Chapter 886 Trauma Came Back



As far as Ritsuka remembered, the Yamada family was always go-getters. From the moment they came to America, his ancestors always strived for a better life, education and opportunities. 

Ritsuka's ancestors had great luck in business. They became integrated members in society and their family wealth rose. 

Ritsuka's parents were always busy. They had five children but were rarely home. It was lonely for Ritsuka. His siblings were all autonomous. They lived their lives like Mom and Dad were never here. They greeted their parents when they did show up and even set up time to hangout with them. 

For a long time, Ritsuka wondered how his family could do that. "That's just how it is, Ritsuka." His eldest sister, Rumiko said. "Dad has to take care of the businesses while Mom works with Capitol City to make it a safe place."

Ryu, Rumiko, Jiro, Sumiko, and Ritsuka. Ritsuka was the fifth child - the baby - of the family. Rumiko and Jiro often babied him. They wanted their baby brother to enjoy life and not worry so much about the affair of others. 

Rumiko patted her little brother's back and smiled.

"It's okay to miss people." Rumiko told him. "But you gotta do your part and our parents have to do their part." Ritsuka wasn't buying that speech this time. She sighed when her brother turned away. He was already throwing fits. A sign that came after they moved across the city, taking the young kid's friends away from him. 

Ritsuka eventually found new people to hangout with. He eventually didn't throw many fits, but one night would eventually come and wake him up from the peace he knew. 

Ritsuka had decided to stay out til nighttime without telling anyone. His phone blew up as he walked down the neighborhood road towards his home. 

It was quiet and his siblings weren't blowing up his phone anymore. He checked the time and noticed it was close to midnight. He wondered if Jiro or Sumiko would skin him alive or not.

'Jiro spammed me with texts earlier and now he isn't.' Ritsuka thought. He entered through the front gates that weren't locked in place. 'Strange, did someone leave it unlocked for me? They shouldn't have done that. I can get in with biometrics. Ah it's probably a slip up.' he brushed it off and licked the gate. The house was completely dark when Ritsuka climbed the winding driveway. 

Ritsuka didn't question why it was completely dark inside. After all, he did stay out late with some middle school friends. He wanted to show off to them and they had successfully bought into his training. 

Ritsuka grabbed the door and noticed it was opened. Another strange occurrence that normally never happened. He pushed it open and stepped inside. He closed the door and slipped his shoes off before flicking the light on. 

The home was a mess. Everything was flipped and clutter that was once inside drawers were now spilled all over the floor. A red and black stain was left on the pristine carpet. 

'Wh-what happened here?' Ritsuka thought. That's when he heard it. He heard a scream. It was Jiro. Ritsuka's body froze. He wanted to know if Jiro was fine but his body didn't want to move. 

"Argh!" A strange man grunted as he slammed onto the ground in front of Ritsuka and slid to Ritsuka's right. Footsteps ran and Jiro appeared with his soul sword in his hand. He pointed it at the man, restraining him with a binding spell he managed to learn from Ryu. 

Before Ritsuka could call his brother's name out, another man appeared and grabbed Ritsuka. Ritsuka jumped in his skin as the man wrapped his dirty hands all over him. Jiro immediately turned and realized what was going on. The fear in his brother's face was something that would be imprinted in him for all time. 

"Give me what I want before I kill this kid." The man demanded. Jiro squeezed his hand around the hilt of his blade. "Give me what I want and we can go our separate ways." Jiro's face was contorted with anger and fear. He wanted to get rid of this guy as soon as possible, but Ritsuka was in front of him. 

Jiro's face was enough for Drisuka to snap out of it. The middle schooler bit the man's dirty hands and stomped on his foot, causing so much pain. Ritsuka ripped from the man, who cursed in a language unknown to him and made a scramble straight for Jiro. 

"You dogs are all the same." Jiro spoke. Flames erupted from his sword as he glared at the man. "Extorting the weak to make us waver. Little did you know, my baby brother adapts well to any situation! Soul Burning Slash!" Jiro flew forward and raised his sword to slash the intruder. The intruder smiled as he was slashed. 

Ritsuka felt something grab him. He screamed as he was whisked away by some unknown thing. A cold blade pressed up against him as Jiro turned. The man he had bound was still there, but Ritsuka was being pulled outside. 

"Jiro!" Ritsuka screamed. "Help!" 

"Ritsuka!" Jiro screamed. Jiro rushed after Ritsuka, lowering his defenses as Ritsuka's scared face spooked Jiro. It has left Jiro open to the other invisible attackers. 

Ritsuka could hear fighting and grunting. He could hear the noises as he was whisked into the shed. 

"Don't do anything and you'll be fine, kid!" A girl hissed at him. "You're our only hope of getting what we need. Once I get it, maybe you'll live."

His head rang. It rang hard as fear enveloped him. He could feel his bladder release. The girl laughed at him. He prayed for someone to come - anyone. He wasn't adaptable. He was cocky. He wasn't a good kid. He always wanted to flaunt. His flaws began to show and regret painted his face. 

202X

Captiol City, 2nd Year Academy Building 

Ritsuka jolted awake from the nightmare of a horribly suppressed memory. He had almost forgotten that night. The many years of therapy and his siblings implementing a rule within the house to protect Ritsuka and Sumiko until Ritsuka was at least able to manifest his powers. 

Ritsuka remembered it all, but for what? It was many years later and as he turned his head to look around, he noticed Jiro. Jiro's arm was cut off but it wasn't bleeding. 

Ritsuka scrambled over to his brother. He didn't wonder where his friends were or what happened to that woman that attacked his brother. All Ritsuka wanted to know now is if Jiro was alive. 

"Niisan!" Ritsuka shouted. His body felt extremely sluggish but he pushed through and hovered over Jiro. He checked vitals. They were fine. He lowered his hear to listen to Jiro. He could hear him breathing. 

Jiro's arm was healed but the arm that used to be there wasn't there anymore. It was gone. He looked around and realized he was in a classroom. A small Fox with eight tails curled up against the door. It was asleep. 

'How much time even went by?' Ritsuka finally thought. The Fox's tail twitched and the white fox opened it's eyes. It was golden. 

"You're awake." Lee Seng spoke. He stood up in his fox form and trotted over. He didn't look around for the others. 

"W-where are we?" Ritsuka asked glancing at his brother. 

"In the academy building still. It's been hours since you botg succumbed to the poison." Lee Seng answered. That was why Ritsuka felt sluggish. 

"Is my brother okay?" 

"He's fine. Manny healed him. Are you okay?" Lee Seng asked. Ritsuka's mouth quivered as tears began to fall. Ritsuka turned and found himself hugging Lee Seng who was changing in front of him. 

Lee Seng's human arms wrapped Ritsuka who buried his face in his shoulder. He had never seen Ritsuka be this emotional. Maybe almost losing a brother would do that to someone. 

Lee Seng held Ritsuka close. He allowed Ritsuka - this tough man he had grown so close to - let it out. 

"It's alright." Lee Seng whispered. "Let it out. You're safe. You and your brother." 

Ritsuka sat next to the sleeping Jiro while Lee Seng sat next to him. They both looked at Jiro and Lee Seng obviously had questions he wanted to ask. Everytime he almost did, Ritsuka looked like a zombie and Lee Seng decided against it. 

"Where are the others?" Ritsuka finally broke the silence. 

"Right. That." Lee Seng sighed. He looked over to the door, staring at it for a moment. When Lee Seng didn't immediately continue, Ritsuka looked at Lee Seng. "They decided to take in the next task while I watched over you and your brother… Such a twisted game we're in… That Deimon thinks this is all a game."

"What're we doing here then? Shouldn't we go help?" Ritsuka began to stand when Lee Seng grabbed Ritsuka. 

"We can't go anymore." Lee Seng told him. "We're trapped in the punishment."

"What's the punishment?" 

"Monsters." Lee Seng whispered. His eyes were glued to the door. Ritsuka and Lee Seng could see something in the crack of the door. Something was prowling about. 

'This was the only safe place I could bring you and your brother to. We just need to wait until the others come back.' Lee Seng telepathically told Ritsuka.

Jiro stirred, drawing the attention of Ritsuka. Ritsuka hovered over Jiro, wondering if his brother would be okay. Jiro groaned and a growl came from the door. Something pushed against the door as Lee Seng quickly threw a hand up at the door.