Haru hated that he not only lied to Koukin and Hakufu but also to Goei, they have been so kind to him. They gave him the most delicious food he ever tasted; they treated his wounds, and gave him a bed to sleep for the night. He never gotten this kind of hospitality before and it was really nice to experience it with them. Again he hated that he lied to all of them but he knew deep down within his being that if they ever knew about him, from him being homeless to what really happen in the alley with those teens, they would fear and hate him. Just like everyone else he ever met.
"But what can Haru do? Haru fears if they know the truth… they will fear and hate Haru, probably try to kill Haru too. Maybe Haru should just leave and never see them again… no, Haru won't do that. Haru will just have to be extra careful that's all."
Haru got out of bed and went to find the others. He found Koukin sweeping the ground wearing a white hoodie and grey pants and Goei doing some laundry. They gave Haru some clothes to wear while his were being washed. Just a simple green shirt and white sweat pants, they were a bit big and baggy for him but he didn't mind.
"Good morning everyone." He greeted them.
"Oh good morning Haru-kun, did you sleep well?" Goei asked in a cheerful mood.
"Haru did, thank you for letting Haru stay for the night."
"It's no problem man, you needed it. There is some food in the kitchen if you're hungry." Koukin said.
"Thank you but Haru doesn't want to seem like a free loader to you all."
"You're not dear and besides your clothes aren't done drying yet so you might as well get something to eat and wait for a bit. Plus I would feel better if you rest a little more and let your wounds heal more." Goei said.
Haru nodded but he knew all of his wounds are healed. Everytime he was beaten to an inch of his life; he would heal within a day or so and have not even a scar on him. It was one of the times he actually liked to have his abilities. But he didn't want them to know so he wears the bandages for now till he could leave. With nothing to do, he went to get the food and sat outside enjoying the day. Haru looks over to Hakufu's room and wonders if she feels better yet.
"Is Hakufu feeling better today?" He asked.
"She still hasn't got up yet Haru-san, I'm beginning to worry." Koukin sighed.
"That daughter of mine, I can't believe she's still like this. So she lost a fight and this makes it alright to mope all day in bed? She needs to get over it. And her clothes are a complete wreck too. Can't that girl ever stay out of trouble just once? I lost count of how many clothes she lost every time she fought." Goei said.
"But Aunt Goei… oh never mind." Koukin wanted to defend Hakufu but decided to drop it.
"So now she's going to stay depressed all day, but when you get choked I could see why one would be in the slums." Both Koukin and Haru looked at her surprised that she knew that.
"What makes Goei say that?" Haru asked.
"These of course." She held up a pair of Hakufu's panties.
The same ones she pissed in.
"Oh well, she'll learn soon enough that not all fights will end with her on top. Now let's see what else needs to be done around here."
"Can Haru help Goei?"
"Why that's very sweet of you Haru-kun. Yes you can help me; you can dust and pick up around here while I clean the kitchen." Haru nodded and went off to clean.
For the next few hours Haru helped around the house. He never cleaned a house before but he was a quick learner… after a few hiccups of course. It was around lunch time as Haru and Koukin brought some food to Hakufu's room.
"Hey Hakufu, we have some lunch." Koukin knocked on the door but got no reply.
"Come one Hakufu, you need to eat something." He tried again but still no answer.
"Is Hakufu still asleep?" Haru asked.
"No, she is just ignoring us. Well I'm coming in with or without her saying so. She needs to eat."
Haru nodded and opened the door for him. The room was dark and they saw Hakufu still in her futon with the covers over her. They could only see the top of her head and hair. The two went next to the futon and tried to get her attention.
"Hey come on Hakufu, I know you're down about losing but you should let this make you feel depressed. You need to move on… and besides… about the fight with Ryomou… you didn't really lose to her." Koukin started to say.
"Is that wise Koukin? Haru thought Koukin said not to speak of what really happened to Hakufu." Haru said.
"I know what I said, Haru-san… I thought that keeping the truth from her might be the best thing. After all, the spirit within her is nothing but an uncontrollable sensation."
"Uncontrollable sensation?" Haru turned his head confused.
"Yes, within every magatama, there lies a spirit, but not a spirit like a soul per say, but rather their powers, skills, and instincts. Some do have the spirit of the Fighters but the majority of them are just power sources. Each carries a Fighter's power and destiny. One is different from the other and in the case of Hakufu's, she has one of the most powerful and dangerous ones. She has a dragon spirit within her."
"A… dragon spirit?"
"Yes, one of the three, these are the uncontrollable sensations. The dragon spirit magnifies the person's power to well above A-rank status. It was this spirit that we saw yesterday. It gives them great power but has a drawback as we saw, they lose all control of their true self and the hunger and primal feeling of battle consumes them to the point of killing everyone in their path. They are the driving force that makes them so powerful and deadly. It makes them nearly unstoppable. And this all resides with her magatama."
"What else does Hakufu's Sacred Bead do?" Haru asked.
"The same as the others but hers is special, because it not only holds the dragon spirit, but it also comes from her ancestor Sun Ce, The Shao Haou or Little Conqueror. He was one of the strongest Fighters in all of China, a general that made a mark on history. Every time he rides into battle he would be victorious. No one was able to defeat him but he died in his early twenties, no one knows how he died though."
"… Does… that mean Hakufu may die… soon?"
"At this current rate… I'm afraid so, Haru-san."
"Isn't… isn't there a way to stop this? To change her fate? Or yours?"
"Many have tried Haru-san; God only knows how many of us tried so hard and risked nearly everything to change our destiny… and those we care for. But the sad reality is that no matter how strong, powerful, smart, or great we are and how close we get… we ultimately fail. Nothing we as humans can do to change it… so we either learn to accept it and follow the endless cycle… or face a fate worse than death." Koukin said solemnly.
Haru could see that Koukin was so distress, but with what he has heard from him and others, can you really blame him? Your life, your very existence is nothing more than to reply to the same act as your ancestors did. Knowing that you are completely powerless to even change the slightest thing. To have no say in having a life any other than the one you're now in, that you must walk down the same circle as your ancestors did and knowing your predecessors will go down the same path. Even for all this power and strength you have, you can do absolutely nothing to change it, but rather be a puppet and let whatever fate has to say pull your strings. Haru thought his life was rough but he can see that there are others who have a life just as tough as his, if not more so for some.
"So long story short, our life fucking sucks Haru-san and we have no say in it." Koukin said.
"… Haru sees… Haru is so sorry. Haru never imagined that a life could be placed in such a way and to be able to do nothing to change it."
"Not unless you're some powerful being with powers that of a god." Koukin joked.
"Or a monster." Haru whispered.
"What was that?"
"… nothing… Haru thinks it's time to get Hakufu up now." Haru nudged Hakufu a little and her head fell off.
"AAAAHHHH!" Both Koukin and Haru screamed and held each other.
After screaming like little girls for about ten seconds, they finally got a good look at the head and saw it was a dummy with a wig.
"Huh… a dummy head?" Koukin blinked in surprise.
"Koukin look." Haru removed the covers and they found a log with a note on it.
"Haru thinks it's from Hakufu, here." Haru handed the note to him.
"It says 'Dear everyone, I'm going a trip to fix my broken heart so please don't come looking for me, Hakufu.'" Koukin read the note out loud.
"Broken heart?"
"That freak'n idiot, is she serious? Of all the selfless things to pull!" Koukin said with an angry sigh.
"Where did she go?"
"I'm not sure, who knows when she left. She could be anywhere."
"This is not good, she is so depressed right now that Hakufu may not be able to think clearly and get Hakufu in danger, we have to find her." Haru said.
"You read my mind; let's hit the streets Haru-san."
So the two quickly headed to the front door only to meet the smiling face of Hakufu's mom.
"And where are you two going in such a hurry?" She asked.
"Um… I have to get something at school that I forgot to get and Haru-san is going there to get it and maybe do something else after… right Haru-san?"
"Yeah that's it." Haru nodded.
"Well ok then, have fun you two and please stay out of trouble."
"We will. Oh and Hakufu is going to be in bed all day, she is so depressed. But she ate her lunch and wishes to sleep all day so please don't bother her." Koukin added.
"I see… well at least it'll be quiet for the day. I'll see you boys later, oh and here Haru-kun your clothes are done." Goei handed his clothes to him and left.
"Quick thinking Koukin, Haru will quickly change and will help you find Hakufu." Koukin nodded.
After Haru changed, the two hit the streets. Koukin thought they would cover more ground and be able to find her faster if they split up. So Haru hit the back streets since that's his expertise while Koukin went to anywhere he might find Hakufu. Haru was in one of the alleys when he stopped near a dumpster. He looked around before he remove all the bandages on him. He saw all his wounds were completely healed.
"Just like always… Haru sure is a freak." He said sadly and threw the bandages away.
So for hours Haru went to every place he could think of to find Hakufu. Stores, fast food joints, the park, and hell he even went to a bookstore but found zip. So now we see Haru sitting at a bench near the hospital. He tried everywhere he could think of to find her and all that got him was him running around like an idiot with people looking at him weirdly, he was use to that but it was frustrating he couldn't find her.
"But now that Haru is thinking about it, where would one go if they had a broken heart? Haru doesn't know Hakufu that well and from what Haru gathers; she could be just walking to anywhere Hakufu's feet leads her. Haru wish Haru could have a sign to know where to go." He said with a sigh.
"Perhaps you should try room 243 in the hospital." Said a voice.
Haru shot his head up and looked at the person who spoke to him. It was two people; one was an old gentlemen about in his 60's wearing a blue long sleeve shirt with a black vest and black pants with sandals. He had no hair and a long white beard and whisker like mustache. He had brown eyes that held a wise yet firm look to them but you can also see they held kindness as well. Next to him was a woman about his age wearing a dark red kimono with white flower petals on them. He hair was grey and was held back in a bun. She carried a wooden cane with dragons head on it and a bouquet of flowers in her left arm. She wore a pair of glasses that looked antique. Her crystal blue eyes held the same thing as the old man.
"Can…Haru help you?" He asked.
"It's not whether you help us but more we help you child, you're looking for someone important right?" The old man asked.
"Yes, Haru is looking for a friend but can't find her. Haru doesn't know where to look next."
"Like I said, try room 243 in the hospital here, it may lead you to find more than just your lost friend." The woman said.
"What's in the hospital… oh no! Please don't tell Haru she got hurt and went to the hospital!" Haru started to panic.
"No my dear boy, she's not but someone else is that you should meet. A person we believe well help you along the way to find more than you seek." The man said.
"Someone else… who?"
"You'll just have to go in and find out. Oh and take these with you, it'll help." She gave him the flowers.
"Um… ok. It was nice meeting you two, Haru hope we meet again."
"Oh, I believe we may run into each other on the road one day, have a nice day Haru." The two bowed and Haru left.
"We'll meet sooner than you can imagine… young master." The man whispered.