After I finally got back home, my uncle saw me all dirty with blood painting my shirt, and chuckled amused.
“Pfft, look at you all trashed. Another failed deal with the kids?”
“Yeah…”
I answered plainly as I was putting pressure on my injury on the stomach.
“Where was that disinfectant?”
“You mean the pure alcohol? On the second shelf in the bathroom. Take a gulp while at it, it will stop the pain as well.”
“Sure, thanks.”
I casually strolled to the bathroom and took off my top, revealing a few good bruises, especially around my arms as I just got struck by an iron bat. I first took a sip from the bottle of spirit uncle left on top of the shelf then placed a towel in my mouth and spilled some alcohol on my injuries, be it the knife injury, the cut lip, or the bruises around my arms.
“Ghhh~!”
I exhaled in pain while frowning deeply then I took some bandages and coiled them around my injuries, placing a plaster on the corner of my lips as well. I washed off the remaining alcohol as to not set myself on fire, then changed my pants and closed the lid of the spirit.
Alright. Now back to work.
I intentionally tried not to think about what happened by continuously working hard and focusing on what I had to do. My uncle observed this, and so while he was hammering away he asked,
“Did you lost it there?”
“… Why you asking?”
I continued to put ring after ring, trying not to mistakenly add more rings into one.
“Your knuckles are also bruised and you didn’t even notice.”
“Ah. Tsk, dammit.”
I looked at my knuckles and it was as he said, having here and there cuts from his teeth after smashing them out.
“Bah, nothing to worry about.”
“Your school will be able to use this as a reason to expel you, no?”
“Not if they don’t see it.”
“So you decided to resort to violence as well?”
“Sigh~ no… I just snapped like an idiot…”
I sighed tired and scratched my head helplessly, my uncle whistling surprised while hammering the armors.
“You normally react when it comes to crafting and money, basically to what you love. What. Did they lit a bill of 100 euros aflame in front of you? I would’ve snapped as well if so, don’t worry.”
“Pfft.”
I chuckled amused but then I just sighed and told him everything that happened. After hearing that I lost my reason after having my life put in danger, my uncle’s hand stopped mid-air and then placed the hammer down. He gazed at me intently with a serious look then sighed deeply.
“Let’s change.”
“What?”
“I said let’s change. You start hammering the armor.”
“B-but I never made armor before? Except for chainmail.”
“It’s the same concept as a sword, don’t worry.”
“B-but if I screw it up-“
“Of course you’ll have to pay up for the materials.”
“…”
I glared at him then just did as he said, although unsure of what he was planning.
-CLANG!-
“Hm?”
“…”
I lifted the hammer and smashed the red metal once, only to feel a weird sensation in my hand. At first I thought it was because of the pliers as I felt my fingers numb from all that bending steel rings, so I continued on hammering. My uncle was also looking at me working intently, observing every one of my moves.
-CLANG CLANG CLANG-
The sound was the same, the rhythm was linear as well. However, something was still strange,
“I-It’s like I’m hammering with someone else’s hands…”
I put the hammer down and looked at my own hands baffled, unable to understand why I felt my own body so strangely as if it was no longer mine. Sure enough, this wasn’t because of combining rings with the pliers.
“Sigh~… Brat, remember our talk last time about the evil of humans?”
“Yeah…”
“The moment you lose yourself to it, it’s also the moment when you turn into a stranger of who you were before.”
“What-“
“You gave up to violence and fighting before for a reason, right? Try to remember it.”
“It- It was so I won’t become like father…”
“Yet what the heck are you doing now, Leon?”
“… Damn it!”
I shook my head in distress and supported myself on the anvil, as if unable to take in everything that happened.
Blacksmithing turns your soul into metal and fire. When the fire it’s right, the metal will reach the perfect temperature to be molded. But if the fire it’s too strong and wild, it will only destroy the final product… Right now my soul it’s raging and it’s deforming the metal, which is my own body… If I can’t control my body because of my rage, then I’m the only one to blame for my inability to work.
I looked at the sky and felt only frustration, not knowing what to do.
“Just go and relax.”
“…. What?”
I felt like he wasn’t talking with me for a moment.
Do… what?
Sure enough, it was the first time I ever heard such words coming out of his mouth. I stared at him like at a strange creature, making him look back annoyed and repeat himself,
“I said go and relax. Dunno, go drink something, go to stripteases, do drugs, do something outside of work. Something that would calm your nerves down and clear your mind.”
“… I’m sure that all the ones above are not really going to help me reach inner peace… if that’s what you’re saying.”
“Never say it until you try it. Maybe you’ll meet a nice lady to make you feel better. Should I give you some numbers?”
He then took out his phone and smiling like a pimp he started searching through his numbers, guaranteeing me of the best services. Not sure what to think about it, I just sighed then waved my hand dispirited.
“Alright, never mind. I’ll do something… Thanks.”
“No problem. After you’re better I’ll be sure to work your ass off.”
“F***…”
The next day at school Alice was throwing concerned glances at me, seeing my harmed lip and how I was hiding my hands inside my pockets.
-BZZT-
I then got a message from her, asking whenever I was okay. I looked at her and smiled calmly. She was surprised for a moment and then received a message from me, her eyes opening wide after reading it:
[After school. Let’s go on a date. It’s on me.]
She looked back at me and I raised my eyebrows as in a question whenever she wanted to, the next moment having her shake her head up and down in a hurry.
“Heh.”
I chuckled lightly then after we finished classes we met up outside the school at the nearby mall. I already took my jacket off and placed it inside my bag as I waited for her inside.
“H-hey! Sorry, did you wait for long?”
Her face was blushing while her breath was rushed, perhaps because she was hurrying or maybe because of another reason. Her long hair was nicely breaded in a big tail, while her lips were shining after using a light lipstick. It was obvious that after school ended, she stood in the bathroom while trying to make herself as pretty as she could in the short time she got.
I looked a bit surprised at her and she blushed some more, looking away embarrassed,
“W-what is it…?”
“Nothing… you’re just more beautiful up-close.”
“Ah… T-thanks.”
At first surprised by the sudden compliment, she then smiled beautifully, making my heart feel like calming down. I showed her to a coffee house with a retro-style and surprised by the interior, she looked around while admiring the design. When we received the menus, I commanded some black tea while she took some exotic tea with extra honey.
“This place looks so beautiful!”
“Glad you like it.”
“How come you know such a refined place? I thought you don’t normally go out?”
“I used to go out before, you know?”
“Ah! I- I’m sorry…”
I had friends and even a girlfriend before with whom I went out to places like these, so of course I knew the area. But after remembering the fact that my last girlfriend left me in a panic while my friends turned their backs for the same reason, Alice lowered her head in remorse at the insensible remark.
“Pfft, don’t mind it now.”
Seeing her guilty expression, I chuckled amused then reached out and without thinking I caressed her cheek dearly. She looked at me surprised and then I quickly retracted my hand, finally aware of what I just did.
“Err… Sorry about that…”
“No, don’t be. I was just surprised. Every time I’m with you, I feel like I learn something new. Making such a warm expression, I felt my heart melting for a moment.”
“Ah, shut it. Were you always so slick with your tongue? That’s supposed to be my job as a man.”
“Hehe~.”
She chuckled amused then she also reached out for my bruised cheek, her eyes asking what her mouth wouldn’t say. I sighed calmly then took her hand and kissed it,
“Yeah, in the end there was no deal. Only some punks that didn’t know better.”
“Was it the guy last time? I’ll be sure to make him a visit.”
“And do what? Risk expulsion after beautifully throwing him in the air? Do I need to take those sweet cheeks of yours to another stretching?”
“B-but they did this to you!”
“Bah, this is nothing. Besides, they had it worse.”
“Eh? What do you-… Leon…”
I looked away with a sour smile and after seeing my bruised hands, she finally understood what I meant, holding my hands saddened. She already knew that I wouldn’t resort to using my fists as long as nothing too serious happened. The fact that I was in such a miserable state made her aware that my troubles were more serious than just some street-thugs.
“Leon… Is there something I could do for you?”
Her big eyes shone with the desire to help and seeing such a beauty gaze at me in such a pitiful way I simply couldn’t hold myself back, leaning forward and stealing a kiss.
“Ah…”
“If you keep on being so defenseless, I might just lose it and eat you up, Alice.”
I answered back at her surprised expression but then her face turned red, pouting annoyed. She reached out and kissed me back then turned her face away embarrassed,
“Who told you to hold yourself back? Do you have any idea how hard it’s for me to not talk with you in class?”
“I’m sorry about that, but I’m rather confused about one thing…”
After hearing her say such dangerous things, I tried to quickly think of something else as to change the subject, her behavior being a bit too cute for my unstable heart at the moment.
“What is?”
“Tell me again, why you want to come to my old house for Christmas?”
“Ah.”
She froze in place then she tried to hold a serious expression while smiling uncontrollably, a blush appearing on her face more and more.
“… Alice?”
I also felt like smiling for some reason but I couldn’t help staring at her suspiciously. She then covered her face and bowed her head to me,
“I’m sorry! You have a shameless girlfriend!”
“Huh?”
“Back then my mind was elsewhere. As I thought of that house, my mind was wandering at the idea of: how wonderful would it be to move into that house and build a family together? By the time I woke up from my little dreamland, I was already proposing to you that I want to go there for Christmas…”
“…”
She held her face in her palms embarrassed while evading eye contact, making for my heart to beat wildly. I then sighed deeply as I held my head over my tea, appearing defeated.
“S-sorry! I’m rather repulsive, aren’t I?”
Seeing me react like that, Alice thought that I was disappointed in her, meanwhile, I was thinking on the contrary. I looked at her with tired eyes, a slight burning flame appearing in my gaze for a moment, making her blush for a bit.
“Believe me, if this wasn’t a public place, I would’ve assaulted you already.”
“W-what are you saying…?”
Her face burned and I was also feeling only more embarrassed, massaging my forehead annoyed,
“That’s my question, you idiot! Now you made me have expectations for this Christmas…”
“E-expectations…?! Ah… Understood.”
Don’t say “understood” you moron! Argh…
I groaned hopelessly as I tried to control my desires, Alice being bright red as she was also in the same position as me.
After we drank our teas, we went to eat some pizza while chatting about different subjects, then went for a cake, remaining quite surprised at how much was Alice able to eat.
Considering the amount of training she has to do, I suppose it’s rather normal.
I smiled then continued to eat my cake. When we left the cake shop, Alice saw the newest version of her favorite movie now rolling in Cinema, wanting to see it no matter what. Two hours later we were now sitting on a bench inside the park near the mall, her drinking lemonade while I was drinking a cola.
“Hahaha~! To think that the bad guy was actually trying to help the main character all this time. I never knew!”
“Quite the plot-twist, not gonna lie.”
I sighed impressed as well, the movie being better than expected. It was also quite refreshing as this was the first time in a long while since I got to have so much fun. Alice then looked at me and took my arm into hers,
“I’m not sure why you suddenly invited me out, but I had a lot of fun. Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it… I just wanted to clear my mind.”
I gently pinched the tip of her nose and smiled warmly. I walked her back home and, to my surprise, it was already 8PM. After we arrived in front of her house I quickly wanted to leave as I knew that around this hour the judo practitioners were coming or leaving from the dojo.
“Alice!”
Just as I wanted to make a 180 turn to leave, a rough and manly voice resounded from behind, calling out for Alice.
“Err~ hello dad.”
She smiled wryly and I felt the blood draining from my face. When I turned, I was surprised to see the man being shorter than be by a head, seemingly having around 170cm, the same as Alice. However, his body was much wider as his muscles, although not that evident, anyone could tell that wasn’t fat for sure.
“You skipped training today as well?! The competition is right around the corner and you’re skipping for-… did you go on a date?!”
Seeing that a boy escorted her back, his face turned red from rage and I wasn’t sure whenever to play dead, run for my life, or get in a fighting position.
Wait, why was I taking playing dead as an option? He’s not a bear…
While finding my own thoughts ridiculous, Alice quickly got between us and she tried to explain in a hurry,
“W-wait! Dad! He is Leon I told you about! You know? The guy you said that seems like a fine guy!”
“Eh?”
“Hm?”
I was surprised to hear that he already heard of me and her father’s red face also calmed down, raising an eyebrow at me.
“So you are Leon, the lone guy who’s unfriendly even to teachers or punks?”
I was able to tell that he found my character rather funny, making me not sure how I should react, simply smiling and bowing my head. He then came right in front of me and reached out for a handshake, a wide grin on his face,
“Darius Kurosaki is the name. I suppose you already heard about the fact that I’m half-Japanese from my daughter, my father being from Japan.”
“Ah… I did.”
Did he just said… Kurosaki?
My mind shook so hard that I almost felt like passing out. I was confused and panicking inside, not knowing what to do. After seeing his stretched-out hand, I simply shook it mechanically while answering back like a robot, unable to think clearly.
“Roil… The name is Leon Roil. I wonder if sir Kurosaki heard of me?”
“?!”
His eyes opened wide and his face paled. We both had frozen smiles on our faces while shaking hands absentmindedly.
“Yeah… I heard of you.”
“Alright. Then… if you could excuse me…”
He answered back while guilt and fear flashed through his eyes. Seeing this, I didn’t know what to do, Alice looking at both of us rather confused,
“Dad…? Leon? Is there something wrong?”
“N-no…”
“Nothing wrong, dear…”
“Alice, I’ll go back now…”
“Alright then. Dear, let us also get inside. It’s already late.”
“E-eh? W-wait a second. You two are behaving weirdly!”
She observed the pale faces and shaking hands from both of us as if we were both terrified of the other, our rather tense behavior giving us out.
I’m surprised to see Leon be so scared of father but is not unexpected. However, just why was dad so terrified? Is Leon so scary?
She thought confused after entering her house without asking too much. Meanwhile, I took step after step backward, in the end turning to leave. Her father was also walking funny as his shoulders were dropped, walking behind Alice as to not let her see his posture.
No way… This can’t be real… Alice’s father… is Darius Kurosaki? T-then, that means that my girlfriend’s father is the one who caused all that-… All that mess one year ago…?
As I went back home my mind was wandering, my face calm like before but pale like a sheet of paper. Outside I appeared like everything was normal, while on the inside I was feeling chaotic and barely able to stand.
“…”
The moment I reached back to my uncle’s house I rushed right into the bathroom, throwing out all I ate as the shock I felt made my insides to turn,
That guy- no. That f*****…! He’s here… He’s here!
My eyes turned bloodshot once again as I gritted my teeth strong enough for my gums to bleed. I washed my face and looked into the mirror. Only murderous intent and bloodlust were visible as all the blood rushed to my head, my veins pulsating to bursting.
He is the one…! He is the f***** who started all of this! He is the cause why I’m alone. He is the f***** who took my mother!
“AAAARRRGH!”
I roared furiously on my own as I simply couldn’t control these feelings anymore. Out of blind rage, I stared at the mirror and with one fist I turned it into small pieces, my fist being now completely bloody while a few shards even cutting my face and arm.
“Hah, hah, hah…. Ha, hahahaha~!”
After that my rushed breath calmed down for a moment then I started laughing out. I fell on my knees and felt how my stomach and head were hurting, my heart especially feeling like breaking,
“AAARGH!”
I shouted again, and this time my anguish and pain were more unbearable. Tears fell down my face and I started crying on my own, unable to control my chaotic feelings no matter how much I tried.
