Chapter 129 - AnAn Pt. 1

"And you can be a little less stiff AnAn." There was a small smile as he spoke before he headed towards the back. It had been years of working with each other but she still maintained a stiff personality with him. If he did not know her better he would have assumed she hated him but she was hard at expressing emotions. They had met years ago in when he was still in his early twenties and it was an unexpected encounter. Of all places he had met her it was behind a restaurant near the dumpsters. He was heading out of the building when he heard some loud noises from behind. It was only chance that he had taken the employee exit that time to evade some troublesome people and was immediately drawn into trouble. 

Usually he would just ignore the noise and` leave or at maximum watch from a distance in case of there being information. However, even if he did not want to he had to get involved in the situation. Following the noise he took a quick walk over to the source where he saw a tall sumo build of a man face against what was then the younger Anran. Obviously at the time he didn't know it was and barely realized it was a female till she spoke. Her buzz cut hairstyle with the dim lighting gave off a young boy look rather than young female. He had assumed it was a regular stick up for money but listening into the conversation it was very different. 

"Come on, move." 

"You STAY AWAY from us." It was only after this line did he hear the feminine tone of her voice and had the realization that there were people behind her. It wasn't easy to discern under the streetlights but he saw two little kids holding onto the back of her shirt. They were in rags and scrawny as if the wind could blow them away but their grip was ripping into her shirt. He had to commend the girl for staying strong in front of someone that much larger than her but it made sense if she had someone to protect. 

"I told you, I'll pay you $50 thats more than you have ever seen right? Move while I'm asking nicely and give me the kids behind you."

"MOVE AWAY FROM US YOU PEDOPHILE, WE DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY." Just hearing the frightened tone in her voice he could tell it was not the first time he had approached them. It was actually a lot more common to see these type of predators on the street. They saw children as barters or tools they could use in a free labour or s.e.x.u.a.l sense. Judging by his price and the sleazy voice he felt like it was the latter. 

He was still debating on interrupting since he'd rather not involve himself in business he didn't have to and it wasn't at a point where it needed his intervention. Maybe someone nicer than him would have already jumped in but he knew first hand what a double edged sword it was. What you consider kindness could be the nail in the coffin for them. Say you help them today and the aggressor comes back to them for revenge and it escalates. Or, you help them and create a hope that someone will save them every time. On these streets its best to learn how to adapt versus waiting for some hero or God to save you. No matter how much you pray no one will come and you'll bleed out before you can cry in regret. He hated when his mind became this bitter but this was the reality of things no matter how much he wished it wasn't. 

"Come to me nicely while I'm speaking little girl, I can take you too if I want."

"I'll scream."

"You're testing my patience, move." 

"Over our dead bodies." There was a silent pause after her words before the sumo man lunged at her. Out of no where he saw her jab a glass shard into his stomach but unfortunately it wasn't enough to stop him. The kids behind her were pushed against the wall with her body as shield between them and the sumo man. He was still debating on stepping out of the shadows when he saw her claw his face and stab him again. Her hand was easily torn up from gripping the glass shard so tightly but the pain couldn't be seen on her face. Fighting aggressively the kids behind her were screaming and crying but couldn't move outside her protection circle. The sumo man was fighting on pure anger as his moves became more sloppy and deranged. At this point the man lifted her up off the ground with his hands wrapped around her throat. 

"You should have listened when I spoke nicely, you b*tch! Actually dared to stab me! I will KILL YOU!!" His meaty hands were crushing on her wind pipe while the girl's body was flailing in the air in protest. 'Okay maybe its time...' as he was stepping forward he was shocked in his place by the look in her eyes. Despite being on the verge of death her eyes were that of a cornered beast. The look was so raw and murderous that he even suspected she was older than he had expected. The idea of a teen girl exuding such an aura in the face of death was astounding. 

Checking his surroundings he made sure no one was there before running out to them and attacking the man from behind. He kicked his leg out and knocked his knees bringing the man down to the ground. With a sudden fall his grip on the girl also loosened enough for her to move away. She scooted back quickly coughing but keeping herself in front of the children. 

Disregarding her for that moment he focused on the sumo man in front of him. Kicking him again in the back he pressed his foot on his neck pressing it into the floor. Taking out a gun he kept it ready on the side if he made any sudden movements. 

"Now what's a big old fart like you have to do with these children?"