"Heartless Demon?" Surata questions. He feels like he has heard that name before but can't remember where.
"What is he talking about?" asks Yorui.
"Oh, sorry kids, guess you didn't know. Hehe." Majuro laughs at their surprised expression. "This Koroki has a nickname, isn't that, right?"
Koroki's lips smack against each other. "Tsk, shut up!" Koroki's top slowly falls off his left shoulder, revealing his chest. Upon his chest full of scars, there seems to be something marked on top of his heart. Majuro focuses his vision, seeing as the marking becomes clearer. His eyes widen as he grins excitedly.
The marking on Koroki's chest is a kanji tattoo:
"臓"
"The "Heartless Demon". A manslayer who fought during the War of the Fallen. Rumors say that he just vanished from the battlefield, not leaving a single trace. Pink hair. Soulless eyes. It's said that they have a red Noye tattooed above their heart. But…there's no mistake. Hehe. I thought I remembered your face from somewhere, Demon. I just thought you died somewhere."
"The War of the Fallen? What is he talking about?" Surata can't comprehend anything that Majuro says. "There's no way! Koroki can't be the Heartless Demon. He's too lazy for that. But then again, I don't know anything about him."
Koroki responds, showing no sign of emotion. "You talk too much for someone who specializes in killing."
Suddenly, Koroki's eyes light up. His pulse rapidly speeds up. His surrounding aura begins to spread, turning into sparks. The hair on Surata's arm stiff up as if Koroki's aura was emanating electricity. To finish things quickly, he activated his Noye.
"Pink?! Hehe. Maybe you aren't him then."
"A pink Noye? Since when did he have a Noye?!" Throughout Surata's time with Koroki, since he moved in, he believed that Koroki didn't have a Noye. He knew that Koroki was powerful, but this is shocking.
Some days while training, he would ask Koroki about Noye. But, every time he asked him, Koroki would always deny or ignore it. Surata didn't think much of his comments since that's how he responds to most things. Maybe he really didn't have it. Maybe Koroki was just like Surata: Noyeless. That's what Surata thought.
Finding someone like him and seeing how strong they are strongly encouraged Surata to train more, refining his determination. However, seeing Koroki now twists Surata's whole understanding of who Koroki is.
"Such… powerful aura." Yorui's body shivers from the aura. The coldness of the aura brushes her skin, giving her goosebumps.
Koroki gazes at his glowing chest. Instinctively, he aims the inside of his scabbard into his chest, pushing it inside his Noye. His body consumes only half of the scabbard as if it is stuck. He slowly pulls out the scabbard. This time, his scabbard looks longer than before.
It is too long to be holstered on his side since it would scrap the floor behind him. However, something seems to appear in his scabbard. Koroki unsheathes this weapon. A dull blade escapes his sheath. A blade longer than most katanas. Its edge is highlighted in a wavy dark red design as its glare reflects the beaming moonlight. The smell of rust lingers around the sword. The blade looks rough, like it has seen its fair share of battle.
Yorui and Surata remain in awe, faces filled with shock and suspense.
Majuro laughs at Koroki's weapon. "A nodachi with a katana sheath? Hehe. Nice weapon. Let's see what you're made of… Demon!"
Koroki's pain seems to fade from his mind, his face dull, fixated on Majuro. A gust of powerful wind blows from Koroki as he quickly vanishes into the wind.
"Wait, where'd he go?" Majuro quickly looks around for Koroki… but is nowhere to be found. His nerves twitch as fear starts to dwell in Majuro, his fear turning into excitement. Hearing the stories of this "demon" and now seeing this "demon" in action can't smear the smile off his face—a manslayer versus a demon. The real battle now begins.
Koroki reappears in front of him, almost teleporting, and aims his blade at Majuro. In one swift attack, the blade pounds Majuro, delivering a fatal blow to his chest.
"What-" He can feel his ribs cracking as he coughs up blood. The impact hits Majuro's nerves, almost knocking him unconscious. The aching pain from the slash feels like a new, sharp blade. If Koroki's blade had been any sharper, Majuro would have been sliced in half.
"I may have been that heartless in the past, but I have a heart to let you live… for her sake," Koroki states, staring dominantly at Majuro, his voice filling with a little sympathy towards Yorui. He steadily sheathes his blade.
Majuro lays on the floor, defeated. Dwelling in pain, his mind clears up like he has just been free from his own torture. His pulsating Noye shuts down, and his heart rate decreases.
Yorui, despite her injuries, runs towards her father. Not even pain can stop her right now.
With clear sound returning to his ears, Majuro hears footsteps approaching him. The steps glide across the ground, crying, carrying sadness and worries. Majuro tilts his head towards the footsteps. Life reverts to his eyes as Yorui runs towards him, dragging herself. The sight of his own daughter takes him back to that day.
___
Majuro is an ex-shikari from the Ikari country. His love for fighting on the battlefield was like no other. His strength and feats made him a powerful threat to the other nations. With his brutal and questionable tactics, Majuro was among the top of his military.
He would get sent to carry solo missions, single-handled killing every enemy spotted, granting him the title "Majuro the Manslayer". As his excitement for fighting grew, his Noye began consuming him. During missions, his Noye would get carried away, slashing anything in his way, even allies.
The people began to see Majuro as a problem. His fellow shikaris grew fearful towards him, and even his leaders saw Majuro as a future threat to his country.
On a clear, sunny day, Majuro rests at home with his family. A young Yorui plays outside with her mom, playing ball. His home is the only place he can be without fighting or using his Noye.
Shatter.
Trying to recover his body from his missions peacefully, Majuro hears glass shattering inside the house. He hears his wife and daughter cheerfully laughing outside, so something must have fallen. Majuro gets up from dozing and decides to check on the noises.
As he approaches the kitchen, he senses multiple unfamiliar auras around the house. Doors slam open, and windows shatter as multiple men dressed in black appear surrounding Majuro. These men stare at Majuro, weapons in hand, their eyes beaming dark red.
Majuro wraps his head around his situation. "Trying to mess with me while it's my day off. Hehe. Guess you don't know who I am. Let me show you."
Majuro activates his Noye, grabbing his sickle, ready to fight. The men ambush him, giving him no time to think. However, Majuro acts like an untamed beast while using his power. Slash after slash, the kitchen starts to be bloodstained, like paint splattering on a black canvas.
During his rampage, his wife begins to hear screaming and furniture moving. "Honey, what's with all the noise?" She drops the ball, her curiosity piques. "Hey, Yorui, give me a second. I'll be right back."
The young Yorui happily nods as she continues to play in the yard.
She goes to check on what's happening. She approaches the kitchen and sees splattered blood across the room. Majuro stands amongst the bodies while facing the other way. She begins to walk towards Majuro, walking past dead bodies scattered on the floor. Majuro senses the presence of someone behind him.
She stretches out her hand toward him. "Honey? Are you ok..."
Slash.
Her body is paralyzed, unable to move. Her stomach feels hot. She tilts her head down and stares at a sickle piercing her body. She coughs up blood, her blood spilling on Majuro's face. Unwary of his actions, Majuro fixates his eyes towards her, recognizing the person he stabbed. Blinded by his Noye, he undoes his power.
"Izumi! What are you doing? I'm so sorry."
Izumi struggles to speak, her blood leaking like a broken pipe. "Why… why… why is this happening?"
"Why did you come inside? I'm so sorry, Izumi!" Majuro can hear reinforcements arriving at the house.
After seeing the dead bodies, Izumi realizes that Majuro didn't do it on purpose. He was simply protecting his family from this attack, but she wasn't aware this was happening. Her lack of fighting shows that. She just got caught in the crossfire. "Majuro. What did… we do wrong? We did… everything right for this country, so… why?"
"Stop talking. I'll take you to a hospital. Everything's going to be okay."
"No, it's not. Listen, I left… Yorui outside. Take her… and leave!"
"I'm not leaving you."
She places her hand on his cheek as he holds her in his arms. "I don't think I'm going to make it."
Majuro's eyes drown in his tears, splashing on his wife's face.
"That's not a face any man should make in front of other people."
"I'm so sorry! Don't leave me."
"Listen, honey, whatever happens to me, promise me… that you will take… of our daughter."
The distinct footsteps grow closer. "I'm sorry."
Reinforcements arrive at the scene. If he takes her to the hospital, he can't protect Yorui. His heart aches with sorrow. He is left with no choice.
Majuro kisses her cheek, firmly hugging his wife one last time. Her eyes lighten up, feeling ecstatic by Majuro's hug. She smiles peacefully, ready to leave the world with no regrets. Her hand slowly slides off his face as she takes her final breath.
"Izu-Izumi? Izumi?" Majuro gently lays her on the floor, blinded by his tears. He pauses for a moment, processing what happened. Hearing the men around him, he reactivates his Noye.
Seeing his wife die by his own hands fogs Majuro's mind. His Noye pulsates, going out of control. He begins to go insane as he goes on a rampage of the men. His cries turn into laughter, enjoying the onslaught, menacingly laughing his sadness away.
With all the ruckus inside, Yorui heads inside the house. She got bored playing alone, so she wanted to find her mom to play tea party. She strolls to the kitchen and stumbles upon the dead bodies and blood in the house. Amongst the dead bodies, she notices her dead mother on the floor, with her father chuckling above the body.
"Mommy?"
Majuro drops his head, gazing at the young Yorui. The face Yorui made that day is burned into his memory, something he will never forget.
Her face back then resembles the same face she is making now.
___
"Why? Why? It's your fault! Why did you leave me, Yorui?" urges Majuro as he stares at Yorui.
His words tug at Yorui's heart. She freezes in place like she is shot in the chest. Being told she betrayed her family is the last thing she wanted to hear. "I didn't leave you!"
Majuro tries to recover himself. "First her, now you! I can't be defeated! I can't, can't lose!" Somehow and someway, Majuro's sheer willpower and frustration gather enough energy to reactivate his Noye.
Koroki notices his futile attempt to fight. "Tsk, he still has the strength to get up. Guess I should've killed him after all…" He casually takes his stance, his Noye pulsating, waiting for his next move.
A voice interrupts their moment, piercing the air. "That's not what we are going to do!"
Just as the voice speaks, Koroki's body rapidly slams into the ground, carving a comedic hole. Everyone present is so absorbed in the battle that they didn't notice this presence until now. They all turn their attention to the voice. This blow and voice feel too familiar to Koroki.
Surata's face lights up again, feeling ecstatic and at rest. "Father! Where were you?"
"Oh. I was just doing a quick errand. I see you took care of Majuro for me." Ishio turns his face to Surata, exposing a sincere smile of gratitude. "Thank you."
Ishio stands behind the grounded Koroki with his calm and gentle demeanor. The impact of his hand colliding with Koroki emits steam from his knuckles like a steamer.
Koroki fixes himself into a sitting position, rubbing his head. "Ouch! Stupid old man. Are you trying to kill me?!"
Being the parent he is to his son, instead of supporting Koroki, he stands there, sneering. Ishio crosses his arms, glancing at him from his side-eye view, responding to Koroki with a smirky comment. "For someone who doesn't like fighting, you sure know how to play with your food."
Majuro's Noye activation consumes all of his energy. But he doesn't have the energy to sustain it. In response to his physical condition, that is his last cry of an attempt to fight back. His Noye shuts off while his body collapses to the ground. His face turns pale as his consciousness slowly fades.
Behind Ishio, Surata can hear handcuffs clanking and heavy walking. Approaching the scene, cops appear from the front door. They make their way to the downed Majuro, holstering their weapons.
"You are under arrest, Majuro." Ishio calmness instantly turns sterner, glaring at Majuro. "Don't try to fight back, or I will be the one to put you down."
The cops turn Majuro on his stomach, cuff him, and then lift his dead weight. Before leaving the scene, Majuro drags his eyes towards Yorui for one final glance. The sight of his daughter exposes a slight smile. His smile freezes on his face as he gets escorted out of the house. The battle is finally over.
The air around them feels lighter. The silence lingers for a moment, processing that peace has been restored.
"It's over. It's finally over," Yorui gasps, with a face full of relief. She wanted this outcome the entire time: no one dies.
Yorui's adrenaline dissipates as her exhaustion and injuries catch up with her, collapsing on her butt.
"Yorui!" Surata shouts, panicking, realizing her condition.
"I'm fine, just really tired."
Accessing the situation, Ishio rushes over to Yorui, analyzing her injuries.
"These injuries are bad! We should treat them!" Ishio leans his head to Surata.
Though Ishio has suggested to treat them, he isn't a professional. His medical skills are mediocre compared to an actual doctor like Nurse Hapi. But, he knows basic first aid and how to bandage wounds.
"Surata, can you still move?"
"Yes, Father."
"Alright, take her to my room so I can treat you both."
"Ok." Without hesitation, Surata limps his way over to Yorui, holding his injured arm. Using his other arm, he puts Yorui's arm over his shoulder. Surprisingly enough, Surata still has the strength to carry Yorui back into the house, let alone walk upstairs to Ishio's room.
While the others are heading inside, Ishio walks over to Koroki, who is still soullessly standing. "Thank you for taking care of the situation, Koroki."
"I really didn't have a choice. This wasn't my fight, but he made it my fight." Koroki's eyes revert to his dark-brownish eyes as his Noye slowly diminishes. His pulse also returns to normal. However, his sword is still intact, sheathed.
Koroki doesn't like to get involved in other family issues. Only family members can be involved in family issues. Other people's problems aren't his problems. That's just his philosophy. It just makes sense. But, when Majuro threatened Surata, it became his issue.
Koroki can't hide his true intentions past Ishio. Despite Koroki's calm and lazy personality, he knows that Koroki wants to help out Yorui. Understanding Koroki's character, Ishio can't help but put on a genuine smile as he stares at Koroki.
"What?"
"You're a good kid, Koroki. Just remember, you aren't the Heartless Demon anymore. You're just Koroki."
"I know." sighs Koroki, looking down as his eyes reminisce about his past.
Afterwards, Koroki lifts his head up. He calmly heads upstairs with his weapon leaned against his shoulders. Ishio follows him, avoiding the damaged furniture and mess created by the fight.
A phase of victory and recovery is underway as they enter the room, and Ishio tends to their injuries. The recent news causes Surata and Yorui's thoughts to dwell around Koroki's identity. But their attention focuses on their injuries before any unnecessary thoughts, waiting for their recovery.
___