Keys // Nicolas Brown

Act. 5 Tags' Final Strike

Not knowing who 'Nic Nic' was, I stared at her. Realizing that the man was still standing there, I turned, only to see him gone.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" I sat down on the bed beside her.

"He probably thinks I'm dead," she mumbled, sitting up, leaning against the wall. "That's what he was told to do, which is what I don't understand. He thinks that he really did kill me that day, but when he attacked me, he made sure that I was able to live after the attack. That's what I just don't get, did he want me alive?"

"What?" I was completely lost as she kept talking, ignoring my presence. "Mo-"

"And he kept the red ribbon I gave him, in fact, he tied it around his sword. I'm sure he still has it. Does he know I'm alive? I won-"

"MOM, SHUT UP!" I shook her shoulders until her eyes focused onto me.

"MY BABY!" She squeezed me in her arms. "I missed you," she cooed, cradling me back and forth.

"Y/N and Dou- I see you both are alright and doing well," big mama walked in, sighing at us.

"Better than ever," Y/N stretched.

"Don't give me that," she smacked Y/N's head, causing her to wince at the pain. "See, how many times have you been warned to keep it still between the tags and keys?! You better be handing those tags over to gran the second I let you go!" She scolded as Y/N hung her head low. "Do you know how bad of an attack this one was?! Be more careful, you clumsy fool. You're such a hot mess," she sighed. "I invite you over to lay back and relax, then you pull this sorta stunt."

"Oops," Y/N chuckled, standing up and following big mama out the room.

Walking behind them, we went down the stairs, and big mama and Y/N chatted together for a bit before we turned our ways. As Y/N and I were walking out, big mama called out after us.

"And darling," big mama raised her voice to grab Y/N's attention. "Next time you come, you gotta give my people a show, dance," she grinned, turning her gaze to me. "And bring your babe along as well, I'm sure he can be just as entertaining since he's been trained by the best," winking, she waved at us.

"You got it, mama," Y/N laughed, throwing her head back before wrapping an arm around me and turning towards the door, her keys bouncing with each step.

Every time we came here, all eyes would follow Y/N. It's like everywhere we went, she would catch people's eyes. Everything about her mesmerized everyone, the men especially would be more than excited over her arrival.

Rolling my eyes, we stepped towards the door when I felt people watching us, and with an intense stare that stood out from the rest. Right as we stepped out the door, I turned my head to the side, seeing a group of three people staring. There were two men, around Y/N's age, maybe a few years older. Then there was a woman, around my age, probably a few years older as well.

But that wasn't what I found eerie.

In the group, there was the same man who was in our room before, watching us.

And the strangest thing of all?

He had a sword with a red ribbon tied around it.

"Doug," Y/N called out as I had frozen in my spot, staring at the group.

"Y-yeah, I'm coming," I stepped forward as Y/N's eyebrow twitched.

"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOUR MORON SELF NOT TO STARE AT PEOPLE?!" She pulled my ear, dragging me out as I whined. "Don't you learn?" She scolded as we walked out.

"I do, I do," I sighed in relief as she let my ear go.

"I have to find some people and my best bet would be that they would be here in Ergastulum," Y/N muttered under her breath as she kicked a rock.

"Who? A group of people?"

She turned to look at me with glazed over eyes.

"Yeah, they're a group now," she spoke so lightly as though the wind might just blow her away. "They were a duo, but seems like they've gotten a new addition lately," she chuckled, but there was no humor present.

"So exactly three people?"

"Yeah, that's how they are now," she sighed.

"They're people you know, so their age has to be near yours," I suggested.

"You got that right. The two men are only a few years above me. Blondie is three years older, then Nic is two, which leaves a one year gap between the two of them," she laughed.

"Two men? What? Is the third person a woman?" I shoved my hands in my pockets as we walked along the streets, Y/N's body giving me warmth as she held me close.

"Bingo! Around your age from the looks of it, but four years older than you," she patted my head. "Which reminds me that we have to plan a grand party for your 21st birthday!" She cheered, nuzzling her face against my own. "Hmm, then she would be three years older than you. OH, AND YOU COULD DRINK ALCOHOL!!" She exclaimed, grabbing onto me. "You must take care of your health!" She smiled, bombarding me with kisses.

I became hyperaware of the answers all seeming to point at the strange group in big mama's place that was staring at us.

Y/N couldn't mean them, right?

I'm genuinely fond of the storyline the anime has and the characters in general as well