The Lantern Bearers

chapter 4: that boy

We locked eyes for a moment, i don't know why. I have always felt weird about someone staring at me, so i always give the same energy back so they'd screw off and leave me alone, but this kid just kept staring. After a moment, i growled and walked on with Yui towards the shop keep and he looked away.

He would suddenly grab at his stomach out the corner of my eye, so i turned my head slightly towards him. He would try and hide it by immediately regaining composure as soon as i turned my head.

I know the feeling of hunger and being poor, so i pretended to drop a can of spaghetti near him as i walked on. I would hear him run over to it and grab it and opening it, chowing down. It was a pull tab, so it was easier for him to open it.

"Is master actually nice?" Yui said, looking at me with a smirk.

"Grrr....just shut up and walk...." i grumbled.

She giggled and followed.

The shopkeep was a big, muscular African man, that looked rough and intimidating as hell. Rumor has it, is that he had seen many raids in his life and had went toe to toe with several gangs before settling down with a family of his own. However, his haven unit was wiped out and he was left with a crippling injury to his legs. The man literally crawled all the way to this haven and was rescued on the brink of death. Now he's wheelchair bound and is a grumpy old fart.

"What brings you in here, snow head?" He grumbled, puffing on a cigar.

"I told you not to call me that, ya old fart!" I growled.

"Even with my legs all busted, i would still beat your scrawny ass for talking to me that way!" He growled.

"Master, we are in need of supplies, please act appropriately!" Yui exclaimed.

We both looked at her.

"And who is this strange woman?" He asked.

"I named her yui, i know she's weird looking, but mind your own business." I said plainly.

Yui puffed out her cheeks all childishly.

"Eh, fair enough. So, what are you wanting to buy?" He asked, thumping his cigar over an ash tray before puffing again.

"I need a new assault rifle, i know you have those babies in stock." I said with anticipation.

He smirked and reached under the counter and placed a rifle on the table. It was the AK-103, a russian assault rifle. These babies use 30-round AB plastic cartridges and are fairly reliable on the field. I've seen some of the patrolmen use these when i pass them on my way to do what i have to do.

"How much are we talkin?" I asked.

"Twenty thousand in cash, three hundred cash per cart, and boxes of fifty bullets are fifty cash, a hundred for a hundred cash, and so on." He explained.

"Frickin murder dude..." i said as i pulled out my wallet.

I had four thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars and thirty seven cents. Sure i can get the rifle, several cartridges, and the bullets, but i had to put food and drink into consideration. Especially now that i have an extra mouth to feed.....

"The rifle, three cartridges, a hundred box, holo scope, the usual canned foods, and three bottles of your finest." I said, putting the right amount on the table.

He would count it up and started giving me what i wanted, bit by bit. For a man that's crippled and old, he is fairly nimble with his wheelchair. He has several types of grabbers, some with hands, mechanical claws, and some are just hooks.