"THANK you." he said, a smile spreading across his face as he paid for the tulips.
They were her favorite.
it was a small gesture of love for his mother who was in the hospital.
He walked out, the tulips clutched in his hand and smiled
He hurried towards the hospital and went inside.
He greeted the staff with a quick nod as he passed. his focus was reaching his mother on Room 1225 and took a deep breath before knocking, as he opened the door.
"I'm back, mom-" his words were cut off when he realized that there was a visitor inside.
He was taken aback to see his father standing next to his mother at the other side of the bed dressed in an extravagant suit.
To add to his shock, his step-brother was also present by their side.
Why-
"You're back...Kazuki," his father's voice was stern as he rose from his seat.
Kazuki approached his mother's bedside controlling his anger and almost dropped the flowers.
"Kazuki, I... thought you—"
Kazuki cut his mother off, his voice tight. He strode towards the bed.
He placed them gently on the table beside her, the vibrant colors a stark contrast to the sterile white of the room.
"What are you guys doing here?" he asked, his gaze fixed on them.
His fist clenched, knuckles white. He was calm, his voice steady, but beneath the surface, His inner self was fueling in rage.
"I came here for your mother, Kazuki. What else could it be?" His voice was sharp, laced with authority. "Is this how you greet your father?"
Kazuki narrowed his eyes, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips.
He looked at his father with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, his expression silently asking, "Are you serious?"
"When? Since When did you start acting like one?" He spat back in disbelief.
It was as if he couldn't believe his father's audacity.
"You insolent bastard!" Kiriya, Kazuki's step-brother, snapped, his voice laced with indignation.
"Kazuki!" His mother's voice was a plea, a desperate attempt to stop the escalating of tension.
His father sighed. "Kazuki..I-
But Kazuki was past listening and cut his father off.
"Where were you when we were struggling? when we tried to reach out for your help?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"And You still have the nerve to show yourself here, how thick is that face of yours?"
"KAZUKI!" His step-brother shouted.
His rage simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over, but for his mother's sake, he forced himself to stay calm, to keep his anger in check.
If only he could punch his annoying step-brother's face?
it would be satisfying.
"I won't be staying here for too long." his father stated, his voice devoid of warmth.
"So I need to share with you that your mother entrusted you to me before she passed away."
His mother's eyes widened in shock. She asked him to keep this a secret, and she couldn't believe he'd broken his promise so blatantly.
"Akio!" she scolded, trying to sit up in bed, panicking.
"What's wrong? He'll know about it anyway," his father countered, his gaze cold and dismissive.
"What's there to hide from your son?" He looked at Kazuki, his voice dripping with coldness.
Kazuki felt a wave of shock wash over him, followed by a surge of anger.
"What?" Kazuki couldn't believe what his father said. "...mom?" He looked over his mother he needs to reassurance, that everything was a lie.
The tension in the room was thick and suffocating.
His father passed by and stopped behind him.
"Whether you liked it or not, I'm taking you with me," his father declared, his voice unwavering. "It's your mother's wish."
Kazuki's rage boiled over, directed at the man he saw as a manipulative and selfish bastard.
"Get Out."
"Kazuki-"
"OUT, NOW!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room that jolted both of them in surprise. His father, however, remained stoic.
"Very well," he said, his voice flat."But when the time comes, I expect no defiance from you. I wouldn't need to force you to come with us."
With those words, his father turned and left the room, followed by Kiriya, who shot him a glare before going out of the room.
The door slammed shut, leaving Kazuki alone with his anger.
He stared at the closed door, his fist clenched and his face was contorted with rage.
Kazuki glanced at his mother before turning away and walked out of the room.
"Kazuki!" His mother called out, desperately.
The door slammed and he was already gone, leaving her mother in tears.
___________________________
KAZUSHIGE arrived at the hospital and as soon as he arrive.
He spotted Kazuki storming out of the hospital and he recognized him instantly, the uneasiness he felt earlier, came back...
He was about to approached when Kazuki's phone buzzed, Kazushige .
"Hello?"
[KAZUKI! How are you? How's auntie?!] A girl's voice can be heard at the end of the line.
'Are they... relatives? Is she.. the girl?'
"Hinata? Oh, mom's fine as usual.." He sighed.
[Aww! I really wanted to go there and take care of her too, but I have many things to do! I'm so sorry Kazu!] The girl replied, apologetic.
"No, no, it's fine, you can visit me the other day, Hinata, take care.." Kazuki ended the call.
He was about to approach Kazuki
When a woman suddenly rushed towards him and smacked him.
His eyes suddenly widened, when he saw the girl from earlier that was chasing Kazuki.
"AHHHH!! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU FUCKTARD-" Kazuki immediately glanced behind him only to be met with another blow to his stomach.
'Pfft...'
"I found you, you fucking bitch! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have landed on that kid and had those people saying harsh things about me!" She spat.
"And are you serious? It wasn't a sorry! Are you kidding me!?" She replied angrily. "You reckless bastards needs to be taught a lesson. "
The girl rolled her sleeves up while looking furious at Kazuki.
But her eyebrows furrowed when he was just staring at her.
"HEY! are you listening!? Are you deaf!? Do I have to..."
As she was about to strike again, a sudden intrusion startled her, she whipped her head and saw a man wearing a fedora hat and trenchcoat, holding her wrists tightly.
The man was tall and he towered over her.
"Is it truly possible to seek an apology while simultaneously inflicting harm? It seems like a contradiction."
He glared down at her and Kazuki snapped out of his realizatiom he stepped froward and grabbed his arm, shoving him back with a force.
"This isn't your fucking business so don't interfere!" He replied, glaring at the man.
'Is this guy an idiot? Tch '
"I'm just helping out."
"I don't need that shit!"
The man stayed silent and stared at him and his frown deepened.
"Who are you anyways? You just appeared out of nowhere, are you a beggar? Doesn't look like shit, but get lost you dumbass!" He shouted.
Before things could get things out of control, the girl stepped in front of Kazuki.
Her hand reaching out and grip his arm gently. "I.. I'm fine!" she replied, her voice trembling.
"I'm so sorry. I... I shouldn't have approached you like that. I was just... furious. Earlier, I bumped into a kid while chasing you, and... and... I shouldn't have blamed you. My emotions got the best of me. I'm so sorry!"
She bowed deeply, her head lowered in a gesture of sincere apology.
Their gazes met, and in that brief moment, Kazushige saw the genuine remorse in her eyes, while looking at Kazuki. He knew she was truly sorry.
But...
'Why is she in such a rush?'
"I...I have to go, I'm truly sorry for everything."
She took a step back and turned her back on them. "Hey wait!"
Kazushige's eyes widened, but before he could stop her, she sprinted and past by him.
"Hey! Miss, wait- oh, fuck! Damn it."
As Kazuki turned to him, he clenched his fist and his anger was simmering. "Spit it out. What the hell do you want?" He demanded.
The man went silent and shifted his gaze at him for a moment
'is this guy always this mad?'
He sighed, before speaking.
"Listen, this isn't a scam. I'm from an organization that deals with supernatural beings. I saw you both earlier and I know you have it. The cursed object, its either the world will be in danger OR you're going to hand it to me right now. " Kazushige replied.
Kazuki's jaw slighy opened as he stared at him, incredulously.
He couldn't believe that a guy like him would just show up out of nowhere and said that he's from a 'supernatural organization' BLA BLA BLA BLA!
Kazushige knows it, who would even believe him? Only a crazy meth-man would.
He failed to deliver his lines well and he knows his suck at it. Damn it.
Then suddenly, Kazuki burst into laughter.
"What the fuck are you talking about, Willis? you crazy? The hospital's right behind me, you need a head check." Kazuki refrained himself from bursting into laughter. "And there's no such thing as that, ya know? The news? It's a 50-50, no one believes in supernatural unless you're crazy."
Kazushige frowned and his irritation flared. "I'm serious! hand it over!" He took his phone out just to show him but Kazuki shook his head.
"Hand over what? Dude, you're fucking crazy! There's no such thing as an object you're describing, did you do meth? I did a year ago but I stopped when mother was sent to hospital."
He grinned, Kazuki still has the proud look on his face that made him stop and jaw dropped.
'Meth!? He got to be fucking kidding me!?'
Kazuki chuckled and cleared his throat. "Listen, sicko, I don't know what you're talking about, if you need money I cannot lend you any to fix that head of yours! just go and begged in the streets if you need to, survival is your responsibility, this world is full of cruel place, but you don't look like a beggar or shit, you smell nice, but ya know you shouldn't approach me in this manner especially without body guards with ya." He replied.
Kazushige was unfazed by the situation, he knew that Kazuki was up to something the moment he clenched his fist.
"There's a CCTV camera," kazushige warned, his voice low and urgent.
Kazuki just smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I know and this is a hospital."
Both of their gazes met. "I'd call my lawyer for a tough cakewalk." He smirked.
Kazuki suddenly lunged forward,
He was surprised that the man was quicker. He caught Kazuki's fist and his other hand clamped around Kazuki's neck.
Kazuki with his free arms punched his gut with surprising force.
"Augh!"
The man loosed his grip loosening and stumbled back from Kazuki, but he managed to regain his balance and glared at him.
"You're pretty tough."
He immediately charged and attacked Kazuki with his fist. Kazuki immediately dodged and retaliated with a punch on his face.
The man dodged his blow with lightning speed, much to Kazuki's surprise, the man didn't just evade,
But he crouched low, striking a swift, brutal blow to Kazuki's groin.
"AHH!"
A sharp gasp escaped Kazuki's lips as his fist connected his groin hard enough to almost break his poor balls.
He stumbled back, clutching at his groin, his face contorted in pain and disbelief.
He hadn't expected such a low blow, and it sent him down the ground.
"T---you fucking cheated! ITS NOT FAIR!"
he barked, his eyes dilated and his face was pale. "You fucking bastard! You almost shattered my balls!"
The man stared at him coldly. "I play dirty for the sake of keeping the world safe, you played like this is a game but this isn't a game, kid." He replied.
"I don't care how you feel or whatever, I just want you to give it back to me, I knew you have it and I'll show it—
Kazuki surged forward with a blur of motion.
Kazushige was caught off guard and barely had time to react as Kazuki's fist slammed into his gut with force.
A gasp of pain ripped from Kazushige's lips as he stumbled back.
His hand clutched his stomach, but managed to stay on his feet.
"That hurts...you bastard" Kazuki snarled.
Kazushige took his phone out and showed him a picture of the box, Kazuki looked at the screen. "Just look at this; you fucking idiot! This is what I'm talking about!"
Kazuki approached and leaned forward to look at his screen, his face frowned.
"This, This box contained Arachael's flesh," the man replied, his voice low and urgent.
"But there were more other boxes out there, but Arachael was a fallen angel one of the Watchers who corrupted humanity." He paused, his eyes fixed on Kazuki.
"And this... this is what remains of him, There are other boxes that contains every fallen angel's flesh, the first we have was Araziel , but this.. this is the second box, we should subdue this immediately before it could fall into the wrong hands again."
_________________________
'WHAT the fucking hell...'
Kazuki stared at the screen and a shiver run down his spine. He suddenly felt uneasy and a wave of nausea washed over him.
"You're... you're saying this is a piece of a fallen angel?" Kazuki stammered, he was shocked. "So.. the news.. those eyewitnesses and drawings they're fucking real?!"
Kazushige nodded grimly. "And It's not just any piece. This is the source of his power, the essence of his corruption and yes, the news was real!"
It's a danger to everyone, especially those who are susceptible to its influence." He gestured towards the box. "It's a curse, alright if you don't have the object then..."
Kazushige paused for a moment, looking at Kazuki with realization...
'So...both Kazuki and that woman are my clues!'
"you must know someone who has it? I know you have! and we can't waste out time here, they must be in danger!"
'someone who had— ' then Kazuki realized.
'wait-Holy shit!'
"Fuck!" He cursed. Kazuki looked back at him, his face was serious.
"I knew it, my friend has that thing. She showed it to me yesterday, but she refused to let me touch it, saying she found it all herself!" Kazuki winced.
"Where does she live? Then, we should go by now!" He replied.
"Now we have to move before something else happens to your friend, now come, follow me, tell me the address!"
He didn't wait for Kazuki to follow, he was determined to get that box back before anything could happen!
"Argh! Fine!" Kazuki groaned.
He trailed behind Kazushige in his black sedan and slid into the driver's seat,
Kazuki followed, slipping into the passenger seat as they droved away from the hospital.