{Several Years Ago}
Seijun was lost. Currently, he stumbled through many acres of forest, unaware of how he ended up far outside of Tokuni's walls. However, what frightened the small boy the most was his separation from the other children. Granted, he transported them elsewhere, but the idea of being stranded and alone was unnerving.
The last thing Seijun could remember was an agonizing pain spreading throughout his skull before everything inevitably went black. Rubbing his head now, his fingers brushing through his hair, the boy felt nothing. No bump, mark, or hole.
'...I'm so lost!' The boy with red sideburns mentally exclaimed, his eyes surveying the area around him.
Finally, after wandering for hours without finding any kind of shelter, the child collapsed and fell to the ground, rolling onto his back against a fallen log so he could breathe. Now, what was Seijun meant to do? He did not even know how to hunt, let alone about the outside world or how to build a home. The brown-eyed child was completely helpless.
*RUSTLING*
Perking his head up hastily, Seijun scanned his surroundings, his eyes landing on a bush that was swaying intensely. The boy was quick to stand, clenching his fists as he prepared to fight whatever beast would emerge from the darkness.
Then, it revealed itself.
'...A rabbit?'
The small animal's beady eyes locked with Seijun's, prompting the rabbit to freeze in its place. The two beings stared at each other for a prolonged period of time, each refusing to move a muscle.
"RAHH!" Seijun suddenly screamed, running after the rabbit on foot.
Darting into the bushes once more, the small animal fled from the boy in fear. The chase would continue to occur for several minutes, with Seijun failing miserably to capture the rabbit. After some time, Seijun tripped over the root of a tree—"AH!"—his face colliding with the dirt a second later.
The rabbit got away.
Seijun groaned in the dirt.
The boy slowly lifted himself up, wiping his face to remove the specks of dirt clinging to his skin.
*CRUNCH!*
Seijun's eyes dilated as he shifted his gaze to the right. He had another chance to catch food! Surprisingly, it was no animal that produced the crunching sound—it appeared to be a person. The humanoid figure was concealed by the shadows of the trees around him; the only visible feature of the person was their bright green eyes. It felt as if they were peering into the boy's soul.
The figure stretched a hand outward, curling their finger in a beckoning manner. They were telling him to come forward.
Hesitantly, Seijun stepped closer to the shadowy figure, his brown eyes scrutinizing the stranger from head to toe.
"Who are you?" Seijun queried loudly, his clenched hands shivering.
The figure then moved backwards, gliding through the forest slowly. Seijun's breath hitched as he sprinted after them. Despite pumping his legs as fast as he could, the figure was still too far away.
"Wait! I need you to help me!" The boy cried, waving his hands.
Suddenly, after running into an open space, the shadowy figure dispersed into nothingness, their green eyes being the last feature to show before entirely vanishing with the wind.
Seijun looked around, perplexed. How could somebody magically disappear like they were never even there? Where could they have gone? And where was the boy now after all of that running?
*RUSTLING!*
Seijun clenched his jaw.
"Look, buddy! I don't know who you are, but you need to—!"
As the boy turned his body, his eyes instantly landed on a group of men with blades.
"Hands up, boy." A man with a gray hat demanded, narrowing his eyes at the brown-eyed boy.
Fearfully, Seijun obeyed, his hands reaching toward the sky.
Two of the men surrounded the boy, intending to search his pockets.
"He doesn't even have pockets!" One yelled angrily, shoving Seijun to the ground.
The man with a gray hat huffed, clicking his tongue. "Then take him back to the farm. We need more workers. We'll situate him with Emi."
Seijun had no chance to refute as he felt two of the men pick him up by grabbing his arms, pulling him along.
"Put me down! Put me down!" The boy flailed, kicking his legs.
"Can I knock the bastard out!?" One of the men pulling Seijun requested, tightening his grip on the boy's arm.
The man with the hat waved his hand carelessly. "Do whatever."
With a swift chop to the back of his neck, Seijun's world went black once again.
XXX
Indistinct chatter could be faintly heard as Seijun slowly opened his eyes, his vision hazed. He was on his back, staring at a wooden roof. The chattering came to a halt, filling the room with silence.
"He's awake. I almost thought the dumbass killed him instead of knocking him out." A familiar gruff voice spoke, making Seijun sit up.
In the room with him, Seijun could see the man with a gray hat and a woman with dark-brown hair, carrying a monotone expression as she eyed the boy. Seijun panicked and raised his hands, only to hear metal clanking together and feel a tug on his wrists.
Looking down at his hands, Seijun could now see that he had a pair of manacles clasped around his wrists, restraining his movement.
"W-what!? Why am I chained!?" Seijun fretted, shaking his arms frantically.
*SMACK!*
The man smacked the boy across the face with the back of his hand, leaving a mark on Seijun's cheek.
"Speak when directed to, boy. You are to stay here until we say otherwise. Until then, you are to work out with the crops and animals. Disobey and we won't hesitate to put a blade in your rebellious head." The man spoke roughly, licking his chapped lips.
"I'm Emi, your keeper for now." The woman with brown hair declared, her arms folded.
"The day is still young, so I expected you to get some work done." The man spoke, opening the door to the room. "We have animals ready to be slaughtered—kill them and wait for us to give you new orders. Emi will lead you there."
The man left without another word.
"Off the bed. I'll lead you to the barn." Emi said flatly, walking toward the door.
Seijun followed her quietly.
Once the boy stepped outside, he could finally see where he was: a small town—Seijun doubted it could even be considered a village; it appeared to be even smaller than his home village, Tokuni.
Unfortunately, Seijun observed that other children his age and younger were forced into labor. They were tilling crops, feeding animals, and constructing small wooden structures.
"Ignore them," Emi ordered, noticing Seijun's wandering gaze. "Your only worries are the barn, field, and your hut. Be grateful to have shelter."
The boy glanced up at the woman. "When can I leave?"
Emi hummed. "You must be deaf. You cannot leave until you are directed to, and the likelihood of that is slim to none."
Seijun's first thought was if he could utilize his transportation ability to escape, but as to where he would end up is a mystery. If he ended up still within the small town, he would definitely be killed on the spot.
Emi watched as a saddened expression was etched onto the boy's face.
"Here we are." Emi announced, stopping. In front of her and the boy was a barn made of wood. "Every animal in there is prepared to be slaughtered. The tools you'll need are just beyond the entrance. Stand outside when you've finished."
The boy hesitated to enter the barn, his hands quivering. "Can I have these chains removed?"
The woman shook her head and said, "You're more than capable of wielding a tool with them on."
"...Please?" Seijun pleaded, clasping his hands together.
Emi stared at the boy with a pensive visage. "...No. Get your job done."
Seijun's shoulders sagged as his head fell in a disappointing manner. "Yes, ma'am."
The brown-eyed boy ambled into the barn slowly, leaving Emi outside. From this point forward, Seijun's new but temporary life had begun and will remain over the course of the next four years.
XXX
I do not wish to do the vast majority of this past setting in one or two chapters mainly due to me wanting to have the events planned out thoroughly. As of now, I know where things are going, but as for what occurs in-between, I want to take it slow. Now, we only have Kono's side and Imawashiki vs. Kaminari's side to complete and I intend to do it the way I had planned for almost two years now. I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_