Warrior's Mask

6. "Villain" Exonerated

Ishido's POV:

“What does it look like I'm doing?” I replied, my gaze shifting between him and his father. Who should I be more afraid of right now? I don’t know, and I don’t like it, but either way, I’m prepared to run if I need to. I’m not fighting if I can avoid doing so. I may be the wonder boy, but not even I can pull a miracle like this that would be believable. Well, actually, Sho’s injured, so I might have a chance. I feel kind of bad for thinking like that, but if push comes to shove, this might get violent, and I still don’t like my chances with either.

Sho shot me a glare, his anger slowly rising and bubbling over as he tried to keep his cool in front of his father. He failed miserably, but I appreciate the effort, I guess. I don’t think he was trying for me though. I’m surprised he could even focus his anger on me, considering the condition he was in. “Now’s not the time to be a bloody hero, you idiot.”

“Well, too bad,” I told him, nervously turning my attention back to his father, who seemed more intrigued than mad at me, which was a relief. I might not die at the hands of a Yoshimura today. Hooray! That’s an achievement, right? Surviving the anger of two Yoshimura. I’mma take it as a win for now. The wonder boy performed another miracle! I am so blessed to have this ability, otherwise, I would not have made it in the world.

Yoshimura let go of Sho, who briefly had a sense of relief flood over him, but he soon turned his attention back to me, and anger seemed to take over him. Sho was not happy I was here. Not that I blame him, and I fully expected it. I wasn’t prepared for it - I have nothing to protect myself if he decides to come and kill me - but I expected it, and that’s enough. I just know that I need to be prepared to run at any given time, and as fast as I can, because I know neither of them will show me any mercy, even if injured. Yoshimura stared at me, displaying a mixture of emotions. “Ishido? I recognise that name. What’s your first name?”

I grinned, glad that he recognised me. I am honoured that he wasn’t too prideful to forget about me. Unlike some people who have only just learnt my name after knowing me for several years, and still refuse to acknowledge me as a person, let alone as a wielder. “Seiji Ishido’s my name, and Wieldism’s my game! It’s nice to meet you, sir!”

“He’s the one you almost lost to?” He turned to Sho, who just simply nodded in agreement, shrinking away from his father. No remark, no attitude, no nothing. What’s up with that? He’s like a completely different person. It’s weird and… scary. I don’t like this side of him. It feels wrong. “So, you’re the Pipsqueak who almost beat a Yoshimura? You look like nothing special to me.”

“He’s something special, alright,” Sho mumbled under his breath, which earned him a glare from his father. He has a point, though. I’m the wonder boy for a reason. I’m not supposed to look special, and that’s how I get the upper hand on people. They underestimate me. I’m not a complete and utter fool who doesn’t know what he’s doing, as much as people hate that, and I use that to my advantage and perform the miracles that I do. It’s all I have going for me right now.

“What was that?” Yoshimura snapped, his anger starting to bubble. This isn’t good. If he gets too mad then this might become violent, and I don’t need that. Sho doesn’t need that. He’s been through enough today.

“Nothing, sir.” Sho’s eyes darted to the floor as he squirmed under his father’s hard stare, scratching his wrist. He was in such an uncomfortable position, and he seemed to be afraid of making any mistakes - afraid of just being. Is that why he’s so obsessed with strength and winning? Because he doesn’t want to displease his father? That’s so sad…

Yoshimura walked back into the house, stopping in the doorway, and then staring at his son, who refused to meet his gaze and kept his eyes trained on the ground. “Don’t come back until you’ve crushed him and his pathetic friend. I don’t care where you stay, or what you do, as long as it’s far away from me. You got that?”

“Yes, sir,” Sho replied, a sense of sadness engulfing him, and overtaking his very presence, but there was little surprise on his face, almost like he was expecting it to happen. He’s paying an unfair price for my growth in strength. This isn’t right, but what can I do other than offer him a place to stay? I guess I could call social services, but would they listen to the report of a kid? Or accept a monster? I don’t know… He’s a Yoshimura, and who wants to accept a Yoshimura? But, I guess everyone probably thinks like that. Is that why… he’s so obsessed with winning and crushing everyone? Because otherwise, he has nowhere else to stay? That’s so depressing. He doesn’t deserve this. This world is so cruel, and it’s not fair. He’s only like this because he has no other way to survive, and he shouldn’t have to deal with this. He’s a child.

“Good - I’m glad you can get at least one thing right.” Yoshimura slammed the door shut, causing Sho to flinch. He scratched his wrist a bit. Is that what he does when he’s trying to calm himself down? I noticed him doing it earlier. Or was it just because he had, what I assumed was, a broken wrist? I tilted my head to the side and watched him for a moment, his emerald hues darting around the street. Everyone walked past him, looking away from the boy. No one met his eyes, and children were hushed away from the scene. His eyes looked disheartened, and his shoulders slumped.

I’m surprised he’s lasted this long, with the conditions he’s had to live in thus far. That takes will - strength not many people can say they have. He’s stronger than most people give him credit for. People pass him off as ‘just another monster’ when in reality, he’s one of the strongest guys I know. Sho started walking away, seemingly unfazed by the whole situation. The sense of sadness I felt radiating off him just mere moments ago is now gone. Sho may not be heartless by choice, but how can he be alright with all of this? He just got treated like dirt by his father!

This is normal for the young wielder. This is all he knows. He can’t get upset about something when he knows no different.

Kagemiko…

An image of my prisbeast appeared next to Sho and I frowned at her. Why did she show herself? Does she pity Sho that much? That’s new. I usually show pity for both of us. I guess even prisbeats can change.

I can still hear you, Ishido. Contrary to popular belief, most prisbeasts are not monsters. But, unfortunately, we can’t help him, young one.

Why not? He needs help! We can’t just leave him like this.

How do we stop something that has been happening for an entire lifetime when no one else but us cares? He is beyond saving.

I don’t know, but we can still try! I will not give up on him. I am the wonder boy, and it’s my job to save everyone, and that includes Sho, whether people want it to happen or not. I won’t let him suffer for something he can’t control. I won’t let this world take another innocent soul right in front of my eyes. Not again. Never again.

Seiji-

“Yoshimura!” I called, and he turned to face me, an irritated look on his face. Or maybe that’s just his normal face. I genuinely can’t tell anymore, he’s irritated with me so much that it might as well be his usual face, which probably isn’t a good thing, but there’s not much I can do right now, so I guess I’ll have to deal with it. That’s not top of my priority list, anyway. I have trauma to unpack and walls to break down.

“What? Are you still trying to be a hero?” He c****d an eyebrow, sarcasm practically dripping from his voice as he addressed me, pretending like that didn’t just happen and everything was just fine. Damn, he’s good. How long has he been doing this? I will question Murasaki about it later if he doesn’t bite my head off beforehand. “I think you’ve done enough damage as it is, Ishido. Don’t you think so too?”

“I want to help you!” I told him, knowing how hard it can be doing everything on your own. He deserves to have at least someone in his corner. I don’t care if he hates me, I want to help him. I’m the wonder boy for a reason, and it’s people like him who need me the most, even if he won’t admit it himself. My eyes skimmed over his arm, and a pang of guilt appeared in my chest. I could have cried at that point, but I held it together - somehow. I don’t want to watch another child’s hope die.

Why do you care so much? This is not the wonder boy’s job. The wonder boy’s only job is to thrive in battle, and that’s all people care about.

Then you obviously don’t know much about the role of wonder boy, and how much I have to do to perform those miracles, only to make it look like I’m doing this in the moment. I have been the wonder boy for as long as I can remember - ever since I was child, and that wasn’t because we were a dream team. It was because I was there no one else gave a damn, and performed miracles across all aspects of life for all kinds of people. I am the wonder boy because I was the change no one knew they needed.

He doesn’t need your help. Nobody does. I think it’s time for the wonder boy to step down and take a break. He’s wearing himself too thin. Society is stable enough as it is.

Society is stable? Are you kidding me? Have you seen society lately? Grades are getting low, the teens are getting high. That 12-year-old is pregnant and her parents are wondering why. A 1st grader is swearing, a 3rd grader has been raped. Just take a look around you, isn't the system great? Who isn't faded these days, teens are sending nudes, kids are getting beaten, and teachers see the bruises. No calls for help are spoken, teens are smoking weed, young girls are cutting, this isn't what we need. The marks of taunting and yelling, parents are divorced. The 14-year-old is drinking beer, this couldn't get any worse. A little girl has killed herself, no one seems to care. Another kid has been expelled for a stupid dare. But it needs to change. Our world is officially broken. It's time to take a stand; our thoughts need to be spoken. And the wonder boy needs to strike back. It all starts with none other than Sho Yoshimura.

What is the wonder boy possibly capable of doing? Have you ever considered that you’re hurting him rather than helping him? He’s learned to do this on his own, and he may not like people sticking their heads in his business. He’s had his own fair share of heartbreak and people have shattered every part of him. If you’re gonna help him, it’s gonna be hard and it’s gonna take time. He can’t take much more.

He’s strong, he can take it, even if it does turn to crap. It’s the one thing he has that won’t waiver - his belief in himself and that he will get stronger.

Do what you must do. Just don’t hurt him too much. He doesn’t have much going for him as it is. The fire in his eyes has been extinguished, it seems to have left a long time ago, and I’m hoping you can light it again.

Sure thing, buddy. I'll do my best to not let another generation crumble.

“I don’t need help, especially not yours!” He spat, and you could hear his anger violently rising. Shoot… I didn’t mean to make him mad. I just want to help him while he’s in this rough spot. It could stop him from going back to his father because he’s working with the enemy, but is that really a bad thing? Sure, all kids deserve parents, but not all parents deserve kids, and this is the perfect example of that.

“Yes, you do!”

“No, I don’t.”

Seiji, let him be. He doesn’t want your help right now. He’s had a lot happen today. Let him recover.

“I lost my family when I was only seven years old, by no fault of my own,” I said, thinking about how I was going to word this without giving too much information away, this being the first time I’ve ever had to do this. I’m placing my full faith in Sho. I hope he doesn’t betray me later on, because if he does, then I might be screwed. The wonder boy is supposed to be all wieldism and prisweets, whether he wants to be or not.

“What?” He asked, staring at me, confused. This could be the stupidest thing I have ever done, but I’m prepared to face the consequences. Nobody will believe him, anyway, so I’m not too worried.

Seiji, don’t do it. He’s not worth it.

“My brother and I were put into care when he was nine, and I was seven. Less than a year later, I got adopted, and my brother found fame. I wasn’t able to speak to him until we found each other again about three months ago.” I looked at him with a sad smile, trying not to cry at the memories that came rushing back when I briefly explained my story. I played with the strings of my hoodie, trying to calm myself down. I have to do what I have to do to make a miracle happen. I need him to come to the light. He needs some hope in his life. Everybody deserves a little bit of hope in their life - even if it kills them. It makes them forget about all their problems, even if it’s just for a moment. For a period of time, no matter how long or short that is, they are free, and it is beautiful.