Reforged Bond (Part 2)

Surata paces down the stairs and heads towards the front door. He walks past Koroki as he approaches the door. Being fixated on finding the right channel, Koroki hears Surata putting his shoes on while watching television.

"Hey, we ran out of popsicles. Make sure to buy more!" Koroki reminds him.

Surata replies nonchalantly, "Yeah, yeah, I won't forget."

"Banana, please."

Rolling his eyes, Surata responds, "Alright! I get it!"

With that settled, Surata slips his shoes on and heads out.

___

Moments after Surata leaves, Koroki hears a distant noise, unable to recognize the source. He lowers the volume of the television to listen to the sound more clearly.

"Koroki!"

That word sends a shiver down Koroki's spine. It feels like being caught red-handed by a strict parent, even though he hasn't done anything wrong... well, at least he hopes not. The last person he ever wants to upset suddenly yells his name.

Knowing he didn't do anything to annoy him, Koroki slowly heads upstairs, wondering why he was being summoned. Upon arriving, Koroki unenthusiastically walks inside Ishio's room, stepping on the scattered crumbled paper, and covering his yawn.

"You called me Ishio?"

Ishio, wearing a gentle smile, kindly says, "I thought I already told you; just call me dad. Anyways, can you train Surata today?"

Koroki looks around the room, feeling a sense of unease. "What? Why can't you do it? You don't seem busy with anything important."

"This is… important."

“…”

The conversation didn't seem to be going anywhere. This is starting to feel like a stalemate. Neither person seems to want to train Surata. Ishio looks preoccupied, and Koroki lacks the energy to do it.

“Um… yeah…Sorry, I can't. I just remembered there's a new episode of– "

Slam.

Before Koroki can finish his sentence, Ishio swiftly stands up, wearing the same smile, and punches Koroki in the head. The rumbling from Koroki face-planting the floor caused the room to shake slightly. 

Watching it from afar, it looks like Ishio would kill Koroki with that powerful attack. That's to be expected. If a strike like that had any murderous intent behind it, it could have seriously injured someone. Luckily for Koroki, there wasn't any.

Koroki struggles to get up after face-planting the floor. "Ouch… is this your way of showing tough love?" He kneels on the floor, supporting himself with his arms.

This was always their relationship. Surata respects his father highly, while Koroki respects Ishio… differently. Koroki knows Ishio's "tough love" differs from most parents, but it somehow feels like home. His strikes would always catch Koroki off guard. Koroki would constantly receive a hit this hard… quite often. However, all those beatings made him a little more durable for Ishio's future "love" attacks.

Ignoring Koroki's comment, Ishio asks, "What were your plans, Koroki?"

Despite his twisted smile, he slowly lifts a clenched fist, almost threatening Koroki.

In a terrified tone, Koroki replies, "Umm, to help Surata train, of course."

"Oh, that's great." Ishio lowers his clenched fist, dispersing the threatening aura in the room. "While you're at it, could you also help Surata with the groceries?"

"Yes, sir," Koroki responds, his fear still visible in his eyes.

Just how does someone who arrived with murderous intent become this scared? Koroki can try to take a stance and fight back, but he would probably lose.

"Oh, thank you, Koroki. I always knew you were such a kind person," Ishio sarcastically remarks, patting Koroki's shoulders.

Mumbling under his breath, "Stupid old man."

Hearing his words clearly, Ishio playfully replies, "Hmm? What did you say?"

Fearfully, Koroki flees the room, saying, "Nothing, I'll get ready!"

___

As night approaches, Surata finally manages to grab groceries for dinner. "Wow, the line was so long!" He checks the time on his watch while having his hands full of grocery bags.

"Oh no! It's going to be night soon. I have to get home soon."

He tries to hurry home, realizing he can't run to his full extent with the grocery bags slapping his legs constantly; he grabs the groceries towards his chest. Running through an alley is probably his best bet. As he takes the shortcut through the alley, he trips on something, causing his groceries to scatter and leaving a huge mess.

"Ouch. No, the groceries! I have to hurry and make dinner. Everyone is probably starving by now. And I don't even want to know what Koroki will say."

Surata quickly tries to pick up his groceries and notices the melted ice cream on the ground. While trying to salvage what is left in the carton, his hands suddenly get stomped on. The weight of the boot was too heavy for Surata to move. He looks up to see the person stepping on him is a grown man. Behind the man is his two partners.

"Oh. I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there," sarcastically says the man. The other men joined in, laughing at Surata.

With the cockiness in their voices, it sounds like this isn't their first time doing this, and Surata begins to understand the situation he has found himself in. These adults, with personalities that match their dirty appearances, surround Surata, blocking every exit.

He would have had a better chance if he wasn't blindsided. But he knows he does not stand a chance with these thugs unless he uses his true power- if he awakens it.

Struggling to look around, Surata begins to see their outfits. He notices small cross-shaped tattoos on their arms. Surata's shock leaks out as he nervously asks, "Are you guys from Ikari?"

"Uh? What's it to you?"

The Ikari clan is one of the three most powerful clans in the world. They are known for violence and involvement in the War of the Fallen. They were the main reason the war started… at least, that's what people say.

Ignoring Surata, one of the men responds, "So what if we are?"

Suddenly, their eyes and tattoos light up simultaneously and change from their natural color to a bright red color. Surata feels the strong aura emanating from them, leaving him almost paralyzed in fear. Did they get stronger? This must be… Noye.

"This is the same feeling I felt before… when I first met Koroki."

This is a perfect time to fight back before things get ugly. Usually, someone will come to help him in these situations, like in all stories. But there is no sign of Prince Charming coming to save the day.

"Get him, guys!"

Surprisingly, the boot stomping on Surata's hand loosens up enough for him to react. He uses his legs and trips the men, then stands up and delivers multiple jabs to the three men. Things are looking good for him since they caught them off guard. Unfortunately, he doesn't put up much of a fight.

"Are their attacks getting stronger?"

How can a powerless, average person ever defeat someone with special abilities? It's biologically impossible. After receiving multiple powerful blows, the men take Surata away, knocking him unconscious and leaving behind the scattered groceries.

___

Meanwhile, Koroki calmly makes his way toward the grocery store, both arms clasped behind his head, expecting to find Surata there.

"Surata's taking a long time just to get groceries. There must be a huge sale or something. Hopefully, the sale includes my ice cream."

Before arriving at the store, Koroki steps on some liquid[DR2] near an alley. He follows the trail that leads into the alley. He sees a bag of groceries on the floor. "Who would leave their bag on the floor-"?

Surrounding the bag, he notices spots of somewhat fresh blood. He realizes that the trail he was following came from these melted popsicles. With that in mind, he stands over the bag, face-palming, realizing who the bag's owner is.

"You have to be kidding me."

__

Hours after the kidnapping, Surata slowly regains consciousness and finds himself strapped to a chair in a dark, unfamiliar building. The lightbulb shining above him barely covers part of the building. Without sunlight, he tries to look around the place. 

After finding no windows and rusted railings, he realizes he is in an abandoned warehouse. He is in trouble, as this is starting to feel like an interrogation scene. However, there doesn't seem to be a good cop anywhere.

The thugs begin to taunt them. "Why the surprised look, Surata?"

"Wait…Surata? How do you know my-"

"How do I know you? The question is, how do we not know you, Surata Aoi? You're the son of the great Ishio Aoi, who controls this country. It would be rude if we didn't know you. However, I didn't expect to see the Aoi family stoop so low."

"What do you want from me?"

"Oh, that's easy. We just want to use you as a bargaining chip. That way, we can get back to our normal lives."

"A bargaining chip? I didn't realize I'm that valuable."

With their serious yet cocky smirks, Surata can tell that they are serious. But his country is the most peaceful, so what is he bargaining for?

"So, if we just use this brat to negotiate, then we can go back home and regain our status?" says one of the thugs.

"Probably. A chance like this rarely happens. Now, we can finally make it up to him. Too bad Arji got caught," replies another.

Arji? Surata starts to remember where he heard that name from. After a few moments, he manages to connect the dots. These guys are the same escapees from earlier. With that thought, Surata realizes his situation just got worse.

The thugs kick Surata's chair to the floor and laugh at his helplessness. "Your family is feared as one of the three great families in this country. But there's been word that you are still struggling to awaken your Noye. 

Usually, people would have unlocked it by now. If the son of the great Ishio can't control his power, then maybe your father isn't as strong as people say he is. Maybe we can take him out!" As they laugh at Surata, they continuously stomp on him.

"He's right. I should've been able to unlock my Noye by now. Everyone my age has already awakened theirs, so why can't I? Is it because I haven't trained hard enough? Or is it because I'm just weak and powerless? What can I do to get power?" Surata's pain turns into frustration. 

"Why… why can't I be as good as my father or as gifted as Koroki? But all Koroki ever does is sit around. I don't know what happened to him before I met him. He doesn't like to talk about his past much; I don't even think Father knows about him either. What is Koroki exactly? Who is he?"

While enduring the beatdown, Surata hopes this living hell will somehow end. But then… 

Clang.

Surata overhears the sounds of men screaming from another room.

"What was that noise?" asks the thug leader. "One of you, go check it out."

Suddenly, the large metal door blasts.

This isn't the kind of thing Surata was expecting, but this can create an opening. If only he could somehow untie himself from those ropes, he could have a heroic comeback.

A shadowy figure slowly appears at the entrance, slamming the metal door open. Powerful wind bursts from the doorway, causing metal scraps that broke off the door to scatter around the room. The sunlight from the colossal doorway shines on the figure's back, temporarily blinding the thugs. The mysterious figure begins speaking in a severe and monotone voice.

"So, here's a question. Why are three lowly thugs bullying a poor kid?"

"Who's there?" The confused thugs try to understand the situation.

The shadow swiftly moves behind them before they can get a closer look at the figure's face.

"Does it really take three grown adults just to beat up a kid?" the figure taunts.

The thugs are so stunned by the figure's speed that the other two thugs collapse beside the shadow. One of them is still standing, surprised. He must be the leader of this group. The other thugs stand up and try to confront the figure. The figure has a male figure with Cherry-pink wavy hair, wearing a navy-blue jacket with some markings.

The group leader chuckles, "I didn't expect that, kid. You've got some nerve. But adding one more kid isn't going to make a difference. What's one more kid going to d-"

The thugs look up at the figure's face, cutting themselves off, revealing its dark, soulless eyes. The thugs tremble with fear, feeling the enormous aura it has.

Laying on his side, Surata stares at the figure, wondering what will happen to him. He can't seem to get a full grasp of his situation. With no way to defend himself, hopefully, the mysterious person doesn't see him and lets him live. 

Trying to compensate for his uncomfortable position, Surata squints his eyes, gradually realizing the mysterious person's identity.

"Wait a minute…Koroki!?"

"You guys talk way too much," Koroki complains, resting his hand on his neck and cracking it. "Since you guys keep talking about power, let me show you some real power!"

"Teach this kid a lesson!"

The thug's eyes and tattoos simultaneously glow a bright red color. While illuminating, the thugs extend their hands toward their tattoos. Their hands begin sinking into their tattoos like they're entering a pond.

"What are they doing? I've never seen this?" Since this is a peaceful country, Surata doesn't get the chance to see these abilities. The only other time he had seen this was during that downtown attack. Despite being in a dire situation, he couldn't stop his excitement.

The thugs' hands slowly emerge from their tattoos, pulling a unique weapon out. Their aura exponentially intensifies.

"Oh, so you guys can use Noye? Then I can enjoy this even more!" exclaims Koroki. "If only I had brought my sword, this would be fairer. I didn't think I would need to bring a sword to a grocery store." Koroki finds a metal pipe on the floor, using it as his weapon of choice.

Unfazed by the disadvantage, Koroki begins to brawl with the thugs. Surata is left to watch the fight sideways, hearing their swords clanging. The thugs desperately try to defeat Koroki, but their efforts are futile.

The frustrated thugs become irritated as Koroki effortlessly beats them up. Their weapons can't reach him. They notice that Koroki is managing to survive this fight without using Noye. Looking around his body, they can't find a tattoo anywhere.

"How are you this strong without using your Noye? Where is your marking? Have you ever unlocked your Noye?" the leader confusingly asks.

"Huh? Why do you care?" Koroki replies with no sympathy in his voice.

The thugs realize they don't stand a chance. The thugs quickly try to escape the fight and linger in the distance, dragging themselves away. "We will remember this!"

"Idiots will always be idiots." Koroki chuckles.

Looking back at Surata, Koroki couldn't hold his laughter. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it." The embarrassment from this is too overwhelming for Surata. He knows he could have done something but didn't. Koroki looks around to find something sharp enough to break the rope.

"Thanks, Koroki!" Surata exclaims with a grateful smile. "Sorry about the popsicle."

As annoyed as Koroki is about his spilled ice cream, he helps Surata and replies, "It's fine. You can always get more. But seriously, how did you let those guys do that to you? They were so weak."

"They were weak?" Surata asks himself in disbelief.

Seeing how battered Surata is, Koroki decides to help walk him home, putting Surata's arm around his neck.

___

As they walk back home, the flashback resurfaces in Koroki's mind. This time, the flashback starts with Koroki's mom continuing her conversation with him. He finally remembers his mother's words.

"Hey, Koroki. Can you promise me something?"

"What is it, Mom?"

"I'm sure you'll make some friends in the future. And when you do, promise me something. Make sure… to protect them."

As the flashback fades, Koroki smiles, "I promise, Mom."

"Hey, since your dad is busy, I'll help you train today," offers Koroki.

"Did Father force you to?"

"Yea, but we should still aim to get stronger. And by 'we, I mean you."

Surata playfully whines, "Hey! The last time you trained me, you slept outside and randomly woke up to scream at me."

"At least I was doing my job."

"That's why you'll never get a girlfriend," teases Surata.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

They laugh at each other's banter as they continue their journey home. Thinking back to when they first met, Surata believed it was nearly impossible for him and Koroki to get along. But now, maybe it isn't so bad after all. Perhaps this is what having a brother is like. Surata smiles at that thought.

"Hey, Surata. I'll train with you. I promise."

Surata's eyes grow larger, surprised that Koroki will put his energy into something for once. Surata chuckles and replies, "I'll hold you to that."

___