Pain or gain.

I dodged his attacks and appeared behind him. He dodged mine easily as a professional and swinged a counter. I used my Kagune to weaved from my position outside and back inside again, slamming my feet to his chest.

He gurgled and attempted counter but my Kagune pushed him back. We were breathing heavily but we still had the feel to fight. We paced at each other again and I had a better approach, using my spikes to first shoot at him. He used a nice combo of his two electric poles to blast them off and combined them again to form a large energy ball and send it at me.

It exploded and I wasn't even near it, I had vanished from his sight and re-appeared again by busting through the side window and stomping his face into the walls. He used his shocks to get back at me and have me push back. But still in mid air, I launched an attack and swipe my legs left to kick him away.

"Am done playing…time to end this, you Quake! I snapped in a harsh tone and he scoffed.

"Couldn't agree more, you monster! He snapped up his reply and positioned for a stance. I took a deeper breath and pushed forward my right leg.

We both took turns staring at each other's eyes, searching and attempting to read our minds for a plan. It was as though we were fighting in our head and strategizing too. I kept a pale face while glaring and he kept a convincing look while smirking.

Then suddenly, we both exploded again and re appeared behind ourselves. I kept glaring forward and so did he. The intensity of who cut the other and the suspense built among us both but from short gaze across the room, I could tell who was injured the most.

Yes! He had cut me but barely had enough to make me bleed.

"hey monster kid". He called out and I turned to look at him. "Nice fight…I actually just realized that you're strong and still…." Konosuba paused and bent over, you could hear the blood spilling sound on the floor and the sound of moaning underneath those shattered breath. He was going cold quickly and fast. He let out a low muttering and looked at the scared colleague, who he had saved earlier.

"Apparently, you're just another monster…" Konosuba gasped in a dying breath and fell over, in a pool of his own blood.

I sighed one of relief as I had just defeated one of my biggest opponents, without breaking much of a sweat. I let out a smile and heard a little ranting out.

"Hey…? You monster! You damn killed him and you're happy. You killed a human, you ghouls are monster and heartlessly pricks! Konosuba's colleague snapped in anger and frustration. I watched my smile disappear into a frown as what he said was just true. I was actually rejoicing over killing a human. I mean, he could be married for God sake, having a family and how would they feel about not having their father come home to them.

I paused and let out a glimpse of sympathy. I fell over on my knees and heard him shouting again, but to me it felt inaudible as my thoughts took me well wide of what was actually happening.

I opened my eyes to the sight of Konosuba's colleague trying to use his sword to kill me, when suddenly a Kagune from behind me pierced him. He fall over and I turned to see blue bird.

"Rin has ordered a retreat call. We must move now! He snapped and I kept glaring at him. His voice was like that of a cold bouncer, mixed with a sadist who didn't care at all. The way he killed the man and turned backward, as though none of this bothered him.

I got up and followed him, the reason I didn't he the retreat call on the com, was probably because my com was knocked off in battle. If it was still on, I wouldn't have to kill him. Either way, it was a live or death threatening situation and I needed to make the ugly decision.

As I made my way upstairs, I thought to myself "was I really a monster?

***************†**************†******************

I was seen in the garden back at the mansion, I was mumbling something to myself while relieving the experience of my first kill. To me I never really felt the pity of killing other ghouls, but a human being was different. The first time I killed some one was back at the man hunter divisional base, but now it's a lot complex. I was like a psychopath and wasn't thinking straight at all.

I took a huge exhale and relaxed against the wooden bench. It felt like the perfect Sunday morning, with the butterflies all flying around the flowers. The sun beamed down from the clouds and I pulled myself back against the tall leaves for shed. I felt like I was a monster of a second, killing a man. He probably had a family or a cat, waiting for him back home. I heaved and itched the back of my feet.

I felt a stacking image pull over against my face and looked to see Yumeko, standing by my side. "Yumeko, what are you doing here? I said and sat normal. "I was looking for you". She muttered in a low tone. She took the next spot to me and leaned in closer.

"So, Blue bird told me you killed a man hunter of a higher rank". She muttered again and I got my eyes wide open.

"huh? I mean, yeah. It felt a bit bad though". I replied and looked away from her for a second. I slowly turned back to her to see her face closer to mine, I pushed back in fear as her face offered a brief smile.

"You're not a monster. No one is. Don't feel bad for killing someone, who threatened to kill you". She muttered and got up to leave. I lit up for a smile and had a piece of flyer thrown to my face. I caught it and heard the walking Yumeko say

"Am proud of you husband".

I glared at her as she vanished in the flowers, I muttered something to myself again and let out another heavy exhale. I picked up her flyer and thought to myself, maybe this was an invitation to a party or something. I hissed as though I was angry but no words after that. Flipping the paper over to the sight of my picture in front and a bold written font of "MISSING". I let out a cough at first but had my eyes in shock.

I paused and read the details underneath. As it stands, my family thought I was missing and had dropped this flyer off. Yumeko must have gotten her hands on it somehow. Perhaps when we entered the city last night.

Why did she give me this? To make me angry? Make me feel sad or what? I snarled in anger and tightened my grip in anger.

"that little" I moaned as I thought she must have a reason to give this to me.

To assemble my pains and deliver them to my door step. I was sure done playing husband, time to play boss. I got up and raced through the flowers to find Yumeko.

Then again I had never thought what my family felt after I ran away, but with this I could tell how they felt. I raced down into the training ground, I knew she would be expecting me and would certainly be there. As predicted, she was there with Rin, black owl and Glenn. They were discussing something, when I barged in.

"Oh there you are". Yumeko said in a calm look. She could tell I was angry and needed to do more than talking.

"Leave us…". I muttered in a cold glare and Rin snapped at me, that I was in no power to do that. "I said, Get the hell out! I snapped and Yumeko ushered them to best get out. Rin and the others made for the door, while Yumeko stayed back.

I pulled in forward, stepping around Yumeko, who remained in the middle.

"You bastard. You knew all along that my parents were looking for me, you knew I wanted to go to them". I paused and groaned in anger, flipping my jacket off and having my eye go red.

"Fuck this…fuck this whole thing. I am going to kill you and end this mess". I muttered and drew my Kagune out. Yumeko was calm and had an eye on me, she let out a low in hale and exhale, before closing her eyes and opening it to her ghoulishly red eyes.

"Your foolishness is pitiful".