Bandages and Salt (PJO x BSD)

Suribachi City looked just like how I remembered it, row after row of homes hazardly built into the crater in the earth, filling up the shape of a Japanese motor; a suribachi. The people that live here are like I was, like how I still am, they're society's outcast. They're the people society never acknowledged in the first place. The crater became a safe haven for those scorned by the rest of the world, a gray city for gray people. The entire area was out of the authority's radar, making it perfect for illegal organizations like the Port Mafia.

"Oh? So drinking metal-plating solutions is an extremely popular method of suicide abroad, huh?... interesting."

I was reading as I walked, I knew this area well after living here for so long. I could tell my expression was serious, when it came to suicide, no matter how joking my tone, I was always serious. I continued reading, talking and thinking aloud as I did. Apparently the method was only popular because it's an easy chemical for industrial painters to get their hands on. The death itself is neither quick nor easy.

"Anyone who drinks the solution dies after spending hours in agony as their organs dissolve inside of them... Ack! I'm so glad I didn't give that a try!"

Gods, who comes up with these ideas?

I looked at the escort following me, Mr. Hirotsu. He was the mafioso that I'd chosen for his knowledge of the area. I may have lived here, but he knew the city's underground that I had tried to stay out of. The ability user had graying, salt-and-pepper hair and wore a golden monocle on one of his eyes.

I could tell the man was wary of me, I could feel the unease almost rippling off of him. Everyone in the mafia that recognized who I was felt the same way as the man trailing behaving me. I was one of two people present when the old boss passed, now I have the oracle and a mysterious mission that no one else knew the details of. Hirotsu was right to be wary.

We left the mafia building early this morning and have traveled the improvised city asking about the rumors since. I spoke to the sources while Hirotsu watched on. Many of the people we spoke with were easy to manipulate, telling me everything that I wanted to know without even realizing it. The more stubborn and aware ones I bribed, using the money that Mori had given me for that very purpose. When there was nothing else to gain from the city inhabitants, we started heading back to headquarters.

"Dazai... please don't walk too far ahead of me," a nervous Hirotsu called ahead to me. "I'm your escort, but this is nonetheless a conflict zone. There's no telling what could happen."

"'Conflict'?" My head filled with wonderful scenarios of being taken out in a crossfire or attack, i hadn't thought of that before.

My comment must have made it seem like I was either confused or uninformed, because he went into an explanation of the ongoing turf war between the Port Mafia, Takasekai, Gelhart Security Service and another group that calls themselves 'The Sheep'.

"This week alone, they killed two of our squads. The unofficial leader is especially hard to deal with. They say not even bullets work on him."

"Ohhh... no wonder I heard explosions and gunfire coming from over there," I said pointing vaguely in a random direction. "Doesn't make much difference to me though..." I grumbled, now bored once more. I knew all about the turf war from Mori's seemingly endless complaining. I knew about the Sheep too, just not all from Mori.

My phone beeped from inside my pocket, an annoying sound only associated with one equally annoying individual. I considered just letting the phone ring, but there was always the possibility that Mori would just turn around and call Hirotsu and then I would still have to talk to him anyways. I spoke with Mori on the phone, giving the man a small rundown of what I'd learned.

"The previous boss was here. He came back to life from the depths of hell, covered in black flames," I told him emotionlessly. I could only imagine the way Mori's heart must be beating right now, how nervous he must be. The thought alone was enough to bring a cruel smile to my face. If someone from camp were to see me now, they'd probably mistake me for a human-like monster roaming the streets.

"What?" Mori's shaky reply could be heard from the other side of the phone.

"There were a lot of witnesses. I guess the old man had a lot of regrets and couldn't let go of the world?" My lips curled further into the cold-blooded smirk, Mori must be close to a panic attack by now. The good doctor had been hoping that these rumors were nothing more than a trap being set by another organization, this discovery was something he never would have thought to be possible. Of course he didn't know shit about the world I come from, demons rising up from the ether was nothing more than a simple Tuesday from demigods. "At any rate, I'll give you a detailed report when I get back-"

Something hit me squarely in the chest, stealing the breath from my lungs and knocking me back, sending me flying through the air. My body flew through a roof, fencing, and other things, a path of destruction left in my wake. Pain ricocheted throughout my body with each hit. I could feel the spots that would soon be riddled with bruises. When I finally stopped, I was lying on the collapsed rubble of what had been a shed only moments ago and was leaning against another, intact, building. The shadowy figure that had hit was standing with his foot on top of my chest.

When my vision finally became clear again, I saw a boy around my age standing above me. His blue eyes stared down into me, his fiery hair tousled gently in the breeze. I had the sneaking suspicion that if my breath was already ragged, it would have caught in my throat.

Beautiful.

I didn't hear what the teen said, too surprised by my own thoughts, but seemingly unable to deny them. The boy above me looked prettier than anyone I'dnever seen. He was wearing simple dark jeans and a dark green biker jacket zipped up all the way. I pushed the train of thought away, I didn't have time for something so distracting at a time like this.

"That hurt, you know?" I told the boy emotionlessly, forcing my heart rate to go back to something close to normal. Mori and I had discovered in the past year that I could manipulate my heart rate, it was something that made situations like this and interrogations that much easier. "I hate pain."

"I'm gonna give you a choice, kid," the boy said arrogantly, his hands tucked away into his jacket pockets. "Die now or die after givin' me the information I want. What's it gonna be?"

Something gave me the idea that whatever the boy had said was most likely an insult of some form. A smile threatened to show itself, but I forced it down. If this kid is who I think it is, then he'll have no problem keeping that promise. "I like those choices. Both are very tempting offers," I replied, showing no signs of pain despite having just been thrown through multiple buildings. Each breath hurt, but my time with the doctor allowed me to keep a level and clear head if nothing else. "Okay. Kill me now."

The boy fell silent, obviously surprised. His expression morphed into an attractive expression of something akin to pleasure. He looked like he realized he'd finally met someone of character. I felt the same almost, this boy is interesting, even more so if he's the skill user I'm thinking of.

"Thought you'd just cry and run away. You're a suprisngly gusty kid."

"You're a kid, too," I reminded him, enjoying the flash of annoyance that filtered across his delicate features. He looked stunning when he was angry.

"Yeah, everyone I fight always says that at first, but they immediately realize their mistake. I'm no ordinary brat like you," the ginger says, assuming things. I could see his hands clench in his pockets, turning into fist. "Now talk. Tell me everything you know about this Arahabaki you're looking into."

"Arahabaki..." I rolled the name around in my mouth. The boy stepped on my hand, the sound of bones cracking echoed through the rubble. He wanted me to talk.

Does this bastard not understand that, that shit hurts?

"So you do know, huh?" His voice was thick with surprise, but also an underlying hopefulness.

How interesting.

"Nope. First I've ever heard of it," I told the teen flatly.

The boy grinned, obviously taking joy in what he was about to do. He kicked me swiftly, I could hear the bones creak beneath the weight of his kick. A slight moan slipped from my lips as my body contracted in pain.

I looked at the boy, everything about him screamed someone who's never lost a fight. I won't assume to know what kind of pain he's been through or what kind of life he has lived, but with combat at least, he's never lost. I knew people like that, I know how they think. I also know very well how to piss them off, that has always seemed to be my speciality.

"You'll let me go... if I talk?" I let my face twist in agony, not having to fake it. I let him believe that I'd given up, that he'd won.

"Yeah. I don't pick on the weaklings."

So not a bully then, that's good.

My experience with bullies has never been good, it was bad enough to make me consider looking back on when my depression started, or if it'd always been there. Gods knows there were enough reasons before I even found out that I was a demigod to justify the possibility.

I fell silent for a few moments before gazing up at the boy, he really was the most beautiful person I've ever seen. "Okay... I'll talk."

I imagined the way he would look moments from now, enjoying the image that my mind conjured. My voice was heavy and tense when I finally replied:

"You ought to drink more milk. You're really short."

The boy kicked me in the stomach once more, sending me crashing into a fence. His face was flushed red from anger, it was a sight worth the pain.

"I didn't ask, you little shit!" the boy shouted angrily. "I'm fifteen! I'm still growing!"

"Heh... then I'll put a little curse on you. I, being fifteen as well, will continue growing while you stay the same height."

I don't know why I did that, but this interaction was... fun? Something that I hadn't had in years, not really.

"You're really starting to piss me off!"

Good. Be pissed. Hate me. Maybe that will make these foolish thoughts go away.

The boy kicked me across the face, causing my neck to creak audibly. But. There was no remorse on the Ginger's face at all.

"That... hurt... you know?" I groaned, but a small chuckle made its way through. I looked at the boy, thinking aloud again, sure of my line of thought now. The Sheep are a group made entirely of children and teens and yet they are still one of the most feared. "Now it makes sense. You're the Sheep king~ Chuuya Nakahara, gravity manipulator."

I thought he was since that first hit, the speed and power behind it was unreal, but I needed to gather more information before I just thoughtlessly said anything.

"I'm not a king," Chuuya spat, he said the title as if it was acidic. "I just happen to have something no one else does. Power. I'm simply fulfilling the responsibility I have." The boy paused as if realizing something and looked down at me, "you sure do know a lot about the Sheep."

"I got invited to join a while back. Obviously, I refused."

It was before the infection had hit. One of the members happened across me in the slums, offered me a safe place to stay, a group to be a part of and a place to call home. The sentiment was nice, familiar even, but the boy was around my age and already drunk well before noon. I didn't want to be a part of an organization where the only one doing anything was the leader. I don't want to have to rely on anyone that much, to be that defenseless, ever again.

"You made the right choice. I would have killed you in the first five minutes."

"I would have assassinated you before that," I shot back readily.

We stared at each other.

"Doesn't matter," the gravity manipulator decided, "I'm still going to kick you to death."

"You won't get that far," I told him, not even moving an inch. "Don't you hear the footsteps?"

Chuuya looked alarmed, but he didn't take his eyes off of me. "What footsteps?"

Just then, numerous mafia soldiers appeared and pointed their weapons at the boy, but he only laughed.

"Give it up boy," Hirotsu demanded from the crowd, "your far too young to see what your organs look like." I listened on as the two threw slighted comments at each other.

Chibi has such a foul mouth.

"Hirotsu," I called out, interrupting the pair, "you should probably sit this one out. He can manipulate the gravity of anything he touches. Your skill is a bad match."

But the man ignored my warning and the two launched themselves at one another, tangling in combat. The pair moved like seasoned fighters in an arena. A part of me wanted to jump in there with Riptide, but the energy required to do so was needed somewhere else.

The two fought each other, blocking and countering the other's attacks while countering with their own. It was almost like a dance, one that Chuuya seemed to be leading. It was obvious just from watching that Hirotsu was at the disadvantage skill wise, every attack was turned against the man. This continued until Chuuya aimed a kick at Hirotsu's neck, one which the man promptly blocked with his pistol. I could hear the way the device groaned from a few feet away and was happy that it wasn't me taking that burden for once today. I saw Hirotsu grab onto Chuuya's shoulder with his right hand and knew his intention. Anything he touched with that hand, he could repel.

"I've got you now," he said confidently.

"So what? Your skill won't work on me."

"I dunno about that," I chimed in. I'd used up my reserved energy and made my way over to the pair quietly when Hirotsu had set up the opportunity. I was right behind Chuuya, smirking as he looked back at me. "Sorry, but gravity is no longer yours to control." My ability activated as I grabbed onto the side of the boy's neck, blue light shining through.

"I can't... use my powers?" He reminded me of a god made human and losing their abilities to control their domains. It was strange to see.

A white shockwave blasted Chuuya backward, almost like he'd been hit by a truck. I flew back too, a new wave of pain shooting through me, I wasn't thrown by Hirostu's skill though. The old man called out my name, alarmed and confused. It made sense, since there was no reason for me to be all the way back here.

"He got me..." I explained sullenly, holding my thoroughly beaten stomach. "Kicked me right before we crashed... and I let go of him. He used his skill to fly backwards."

Chuuya called out something in triumph, but I wasn't paying attention to him. Everything hurts. The boy's kicks were a nightmare, especially since he had a knack for hitting the same spot each time.

I saw a blur as the boy launched himself at Hirostu, it was a powerful enough kick that even if I got there in time to nullify Chuuya's ability, the force alone would still tear the old man apart. But black flames blasted everyone backwards instead.

People, buildings, utility poles and even trees were blown away with the black shockwave. Everything was torn, as if the air itself had suddenly lashed out.

A black explosion.

My vision spun from the repeated force, heat cooking my skin, but when I could finally raise my body enough to look up, I saw it: glowing red eyes, a face wrinkled, aged from the death and destruction it's owner had caused. The long white hair was billowing in the wind. Standing in the flames was the devil himself, someone even Hades must have struggled to find the right punishment for.

"The previous boss," my words were swallowed by the flames before the heat and trauma of the day became too much for even my body to handle.

The last thing I saw before everything faded away was the black flames.