taystar92

“You have to believe me I didn’t do anything, it was all him…” Denki Kaminari quickly said as he pointed to his beat friend, Minoru Mineta, who was slowly trying to sneak off. A few minutes prior, when Tay Miyashiro crossed the finish line of the Obstacle Race and transformed back into her human form, it turned out someone had switched her Quirk compatible uniform with a normal one, leaving Tay ultimately humiliated. And Rinji Yagi was bound and determined to get to the bottom of it to defend his friend . "WHAT!?!? WHY ARE YOU THROWING ME UNDER THE BUS?!?!?" Mineta shrieked before Denki grabbed him. "I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND!!"  . "Yeah, but you wanted Tay to be included in your big scheme and I told you to leave her out of it! But you didn't listen to me and pulled that stunt!!" Denki roared. "You embarrassed her in front of thousands of people, Mineta. You really went too far this time." . "Come on, man! Give me some credit! So I switched her duffel bag with Yaoyorozu's!  You should be thanking me! Everyone knows that Tay has the best butt on campus. Or at least they know now. I mean, look at those curves! And those legs!! THE LEGS, MAN!! She's a total hottie!!" . "You still went too far, Mineta. You may be my friend, but I'm not forgiving you or bailing you out on this one." . "But Kaminari-!!" Mineta shrieked. . But Denki just raised his hand as he looked at Rinji and nodded, as if giving him permission to give his friend what for. . However before he could, Iida grabbed Rinji by the shoulder. "I highly advise against it, Rinji! If you hurt Mineta, regardless of him embarrassing Miss Tay, you could get-" . "Actually, because Mineta broke the rules by breaking into the girls locker room and harassing a student, that means he is officially disqualified from the competition. So have your way with him, Rinji. I will allow it." Midnight spoke with a wink, meaning she was willing to bend the rules to help Rinji. . Rinji had a mischievous smile that only Mineta could see. Immediately, the tiny pervert started to sweat bullets and readied himself to run, knowing what was going to happen next. . "GATLINBURG KICK!!" Rinji yelled seconds before his foot hit his classmate, sending him flying out of the arena faster than sound could keep up.  . “And he's out of here!!!” Midnight yelled. The audience cheered and amazed how far the pervert flew. . Amazed, All Might looked down at his nephew from the stands. Until that moment he almost forgot that when he lived in America, Rinji used to play football and he could tell in that one kick that he still kept his skills sharp. . "WOW!!! AND THAT WAS AN EPIC KICKOFF BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR VERY OWN RINJI YAGI!! NEPHEW OF ALL MIGHT AND SON OF KENJI AND REKKA YAGI, HE HOPES TO CARRY ON HIS FATHER'S AND UNCLE'S LEGACY ONCE HE GRADUATES! KEEP AN EYE ON THIS KID, EVERYONE!!!" Present Mic cried. . As the crowd continued to cheer, Rinji turned his attention to the locker room as he hurried to see if Tay and her mysterious Good Samaritan, Kahden Toshiro, were alright. . "Tay!" He called. . "Rinji!" Tay gasped as she ran to her friend, tears in her eyes. . “Are you ok?” Rinji asked. . "I'm okay now. Shira told me about what happened. I'm just thankful that Kahden came to help me." She spoke as Rinji wiped away her tears before hugging her. He then looked at Kahden. "Thank you." He smiled. . But Kahden didn't look his way. . "Kahden?" Rinji beckoned before the pale eyed man looked around before he turned his way. . "Oh. Sorry. I was in another world. Please forgive me." Kahden spoke with a bow. It was then Rinji took a closer look at his eyes......he was blind. . Rinji decided not to point it out. “I'm just glad somebody got to you pretty quick.” . Tay nodded. "Definitely." She then turned her attention to Kahden before she held his hands, letting him know that she was there. "Thank you so much for helping me when you did. I owe you one." . Kahden leaned in a little closer to her, letting Rinji know that he can see, but not very well. "You have no need to, Taychan. I was just trying to do the right thing and Mineta had no reason to do that to you. I just wish I could do more to help." He spoke before Tay gave him a hug, making him blush. . “Well, I just wanted to see if you were all right. I better go back…” Rinji said. . "I'm okay. I'm ready to get back out there now." Tay smiled. . "Good. Because the others and I really miss you." Her friend grinned as he held her hand and led her back to the stadium, raising her hand in the air for everyone to see so they'll know that she's alright, which blew Present Mic's mind. . "AND SHE'S BACK!!! WHAT A TROOPER!!" . "Of course she would come back, Hizashi." Aizawa spoke, being the stoic voice of reason for his loudmouthed friend. . "Anyway, LET'S GET BACK TO THE FESTIVAL!!! THE NEXT COMPETITION IIIISSSSSS…" . "A cavalry battle!!" Midnight cried once the roulette wheel stopped spinning. "Each team must consist of a rider and three other members as the horse. Whoever collects enough points moves on to the next round! Depending on what place you came in during the obstacle race marks your points value and the highest score of 10,000,000 points belongs to.....IZUKU MIDORIYA who won first place!"  . The second Midnight said that, alnost everyone glared at Deku as if he was a lamb being surrounded by wolves. Tay could hear his heart pounding wildly as fear took over him. He was officially a target and everyone vowed to do whatever it took to win, even if it meant tearing him apart. She had to reassure him somehow.  . It was already agreed prior to the Cavalry Battle that Tay, Rinji, and Taīyo stick together, but after what she saw Deku was going through, Tay signaled to Rinji to give her a few minutes.  . Deku was looking around frantically for teammates, but suddenly, he was taken by surprise when Tay came over and hugged him. "I'm here, Cricket." She murmured. . “T-Taychan? What-” . "I figured you just needed a hug." Tay spoke as she hugged him, which he immediately held her close as he buried his face in her neck as tears streamed down his face as his heartbeat began to settle down. He never met anyone as kind and warm as her, but he was thankful that she was always there whenever he or anybody needed her. . Eventually, when Tay noticed that Ochako Uraraka was behind them and she saw the death glare she was giving her, she seized up a little. . Deku noticed how tense Tay got. "Taychan? What's wr-" . "Looks like you two are having a nice chat, Dekuuuu...." Uraraka spoke in an almost robotic tone.  . "I'm okay, Uraraka." Deku smiled bashfully as he let Tay go. "Taychan was just trying to help me calm down and-" . "Looks like you two are having a nice chat, Dekuuu..." Uraraka spoke a tad bit aggressively, making Tay scamper back to Rinji and Taīyo. . "What the hell happened? You look like you saw a ghost." Rinji asked. . "Uraraka." Tay replied breathlessly. "Yeeeeeeesh." The boys hissed in unison, knowing how easily jealous Uraraka can be. . “Okay, guys, I’m guessing we’re going to be teamed up together. If so, who's gonna be the fourth person?” Taīyo asked. . Tay looked around to see if anyone was still available. She at first thought of Kahden, but when he was asked to be on Shinso's team, she turned her attention elsewhere. She knew exactly who would be perfect for the job. Making her way across the field, she gently put her hand on the shoulder of Noahtak Kerzinger, a student who was originally from Switzerland. "Noah-sama, will you join our team?" She asked. . He turned to her as his lavender eyes glittered. "M-me? Ya vant me to join ya team?" He asked in his distinct accent. . "I do. I believe you'll be a wonderful help to me, Rinji, and Taīyo." Tay smiled. . Noah smiled warmly before he cradled her face in his hands as she giggled. "Oh danke schön! Danke schön, Tay!" He cried cheerfully. . The two Made their way to Rinji and Taīyo, who welcomed him with open arms. . "Hey, Noah!" Rinji greeted since he and Noah were in the same class. "I'm really surprised that you weren't picked to be on anyone's team before Tay asked." . "Ja. According to some of da ot'ers, my Quirk is too 'OP'. Vhat does OP mean? I don't get it." Noah grimaced. . "It means overpowered. And I don't think your Elemental Quirk is that. I think it's really awesome and helpful." Tay smiled. "I saw you in action during training and you're definitely a force to be reckoned with."  . Noah chuckled bashfully. "Heh...danke."   “Anyway I would rather have something OP on our team. It would really help us out.” Rinji said. . Noah's smile brightened before he looked at Tay. "So vhat's the plen? Ve're kinder runding ohtta time." He noted. . Tay and Taīyo looked at Rinji, who already had a plan laid out. . “All right!! First things first, I believe Tay should be the rider. Don’t take this the wrong way, Tay, but you’re a klutz also since you're still recovering, you won’t be able to use your Quirk for a while and if you do, you could hurt yourself. As the rider, you can have time to rest so if we do go to the next round you can rely on that. Also, if you're up for it, you can l partially transform so you can be able to protect yourself.” . Tay blushed a little because of Rinji calling her a klutz. "I'm not THAT clumsy......am I?" She frowned. . Taīyo whistled innocently as Noah had a shy look on his face while he rubbed the back of his neck. . “Maybe little bit…"  Rinji admitted sheepishly.  "Rinji!" Tay cried, a little hurt. . "But like I said!" He cried quickly. "It’s mainly for you to rest. Anyway, I’m pretty fast and I know Taīyo is too, so this could really help us in the long run." After some thought, Rinji snapped his fingers. "Alright. I got a layout. Taīyo and I will act as an offense. Meanwhile, along with you, Tay, Noah will act as defense, since his scarf is like Aizawa's.” . "I like that idea. But since I'm the rider and have to sit on someone's shoulders, who would that be?" Tay asked as she tied the headband around her skull. . "Taīyo and I vill carry ya, Tay. He and I vill stend in de beck.." Noah smiled as he kneeled down. "I bromise I von't let ya fall." . As Rinji and Taīyo gathered around them, Tay leaned over a little to hold onto Rinji's shoulders to keep her balance. When she nestled onto Taīyo's and Noah's shoulders, they each wrapped an arm around her legs to keep her from falling as she slipped her headband over her head and around her neck. True, she was the rider, but at the moment, she was the most valuable member of the team right now. . "ON YOUR MARKS!!! GET SET!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Present Mic yelled before the stadium exploded into a chaotic frenzy. . As the teams raced around the field, Rinji made a point not to go after Deku or else there would be a bloodbath considering everyone was targeting him, including a certain explosion-happy blonde with a superiority complex. . The best strategy would be to hang back and focus on other groups, particularly the smaller points to save from getting into a lot of chaos.   Tay looked around as she managed to grab two headbands, both of which belonged to hers and Taīyo's fellow classmates, Pony and Kosei. . Pony started to yell in English, but Rinji just laughed as they continued to run. . Tay tried to reach for Todoroki's headband, but she ended up coming short.  . "It's a bit risky going after him at the moment. How about we go after that guy?" Rinji asked as he pointed to a purple haired student named Shinsou. Tay noticed immediately that Ojiro and Kahden were on his team......but they seemed out of it, like all the emotions they had were erased. . “We can give it a try, but I suggest since we don’t really know anything about him, don’t stay too long. He could have a Quirk that could mess us up if we're not careful.” Taīyo said. . Tay nodded before her team rushed toward Shinsou, but somehow they managed to evade them. As soon as she met his eyes, she had this icy cold feeling come over her body, as if part of her life was sucked out. "The heck?" . "You alright, Tay?" Rinji asked, worried. . "I'm fine. Let's go after Monoma." Tay suggested. "I can tell that he's being way too cocky so if we take him by surprise, he'll finally shut up." . "On it. Taīyo, Noah, hold onto Tay. We're picking up speed." Rinji announced before they all started to run. He could feel Tay's hands on his shoulders to balance herself as they headed toward Monoma's team. They could hear the pompous student laughing after he copied Bakugo's Quirk. Suddenly, they saw his team stampeding toward them. But then…. . "Shit!!" Tay screamed in panic. . "What?!" Taīyo cried. . "I lost a headband!! Monoma took it!!" She cried. . Suddenly, Noah gasped. "Ach nein! Festhalten (Oh no! Hold on)!" The exchange student yelled before his red scarf came to life just like Aizawa's and lashed out around the team to protect them, the material was surrounded by flames. Once Monoma's team changed direction, Noah breathed a sigh of relief. "Das war knapp. Sind alle in ordnung?! (That was close. Is everyone alright?!)" . "Somebody tell me what the hell is he saying!" Rinji barked as Tay and Taīyo laughed. "I don't speak schnitzel!!"  . "I think he's just making sure we're okay." Tay spoke before Noah looked up at her and smiled, as if he was proud of her for understanding him.  . "Danke, prinzessin." The exchange student nodded. . As the teams continued to scramble around the field, Rinji watched in shock as the sole of one of the hover boots Deku was wearing broke off. He could see Bakugo launching himself toward them as he yelled furiously. (Oh no! If Deku falls, he and his team will be out of the race! I gotta help him!) The young hero panicked before he motioned for Taīyo and Noah to follow his lead, hoping to save the boy he claimed as a little brother from becoming deep fried by Bakugo's explosives.  . "HANG ON, TAY!" He ordered, feeling his best friend's small hands tighten their grip on his shoulders as he and the others ran. He watched anxiously as Deku, Uraraka, Tokoyami, and Mei Hatsume were sent flying into the air thanks to Uraraka's Zero Gravity with Bakugo rocketing after them with a trail of flames.  . "DIE!!" Bakugo screamed before Rinji cast a side glance at Taīyo. . "Close your eyes, Tay! You, too, Noah! OK TAĪYO, NOW!!" He ordered and within seconds, a blast of light erupted from Taīyo's body, nearly blinding everyone in the stadium and causing Bakugo to lose his momentum and fall.  . At first Rinji worried that the hotheaded student would end up getting hurt, but before he could react, he watched as Kirishima, Sero, and Mina caught their friend before he hit the ground. However, instead of thanking them, Bakugo started ranting as usual, blaming his team for "holding him back." . (And they hang out with him….why??) Rinji wondered as he watched the blonde tyrant verbally abuse his team at every turn. Suddenly, the group felt the earth shake as fissures ran across the field, causing Tay to lose her grip and nearly fall. "TAY!!" . But before he could react, Rinji saw Tay being wrapped by Noah's scarf, which pulled her upright and held her in place like a seatbelt. . Rinji smiled. "Thanks, No-" . "NO!!!" Tay shrieked as she looked back in horror. Someone had stolen another headband from her. It was Bakugo.  . Fueled by rage, Rinji steered the group toward the opposing team, ordering Tay to grab a headband, but Bakugo grabbed her wrists before they were locked in a game of chickenfight, battling for balance for a chance to move on to the next round. Suddenly, sparks flew off Bakugo's hands as a demonic gleam appeared in his eye, ready to create a blast. . "LET HER GO!!!" someone yelled before lightning surged through the field, forcing Rinji and the others to race to safety the second that Bakugo released Tay. Looking back, Rinji could see Todoroki's team race past them and Denki's vacant expression as he chuckled stupidly, meaning he shocked Bakugo's team...and fried his brain….to save Tay…...but why??? . As those thoughts crossed his mind, the buzzer roared throughout the stadium, meaning the battle was over. Rinji looked up to see that Tay only had one headband, but the score in total was considerably low. However, the sight of her eyes filling with tears made his heart sink more than anything. . "AND THAAAAT'S OUR CAVALRY BATTLE, FOLKS! IN FIRST PLACE, WE HAVE…..TEAM TODOROKI!!" Present Mic yelled. As the teams were being announced, Rinji, Taīyo and Noah helped Tay to the ground before they hugged her as tears streamed down her face. It always broke Rinji's heart to see her like this and he knew the reason why she was upset. He knew her all too well. She was blaming herself for what happened...and he wanted to do whatever it took to prove to her that she did nothing wrong. But how? . "AND IN FOURTH PLACE, WE HAVE TEAM MIDORIYA!!! AND COMING IN FIFTH IS…..TEAM MIYASHIRO!! THESE ARE OUR TEAMS FOR THE NEXT ROUND!!! WHAT A BATTLE!!!"  . "What?!?!" Rinji gasped as he turned to Taīyo, who had a headband in his hand. A headband with a moderately high score, which was enough to get them to the next round. . "We managed to grab one of the headbands Bakugo had. I think this one was originally Kirishima's, if I remember correctly, which put us just a few points behind Midoriya, but enough to keep us in the comp-" Taīyo was cut off when Tay leaped into his arms and hugged him, making him blush. "You're welcome." He chuckled, his heart melting as always whenever he was around her. . "WE'RE GONNA TAKE AN HOUR BREAK BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND OF THE FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY. STAY TUNED!!" Present Mic yelled as the crowds began to disperse. . "Go get some rest, Tay. We'll see you in a bit." Rinji smiled before he, Taīyo, and Noah headed to the food court. . As she headed to the girls locker room to recover, Tay sat on a bench as her head lowered. . "Hey, what's up?" A student named Chitrinee Sekai, who was from Class 1-C, asked as she grabbed a water bottle and tossed it toward Tay, who caught it without looking. "Damn, girl. Great reflexes." . "Thanks…." Tay sighed. . "Ok. Something's up." Chitrinee spoke as she sat by her friend. "What's wrong?" . "You….you saw what happened at the battle. I lost almost all of our headbands and I wasn't much help at all because I couldn't use my Quirk since I was still recovering from the race. I was useless out there." . "That's ridiculous!" . "But, Chitri-" . "Tay, you know in your heart of hearts that is not true. You said so yourself that you were chosen to be the rider so you can recover from overusing your Quirk. Rinji made a good call with that decision because there was only so much that you could do at that time. And when you think about it, if you did use your Quirk before you were physically up for it, you could get hurt or worse." . "I know, but…..I just don't wanna be seen as the damsel in distress." . "I can assure you that you're not that. But I will say this: you're far stronger than you give yourself credit for. And I can tell you have an amazing future ahead of you. That is if you stay on the right path." Chitrinee smiled. . "What do you mean?"  . "It'll make sense later on. But I will give you this advice before I go." . "And that is?" Tay asked, her heart thudding with anticipation. . "Just….guard your heart. In more ways than one. Because if you don't….you'll ultimately regret it." Chitrinee spoke cryptically as she rose to her feet, leaving Tay alone. . "But what does that even mean?!" Tay cried as she ran to the hall. . "Sorry! I don't give spoilers!" The mysterious student called as she vanished into the hallways leading to the seats. . "Who were you talking to, Miyashiro?" A voice asked, making Tay turn around to see Shoto Todoroki. . "Shoto-sama!" She gasped. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be training with the others?" . "My reasons should be none of your concern." Shoto sighed. "Anyway, I should be asking you the same questions." . Tay sighed. "I just….had a lot on my mind and….needed to be out of the public eye for a few minutes." . Shoto shifted uncomfortably where he stood as he lowered his head. Tay remembered when she noticed the look on his face during the Cavalry Battle and even the Obstacle Race….it was like he was saddened by his victories….as if he wanted to lose. . "Are you alright?" She asked. . "I'm fine." He replied automatically.  . "No, you're not. I can tell." . Shoto sighed as he leaned against a wall, staring at his left hand in disbelief. She remembered from witnessing it at the battle that the left side of his body held his fire Quirk, while his right side had his Ice Quirk. Both of which, she had learned, were inherited by his parents, a "perfect marriage of Quirks" per say. However, as she could tell in this very moment….it was as if he was….ashamed somehow….as if just the mere sight of his fire disgusted him. Tortured him. . Slowly and delicately, she held his hand, causing him to look up at her in surprise. He stood frozen there, his shaky breath coming out in misty puffs as he stared at her. His eyes, which were just as mismatched as hers, were like a deer in a spotlight as ice slowly creeped on his skin. But as she looked even closer…..she saw something in him that she didn't expect: a broken heart. "Shoto-sama? Are you okay?" She asked again, this time in a gentle voice, which made his features soften and his eyes look misty, as if tears were forming. . He was quiet for a moment….but then he opened his mouth to reply. Sadly, before a sound could be uttered, a large shadow towered over them, filling the hallway with a blistering heat.  . "I see you found a companion, Shoto. And a very familiar one at that." It was Endeavor, Shoto's father, and beneath his flaming beard, a broad smile was crossing his lips. "I haven't seen this little one since she was only a few days old. Turned out just as pretty as her grandmother." He spoke, his voice boomed even at a low volume. . "What do you want, Endeavor?" Shoto growled. . "Well, I came to speak to you privately, but considering that Tay is here, I might as well be courteous toward her at least." Endeavor replied. . "Bullshit." Shoto muttered under his breath. . "Anyway, Tay, congratulations on making it to the next round of the festival. I know your grandmother is smiling upon you as we speak." . "Thank you, sir." Tay curtsied before her ears flicked. "I better head to the field. See you later, Shoto-sama." She called before leaving. . "Nice girl." Endeavor concluded once she was out of earshot. "Reminds me of Fantasia." . "I asked before and I'll say it again, what do you want?" Shoto asked, his tone slightly hostile. . Endeavor's expression became stoic. "I saw that little moment you two had earlier. I saw a connection. A connection that I think will benefit you in the long run." . "What do you mean?" . "I had known her grandparents and they were very dear to me. Almost like a family to your mother and I, even before we were married. When I helped Okamī spare her from Kyōjin's wrath, I knew that the old man and I were in each other's debt. I saved his life and his family…and now it is time for him to uphold his end of the deal." Endeavor then smiled. "Tay's Quirk is quite stunning, isn't it? A very elegant and intricate Quirk. In my opinion, she would be a perfect bride for you, if you think about it. I can tell right away that you have a fondness for her. " . "Where are you going with this?" Shoto barked. . "I know it is hard for you to understand now, but think of the benefits of this union. You both share very powerful quirks. Her Quirk is a medley of nature and ancient myth, yours a harmony of fire and ice. The elements blended into one glorious symphony of perfection and purpose. Trust me, Shoto, it's-" . "No." . "Excuse me?" . "I said no." . "Are you defying m-" . "I know what you're planning, you shameless bastard. You better leave Tay out of your twisted game or else I'll make you regret it! You hear me?!" . Endeavor grimaced. "Crystal clear." He replied as he watched his son walk away. "You are making a mistake, Shoto. I'm only doing what I believe is best for you. You deserve so much more than what you have now and you are woefully rejecting it." But Shoto didn't listen. "Whether you like it or not, you are truly blessed, son. You were given a Quirk far more glorious than you realize. One day, this childish game of yours will end…..and when that day comes….." . As Endeavor continued to speak, Shoto entered the stadium to join the rest of the students, his heart clenching in anger as the war of ice and fire raged nonstop within his body, making him feel more numb than ever before. . "....When you finally embrace the flames of victory you were born to wield….I hope that I will be there to witness it." . . . Meanwhile in Ground Zero of Hosu City…. . He could hear the crowds cheer raucously as he stood before what used to be the entrance of a sports stadium. As he made his way inside, he could see remnants of sports memorabilia and streaks of slime that seeped from between the cracks in the walls, a sign that this place wasn't properly attended prior to its conversion.  . He could hear the voices of the crowd grow louder, but the voices in his mind were even more so. He could hear her voice; the blonde woman who built the foundations that formed his own personal hell. He could hear his voice; the one who stole his identity, parading around as someone he was not. He could see that beautiful girl named Momo in his mind….but the more he reached for her, the farther away she got. He could see the green haired girl with mixed up eyes. The memories of her made him feel safe…...but he couldn't shake this feeling that she was anything but that. It felt messed up. Everything seemed so messed up. Like he was catching glimpses of a life he will never get back. . As he leaned against a wall for a moment to catch his breath, he felt his heart pounding wildly. It felt so foreign to him, this heart. Like it wasn't meant to be in his chest. Like it was trying to escape instead of keeping him alive. As the memories continued, he felt something streamed down his face. Catching the strange thing, he saw that it was water. It didn't hold the same texture and consistency of sweat. It smelled salty, like the ocean, and he could sense an even stranger feeling inside him…...and it hurt.  . He was alone. . Really truly alone. . Lost.  . And it was his fault. The one who ruined his life. That shaggy haired, blue eyed demon who took everything from him. And he vowed he would do anything to destroy him. . "You coming or going?" A voice spoke. He looked up to see a strange figure towering over him. It spoke like a man, but the silhouette didn't match him. It looked more like a creature from a test tube than an actual human being. It had the head and tail of a crocodile, the body of a human, and one of his legs was made of metal, possibly a military grade prosthetic no doubt.  . "Excuse me?" He asked . "I said, are you coming or going? Meaning are you gonna enter the ring or are you leaving it?" The mutant interrogated, but his voice didn't sound condescending. Just simply businesslike.  . "Isn't it obvious?" The boy growled, his fists clenching as his eyes glowed like embers, his vengeful soul fueling the fire inside him. . The crocodile grinned an immensely toothy grin that would send chills down the strongest of spines before he directed the lad toward an empty room and silently suggested that he wait. . Rolling his eyes, the boy sat on the bench and growled, his mind and body slowly betraying him again. The saltwater that escaped his eyes returned again. "Stop…..get out of my head…." He pleaded as the thief's voice echoed in his brain. . ...I'm you….but better…. . ….I'm you…. . ….you….you…. . ....but better…. . ....Better!!!.... . ....I'M BETTER!!! .. . . Suddenly, the door opened as a doctor entered the room. He didn't say a word or anything. Then again, how could he? From what the lad could tell...the doctor had no tongue. It was as if some had ripped it out, silencing him forever except for small incoherent sounds that would escape his throat. In his hand was a syringe of some kind of violet red substance. . "What the hell is that?" The boy asked. Before he could react, the doctor stabbed the syringe into his neck, injecting whatever the stuff was into his bloodstream. It burned and throbbed as it ravaged his veins. It felt…..it felt……. . "You're next." A woman spoke as he lifted his head, his brain still swimming.  . "What?" He blurted, but he received no reply. As he followed the woman until he could hear the crowd again, this time instead of nervousness and fear- who the hell has time for that?- he felt adrenaline and excitement. The fire from whatever they gave him earlier continued to burn, but instead of pain…..it felt...good…..No longer could he envision those memories or hear those voices from his past…...he was free!  . "AAAAAND IN THIS CORNER!!" A man in a suit called as he stood in the center of what looked like a massive drum. "STANDING AT A WHOPPING TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE CENTIMETERS!! THE TERROR OF THE UNDERWORLD! THE SCOURGE OF HOSU CITY!! HE'S THE RUTHLESS, THE BLOODTHIRSTY…..KYYYYYŌŌŌŌŌAAAAKUNNAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"  . Kyōakuna. The crocodile man he had spoken to earlier. He knew that malicious gleam in his eye anywhere! A normal person would have been intimidated or even tucked tail and ran…..but the boy was undeterred. All he wanted…..was blood. . "AAAAAND IN THIS CORNER!! STANDING AT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT CENTIMETERS!! THE ROGUE OF…..OF…." The announcer leaned toward him and muttered. "Where are you from, kid?" . "None of your concern." The boy growled. Why should anyone care where he was from? Why would it even matter anyway?  . "Ok...THE ROGUE OF HOSU!!!! THE VICIOUS!! THE SAVAGE!!! Uhhhhh...name, kid?" . The boy thought for a moment. He remembered seeing a name appear while on his lonely wanderings that for some reason he felt an attachment to. Was it his real name he subconsciously remembered, he never knew….but he couldn't get it out of his head. And he liked it. . "Ray. My name is Ray." He replied. . "INTRODUCING…..RRRRRAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!" The announcer roared excitedly as the crowd cheered, fueling the adrenaline in Ray's veins once more. . Ray. That was his name. Whether it was his true name or not….he didn't care. It was the one he had chosen. It was his. No one else's. And he preferred to keep it that way. . As the boy named Ray and the beast known as Kyōakuna readied themselves to fight, the man watched from the sidelines, his focus on the boy. After the incident at Kotae O Motomete, he and his associates had been searching relentlessly for the escapee. Why was he there? What did the scientists do to him? All they knew was that the boy didn't deserve any of it…..but judging by the look in his eye…..the man knew just words will never be enough to turn the boy's heart toward the light. . "Sir?" The man spoke as he touched the earpiece he was wearing. . "Rajah?" His employer replied. "Everything alright? What's going on?" . "Sir…" Rajah replied as the boy's rage fueled roar chilled him to the bone. "...I...I found him..." . . . To Be Continued….

Not a sound was heard as night fell upon the valley of Kahlel Pass, which was a very rare….and unwelcome occurrence. Because as far as Koharu Iwatani was concerned, the absence of the nightly symphony she loved so dearly only meant one thing. . "We meet again..." She spoke coldly as she turned to see him at her door. In the blue haze of her vision, she could see a human shaped void standing before her. Two golden lights where the being's eyes should be pierced through her like blades, but she remained undeterred. "...Kyōjin Kuroiwa." . "Good evening, old one." Kyōjin spoke with a bow, the combination of chivalry and poison he used in his voice made Koharu sick to her stomach. "It is an honor to be in your presence once a-" . "Save it with the formalities, Kyōjin. What do you want?" She hissed at the shadowy man. . "You wound me deeply, ma'am. And to think I have always considered you as family."  . "You have lost that privilege the moment you slaughtered my husband, my son, and my