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Running barefoot on the pavement, Oda dodged as bullets flew by his head. He turned and shot back at his foes then dodged a few more.
He’d been tasked with assassinating a government official and getting into the building was proving to be rather difficult.
Dumb, he knows.. but he’d been promised the way in would be easy and cleared for him. Turns out he was wrong and he trusted this idiot for no good reason. How stupid of him.
Silently taking out the guards was quick, and almost easy, running through the halls and finding the room he was supposed to find his target in, was easiest.. but as soon as he walked into the room, everything went dark.
When he woke up, again, he was tied to a chair in a closet and he sighed. guess he’s gonna be late to getting home and feeding his kids..
Hearing the wind blow against the outside of the building, he worried for his kid’s ability to stay on the ground.. they were both so young and small and frail.. he feared they’d be blown away.. but the younger one assured him they’d be fine and Oda trusts them, so.. here’s to hoping..
In walked an old man alongside.. his client? Oh.. he sees, now. Great..
Then a whole fiasco with another brat that randomly entered the room and the old man went down, ending with the truth coming to light. Oda decided then and there he needs revenge.. and to get out of here, so why not kill two birds with one stone? So he slammed his chair against the wall, turning it into splinters, turned, and with his hands still bound behind his back, snatched the gun he found on the floor (his own gun) and shot the traitor in the chest and head.
Stupid dickhead.. now to escape and get back to his kids..
Only..
He froze as a katana aimed at his neck. “Come peacefully and no further harm shall come to you. You were duped by this man, but you needn’t kill him. Killing solves nothing. Come with me calmly and you will have a shorter sentence.” A shorter sentence as if he couldn’t break out of the jail easily. He just.. worries for his kids.
“Sorry, old man. I, too, have people to protect.” Oda responded, looking the old man over and glancing outside as the wind picked up speed. “People who may be blown away in the wind. So let me go.”
“Hm..” The man hummed and looked Oda over before dropping the sword and watching as the brunet disappeared through the window.
Oda ran like his life depended on it to get to his makeshift little home on the streets where he and his kids resided.
Arriving, he saw both boys, a short little brunet like him with scruffy hair and bandages all over his tiny malnourished body, and an even smaller redhead who was trembling from the cold, not a lick of body fat on him.
Oda quickly made his way closer and knelt down to wrap both freezing boys close to his chest, hoping to share body heat. “Hey, kids.. sorry I’m so late.. got a bit held up. I’m here now.. I brought food, too..” he whispered as he cradled the kids close.
Ever since the day he’d found them, half dead in the streets at the ripe ol’ age of what appears to be twelve, Oda nursed them back to health then left. He.. didn’t know why he’d felt the urge to help them, but he had and he did and now they won’t leave him alone.
Neither of them have spoken, yet, both remaining eerily mute, so he doesn’t know what happened to them, how they ended up like this, nor why they’re here, but they are and he loves them like they’re his own little brothers. They grew on him, fast, and now he knows he would destroy the world if it meant these two were safe.
Cradling both of them close he rocked until both were asleep against his chest and then settled in for the night.
He woke up startled, the sound of footsteps running and screaming nearby waking him and his boys. Looking down the alleyway they called home, he could tell the shouting was coming their way, and sirens too? Weird.. cops never usually come around here.. what ever could this be?
Slowly standing and bringing the boys with him, he went to investigate only to pause as the brunet slipped his hand into Oda’s and the redhead, ever the distrustful lad, only held onto his friend. “Stay close. I don’t know what’s happening, so we need to be careful.”
Oda spoke with a gentle tone and held the brunet’s hand tighter before beginning to lead the way. Peeking his head out, he saw a mess of cops arresting what appeared to be another cop and five other goonies. Alongside the ‘good’ cops stood the same old man and brat from the office.
Oda watched from a safe distance before freezing when grey eyes landed on him then moved to the boys at his side. He was quick to pull the brunet and finger behind himself and stand defensively before them.
The old man hummed and began slowly walking over, leaving the brat behind. At first Oda was ready to run, but then he watched as the man put his katana away and tucked his hands into his sleeves, standing tall and proud and protective.
“Your name was Oda, correct? The child assassin prodigy?” The man asked, his expression not changing much, but his tone was gentle. Interesting..
“What about it?” Oda asked defensively, looking at the man with a wariness he feels around everyone.
“My name is Fukuzawa. I merely wished to ask, are these two the people you need to protect? The reason you won’t turn yourself in?” Fukuzawa asked, looking down to the two boys. The brunet was clinging to Oda’s leg while the redhead growled and glared at Fuku, looking about ready to fight..
It made something in Fukuzawa’s chest squeeze, seeing such young children look so scared and ready to fight. “They look so young.. I can watch over them, while you serve your sentence. When you return, you may join my organization. I’m.. on a path to make my own group. I noticed before that you seem to be able to dodge strikes preemptively. Is it safe to assume you’re gifted?”
Oda stiffened at that and looked the man over warily. “What of it? Why does that matter?”
“I’m starting this organization with the gifted in mind. Rampo over there and myself are the first members. Would you like to be apart of our team? No more living on the streets, no more searching for food out of dumpsters and trash to try and take care of your kids. Now, you can freely come live without having to look over your shoulder and kill another soul to live a fulfilling life.” Fukuzawa offered, looking rather hopeful, which was strange.. why in the world would this man care? Why is he bothering with this?
“Why should I believe this? Why should I trust you?” Oda asked, tugging his boys closer, still.
“You shouldn’t. Never just trust someone’s words. But.. do give them chances.” Fukuzawa said which threw Oda completely off. That.. made sense, but.. why?
“Why do you care?” Oda asked next.
“Because I too know what it’s like to have to kill to live. It’s not a very enjoyable nor fulfilling way of life. Now I challenge you to follow the path of good, give these kids a good home. Show them the light rather than the darkness.”
Oda stared at Fukuzawa for a good long while before sighing and looking down to his boys. “If they are fine with it, then whatever. I’m not leaving them, though. I’m not going to jail. If you take me there then take my boys, I’ll be forced to escape, kill both you and your friend, then take my boys back. Got it?” Oda threatened, looking Fukuzawa over before sighing in relief when the old man nodded and agreed.
“Good. Come on, kids..” Oda said before turning to follow wherever Fukuzawa was heading.
“By the way, what are the kid’s names?” Fukuzawa asked as they walked to Rampo, the sixteen year old turning to look at what had Fukuzawa’s attention and his gaze immediately zeroed in on the boys.
“I don’t know. Neither of them talk.” Oda answered before jumping as a tiny, weak voice suddenly piped up.
“Osamu and Chuuya.”
Looking down to the redhead that just spoke, Oda hummed, nodded then looked back to Fukuzawa. “Osamu and Chuuya.”
Fukuzawa blinked, then nodded, then looked to the boys. “Which of you is Osamu?” He asked, watching as the brunet shrunk away. That answered that question, so he nodded and looked to the one that had spoken, Chuuya.
“You must be Chuuya, then. It’s good to meet you, boys. How did you end up on the streets?” He asked, genuinely curious.
“Can’t you see, old man? They were experiments. Remember that explosion five years ago? The one that made Suribachi city. I wonder if they’re connected to that?” Rampo suddenly piped up, rubbing his chin as he looked the boys over with a scrutinizing gaze.
Immediately, Chuuya was growling and Dazai was trying to tug Chuuya behind Oda to hide.
Fukuzawa hummed again then gave as reassuring a smile as his emotionless face could muster. “Right. No need to fear, boys. You won’t be going back. Come on, let’s get to safety, alright?”
Both boys looked to each other, then to Oda who gave both reassuring looks and held them close. “Come on, I won’t let you go back, that’s just disgusting. Anyone who can experiment on children is sick. I won’t let them take you back.” Just like that, Oda gained the full trust of both boys latching onto his either side.
Behind them, the fake cop broke free of his captors embrace, running after the group and firing three gun shots. Only for all three to stop as Chuuya jumped in the way, easily grabbing every bullet and throwing them right back at the man who shot them. Growling and glaring all the while.
….Fukuzawa stared in awe for a solid two seconds before sighing and looking to the kid. “You’re gifted, too. What is your power, boy?”
“God.” Was the kids response, looking up to Fukuzawa with fierce brown and blue eyes. Heterochromia was a rare thing to have, these days.. alongside the red hair.. this boy stands out a lot.
“God?” Rampo asked, looking confused for once. Interesting..
“Arahabaki. God. Gravity.” Osamu suddenly spoke up. His voice was equally as soft and frail. “I turn it off. Lookie.” Osamu said before walking over to Chuuya and gesturing for him to lift the nearby rocks. He then grabbed Chuuya and every rock fell to the ground.
A canceling ability.. these boys.. were an ultimate weapon given life..
“Boys.. were you really created? Rather than born?” Fukuzawa asked, kneeling to be the same height as the kids.
“We don’t remember.” Both said at the same time, holding each other’s hands.
Right.. only makes sense they wouldn’t know..
Sighing, Fukuzawa nodded and gestured for the two to come with him. “Come on boys, all three of you. Let’s go home and get you some food, yeah?”
Both kids were eager to follow at that, but they didn’t leave Oda’s side which was fine. They didn’t have to. So Fukuzawa took them to his favorite restaurant so they could all eat after that very eventful day.
..guess he’s gonna have to get his hands on a gifted workers permit, after all..