To Be A Scrapper (Suzuya Juuzou)

Chapter 15

"You could've done better. So much better than that," Mama shook her head as she towered above me, my figure slowly shrinking under her glare.

My breathing was erratic as I tried to regain it, my head spinning and vision blurring. I clutched my wounded shoulder, blood seeping from between my fingers and gathering in a pool on the floor. My heart was beating so fast it hurt every time it crashed against my chest. I took a shaky breath before opening my mouth.

"T-They were... just too many," I said between pants, my voice hoarse.

"Does it look like I care?"

"B-But Mama, I... I killed them all!"

"Yes you did. But your work was sloppy. It was almost disturbing to watch."

I let my eyes scan through the open field of Mama's training grounds, looking over bodies and bodies of bloody corpses that littered the floor.

"I don't... I-I don't understand, I-"

I finally felt my knees giving out as I crashed to the ground on all fours, the pool of blood staining my hands and legs. I closed my eyes tightly as my expression morphed into one of pure agony.

"I-I thought... B-But you were smiling... There w-were fifty of them!" I gasped, clenching my fists and digging my nails into the earth under me. My breathing became even more unstable as my chest started to jump.

I suddenly felt the air inside me leaving my body all at once as something crashed against my ribcage. I was flung mercilessly through the air and crashed a few feet away. My eyes slowly cracked open and I caught sight of the familiar figure that stood with his leg still in the air. His piercing red eyes bore no emotion as he looked down at me.

"By the time Rei was eleven he could do seventy without a scratch on him," Mama answered, a smirk adorning her features.

"B-But I'm... I'm not Rei," I whispered.

"I don't like it when you're on the ground. Get up, you look pitiful, " this time the words came from Rei's mouth. I looked up at him. Despite his emotionless stare, I knew he was saying it for the better.

I took a deep breath before letting a small, barely there smirk appear on my lips.

Only you, Rei.

I shakily brought my weight to my knees, pushing myself up into a crouching position. Only then did I feel my smirk dropping at the sight of the two people standing before me. Mama's intense glare was enough to make me feel ten times smaller, adding Rei's monotone one, I felt like an ant in a valley of giants.

The leaves crunching under Mama's feet were the only thing I focused on as she made her way towards me, an indecipherable look on her face. My gaze dropped to the ground as I stood up.

"How well do you think you did today?"

"I don't know."

"Don't make me repeat myself," she growled, inching closer to me and grabbing my chin, raising my head up to look at her.

"I-It doesn't really matter, does it? In the end, I-I'll still get my surprise..." I said, a small laugh escaping my throat as a burning feeling invaded my body. My fingers shook at my sides as the blood from my shoulder trickled down them.

"You're very smart, my little doll," she smirked wide. "It's a real shame you can't get your work done right."

"I-I'm sorry Mama. I promise next time I'll do better," I whispered.

I felt her hands leaving my head as she pushed me back. I didn't have the energy to regain my balance, so I just tumbled to the ground.

"I guarantee you'll do so much better. If you value your life, that is," she said before crouching and throwing a hard punch at my stomach. I coughed in pain as the air left my lungs once again, clenching my eyes shut.