Everything was a blur, maybe it was the tears or maybe because of how exhausted the man eating tiger was. He was at the bridge, he didn't know what bridge now that he thought about it. He looked around, he recognized a few things.
They looked around again then looked down at the cold bluish water, this is where he met Dazai. He thought about it, he was about to end it and disrespect Dazai; He was about to end it where he believed his life truly started.
The man eating tiger stepped down, closer to the river. Was he really going to pollute this water with his sin? He was, he knew it was a pathetic move.
He looked at his reflection, he looked sad and pathetic, his eyes were red and he had dark circles around his eyes. He changed, he had the claws of a tiger. His tiger, he cut at his reflection. He tore the face of it yet it always came back. Of course it did; it was water after all. He hasn't changed, he can't change, he is a monster by nature.
"Just jump, you are the same monster" Atsushi turned even though he didn't need to, he could see the headmaster from the reflection but it just felt right to face his abuser of 18 years.
Atsushi felt scared, no…no he was terrified. He could feel the claws slowly pierce the skin of his palm. Pain for some reason always comforted him, probably because it was the only thing he ever had. Atsushi faced the person who he believed to be the true monster, the headmaster.
The headmaster just stared, so did Shibusawa who was behind the headmaster. They watched with the same eyes, both empty and dead, both the same as he remembered.
He steps back, extending his arms as if creating a cross with his body by lifting his arms. The man eating tiger said,"You guys are the true monsters." He stared at them, not even sure who was speaking. Was that even him? Did he have the guts to say that to his abusers…? He didn't, the man eating tiger realized that it was the tiger. His ability, he took a step back; then another.
He eventually fell back smirking while he slowly fell into the cold embrace of the water.
The very same river that he met his savior, Dazai…I'm sorry. That's all the Man eating tiger could get out once fully engulfed by the water.
It was cold, he was used to it. Was he? He found comfort in the embrace of the water, he always found a weird comfort in pain. Pain was all he ever had, it was the only thing he owned, that was his own.
The cell of the orphanage was always cold, he was used to it but that doesn't mean he liked it. He also didn't like the heat, the pokers that were stabbed into his sides still ached. He didn't like the cold or hot, what did he like?
'You should be grateful for everything we gave you' That was what he heard, but how? He was underwater right? The water forcefully moved him down the river, he wasn't breathing. His lungs burned but he feared the feeling of water in his lungs, he would rather suffocate than die by water. He would win if he did, the bowl of water the headmaster used. The water was always at different temperatures. Sometimes cold or boiling hot, the headmaster didn't care if he screamed.
His lungs burned, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt. Yet he didn't try to get out, if he had to guess 4 minutes had passed. That's a new record. He wanted to breathe but pain was too much, yet he didn't try to get out. Why? What did he do to deserve this? He had been abused since the day of his birth, May 5th. The day a monster was born, he was always told that his parents did horrible things when he was an infant.
What did they do? He felt tired.
Everything went dark yet he still remembers, he is still thinking. His body was just taken by the river, he was limp. He breathed and sank, slowly. Was this it for Atsushi Nakajima? Or number 3? Or even the Weretiger. But no matter the name he is still the man eating tiger. He knew this, so he decided to end his accidental reign of terror. He didn't mean to, he said, he can't control it he said. It wasn't his fault...Until it was, he knew it.
He finally understands. He didn't do it in self defense, no he did it because of...instinct. He was a predator and he knew it. They were just prey, they were weak, the weak didn't deserve to live…right? That was what he was taught, no it was what was beaten into him.
The predator had to die at some point, no matter what. It was the way of life. Yes, he witnessed it. The fall of prey and predators alike.
He finally understands.