Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Calm Before the Bloodshed

Fifteen minutes ago, two runic circles flashed in a VIP room. All around, uneasiness filled the air—and nausea. Yukino directed her mother to a bin and rubbed her back. Teleportation: a curse for some, but Tokino pulled through. “Thanks, honey,” she stood, walking toward a couch.

As for her stomach, she only felt peckish. Curiosity led her to a vending machine from afar, but no price tags. She helped herself a Ritter Sport almond chocolate bar. The otherworld always had earthly food, yet rare in authentic taste. Next, curiosity made her open a door on the left. She gasped in awe at the bathroom: more spacious inside.

“Honey, please come sit,” Tokino patted the middle couch. At the holoscreen, her eyes widened upon the announcer. Once a florist, Vincent had come a long way within a year. But a knock on the double doors behind them stopped her awe, unlocked. Yukino huddled near her.

“Hey, y’all!” Kakunō waved, smiling alongside his comrade. “Mind if we stay here? We’ll live under the same roof later, so call this our formal introduction.”

Tokino smiled back. “Oh, no, no. Please come in. Yukino would love to meet you two.”

She opened her eyes and gasped more. Her heart raced, seeing her other new comrades up close. Giggling, she ran toward Kenkō for a hug. “Big Sis!”

“Hmmm…?” Her eyes blinked three times, cheeks a little red.

Yukino let go. “You’re my sibling from now on, right?” her hands tied behind her. “Mama told me your family could be anyone.” She cocked her and smiled, eyes closed.

Kenkō stood in shock, but joy triumphed anyhow. It helped that the word adorable would do her no justice. Recalling many faces, she hugged her back. “Of course I am, Yukichi (ゆきち)! We’ll do lots of fun things with your one and only Big Sis! Yukichi, Yukichi, Yukichi.” She repeated it six more times.

Kakunō snickered. “Hahahahaha! The fact you’re only two inches taller than a child is so funny to me, dude. I mean, just wow.” He grinned.

Kenkō’s smile vanished within milliseconds. Eyes open, she put her new little sister down. “Yukichi… see that boy over there?” she pointed. “You have a Big Bro, too!”

She gasped, smiling wider. “Really!?”

He backed away. “Hey, hey, wait a minute— Agh!” In a flash, Yukino rode on his back, arms wrapped around the neck.

“Yay, Big Bro! Weeeee!” She laughed with even more joy.

“Ugh! Agh! Get off me!” he went shrill, “I-I can’t breathe! Agh!” One second in, he somehow found relief. Yukino tied her hands behind again, ready for another command. But he fell to his knees and inhaled deep. Tokino giggled at the whole scene.

Getting up, Kakunō looked her straight in the eye. “Listen here, kid! I am…” he saw Kenkō’s soul-staring glare, scalpel at the ready, “…the best Big Bro you’ll ever have. Come here, Yuki (雪ちゃん).” He smiled in sweat, lending a hug.

Kenkō tucked her weapon back but still aglare. “Call her Yukichi, country boy.”

“No, it’s okay, Big Sis.” She let go and returned to her mother. “I love you all, either way.” Her head cocked again, giggling.

***

Now in the present, Kennedy ended his speech. Many failed to stay put in their seats. Clearing his throat, he held the microphone. “Now, my kind, let us bring our entertainers for tonight!” All had screamed, and the lights turned off.

“In this corner… we have an intriguing lad. One who embodies the idea of phenomenal power from an unassuming face! Climbing atop a ladder against Vetus’ strongest a year ago, they say he conquered them all without effort!

“In both worlds, his past remains unknown. But in ours, rumored to be the former retainer of the Alaric Empire’s prince. The same kingdom who sought ruling over Pantaiyanilam! And so, we know not why he switched sides and married the unrivaled beauty Tokino. Nevertheless, he’s now our beloved comrade!

“Ladies and gentlemen, the elegant but deadly White Swordsman: Minagawa… Haruto!”

The archmage swung a flurry for his entrance. Meter-thick chunks of marble falling, he checked Dominique’s note once more. Always a dead end, he explained, simple yet fit to have everyone scream more. Amongst the crowd, young women shrieked, even older.

“By… the… Gods!” one turned to her friend. “I am so freaking jealous. I wish he never married! I still stan him hard tho. So I’m blessed, either way, gurl!”

“I know, right?” she yelled. “I want Daddy Haru’s pee so bad! Aaaaaaah!” She giddied for three minutes.

A nearby fourteen-year-old boy with his younger brothers had eyes wide, sweating. “Let’s move somewhere else…” told their mother. They all nodded.

Vincent cleared his throat again, breathing more than ever.

“Now, in this corner… is no man. Or even a monster. But a thing. An arrogant, playful, devilish thing. Like a dragon that looks human. An end-all and be-all to everyone’s story in the ring. An apex predator! Three years ago, he nullified the lifelong hard work of our mages. To this day, he keeps asking for more.

“After killing Ted Manson, the most evil monster, he’d never become the paragon of justice and compassion. But the true heir of this colosseum’s curse, to perpetually toy with the pitiable fools beneath him!

“Ladies and gentlemen, the God-splitting Peerless Champion: Udemaeno… Hokori!”

Through the walls, anyone else would’ve heard a grenade explosion. From a lone finger flick, debris flew high enough to hit the ring’s runic dome. No way in or out for the two fighters until victory or forfeiture: he loved all that in spades. So much had flung, the hundred left gained speed downward. Heart overjoyed, time paused for everyone else. He punched all toward his foe, sniper rounds tenfold.

The latter’s head bobbed to and fro, eyes stern but cheek grazed. So the main event disappointed none, as always. Men, women, and even children yelled in a beastly turmoil. Everyone of every status turned primal, bloodthirsty before his presence. “Woohoo!” shouted an upperclassman. “Fuck yeah, Hokori! Rip his guts out and wear it!”

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A blue-collar worker went louder. “Skewer him from ass to mouth with his spine, Hokori! Let’s. Fucking. Gooooo!”

“His wife’s hella fine, though. I’ll give him that,” his friend gave a thumbs-up. Beside them, the same boy chanted similar notions against Haruto. His mother and siblings yelled louder enough to have their ‘hero’ notice.

Hokori chuckled at his foe. “You hear that, boy? They worship me as I breathe.”

***

Minutes later, Tokino finally saw the two duel onscreen in the VIP room. Haruto, she clutched her chest, eyes frowned.

“Damn…” Kakunō sat on the right couch, sipping his coffee from the table. “Your man’s keeping up with Hokori’s pace.” He went toward the vending machine. Not for long, though.

Upon a few mountain firedrake jerkies, his eyes narrowed. “Ugh! Why do they still sell this garbage!?” He chose a bag of ridged potato chips instead, costing two Geld for non-VIPs. Kenkō made no joke of the jerky’s outrageous price at seven hundred.

Kakunō sat back down and saw Yukino holding her chest tight. Tokino heard her grunts, muting the volume. “Honey, what’s wrong?”

She panted in sweat. “Sorry… the hearts outside… so awful, as if wishing for Papa’s, Papa’s…….” Her eyes lit up, lips shaking. “Mama? Is Uncle really going to…” tears rolled down. A bird in distress, broken at any moment.

Tokino gasped, mouth covered. “No, honey, no,” she rubbed her back, still hearing the sobs. “Papa won’t die. He’s our hero, strong, no doubt. We should all be like him. There, there.” She let go and dried her eyes.

Kakunō raised a brow. “Hey, kid.” He stood, clearing his throat. “Sorry to bother you, but did you just call Hokori ‘Uncle’?”

Yukino looked up at him. “Yeah,” she sniffled. “What’s wrong with that?”

“What’s wrong? You didn’t forget what he did, did you? Now make no mistake. I respect him forever till the end. But I didn’t think I’d hear it from you. Why’s that?” He raised another.

She moved closer from her seat. “You may not understand, but I feel everyone’s hearts.”

“Hearts?”

“Yes. Emotions…” Yukino held her chest. “I won’t tell you why I can. But I can feel you love Uncle like a brother, same for Big Sis. I was scared of his heart, yes. But only because I felt too many at once.”

“Like the crowd outside?”

“Not for the same reason,” she shook her head. “For Uncle, I felt arrogance along with humility. Tranquility with uneasiness. Bloodlust with docility. Happiness with sorrow. His heart: a constant battle.

“What Uncle did was horrible, but all an act, right? It was strange that I never sensed malice in him. But I wanted to defend Papa more than the truth. He didn’t look down on him. No fear, either, and yet,

“Uncle was terrified.”

Kakunō sighed and smiled, eyes closed. “I’m not surprised for even a second, Yuki. I’ve known him far longer than you have.”

Tokino had concern written all over her face. Heart racing, her defensive side kicked in. “Listen, honey,” she held her shoulder from behind. “You may have felt no evil, but your uncle’s still much deplorable.

“I’m not saying he’s bad or Kakunō’s words aren’t true. Right now, I don’t view him as decent. So I’m worried about his influence over you.”

Kenkō walked past them toward the vending machine. “Oh, believe me, Mrs. Minagawa. I felt the same too, meeting him. To this day, I chastise and tear out his guts. But thanks to him, I learned I was no angel.” She pulled a pack of cigars, three hundred Geld at usual.

Tokino gasped, eyes wide. “W-Wait…! Kenkō, you shouldn’t—”

“It’s fine, ma’am. You can tell I’m an adult with how perky these are. Hard to spot at first, but it’s there. Plus, this room has vents on top.” Kenkō opened the pack and lit one with runes. She leaned over a wall from afar, billowing smoke upward.

Kakunō unmuted the screen, hoping to enjoy the show more. However, the “thunder” made all jump from their seats. Even Kenkō choked on her second stick. The live bloodsport made all eyes wide, sweating bullets. Haruto had flung onto the runic edge of the arena in one timeframe. The ring fissured and caved in upon his travel. Sands flew high above, and the bones, hair, and teeth of previous fighters.

Kakunō noticed Hokori without his hat. Oh, geez. I knew it.

Tokino cocked her head. “What in the? Those eyes— Urgh!” She held her head, feeling sudden sharp pain. It throbbed harder, and she grunted more on her knees.

“Mama!?” Yukino kneeled for her aid. Yet no matter any shake, the grunts went louder for a minute.

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