Onite stood at the bedside of Marcels hospital bed. "What a shame. I wish you survived so that I could slowly torture you." Onite told himself fiercely, clenching a gloved fist. "Why did you have to die a peaceful death. I had the chance to do so, but didn't. Why? Why? WHY? WHY! WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?" Onite yelled angrily and slamming a fist on a metal tray — denting it with his knuckles. Paul was listening from behind one of the curtains, he was feeling a bit tired from work. "You were careless last night." Paul murmured aloud. Onite whipped around to glare at the man behind the curtain. "It was necessary for our plans. I had to do it." Onite angrily said. "Just sayin." Paul shrugged and stood up to walk around the curtain. Onite glared at the sheriff with disdain. "Just shut up will you." Onite growled as he stood up and walked away down a hall.
"You what?!" Sophia exclaimed looking at Lace who sat across from her at the dinner table, which was located next to the couch and kitchen with the window to the right. Sophia was absolutely and truly shocked. Lace had a crestfallen expression. Sophia stuttered trying to keep her composure as she spoke. "You had sex with the school's number one idol and genius? Oh, man. Please tell me you weren't forced to do it." Sophia groaned pinching her nose. Lace shook her head, looking guiltily at her friend. "I-it was consensual, but I won't justify myself. It was absolutely wrong and I need to apologize for it. That's why I told you, because I trust that you won't make it public. It will worsen my reputation." Lace whispered softly, loud enough for Sophia to hear. "Reputation? " Sophia thought calmly. "If I may ask, what reputation are you talking about?" Sophia asked. Lace looked slightly uncomfortable but she knew she couldn't keep it hidden for long. "I-. I-I was apart of a gangster family many years ago, I didn't have a choice. My family had used me as a slave and I was chained to them like a dog. They used me for despicable work… including my body. When I was finally able to escape and tell people, they laughed and mocked me. Saying I should have continued to work as a slave. Nowadays I'm known as the 'Slaving Dog.' A horrible nickname which haunts me to this day." Lace said as her voice started to waver and tremble. Sophia's face went soft and solemn. She didn't know that Lace's family had done such things. "I see. I-I'm sorry you went through that." Sophia said calmly, clentching her fists into balls. "It's okay. My family died last year in a fire, so it doesn't matter anymore. I was adopted by a different family." Lace added with a small smile. Sophia was somewhat happy about that, but something bugged her. She couldn't place her finger on it, but for now it doesn't matter. "That's good. I bet their a nice family." Sophia said smiling. Suddenly hard rapid knocks were heard at the door making Sophia hesitantly stand up and walk over to it. "Hello? Who is it?" Sophia asked as she glanced at Lace, who shrugged and wiped her face. "It's me, Yeist. I came here to talk to Rosto? Is he hear?" Yeist asked from behind the door. Sophia then opened the door to let Yeist inside. "He isn't here, but come in. I have some warm water inside." Sophia offered kindly. Yeist glanced inside and saw Lace. "No thanks. I'd love to come inside, but I'd best find Rosto before he gets lost." Yeist said with a frown, before smiling at Sophia and walking away. "Huh, odd." Sophia muttered as she closed the door and turned to Lace.
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Outside in the court yard where the garden is, Hank sat on a bench with a photo of Marcel. He then placed it on a small, handmade, wooden, square shaped pedestal with flowers and a white cloth under it. "Rest in peace, my comrade." Hank mumbled softly, holding a cross in his hand and placing it on the pedestal in a neatly yet exquisite glass box. He had visited the hospital earlier and taken the cross from Marcel as his friend's last wish. "Um, mister Hank?" Rosto called out inside the green house. Hank glanced behind him to look at the boy. "Yes?" Hank questioned calmly with a raised eyebrow. "I'm here for my first lesson? I know I'm late, I have no excuse for it." Rosto said calmly stepping fully into the green house. "Hmm. I see. You came here last time to look at the green house, but now you're here for lessons. I understand. Please follow me." Hank said as he walked towards a grey door at the end of the green house. Rosto followed silently, still not adjusting his clothing as it was hanging off slightly. They entered into a dark room which Hank then turned on the light via a switch in the wall. It then showed a caged in arena, with various fitness areas like: Weights, bars, mats and a punching bag. "Take off your layers of shirts then enter the ring. We'll start with your durability. I just want to make sure you have the will to keep up." Hank said taking off the gardener apron and throwing it onto a table next to the wall nearest him. Rosto didn't want to, but did it anyway. He took off two layers of the school uniform, leaving only his under shirt. He then entered the ring along with other Hank. "Put these on." Hank ordered tossing a par of gloves to Rosto. Rosto carefully placed on the gloves, putting on the straps calmly in place then taking, to what he considered, a defensive stance. Hank almost cringed looking at it. "Ready?" Hank asked calmly. Rosto nodded vigorously before being violently tossed into the cage walls. Rosto slowly got up and barely blocked a strong knee kick with his arms. Rosto pushed back and tried to attack back but gets punched in the cheek. "Your slow but durable. You can definitely take a punch and a kick just fine. Gues we'll take it up a small notch." Hank muttered softly as he pull Rosto by grabbing the boy's arm and swing it around him then slamming Rosto onto the rings floor. Rosto rolled sideways and swung his feet around to standing point. "Oh? Didn't know you were athletic." Hank said with some surprise. Rosto stood with barely stable legs, nerves aching and muscles screaming, he didn't know the old man was this strong! "Feeling scared?" Hank asked dashing forward and lifting his leg, kicking Rosto's neck at a downward side angle. Rosto groaned and grunted at the blow. Almost falling to the ground, but stopped short. "I- huff won't huff lose. I will protect my sister even if it costs me my life." Rosto said, giving a determined glare at Hank. He gritted his teeth and stabled himself. Eye faintly shining a soft red. Hank was extremly surprised, he never expected this. "So you unlocked a skill. Very interesting." Hank muttered, looking calmly at the determined boy. Rosto leaned back and sprinted forward, bringing his body forward and arching his back as he struck out a punch. "I must defeat his old man to achieve my goals! I must jump over this bounding wall before me! THIS IS MY STRENGTH ALONE!" Rosto thought strongly. His arm suddenly, but faintly, glowed a light purple as it struck Hank under the rib cage. Hank's eyes widened in shock as a drop of blood came from his mouth. "What?" Hank said aloud, smiling softly. "So you're Pascal's child huh? Guess that means I don't need to go easy on you." Hank thought calmly, gripping Rosto's arm and sweeping his foot under Rosto's legs. "You've done well." Hank chuckled as he stared down at the shocked boy. "I'll train you. Just try not to miss your other classes. You'll need them just as much as this one. Best remember that." Hank said in a more grandpa-like tone.
Rosto laid on the arena mat fascinated. He felt something super incredible and now he knew how to use it. For protecting others like his sister. "You'll be training with another student so stay here and we'll practice your skills." Hank stated, walking toward a table and opening a small electrical fridge. He took out two cups of water and place the second one on the table. Rosto slowly rose up, rubbing his bruises. "Thanks, coach." Rosto muttered softly in a polite tone. Hank replied with a grunt, sipping his cup of water.
Possibly a minute went by before Isaac walked into the room, which was a suprise to Rosto as he viewed Idols to be more lenient on not damaging their bodies…but he assumed wrong. "Yo, Rosto. Didn't think you'd come down here." Isaac said with a laugh, those ever shifting eyes studying Rosto like an experiment waiting to be dissected. Rosto didn't wave, just nodded as his arms were still hurting from the spar he just had with Hank. Hank glanced at the two with his old man eyes and had a idea. "Alright, since Isaac your now here. Why don't you spar with Rosto and see if you can sense the potential like I did?" Hank asked looking at Isaac. Isaac tilted his head as he saw Rosto silently stepping away while shaking his head with Hank's arms clamped tightly shut around the collar. "Of course, Teacher. I wouldn't mind a friendly sparring. No hard feelings, right?" Isaac said looking at Rosto. Rosto just raised a trembling thumbs up. "Devils! Devils! Sister! Where are you! The devils are coming for me!!!!" Rosto thought saying his silent prayers.
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Meanwhile…
Yeist sat inside class watching his professor talk about philosophy, it wasn't boring, but I left a slight awful taste in his mouth. (Does Rosto feel guilty for striking me? Could that be the case….maybe.) He thought, teeth gritted together as his lips formed a straight line. Jackie noticed this expression which was new to her and even to Yeist. (Strange, Yeist has never had such a expression before.) She wondered with a heavy sense of curiosity. After class, Yeist slowly carried his satchel out and towards the metal lockers. He placed his stuff inside, books, pen and binders. (I need to fine Rosto and speak to him.) With this set determinatio, he set off on another search for his newfound friend.
"Keep your arms up and close to your eyes." Isaac demanded as Rosto threw a punch that completely missed, but Rosto then curved it to aim back at Isaac. "Good thinking, but that would take too long to practice." Isaac praised half hearted as he swiftly tripped Rosto with a wide sweep. Rosto grunted but got back up instantly, keeping his arms near his face. Isaac stepped forward, leaning into his left foot and striking Rosto's chest with half power. Rosto tried to endure it but ultimately fell into the fist as it sent him rolling on the ground. "Come on. Get up." Isaac called playfully, he was enjoying the spar. Rosto slowly stood back up, holding his lower torso. (He's just like Hank. A wall that I need to overcome.) Rosto gritted his teeth and charged forward, however, he instantly felt a fist against his face. "Keep your guard up, buddy." Isaac said with a smile. However, Rosto kept his ground, pushing against the hand and stepping forward. Isaac's eyes went wide slightly in surpise as Rosto's right hand was pulled back. "I'll just destroy you too!" Rosto yelled angrily despite the smile that was on his face. His right hand shot forward, hitting directly on the sternum of Isaac, a small shockwave rippling through the boys body. Hank, who was sitting on a chair which he pulled close to the ring, whistled in an amused awe. "Good blow, kid. In any case, it will take more than enough to defeat Isaac, believe me." Hank called out. The dust, which was swept up by the powerful blow, slowly dissipated. (This strength…it's insane!) Rosto thought, trying to wrench his hand away. However, something was holding it firm. "I do say so myself…Hank you seem to have got a good student!" Isaac shouted. "But he lacks the custom technique and skill to perfect them full." Isaac added. Rosto was shocked, to the highest. He had put his entire strength behind that attack and Isaac just stood there, behind the dust…perfect fine? Isaac swiped the dust away, coughing as he held Rosto's arm firmly. Rosto decided to attack again, this time with his leg hoping to trip Isaac. Isaac endured the blow to his right leg, tensing up the muscles tightly to the point of cramping. "Sheesh, you've got power though." Isaac muttered as three consecutive attacks landed on Rosto's face and chest. Each in blinding success as Rosto stumbled backward, Isaac wasn't gonna let this go and he charged ahead. He spun around and kicked Rosto in the stomach, then grabbing the other boys arm, pulling him in and stepping forward to slam Rosto into the floor, knocking the boy out cleanly.
"Where is he!" Yeist muttered as he searched an empty classroom. "Crap…I-i can't find him. Where is he!" Yeist ran and ran, loooing inside and around empty rooms. The Cafeteria was the last place he wanted to search, it was too vast and long for a normal Cafeteria. However, it was a chance worth taking. Eventually he landed into the courtyard, looking around within the small garden of colorful flowers. It was…calming to say the least and helped keep Yeist's mind at bay. He saw a door as he went into the green house, assuming it was a storage unit. "Huh, I didn't see this when I came in here with Rosto." Yeist said quietly as he gripped the nob. He turned it gently and opened it, showing a large room below at the end of a long stair case with no railings. Yeist could hear voices as he went down. When he came to last step he found Hank, Isaac and Rosto chit-chatting calmly in a friendly manner. "Rosto! I finally found you!" Yeist shouted in relief as he ran towards the other boy. Rosto glanced at Yeist in surpise before also standing up and walking over to his friend. "H-hey…Yeist. What's up?" Rosto asked nervously, looking at different directions other than Yeist. "I came to look for you since you didn't come back into the dorm last night. I was…worried and thought maybe I did something." Yeist said calmly. Rosto made panicked gestures. "What! No, no! That's not it at all! You don't do anything wrong….its just…never mind." Rosto exhaled in defeat, turning away. Yeist gritted his teeth in anger. (This imbecile! Does he not realize it wasn't his fault! Now now, calm down. Let's just have Rosto take his time." Yeist thought. Isaac frowned at the slight irritation Yeist showed on his neck, the veins and the clenched jaw. "Master Hank, I think we should give them some space to talk, no?" Isaac whispered towards Hank. Hank nodded slowly . They both soon stood up and strode off towards the stairs. "Hey, Rosto! Master and I are gonna go get more water, we'll be back!" Isaac called as he and Hank left.
Rosto watched and waved goodbye, not knowing the blatant intentions. "So…um…what d-do you want to talk about?" Rosto stuttered out, not knowing what to say. (Could I even say anything? It's my fault in the first place.) He thought. "First, it's not your fault. I got in your way and that was it. It's really not that big a deal to hurt yourself over." Yeist stated loudly. Rosto was a little bit shocked by such a on-point statement. (He doesn't blame me? Why? He should blame me…I attacks him without thinking and that blame solely goes me. So than why?) Rosto thought. Yeist rolled his eyes and suddenly kicked Rosto in the knee. "Ow! Hey!" Rosto yelped at the suddenly sharp sting. "I assumed you were smarter. Just expect my words will you, believe them." Yeist calmly stated as he hugged Rosto. "Just don't blame yourself, dude." Yeist added. Rosto frowned, but reluctantly hugged his friend back. "I'll do my best, thanks." Rosto said, his tone mellow.
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Meanwhile, Paul was sitting at his desk…contemplating what to do. "This place…feels like vomit. It's so disgusting and vile, makes me want to puke. But whatever, it's a place and a place it will be for me. I find it sad though…that the old man died, such a shame." Paul said as he leaned back in his chair, chewing on a pencil thoughtfully. "Detective, what's the next step for your plans." A offcier asked as they came inside.
The dectives room was small in comparison to the that of a living. But it worked and kept things easier to keep together. On one side of the room was a pin board, there the detective had many pictures and sticky notes lying about on it not red strings going across. Desks were on both left and right sides of the room, wooden they were with a thin layer of stone for protection. They held the folders and miscellaneous items that may or might not be needed. Then were was the detectives desk and main work area. It held a computer and drawers for use, a lamp on the side and extra paper in a holder in case they needed to write a letter or a list.
Paul looked up at the officer, they were young but full of respect. Paul felt a little embarrassed at being respected knowing his line of work for Onite, but that will change soon. (Once I get into that mayor position, I'll kill off that man and get rid of his body.) He thought cruelly as he leaned back in his seat. "Continue your work for now. Keeping an eye of the mayor is our best option for the moment." Paul stated, raising a finger. He then remembered something and pulled open a drawer, taking out a folder with lots of paper. "Oh, take this with you. It's a list of some of the things our station needs." Paul then handed the young officer the folder from his seated position. "Of course sir." The officer said as he walked forward and took the folder calmly. "I will tell the mayor and hand him the documents." The officer stated as he turned, walking away in a orderly stride. Pauled watched him leave before sighing contemptly as if he were in a circus. "I hate working here." He mumbled as he cracked his fingers and began working in the computer, typing out messages towards an unkown person. It was an Anonymous person, not even Paul knew who he was, but they worked for him. From all he could remember they were called the Plagued Robes. They had a certain reputation of being the best hidden assassins and killers on the island and inland areas, they were pros of the pros. They were quick and efficient, they weren't waiters and if one of their kind was to not finish a mission…they'd have to die.
Later in the evening Paul was still on the computer, however this time he was sorting out folders and placing long forgotten evidence into folders. It was boring, but it kept himself busy and sane. Paul checked the clock on the wall and rolled his eyes in annoyance, it was six o'clock at night — dinner time. Not his best cup of tea, but usually during this specific period the drunk and unwise teenagers would be out getting into trouble. So Paul decided to go get himself some coffee. He stopped what he was doing, took his car keys off his desk and strode out the door heading down the hall for the stations entrance/exit.
When Paul exited the large building and strode towards his car, entering it and closing the door, he drove silently towards the nearby coffee shop. From the station, he backed out and turned left driving a couple miles before turning right onto Babylon STR, which if he kept going straight would go onto Cox HWY about about one mile down. He saw the coffee shop to his left and pulled into the turning section not too far from the stop light. When the road was clear for passing he slowly turned the wheel and drove into the parking space, parking the and unclipping his seat belt. Paul then stepped out of his car, closing the door firmly, as he walked away towards the door. (How dull. Nobody enjoys a good taste of coffee.) He thought bluntly as he entered the building. It was silent, but it brought the necessary peace Paul was looking for. The waitress behind the corner waved to him and pointed to a seat at the back of the room where a full, triple cladded dark robed figure sat with a hoodie over their heads. Paul shrugged it off and walked over, taking a comfy seat across the figure. They wore a similar mysterous aura like Oni and a demonic mask, it was strange but not forgettable. "How may I help you two today?" The young girl waitress asked happily, her high heels clapping against the floor as she moved side to side. "I'll have just a the expreso please." Paul said warmly as he smiled thinly. "I'll have nothing." The demonic mask man said in a almost robotic yet gruff manner, almost close to raspy. The waitress quickly wrote down Paul's order excitedly and hurried off. Paul closed his hands together, covering his mouth as he stared dead at this man before him. "So, what do you want." Paul ordered firmly. The demon pulled exposed a small folder and slid it across, the man's hand almost invisible due the abyssal like attire. Only the orange-yellowish eyes that faintly shined through the gaps of the demon mask perpetrator. "We heard…gasp…you wanted to speak to us. Comission one of our men. However, due to you being a detective, I had to act under severe caution. I am Preytic, the leader of the Plagued Robes. We are commonly known as the Red Demons in our home town." Preytic, the leader, stated stoically. Paul was speechless for a moment before regaining composure. (These are the assassins? Is that cosplay really necessary though?) Paul thought. (Although Oni does the same so I can't judge.)
Preytic tilted his head with morbid curiosity. "Does something bother you, comissoner?" Preytic asked. Paul shook his head and waved a dismissive hand. "No no, it's fine." Paul said. "What's fine." A familiar voice said. Both Preytic and Paul turned like a whip. Preytic seemed stunned while Paul was annoyed. "My my~ it seems our little commander had has brought some troublesome people." Onite said, staring with strong intent at Preytic. Preytic almost fainted just by looking at Oni. (White mask, trench coat, belt and a top hat with a smaller leather overall-like layer on the shoulders and neck. There's no mistaking it.) Preytic thought tremblingly. "O-Oni? Brother Oni? Is that you?" Preytic asked raising a finger at the man. Oni chuckled thinly with no malice behind it. "It's a nice pleasure to see you too, brother Preytic. How does my other brothers?" Oni asked calmly, staring down his friend. Paul sat with a slightly hurt expression, but didn't interrupt this small reunion. (So…Onite was apart of this group? How interesting.) He thought mildly. "Well, they've been doing okay after your left. However, they miss you a lot. Our group as been getting bigger little by little." Preytic said calmly. Onite grabbed a chair from a table, dragged it over and sat down in it.