Coming Home and Bleeding Heart [SOLO]

The night rolled faster than he noticed, or... it felt so. When he woke up, he's facing the night sky with countless stars above. Not even a single lamp turned on, just the star and moon above as the source of illumination. How long has it been since he appreciated the night stars? He... once again drowned in nostalgia. His father often told him to appreciate simple things like this... it was painful, but somehow he can't help it when he closed his eyes. He always reminded of his deep, yet very fatherly voice.

---

"Pops, what are you doing?" a younger him asked his father who laying on his back while facing the vast sky. He always does this when he is looking for inspiration. At first, Beat didn't thought much about it, just his father probably in a funk, but the man somehow smiled and gestured at him so he would approach him. He obliged and lay beside his father. Just like today, the sky were illuminated by countless stars. The moon above was lovely. However, in the end, he still have no idea why his father would suddenly called him to lay with him. Mosquitoes are annoying, after all. It's also in the middle of summer, it's kind of humid outside. With AC inside, it's totally better than outside... or at least, so he thought, but suddenly the electricity just gone out. And that's when he remembered they haven't really paid the bill. Beat sighed in annoyance, but his father merely laughed and ruffled his hair.

"...Have you... ever considered how lucky you are?" he asked out of sudden.

"Why is that?"

"Well, you see, you're born in this planet. Sure there are conflict left and right, yet it haven't touched us just yet. Have you ever considered that is a blessing you still can look at the night star as carefreely as this?"

At that moment, he have no idea what so good about it. He just chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "They're pretty, but not too special," he commented.

"Aw, if you said that they'll cry you know?" his father teased. poking him on the ribs. Beat giggled and tickled back. After about five minutes, they stopped, both out of breath. "...Next time you'll say that the rain is in fact planet's tears."

"Ha, not even your dad would bullshit something that obvious! Plus it's just a bedtime story when you're small! I can't believe you still remembered that."

"At this rate you're more talented as storyteller than an artisan."

"Ouch, that hurts," his father feigned hurt expression, but that expression changed into a melancholic smile. He knew the reason why. He came home with more bruises than before. He... has decided to fought back then. But, it only resulted in worse kind of treatment. He just laughed it off, but both of his parents knew that his frustration doubled. Not only that he's treated worse, but also that he couldn't even touch them.

"...Beat, do you want to get stronger?"

"I do." it was something that spoken from the heart, something that he would say without even blinking or a moment of hesitation. His father... must have sensed his anger when he asked that. However, to his surprise, the man just sighed.

"Of course you are, I can't blame you."

"What about you, Pops?"

Beat's red eyes moved from his father's face to the crutches near him. He just smiled sadly and nodded.

"Of course I've thought about that too... What if I born a normal guy instead of... you know, someone like this. What if I'm born stronger than this? What if I happened to be... as strong, no, stronger than my peers? What if I can walk normally? Many of those what ifs floated in my mind... But even so, there are stuff that you can't change. I'm a weak man, and I accepted my weakness." The man stopped talking. He looked at Beat and smiled. A rough yet gentle hand caressed his cheek. "...Are you thinking that I would tell you to stop training and accept that you're weaker than the other?" Beat nodded almost immediately. His father laughed and messed his hair. "No, definitely not. Look, Beat. There's a difference in accepting and giving up. I accepted that I'm weak, but I refused to simply doing nothing. Even in this world, weak people have its place... It's a thing that my people doesn't accept."

"Your people? Dad, you never once told me about them!"

"Ah, right, where to begin?" Chard slowly rose to sitting position and leaned on a tree. He encouraged Beat to do the same.

"...See over there?" he pointed at the sky, at somewhere that Beat sworn to be so random. "I came from there."

"Now you're pulling my legs, Pops!"

"Har har har! Well, whether you believed it or not, I'll began my story with that. My people are stubborn people who always somehow caught in war. My father, my mother, they're the same. Hell, in fact, they're elites in their troops. I... I always looked up to them. I was born quite late when they're at their fourties. I was their hope for the family line. However, I was born weak, naturally weak. In my youth, I'm always treated as an absolute joke of my people, who probably strong enough to lift buildings."

"Buildings? Dad, that's so heavy!"

"But my people can, easily at it. Meanwhile, I can't even stand straight. My parents, they're disappointed in me, but their love to me prevailed. They keep encouraging me, protecting me from all sort of bullying, and honestly, those two are my heroes. Your grandparents, they're the best parents in the world for me. However, they perished in battle, it was honorable for my people, but with them died, that means there are no help for me to shelter me from all the unfair treatment. I'm kicked out from my homeland, and now here I am. You see, Beat... you might ask what if I'm born strong, strong enough to be something like my parents combined. But if I do... I wouldn't meet your mother. Maybe I'm even a jerkass like many of my people and would bully the other. I know how easy it is for power to get your ego bloated. You... without understanding that even weak people have place in this world, would become a bully."

"But what can weak people like us do?"

"Oh many things!" Chard gently pulled him closer. "See, imagine what happened if everyone is a police, or everyone is a fighter, or everyone is working on just one thing--it'll be chaotic. That's why farmers need to work on farm, and even the strongest buy vegetables and fruits from farmers! We see lot of rancher milking the cows, and those foods needed for your growth!"

"...But does that means I must accept that I'm weak forever?"

"No, don't worry son. I can tell that you are special... here's the thing, Beat. You shouldn't accept something called... being what you are. You need to strive. No matter what it is, strive for greater. You got an A on your test? Get A+. You can finish your job in five hours? Make it four and a half. You can do better, no matter how weak you are. Never satisfied, self improve, but do not--I repeat, DO NOT become burden for the other or delaying them for your own sake. That's very dirty, and my son, should not be a dirty person who would bring sadness upon other. Remember that. Of course, there are things beyond your control, but remember... nothing in this world can be taken for granted. Remember that, alright?"

"...That's a bit too deep for me, Pops..."

Chard laughed and hugged his son closer. "Don't worry son! I'm sure you'll do good. But anyway, back to before... do you still think that I would love it to be strong?"

"...Somehow it felt like you're lonely sometimes, Dad... So I thought you would love it."

"Oh I would, son, I would love being strong, but... I don't mind my life as it is at the moment. You know why?"

"Heey! The dinner's ready, boys, come on in!" his mother called them. Chard smiled and waved at the window. The lights turned on again. Did she paid for the bills already?

"...You see, there's more important thing than prestige, fame, glory, whatever you call... to me, that is. That is of course..." Chard gently kneeled in front of him and hugged him. "...You, son. I have a wonderful, lovely wife... a job that I can take pride in, and of course, you. That's why, Beat... remember this, your father is always proud of you, son."

---

"...I wonder if I'm an alien too," Beat muttered. If his father really came from outer space, don't that make him half alien? But he never once thought about that. He just thought that Chard was joking around. Why should he believe in his father when the guy seem to be really ordinary run on the mill guy? But now, after what happened, him being this strong, it's almost baffling to even call himself a human.

"...What... am I?" Beat can't help but to ask.

"Well, aren't you, you?" a voice answered back. And that's when he finally noticed that he's not alone. He's actually on lap of someone else. Red eyes, slitted and looks unnatural staring back at him. It both felt bewitching and gentle at the same time. How... how on earth does he not sense her? The bloody lips slowly bloomed into a smile. This girl... is a vampire.

---

WC: 1614

The walk was uneventful, but she was too slow for his liking. However, he had to remind himself that he's just being moody and should just be quiet. Luckily, the girl could take a hint. Illuminated by the moon, they walked closer to the edge of the town... and that's when he found out that the "camp" is not actually a camp, but a ruined inn. The building roof is struck with particularly huge piece of boulder, but other than that, it's quite intact. He read two ki signature. It's nothing out of ordinary... just.. kids. When he came closer, he could see them. At least there are four of them. They're so young too, with the oldest probably is seven.

"Ah, Allu-nee is back!"

"Allu-nee is back! She's with a guy!"

"I'm home, everyone! Have you guys behaved nicely while I'm gone?"

"We have, we have!"

It was such a lively condition, different from what he thought about the refugee camp. He thought it will be more bleak, or something else of that manner. But even so... kids... he never thought he'll see kids in here. He thought they're evacuated or something, as he heard from that certain grandma, but... there are actually unfortunate kids, huh. From what he felt though, it also felt that they're... probably street urchin, one that doesn't have parents or doesn't know them at all since the beginning. If by some reason they knew about their parents or their parents killed in the incident, then won't they felt a lot more miserable than this? He doesn't believe one can recover that fast... or is he... merely putting them on his standard?

"Hey hey, nii-chan, you got funny hair!"

"F-funny hair!? Just so you know, this hair is completely popular in my tribe!"

"Eeh? But it felt like you're trying to be a toughie even though you're thin!"

"T-toughie!? Even when I'm thin!? Hey who taught these kids how to roast?"

"Pfft, they're street kids. Roasting is in their repertoire of skills. That and a bit of hand tricks and several more. It shouldn't be all that surprising isn't it, Beat?"

Well, it is not indeed, but he can't believe how smooth they are at roasting people, even those that they just met. His shoulder dropped in exasperation.

"...It's totally not my way to being tough.. I just like this hair, plus it makes me unique... kind of.  I do think on cutting it though."

"Cutting it, huh? Too bad there's no barber around here."

Beat once again closely examined the place. There's at least seven kids... assuming that the building got a lot of intact room, it's more than enough. The question is, why does Alluca doesn't drink blood from this kids and instead picked him, who are completely strangers? There are lot of kids in here, and assuming that she can hunt-- That's when it clicked. She can't hunt, and the food made by these people... he noticed that all of them are canned. So that means, they're trying to preserve as best as they can. These kids, most likely, ended up malnourished, they'll end up dying. What a strange sentiment for a vampire. Now that he seen this, he's more inclined to forgive her.

"Alluca, can we talk privately?"

Noticing the seriousness in his tone, the vampire smiled and guided him to one of the empty room. There, she sat on one of the bed.

"...So I'll be frank, you... you preyed on me because you don't want to prey on those kids, right?"

"Yeah, that's true. I haven't shown them my race either. I know they'll be afraid... or at worse, if I declared what I am, and they saw me so thirsty, they'll start offering me their blood even at risk of their health. I admit, when I first gathered them, I was using them for food... like cattle. But as it goes on, I grow... attached to these kids. I no longer willing to touch them, no matter how hungry I am. I ended up starving myself, and was ready to leave them forever..."

"...That's a bit idiotic."

"Right? I guess it just mean I retained my humanity. That's good enough for me."

Beat gone silent. He's not even sure what to do with this girl, but at the same time, he... he wanted to help. His more selfish side want to leave her be, but his more humane side knows that he can't leave her and just destroy all chance they have built together. This is a responsibility that he can't take just simply because he want to. He'll... get involved and then he'll tied down by them. That's what it means to take care of them. At least, until they can do their hunting by themselves, low chance for them to be independent. Not helping with the bandits and all sort of criminals loitering about... Those people got weapons...

"...Argh..."

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to ask you to help us. I'm just... going to offer you a place to sleep for the night, as a thanks to my savior."

Beat sighed. He... he's not in time to get attached with someone, but with no choice about this, he finally made a little compromise. "...Three months, I'll teach these guys how to fish, they don't need survival skill, and... how to hunt. However you said you can sense ki... It might be something that come with your race ability, but I feel like there's more to it, is that true?"

"I can mold ki."

"Good, teach me how to mold it and I'll help you. We'll also look if my tribe people are still here. After the three months... you can go there if you're still in need. Musica tribe is very kind, they easily warms up to outsider, so it should be fine, or at least, I think we should be. Now the problem is you..."

"Right..."

...There's no way he could just like that tell her to drink the tribesmen's blood. As much as she could probably survive with a small glass of blood everyday, it's still a lot of blood for one person. Assuming there are about a hundred people in the tribe left... The math is hurting his head. He finally decided that the best course of action is to bring her with him after all. Even so, is it wise? Is it going to be OK?

"If it's about me, as long as you teach me how to hunt..."

"Hunting might be a bit hard, but... oh well, what's destroyed is east city, the fauna should still be around... If you don't mind me, then..."

"Not at all! Please, help us! I'll teach you how to control your ki, as best as I can!"

Looks like they have an arrangement. "We'll begin tomorrow, is that fine?"

"Yes!"

WC: 1145

The night rolled... and today, Beat can't sleep. He once again reminded the fact that for some reason or another, his ki flow is blocked, and that resulted in him being so weak. My father knew about this... but why? Why did he unlocked it when I'm just going to Korin's tower? That... doesn't really make a sense. I'm completely baffled here... Pops... why? Why do you seal my power? Wouldn't I be different if only my power is higher than this? Can't I help you guys more? Heck, I might even saved the day that one time when that Power Boy guy stopped the bank robbery. I... I could do that too! But why? If... If I'm stronger, I won't be probably gone to the west city and somehow missed this disaster... Maybe I can even help you two and all... warm streak of tear rolled down on his cheek. It felt so unfair. If he was born to be strong, and then somehow he's denied of it. His perception shattered. He was meant to be strong, tons stronger than his father... and only now he noticed it.

...Why?

But then again, it all makes sense now... He... came from space, well, he have no idea whether that's true or not, but then... His father race is full of militaristic minded people. What would happened if somehow they found out that marriage between races could produce something like him? Perhaps, the entire tribe would be in jeopardy. Even though so, is it really the truth? He... tried to dig the memory to no avail. But even though his father really wanted him to live a peaceful life, in the end, no matter what, the weak will be consumed by the strong, It was to no avail. Is it better than being drafted in a military? What sort of military is it anyway?

"...Too many things to thought of..."

"Beat, are you awake?" A voice from the adjacent room made him snapped out from his thought. He opened the door wordlessly, and as he thought, it's Alluca.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, well, nothing, just I don't usually get up so early, so I'm here to give you your boxed lunch. Are you OK?"

Honestly, he want to say no, but... he don't even know what's right and wrong anymore.

"...You sounds conflicted, is it because of your power?"

"You can say so..."

"...You know, you can talk to me anytime."

Beat sighed and invited her in. The moment he offered his arm for her to drink blood from, she just shook her head and smiled. "It's OK, I'm not going to ask for anything. Thanks to you I got enough for three days anyway."

"If you says so... anyway, where should I began..."

After few minutes of some storytelling, both of them stayed quiet. Before, she didn't even said anything, just merely listening all his story. The silence was so awkward until Alluca finally exhaled and said what she have in mind.

"...Do you think... that all your parents done so far is... for nothing?"

"I... dunno, that's the thing."

"think it this way, are you even sure you'll stay the same person? Would you not get sick of your father who is crippled? Would you not hate him instead for how weak he is? Even if you still love him, would you not feel that all this world somehow boring? Like, there's nothing to explore? Exactly because you're weak that all of this happened... are you... regretting all of that? All the meeting, all the growth?"

"But... if only I know and I can help..."

"Have you seen the destruction? So far, tell me, when was the first time you see someone stronger than what you felt you are?"

"...Few days ago..."

"...See? From what I felt, your life is so peaceful, and being weak might actually benefit you more than being strong, at least back then. But either way, it become your motivation to become strong... are you tell me that all of it for a waste?"

She's right, but being pointed out about it that the right way is to stay weak honestly getting his nerves. If he's stronger, then he could help his parents... he have no idea that his parents croaked or not, but it hurts, it really hurts to imagine that they're dead. That's why...

"...................kh...!"

"...I think you're blaming yourself for what you can't control, rather than blaming your parents directly for every single misfortune of bullying and persecution that you're enduring for years of your life. You... actually don't care all that much about being persecuted, but more about the helplessness, right? You actually accepted now that the time cannot be rewinded, but when faced with your bullies, now you can easily win--but then you found out what happened to this city and the risk of your parents dying, you... you blamed it in your inability. One is definitely mendable, but another is not... Your refusal to accept the situation made you frustrated and angry. In that end, you have no one to blame but your parents, at least that's what I thought now."

"...That's... so right... I'm so helpless... to who I can blame this disaster to? To who!? I wanted justification against all this destruction and all the sudden changes that happened to this place, but... But then... but then..."

The vampire gently hugged him and strokes his head. "...There there, there are things that you can't control and there are things that you can control... as long as you get stronger, I'm very sure that you'll be able to protect those that you love dear. You're too weak to prevent it last time, but next time... you'll get stronger and stronger."

His hug on her tightened and he's fighting back his urge to cry, but eventually he caved in. The cold skin and hand, for some reason today they felt very warm. He had no idea how long has he cried afterward, but the next moment he's awake, it's already morning. This time around he's awake without any wound on his body. After making sure that she's not awake, he took the bento and heads out. The past cannot be changed. It's useless to think of 'what ifs' in past scenario... and he shouldn't take everything for granted.

"...I promise, I'll get stronger... if it's not for anyone else, then it's for you guys..."

---

WC: 1074
TWC: 6496