Cloudy Days

Chapter 3

"Well... I would say that was another job well done." Said Yarso while stretching on the couch in their living room. Qualo sat on the chair next to it. Both were made of the same fabric.

"True, except for that woman you let escape." Said Qualo annoyingly

"I did not let here escape! I would never jeopardize the mission for a pretty girl." Yarso's face grew red. Even with his haughtiness and apathy for a situation these jobs always mattered to him. Not just because there his only source of income after what happened before. But also since this shows that he is doing something productive... far from morals but productive nonetheless.

Qualo glared at him, showing no empathy for his brother's feelings. He has already done these type of things before. Yarso read the words right from his face and was sort of regretful of what he said.

"Alright I know there were times were I wasn't focusing but all of those happened two years ago and you know it."

He lost his anger and gained pride in himself. He did have a tendency to procrastinate, even at work, either through eating, sleeping, or at times talking to some pretty girl next by.

"True... but their outcomes really screwed us up and I still can't forget the things you did at those jobs, especially that one time two years ago."

Yarso's pride was invaded and taken over by regret once more, he felt its cheer in his stomach, a sour bitter feeling growling. He remembered that deal they made with a powerful gun warlord in the north. There have been very few gun lords in the city after the ban spheres were in place, making it much easier to monopolize the gun industry and being able to give much more of its products to the populace. Even with the ban spheres over the city it only helps with people who exit and enter the city. If it's made inside then the sphere is deemed ineffective but the guns made inside aren't of high quality.

"But do you still remember what he said Qualo? What we had to do to get in this business of his?"

"Yes... I still remember." Qualo felt the same growling regret in his stomach.

"And I will never forget how you just accepted it. As if it were nothing!"

"It was the only way we could have gotten out of that hellhole in the first place!" Qualo yelled

There was a bitter silence for a moment, Qualo stared down at Yarso and he the same. It was like yin and yang, opposites with a shard of each in the other. Resisting the completeness of both sides for their sake of understanding one another. A peace that they have but only at times.

Yarso looked at the clock at the far end of the room and looked back at his brother, still frustrated at his defiance.

"Well Qualo I guess I'll just leave for now."

"To where?"

Yarso shrugged and said. "I dunno I'll just find some joint to eat in or just take a walk in the park."

Yarso started for the door, grabbing a coat from the hanger and left closing the door behind him. Qualo stuttered to let out something but saw there was no point, he would let it all out eventually. And the same went for Qualo. 

He sat on the couch leaning his head back and remembering that time. Out of all the things he has been through that time might have been the one he remembered the best. It was midday that day and they were in the main chamber room of the gun lord of the Northern district.

"You two have done quite well in your training exercises with my men." The gun lord said with an evil grin spread wide on his face.

He remembered the procedure to get in his sort of mafia. Anyone who is worthy of joining would need to fight in his underground arena. They must first battle 8 amateurs in both sword and gun combat, 6 rookies, 3 regular guards' men, and one of the many champions amongst the arena. 

The arena was a combination of a maze and an open field made specifically for sword and gun combat. It was a long and bloody battle for both of them, they were pierced and shot from all sides and grew more tired with every match. Qualo remembered himself at the time. Blood was dripping from him like water from rain, there were too many close calls with both swords and guns. 

The same went for Yarso, who was probably more battle worn than his older brother. He used his inscribed dagger for most of the enemies and cut through them without mercy. The worst came from the champion, he was 6 feet tall with bulging muscles who held a large light machine gun in one hand and a great sword in the other. Most of the time they had to dodge his attacks until Yarso came from behind him and stabbed his dagger through his neck with it appearing completely on the other side. 

After he fell to the ground with a loud thump they both stood all bloody and tired, staring at the obese gun lord sitting on his custom made throne of gold made from a vast array of guns gleaming from behind him showing their nozzles.

"Well you did it you two. You even killed one of my champions, it has been so very long since the last one died by... oh yeah, old age. So you two must be something out of the ordinary and with that... you can join my crew."

The crowd roared with cheer as they threw flowers and money at the two of them who simply stood there with closed eyes and grim smiles on their faces, hoping all the blood would drip to the floor.

"But..." Said the gun lord and the whole crowd went in silence. Yarso and Qualo opened their eyes and their smiles squirmed into frowns.

"I did enjoy how you killed most of my men with just a simple dagger uh..."

"Yarso sir."

"Yarso... it was really a great feat, your dagger went through their bodies even better than any gun I've had."

"Thank you sir." Yarso would have felt relaxed if the gun lord hadn't said 'but' in the beginning. There was a feeling of uneasiness in him and he kept his reflexes on high alert and of course Qualo did too.

"And that dagger you have... it has some inscriptions on it am I right?"

"Yes"

"Those inscriptions do seem very important to a man of my standards, perhaps you can give it to me in exchange for a high rank amongst my crew."

Yarso was abashed at the decision, this dagger was all that was left of his mother and father, after the incident that occurred. He would never let it go especially to the likes of him.

"No I cannot sir, this dagger means far too much to me." He said without fear corrupting him. If He survived his arena than he can stand up to his decisions.

"Oh... well then, how about I told you that you can't join my crew unless... YOU GIVE THAT DAGGER!!!" The last few words echoed across the arena. 

"Yarso think about this, do you want this opportunity to go to waste?" said Qualo, silently telling his younger brother.

"If it means giving the last memory of our parents then yes and you should know that too!"

"Of course I know that! Who the hell do you think of me as!? I'm just saying that we should give it to him now and see if we can form a coup against him, after which we can get it back and rule most of the northern district. Think of the opportunities."

Yarso's expression tensed up. Qualo never saw him this angry before. I shouldn't have said that.