2021-08-04 11:22:06A few days passed since the sign on Sena's Flowers' door read 'closed.' Sena hadn't responded to Rick's texts either.
Rick put down the phone and sighed. "Yeesh, what a disappointing day." He turned to Maru, who was staring out the window. "Mm." She responded, not taking her glance off the window. "What's wrong, kiddo?" Rick walked over to the couch and sat down next to her. "I wanted to go to the park today." She pouted. "Don't worry," Rick began. "There'll be several other opportunities to go to the park, just not today." He smiled, twirling her hair between his fingers. "Mm..." Maru nodded, still pouting. "Ah, wait," Rick began. Maru turned her head towards him in confusion. "I just remembered I need to get groceries." He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Do you want anything while I'm gone?" Rick questioned, turning his head to Maru. "Hmm..." Maru bit her lip while in thought. "Strawberries!" She beamed. "Got it." Rick smiled, giving a wave as he walked out the door. * "Man, I really hate this kind of gloomy weather." He mumbled. "Especially walking in it." As he was walking, he turned his head to a building with a sign on it that read 'space available.' The sign, however, wasn't what caught his attention. It was the woman sitting under it that did. Is that- "Oi!" He shouted. The woman ignored him. She was sitting with her arms, hugging her legs with her head down. "Abbey!" He shouted once more. She looked up, startled. She then put her head down once more. "Go away." She muttered quietly. Rick hustled over. "You'll catch a cold," he began. "So what?!" She snapped, not budging. Rick scratched his head. "Does Sena know you're out here getting drenched?" She quickly looked up. "It's none of her concern." "Do you know what used to be here?" He asked, eyeing the sign. Abbey gave a hard look, then sighed. "It was my father's dojo." "Ah." Rick nodded. "I couldn't do it." She whispered. "Hm?" Rick leaned closer to hear better. "I couldn't save him or his precious dojo...!" She began to shake. "When he got sick," she began; however, she quickly fell silent. Rick cocked his head. "I don't want to bore you with any tasteless detail-" She stopped and watched as Rick sat next to her, holding the umbrella over her head. "What...?" Her eyes began to water. "I want to know every tasteless detail if that's what it takes to get you and me out of this rain." He smiled. A couple of tears streamed down her face as she gave a slight nod. "My father was a man who loved kids." Rick nodded. "What he loved even more were swords." She paused. "I wasn't born yet, but he tells me one day, while polishing one of his favorite swords, he had an aha moment." She chuckled. "Which was?" Rick questioned. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Why not combine the two?" Rick smiled, nodding. "So, he opened this dojo." She motioned her hand towards the building. "I was his only child, but he didn't mind at all." She closed her eyes. "As long as I would learn to love the sword the same as him, he would be content." She let out a sigh. "And, of course, I did." She looked up. "He taught me what he taught each and every one of his students." "Which was?" Rick asked while cleaning his glasses. "To love the sword." She smiled to herself. "Oh, hey!" She exclaimed as she looked up. "Look!" She cried, pointing. Rick put his glasses back on and looked. It had finally stopped raining. What was left from the bitter rain was now a beautiful rainbow. Rick looked towards Abbey with a unique twinkle in her eyes. He smiled. "It sure is beautiful." He smiled as he looked up.
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Bonus Story 9 - Wounds That Never Heal
Deep within the Ocleau Forest sat a wood cabin. Inhabiting the wood cabin was a makeshift family comprising of two young boys, one little girl, and two men. As one of the men sat at his desk, a knock at the door came. "Mikael," a voice called out. The man half attentively turned his head around, met by his partner, Larkin. "Just one more second," Mikael replied before turning back around. "Three," Larkin began. "Two," he continued the count. "One," The next moment, a frightening, rather gruesome picture appeared on Mikael's computer screen. "Ah!" Mikael shrieked, jumping backward at the sight of the display. "Larkin!" He exclaimed angrily. "I told you to stop doing that already!" He roared. "Oh, come on now," Larkin teased. "What we've seen back in our days as killers is nothing compared to this!" He laughed, wiping away a tear. "Yeah, I suppose..." Mikael grumbled. "Anyway," Larkin began. "I needed to talk to you about something," he continued. "Well, can it please w
Bonus Story 8 - Final Confession
Mikael stared blankly for a moment at Larkin's open palm. "If we dance, will you explain what is going on?" "Of course." Larkin smiled. Mikael blushed as he took Larkin's hand into his own. * As they stepped onto the dance floor, a soft classical melody filled the room. The two proceeded to dance. Suddenly, both men's appearances changed. The two looked as they did back in their days as members of The Organization. "You look..." Mikael began, his eyes twinkling. Just as they spun, he noticed his physical changes in a reflection as well. "So," Larkin cleared his throat. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions..." He chuckled. "Yes, well, will you answer them, or will you proceed to dodge them?" "Ouch!" Larkin let out a hardy laugh. "I suppose I deserved that, huh?" "Mm." Mikael nodded unenthusiastically. "First," Mikael paused. "Am I dead?" Lar
Bonus Story 8 - Vacant Dancefloor
As night fell, Mikael was busy tossing and turning in his bed."Why am I so restless..." He muttered to himself."Damnit, I wish I could fall asleep already..."*After a few minutes passed, the world around him slowly faded out as he successfully drifted off to sleep."Ah, so you've finally made it..." A familiar voice whispered.Mikael quickly opened his eyes.Upon opening them, he noticed he was not in his bedroom; instead, he was in a vacant, dimly lit room with only a dance floor."What the..."Suddenly, he remembered the familiar voice he heard."L-Larkin...!?" He cried out."There's no way..." He chuckled nervously."This is...""A dream?" Another voice intervened.Mikael quickly looked up.As he did, Larkin was standing in front of him wearing a tuxedo."W-what are you..." Mikael stammered.Ignoring his confusion, Larkin gave a soft smile as he extended a ha
Bonus Story 7 - Passing the Torch
“Eh!?” Cole cried.“W-what…” Larkin muttered.“So, Rick stole your name!?”Larkin furrowed his brows.“Well, not necessarily; I suppose he put a unique twist on it is all.” He said.“Though…” He whispered.“I wonder how Rick knew what my name was during my days in The Organization…” He frowned.“Perhaps Mikael told him…?” He thought aloud.“Bah!” Cole cried.“What is it now?” Larkin glared.“I’m so bored now that storytime is over!” He cried.He then turned to Larkin.“I don’t like that look on your face.” Larkin huffed.There was a moment of silence.“Alright!” He cried.“What is it, Cole!?” Larkin demanded.“Can we go visit Rick?” Cole beamed.Larkin fell over
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“Hey!” A voice called out.“Hey, kid!” It called out once more.The boy slowly began to stir.As he opened his eyes, he jumped up at the sight of a man hovering over him.“I have to say…” The man began.“Killing my partner…” He paused.“Color me impressed, kid!” He grinned.The boy glared at the man.“Now, now…” The man chuckled.“No need to be afraid of me!” He beamed.“In fact,” His tone suddenly shifting.“Since I’m now out of a partner, thanks to you,” he sighed.“And you’re out of a mother thanks to him…” His eyes then suddenly softened.“Why don’t I give you shelter in exchange for your services?” The man asked.The boy looked the man up and down.“Fine,” the boy said quietly.&ld
Bonus Story 7 - Lifeless
Running through the thickness of the heavy smoke was a boy.The boy, huffing and panting desperately, trying to catch his breath. However, nonetheless, he continued to run."Mama!" He cried out."Where are you, mama!?" He desperately pleaded.As he continued running, the boy tripped and fell to the ground.As he sat up, he realized what he had tripped on.His eyes widened."N-no..." He whispered."M-mama...!" Tears filled his eyes."PLEASE NO...!" He shrieked, grabbing the corpse's hand, gently pressing it against his cheek.Just then, a man hovered over the boy and the corpse."Crap, I guess we missed one..." The man narrowed his eyes."Boy," The man began slowly, unsheathing his sword."Grab that knife from that lady's abdomen."The boy looked up at the man, horrified."Now!" The man barked.The boy began to tremble as he slowly reached for the knife lodged in his mother's
