***[1]
The trek to the cafe was just as dull and boring as walking literaly anywhere in the backstreets was, Byron's bare feet padding against the concrete as he walked forward under a murky grey sky that had become a characteristic sight for the backstreets.
The crowds parted as he walked past, almost every person, from gruff looking thugs to your more average looking backstreets residents had turned their heads to look at him.
The interest in the man might've been from a multitude of factors, his appearance was nothing to scoff at, from his build to his features, maybe it was the incredibly expensive looking cloak he wore, one which would definetely sell for atleast a couple million ahn to the right buyer.
Or, maybe, just maybe.
It was because he was carrying a blood covered midget bridal style...
''...''
''So uh....what happened to carrying me on your shoulder...?''
Byron didn't so much as glance down towards me "Simple, this is far more optimal."
"Uh...h-how exactly..?"
"Well if you rode atop mine shoulders, a stray projectile could end my most dearest of kindred's life prematurely." He raised his finger whilst speaking like he was making some grand point.
"....."
"Father, that's-"
"sigh You're right i guess..."
Byron let out a smug ''Hmph'' at that.....fuckin bastard, lucky his chest's comfy...
With a long drawn out sigh, i leaned back against said chest, watching people go by in the streets, doing whatever daily bussiness they had to attend to, my fingers playing with his robes absentmindedly.
Usually i was atleast a little anxious when walking out in the middle of the street like this, if you didn't look twice at every twitch of movement you saw heading your way in the backstreets, you'd die pretty fast, 's just how it is.
But now, well, i have this idiot willing to take a bullet for me cause he made me into a kindred yesterday...who's also currently carrying me like a princess...
My fingers stopped in place as a thought had suddenly struck me.
''Hey uh.....father...?''
''Hm?'' He looked down towards me.
''How'd you make that wierd sword thingy...the one out of blood i mean.''
Byron stopped walking, blinking twice at me before, once again, smiling cheerfully.
''Ah! You must be referring to my hardblood arts!'' His walking immedietely resumed as he chimed, rolling up his sleeves whilst doing so, his hand coming to tightly grip his forearm, somehow still simultaneously carrying me as he did so...impressive.
''Uh, yeah? I think that's it, so are you gonna-''
''Oh yes! I would be more then happy to demonstrate!'' The intensity of his grip only grew, his knuckles going white.
''...''
''...''
''...Uhhh..father what are you-?''
SQUELCH
My eyes might as well have popped out of my head from how much they widened, in a smooth motion, Byron had torn off his entire forearm, clean from the bone, blood cascading down the bloodied stump of a limb and onto the floor in massive splashes.
''Hmph, that took far more effort then i had expec-''
''FATHER WHAT THE FUCK!?''
Byron paused again, a soft ''Hm?'' escaping his lips, staring down at me as he clutched the torn off forearm in his hand.
''Did you not want me to demonstrate, also be mindful of langua-?''
''YEAH, BUT I THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE- EXPLAIN IT OR SOMETHING, NOT TEAR YOUR FUCKING HAND OFF!?''
''Language-''
''WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, WHERE ARE WE EVEN SUPPOSED TO FIND A DOCTOR OR WORKSHOP TO FIX THIS UP, WE'RE BLOODFIENDS FOR FUCK SA-''
''Language.''
CLINK
All my worries, along with my yelling, immedietely stopped as Byron just slid his severed hand back onto the bleeding stump.
''...''
''Oh right bloodfiends can do that.''
Shaking my head got me back into the right thoughtspace, while Byron was fine, there was still the issue of, well.
Literaly every single backstreets resident in the street having turned to look at the guy who just reattached his severed hand.
''...Father they're uh...they're staring...'' I tugged on his robe to try get his attention.
''...''
Byron slowly turned his head down to look back at me, having finished adjusting his newly reattached hand.
''Shall i kill them then?''
''...''
''...What the fu-NO!?''
Again, he did what he always did when i'd mildly upset him, stare down at me with that same pouty frown.
''But why not, they are clearly upsetting you?''
''WELL YEAH? DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET TO JUST KILL THEM OUTRIGHT!? IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET TOO!?''
''....But....why not?'' He tilted his head curiously.
''CAUSE ITS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!?''
''....''
''I fail to see how that is an issue?'' His grip tightened on me as he said that.
''CAUSE YOU'L GET PEOPLE STARING AT US! WE ALREADY DRAW TOO MUCH ATTENTION BY APPEARANCE ALONE JUST-UGH!''
I tried to dislodge myself from his hold but.....yeah no, trying to push water uphill would've been fucking easier, after a few seconds of pointless struggle, i just..gave up.
''Just....sigh, get to the cafe, it's down the street.''
''...''
''What is down the-''
''Just keep walking straight.''
He nodded at that, resuming his slow trot towards the cafe, jostling me around slightly with each small bounce of his footsteps, there was a..slightly tense, albeit mostly awkward silence as we walked, could feel the stares and murmured whispers of the people around us practically burning a hole trough Byron's back, and i wasn't even the one on the receiving end of them.
A few moments later, just as i was deep in thought, Byron's voice piped up once more.
''...So, why exactly is killing these people "bad"?''
''Cause it's...''
''Literaly in the middle of the street''
''Well, yes, but, they have no real way of defending themselves no?''
''Look it's not ABOUT that, it's-'' My mouth was ajar whilst my brain struggled to find the right words.
''Okay, think of it like this, if you did, kill everyone around us, it would make us very well known''
''...''
''Wouldn't it be beneficial for the masses to fear us though?''
''No it-''
''Haah~ Look, if you killed everyone here, then nobody would ever come to this part of the backstreets again, cause if there was even a miniscule chance that the same thing could happen to them, they wouldn't take it''
''Not to even MENTION the various fixer bullshi-''
''Language.''
''Various fixer activities that would include us, and whatever the thumb would decide to do about it''
Byron's hand came to rub at his chin in thought, for once he seemed to...genuinley understand my words, a foreign feeling flooded my chest, something dangerously, dangerously close to pride for once.
''But if that is the case, how shall i decide who to kill?''
''Look just-...'' The words died on my tounge again, finding them seemed to be a struggle ''Just...only kill who i say you're allowed to kill.''
Byron's face sort of went...blank for a lack of a better term, staring off at absolutely nothing, before slowly, yet curtly, closing his eyes and nodding.
''Understood.'' Was the only thing he said afterwards, resuming the walk to the cafe.
...
To say the silence was awkward now would be putting it...very lightly, looking up at his face he seemed so stiff and serious now, i get my request must've been pretty hard on the overprotective dumbass but what did i-
..Oh right.
''Oh and you can also kill anyone who tries to kill me first''
Yup, he was overjoyed upon hearing that, the rest of the walk to the cafe might aswell have had him skipping, humming to himself with a close eyed blissful smile.
''...Fuckin' moron.'' Was the only thought that crossed my mind as i saw it unfold infront of me.
He had also inadvertedly, in that blissed out skipping, went past the right turn he was supposed to take, requiring an additional good 5 minutes of agressively tugging on his robe until he stopped, and then took the right course.
We continued walking in silence as per usual, until, right as the cafe came into view, actual functioning neon lights buzzing outside, Byron spoke.
''My dearest of kindre-''
I cut him off ''Can you like, stop calling me that? It's Haru, just...Haru, Haru's fine, you can call me that''
''...''
''My dearest of kindred.'' He said, a little more agressively, his grip tightening on me ''May you remind me why we're headed to this "Cafe" again?''
Since ''Because you're stupid as shit and i finnaly have enough money to get blackout drunk'' most likely wasn't an acceptable answer, i settled for ''Because i wanna show you what real food and drink looks like, duh.''
Byron's brows furrowed slightly ''...We have no need for drink though...we may sate our thirst with blo-''
''Yeah yeah yeah'' I cut him off again, something which was quickly becoming a habit of mine, additionaly causing Byron to pout again whilst i spoke ''But there exsist things that are nice to consume that aren't blood.''
He made no further attempt to argue, just grumbling as he aproached ever closer to the cafe, what in the name of the city he was grumbling about, i couldn't say.
At long last though, we'd made it, this cafe was one of my personal favorite places to blow half my paycheck and get blackout drunk[2] at you know it was a damn good caf when they sold beers to people who looked 13, the thing was a stark contrast to the other buildings in the backstreets, looked almost like something you'd see in a nest, the keyword being almost, it had some rough spots and patches, but windows this clean we're quite rare in the backstreets.
''....So this is the supposed cafe...'' Byron murmured, his hand moving to open the wrap around the doorknob, before being intercepted and stopped by my own. ''Hm?''
''Just...a quick word, when you open that door...''
''Don't move, you'l see why.''
Byron smirked, his hand reaching for the doorknob once more ''Hmph, you worry yourself too much'' he gently began to slide it open, the ringing of the door chime becoming audible, ''A first kindred such as myself will be undettered by-''
''Not a fuckin' step closer~!'' An voice, unfamilliar to Byron spoke cheerfully from inside.
He hadn't even made it more then a step into the cafe, before he decided to be a nuisance, the owner of this quiet little place, and the reason why it was one of my favorite spots.
Running a bussiness in the backstreets was about as difficult as you'd expect, forget trusting the people not to rob you while you're on break, being confident people would actually pay you for your services instead of just robbing you was a luxury afforded by very few, mostly workshops.
This means, typically, the owner would have to defend his establishment.
And right now, he was doing exactly that.
The bussiness end of a shotgun was being pressed up against Byron's forehead right now, a stainless white barrel connected to a fancy ivory handle, and the man holding the shotgun, was the owner of this cafe.
He was a fossil il tell you that much, a man in his late 70's, looked deceptively young for his actual age, with a full head of greying, slowly whiting hair, dressed in a fancy black suit.
Oh, and his index finger was right on the trigger.
"Now now, i know the patrons have been spreading some rumors~ about me but i can assure you that i havent gone senile yet." He shoved the end of the barrel further against Byron's forehead for emphasis, who didn't exactly show much of a reaction, partly because i gave up trying to explain what a gun was an hour ago, in his eyes, all he had was a pipe up to his head.
The man's eyes narrowed at the apparent lack of a reaction
"Cmon, don't be shy, say somethin'! It's quite rare that you see a face that pretty in these backstree-''
''Do you have to do this to every new patron you get...''
The man froze, his gaze slowly lowering to look at me while maintaining a smile.
''...''
''Well now...what do we got e're~''
The rifle was lowered from Byron's forehead, resting at the elderly man's side, Byron naturally didn't react but his grip tightened on me a little as he saw the man's appraising gaze.
''...''
''...''
''...''
''...''
Slowly, over and over, his eyes raked up Byron's form, from his face to his feet, ocassionaly pausing to look at me still cradled against his chest.
''...''
''Oh he's a friend o' yours''
''...''
''WHY DIDN'T YA SAY SOMETHING YOU LITTLE RUNT!? YOU GOT ANY IDEA HOW EXPENSIVE AMMO IS, ALLMOST BLEW THE HEAD OFF A POTENTIAL PAYING CUSTOMER!''
''OH MY BAD, MAYBE I THOUGHT YOU GAVE UP POINTING GUNS AT PEOPLE THE SECOND THEY WALK IN A WHILE AGO!?!?''
''WELL YEAH, A WHILE AGO WHEN IT COMES TO NORMAL PEOPLE, NOT'' He gestured vaguely at Byron ''WHATEVER THE HELL HE IS!?''
''...''
''...''
''4 Beers''
''Ya got the money to pay for it?''
''Suprisingly yes''
''You sure?''
''Mhm''
''Super duper sure''
''Super duper duper sure''
''What about him''
''Milkshake''
''What flavor''
''Strawberry''
''...''
''...''
A brief silence followed, before he rubbed his chin thoughtfully
''H'well.....mhm...'spose he doesn't look "too" dangerous...'' That "too" part was accentuated by him making air quotes.
''Alright then! A paying customer's a paying customer!''
The man slowly stretched his arm outwards, gesturing to a nicely lit spot in the corner.
''I'l go get you fellas your drinks then.''
I watched closely as he retreated back to the counter, grabbing an apron that had been left on the table, tying it around his waist, and then filling trough cabinets for the neccecary ingredients.
...
Byron had been eerily silent trough all this, wonder what he's thin-
My thoughts we're cut off.
I felt his fingers dig into my sides, hard.
''AGH-THE FUCK WHAT GIVES!?''
''Oh, apologies, he seemed threatening, so i simply wanted to ensure your safety in my embrace.''
No attempt was made to loosen said embrace, that was also crushing my ribs, audibly i might add.
''Where is the table we are to be seated at again?''
''I-it's..o-over t-t-t-there-''
''Ah, splendid.''
Byron walked over to said corner, it was really fun, you can really apreciate the beauty of the antique style decorations of the coffee shop when you're being paraded around as the breath of life leaves your body.
''...''
His brows furrowed in confusion slightly, looking down at me in confusion, because yes, it was oh so confusing as to why i was in pain while the crunching of my ribs
''Are you alright?''
''N-no....''
''...''
''Oh, my sincerest apologies.''
The grip finnaly loosened, letting me get a much needed gasp of air, coughing and sputtering violently all troughout that inhale.
''T-Tha cough T-thanks.''
''You are most welcome.''
..."Most welcome" my ass, fuckin bastard.
Every cloud's got a silver lining though, with this one, it was that i'd soon enough get to chug 4 beers one after another.
Byron had reached the table as my thoughts were drifting off to thoughts of getting absolutely hammered, gently plopping himself down on a cushioned seat.
And then placed me in his lap, gently patting my head.
Dunno why i thought i'd get to sit opposite of him, or beside him, or literaly anywhere that wasn't on top of him...
The headpats felt good though, as much as it pissed me off.
Now that we'd finnaly sat down though...i wanted to ask a question that had been on my mind.
''Oi, Father.''
''Hm?''
''...Where'd you get this robe.''
''...''
''Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm''
''I have not a clue, i merely awoke with it.''
Of course he didn't.
The thing was an absolute marvel of cratsmanship, even someone as passionless about it as myself could tell, the embroidere was exquisite, the patterns weaved intricately into the cloak.
My eyes flickered to his right shoulder...it should've been damaged there, i saw it myself, that wakashu lodge his katana straight into it, but it was just slightly bloodied, no signs of tearing whatsoever.
With another sigh, i settled for just looking trough the window, lightly kicking my feet in the air.
Trying my best to ignore that Byron was braiding my hair....
Don't know why he was doing it, to be fair i don't know why he did most of the things he did to me, the hair brushing...now the braiding.
Under no circumstances were either of them enjoyable though...
...
Okay now that i get a sideglance at the window the braid actually looks pretty ni-
''DRINKS UP!'' My thoughts we're cut off as 5 massive glasses we're slammed onto the table by the owner, 4 beers in mugs and a strawberry milkshake, topped with a generous amount of whipped cream and a cherry.
Where in the name of the city did he get the ingredients to make this in the backstreets, i did not know, nor bother to ask.
''Now pay up ya little runt~!''
''So fu-''
Byron glared at me.
''Fuuuuuuuuuunnyyyy~ You're so funny~'' Shoved the money into his hand forcefully, just hoped he'd piss off so i could enjoy my drinks in peace.
And piss off he did, the old coot liked money, can't blame him, walked away after wetting his fingers and beginning to count the bills.
''Haah~'' Still, as much as everyone around me was annoying, salvation had come, in the shape of beer.
Right as i want to take one of those beers though, Byron's hand shot out and gripped my wrist tightly, because we can't have nice things can we?
''...What is it now father?''
''...This is the milk that is to be shaken?''
''Uh, yeah? Not literal-''
SLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP
Couldn't get a word out, he just, bit down on the straw and fucking inhaled the thing, half the milkshake gone in a single gulp, his tounge darted out, numerous times, to lick the whipped cream off his face.
He was smacking his lips, for like...10 seconds, staring at a wall for some reason, before promptly.
''Atrocious.''
''Huh?-''
''The drink is much too thick for my taste, whatever ingredients used to prepare it must've been clawed away from the stash of a family of rats, the taste of the glass somehow seeps into the drink inspite of all logic and common sense, the white clouds of sugar far too overpowering in their flavor for the drink itself to be recognized if both are ingested simultaneously-''
''Father what the fuck-''
''Language.''
''Additionaly, we are leaving.''
Attempting to explain that i'd just spent a good 2000 Ahn on this was pointless, the plea fell on deaf ears, the man was already angrily stomping towards the door.
''...Huh-OI YOU LEFT YOUR BEE-''
The owner too, was cut off, as the door was slammed shut behind Byron, chime ringing.
''...''
''...''
''...''
''The shaken milk was quite delicious actually, i merely did not wish for you to develop a habit of drinking alcohol.''
''THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT!?''
I was pretty pissed of course, and in that state of anger i'd failed to notice Byron's eyes scanning the streets of the city around me
''I MEAN SERIOUSLY, YOU COULD'VE JUST FUCKING ASKE-''
''Quiet.''
''NO IM NOT GONNA BE FUCKING QUIET! YOU JUST SCAMMED ME OUT OF 2000-''
And thats when it finnaly revealed itself, atleast to me, Byron had noticed it long before i did...
Something had been hiding in that alleyway, it's appearance was, strange to say the least, moreso shaped like some kind of monster or distortion then a human, a white porcelain mask obscuring its face, wearing a long, striped dark blue cloak.
''-Ahn...?''
The thing was practicaly in my face as i'd finnaly registered it, insectoid like limbs protruding from underneath that cloak, shooting to grasp at my face.
''.....SHI-''
CRACK
''-T?''
Byron's fist connected before i could even finish that sentence, a loud cracking noise howling in the air, the thing was sent flying backwards, skittering across the pavement with a screech.
It's porcelain mask had been shattered completely, the shards slowly falling to the ground as Byron dusted his fist off against his robe.
''Are you injured?''
''N-no im fine..?''
''...''
''Good.''
My eyes turned towards where the thing had just been sent flying to, apart from the porcelain mask shards, there wasn't even the slightest trace of its presence.
''Hold on tight.''
''Huh, why-''
He dashed forwards, the air rushing past my face,his feet tapping against the concrete, its times like these that remind me this moron's meant to be a first kindred.
Still...how could i not have noticed that, trying to remember the last time someone actually got the jump on me was near impossible, cause well, it didn't happen.
Theres no way i actually lowered my guard feeling safe enough knowing he would protect me right...?
...
Whatever, the more pressing matter was where he was running, i could definetely hear skittering up ahead, he was right on the thing's tail, having entered a winding maze of alleyways that he was navigating with suprising efficiency.
I swore i could hear a voice that was familliar to me from the far end of the alleyway, a deep, gruff voice that was characteristic of-
''FATHER STOP!''
''But-''
''JUST, STOP, DON'T PEEK PAST THAT CORNER, OKAY?''
Byron had in fact stopped dead in his tracks, his expression one of utter confusion as to why i'd just told him that.
''...But that beast-''
''FORGET THE BEAST, JUST, GET ME CLOSER, QUIETLY, NO RASH MOVES UNLESS I SAY SO.'' My finger frantically pointed towards the end of the alleyway, a sharp right turn.
Byron...seemed hesitant.
But eventually, he nodded calmly, taking slow steps towards it.
Until he was right at the corner.
My hands gripped the wall, slowly peeking past it, just enough so that i could see...
...
It was him[3]
Behind that corner was a small yet still open space nestled inbetween a few buildings.
20, i counted no less then 20 people dressed in Kurokumo clan garb, 3 of them had those cloud patterned tatoos stretching all the ways down to their forearms, the man in front of the bunch was a familliar face.
The captain of the Kurokumo clan, atleast in this district spesificaly, coat billowing behind him, a much fancier looking sword then the others resting on his hip.
Opposite to him, was the creature whos mask Byron had cracked, revealing a face not even a mother could love, more reminiscent of a some kind of monstrous maw then a face, 2 other ''creatures'' just like it also present, although only one now had their porcelain mask present.
A figure i'd failed to notice finnaly spoke up.
''....You may begin the transcation.'' He tapped his spear against the floor.
...Lets see here, a long white cape, large collar that obscured his lower face, golden trimmed-
....The index, he was clearly a member of the index, the hell we're the index doing here though!? This was thumb territory, what transaction is he even talking about-
''Silk made, finest ingredients.'' One of the ''beasts'' said in a calm, robotic voice, reaching into its robe to take out about 5 kilograms of nicely folded silk.
''Fuckin finnaly...'' The man infront of the kurokumo clan remarked. ''Been meaning to get my hands on one of these fancy fabrics...'' A smirk played at his lips.
''Transaction completed?''
''Yeah yeah, shove it up your ass, you've already been payed, go make more fabrics or something.''
He scoffed as he spun on his heel, along with the rest of the kurokumo clan members present, beginning to walk away, signalled by a wave over his shoulder.
The 3...spider things, also immedietely went to leave, trough an entirely seperate alleyway
Complete silence followed, broken only by the skittering of their limbs, and the footsteps of the kurokumo clan members, the index proxy in the center stood still as a statue, spear clutched in his hand.
''...Seems we came at the very end of the deal.'' I thought...
....
''....Haah, got worked up over nothing, why'd we even come here anyway, not like we had a reason to chase the stupid thing-''
''I can see you yknow.''
''...''
''Huh?''
''The 2 bloodfiends behind that corner, i am aware of your presence.''
Byron's grip on me tightened.
''I mean no harm however, i was here initially only to oversee an exsisting prescript.''
The index proxy seemed unpretrubed
''...''
''I should've been more wise to trust the will of the city, it had been one of my greatest concerns as to how i would locate you in the vastness of these backstreets.''
The proxy was reaching into his pocket to take out a...strange looking device, with a small beeping noise, it flickered on, continuing to beep as a message began to be displayed on it.
''Today's prescript'' It read at first
''Deliver the following prescript to all bloodfiends in the backstreets of X corp.''
''Kill every single member of the kurokumo clan.''
''Time limit: 1 day''
[1] Kindly play ''Limbus Company OST-Mephistopheles Story Theme'' on youtube for optimal experience.
[2] This statement is completely false, as Haru has never been able to purchase more then 2 beers at any given visit.
[3] Kindly begin playing ''Libary of Ruina OST-Story Alley (Backstreets) Theme''