Rose

“I believe we’ve been over this before Jean”
“Oui! You want me to keep him in line!”

“If he ever wisens up, You know what to do!” Belthazar spoke, laying his head on his fist. His head turned and he focused his attention out of the window to his left.

“So I teach ze course and keep ze eye on him sounds good to me” The rotund man nodded, folding his hands and placing them on the table in front of him.

“By the way Jean...How’s the food trade going?” Belthazar leaned back in his chair and gazed at the man before him. “Immigration from the Southern Kingdoms must’ve boosted your sales?”

“Oui Oui! Sales have never been better!”

“Good; that’s good. I’m quite fond of the food you supply”

“Now Belthazar Let me ask? Would you consider this a mission?”

“I guess it could be seen that way,” Belthazar said, chuckling softly. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna have that walking brick wall come with you?”

“If it's a mission I will need to report the outing to Zodiac” Jean-Paul noted rubbing the large ring of fat in between his chin and his neck. “Unless you want that coward out of the way”

“Not worth the trouble to piss him off he’s related to….the Devil”

“Zat is true...I’ll see what I can do about Roxas. But I leave you adieu” Jean-Paul took his leave and bowed to the best of his ability before walking off closing the door with a gentle thud as he left. Silence filled the room that Belthazar occupied, he nodded to himself before standing up and walking to the window beside him. He watched the world below buzz and bustle like all too overworked ants. The light of mighty towers pierced into the indigo night sky, to the left a large highrise connected to a warehouse.

“Omstead Trading and Co.” Next to that was a small marketplace where fruit, vegetables, and other commodities for daily life were bought and sold. Belthazar placed his hands on the windowsill and stared down intently at the world. A soft longing in his eyes, a longing that danced a sultry waltz with unearthly lust. Crash! Glass shards scattered to the ground. A long sigh filled the silence earning a chuckle and a grin from Belthazar. He turned around and gazed at the figure slumped lazily on his couch.

“Jean is gone no need to hide”

“If you say so” The figure responded. Standing up. their head hit the ceiling forcing their spine to arch. “All you A-Ranks live like this?…. Like prison cells” He added. His shoulder-length hair danced in the chill breeze. He stuck his hands in his pockets and continued to try and make small talk that wasn’t going anywhere.

“A guild to the west said you were looking for work….A bodyguard if I re-”

“Yes! Yes yes You remember correctly, Virgil Omstead told me about you and your gift”

“How much are you paying?”

“That’s for me to decide and you to worry over” Belthazar folded his hands behind his back and continued staring out through the window. Every so often he would tap his foot and hum a gentle tune before stopping. “I do believe your name is Estarossa Chikara Hosigakure?”

“Yes sir!”
“Virgil spoke highly of you and your gift...quite the rarity for an old buzzard like him” Belthazar turned around and eyed the man. “…..my! my! my you will make the finest piece on my gameboard” Belthazar nodded to himself, reluctantly he pulled himself away from the window and walked back to the table in the middle of the room. He withdrew his wallet and placed a small wad of cash on the desk. “Your job Estarossa is simple, you stay by my side at all times, if anyone steps out of line they no longer exist do you understand?”

“Understood boss!”

“You start tomorrow meet me here first thing in the morning”

“Sounds good to me” Estarossa gripped the wad of cash. 140,000 Len all in one place, he thumbed through the bills.

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Tossing and turning I just couldn’t find rest. I laid on my back staring at the ceiling a million memories playing in my head.

“Headmaster? I can’t…..Can I?” I rubbed my face and sat up. A sigh escaping me I turned over to the messy state of my ramshackle abode. “I’m only a B-Class, I'm not anything like Hanagaki!” I brought my knees to my chest. “Plus it’s not like I’m actually the headmaster or anything” I groaned and threw my back down against the bed sending a shockwave through the bed. “Wouldn’t hurt to get there early I guess,” I murmured, pulling myself off the bed. Stepping on the cold stone floor a loud crunch broke in the air. I looked down only to be met by a now bent straw hat. I lowered my head and groaned.

“Kin is gonna kill me!” I looked over to the bed again to see the sleeping figure stir and turn over. A relieved smile washed over my face. “He’s still asleep thank Ozy!” I sighed and before I knew it I was ready for the day.

Dressed, fed, and equipped with cigarettes and my wand. I gripped the wooden doorknob and turned once more to gaze at the sleeping body. I smiled and pushed my way through the old wooden door. Let's see what the future holds.

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The cobblestone streets of the market bustled with loud cheerful shouting and the sounds of rattling coins.

“Remember your job Estarossa” Barked Belthazar rudely, shoving his elbow into Estarossa’s side. “There’s a lot of E and F-Rank citizens who want me dead.”

“I didn’t know you wanted me to Kill” Estrasso left a slight chuckle as he uttered the word kill. It danced in the air before hanging around like a haunting chill.

“Do as you please use whatever force you feel is necessary.”

“Never really had a job that let me have Fun before” upon the cobblestone street, the pair walked pushing and shoving their way past and through a mass of bartering bullheaded bastards. Estarossa stuck out like a sore thumb next to such a peculiarly dressed man. Well, for one his gigantic height put him a massive leap above the crowd. From his presentation, his walk, and even his laid-back expression there was not a single thing about him that one could glimpse and say, “Oh yes, that’s normal,” gripping the mangy mess of his indigo hair, he attempted to correct it. He bunched it together before tying it into a small ponytail. “So Virgil talked about me...always knew that son of a gun was watching me!”

“Well, I mean, think Rosy, you trespassed on his land!”
“Eh that is true, but…..I don’t care.”

“They don’t pay you to think; do they”
“No, but you pay me to protect you.”

“Charming!” Belthazar thumbed through fabrics, ranging from elaborate silk, rough fur, and fine linen. The seller gazed at Belthazar. The older man sighed and tapped on the table. He presented a fabric that wasn’t for sale. He tossed it on the table and watched as Belthazar lit up.

“Mr. Okomoto, you can’t be serious, you can’t just give away fabric like this its….its priceless,” Belthazar clutched the finely groomed fur in his hands. He smiled wide, his teeth shining like pearls on an evening coast. He brought his hands to his face and pinched himself. “Guess this isn’t a dream.”

“A little too excited for silk? Aren’t ya?”

“Silk!? My boy, these aren’t just silk; These are fabrics! Not silk, how dare you sully my ears with such talk.” He turned and faced the old man. “Unicore fur is worth more than a human life…..I….I cannot accept this, Mr. Okomoto.”

“You don’t need to; it’s a gift to your father” The old man shot a glare, and Belthazar nodded. He took the fabric and solemnly walked away.

“Your dad?..... Don’t tell me your dad was an E--”

“Silence!” Belthazar shot.

“But that begs the question how does a lowly E-ranker come upon Unicore hair?”

“Keep asking questions and your contract will be null and void”

“Oh you mad I’m prying into your life!?”

“I don’t want to give you that satisfaction”

“Oh boohoo boss man” Estrarossa stuck out his tongue and mocked raising his arms.

Belthazar marched on ahead, he folded his arms and gazed at Estarossa over his shoulder..

His mouth moved but Estrarossa couldn’t make out a single syllable. A static image of a dark-haired man covered in blood standing in a rain-soaked street filled his entire consciousness. The man’s mouth moved. From what could be made out. He said. “You…..a..us..ed thi”

He shook his head and the apparated memory soon disappeared into nothing but a fading glimpse. As Estrarossa returned to reality, Belthazar had already progressed ahead. Walking onwards with the click of an opulent ebony cane. Tick, Tick Tick! Belthazar’s cane rapped against the cobblestone street. It eventually faded into nothing dull sound that was choked out by the boisterous banterings of a busy bazaar. Charging ahead, Estarossa pursued. Dashing against the horribly arranged streets and the odd passerby. Using his arms he shoved, punched, and threw anyone and everyone out of his way.

He ducked into a nearby store and frantically looked around, shoving and manhandling anyone to try and get an answer out of them. Grabbing a man roughly. His fingers digging into the man’s shoulders he added a shake for greater effect.

“Have you seen a man with rosé hair come this way?”

“No! No I haven’t!”

“Don’t you lie to me old man!”

“I...I Hav--Haven’t seen him”

“You better swear on your life and your wallet”
“I swear, I swear!”

“If I find out you lied to me you’re as good as dead”

“Yes Sir!” The man sheepishly replied before being shoved roughly out of the way.

“I don’t have time for this!” Estrarossa roared, running out of the business. His legs pumping against the ground he made a sharp turn down an alleyway. Narrow and grimy and covered in what appeared to be human waste. He trudged onward, only to be unexpectedly grasped by a beggar on the street.

“Spare some Len won’t ya please”
“Here’s two thousand Len” Estrarossa tossed it to the man in a huff before pushing onwards.

“Ozyraith bless you and your kind heart”

“Yeah and has Ozy-whatever blessed you?” Estarossa barked before leaving with haste. After running for what seemed like minutes he wound up back at square one. The old man he gave money to sat beside him and the curving end of the corridor before him. Again he raced on ahead. Yet again turning the corner only brought him back to where he began.

“What the Hell!” Estrarossa roared.

Three hooded figures stepped out from a corner obstructed by shadows. With wands drawn they stepped in unison. The three were made up of a large muscular man with grey hair, a slender lanky man with black hair, and a short man with blue hair.

“Look I know you want out of here….so all you gotta do is give my boys and me some dough and we’ll let you roll on outta here capiche?”

Estarossa held his stomach and laughed and howled. Wiping his eyes he smiled an eerie silence belted through the area. A crushing pressure like standing at the bottom of an ocean. Flooded the area with an oppressive persistent aura. Estrarossa’s face appeared less like that of a human and more of a smiling demon. Cheeks pulled back revealing all his teeth and eyes widened and wild.

He dropped his hands to his sides and chuckled. His laughter slowly fading.

“Sacrificial Lambs!” Estrarossa raised his hands, pointing his fingers they looked like a firearm. The three men took a step back before looking at each other. They all nodded in unison as if saying to themselves.

“Yeah, this guy is bad news” The taller man stepped forward first and followed shortly by the diminutive man with azure locks. Both men raised their wands.

COFFINUS: BLACK MARIA!

SWAMPIUS: MOT’S HOME!

From the taller man came a large puppet armed with an iron maiden for a chest. Black thick strands of rope for hair. Arms made out of curved segments of chain that flailed about. From the smaller mage, a rotting bog of mushrooms and rotting wood sprouted around him, swampy mud trapped and swallowed Estrarossa’s feet. The Puppet; Black Maria wrapped her cold metallic hands around Estarossa. What looked like an embrace was closer than an anaconda coiling itself around its prey to slowly wring their life out like moisture. The Puppet’s chest slowly opened revealing a mouth filled with fangs that shined like silver, glittered like gold but had killing power stronger than any form of steel.

“THIS’LL TEACH YA TO STEP ON OUR TURF!!” The three men yelled in unison. Bang! What sounded like a clap of thunder rang out. The Taller man dropped to the ground face-first dead instantly. His puppet faded away without a sound.

“What was that!”

“It’s called Death!” Estarossa laughed playfully delivering a bone-shattering punch to the short mage’s face. “Something I’d assume muggers were accustomed to” Estarossa placed his fingers against the short mage’s head. “But you’re in my way and I don’t have time to waste playing games” another thunderclap rang out and the shorter mage collapsed. Blood pooling around him. Estarossa arched backward his eyes transfixed towards the heavens. Opening his mouth he let out a long-strained laugh. Not of happiness or wonder. No! A laugh of pure bloodlust wrapped neatly in human form; With one stained hand, he smeared the blood on his face.

“Now if you excuse me! I have a runaway employer to catch”

“H-H-Hey you don’t just get to kill my boys and walk away like nothing happened”

“And what will you do stop me?”

“I...I...I”

“That’s what I thought”

The man stammered and coughed and wheezed. He dropped to the ground blood filling the cracks in the street and running away. A large sword protruding from his back. Stepping over the fresh corpse Belthazar mocked Estarossa turning his nose to the man. He flicked his wrist and the sword disappeared.

“Street fights really Rosey I expected more from you!”

“They trapped themselves in here with me”

“Oh, so you’re a beast now!?”

“No, but they struck first” Estarossa chuckled smugly. “Can’t really say the same about you bossman”

“Oh please they want me dead no matter how you slice it”

“Didn’t really expect cold-hearted murder on your resume”

“And I didn’t expect you to be a cocky little shit too big for his britches”

“Oh? Little shit you say and how old are you, Bossman!”

“....”

“Nah Nah you can’t silence your way outta this!”

“....”

“Oh! you know what boss! We will have this one-sided conversation later”

“Yes, we will because Today is a very important day for the academy” Belthazar cracked a smile, looking up the Academy’s towering great hall came into view. “An important day indeed”