Bound By You

||Chapter 6||

I wasn't really a guy who gave gifts. I wasn't sure I had ever bought a gift for another human being, any being for that matter. I stared idly at the an isle of chocolates and teddy bears within the hospital gift shop, and felt the anxiety and confusion deposit a heap load of stress to my system. I had arrived at the shop aiming to find a gift that stated 'thank you for taking care of me for seven years, sorry I was a tyrant my whole stay and made you get shot,' yet I could find nothing that would convey that very message.

Feeling my frustration get the better of me I picked up a bag of Chiroru chocolates and proceeded to pay for the item.

The hospital cashier looked solemn and bored as she scanned the assorted goods.

Beep...beep...beep.

The rhythmic scanning of the barcode of the product reminded me of something else.

Beep...beep...beep.

I couldn't put my finger on it. I couldn't decipher what memory my mind was conjuring up.

Beep...beep...beep.

Thud...thud...thud.

The rhythmic beating of flesh. The slapping of skin as it is hammered with the force of a bare fist.

Blood is everywhere. I feel it more than I see it. The thick substance slips and drips off of my pores as it drenches my face. The strong metallic odour of blood penetrates my nose, and I almost like it.

Thud...thud...thud.

I punch and punch my pound of flesh, hurting and hurting whoever I please. I am hurting a man, I want him dead. Dead, finished. I want his heart to cease its consistent beating, I want his eyes to bug out from the pressure penetrated to his skull. I want him dead, and soon he will be.

"Sir, that will be 20 yen. That's 20 yen," the cashier barked in my face.

I blinked rapidly, understanding where I was. I felt momentarily disoriented as I wordlessly handed over the cash to the disgruntled employee.

'What the hell was that?' I thought aimlessly.

I pondered over the thought, linking the events to the shoot-out at the warehouse. 'Was it a memory of myself?'

I shook off the thought, even I could not be such a sadistic monster to enjoy the stench of blood. But even as I walked down the dim halls of the hospital, I couldn't completely rid myself of the sick sensation emanating from my stomach.

***

It had been the third day of Uncle regaining consciousness, and it was the day I would be finally leaving Kuroitoshi. My bags of meager items were packed and all set into Saiko's SUV. With minor information about my location I was somewhat ready for my departure.

Saiko had informed that I would be staying in Shiroimachi. Shiroimachi was a city in the far east, known to house the richest and most respected scumbags of Japan. Shiroimachi was at least a gruelling 12 hour drive from Kuroitoshi. The distance was welcoming, but more relenting that I was far from Uncle. I hadn't wanted to admit even to myself, that I would miss the old man. But a sense of guilt and belonging kept my desire to stay at Kuroitoshi very adamant.

Saiko was a tad more welcoming with his information as he stated that I would be hosted by the Takahashi family, at one of their many business homes. The Takahashi family owned most of Shiroimachi's industrial welfare and were very lucrative from their stock exchanges. All in all I was staying with rich people. The mere thought of not staying in my mould infested apartment should be very appealing, yet all in all this meant I would have to be leaving Uncle.