The Road to Darkness

Case 4: The Pain of Love

The next two days I was forced to stay at home and let my wounds heal. I decided the best way to spend my time would be to work on clearing files on my laptop, getting things tidy around the apartment and going out for some groceries. I let out a sigh on my way to the store from boredom and want to get back to work. I passed by a playground and saw some kids getting bullied by a few teens.

I continued to walk, watching if they were going to do anything. The teens seemed to want the other kid's ball but they wouldn't give it. I saw them arguing and soon one of the teens pushed a kid down and took the ball. I didn't care much and was about to cross the street but one of the little boys tried to get the ball back and was tripped before they began kicking him.

They wouldn't stop and kept kicking him over and over. The others wanted to help but were too scared. The biggest one, about fourteen maybe, then lifted him up and started pounding him over and over.

After three solid hits, the teen lined up another one, aiming for the steam of blood ruining down the child's nose.

He swung forward with all his might but his fist didn't follow. By the time he noticed it was too late.

"Aren't you a little old to be playing with six-year-olds?" I asked, pushing his arm deeper into his shoulder blade.

A few grunts and flinches later the teen released the boy and I loosened my grip.

He quickly ripped his hand away and spun around, looking me square in the eyes before rubbing his hand and walking away.

"Thank you, mister" the kid sniffled, blood still leaking from his nose.

"Yeah, no problem just be careful okay ki-!" I looked at the kid and noticed it was the little girl that was caught by the criminal the other day.

"Hey your Mr. Ushio!" the kid shouted, coming to the same conclusion as me. The other kids then gathered around me and all thanked me.

"No, no, no, I was just doing my job but I really do appreciate your gift, it was very nice, um....Molly, right?" I said, putting on a smile.

I saw the kids eyes sparkle as she bounced up and down. "Really?!" the little girl screamed. "We hoped you liked it! We picked it out because that's what the cops wear on TV, right?"

"Yeah we do....sometimes" I agreed, laughing. I grab a handkerchief from my pocket and began cleaning her up. "Well back in the 90's that is," I said to myself.

I gave her the rag to hold her nose while the bleeding stops and checked to see if any further damage was done but luckily she was fine.

"Well I better get going, I have-" I stopped myself. "...Hey kids, how about I take you out for some ice cream?"

They all cheered in unison and followed me in a heartbeat. On our way, I learned more about the five kids. Molly was the daughter of a family who owned the bookstore down the street. She liked reading about stories with animals in them but claimed she started reading more mystery thrillers because of me.

"Do you really beat up criminals and save the world from bombs and rescue all the orphans and hostages?" she bombarded me with questions.

"No, my job isn't that glamorous, a lot of the time it gets pretty tough..." I lingered on, forgetting I was talking to kids.

"Of course I never let evil triumph! As long as I'm around, you won't have to worry okay?" I snapped out of it, trying to lift the children's spirits.

"You must live on the edge all the time, right, Mr. Ushio?" a chubby boy asked.

"Yeah, like the guys in the action movies!" another boy commented, slightly taller, but just as fat.

"You must get into a lot of car chases, right?" A thin boy asked.