Chapter 2 - What Path To Choose

"Ren! Please!" Seijuro says, staring at what once was his brother in a voice full of despair, with tears streaming down his face.

This thing that had replaced his brother continues to try bite Seijuro and all he can do is keep pushing him back, in hopes that Ren would return. Rens small toy falls down to the floor next to Seijuro.

"Ren.." Seijuros tone is now full of defeat and he closes his eyes, ready to give up, however the weight of the creature is removed from on top of him.

"My, my seems like you've been in quite a struggle." a woman's voice can be heard, as Seijuro now snaps his eyes open and looks in the direction of the voice.

This woman staring back at him with her big red eyes, wearing a white cloak, pants and top, with a pair of black sandals. A black belt was placed firmly around her waist. Her skin was a light brown, her lips were bright red and she smiling quite sweetly at him. She was around 5'6 in height. Her hair was white and she looked to be in her mid twenties. In one hand, she is clutching a spear and the other hand, Ren,

"Wait don't hurt him!" Seijuro exclaims in a panicked voice and the woman's expression change to one of confusion,

"He's my brother… please..." Seijuro falls to his knees and begs, with tears continuing to stream down his face.

"He's 7 years old... just a kid… it wasn't his fault..." Seijuros sentence is broken up inbetween cries.

"Oh I see... how unfortunate. This thing is no longer your brother, but I can reassure you he won't feel any pain, once I disperse his soul." The woman says in a reassuring tone.

Seijuros eyes widen and his sobbing only increases, until he notices a rock on the floor and in one quick motion throws the rock towards the womans face, however an arrow pierces the rock and before Seijuro could speak, a sharp pain spreads throughout his right shoulder and he falls on to his left side. An arrow has pierced his shoulder and blood trickles down it. He looks to see a child, wearing a similar white cloak to the woman, holding a bow and arrow who looks to be around 4'10. His hair was black and his skin looked a pale white. Hi uniform was similar to the woman's, but his top and pants were dark blue and so were his sandals. Seijuro glances up and gasps slightly, his eyes widening when he sees his face. A bandage was wrapped around his eyes and somehow, he is still pointing his arrow directly at him,

How is he doing that? He can't even see yet… his arrow…

"Quiet" the child demands with an emotionless expression on his face,

"Now now, Koji-san… no need to be harsh." The woman giggles a bit, her sweet smile returning quite instantly.

Ren is still squirming in the womans grip and Seijuro is then pinned to the floor by the child. He tries his best to overcome the boys strength,

How is this child… overpowering me…?! I feel so helpless… Ren... please... comeback...

"What's your name little brother?" The woman asks in an endearing tone,

"Seijuro... just help my brother… please... in anyway... take me instead of him if that will help just… leave him..." The woman looks at Seijuro with sympathy and then looks at her partner, Koji who still has a blank expression.

Despite his obvious blindness, he turns to the woman, almost as if he still possesses sight and can read what her expression says. He utters one word with the same cold tone,

"Disagree."

"Maybe… Kenji-san could do something" the woman says, trying to convince her partner, her red eyes sparkle as she says this,

"Plea.." Seijuros sentence is cut off, when Koji smacks the side of his bow into the back of his head and his eyes become heavy and he is unable to move his head.

"Doubtful." Koji replies,

"You really don't say much do you Koji-san." the woman giggles a bit to herself,

"Unfunny."

"I do wonder how these boys even managed to enter here... only people who possess high levels of dark matter manipulation can access this area."

Dark matter… what is even happening.. Ren... I wish... I listened to you...

Seijuros eyes finally close as he finally gives in, and clutches onto Rens small toy, as he slips out of consciousness, the last thing he sees is Ren still squirming and hearing that woman say,

We take them both.

Seijuros eyes slowly open, his head still throbbing from the impact Koji gave him. He tries to move his arms, however he is unable to. He looks to see his arms stretched out in opposite directions, bound in chains and he is forced to remain on his knees. Seijuro looks around to see gold torches, in a similar circular room to the one he was just in.

"You are finally awake, Seijuro." A voice says and from a door, emerge 8 more figures surrounding him now.

"I see you already met Lisa and Koji." The man glares at Seijuro with his purple eyes and he notices Koji, who he still doesn't understand how he could see and Lisa with that same loving smile on her face.

"I am Kenji, and the people surrounding you are Captains... and sadly we are bound to protect even idiots like you, who stick their noses in places they shouldn't." Kenji voice raises slightly upon saying this.

"We are here to decide your fate. The deed you have committed… the plague you have unleashed upon the people... let's just say death is mercy for what's to come."

"Why are we even waiting?! Kill him!" The man to his right exclaims before Seijuro can even speak,

"Now now Yuto-san, let's not be too hasty.." Lisa says in her usual kind demeanour,

"One of those… things killed Roses brother! They murdered many, including some of our family members! Kenjis father lost his life trying to keep those undead fools sealed! And like Kenji said... it's mercy we're giving him. He's dead either way. My point is justified!"

"Yuto is correct. My brother is gone... but to say one death for the rest that is to come is justice… that isn't what we do." The woman with a flower in her head to Seijuros right stated,

"Ivan what do you think?" Kenji looks over to this giant of a man, his gold hair long, his beard thick and colour the same, lifts his axe resting it onto his shoulder.

"The boy didn't know, but that does not excuse his actions. He should be offered something other than death, however something that will indeed be a punishment of some sort."

"I agree with Ivan-san!" Lisa exclaims with her usual tone,

"Ivan has always been the wisest... whatever he says... I follow." A man with his hands in his pockets, a glum expression and his eyes are kept on the floor,

Seijuro looks to see a man with shades, sitting in a wheelchair just watching the rest, before Kenji finally looks over to speak to him,

"Frank, you are quiet." Kenji says, in a slightly more friendly tone,

"I'm just... thinking." Frank says still deeply observing Seijuro.

However, now in a high sense of confusion, Seijuro ignores the rest of the Captains bickering over his destiny and speaks,

"My brother... where is he? You guys sit here like I'm some animal deciding my fate! Just who do you think you people are?!" Seijuro shouts now silencing the Captains,

Before he could continue, a kunai is thrown right between his eyes and stops right before it connects,

It stopped… but how is that even possible..? Seijuro thinks to himself

"And just who gave you permission to speak, brat?" Yuto asks in a harsh tone,

"Control yourself, Yuto." Ivan demands.

The kunai then flies back to his hand and he rolls his eyes, crossing his arms in annoyance. Seijuro can only watch in disbelief.

However, Kenji tosses a sword in front of Seijuro and he looks down at it. It was purple, quite large and at the bottom of the grip attached to it was Rens toy,

"Your brother" Kenji states, as Seijuros eyes widen in shock and horror,

"W-w-what do you mean?!"

"I condensed your brother into a weapon, rather than a mindless beast."

Condensed?! What does that even mean? Ren… I'm sorry… I'm... a failure as brother...

Seijuro begins to cry and tears stream down his face,

"Condensed... does that mean he's..."

"No... his physical body is gone but his soul is there." Kenji says in a cold tone,

"Why do all of you speak like this is something normal?" Seijuro looks around the room at all of these people,

"My brother is gone and you people act like this is some ordinary day. You're all sick! Any of you... answer me… what is going on…?!" Seijuro screams at them his fear and shock now replaced with blinded rage,

"Listen, kid we know what you're going through is hard, but your brother... is only the beginning of it." Kenji states, sounding slightly sympathetic towards him. Lisa gives Kenji a pleading look and Ivan nods at him, with a sigh he says,

"I'm going to offer you a choice..." Seijuros ears perk up to this statement and he looks at Kenji,

"We will teach you everything we know or at least try to... you will train and thrive no matter how hard it maybe... or… we kill you right here."

Seijuro stares at him, his eyes widened, as he looks back at the sword and at his brothers toy. Seijuro thinks of Rens face and how he looked to him for help in his last moments. Maybe this way, he could prevent others sharing a similar destiny to his and just maybe, be strong enough the next time he faces those 7 people he freed. Seijuro sniffles and then stares back at Kenji and with a confident look says,

"I'll do it."

"Then it's decided, Captain Frank will train you." The man in the wheelchair continues to stare at Seijuro, with a slight smirk as Kenji says this.

"This meeting is over. Everyone, get back to your placements." The others, Yuto being the only one clearly displeased, exit through their door they arrive at.

Lisa walks up to him and puts a hand on his shoulder,

"There there, it's alright, young Seijuro-san. Your brothers spirit still lives in this sword. He is alive." She gives him a warm smile. Lisa strikes down on his bonds with her spear, freeing him from his restraints.

Frank pushes himself in his wheelchair towards Seijuro,

"I'm assuming you have a lot of questions, young Seijuro. I hope you know what you've agreed to." He lowers his shades to give him a proper look of the young lad

Seijuro then nods.

"Then let's get moving young Seijuro." He says enthusiastically and he begins pushing himself towards the door.

Seijuro let's out a sigh and then picks up the sword, apparently containing his little brothers soul. He gently touches the blade and then stares at Rens toy, touching it softly now. Confidence floods through him and he stands up, ready to begin walking down this new path he has chosen.