A figure could be seen running and jumping on rooftops while looking backward from time to time.
He looked ahead of him and a smile filled his face when he saw that there were only two buildings left on his his path of escape. He focused his attention ahead of him and stopped looking backward. He wouldn't need to be bothered about that guy if he manages to be successful in his escape plan, and leaves this place.
He could see the last rooftop he needed to run across to leave those people behind, and there was a sudden burst of joy in his heart.
He had almost reached the rooftop when a thought of his pursuer popped up in his head. He was scared but also reassured immediately when he thought of how he had almost succeeded in his escape, he had nothing to be scared of, so he turned to look backward one last time before he left Back-Water street, the home of his pursuers, but he was horrified when he did so -The person he'd just thought of was silently staring at him with cold emotionless eyes that seemed to shake the spirit of anyone who looks at them.
He was shaken to his core as he stared dreadfully at the only obstacle in his path of escape, and freedom.
"One..." He almost stuttered.
One casually got up from the rooftop where he sat and smiled lightly at the person before him. "How have you been, brother Three? Are you out on a stroll? That's very selfish of you not to tell your beloved brother to go out on a stroll with you, brother Three."
Three was shaken to the very core when he heard those words. He bowed his head for a few seconds and sighed. "I wish it was as simple as going out on a stroll, little brother, but it is more than that; a whole lot more than that my brother. Tell me; why are you here brother?"
One became serious, he glared at Three. "What is this foolish thing you are trying to do, brother Three? Why don't you stop it here and now, and come back with me?"
Three's body shook so much he looked like he was epileptic. "No!"
"The family needs you, brother. Come back with me beother and forget this act of cowardice, I've talked with father about you, he just wants you back home; there would be no punishments meted out to you."
Three laughed when he heard those words.
One was confused when he saw Three laughing. "Why are you laughing, brother?"
Three continued laughing. "You are usually very smart, brother, how did you suddenly become dumb?"
One sat down on the the roof again. "What do you mean, brother Three? You couldn't have said that without a reason right? Tell me, I'd like to know your reason for saying that."
Three became serious, his face expressionless. "You and I know that I'm trying to escape, and according to the laws of our family; that is treason. Our father's daughter was killed by his very self when she tried to escape, so what is your guarantee that I'm not going to be killed, brother One?
I may be not be harmed by them in your presence since they want to keep their guise up, but what would happen to me when you are not there? They'd kill me, and tell you that I've been sent to another city on a mission, like they did to Fifteen, Thirteen, Nineteen, and many others who tried to escape from their clutch."
One's face became murderous. "What nonsense are you spouting now, brother Three? Isn't it enough that you are trying to commit treason by running away? Why are you adding another crime to the list?"
Three shook his head slightly. "Yeah, that's how the truth always turns out be in people's ears most times, treason." He turned his back to One. "There are many means to connect with our brothers and sisters outside Back-Water city, and I'm certain as hell that you must have tried to have a chat with Thirteen, right? Tell me, have you been able to connect to him since he was 'sent' on a mission?"
One's eyes widened immediately. He stood up abruptly and glared at Three. He shut his eyes and was silent for a long time.
Three did not say a word again, he silently stared at One as he shut his eyes and processed the words he had just heard.
One shook his head lightly to the side and opened his eyes. He sighed and held out his katana, which was still in it's scabbard. "I thought we could still save you, brother Three, but you've gone all the way down track and fail to see your errors still."
Three laughed lowly. "Don't worry little bro, I'm a lost cause anyway you see me. I'm just a little sad."
One perked his head slightly to the side. "About what?"
Three lowered his head. "About you, working for people you call your family as a killing machine, people who could possibly have murdered your parents, our parents, and told us that we were homeless, picked from orphanage homes when we were possibly adopted after they murdered our parents. They made us believe that we had no parents, no guardian, but is that true? What if we were from important families? What if we weren't picked from orphanage homes like they made us believe? What if they wiped out our memories after they adopted us and planted lies in our heads, our minds, our hearts?"
Tears dropped from his eyes while Three spoke.
Three turned to face him. "I am not trying to convince you, let it be your food for thought; this could be a mirage, an illusion you need to wake up from. Try to find out who you really are, V."
One shut his eyes for a long time after hearing those words. He finally opened his eyes after a long time passed, and he looked extremely calm when he did. He took slow steps forward. "Draw your sword, big brother, let us talk with our swords now. I'll let you go if you can defeat me here."
Three sighed, and walked forward. "I've never raised my sword against you before, but that's alright. I want to see how much you've grown these few years past."
Three untied his sword belt from his waist and unsheathed his sword. One still hadn't unsheathed his katana, but it was raised.
Three laughed. "Careful now little brother, I'm coming!"
One stood without a word and waited for him. He muttered a few words to himself when Three was almost upon him. "May my weapon cure this raging heart and free his soul from torment, till we meet on the other side."
Three reached him in an instant, but there was no clash of weapon as would have been expected, there was only a short silence.
"Sigh, you've grown so much my little brother, that's... Great... To see. I'm... Just... Sad... That... I won't... Be...here to... Watch your back... Take care... Little V."
Tears dropped from Three's eyes as he held onto One's shoulders. A katana stuck out from the back of his chest, One's katana.
One shed tears silently. His heart was torn as he stared at Three. "Let's go home now big brother."
He withdrew his katana, and Three fell on him. He caught him and carried him on his shoulder. He looked into the sky, at the clear, bright, shimmering moonlight and sighed, then he started walking away, back home to make his plans.