Renegado

The sun fell and the moon rose. Stars gleamed in the sky like diamonds, as only a sliver of moon could be seen. Clouds scattered barely visible. 

A young small boy laid on a couch, a blue blanket dropped over him. Still in the clothes he got home in. A throbbing burning pain woke the boy up with a hiss. He reached for it and felt bumpy thick skin that feathered out to smooth soft skin. Not how it was before. Haruki looked around the living room and saw no one. He got up and went to the bathroom. 

Immediately he looked at the mirror tilting his head left to get a better look at the rough bumpy skin. A. Circular patch of skin with thickened skin and small blisters sat on the side of his neck. Haruki tried to think of what to do. How to fix it.

'What? How am I supposed to fix this? How did this happen? Dammit.'   

Haruki went to his room and looked for a coat. He found a dark brown wool coat with a tail that dropped behind him and ended by his ankles. A hood that could cover his line of sight if not set at a certain point. Far enough to hide his face but not far enough to where he couldn't see. He had to roll up his sleeves. 

Putting on the coat he looked into Ai's room. A little girl laid snoring as she slept. Haruki went inside and grabbed a pen and paper.

"Went to training for genin team won't be back for some time.  

 -Haruki" 

He set the note on her bed and left the room then the house. Not a sound. Nobody had any shops open since it was night.

But there are certain shops, houses, or places that thrive at night. Lights lighting the road and sky more than a star ever could. Lanterns put out as decorations shining this red light. Starting in scattered details of red fading into deep reds that could only be differentiated by golds, black, and white. 

Where drunks and hookers can get along. Where people question if it was worth the money. Places that a person can love or despise to the point it hurts. 

As Haruki walked closer to the red light district he kept his head down. He was looking for one person and one person only.

Tachibana Akira. 

As he walked the main road he was shoulder to shoulder with people. Women with white faces and toxic red lipstick roamed and Haruki kept his head down walking faster. Looking around he found what looked like the townhouse that Aki worked in. Looking he went inside and was Immediately approached by a young woman. 

"Welcome to Midori's Brothels can we start you off with one around your age or are you more into the young one, maybe the older ladies?" An older guy with gray hair and wrinkles said as he grabbed Haruki by the shoulders. 

"I need to see Tachibana Akira," Haruki said as he stepped out of the man's hands and turned around.

"No seeing merchandise without payment. And Aki-san goes 300 ryo an hour, 7,000 ryo for 24 hours and you could do whatever you want" The old perverted man said as he gave an impish laugh of sorts.

Haruki handed him 600 ryo and waited as the man turned and yelled, "AKI GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE YOU GOT TWO HOURS"

The man turned around just to say, "Pleasure doing business with you" Then walking off to the next customer.

Aki came down the stairs in a hurry going to the customer she thought had called specifically for her. No one ever did that unless you had a specific reason. Usually you would be taken into a room full of women where you would choose. Unless you cut off the old man with your request.

As Aki approached Haruki she took his hand and led him to her room. When they entered she finally looked at where his hooded face was and took the hood down.

"Haru-kun, What are you doing here? You know you're not supposed to be here." Aki worriedly said as she started to inspect Haruki. Before he could say anything. Taking his face into her hands and rotating it right then left, and then she saw. A circular burn with small blisters. 

Aki gasped, " Haruki what happened? Are you okay? Why are you always getting hurt?" She questioned as she slowly smushed his face in her hands. 

"Could you let go first?"  Haruki tried to say as he started to shake his head, trying to get out of Akira's hands. 

Akira let go of his head and put her hand on her hip and said, "Now tell me how you got that burn"

Haruki looked down and shrugged his shoulder while mumbling, “ i don’t know, it just appeared” 

Akira did not buy this and instead of going to heal him like Haruki wanted her to do. She pulled out a chair and bottle of tequila and a shot glass and sat down by the window. She poured herself a shot then took it. Giving herself a drink that she liked to call ‘ a nice burn’

“I am not going to move from this chair until you tell me who did it” Akira said as she sat there and looked out of the window. 

Haruki started to panic. Not only did coming to the district become a waste of time

 But so did ever paying, if Akira refused to heal Haruki.

He slowly looked up and saw that she was looking out the window. 

“You know I have.. Issues with him” Haruki said more to himself than anyone. 

Akira still sat and looked out the window. Putting the shot glass down and taking a swig from the bottle itself.

"Aki… don't be like that please" Haruki whined as he leaned forward.

"I wouldn't have to be like this if you would just tell me, you know I hate it that some of the only times I see you is when you're hurt, bleeding, bruised, or burned. I can barely leave this stupid place let alone the district. You are one of the only people I have that doesn't want me for my body. So it hurts to see you bleed, burn, or bruised." Akira said as she looked down and set the bottle down. Haruki was left without a reply other than who did it, but for some reason he didn't want to say it. 

He didn't want to admit that his father didn't care. He didn't want to admit that things were in fact not okay at home. He didn't want reality to reveal herself to him, in all her glory.

So.

He lied.

"There was this guy who stopped me and started to beat me. He left me the burn as a 'reminder'"  Haruki said as he looked down ashamed of himself. Guilt slowly creeping into his heart making it beat faster and drop lower.

"Oh….I'm sorry"  Akira said as she stood up.she slowly walked towards Haruki. She grabbed his chin and pointed it up towards her looking into his eyes.

Glassy. Like there were tears brimming, downturned eyebrows giving him the look that he was upset. 

Akira took this as him telling the truth. Letting go of his face, she took a deep breath, she turned around and walked two steps from Haruki beforebefore crouching to the floor and starting to pick at the floorboard.  

Eventually she got the small floor board out and took what looked like two dark brown leather arm coverings out.  She held them side by side before turning around and saying, "Hold your wrist out."

Haruki held his wrist out, watching as Akira slid the ring connected to the leather forearm armor then slid it onto him and fastened the buckles on the underside. The tattered leather was heavier than they looked. One the bottom there were three worn leather straps coming from a steel contraption that looked like a crossbow with the bow. The leather started around his elbow and went until his wrist where there was a thick string almost a strap of sorts. Connected to the end was a bulky golden ring with a red ruby shining with the ambient light, that looked like it didn’t properly fit him or anyone. It stopped at his second knuckle not able to go past the bone. 

“ ball up your fist.” Akira said in a cold monotone voice. No emotion portrayed in her face. 

As Haruki balled is fist a ‘ SHINK’  a blade could be seen where it was not before. Glistening in the light, unused for years but still in pristine condition. 

“ If anyone hurts you I want you to use it. I can’t leave you out there alone with no one. Please promise me you will protect yourself. Please…. Haruki” Akira started to plead with Haruki. She was looking down with tears forming in her eyes. Hands grasping the leather harder. 

All Haruki could do was look ahead of him at a lump growing in his throat. Guilt started to eat at him from inside to out. His heart is now beating a million miles an hour and now in his stomach. He can’t back out now. 

“ I promise Kira-chan. I swear on my life”

It didn't feel right he felt like he was caught but also like he could get away with it. 

Kira looked up and grabbed his head just to bring it to her face and kiss her head. A show of affection. Something Haruki felt he didn't deserve.

‘I hate it’