Daffodils and Hyacinths (3rd book in the Forgotten Truths series)

10. ONE FOR ONE

~Myeong-Jun~

Kawasumi walks towards Ken'ichi, knowing that if she took care of him, then I would follow her. I quickly push Ken'ichi back, and block Kawasumi from going further.

Kawasumi takes out her own weapon, one of the many weapons she had used to kill others. She didn't look pleased to see me. "Surrender now, Myeong-Jun." Kawasumi threatens me in a commanding voice, "Or else I'll kill everyone in this resident."

"If you continue killing everyone, wouldn't you just entitle yourself as a murderer? It's not like you're already one though." I smirk in reply, "Haven't you done more killing than me?"

Kawasumi twitches at my response. She walks closer to me, and I prepare myself for combat. Kawasumi then whips out a gun, and points it at Mus's head. She fires three warning shots close to Mus. I don't know why she did so, but she did.

"I've seen you before, boy." She remarks, and seems to forget about me for a second, "I'm sure Queen Edge would be happy to see you."

Both Hebe and Mus were completely shocked at how fast this all happened and turned. Hebe's strange eyes were glued onto the gun. She looked as though she had endured some pains with a gun before.

Mus, once seeing the state Hebe was in stepped forward. He lightly shook her hand out of his. The boy showed mighty courage for someone his age. He faced Kawasumi, only trembling slightly.

"Take me then," He mumbled, rather surprisingly, "Take me, and leave them."

Hebe frantically breaks from whatever trace she was just in. "No! Stop, he's just a kid,"

Ah, and there it was. Another weakness easily displayed, when someone close goes forward as a sacrifice. Acting in these rash ways are always a fowl move; already lined up and destined for failure.

Kawasumi, who I guess had forgotten about me, walked towards Mus, with the gun pointing forwards. "How bold of you," She states, "sacrificing yourself for the sake of others. I like people like you, but I don't like fugitives such as Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi. A huge bounty lays on the heads of Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi. Choose, yourself or the fugitives. However, even if you sacrifice yourself, people will still be after Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi. Everyone is desperate nowadays. So, choose now, boy."

Sick of listening to Kawasumi ramble on, I threw the knife at her head, and took out the blade I used before to kill Edge's guard. Kawasumi noticed the knife coming towards her, and simply stepped out of the way. She fired a gunshot towards me, and my attempt to block it failed. The bullet hit me in my right leg, and I lost my stance. I'm such an idiot. I really messed up. If only I didn't-

My thoughts were interrupted by the searing pain coming from my bleeding leg. My head spun a bit. I felt dizzy.

"Stop it!" Hebe cried; her hands flew to her ears, "Leave her alone! Leave him alone — Please, just stop,"

At the same time she said this, Mus took one glance at Myeong-Jun's wound, and blurted out: "Y— yes, just take me,"

Pressure and harsh experiences make for rash decisions. Mus just sold away his fate, for fugitives. He put people he had only known, for only a few days, ahead of someone who was basically his sister, and himself.