Golden Eyes, Silver Control

He isn't saved

'Chisaki!' Phantom Arrow yelled to Kai. Admittedly, he had been one of the people who'd given up after the first try. And after Nana's death, he wasn't eager to return to the man who killed her. But now? Now he had issues.

Because of Terugo's viruses, Cipher was dying in the hospital. The last thing she said to him was her begging for him to go back and finish what she started.

So that's exactly what he was going to do. 'Y-You can't be here. He'll kill you! Just leave, please!' Kai yelled back.

'12 years... Manticore said that he's been suffering like this for 12 years.' Takahashi thought. He drew back an arrow and aimed for Terugo's arm while he was distracted. 'He's been doing this long enough he has enough bullets to give to his gunslingers.' Phantom Arrow bit his tongue, ignoring the pain of the bullet in his leg.

'I'm not leaving him again Terugo. I am going to keep my promise.' He told the maniac in front of him.'Even if his chances of breaking free of his future with Eri are slim, the least I can do is save his present.'

~

Fatgum walked in, somewhere around 7:00 PM. It's been four hours since Terugo left. Kurono and Chisaki were asleep together on the couch. Chisaki was curled up against Kurono, his breathing was gentle and he looked... Relaxed. Fatgum noticed he was seeing this side of Kai a lot lately. A softer, kinder, more approachable side.

Like with Niki, or the first time he saw Kai with Hari in Tartarus. Or when Hari was allowed to come home with them. Even with Eri, he seemed so... Happy.

He smiled and walked over to the Yakuza, he covered them with a blanket and turned out the lights. He then went to the kitchen and started dinner for them when they woke up. He could hear quiet whimpering coming from Kai, even from the kitchen he could recognize his voice. But the sounds soon stopped, he'd assumed Hari did something to comfort him, even though he was asleep.

Hari seemed to be really good at soothing Kai, keeping him calm. Hari loved him, and Kai loved him back. Anyone could tell. Kai isn't as guarded when Hari's around. He's more relaxed, less hostile.

Fatgum smiled, chopping up vegetables. It made him feel better that Hari was here. He made Kai feel much happier, which is what Toyomitsu wanted. He wanted Kai to feel happy.

But he's been thinking, like a lot. Ever since he saw Kai's first reaction to seeing Terugo. He looked so... Scared, terrified even. He was trembling, and his outburst of just wanting it to be over with. The way Kai clung to Hari for safety and comfort.

So he did some research, and he found a surprising amount of information. Kai had lived with Terugo for 12 years, and in those years Kai was tortured. The same way Eri was tortured. But it was different, Kai was also trained. Trained to hunt, trained to hate heroes, trained to not react to pain, trained to fight, trained to hide his emotions, and most importantly he was trained to kill.

He was pushed to attempt suicide, and Terugo didn't even care. All he said was that Kai had served his purpose and that he could kill himself if he wants. He would've done it too if Hari hadn't stopped him.

He was freed by Phantom Arrow and Cipher. Two pro heroes, both 23. But one's thing for sure.

Kai was free, not saved.