creation to the ending. Where was destiny to turn his eyes when it began? But it was too late and now we see two boys who connect in more then one way.

Ronin was young, not old enough to remember his parents. His mom leaves to disappear and his father starts another relationship. He gets a brother later in only a year.

Their father leaves after five more years. His brother’s mom dies after that and they find each other. They have no one but each other. Or so Ronin had thought. He was only a kid, even if he could there would be strain.

He has a core, the first of its own. Illusions, it’s not meant to be. It never truly was. From the sparks and life it was born, it creates glitches for the kid. From dreams that would affect his reality to seeing emotions and the resulting shields.

He’s always been an outsider. An outcast meant to float and drift from place to place. Nothing seemed right where he was. Nothing seemed to want him to rest. He stays in Stiix but Stiix wanders from him. Ronin didn’t feel anything was stable, not with him. He wanted a family but he wasn’t going to be given that.

He finds himself on the streets, his brother with him. Scavenging food, stealing necessities. It was a lonely existence. Nothing changed, nothing different. A monotone structure made to fail him.

Ronin woke up, laying down on the first step on a wooden staircase. He was tired and yawned stretching his lanky arms. His back aches from the straight wood and he winces as he stands up. He looks around the busy streets. Auras and frequent shields were seen as men and woman passed by. He ignored them.

No one had seen him and there was a cacophony of noise. He hated living on the streets, as much as the landscape was beautiful. Always seeing the sun set and rise over the ocean. He would sometimes sit on the docks, watching.

It’s nearing dark and so Ronin doesn’t go to the docks. He has to find his brother, but he doesn’t know where he had disappeared to. Ronin continues to stand around before going to check an alleyway. Dark and gloomy, he didn’t have a light. But he continued on anyway.

“So- Sohei?” He calls out into the growing pitch darkness. He takes his steps closer and closer until the alley envelops him. He remembers that the both of them would wander off, from each other and from the crowd. He shakes his head to clear his thoughts.

“SOHEI?” Ronin yells out, in an attempt to get him out. He didn’t like being alone in the darkness. But he knew his brother had other things to do, so he never asked him to stay. And so for possibly days they would be away from each other.

He keeps down his whimpers of fear as he wandered. Loneliness was creeping on him again and he had to keep going. Nothing, nothing could help him now as he went down his route. Choices were made and he had to reap what he sowed.

Ronin only got halfway through when he’s grabbed and he cries out in shock. Who ever grabbed him shushes him and he realizes it’s his brother. Sohei, it was funny how alike they looked when their personalities were so different. Ronin with his blunt honesty and Sohei with how quickly he’ll lie.

They could’ve been twins, but they never were. Sohei had a much easier time blending in, making friends while Ronin stuck to the foreground. Sohei could laugh as Ronin just remained a watcher. A drifter couldn’t interact, right? And what was Sohei? If anything Sohei was the one who truly became a member of society.

“Why’d you do that? That scared me!” Ronin hissed, glaring halfheartedly at his brother. Sohei laughs loud and hardy but he lets go.

“So what? I wanted to see you.” Sohei said grinning. And then he lights up and grabs Ronin again, to drag him to somewhere. “Come on, I want to show you something.” Ronin only blinked.

They stand in front of a lit up building. Lanterns glowing a bright green. It’s an old theater and he could see old masks and props hanging around the building. Sohei goes in and Ronin has to follow, running after him. The old wood creaks under their feet.

Ronin’s confused but Sohei hasn’t stopped and he nearly loses him in the old building. He just barely sees Sohei when he sees something lightly glowing and shining. One of the many old masks, it’s a dark brown fox with bright red bangs and ice blue eyeliner. Next to it was a mask of a weasel with bangs of cream white and eyeliner of abyss blue. On the other side was another fox mask, this one the same shade of red with black bangs and their eyeliner being a bright green.

He goes to touch the brown fox mask, when Sohei comes barreling toward him holding a box of some sort.

“Where were you?” Sohei screeched, and Ronin winced from the noise alone. He shrinks a little and steps backward. That causes him to stumble and he hits the wood falling backward and topples the masks. The other fox mask shatters on the ground while he catches the dark brown mask. The weasel mask hits the floor and he sees a sharp crack on it.

Sohei stopped in his tracks, then looks at Ronin. He looks away from Sohei immediately, unable to see him in the eyes. He already disappointed him. He hears him sigh and then his steps as he walks closer.

“You know, all I wanted was to show you this music box I found of the song.”

“What song?” He asks, curious and unaware. Sohei stares at him as if he’s stupid.

“On the run, dummy.” He doesn’t let Ronin respond, choosing instead to turn the box on and let the sound flow.

Where were you when the sun went down.

I’ve been lost without you.

My grip is slipping, I need you.

Ronin feels something shaking at his core, and he can’t explain it as the music goes on. He feels like something’s going to happen. He keeps listening and stays quiet.

I’ve searched in caves for you.

I’ve lived through disasters to see you.

I can’t find where you are.

He’s scared of what might happen but the feelings don’t leave. He stares at the mask he’s holding instead. There’s still that slight glow but it's vanished completely. The eye holes seem to glitter at him.

Where are you, where are you?

Everywhere I go, I lose you

Why won’t you stay?

Ronin looks upward to speak but Sohei shushes him. He shuts his mouth. Who was he to speak when his brother wanted something? Who was he to be when his brother took over his world?

You always seem to run.

Why can’t you wait?

I just want to see you.

He turns back to the mask. Flipping it over, he finds small inscriptions. Something about a fox, something about a boy whose brother made mistakes. How it meant that both would take the fall. Punished, but in different ways.

There’s nothing to fear.

There’s nothing to be afraid of.

But without you, I’m nothing.

He looks up, laying the mask on his lap. Ronin bring his hands upward in a motion and focuses. He doesn’t know for what reason. But the feeling changes with it. He’s channeling his energy into his hands. Ready to do.. Something, he doesn’t know what.

There’s no wars when I’m with you.

No peace but chaos.

But you’re lost, and not there.

The next moment is an explosion of color. Rays of red and white flowing and intertwining with each other. Never battling for dominance but coexisting. Blue wisps that seemed to watch and green swords that were sharp enough to cut the very wood they sat on. Sohei watches it during those moments and Ronin finds his expression unreadable. He doesn’t know what to think as the images fade.

The sun always goes down.

The night always grows in darkness.

We were always meant to be together.

The song ends and Sohei gets up, not looking at him. He moves ahead of him leaving Ronin behind. Ronin, confused also gets up and tries to follow. He notices that Sohei seemed to tear himself away from him and he doesn’t know why. But he’s scared to ask, he’s scared to know. But he asks anyway.

“Is- Is something wrong?” It’s quiet and hoarse the way he speaks but it’s enough. Because his brother turns to him sharply. Ronin takes a step back, frozen in fear by his brother’s expression. He hears something crunch underneath his feet but he doesn’t pay attention.

Sohei’s angry, maybe even jealous. But he can’t tell. Not without the auras. His brother glances at his hands and notices he’s still holding the mask. He darts forward and grabs it from him, causing Ronin to yell out.

“Of course something’s wrong,” He hisses, staring him in the eyes. “Why do you have power, while I don’t?” Ronin only whimpered in response. He couldn’t answer his question nor did he want to. Sohei grabbed him by the neck of his shirt, suddenly violent towards him with harsh thoughts overhead. “Aren’t you the one who's always crying? Always scared of everything?” He throws the mask and it shatters on the ground, the splintering sounds hurting his ears. Sohei continued to intimidate him, more so now with the sharp anger directed at him. He doesn’t know what he did wrong but he knows it’s his fault. “You don’t deserve anything.”

With that he drops Ronin onto the ground and leaves him. Ronin finds it hard to breath and tears were pricking his vision. He’s slumped over the floor with broken ceramics surrounding him. There’s a growing fear and Ronin didn’t want to confront it.

But fate always had other ideas. This was just the very beginning. Nothing and everything was going to happen. But for now, he was alone.

[claretswritings]

Begging.

Leaving for another beginning.

AO3 Google Docs

Somehow, it was nice being away from his step brother. Calmer and without the sense of something going wrong. Ronin looked up at the cheery sunny sky and smiled to himself. Laying himself on a long thick branch of a tree. He thought things would be going right for once.

He loved being in the forest on his own. Ronin would always see the caretaker watching him. He would laugh out loud as he jumped from branch and branch. It was a freedom that would have him leaving others behind.

And he didn’t care for that. He doesn’t care for his step brother to yell at him. An act of rebellion was one he’d rather have. Blood was blood but he never felt connected. He knew their dad left them together for each other but the truth never felt like that.

All Ronin had felt and knew was abandonment. He didn’t trust. He couldn’t trust. So he left on his own. Left for his own. While he knew that his step sibling would find him and scold him for such acts. He didn’t care.

A call breaks him from his thoughts and he turns to see Hitomi, Stiix’s strict caretaker. Ronin waves to her and she sighs. Hitomi was middle aged, long dark midnight blue hair tied into a ponytail that hung high in the air. And eyes of grey steel. She wore an old dusty apron over long black sleeves and she always wore greying brown pants. Her shoes were metal, armored like her soul. Ronin always found her shielding her emotions and her aura always in a frits. She was trusting and not, having a hidden history behind all.

“You haven’t heard me, had you?” He leaps off from the tree, landing hard on his feet. He winces but looks up at her.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.” He replies back. She only nods and pulls him into a hug. “It’s okay, sweetie. I was just worried.” And he could tell with the silver wisps falling off her like rain. But he smiles to her returning the hug. The wisps never faded and she continues to speak. “Where’s your brother? Shouldn’t you with him?”

Ronin shrugged replying. “I don’t think he likes me.” He sees her emotions flicker for a moment but nothing seemed to change.

“Why not? Can you tell me why?” She gently asked ruffling his brown hair. Ronin exhales and thinks. He doesn’t know if he wants to tell her about his lack of faith or about his lies. He didn’t want to admit how unnerved he got sometimes around him. He shakes his head and Hitomi sighed again. “Why don’t you come inside with me then. I’ve already made some snacks for the rest of the kids.”

She led him inside the dingy wooden hut. The lighting wasn’t perfect and they needed to fix most of the utilities but Ronin still found himself loving it. He visits alone all the time, ignoring his step brother’s claims of danger. None of the kids seemed to ever harm on purpose and Hitomi always meant well. He didn’t understand why Sohei didn’t trust them.

So he stayed that night, eating with them. He could ask if he could just stay with them on his own but he didn’t know how to ask. It wasn’t that he felt invisible but more that he felt she wouldn’t take him in. But Sohei, his step brother never made him happy.

All he wanted to do was ask his dad why he left him with his brother, why they had to be together. Why he had stacked the cards against him. It was so hard, trying to care for himself when he knew that Sohei lied to him.

Loneliness carved into him and he trembled in his steps. He just wanted an actual shelter he could call home. Not some place outside, where rain and snow could pelt him. Stiix was his home, his house and yet he always felt destined to wander.

He doesn’t pay attention to the dish of the night and eats it without questions. It’s good and he enjoys the taste but thinking made him spiral. What would happen if he left his step brother? Would he mess something up? Break a fragile balance they could’ve had? Could he have helped him?

He doesn’t know as he shudders thinking about how Sohei was doing. He didn’t need him. Sohei already told him that. He could take care of himself and he’d have no one.

But what could he do? He just one little boy against the torrent of the world. Powers meant nothing when he saw what he treated for. Just an orphan whose abilities only caused mayhem and hopelessness.

Hitomi finally shakes him out his thoughts. “I need the dishes to be cleaned, do you want to help?” That gives him an idea and he nods to her.

Ronin gets up and heads for the sink to help her. He’s still a child and she has to set up a stool for him but it was fine for them. Just a cycle to begin again. He gets the water running and the water flushes away the debris with strong bursts.

“Can I stay with you? Just on my own?” He asks watching the water. Hitomi pauses and he hopes he asked at a good time. Eventually she sighs and sets her hands down from the dishes.

“I’m not sure. I’m already busy enough with the other kids..” That dampens his spirits and he looks down past the sink. “But- But it’s okay! I might be able to. They like you here.”

“Do you really think so? I won’t be- left behind?” He responds nearly despondent. He doesn’t know what he’d do if he had to stay with Sohei any longer. He didn’t want another day of his step brother treating him like garbage and then leaving him alone. He feared the emptiness it brought. He feared everything it gave him.

The latch opens from behind them and Hitomi looks up. It’s a young beige haired man, with sharp eyes of steel. Black robes over white clothing. The man clicks the door closed and smiles gently.

“Hello?” He says looking around. He seemed curious, as if looking for something or someone. “Is this the place?”

“If you’re looking for the orphanage then yes, sir.” Hitomi responds swiftly. The man nods to himself and closes his eyes.

“I’m looking for a child named Ronin.” Ronin stills not expecting the words. He looks over to Hitomi and she’s not smiling anymore, her aura rises with an expectant purple curl. Suspicion, but for what reasons?

“What for?” She said crossing her arms. The man just opened his eyes again and blinked.

“I want to train his element. He has one, does he not?” Hitomi stepped forward in front of him and he no longer saw the man.

“So what if he does?” He simply waved a hand.

“He can’t control it. He’s just a beast rearing its head.” He was calm even as Hitomi growled. “What he does is none of your concern, miss.”

“It’s my concern when I don’t know if you’ll treat him right.” Ronin starts to slide away from the adults, the caretaker’s aura suffocating him. He sees the man smile. “And how would you know that?” Hitomi freezes and her aura shatters.

“He’s not actually a child of this place.” She says quietly. The man frowned and stood in wait. “He’s- He’s just a child, from outside. But are you just training him? I want to know if you’ll care for him.” But the man doesn’t answer and so she continues. “He’s not a soldier, he’s not some- tool you can use. He’s only a child and you want to train him?”

“Yes, is there a problem?” The man says, still as calm as ever. Hitomi snaps. “Obviously there’s a problem. He’s going through too much. You’re just going to be adding to his issues.”

Ronin sneaks a look and the man notices, kneeling to his level. “Hello.” Ronin thought he seemed nice and snuck a bit closer from behind Hitomi. He just looks at the man, curious. He smiles again, gently and he brings a hand out to shake. “I’m Master Wu, and you are?”

He decides to trust him, because just maybe he’ll finally be away from Sohei. He could finally run. “Ro- Ronin. I’m Ronin.” Ronin said taking the hand with both of his own.

The atmosphere shifts a bit but Ronin feels relaxed. Not completely but enough. “Y- you said you wanted to take me?” He asks unsure. Wu nods to him.

“I did, I’m going to teach you many things.” Ronin’s eyes shined in response to that and he almost pulls Wu forward.

“What kind of things?” And he sees Wu wave his hand conjuring something, some kind of golden light that faded into the darkness.

“Something like magic but more.” The master’s words entranced him and he wanted to know more. “It’s cuts deeper, being from the blood and can do so so much more.”

The child stared upward at him. “You’re saying- I’m like that?”

“I am. Don’t you want to help the world?” Ronin glances over at Hitomi and she smiled at him sadly. He lets go of the man and turns completely to look at Hitomi. Wu doesn’t stop him when he runs to her.

“I guess I can’t stop you.” Hitomi says, rubbing his hair and hugging him. “But I- I want you to know that even though I cannot tell you the truth. Your mother loves you.” Ronin nods quietly and squeezes himself closer to her. He could hear her small rumbling laughter as she tried not to cry.

“I’ll- I’ll come back. I want to see you again.” He said muffled into her shirt. He always cherished his connection with her, he never understood why but he didn’t want to lose it. He didn’t want to cut the thread.

Eventually time passes and she lets go. He doesn’t run up to Wu but he stays. A new future without his brother, his new chance. He wanted this no matter what happened and the results were his to take. He didn’t know that things were only going to get worse. But time waited for no one and this was no exception.

He leaves and everything changes. From Stiix to the outer reaches of the realm. History was moving forward.

[claretswritings]

Wind.

Meeting someone new isn’t always a good thing.

AO3 Google Docs

It was only a try, another attempt. But he had a brother with him this time. So maybe he could do this. Two packed bags and Ronin’s trinket. Morro had taken some of the food from during the day. It wasn’t much and they had to get prepared quickly, before they’d get caught.

Ronin crawls out through the window and steps towards the gate. Just seeing it, he felt like it loomed and taunted him. After his first escape, everything just felt too big and him too small. Even as he interacted with the villagers and with Morro.

There was only so much light he could have before they shrunk away from his hold. He wanted to cherish it, to not lose it. A small flame wasn’t enough for him, wasn’t enough to help him really heal. Reaching the gate, they open it together and close it shut as silently as nature allowed them.

They don’t run, turning to walking instead. Their steps are silent with slow movement as they climbed the staircase downward. Ronin felt himself shivering as the cold wind blew around them. They stay on the staircase for several long minutes before they finally reach the end. Once there, they ran and ran until they reached the village.

Ronin stops to take a breather by a tree. Morro stood by him as he watched out for any coming dangers. It was times like this that Ronin wished he had medicine, times like this where all he thought was that the Gods were against him.

He inhales long and slow breathes until he feels his head isn’t buzzing anymore. Ronin puts a hand on Morro’s shoulder and his brother turns to him.

“I- I’m ready.” He says between small gasps. Morro silently nodded to him and began moving again. The walks and trips were silent this time round. No laughing, no bickering.

Ronin kept looking backward, fear and paranoia creeping in the back of his mind. Even as Morro tamed the wind, he still felt cold chills as they wandered farther away from the monastery. He looked around the village, seemingly empty and yet not at all. Families speaking in homes and lights shutting off, he felt envy as they passed up.

He sees his brother step onto rockier terrain and he knows, they’ve passed the threshold. But where to now? The forest wasn’t a good option but a hideout was needed. Ronin almost crashes into Morro when he stops.

“Why’d you stop?” He mumbles. Morro turns to him and watches the distances they took from their so-called home.

“I’m trying to figure out how to get us out of range. We can’t keep walking the whole way.” Morro begins squinting and the wind begins to rise blowing their hair every which way. Ronin finds himself regretting that he hadn’t worn the lid hat. But he packed it into his bag, so there was only so much he could do.

He finds himself having to cover his face with his arms as the noise grew louder and louder, the wind turning violent. Ronin starts clutching onto Morro’s arm. He trusts him to know what he’s doing. He trusts his brother to not hurt him, even accidentally. He trusts him enough that even if he was betrayed by him, he would accept it.

The wind reaches a crescendo around them until it calms down suddenly. He brushes hair from his face and looks. Out there, in front of them was a dragon. Large and with patches of green scales and crimson fur, scaled wings of steel and six fox tails on the back.

Morro has a curious expression as he looks the creature over before pulling himself on the dragon. Ronin almost backs away but his brother smiles at him.

“It’s fine. We made him.” he says gently bringing his hand to Ronin to take. He takes it, not hesitating and taking the plunge. Ronin only silently nodded to him. And the dragon took off into the sky.

He doesn’t see Morro frowning as they sat in the drifting moving sky. He clutched harder onto his brother, his face on his back. He never liked looking down. Ronin could feel Morro’s chest beating but his unease only grew as he felt Morro’s aura.

“Are you alright?” He finally asks muffled. Morro was focused on looking at the open clouds but he replies.

“I’m fine. I just-” Morro stops for a moment, thinking. He continues when they begin to dip downward into another location. “I just hope Wu hasn’t seen us.”

Ronin turns a little to see water and wood. Lanterns from corner to corner glowing in a bright green. He blinks, he knows this place. Ronin doesn’t even stop himself from talking as they flew above the buildings and the drear.

“H- Home?” And he looking over the boats and the sea. The dragon lands on the docks and they get off. Ronin clasps Morro’s hand into his and they begin to walk towards the village.

He finds himself wanting to cry, he hasn’t been back in Stiix in forever. He thought he’d never see it again. He stumbles over the wet wood and looks around. Nothing seemed to be different but he felt like something still changed. Maybe it was him, maybe it was his old home.

Before he knows it, he’s running. His feet are stomping the wood with loud clunks and he doesn’t care. He could hear Morro running after him and he cries out in joy.

But he doesn’t see where he’s going before he crashes hard into someone. Both Ronin and the outsider fall to the ground. Ronin almost instantly gets off them apologizing quickly until he looks up. It was like looking into a mirror.

He hears Morro come to a stop next to him. His brother kneels next to him as he felt his world crash around him. He could tell Morro was talking but he couldn’t make out the words in the scramble. He just stared at the person who mirrored himself.

And they stared back. Neither speaking except for the Wind student. Morro finally shakes him out of his reverie.

“Are you okay?” Morro asks urgently. Ronin opens his mouth to reply when the other’s voice cuts in. “Who are you.”

Morro turned quickly, his eyes narrowed as Ronin shrunk under the other’s gaze. He seemed to demand attention, acting more as a spotlight then a human being.

“What do you want?” Morro says sharply. Waves upon waves of distrust radiated off of Morro and he knew something was wrong. But then he noticed how the other gave off nothing as he sat across him. Ronin forced down a shiver. Wu coming to mind.

The other shrugged. “He bumped into me. I need to know.” Ronin forces his eyes downward.

“It was an accident.” But the double just glared with sea abyss blue eyes and he shoved a finger towards him.

“An accident doesn’t explain why you look like me. What are you, stupid?” Ronin thought he escaped such words but this just proved a lie. Morro glared back daggers.

“That doesn’t matter, he already told you it was an accident.” He snaps, the wind beginning to whistle. Both of them watch each other, daring the other to go first.

The mirror sighs and gets up. “Elemental masters, of course.” He dusts himself off as he turns to Ronin, unsettling him into squeaking. “Tell me your name and I’ll leave. Deal?”

Ronin just stays silent, Morro taking control again. “He doesn’t have to listen to you.” But the double just giggled and Ronin began to back away.

“So? I’m Youxia.” But he’s grinning with sharp teeth and eyes that seem to know him more then he himself. He backed into a wall and suddenly he starts wheezing.

He coughs and chokes on his breath as Youxia kneels down by him and whispers something that only Ronin caught. “That wasn’t my real name because those have power.” He could only watch wide eyed as Youxia continued. “You have the honor of calling me Sohei.”

When Ronin doesn’t say anything Youxia frowns. But all Ronin does after is hide himself in his arms and shake. He wants to curl up, he wants to be away from here. But he’d left the monastery and this was his home.

But someone was already there. Someone had already replaced him. He doesn’t notice it when Morro shoves Youxia away. He doesn’t notice when he asks if he’s alright, if he’s hurt. But he hears when Morro shouts his name.

“Ronin? Ronin!” So he turns, and Morro hugs him. He feels shaken to the core and he doesn’t respond as Morro tries to give him comforts. Youxia was still there, watching with a hawk’s eye. He seemed pleased by the outcome. Despite the fact that they just met.

Youxia whistles a tune. One that brings small hidden memories back, one of missing parents and old families. But it was so far back that everyone was a mass of nothing. He couldn’t remember even if Youxia did. Youxia stopped behind Morro and spoke.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Morro tightens his grip as they listen to Youxia. “But now, I’ve got to leave. See ya!” Youxia turns and finally, finally he’s gone. Ronin quickly finds himself crying.

There was only a bit that he remembered from the hidden memories. Just a single strong strand that tightened around his neck. His step brother, his actual brother who he thought was there for him. Sounding gentle at the beginning until he was gone, then hurting him. Taking his pieces and shattering them farther. He never cared for him, letting him fall into the depths as he walked away.

But Ronin had wandered too far and he paid the price for it. Maybe it was his fault, leaving him behind. Maybe he should be blamed for not taking care of him. He didn’t know and it was too late to change.

Morro was with him the whole time, sitting there. Eventually Ronin calmed down enough that they could both stand and leave the area. Unfortunately, they barely get far enough before they see their master. Morro winced as he stepped into view.

Wu starts to speak but Ronin doesn’t hear anything, even as Morro fought hard and with strong resistance. Even as Morro refuses to budge, not letting Wu grab him. Time goes and leaves him, silent the whole time. Unaware the journey back, he finds himself back in the closet.

He sits down and wraps his arms around his legs. The only thing he could hope for was the door being unlocked. But even that was in the fog. Ronin stared at the door and rested in silence. Nothing could be done and this was his consequence. He had fate to talk to.

[claretswritings]

Resentment.

Bitter fighting souls and the prize.

AO3 Google Docs

Ronin just laid on his bed. He tried to sleep, his eye opened as he attempted but his mind was loud and full of ideas he never wanted to think about. It was all there was. He had just turned over from his window when he hears it.

Sha- thunk! His eye widened and he tried not to think. He knew who it was but- not this early. Not when he just got a haven. But slowly, slowly he turns over to see him, his brother. The one he was related to by blood and not force of will. “Youxia”, the same brown hair and the same scruff on his chin but with the eye of the deep ocean abyss. He wore blacks and greys- in what Ronin began to realize was exactly like his own brown armor. He too had an eyepatch but in greys, darker then the armor but never black itself.

Youxia sat on his desk chair and looked at him as he took off his dark purple hat. “I thought you’d be happy to see me?” He says smirking and meeting Ronin’s single ice blue. And Ronin shakes his head, he doesn’t want to see him. He doesn’t want to someone who's tried and has been attempting for his life.

But Youxia laughed, a deep melodious tune that sent shivers down his spine. “Unfortunate that you got here on time- Well. I have a story to tell you.” Without prompt, he took out a necklace- A wooden dagger much like Ronin’s knife trinket. Onto it there were names, “Sadao & Sohei” And Ronin gaps at him.

“What? Didn’t think we’d be more similar then just appearance? I have a myth too. Brother.” And he hisses, his eye shining in the moonlight.

Ronin’s still, frozen to the bed and Youxia gets off from his chair walking to him. “I hate it, you know. The fact that you hold power in your hands and I’m left with nothing but the wits of my mind.”

He can’t sense anything and he’s scared, frightened. “What do you want from me?” Ronin just barely squeaks out.

“Didn’t I tell you already? I have a story to tell you.” Before he could protest the idea, Youxia was by his bedside and staring. He doesn’t stop himself whimpering. “Pathetic, aren’t you?” And he’s holding his face- touching him, Ronin reacts immediately shoving his brother away with his weak, weak hands.

But Youxia’s grip only tightens and he’s pulled forward. “Now listen to me and don’t say a word.”

He starts the story by talking about Tadao, how the former trickster simply wandered the country. How Tadao was alone and couldn’t do a thing about it. About how alone he was.

Tadao had just lost his brother, what was he supposed to do? So he just kept walking and walking until he met someone. Who was that? Why, it was someone similar to him. An itachi by the name of Sadao. Decisive was his name. However he had prefered the form of a mujina and was so taken in by the humans in that form instead. Sadao’s human form had silvery gray hair with deep abyss blue eyes. A mix of elegance and caution, That was who Sadao was. They became quick friends and travelled together.

They had worked well until Tadao started to help others again. Giving the humans tips and ideas for a better society. Sadao begged him not to but he continued anyway. Sadao was hurt that he wasn’t listened to and began to plan something. It wasn’t for several years until it came to fruit.

Sadao was going to steal his power, take it away so he couldn’t harm himself. Where Tadao had illusions, Sadao had dream abilities. He could make dreams become a reality if he so wanted to. He could make a dream into a nightmare if he thought it perfect. So while he was sleeping, Sadao snuck into his dreams and looked for his core. He found it easily and stole it away, hiding it in his own body.

But Tadao had noticed and woke up, and Sadao wasn’t prepared for the sword fight that followed. Tadao was betrayed and his actions showed. They only had each other but Tadao sought to kill him. The weasel demon tried to talk it out but it didn’t work and so he fought back in defense.

The kitsune wanted his power back, he didn’t feel whole. He was shattered in body and mind. And soon, it would be in spirit. The result ended up in a year long battle that had both dying and gasping for breath.

Tadao was teared ragged and breathing difficulty while Sadao had lost a hand and nearly torn asunder. The power of both leaks out from Sadao and they fight for it but neither getting it. Before either could grasp it, they saw it had began to fuse and something else was added to the mix.

That new something was an emotional radar, able to see the emotions for the auras that they were and shields that people formed in defense. Tadao hesitated and Sadao just barely caught it again before the kitsune’s sword cut through him. Sadao was forced to let go and in turn he threw his own sword. The final last ditch efforts of both left them dead.

It was finished and Ronin could feel tears trailing his single eye. The room was quiet, but only just. Youxia lets go of him, finally but with such a disgusted look that Ronin backs away in the bed.

“Why are you telling me this?” Ronin whispers, his sobs choking him. Youxia shrugs, “It’s only a story, isn’t it?”

“But all the myths are already true- All the stories have physical evidence-” He tries to protest, tries to get his brother’s motive but all he gets is cold sharp steel aimed at his neck.

“Your point?” Youxia growls out. When Ronin doesn’t say anything, he slips the knife away and sighs. “But, I don’t understand..”

“Understand what?” Ronin asks his voice shaking.

“What else? Your connection with that Kitsune, you’re so- weak.” And Youxia is gesturing to him, still holding the blade. “There’s nothing fitting with that fox, you’re nothing like him.”

“But we’re not friends either..” He says, clutching the blankets as if they were his lifeline. Youxia grinned at him, bare fangs shining. “Exactly, we’re brothers.”

Ronin still felt the bitter tears running his face and quickly wipes them away. He could feel Youxia watching him. He always did. A coughing fit bubbles up and he’s gagging on mucus.

Youxia waits for him to stop struggling with his breath before he continues on. “I hate you, you know. How you hold so much over me yet you act like a whelp with no home.”

Just listening to Youxia was enough to have him start curling up, where were they? The Kirins, wasn’t this their home base? “How did you find me?” Ronin eventually asks.

His brother just chuckles, “I’m sure you can figure it out yourself. If you’re smart enough.” No, I’m not. Ronin thinks trying to hide in the covers of his blankets. Youxia sees this and laughs, laughs hard enough to see stars and enough to see his misery. “I always did enjoy seeing you suffer, but I know you’ve been able to.”

“B- but it shouldn’t even be a puzzle. You just find me all the time. I can feel you watching me..”

Youxia snorted at that. “It’s not stalking if that’s what you’re thinking.” But then what would it be? All Ronin wanted from that night was sleep and he knew he wasn’t going to get any. Not while Youxia stayed like a vulture waiting for him to die.

“But you know, there will be a time when you really have to confront your problems. Confront me.” Youxia crosses his arms as if to think. “Although, I could always kill one of your friends. Or that one you call your lover.” No no no- Please no, not while he still thought Morro. Not while he still had others. Ronin shakes his head.

“Are you really going to run away?” His darker twin says frowning.

“N- No, I’m not but I don’t want to see you either. Haven’t I suffered enough?” He has some strength left, not much but he could try. Maybe- Just maybe- It’s not enough.

Youxia’s response was cackling. Terrible loud cackling, it was discordent to his ears and he felt his stability crumbling once more. “Suffering? You haven’t even felt the most of it.” Ronin wanted to protest but he could tell that Youxia wasn’t going to listen.

Except he shouts at him, not caring who was woken up. Not caring for the consequences. He didn’t want to be alone with his brother anymore. “How would you know?”

Youxia scowled and suddenly his shirt was pulled and he was back to staring at the deep dark eye of his. “How would I know? HOW WOULD I KNOW?” He barks out, spitting on Ronin’s face. “I WAS ALONE FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG AND THEN I MET YOU. I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD BE USEFUL BUT NO. YOU WERE A WORTHLESS WEAKLING WITH POWERS YOU DIDN’T DESERVE.”

Ronin’s cringing, sniffling under his hot breath. But he continues, not giving him rest. “I HATED YOU, I HATED HOW YOU HAD SO MUCH MORE YET YOU WERE SO WEAK. PRACTICALLY A TWIG. I COULD BREAK YOU AND I WOULDN’T HAVE REGRETTED IT.” He’s pawing at Youxia’s hand but his grip only tightens as he goes on.

“I SHOULD’VE GOTTEN FATHER’S GLAIVE. I SHOULD’VE HAD THAT POWER. BUT NO, NO. IT WAS YOU WITH YOUR SMALL FRAGILE HEART.” Youxia shoves him back on the bed. Making a noise of annoyance and disgust, he dusts himself off. He sighs over Ronin’s coughing fit. “I don’t believe you really are older then me.”

Ronin wasn’t looking up when he hears a click, he glances upward just a little to see a gun aimed at him. He can’t tell what Youxia’s thinking so he stares at the barrel with wide terrified eyes. He’s silent as Youxia starts getting closer to him, until he’s kneeling beside his bed.

Youxia moves the hair out of his eyes, gently and with a serene look on his face. They stare again for a while until something blunt hits him and he feels himself going out like a shattered lamp.

The last thing he sees and hears is Youxia putting a finger to his lips and whispering something.

“Don’t worry, I was never here.”