Sunnyville

Kayate?

How come everyone knows Kayate?

I just want to know why this stranger wants to find him. To top that, he doesn't even follow me, just rants about how he's going to use me as a bait. Where he is now? I do not know.

I guess I'm just lucky I know where to find Kayate because I don't think he'd take I don't know for an answer.

I stop by a house. I don't know the house number, but in short flashbacks of memories, I remember this house being the one. A small, white cottage, it doesn't scream for attention, but it's a cozy home. Even after many years, this house doesn't look as run down as the other places, as if it's kept in good shape. My parents must still live here... I mean, it hasn't been that long...

The door was open, so I go inside and quickly, a wave of nostalgic vibes hit me. It's just like how I remember. Painted white walls, that my father used to paint all the time. The hard, leather sofa I always sat in while watching my parents go in and out of the doors. Doors I wasn't allowed go through. I remember going out for the first time, when I met my royal family. 

The creaky, wooden floor leading upstairs. Now that I think about it, I've never been allowed to go up there either. They never told me why...

I decide not to think too much about the past.

Kayate should be here by now, I wonder where he is.

As I go into the kitchen, I notice shattered dishes on the ground. And water, the floor's wet. Someone's just been here.

"Hello?" Hoping I could get an answer. But I get no reply.

Now I'm starting to get worried.

"Kayate?" I venture into a dark hall. Even in my old days, this hallway was kept dark, probably the least of the places anyone went. Especially the younger me, imagining monsters in the dark.

At the end of the hall is a room, its door is cracked. Only a faint glow comes out of it, but other than that, I can't tell what's inside. I can't contain my curiosity; I push open the door only to find something truly disturbing.

"Mom?! Dad?!" I find two dalmations, my mom and dad, on the ground, tied up in rope. Blood drips from their mouth and they look quite bruised.

"So that's what you call these lunatics?" Kayate comes in from the door ahead of me. He holds a bucket.

"What did you do to them?!"

"No need to be alarmed, my dear, I'm just trying to protect you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's have them explain." He pours the bucket of water on their limp bodies and takes a place beside me.

Immediately, they wake up with a gasp.

"W-what happened?" They look disoriented.

"Who are you?!" Dad demands. "You barge into our house and threaten to kill us!"

"I'm not law enforcement, I just want the truth."

"We have nothing to tell you."

"Oh, really? Nothing to do with the Boutielettes? Haven't received a late payment? Any payment at all?"

"I don't know what you're getting at, after the incident, they won't be able to pay us."

"What dealings do you have with them?"

"And why should we tell you?"

"It's not like you'll receive any more income from the Boutielettes."

"Wait, income?" That made my heart sink. "My own parents are using me for profit?"

"Not your parents, you've been taken from your family at a young age only to be sold as a pet. These people here are traffickers, people I've been searching for, for a long time."

"All this time... I've been lied to..."

"If you knew all that, then why do you ask?" The man asks.

"Because Kayate here has been obsessing over this for a long time." It's the stranger I met earlier, he stands at the entrance. "But, of course, his skills can't solve everything, that's why the next question he's going to ask is why. Why do you work for the Boutielettes?" He leaves a brief moment of silence. "The highest class royalty would never come to such a town, unless you offer something very special."

"I don't need your help, Shadow..." Kayate says.

"Sure you do, someone needs to pull the trigger." He gets out his gun and points it at the captives. "Tell us the answer before my countdown from 3. 3..."

"You said you weren't law enforcement!" The man snaps at Kayate.

"2..."

"Isn't it obvious? The Boutielettes want talent, that's hard to find."

"1..."

"And her parents had talents, they had a child, who would be easier to grab. It was our only chance for a steady stream."

"Talents, huh?" Shadow chuckles. "Thank you for your cooperation."

The second the loud boom of a gunshot rang, I flinch and cover my eyes.

Death. Right in front of me. Especially the people whom I thought I loved.

The fresh smell of blood filled the air.

I open my eyes to the sound of the gun being reloaded.

"Another section sunnier. People like them shouldn't exist in this world, no matter the circumstance." He noticed Kayate's look of confusion. "Should've known I'd be coming, huh, Kayate?"

"I saw you with Precious, how cliché of you to plunder the vulnerable for intel."

"What can I say? She's cute~ and I feel she knows things, my road to gathering information."

"Well, I'm not telling you anything!" I interject.

"That won't be your choice for long. I believe we're done here, Kayate. You know, I love surprises because repetitive things are such a drag. I thought suicide was on your mind."

Suicide? Why would-

"Precious made me choose to live a little longer."

"Just when I was getting bored, when I first saw you in years, I thought I saw a ghost."

"I guess being 'dead' was kind of what I needed for a while."

"And you believe what happened in the past won't happen again?"

"... We're leaving." I sensed a looming feeling in his tone.

"You know, you can consider working together with me. We have similar views, we can create world peace."

"Your offer was anticipated..."

"Then you've thought about it?"

"Still up for consideration."

"Well, then, I guess I'll see you later.... And Precious~ I'll look forward to our next encounter, and maybe then, I won't be so self-controlled."

I really hope not to see him again...