The smell of raw tender meat lingers into the revolting air.
The town was overcrowded with people purchasing bread and cloths from merchants; the Thursday afternoon - where mothers needs to provide after-school lunch for their children - longed for the scorching heat to simmer away to allow the angelical breeze to coat their way in.
"Come now! 4 fresh fish for 20 pence! 4 fresh fish for 20 pence!" The butcher repeated as the flies nibble their way through the succulent flesh that laid dead on the wooded slab. People looks at the fish before walking away, some occasionally purchasing it to make fish soup for their husband that were either working or having a afternoon drinks with their workers. In front of the butchers stand, there was a shop that sells household tools such as hammers and pickaxes. It was a shop were strong men would go too, spying out all the equipment's that they'll need to repair their houses or even at work. The owner was a middle age man, his scruffy long black hair that hang over his left eye to which the back flows down to his neck. He looked younger than the typical men that comes to the shop and claims to be older to which they'd be shocked they're the same age. This time was no different.
A man - who looks to be late 30s, early 40s - bellowed at the owner as he slams his scarred fist onto the counter. The owner just glances at his face before looking at the counter.
"Sorry sir, if you break the counter you'll have to pay for damages-"
"Shut up and give me what I want! Don't expect me to pay full price for this shit service, where's your father anyway? He needs to teach you how to respect your customers!"
It was usual for the fathers to own the shop, making their own sons to take care of the whole service and cleaning while they just slack off, drinking booze with their fellow friends.
"My father doesn't run this shop sir, if you can kindly leave this shop so I can serve those who actually want to make a purchase. Not someone who is attempting to steal from my shop"
"Who are you to-"
"You have 10 second sir before I call the sheriff.
"Pff, what is a young boy like you gonna do? They won't take you seriously!" The man started to laugh to himself
"I think you're mistaken, I'm alot older than you think, and you now have 5 second left."
"What a lie!"
The owner sighed, obviously looking fed up at this situation. He took out a device from his pocket, ready to alert the sheriff.
"Wow you really got the balls, but I won't let you tattle on me over a damn wrench!" The aggressive man tighten his grip on the owner. "Now if you'd just drop the device and get me what I want-"
"Are you done here? I want to make a purchase." Another voice rang out behind those two. The aggressive man looks behind him, seeing a man, similar age to him, standing there.
"Is he troubling you, Fuji?" The mysterious man asked the owner. The mysterious man was wearing a black cloak which covered his hair and half of his face. He was wearing black baggy trousers along with some nice shoe over his feet.
"A bit yeah" Fuji replied. "He attempted to steal and is whining because I caught him." Fuji told the mysterious man as he rips his arms off the aggressive man.
"Stop with those fibs!" The aggressive man lied through his teeth, "You're just trying to paint me in a-"
"Whatever." The mysterious man interrupted. "Just listen to him and go, my schedule is quite tight."
"No! Not until he gives me what I want!" The aggressive man whined pathetically.
The mysterious man just sighed, barging through the aggressive man and leans on the table.
"I'm here to collect what I ordered a few days ago. Hope its still in stock?"
"Yes it is. Give me a moment."
Fuji went to pick up something under the counter. While this was happening, the aggressive man took this opportunity to grab another wrench that was placed on the side of the counter, shoving it into his pocket as he attempts to run out of the shop.
Suddenly, the aggressive man stopped in his tracks.
Just as he was about to reach for the door, the mysterious man stood in front of it, his foot digging into the aggressive man stomach.
"Seriously? You got caught stealing and had the chance to get away scot free, yet you're attempting it again?"
The aggressive man growled in anger, closing his hands into a fist as he strikes at the mysterious man's face.
"Get out of my way!"
The aggressive man knew the consequences of those who attempts to steals. On their first attempts to which they get caught, their hands get beaten and scarred until it bled to which they dug salt into the wounds. Second attempts results to their hands that was used to commit the acted being burned by virgin oil. If that doesn't stop them, then the third attempts will end with both hands being chopped off by a rusty axe. Desperately, The aggressive mane tried to knock the mysterious man unconscious in order to get away safely. However, the mysterious man managed to move his head to the right before the fist connected to his face, the fist punching a hole through the wooden door.
"You're paying for that!" Fuji shouted, getting annoyed at this situation.
The mysterious man sighed, grabbing the aggressive man by his clothes and slamming him onto the wall, pricing his purple eyes into his. The aggressive man eyes widen, no longer was he aggressive but now shaken.
The mysterious man flesh starts glowing; dusts disintegrating of his body which looks like spells and symbols.
"Stealing and now attacking a Prince, that's a killable offense you don't know?"
"B-but-" The aggressive man shuttered, "W-What is the Oda family doing in a place like here?!"
"You have no need to worry, you'll be dead in no time so no use wasting my breath~"
"No!" He cried "No please! I don't want to die! Especially not by the royal curse!!" The aggressive man looked frightened, pleading the mysterious man to save his life.
The mysterious man pierce his purple eyes into the aggressive man before loosening his grip.
"Drop the wrench and leave."
The aggressive man immediately does what he was told and left the shop, frightened for his life. The mysterious man flesh starts to return to his normal bright skin tone as he went to faced Fuji.
"Sorry for quite the mess."
"No worries, Akuma. Here's the item you requested." Fuji said as he scurried towards Akuma, holding a box in both hands. It was quite a medium size box made out of wood which has a lock. Only accessible by the master key.
"Thank you" Akuma smiled, retrieving the box of Fuji.
"Thank you for scaring him to leave. He was becoming a pain to deal with." Fuji sighed. "Fucking hate people like him."
"No worries." Akuma smiled, "You busy in the evening? If not, we could have a few drinks."
"That'll be great," Fuji nodded "Would 2 past sunset be alright?"
"That's great." Akuma nodded, "Thank you for the gift. I'll be heading off now."
"Alright, goodbye Akuma" Fuji waved as he went to sit back on his stool, awaiting for another customer.
Akuma nodded, leaving the shop while he puts his hood up again. He looks down at the box, the smell of rust lingering quite faintly from it. He put the box into his cloak and started to head off while the heart that laid in the box no longer beats its rhythm.
