章節 13: Chapter 11 - The Deed That Haunts

He walked, felt the tingling anxiety burden his every step. Trailed along in silenced paranoia of where the present moment may head. Saw only the giant demeanor that posed an unknown danger, also in silence. An escort reluctantly followed, to be lead through the twist and turns of many, many, streets.

Little by little, their distances lengthened.

He could run. He could fade, obscured by the dozens that littered the streets, and return to Kris away from harm's clutches.

The stranger continued the walk, seemingly absent of thought concerning Subaru's state of mind. Subaru could do it, run...

But... could he?

"Run... I will catch you." The man spoke, head slightly turned, gazing an eye with malicious intent.

From the gap of space between them, which shortened considerably, only Subaru could perceive his words and nod in understanding.

He took longer strides, finally relinquishing the attempt undone and the extended space. The man's words consisted mainly of reason why he did so, but there was another. In the rumble of fearful thinking, something spoke, almost going unheard, a strain of courage and daring he thought had long since gone, that told him to follow, to not run, to know of the dangers that lied ahead, and confront the past and its consequences in present time.

The sweat that dripped constantly from the sides of his chin, told of the fear that gripped him to do so, and nothing of the heat that once pestered his being. And yet, here he was again, taking risks, knowing very little of its repercussions.

Long afterward, in a section begotten by the city itself, their walk had come to an end. They stood facing a small building, blatant by the ruckus and clinking of glass, baring the front of a tavern.

The hordes of citizens had come to past, and what little remained in the streets abandoned by society were spread thin and far, them being all that was present from afar.

"Enter." urged the Man, swinging open one of the saloon-shaped doors.

Through it, Subaru could see the premises packed, the grumble and laughter of the many inside, louder than ever, all whom resembled the man in both shape and outright appearance. Suddenly, a voice blared into his mind, recalling words he was told long before.

"As far as dangers go, the only thing that comes to mind is the local gangs in the area. I don't recall their names, but you'll hear about them soon enough."

"They're part of a gang... he's part of a gang. And I'm entering that tavern filled with them."

His whispered words had a sense of urgency, an impulsive thought that conveyed to him the immediate need to abandon this stupid risk and retreat. But he knew the opportunity had long since come to past.

Glaring, eyes that threatened harm untold, continued to glaze down and diminish every thought that told to flee.

"Enter." said the man again, with a tone losing patience.

Subaru swallowed a lump of fear and fronted the tavern. A den of lions he was going to walk into, a walk that entertained the idea of it being his last...

Reluctantly, with all the courage he could scrape, he entered the premises. The damp, dark atmosphere immediately began filling his nostrils, the stench of booze, smoke, and something that reeked emphasizing further the overall savage nature of the place.

He felt eyes catching sight of him, one by one. Heard the grumble and talks end abrupt, one after the other, till the room brimmed only with silence, all in sense of a being that did not belong.

"Walk. You do not look. They do not disturb."

The man followed closed, guiding with mutters, traversing across the many tables and chairs occupied. Only to stop, at a table for two, vacant of users.

"You sit here. You wait."

Subaru could only oblige, and sat, breathing a heavy breath that failed to calm his heart at a frenzy.

This is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy.

"I will tell my boss you are here. Do not move." said the man, walking away, till no longer perceived. Leaving Subaru at his best to continue suppressing fear from breaking through the poorly constructed front of bravery, sitting among the many lions lying in dormant curiosity, and watching closely.

"Hey boy, y'know where you're sitting? Y'know what it means?" said a rough voice amid the eerie silence.

He turned, stiffly, spotting a person at the nearest table, with an amused smile that lacked many teeth.

"N-no...." Subaru said, voiced choked by relentless anxiety.

The toothless thug gave a derisive chuckle, that lead many others in succession, and spoke as the laughter slowly died away.

"It means you gonna be gettin' an offer you can't refuse."

Never once did he think that the trepidation culminating within him would continue to exceed, yet it had. Able only to stare rigidly, frozen by fear, at the thug's sinister expression, in close heed of his words, foreboding, ominous yet also blunt.

"W-what offer?"

The words slipped out, only due to fear clouding his consciousness, he heard his words, unaware of ever being uttered, and realized how really little control he actually had.

An answer did not come, only the same grin that induces a cold chill. Until only after a few more excruciating moments of silence, did a voice spoke.

"Enough with the stares people. I'll take it from here now..."

The bald, giant of a man emerged back into visibility, and with him, leading in a confident stride, a smirk in intent of mischief, a man of a shorter stature appeared.

Their distances halved, shortened furthermore, now mere centimeters to confrontation, each step taken closer, made each feature on his face easier to discern. A scar lining a cheek, one too precise and perfect to have originated from combat. Disheveled, brown hair tarnished in filth. Doused with his somewhat muscular character, associated with a face teeming with the qualities of a once had natural beauty, and his eyes that flooded a vivid ocean blue were droplets of a very eerie familiarity.

In the dissonance of the chaotic predicament, a person both recognizable yet unknowable had arrived. The man stopped, behind him, the giant too came to a halt, his devious expression met Subaru's all too wary eyes. There was no doubt, he recognized that face... but from where and from when?

"Natsuki Subaru."

The man spoke his name, laced with it a sense of superiority, a tone implying dominance. A voice less than gruff, instead smooth, as if his voice threaded with silk itself. His smirk widen, acknowledging Subaru's frigid nature, lacking of a worded greeting, and spoke again, as though knowing exactly what was the hurricane of thoughts swirling in Subaru.

"We haven't met."

Then rose an arm, offering a hand towards Subaru's own.

"We have now," he said.

Had he rejected the greeting, who knew what would have come? A thought he did not want to entertain.

He raised his, gradually inching closer, and shook his hand. The man's grip was firm, rough and ache his own.

It then struck him, as they broke brief contact, as his stare ceased searching for resemblances, as his breath faltered in realization, and as memories flooded back in an instant rapid. The stench that filled the air, damp, nauseating, he now knew its source. He awoke to its odor and later drowned in its roots. The unmistakable smell of sewer water...

The man sat across him, neither of them once straying a gaze. He impressed a composed lax mannerism, slouching with his hands clasped with one another atop the charred, rotting wooden table.

"Tell me, can you think of any reason at all why the big guy over here disrupted your daily life? It must have been very sudden for you, wasn't it?" said the man with the same tone wrapped in disregarding contempt.

Yet, the inquiry itself was soft, gently conveyed, welcoming even, in contrast to the many others in the vicinity whom have yet to utter a word but permeated intrusion and dread with merely their gazes.

The startling politeness aroused only suspicion, he speculated ulterior motives - it was a trick, one badly portrayed, Subaru knew it, despite fear hindering thoughts aplenty. What hid in guise of a question, was the beginning of an interrogation.

He was intimidated, he was afraid, but he must know, to unearth the mysteries that constantly haunted him ... this was an opportunity to know. And he will not let this go.

"I don't," Subaru responded, quiet, blunt - but honest. Aware long before he even began to utter, how badly his answer bodes.

"You don't? Well, I didn't expect you to. Not yet."

He doesn't seem surprised.. why?

His expectations drastically crumbled away, he braced for anger, anticipated for annoyance. Despite encumbering himself with mental preparations of ill-happenings, the man simply exhaled a dismal sigh without a semblance of bother.

"We'll climb the ladder down a bit... Question two: Have you a clue on how Kararagi runs as a country? Do you know what is needed, essentially?"

The question went beyond what he foresaw in the situation, his composure not only assailed by terror anymore, confusion and puzzlement have now stood in prominence among many other feelings.

He was unsure of an answer and responded slowly with little confidence.

"Money?"

The man's grin widened.

"Yes, that is correct, boy. Money is needed by the whole wide world, but no more so than here. Buying, selling, bribery, blackmail, to compensate... You see, why we have gathered here today, you, me, and my friends sitting all around us is for the fourth one. You owe me. You owe me big."

Utterly in disbelief, bewildered by the statement, Subaru sputtered a response, "W-what? Owe you what?"

"Good question. What is it that you owe me? Money? Something important? Life-changing maybe? Or perhaps all three? The possibilities are almost endless. Think Subaru, think back, surely you must know... you don't look like a forgetful guy."

Yet he didn't know - he couldn't know. Two weeks of memories inexplicably lost forever. Somewhere within those days, he must have done something to these gang. But how was he to know?

No matter how long, how much he would muddle with memory, nothing came to mind. There was no answer to give. Nevertheless, as he stared within the man's bright blue, he knew he must give one, so he did.

"I don't know."

"I don't like liars, Natsuki Subaru. In fact, they have all my disdain and hate." said the man, voice hinting more than just contempt. "For your sake, I will pretend I did not hear you just now, and I'll ask you again, do you know what you've done?"

A swelling panic emerged, deep in the depths of himself, one, unlike the others he felt. He knew fear, experienced its very essence in ways unspeakable, knew suffering that most are unaware - despite it, he couldn't stay benumbed to his words. His heart was rapid, almost wary of his desperation - a cold sweat trickled down his neck, he was at loss for words.

He could not lie, he could not be honest... he could only agonize over fruitless thoughts in silent despair.

His mouth turned agape, never in plan of a respond - an impulsive act pushed by desperation.

"Look... I've only arrived in Kararagi two weeks ago. How- How could I possibly have done anything major in that time? It's impossible, I shoul- couldn't have done anything. Y- you said it yourself... we haven't met..."

He trailed away, anxiety silencing his sentence, subdued by fear if he were to speak anymore. It was apparent - the man believed he was feigning ignorance. How was he to convince him otherwise? What could he say?

I lost my memories, I don't know what you're talking about.

As if there was even a meager possibility of convincing him of that...

The silence felt only demeaning, many were sneering, others suppressing snidely chuckles.

"True..." The man spoke, lightly said. "We've only just met. In fact, I've only known you were in Kararagi just a day ago. From what I gathered, you live a relatively dull life. Residing in the humble abode of Kris Williams and his beautiful wife, Stephanie Lane, their daughter Helen also seems quite fond of you, no?"

His heart went rigid, faltering a beat. A sharp intake of breath, eyes expanding in incredulous shock, knowing without thought, that there was more to fear than his own life now.

"You seem to be kinda friendly with the locals here as well. Everywhere I've gone, I've been given an answer. Hanging around the potion shop, chatting up the librarian, bargaining with the sushi chef... Heck, there's a whole lot more. Quite the social butterfly you are."

Actions he's never taken, experiences he's never had, all told in the memory of others - he paid heed, closely, in quiet bafflement. And knowing the futility, he dug further into his memories, deep-burning curiosity to know, what is it he has done to this man.

Again, as if his intents and thoughts were engraved on his forehead, the man smirked further in his silence.

"It's not what you did in Kararagi that upsets me so, Subaru. We've met now... but I've heard about you long before - longer than you might think. Far back, before you came here, think all the way back to Lugunica, boy. What do you possibly think you could have done that resulted in us being here in present time?"

Subaru blinked.

Lugunica?

"Tell me, boy..." said the man, leaning in close, his features in prominence, with the stench enveloping his nostrils, the smile of mischief evermore apparent. "Can you compensate in twenty holy silver coins?"

Somewhere, far off in the distant sky, a giant bell tolled an hour's end. Persistent clanging, in the gaunt, deathly silence, as if in knowing, of the startling revelation Subaru had.

"No way..." Breathless words spoken in shock.

A barrage broke loose within his head, a playback of events, of actions, of words he has known.

That's right. The client is the one that wants it...

"Then you're... her client?" Gaping at his glistening blue in brisk understanding.

Glinting silver coins laid across a table for trade, back in a tavern far in the dilapidated lands of poverty.

"You were the one after the insignia?"

The ever so subtle, devious nod given confirmed everything.

"I lost a lot more than coins that day because of you..." He muttered close, peering without relent, the eyes of a predator finding prey - weak, defenseless prey...

The man withdrew back, the battered legs of his chair squealing of the burden, telling of its impending collapse.

"Chair's gonna break soon, you hear that?" He said in nonchalance. "But it ain't my chair, so what does it matter to me?"

He pointed, directing gazes to a man far off back, a rugged cloth in hand, the other a dirty mug, cleaning without regard, almost purposely unaware of the events playing within his ownership.

"Yet, somewhere, to someone... it does matter. If it breaks, he'll need to get a new one. Yet business is going bad for him, so money will be a problem. I know, "It's just a chair, it's not that expensive." that's what you are thinking, hmm? Well, what if another one breaks? Then another? What if everything he has worked his entire life for suddenly was destroyed by the hands of another? And what's more, got away unpunished, how do you think he would feel?"

A tense quiet ambiance once again.

"When asked, one must respond Subaru." said the man.

His words in warning dispelled the silent trance that had deeply taken Subaru, the impact of revelation dissipating in an instant, blinking rapidly, and stuttering uncomposed, "O-oh... uhhh - ang - angry. Furious?"

The man nodded, "Right? Yet here I am, a man with all his plans in ruins sitting with the person who is all to blame, merely asking for compensation."

He raised a hand, outstretched an open palm.

"I lost twenty silver coins."

Compensation. Though Subaru may know little of the currency of this world, having seen Felt's awed expression at the sight of those coins, he knew it was of high value, a value too high for him to recoup any form of loss. He merely gawked pathetically, mutely staring at the empty palm in want, a hand slim, also slender yet one that gripped a firm grasp.

In moments almost everlasting, all motions stalled, the rugged bystanders ever watchful, hunter and prey in silence - a head down, a hand in expectancy, until...

"And it seems it would remain that way."

His hand retracted.

"Unless... you have something of equal value... do you?"

Inhale. Exhale. To calm a speedy heart. Always in this trivial action, a bulge was felt, pocketed in the mere fabric of his tracksuit.

"I don't have anything," Subaru replied, gaze failing to meet.

"But you do. Do not lie." said the Man.

A harsh swelling lump came to hinder the lie he continued to spout, "I really don't have anything. I'm not lying."

Nearly stumbling, barely authentic, an attempt to keep an item invaluable. Never mind how this man knew of his phone, he will not simply give it up, not after knowing what contents were stored within.

"It seems to me that you are, Subaru. I hear that metia of yours is worth even more."

There outspoken to the air, the truth shattering measly acts of deceit, almost effortlessly, seamlessly done.

"You can't have it."

"It's never whether I can or cannot have it, Subaru. It's whether I want to have it or not."

In a foolish act, Subaru clutch at his chest, gripping with all life to retain what's his. If they were to have it, only after prying it from his cold lifeless clutches would he submit. The mourning, the cries, and the grief of his parents, all these he will no longer toss aside disregarded. Forever close, nearest to the heart it shall always stay, the littlest deed of atonement he could do for now.

The man shot a smirk, amused by the action.

"Precious, I see...." He remarked, eyeing the ever discernible bump enclosed by a hand in grasped. "Fortunately for you, I don't want it."

Wariness continued to reside within him, in his eyes on alert, in his hand firmly at grasped.

"Then... what do you want from me?" Subaru asked.

He saw the smile widen, devious intent glistening in the bright blue, and a finger rose, pacing slow, a snake obscured in grass, slithering along - closer to its prey, to the hunted, striking only at the very last second, the moment when escape no longer was feasible, the instance when the unknowing knew life was coming to an abrupt end... the finger pointed at his chest.

"I want you."