Okumura Syndicate

Chapter 57: Overworked?

6 hours later, and Aster was left alone all day, leaving him with nothing but his thoughts. "Why couldn't I defeat him? Why did no one else help me?", a whole array of fleeting moments that haunted him. He missed having Demitris to talk to all day; he may have been a little obsessed with Rou, but at least he could take his mind away from his mistakes.

After what seemed like days, finally he could hear noise coming from down the corridors, footsteps tapping across the mansion halls nearby. Someone opened the door to the infirmary, it was Fleur. The elf girl was covered in bruises and scratches, Aster was shocked at the state of her.

"Seems the way of the sword isn't your thing.", he remarked. Fleur held her breath, trying to ignore his comment. "I'm just here to get some bandages...", she mumbled. Her stance was limped to a great extent and there were drooping bags under her eyes. It was clear to Aster that she had been overworking herself.

"Seriously Fleur, I recommend you get some sleep, you're battered as hell!", Aster declared. Fleur tensed up nervously, "I can't give up...Rou said...", the small girl fell backwards to the ground, but Aster held in the pain of his blisters to catch her.
"Rou said what?! I know my boss more than anyone, and he'd never advise you to overwork yourself, at least to that extent!".

The pink haired elf opened her eyes to Aster's face, she began to feel the tears building up while in his arms. "I...don't need any help...", she cried. Aster's expression was clearly worried, but Fleur didn't want anyone to be concerned for her. "Why do you care that I refuse to sleep until I learn how to fight?!", she blubbered.

"I don't wish pain upon anyone, why don't people understand that?", Aster explained. Fleur cried more, the more she talked to this boy, the more wrong she believed she was. "I-I'll take a break...", she says, still tearful. Aster lifted her up and placed her on the other bed in the infirmary, where she began to fall asleep. He then went back to his own bed, his blisters were irritated after carrying Fleur, but he did what he could.

It wasn't long after that Demitris returned from work, with Rou behind him. When the males noticed Fleur in the bed, they had questions. "Fleur? What's she doing in here?", Demitris pondered. Rou followed on from him, "Indecency? No, that can't be right. Is she okay?". Aster looked at Fleur in the bed to his left, "I think she overworked herself, she looks like she hasn't slept in days.", Aster exclaimed.

"I told her to keep fighting, I hope it's not my fault...", Rou said worriedly. Aster reassured his capo, "I think she's just stubborn, you did nothing wrong Rou.". The blue haired man started to calm down, "Demitris, you said there was a reason you wanted to go down here?", he asked his soldier.

"Yes, I...had something to report to Aster...about work. Could you leave the room Rou?", Demitris uttered. Rou seemed visibly confused, "I don't understand why you need to tell him without me, but go ahead I guess. Rou stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Aster looked briefly at Demitris, "Is this about Viper?", he asked. Demitris sighed and turned away slightly, "Yes, but what I found was a tad...unexpected...", he muttered. "Surely it can't be too pressing than what I've already heard about this clan, I'll hear you out.

Demitris began to tell him what he saw, "At first I couldn't find anything but experiments, but then I decided to clear Viper's desk. There I found pictures of a younger Viper, and this girl. From my own judgement, I'd think that Viper was in love with her.", he took a breath and checked outside for Rou peeking, the coast was clear. "In love you say?", Aster was curious, he needed to know more.