Warrior's Mask

3. He's Not A Monster

Yoshimura's POV:

“What’s going on, you guys? What did I miss?” We both looked towards the training grounds to see Terao standing there, bag in his hand, and a confused look on his face. It looked like he was questioning everything he knew about us. If he questions this later, I’m denying everything and I’m gonna make him think he's crazy. I don’t care how much he saw, I’m still bullshitting my way through it. He doesn't need to know that we can tolerate being around each other. I can just imagine the endless teasing. It’s draining me just thinking about it. I am not prepared in the slightest. I get enough bullshit as it is, I don’t need this added onto the end of it. But life would be easier if he knew so we wouldn’t have to hide it as much as we do. It’s just the risk of if other people find out that the monsters have made an “alliance” and come with their pitchforks and fire. I can just imagine the uproar. I f*****g hate people.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, already fed up with everything that's been happening recently; life really was not giving me a break. I was not in the mood to be talking to anybody else right now; I am already at my wit’s end. People - especially Hattori - are infuriatingly annoying to deal with, and I want nothing to do with anyone for the next two days, at the very least. I swear to God, if anyone else approaches me when I am not prepared for social interaction then I am committing arson, and it will not be questioned by anyone, which is even better. The benefits of being a monster. It may be a crappy nickname, and I may suffer immensely because of it, but it sure as hell does have its moments.

“You two aren’t trying to kill each other like you usually are, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s concerning me seeing you two like this.” His eyes darted between the two of us as we glared at each other. A bit of a late reaction, but who cares? He shall never know. Or be the only person to know, and no one will believe him. Either could work for me, to be honest. Either way, this isn’t getting out to the general public. To everyone else, it looks like we’re arguing, which is great. They will never know. Terao sighed. “There’s no point in putting on an act now, I saw everything. You two are hopeless.”

“This is not an act!” I shouted at him, slightly flinching when I realised how loud I had gone but was still pissed that he would even suggest such a thing. He thinks this a f*****g act, what a f*****g joke. Why, in the name of Wieldism, would I put on an act for Hattori’s sake? That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all day and I’ve been around the general public for most of it. This is why I hate people - they’re all a bunch of dumbasses, and no one can change my mind. This world is full of idiots and I have to put up with them all. Terao shrugged.

“If you say so.” He stared at the i***t that was standing next to me, a troubled look on his face. It was like he was trying to figure out how he was going to word what he wanted to say. I don’t get why people think about what they need to say. Just say what you need to say and then be done with it. So what if it’s a little harsh? People need to toughen up anyway. Terao smiled slightly. “Thanks a bunch, Hattori. I owe you one.” He looked at me, disappointment clear in his eyes, and I looked away from him. I don’t wanna have to face that. “I don’t know what any of us would have done without you stepping in.”

Hattori nodded, glancing at me and giving me a small smile, which I refused to acknowledge. We shouldn’t be getting friendly to each other in public. We’re enemies and monsters, which means being together is bad enough. People will start getting the wrong idea, and he doesn’t need the extra abuse. “Don’t mention it. No matter how much I hate his guts sometimes, I could never let him intentionally destroy his prism. He is the best Japan has, no matter how much we may hate it, and I can’t let him go down like that. And anyway, I still have a score I need to settle with him.”

Hattori’s eyes started to glow again, and I gave a small grunt. I don’t care why he stopped me from destroying my prism, and in all honesty, I don’t give a crap about his opinion in general. He can go and shove it up his ass before I even start to give a damn about this kind of s**t. I saw Terao’s annoyed look out the corner of my eye and shrugged in response. The most he’s gonna do is shout at me, which doesn’t bother me too much. The longer I have to wait to go home, the better. It can’t get any worse than that. As long as he’s not full-blown angry, I couldn’t care less what happens next.

“I think you should go now. Ishido’s probably losing his mind right now, and the others will need your help settling him down.” Terao said, which made Hattori chuckle and then nod in agreement. He walked off, and I was suddenly grateful for his lack of presence. God, I hate him so much. He’s always right and it’s infuriating. I watched Hattori leave, and as he walked past a man, the guy pushed him to the ground, and then beat the crap out of him, calling him a monster and all the slurs under the sun. When he finished, he walked off, walking in front of Terao and down the stairs. I glared daggers at him. He touched my brother, and now I’m gonna murder his ass. Only I can take it that far with him. The man cowered away from me and then ran off in fear. Good. I hope you’re f*****g terrified. I opened the wallet I had just got from him, and then looked at the things it contained.

There was a picture of two kids. This guy’s a parent. Then he disgusts me even more. Beating up an innocent kid for no reason. He should know better. I don’t tolerate bullies. Especially when they’re bullying my little brother. He doesn’t need this s**t. Hattori’s as perfect as they get, and it ain’t because he’s naturally perfect. He’s worked so hard for this. And then there are dumbass pricks like him who try to screw it up for the kid. If they want to pin the monster status on someone, they should pin it on me and me alone. At least there’s some form of reasoning behind why I’m one. Maybe I should start going a bit easier on him. I shook my head. He’s strong. He can take it.

I looked in the direction the man had run in and smirked. I know your name, where you live, and what your kids look like. I can make your life a living hell, jackass. I turned back to Hattori, who had already disappeared. That princess sure as hell knows how to pick himself up. He shouldn’t have to, though. He ain’t no f*****g monster, and he shouldn’t be treated like one. I may hate him at times, but at least I respect him. More or less. I heard fingers clicking and then looked at Terao, who had a small smile on his face, but a serious look in his eyes. I don’t know whether that means I’m in trouble or what, but it kinda freaks me out. He can be scary when he’s angry. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s still a thing that is terrifying. I have only witnessed it once, and I never wanna do it again.

“What do you want, Shishido?” I c****d an eyebrow up at the brunette, who met my gaze with a smug smile. What the hell is his deal? I internally prayed he wouldn't lecture me on friendship and being kinder to people because I didn’t need it and I really wasn’t in the mood to listen, which will piss him off even more and I don’t want that. He’s the only person I respect for this aspect of him alone, and he uses that to his advantage, which isn’t fair. I thought we were friends, but what he does is betrayal at its finest.

“You two were getting along in public, which is a rare sight. What’s happened to you? You’ve changed.” He told me, tilting his head to the side with curiosity in his eyes. What is he going on about now? This isn’t what I expected him to go with - not that I’m complaining or anything, I’m just surprised, is all. What does he see in me? I don’t understand how he’s seen any change in me, nothing’s happened to spark it.

“Nothing’s happened. He approached me and started trying to help me and whatever other crap he was trying to do. What do you mean I’ve changed?” I asked, his statement slightly confusing me. I haven’t changed. I’m just pissed off with life, like always. Nobody’s given me any reason to feel any other way, really. I still f*****g hate everybody, but can you blame me? Have you seen this world recently? It’s literally turned to s**t, but I don’t know why I’m surprised. The only thing that could be different is… never mind. He doesn’t hold that much power, as much as he wishes he did.

Terao shook his head as if he had second thoughts about what he said, which was unusual. He was always so sure of himself. I don’t like that. That scares me. He shouldn’t be unsure of himself. He’s never unsure of himself. He’s the only confident person I know, I can’t have him flaking out on me now. Everyone else is a bunch of indecisive assholes. “Don’t worry about it. But you can’t deny that you were getting along in your own twisted way.”

“Of course,” I rolled my eyes in annoyance, wishing people would just leave me alone. I don’t want to get along with other people. I prefer to be alone. That means I can ruin my life in peace. Why is that so hard to understand? Everyone could rot in hell for all I care. I’ll see them all there. It’s not like most of them want to be around me, so I don’t understand why they insist on talking to me at all, “that is all you care about.”

“Well, yeah, of course. I want you two to be able to get along.” I snorted in response and he sighed. He should stop trying so hard for people who don’t appreciate it that much. He’s wasting his energy on me. I don’t deserve his compassion or his help. He should just continue with his day. And even if I do appreciate it, I don’t know why he’s so bothered about us getting along. It’s not like it affects him. Or at least, not often enough for it to bother him this much. I narrowed my eyes. I wonder… “Please, Sho. Can you just try? It’s really not that hard to act like a decent person towards him, is it?”

“You do realise that not only am I a Yoshimura, and one of the biggest jackasses alive, but we have one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalries in the whole Wieldism history, right?” I c****d an eyebrow as I pointed out the biggest known fact amongst the Wieldism community. Shin Hattori and Sho Yoshimura are bitter rivals, enemies if you will. I will not succumb to such weakness. I am weak enough as it is, and I don’t need his friendship bullcrap getting in my way. I will protect him with my life, and I will acknowledge that he has some skill, but that’s as far as I will go.

“I know that your bitter enemies, and all that bollocks, but it’s because of that rivalry that you two need each other, whether you two like it or not.” He told me, glancing in the direction that Hattori went in with a sigh. “What would you do without him?” He looked at me and I fell silent. I don’t have an answer to that question. He is probably my only reason for existing right now. I don’t know where I’d be without him. He’s saved me so many times, without even realising it. I have to admit, I am grateful for the albino. I may never show it, but that’s something that will always be there. Maybe I should start treating him a little bit better. I just don’t want him to get hurt. He needs to learn to shut himself off from society, otherwise, they’re going to destroy him, and I don’t want that to happen. He deserves at least a fighting chance, and if that means I’ve got to be cruel to him then so be it. Society won’t claim another innocent soul. Not while I’m around to watch it burn. “Sho?”

"You’re absolutely f*****g crazy, Terao,” I told him, giving him an irritated stare. I did not need his advice, especially not on a subject like this. He. Knows. Nothing. And I plan to keep it that way. Nobody needs to know anything because I can do this all on my own. I always have done and always done. Asking for help makes me weak and I am not allowed to be weak. This is how I have to survive, whether they like it or not. It’s not like I have much of a choice in the matter, anyway.

“Says the psychotic midget with anger issues.” He countered and I internally sighed. People need to think of better counters. I have heard that one so many times that it’s starting to get tiring. At least when I’m with Yuji he gets creative with his insults and makes it interesting to be there. He has some experience in the subject.

“Exactly.” I replied, having enough things to counteract that single ‘insult’ that you would think something was wrong with me. But, unfortunately, I can’t be rude because that could turn the situation from bad to worse. Both here and elsewhere. “If I think that it's crazy then there must be something wrong.”

“Touché, mi compadre.” He replied, smirking, knowing how much I hated it when people said that to me. I don’t know why, I just hate that phrase with a pure passion and it makes absolutely no sense why, but it infuriates me. I will take your kneecaps if you ever say that to me, and that’s a promise. Except if you’re Terao, he’s an exception to the rule, and that’s only because he could overpower me and I respect his ass like no other.

“I am not your compadre, and don’t ever say that again,” I said as I started walking away, pushing past him after climbing back up the stairs and then walking off, mentally and physically preparing myself to report back to my father, who will not be happy with today's turn of events. If I can’t destroy my disappointment by destroying Simomi then I’ll use it to become stronger, because what else can I do at this point? I won’t be able to give up Wieldism without giving Simomi away, and no one is deserving of my prism’s power. One day I’ll crush Hattori, Ishido, and all their pathetic friends along with any hopes and dreams that they have about becoming somebody. I’ll aim for number one worldwide, and Yuji Fukunaga’s reign will finally end. It’s the least my mum deserved after all I put her through. Not that I can do much more for her other than kill the old man, but even I can’t get away with murder, which is a shame. Otherwise, I would have done it a long time ago. Trust me. I’m still praying for his death before I get home. It would be a miracle. I wonder if Ishido’s power stretches that far. The wonder boy might strike again. That would be great. I am praying for the day that happens.

Am I a bad person for wishing death on the person who ripped away my childhood and gave me so much trauma that I don’t know what to do with it? I feel like that’s an iffy question. Wishing death on someone is bad, but is wishing death on a bad person bad? Is he even a bad person, or am I just a whiny little b***h who needs to get on with his life? Am I the asshole in this relationship?

“Hey, Sho.” I turned to the sound of my name to see Terao smiling at me, his eyes kind and proud. He looked like what my dad was supposed to be like - a legitimate father figure. In a way, it brought me comfort. I wasn’t truly alone in this cruel world. “It’s nice to know that you’re not completely heartless and that you’re not a monster like everybody says you are. Or at least, not 24/7.”

I grunted, “Whatever, Shishido.”