I pulled out a cigarette from a marbol pack, placing it in my mouth, as I pulled out my lighter and lit it. I and Taredd were walking down the path to the main house... To my family. "You smoke now? When did that become a thing?"
I puffed on the cig, "Shortly after I became an Elite."
"Your parents will kill you." I shrugged, silent. "That's it? A shrug?"
"Look, Elite has changed me. Yes, I'm disciplined. And believe me, ill be much more respectful to them than I used to be. But I just don't care what they'll think about me because I smoke. And I won't smoke often while im here. It's just a stress reliever."
"Alright. Suit yourself. However sooner or later you should quit. Bad for-"
"My health. I know. I'll quit just... not yet." He sighed, glancing at me. "How much do you smoke on a daily basis?"
"It used to be one a day before-" I choked, tensing up from the memory. "It's four now. Usually at night."
Taredd stopped walking and turned to me. "Try relying on me to keep your mind off of what happened. Don't rely on the cigarettes. I know I don't understand what your hell is like, but like I said on the jet, I'm here to help you through it."
"I know. And I appreciate it. Thank you."
***
When we reached the large as hell place I once called home, I didn't even have the chance to say hey- before I was bombarded with hugs and questions from my parents. 453Please respect copyright.PENANAV4q70A54tO
453Please respect copyright.PENANAe8LtqDGky1
“How have you been,” Asked my mother. “Wow, you’ve grown- You look like a younger version of myself!” That was no surprise. I mean I could say that she looked like an older version of me. “I’ve had my ups and downs. How about you two?” She put a hand on her hip, sighing, “Your father is exhausting.” I turned to my dad, “What’d you do?” He smiled, looking down at me with piercing brown eyes, “I cut my hair. Apparently it was a bad idea.”
“No, no! Not a bad idea, just… New and surprising,” mother quickly said. I flipped down his black hood to get a look at just what they were speaking of. Sure enough it was exactly as she said it was. All of his black hair was chopped off, shaved and neat. Not once have I seen my father without long hair. “It’s fitting,” I smiled, “Makes you look younger.”
“And more terrifying,” Taredd added. “That was the point,” Dad snapped, “I’m getting back to being Akai Kama to help with those damned creatures in the U.S.” I jumped in excitement. The Red Scythe- famed for his skills and unknown identity. “Finally! When will you be heading over there?”
“When it’s time for you to head back... I’ll be joining you.”
“This is still up for debate, Hajime! It’s dangerous, and we don’t know how the U.S. govern-”
Dad cut my mother off, “I already told you, one, we have dual citizenship. Two, I’m an American first. Born and raised! Three- I was named a weapon of the U.S.A. As long as it’s approved- which it already has been- I can freely apprehend or kill the enemy. As of right now, that enemy are those evil beings roaming about. You know- the ones that ruined our daughter’s leg? I will not stand by, Michi. I can't.” My mother said nothing, but I could see she still disagreed with his choice… Not because she didn't want to end the hellish beings we fight. But because she feared the future. The silence was thick for some time till Taredd finally broke it. "Now then- where’s your brother? I'm thinking we should hunt him down, and celebrate your visit... After you rest."
Raising a brow at him, glaring, I said, “Why the hell do I need to rest? I’m wide awake.”
“Because we all know that your brother has something planned up his sleeve to straight up attack you, use your disability to his advantage, and find out who’s the better fighter.” I shrugged, "true and that's fine by me."
"Really?"
"Yes. Now let's get a feast started!" Mother nodded with a wide smile, "I completely agree."
***
Right after I started helping my mother with the meals, my brother- Arata- had walked in looking like a complete mess, desperately trying to get knots out of his dark hair. "What happened to you," I asked. "I was helping out with the garden, and a few of the guards started throwing dirt at me, saying that they weren't going to let me greet you lookin clean. Damn asshats." A chuckle escaped me, causing him to glare. "It's not funny!"
"No no. It is."
He grumbled, leaning on one foot to the other. With a sharp exhale, he turned to the door, then spun back around. "Would you like to go on a walk? Catch up?"
"But mom needs-"
Mother nudged and shooed me away. "It's fine, Motome. Have some one on one time with each other." Defeated, I walked out with my brother, anticipating his next actions.
***
"Tell me something," Arata says as we walk unto the path under yoshino cherry trees. "Do you like Taredd?"
"Duh! He's my-" i bit my tongue, the question becoming clear. "Oh... You mean if I like him more than a friend?" He nodded slowly. "Then the answer to your question is a no."
"Hm... Alright."
"What?" He shrugged, "Nothing. Anyway, how's life in the US?"
"Stressful to say the least, but I love it there. Have a boyfriend now, good friends, and the best job I could wish for."
"A boyfriend? What does he look like? Name? Address? Job? How would you like me to take care of him if he hurts you?" I laughed, playfully pushing him. "Slow down there. His name is Jira De Luca . I'm not giving you his address. He works at the same place as me, D.C. Elite HQ."
"But what does he do there? Hell, what do you do there?"
"We're E.A.S.P's. AKA Espionage, Assault, and Surveillance Personnel."
"Do you deal in just one of those or all?" I raised a brow at him, "how do you not know anything about this?" He walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, looking up to the sky. "I told mom and dad that I only want to hear anything Elite related from you."
"Okay well," I said, sitting down, "As an Officer, I'm required to specialize in all aspects of the E.A.S. to properly command a Platoon of three squads. But with this leg... If I don't find a way to get over my disability, I'll probably get demoted or discharged."
"You'll find a way, that I can promise. Don't let it get you down, okay?" I nodded, "Yeah. I'll try."
Sorry for the slightly late update!
-A.R.453Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3oF7WuVnh