Novels by Itumeleng mothoa

Three months later...The rain hammered the hideout's rusted windows like a war drum announcing a storm yet to come.Inside, the Outcasts' main room buzzed with a cold tension. The glow of the overhead lights cast long shadows across the cracked concrete floor. A rectangular table sat at the center, warped at one corner, surrounded by six chairs, each filled now by a weapon of war with a bounty.Akira stood at the head, arms folded, long coat draped over her seat. Her ice-blue eyes scanned them all... Taichiro, Kokoro, Yumi, Kenji, Sakura and finally, the newest member, Yuseke, who leaned against the wall with crossed arms and a quiet stare."Three months." Akira said, voice cool and commanding. "It's been three months now since that assault."A stillness filled the room, even as the rain continued outside like a funeral hymn."And not a single whisper has been traced back to us. For now, they still think it was a botched arms deal or maybe one of their own turned."Kenji exhaled. "So

The next morning, the sun had barely crested the horizon, golden light bleeding into the Outcasts' hidden base, casting long shadows across the cracked concrete of the open training yard. The air still held the bite of dawn, cool and sharp, perfect for the kind of brutal morning Kokoro preferred.Yuseke stood at the center of the yard, his hands tightly gripping the handle of a worn wooden sword. Dressed in loose training clothes and bare feet, he stared at Kokoro, who stood across from him in all black-hooded, gloved, still radiating that casual yet suffocating goth presence.Kokoro stretched his neck, cracking it once to the side."Didn't think you'll show up this early." he said, not bothering to hide the smirk in his voice. "Now remember one thing, I don't teach like Yumi. If I hit you, you'll feel it."Yuseke's eyes narrowed, a flash of red Essence pulsing faintly from the veins in his arms. "That's fine." he said, lifting his wooden blade into a basic stance. "I don't plan on ho

A few hours later... Yuseke limped beside Kenji through the ruined entry tunnel of the Outcast safehouse. His shirt was ripped down the middle, smeared in dirt and blood and his face looked like he'd gone head-to-head with a freight train and lost. Kenji didn't look much better. One eye was swollen shut, his knuckles were torn and his Beast Mode had left him drained to the bone."Yeah." Yuseke muttered, clutching his ribs. "First mission... and I got a serious ass-whooping."Kenji coughed out a broken chuckle, holding his side. "Welcome to the Outcasts."The security gate hissed open. They stepped into the briefing hall where the rest of the squad was lounging... Kokoro leaned on the back of a chair flipping through a book, Yumi was fiddling with some miniature drones, and Taiga was asleep with a protein bar in his mouth.All eyes snapped to the two bruised figures and one with none staggering in."What the hell happened to you two?" Yumi's voice cut through first, rising in alarm.Ke

Wednesday morning...The third day was intense from the jump. No drills, no warmup. Just sparring.Yumi's aura flared as they stood across from each other, blades drawn. The moment they moved, the clash echoed like thunder.She was faster now. Way faster.Each time he thought he had an opening, she'd already vanished and appeared somewhere else. Her strikes were clean, efficient and terrifying.But Yuseke didn't fold. He pushed himself, Essence burning bright along his limbs, his blade hissing red in the sun.They clashed again... blow for blow, his body moving instinctively.To him, it felt like war.To Yumi, it was exercise.By the time they stopped, he dropped to one knee, exhausted and sweat raining off him.Yumi offered a hand and helped him up, smiling. "You're not bad."He smirked, panting. "So… you were going all out today, right?"Kokoro, standing nearby, shook his head. "She used maybe 30%."Yuseke blinked. "...What?""Yeah. You'd definitely know if she used more."Yuseke st

Hours Later... The cold hit first. Then the dull ache in his skull.Yuseke groaned, blinking against the dim, flickering light above him. The scent of metal and antiseptic clung to the air. His wrists bound tightly in thick chains, locked to the arms of a rusted metal chair. Same with his ankles.He jerked once.The chains clanked, solid and heavy."Great." he muttered. "Kinky.""You're awake." said a calm, low voice.Yuseke looked up.In front of him sat a man draped in black... nails painted, lips pale, eyes rimmed with dark shadow. One leg crossed over the other. A long trench coat spilled around him like smoke that had a name tsg on it. His name echoed in Yuseke's mind as if he knew it before he heard it.Kokoro.In the far corner stood a girl... arms crossed, one boot resting on the wall behind her. Short purple hair. A scar over one eyebrow. Her glare could peel skin. Essence flickered faintly around her like she was barely restraining herself from pouncing."Where's Shinji?" Yu

The sun was halfway tucked beneath the horizon, bathing the broken streets of District 9 in orange and gold. Faded billboards hung crooked on rusted poles, advertising joy that hadn't existed in years. But between the cracked pavement and peeling walls, four shadows bounced along the road... laughing, teasing and alive."Hey, hey, hey! You lads better put some respect on my name today." Yuseke said, slinging his worn-out school bag over his shoulder like a trophy. His navy hoodie was zipped halfway, revealing a shirt that simply read: TRY ME. His crooked grin flashed under the evening light. "Because this genius right here..." he jabbed a thumb at his chest "finally passed his math test.""Liar." said little Mika, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed suspiciously."Tch. He probably copied off someone." added Haru, the lanky eleven-year-old who always walked like he had something to prove."I bet the teacher gave up and passed him just so she didn't have to deal with him again." said Jun