Zero Hero ||MHA||

33. Hero Killer

The figure in front of Ryusaki was pale as a ghost, whose dark sockets under his eyes were like deep shadows. His cheekbones formed craters on his face with strands of black hair brushed against them. He was smiling and it reminded him of the past. If only Kiyoshi had listened to him and left that life, maybe things would be different.

"You attacked a city, experimented on civilians, kidnapped my children, and now, you've dragged me on top of the lab. You're out of your goddamn mind."

Kiyoshi sighed, shaking his head sadly. "I just wanted to see you again, Ryu. Is that too selfish to ask for?"

"I don't want to fucking see you! You murdered my son and hurt my daughter!"

Ryusaki's knuckles smashed into his cheek. It felt good. Kiyoshi staggered backward with blood trickling down his nose. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief and calmly wiped the blood off.

"She's not your daughter. She never was and never will be."

"Then I can say the same about him, right?"

  The cunning twinkle in his eyes morphed into a black void. All emotion fell from Kiyoshi's face.

"You really  think I thought of him as a father? He was never my father. He was my master—nothing more nothing less. As his son, you ought to know how the yakuza works. But what can I expect of somebody who abandoned his duties? You broke the code and betrayed us."

Ryusaki marched up and grabbed the collar of his shirt, the veins in his fists pulsating with rage.

"I don't care if I broke the code, Kiyoshi. That code was full of shit anyway."

"You try so hard, don't you? To leave and forget Venom's Bane. But it doesn't matter how many people you save or how great of a cop you are. You can never erase your crimes or your past. Unlike you, I don't try to deny it," Kiyoshi said, poison in each syllable. "You'll always be a weak, filthy, unwanted, orphaned gangster."

A sharp blade nipped Ryusaki's chest, soaking his uniform with warm blood. He jumped away and held up his fists, preparing to fight Kiyoshi for the last time.

"You're a disgrace to Venom's Bane and its legacy. You disgust me," Kiyoshi said, marching over. More blades of bone grew from his arm. "I won't kill you, not yet, at least. I'll make you watch as I slaughter Rin, your sister, and everyone else that's here!"

»»————-　　————-««

I burst through the doors of the rooftop. Dad was on the ground, kneeling. My chest warmed seeing the blood on Dad's shirt knowing that it was Kiyoshi's doing. Focusing onto Kiyoshi, who stood in front of him, memories flooded: Kiyoshi speaking to me inside my cell, the sounds of his blade ripping through Hiro's flesh, his fists pounding at Corvade, and the bloody grin he wore right before he disappeared.

"It's his own damn fault he's dead! He risked it all just to save somebody who's not his real sister!"

"Rin. Furutani. You made it," Kiyoshi said. He wiped the dust off his blazer casually. "Do you know why I created Crimson Eclipse?"

Furutani positioned herself in front of me, but I stepped away. I walked towards him.

"I really don't care. I don't care that you're trying to get revenge either," I bitterly replied.

He raised an eyebrow, glancing at Dad. "Oh? Did you and Suka tell her everything? It's not right to tell people's secrets."

"Like you would know anything about morals."