20 years ago
I feel the sting of alcohol on my head. It usually isn't a great idea to get smashed in the head with a beer bottle. But when you go to enough bars it's inevitable that something happens. I didn't even need to get a drink before I fight broke out. I don't even remember what it was about, or if I started it or not.
"Wow this is depressing." A cold voice describes me from above while I lean against a wall in an alley.
"Hi M." I look up to see my wife's best friend. Her long purple hair is a bit hard to see with that lamp hanging over her. Same with that elegant black dress given its the middle of the night.
"Shouldn't you be taking care of your boys?" She crouches down and inspects me with her glowing pink eyes. I always knew there was something strange about her. But if she made Hatsumi happy I didn't see a reason to cause a fuss. Even though I think this lady doesn't like me too much.
"I don't need to be hearing that from you." I eventually tell her after a chuckle. "I have Ryuji checking in on them." She clicks her tounge.
"For two months?" M hisses.
"What the hell is your problem?" I've barely seen her since the funeral.
"One of the only humans I've ever loved is dead and you can't even be bothered to try with her gone. It's either volunteering at the hospital or drinking. God forbid a human actually has to live up to their morals." I throw a nearby can at her in anger but it seems to break before impacting her head.
"How dare you?!" She presses a finger to my lips to shush me.
"If you want to run away from everything then come with me. I have something you can do to be useful. We can end this before something like Hatsumi happens again.".
"…how?" I decide to believe her.
"I'm taking something called the red knight from my sister. She's banned its use because of how unethical it is. We'll use it to put you in another heroes place." She stands up and straightens her dress.
"Why would you do that?".
"Because I hate you. I'd much rather you do this then an innocent little girl. Your one of the only humans I can do this with and not feel any worse." Well at least she's honest.
"But my boys." Will they be alright without me?
"If you really think you being here has had an impact on them then your delusional." I hate that I can't argue with that. Every time I see them I just feel so sad. No one deserves a father like that. She reaches her gloved hand out to me. I hesitate for a moment before taking it. I feel the cut on my head close itself. It's only now that I realise how close I've always been to death.
1 week later
The little girl had apparently only reached her potential a few weeks ago. She hadn't realised yet because M was holding off on it. I have no idea what power she's supposed to have, her only notable feature being goat horns in her head. M had knocked her out with a light tap before we took her out to sea. Apparently if this goes wrong the explosion could destroy all of Venice at least. She still screams in her sleep as the crab fleshy tree latches onto her back. It stabs me in the chest with one of its roots but I don't feel anything. All I know is that the red thing is starting to leave the girl. She can't be any older than Satoshi.
"Better you than her." M mumbles from across the small boat we took. From what I can tell she's only giving me this power so a child doesn't have to go through any more trouble. Not entirely sure if I believe her but I also don't think I care too much. This is honestly just a way to pass the time. Some sort of pink light erupts from the girl, and in an instant all the ocean around us has turned to steam, along with the wooden boat being completely vaporised. I can feel the heat collide with me as I fall, but whatever's covering me makes it mildly uncomfortable at worst. When we crash to the damp floor I look around and see M land much more gracefully than I did. She's holding the goat girl in her arms, she looks uncomfortable but at least she's breathing. The steam seems like it's refusing to touch them, and the ocean walls around us move at a snails pace. Was this that little girls power? What an impressive child. I feel heavier, is this armour bonded to my body? Why do I feel so sick? Why does the ground feel so much hotter than it should? Ok that last one's a stupid question but still.
"What just happened?" I finally ask.
"You just became the most hated hero. Might even be the weakest. But a hero nonetheless." A hero? "Don't let it go to your head. We're both as villainous as it gets now." She gently rocks the child back and forth. "Figure out how to return to normal then head home. Go about your life. If I need you I'll contact you." For now I need to get the little one home and clear this up with my sisters. They won't be happy with this.".
"Why?!" I have to shout over the sound of the incoming waves.
"We just drained a huge part of this girls soul essentially. Even if that didn't interfere with my sisters plans it would be disgusting." With that she turns and walks away. "Make sure not to die." She suddenly disappears right before the ocean collides with me. If she wants me alive this is a funny way of showing it.
Last year
"Dude, I can't believe you kicked that little dude out. That's totally not tubular dude." The tan doctor is talking to me. At least I assume. There's no one else at the bar at this hour.
"Uh huh." I take another swig of beer. Ever since that night in Venice I haven't been able to get drunk. Next time I see M I'll kill her for that.
"Like, his tubular kaiju power for so useful! Why throw a tubular guy like that away?!" Ok he's definitely doing a bit to piss me off. And I'll be honest, it's working.
"He's not reliable. It was unfair to patients he couldn't get to." I give the same reason I've given a million times.
"… that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Well now I have to kill him. He's going to die sooner or later so it's not a huge loss.
"Kaito!" Ryuji slams the door open. I'm going to take this as some sort of sign that I shouldn't kill this fake surfer dude. But just this once, if he tries this again I'm dropping a tree on him.
"What? Here to pay for my drink?" I ask half jokingly. If he offered I'd accept it. I'm not sure where all my money goes but it sure isn't my wallet.
"You banned Haruo from all hospital work?! How could you do that?!" He slams a fist onto the bar. Surfer guy awkwardly starts making his exit.
"I'm the head doctor. It was my decision to make." I pour another drink.
"You know damn well what I meant! That devastated him! He hasn't come out of his house in days!" Oh damn. That's not great. If I knew he'd react like that I would've kicked him out way sooner. Lessen the blow and all that.
"Wow. You should probably go take care of that." With that he grabs me by the shirt.
"Are you allergic to being around your kids or something?" Boy wouldn't that be something?
"I just don't see the point in reliving bad memories. Even someone like you can understand that." I look away for a second. I could break him in two. Just a flick of the wrist and his arms off. But no. Louhi would probably freeze and shatter me if I did that too soon.
"And I'm sure Hatsumi would be so proud of you!" Screw Louhi he has to d- and then he punches me in the face. Without my armour I at least feel it. The shock causes me to fall to the ground. While I'm still processing that he curses me out and leaves. What the hell was that? Did a human just hurt me? That shouldn't be possible should it? I need a drink. Even if everyone else hates me at least I have my best friend in the whole world. Alcohol. I just really wish it would do anything to me.
A few months ago
I haven't drank a drop and I still have no clue where I am. M called me out for another campaign. A fleet of battleships was getting dangerously close to Finland so we were sent to take care of it. Our attack started two days ago, and since then I think we've battle through three countries. Though it's not like I had time to check. This moment on a ship is the first time all three of us have stopped. All because of an uninvited watcher. He was only there thanks to the connection the flame grants. He disappeared as soon as M noticed him. But he had this ridiculous costume on.
"Of all people." M mutters. The black dragon holding one half of the boat down growls.
"Who was that?" I ask.
"Haruo onizuka." No.
"Excu-" and then Lancelot kicks me in the chest. I'm not sure if her silver armour is mimicking my red or the other way around. She's apparently been the witches biggest enemy for years and yet this is the first time I've seen her. That messed up cape is definitely making me think one of us is a copycat. From my arm I extend a tree branch, aiming for her throat. She glows for a moment before zooming past me at speeds she shouldn't be capable of. My arm regrows before I even realise she severed it. The armours main ability is to drain energy from people. Although whenever I explain it like that people get mad. But still, this means my body heals faster than anybody else's. Maybe that why M is so slow to help me all the time. My body gets lighter and I float into the air. I use another branch to hook myself the the sinking ship. Other ships fire at us, I receive holes while they never touch M. Using strength I'm not used to even after all this time, I pull on the half of the ship. Lancelot and M dash away as the metal creaks and whines from the strain. It swings over me before I release it. It flies through the air and crashes into the shop half a mile away. To say that it's out of the fight feels appropriate. My body gets heavier and I fall into the ocean like a bullet fired down. Sinking is my least favourite thing to do. My body heals from damage but I still feel all of it. And my lungs filling with water is certainly a feeling. But still it gives me time to think. M claimed that pink guy was my son. But he looked nothing like Haruo. He shouldn't be able to do anything like that. When we are done with this I need a drink and some answers. So I guess it's time to get serious. My body grows and changes as I increase my power. As a kaiju I know I can put anyone in the dirt.
A few weeks ago
"He's eighteen! There's no way he can do this!" I throw the table through a window in Louhis cabin. Those stupid mice she keeps with her scurry away.
"Twenty." She says in a cheerful tone. M just sneers at me by the door.
"There's no way he's becoming a hero!" I feel my body changing slightly. I have to focus not to change and flatten this forest.
"He's been pretty heroic from what I can tell" you know it's sometimes hard to tell how sarcastic she is with that accent. But the grin is really making me want to rip her head off. No one needs to see those knives she calls teeth.
"He doesn't have the power we do!" I stomp over to her, doing my best to look as big and intimidating as possible. Louhi isn't most people's idea of terrifying. But when you can sense the things I can, it quickly dawns on you how pointless it is to intimidate the ground beneath you. The taps her chin in contemplation.
"He beat one of my favourite beasts soon after his debut. With an orbital strike no less. Then he went on to defeat one of his cities finest warriors. He's only getting stronger. Everything lines up with Allisters reports. I have no doubt he will be our final hero." She gently places her talon on her chest. "Finally." These women are so weird.
"No. Not my boy. Anyone else! He doesn't need to go through this!".
"Now he cares." M chuckles.
"Piss off! Your just as mad as me!" I saw how she first reacted. I know she's grown annoyed at him for a while.
"Please don't speak to Morrigan like that." Her voice might as well be an icicle. Weather swirls and changes with her mood. Mountains rearrange to work off stress.
"Yes. My apologies." I bow my head and make for the door.
"I'm truly sorry Kaito. But this really isn't a bad thing. Haruo is happy. Doesn't he deserve this?" Is she really asking that? I don't answer. She sighs. "Just please don't do anything brash." She almost sounds sympathetic.
"Of course." I lie.