The kindness of strangers (Open)

[Geurin]

(I would prefer members below 5000 Base PL get involved here)
(This is a very graphic thread, it stays within site rules, but squeamish users should not read or participate)

As the reconstruction of Satan city came to its end, there was one one thing left to take care of, and that was the massive flood of refugee's. The special task force sent by the local government was swamped with inquries and personal requests, so much so that many who arrived at Satan city found themselves fighting over food and shelter. Riots were not uncommon, and simple crimes such as theft and armed robbery were at an all time high.

The city, while rebuilt, was still in shambles and it appeared that for many all hope was lost...

Maria Rios couldnt lose hope, it was not something she could afford to lose. Her two boys would go hungry, and that was something she couldnt let happen. She had waited all day in line at the supply depot for the government handout, and after nearly fifteen hours of waiting she was finally given a survival pack. This consisted of a loaf of bread, a gallon of water, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Complaining would do no good, there was nothing the government could do, or anything that maria could do.
She made her way back to the refugee camp defeated as always only to run into her pride and joy.

Brenden was 11 years old, he had taken charge after their father died in defense of central city. He would take care of his younger sibling during the day while his mother was out finding them food and shelter. Brendan's sandy blonde hair was just long enough to get in his eyes, he was usually better kept, but since the disaster his mother had let his hair get a little long. His bright blue eyes always brought hope to his mother whom loved him and his brother more than anything in the world.

Jackson was only 6, he wasnt old enough to understand the situation, or what his mother was sacrificing so that he could live. He took after his mother with light brunette hair, and hazel eyes. At a glance he didnt appear related to his brother at all, however they both had their father's face, his cheeks, the dimples on their mouth, his knows. Maria saw his face in them every day.

It killed her inside.

Lieutenant Christian Rios, or Kit as his friends called him, was on the front lines when Meishi attacked. He had been coordinating a counter against the creature when things went south. They had not expected such a quick, and immediate destruction, and Kit gave his life ensuring that not only his family got out safely, but that civilian casualties were cut by nearly 60% of expected loss. This was a major accomplishment, and even prompted Satan city to include Kit at the top of a KIA memorial.

This brought Maria no comfort. She had feared for Kit's life from the day they married. A private at the time Kit rose through the ranks faster than most. He had a sharp mind, and an even keener sense of responsibility. So from the moment Maria married him she had a constant fear for his life. She could not have been prouder for her husbands sacrifice, but it didnt end the hurt.

And now, while thousands more would live due to his effort, Maria was still stuck without a husband. she bore the burden of raising her children, of surviving, all on her own. It simply wasnt fair.

She entered the camp to find her youngest running at her full speed, jumping up into her arms.

"Mommy!"

Jackson yelled, grabbing the back of her shirt to keep hold. Maria hugged her son tightly as a tear ran down her face. Here she was feeling sorry for herself when she had such amazing children here with her.

Brenden made his way to where they were at, keeping his cool and not so blatantly attacking his mother he stood a few feet away.

"Hi mom"

He said coyly with a smile. Maria extended her left arm to pull brenden in, and the preteen begrudgingly accepted her hug, but only for a moment before pulling away saying

"Mom, we found a back pack full of bottled water in the alley today, its to heavy for me, will you help me carry it back"

Jackson squirmed talking into his mothers shoulder, snuggled against her neck.

"Its to scary there Brenden, cant we just stay here"

Maria smiled at her boys. Even in this situation they were still making the most of it, having fun exploring, and possibly helping them with supplies. She stood, putting jackson down, and grabbing his hand.

"Come on boys, lets go see it"

Brendan ran forward, as Jack stayed close to his mother.

The alleyway was scary, even to Maria, it was dark and just far enough away from the colony that they couldnt be seen or heard. And as they went deeper into the alley, Maria began to get an intense feeling in her gut. Something bad was about to happen.

Finally the orange back pack came into view, but something was wrong, there wasnt water. Maria decided it was time to go, but before she could call Brenden back, a man appeared from behind one of the dumpsters grabbing hold of Brenden, putting a knife to his throat.

"Alright lady! Give us that supply pack on your back or the kid dies!"

Maria couldnt believe it, she was paralyzed with fear as her eldest son yelled out.

"No mom, we need that, dont do it! Get jack out of here"

She suddenly had a flashback to the day her husband gave his life.

They were inside the compound, and Kit was preparing for battle, he kissed Jackson on the cheeck saying good bye, he then turned to his eldest son Brenden patting his cheek, and finally giving him a hug. Somehow even Kit knew this would be the last time that he saw his son. He said these words before his departure.

~Brenden, you are the man of the house while Im gone, dont let anything happen to your brother, and watch your mother for me okay~

Brenden nodded, his face scrunching slightly as he avoided crying, he couldnt let his father see that. Maria recognized Brendens tone, it was Kit, he had taken his father's sacrifice to heart.

Maria had no choice, she wouldnt let Brenden get hurt, not over a slice of bread and some water. She tossed the supplies over to the dumpster.

But...

They didnt release Brenden. The man snickered as two others came into the alleyway and began to speak.

"You know lady, its been a while since we had any....well...company"

One of the men said, begining to walk over to her. The second pulled out what appeared to be a rope, Maria knew what they wanted, but right here in front of her children!?

"Alright"

She said quietly, her voice audibly shaken.

"Just....let Brenden go, you can take me and do whatever you want, just let my boys go back to the group."

With that she pushed jackson off of her leg, and he immediately began to run away. One of the men began to chase him but stopped deciding that the Woman was more worth it than the child.

The second man walked over to Maria and after only a few moments she was tied to the dumpster, trapped.

But what happened next was beyond comprehension, while the two men infront of her began preparing for the deed at hand, she saw something that sunk her heart.

The man holding branden dug his fingers into the waist band of his jeans, making his intentions very clear. He wasnt going to touch Maria, he had a different victim.

No, she knew that it was going to happen to her...But she couldnt let it happen to her child, these perverts wouldnt get there hands on him.

She began to struggle.

"Stop, no he is just a boy leave him alone! Let him go you perverts!"

The two men were to much for her, and Maria was forced down, one man tore her blouse, the other bound her legs.

This was really going to happen, and nobody was here to stop it.

[Deleted]

Komatsuna had just arrived on Earth, more specifically Satan City. As he was walking through the streets, he saw the ravage, the refugees, some begging for coin, some glaring at him, talking to themselves, some not even looking up, as if they had no life left in them. He wanted to help, but since he had no money, and nothing to give, he didn't know how he could.

He wondered where the Sword School, his whole intents of coming to Earth, was located. Perhaps he would ask around, but after he had got his bearings. Besides, he needed a place to stay, and a source of income, as it would be completely useless to try to attend the school with nothing to pay for it. He stopped a man who was walking the other direction.

“Excuse me, sir, do you know of any places I could stay, or where the Sword School is? I'm afraid I'm rather new here, and-”

The man glared, and bared his teeth at him.

“Geroff me, yer lousy Saiyan. I ain't got no money, least ways not for you.”

He shuffled off, crabwise, leaving Komatsuna speechless. This was not how he had expected his stay at Earth to be. Last time he had visited, everthing had been so...happy, and, well, less destroyed. He hadn't expected the catastrophe to be this, he tried to think of a better word, but failed, catastrophic.

Komatsuna continued to walk the streets, looking at everything. It was starting to get to him, and he knew if he didn't do something now, he might do something brash later. Suddenly he heard a shout from an alleyway.

"Stop, no he is just a boy leave him alone! Let him go you perverts!"

The alleyway was three streets down from where Komatsuna was. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like the sound of it. He ran, hoping he would get there in time, and drew his sword.

When he turned into the alley, he saw some men, tying a human woman down, already having ripped off her blouse. They also had a little boy, who could be no older than 13, by the pants. Komatsuna knew what was on hand, and he couldn't let this happen. The men hadn't seen him yet, being preoccupied with their victims. Komatsuna took a quick look around, to see if anything was there that he could use to help in his fight. He was unable to find anything, so just decided to rush them.

He ran at them, with his sword at his shoulder ready to swing. He was going to have to be careful he didn't hit one of the innocents, so he couldn't use his Blades of Glory technique. Instead, he activated his Shield technique, in case there were any bad guys that he hadn't seen who might jump out at him. He swung his sword flat-ways at the one nearest to him, aimed at his head, not to kill, as Komatsuna has moral qualms against killing, just to knock out.

[kotan]

Days sometimes blend together, especially when you didn't go to school. Kotan was one of those kids that was home schooled, so he had a lot of free time. He tended to spend that time flying around the city or just spending time at home, training. Looking around, his aura ignited and he leapt upwards, and began to levitate. Grinning a bit of a manic grin, he further defyed the laws of physics by flying higher into air. He was at an altitude that he could now see buildings in the distance. Rubbing his hands together, he propelled himself forward and flew at a speed that was at least ten percent of his full speed.

Flying into the rebuilding city, Kotan looked down, and he smiled a bit. Despite the fact the city was still rebuilding, it was a nice place even though it was half demolished right now. Besides, it was a great place to be sometimes. Rubbing his hands together as he continued to fly, he thought he could hear something. Deciding to circle the city first, he kicked into fifty percent of his full speed, and his aura became more flame like.

Continuing to fly, he flew at a very hugh speed, and he began to circle the city. As he flew, he started to think about the last few weeks, and how his life was changing so much. And then he began to think more vividly and clearly as he continued to fly, his mind sharpened by his flight.

Everythings been changing so fast. My dad's been training me harder than ever before so that my power level wil increase and he can see my hidden, powerful potential. He's always saying I have a hidden level of power that Hybrids can attain faster than pure saiyans, due to their mixed heritage and the simple fact Saiyans suppress their emotions. Hybrids don't, and even if we did, we'd be able to access our powers faster than a full saiyans if we tried. I think that I could try and unleash my full potentialn sometime in the next few months or years. These thoughts were interrupted as Kotan's slightly heightened senses heard something.

Following the direction of the sound, Kotan flew fast and crashed into an alleyway. Looking up, he saw two guys trying to force themselves onto a woman. “OI! LEAVE HER ALONE!” Kotan roared this and then took on a fighting stance. Glaring, Kotan also saw someone else running at these perverts with a sword. Deciding to go for the thug on the left, Kotan's aura flared into life again and he threw himself forward, his right hand glowing with energy. With a snarl, he threw his hand forward, the glowing white energy covered hand distinguished from his blue flame like aura.

[Geurin]

Maria had given up hope, forced to accept her fate, and the dark aftermath that would befall her young son Brenden. Hero's like her husband didnt exist, Hero's like her husband were meant for fairy tales.

Just as she had lost all sense of faith, it happened.

A shining sword, a beacon of justice slammed into the side of her first attackers head. Although oddly it did not cut him, but instead bluntly threw him into the wall. The second only has time to turn around before being pummeled by a second man.

Maria watched, amazed at her findings. These men were...saving her...and her son...

The man holding her so yelled out loudly so both new attackers could hear.

"One more step and I will slit his throat"

The knife was pressed so hard against Brenden's throat that a small amount of blood was already trickling down the man's blade, he meant business, and like a cornered rat would fight dirty to get what he wanted.

If either man made even an inch towards him, he would not hesitate to kill the boy, and use his body as a shield as he ran from these new defenders.

How would they react? Attacking him would prove fatal for the boy, but letting him leave with the child would counteract their entire purpose there. Maria could only watch in horror, as she pulled her blouse back up covering herself properly, At the very least these hero's would not see her so vulnerable.

While one appeared far to young, the other...The one with the sword...Had a charming quality about him. Something was special about this one, she just wasnt sure what.

[Deleted]

The flat of the blade hit the brigand, and he slammed into the wall. Komatsuna, feeling pleased at himself, turned to the next one, but he had already been taken down by a man, and Komatsuna used the term loosely as he appeared young, whom Komatsuna hadn't seen enter the alley in the confusion. He nodded at him, and turned to someone else, only to hear:

"One more step and I will slit his throat."

Komatsuna turned towards the voice. The man who had shouted was glaring, baring his teeth. He had the small boy, and had his knife pressed against the boys throat. Blood slowly trickled down the man's knife, and Komatsuna knew he was serious. Komatsuna knew this type, he'd seen them plenty of times on Vegeta. He would fight in a corner, and fight dirty. Komatsuna knew that if he moved forward, he would indeed kill the boy.

Komatsuna took a few tentative steps back, hoping to trick the man into thinking he was leaving. He even raised his hands to show surrender. But he was actually aiming at the man in his head, preparing to strike with his Blades of Glory technique. He was still close enough that the brigand wouldn't be able to move the boy in front of him. With a deft move etched into his brain from years of training, he quickly brought around his sword, sending a line of ki at the man holding the boy, hoping he was right in his aiming, and the brigands speed.

[kotan]

Kotan grinned a tiny bit as the guy he had hit with his ki infused fist was winded. Back flipping away from the men, he cracked his neck. He had an innate enjoyment for battle, but his love for fighting was not as brutal or obsessive as it was for pure saiyans. He had a human side, and unlike fully blooded saiyans, he did nothing to supress his emotions, as it was not his nature.

Kotan was a creature of emotions, someone who expressed his emotions because he was an emotional person at times. However, at times of heightened rage he unleashed more power somehow. His thoughts stopped however, as he saw one of the guys had a knife to a little boys neck. And that simple act of disregard for a little boys life nearly pushed Kotan over the edge. He was about to step forward when he remembered this guys previous warning. One more step, and this inhumane thug would kill the boy.

Deciding to feign retreat, Kotan raised his hands as he noticed the other guy do that too. “Okay man, no need to do anything drastic. I mean, you're being a bit inhumane.” Kotan felt his tail wiggle around his stomach, and he was grateful he was wearing a bulky jacket. Stepping back a few steps, he contemplated throwing a ki blast, but knew it was a bit too risky. However, he had another idea.

Like his strength, Kotan's speed was at saiyan levels, meanng he could move faster than humans could. Tensing his legs, he moved fast enough that he appeared a blur. Grabbing the knife, he directed a small amount of ki energy into his hand and into the knife, heating the metal on one side and possibly melting it.

[Geurin]

Both men had made a terrible mistake, one that they would forever remember. As even the slightest twitch forward cause the man to complete the action. Involuntarily he slit the childs throat, on impulse he had killed his only hostage.

Even the thug hadnt meant to do it, however the men before him were attacking so readily that he had no choice, it was that, or his own death. However as the Sword blast struck him, and the boy who was directly infront of him, the man fell backwards, onto the ground below.

Kotan, who had overestimated his own speed, found himself arriving just as the man hit the ground, both him, and the child next to him, in a pool of deep red blood. Both bleeding out quickly.

Maria could only watch as the two men whom had saved her from a terrible fate, introduced a new one. If they hadnt arrived terrible things would have happened...but....her son would still be alive.

"B....B....Brenden..."

She said collapsing to her knee's, her face to the earth sobbing. Her eldest baby boy, her first born child, lying dead before her. How could she bare it, how could she stand another day like this, first her husband, and now her child. Maria had reached her limit, she stood and ran over to Koma who was closest to her, running into his chest.

She was nothing powerlevel wise, so this wouldnt so much as phase Komatsuna, however she continued anyway beating on his chest and yelling.

"Why!...He told you not to move, Why..."

She wasnt really angry at him, or the other stranger. But she was grieving for her son, and her husband, and her old life. None of it was fair.

[Deleted]

Komatsuna stared, unbelieving. The man had impulsively killed the boy, and now they were both on the ground, in a pool of blood. In a stupor, he let his sword drop, almost falling himself onto his knees. The woman cried out:

""B....B....Brenden..."

and sank to her knees, crying. She stood, and ran at Komatsuna. Komatsuna didn't stop her as she ran into his chest, still sobbing madly, beating on his chest, yelling.

""Why!...He told you not to move, Why..."

She wasn't hitting Komatsuna hard, so he had no reason to harm her further. He patted her back, awkwardly, unable to say anything, still gazing in a stupor at the dead boy, whom he had tried to save. He didn't know what he was going to do now. How could he help this woman whom, he assumed, he had let her son die. (OOC, sorry that sentence sounds awkward). He wondered what the other man would do, and continued to stare, patting the woman. His first mission to do good on Earth, and he had succeeded, but at the same time failed miserably.

[kotan]

Kotan fell to his knees as he gazed upon the sight. The man had killed the boy and he was now unconscious himself. This would forever be embedded in Kotan's memory, haunting him till the day he died and beyond that. It would haunt him even in the afterlife. Punching his fist right into the concrete floor, he began to suppress sobbing for the death of this innocent child. His entire body was shaking with the force of his sobs.

Looking at the woman and the man, Kotan stood up. “I know this will be little condolence but I am so sorry. If I had listened, or we had listened, your son would be alive. I take responsibility for this, and any hatred you feel, direct it to me and to me alone. Please.” Kotan could live with the pain and misery that he felt.

That was the thing. Kotan felt guilt, misery and anger towards himself and this son of a rat who would kill a little boy. And this anger would be felt for the rest of his life. No matter what he did, he'd feel the pain and guilt that had been caused this day. Looking at a wall, he punched it, and then punched it again.

Kotan kept punching it before quitting, but not before he had caused his knuckles to bleed a bit. Falling to his knees again, he said quietly “I am so, so sorry.” All he could do was apologize, but it was futile. Apologies wouldn't bring the boy back. And this caused Kotan to feel a large amount of depression.

[Geurin]

"What...happened"

A small voice was heard from behind them, the voice of a child.

The threesome would turn to see Brenden, now standing behind the downed Kotan. He had a large scar all the way across his neck but...it was closed. He wasnt bleeding, and he wasnt dead.

Meanwhile the man whom had made contact with him was still on the ground, his chest cut open by the sword slicing technique. and out of the corner of their eyes, a hooded figure was making his way over the side of the building that created the alley. Whoever he was he was getting away.

Meanwhile a miracle had occurred, one that no one could explain.

Maria looked at Brendan, dazed for a moment, before running to him and hugging him, practically picking him up off the ground to do so.

"Mom stop your embarrassing me!"

He said, his face getting a little red. He was already humiliated that these strong men had come to see him scared of the bad guys, but now he felt like such a mama's boy.

Maria however didnt stop, her child had been killed before her eyes, and now stood, living and breathing as if nothing had happened.

The condolences of the two men were no longer needed as her son was fine.

But how?

[Deleted]

"What...happened?"

The child's voice came from behind them. They all turned around, and saw the boy, whom had just had his throat slit. He was standing there, talking, with only a large scar across his neck. It was a miracle, and nobody knew how it had happened. Komatsuna stood, dumb-founded, as the mother ran to her child, and picked him up, to cries of embarrassment.

Suddenly Komatsuna saw, out of the corner of his eyes, a hooded figure, turning the side of the building. They were running away, and Komatsuna needed to know who they were. Were they a bad guy, or was it them who had just saved the little boy?

He started running after the apparition, shouting out to the other fighter "Stay here and guard them, I need to follow this person. Don't go anywhere!" Komatsuna ran after the figure, turning the corner of the building. "Stop!" He shouted

[kotan]

Kotan was about to punch the wall again when he heard a child’s voice say “What...Happened?” turning around, Kotan saw that the little boy who they had thought to be dead was alive and standing up. The boy had a large scar on his neck now, due to the knife that had slit his throat only a moment ago. However, the man behind him was down due to having a scar chest now. Kotan's depression and guilt seemed to have vanished a good bit now, but he still felt a small bit of it.

Looking up, Kotan saw a hooded figure turning away. Had he revived the boy? Kotan did not know many things, if any at all, that could resurrect the dead. If it was possible to do this, as it appeared to be, this boy would now have a second chance at life.

Looking at the other fighter, Kotan nodded when he told him to stay here. “Yeah, I will stay here. Find out who that guy is.” Kotan smiled and sat near a wall, rubbing his bloodied knuckle, ignoring the pain it caused..

[Geurin]

(I have been up all night doing unmentionables while sick, so I apologize for this post, Im sure it wont be as high quality as I intended)

As the mother and boy embraced, the two men set their plan into action. One chasing after the hooded figure, and the other staying with Maria and the child.

After a few moments Maria finally did let go, and stood back up, gaining her composure once more. It was so seldom that she lost control of her emotions that seeing that she had now was almost embarrassing to her. However she was humbled again. These two men had done everything in their power to save her and her boy, and for that she was greatful. Whatever attacks they had used clearly worked. Scars could be worked around, and likely were a better outcome than possible emotional scars.

"Thank You"

She said genuinely looking deep into Kotan's eyes. He was so young, and yet so brave, and cunning. Truly the teen had great potential. The earth needed more Hero's like that.

For a moment her husbands face flashed infront of her eyes, and danced over her for a moment. These men were the living image of his spirit, they had been sent here today by her husbands guiding spirit, she knew it.

She gave Kotan a hug, she owed her life to him and the other man.

It didnt last long, she didnt want to make it seem like more than a thankyou gesture, Kotan was to young for her, she still saw him as a boy...Suna on the otherhand.

"Mister...Whats you name"

Brenden chimed in from behind the short embrace. He actually had wanted to know the name of both of his saviors, Brenden had plans, ones that needed to be fulfilled quickly.

[Geurin]

(Kotan, Suna will no longer be on this particular thread, so the post order is just me and you. Thought you should know.)

[kotan]

(Sorry its a bit short, but its the best i could come up with, sorry.)
Kotan was actually relieved that he didn't have to go and find the man that had been watching them. He wasn't the best man for the job, and it appeared that they man he had just been working with was the perfect man to go after him.

If that other guy in the hood was hostile and extremely powerful, Suna was the better option, as he was more powerful than Kotan was. He was a bit surprised when the woman hugged him, however. He hugged back a bit awkwardly, as he had never been thanked for saving someone.

This was only awkward for Kotan because he was rarely, if ever, thanked for saving someone. It was probably because some people thought heroes did not need thanks. This assumption probably meant that they saw heroes as people who would save people no matter what. “Your welcome”

When the boy asked what his name was, Kotan looked at him. The scar was noticeable, but it did kind of look cool. “My name's Kotan Walker.” Kotan smiled a bit at the boy. He was glad that he was not dead, and that he could have a full life.