(Wind Breaker) The Green Rose's Thorns

Part 28

"Hey, what's this?"

"This that girl's kid brother or somethin?"

"What the hell man, you said she came out this way."

A dark alley stretched out ahead, turning sharply toward the street. Bright lights in varying hues didn't quite reach the corner where a young boy was backed into the wall by three much older men. The boy wore a baggy shirt and shorts, with a mask covering his face. His bright eyes darted from one face to the next and back again as they argued.

"Nah, maybe she's wearin' a disguise. Grab 'em," the one who seemed to give the most commands pointed and the other two rushed the boy. They were able to get behind him and hold him up by his arms, his height being just low enough that his feet didn't quite reach the ground when he was held up like that. The third guy approached slowly, and in one smooth motion snatched his hand under the kid's shirt.

"Let go!," the boy shouted, kicking out just as the man's hand squeezed somewhere near his chest. The kick landed, and the man reeled back holding his jaw.

"You little shit!," he lunged forward fist-first. The other two were set on defending their boss, and what followed was a nasty scramble that left blood spattered on the concrete.

"Hey-Oh my god! Are you alright?," another young boy, two years the other's senior, just stepped out through the bar's back door. He was greeted by the sight of two battered bodies slumped into the corner, the third hanging limp from where a much smaller boy had hold of his shirt collar. The boy looked over, eyes wild and bright even in the bad lighting. There was a cloth mask hanging from one ear, and a gnarly toothy grin spread over his face.

"Hey-wait!," the latest arrival reached out too late as the boy bolted. He was gone in an instant, even the shocked shouts from the street dying out well before the older boy could reach the brightly lit road.

"Tsubaki! You shouldn't be out back, and what's this? Did you get into a fight? Are you-Tsubaki?," an older man had heard the commotion and followed Tsubaki out. His deduction skills weren't entirely wrong, but they were almost always just a little off. Tsubaki quickly explained what he saw, then was shepherded back inside so he could leave through the front.

"Tsubaki, what's up?," one of the twins that had recently started following Tsubaki around took one look at his face and blurted that out.

"I saw..someone out back. I'm a little worried. Sorry, but can you guys help me look for them? They're way too young to be running around here at night."

The other two shared a glance at the last part, knowing full well they were also too young to be in this part of town this late. They agreed to help search, and were given a basic description and nothing more. They split up outside, eyes turned up at the low rumble that could be heard under all the other noises of the night. Tsubaki questioned everyone he saw, his inquiries leading him back toward the torii gate that marked the entrance to this district. He shrieked when it started to rain, the drops cold and hard as he ducked into a partially covered alley.

He waited for the rain to stop, or let up, about to give up his search. There was a thud behind him as something toppled over, and he spotted something like a shoe poking out from behind a tumbled pile of discarded boxes. He gingerly stepped over and knelt down in front of what looked like a very young boy. His hair was somewhat damp, and blood trailed from his face and down his neck. There were cuts and bruises along his tattooed arms as well, and his hair clung to the sweat on his forehead.

"Hey, are you okay?," Tsubaki reached out, and the boy grunted an incoherent response. His hand moved, then fell, then shakily rose up to push back on Tsubaki's.

"I'm not here to fight you. It's me, Tsubaki. From Ougi," Tsubaki explained. He had a hunch he knew this boy, and the way he flinched when the bar's name was mentioned all but confirmed his suspicions.

"What do you want?," the battered boy asked. From the way he slurred his words, it seemed likely he was hurt more than he looked. A fat lip under the mask, or worse.

"I can get you home safely. Here," Tsubaki grabbed the boy's hand and went to pull him up. There was much less resistance compared to his earlier move, but the boy was super tense and unsteady on his feet. He clutched his head and fell into Tsubaki's larger frame, then tried to push himself out of the other's arms.

"Here," Tsubaki scooped him up into his arms. The boy gave up his resistance then, and faded in and out as the twins met back up and escorted the pair to a cafe on the other side of town. The twins went ahead once they were sure the coast was clear, to meet up with the cafe's owner and explain what they knew.

"Tsubaki..," the boy had returned to consciousness somewhat, and whispered his rescuer's name.

"Hm?"

"It's a flower. A camelia, it's a pretty bright red. It suits you."

"Huh?," Tsubaki felt his face burning hot despite the chilled rain that fell on the two of them. He nearly dropped his charge, but recovered some of his composure when he realized the boy was out cold again.