Story 1:
"Right! Line up!" Clapping his hands, the students formed a line. Twenty in all, each of them knew what was coming; although few were looking forward to it.
*Ring* *Ring*
The bell of a sizeable temple rang out. Its call echoed through the ward. With the advent of gates and monsters beyond. Many turned away from traditional religions for something new, something more fantastical.
Leaving many churches, mosques, temples even synagogues abandoned.
However, where paradise is offered there is also suffering. Parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, and grandparents. Can suddenly disappear within gates. Leaving behind children without anyone to look after them.
So, places once used as places of worship. Were now converted into homes, shelters, and orphanages for those left behind.
"Yaaaaaa! The Kaname boys are here." Cried out a little voice. Children of the temple, all orphans ran to greet the students.
A program to help teach delinquent boys the responsibility of caring for those that need it. Small, loud, energetic, sticky, little creatures. Perhaps the boys would feel what their teacher felt when he suffered through teaching them.
"DAI!!!!" A lot of kids found duck tailed Dai the most fun. He was a natural with kids; acting like a yakuza boss, and the kids his underlings. They would delinquently squat in a circle.
"What are ya orders boss?" Asked a small child holding a toy gun, a water pistol in fact.
"How's about we steal some sweets from the kitchen?" He replied, winking at the group. An excited cheer from the boys and girls.
"Yeah!" Cried out a little girl wearing a pink frilly dress. Her hair was up in buns. She pointed across the temple to where the kitchen was.
"Let's teach these punks not ta mess with Dai's crew." The gang leader stood up, cracking his neck, a smile of determination and confidence on their face.
He would make a great teacher.
Toshiro too was a popular attraction. His size, and stature made the big gentle man an instant hit. Children swarmed the giant like ants. Some jumped onto his back, climbing up the man. Others played in his arms, swung around by the man's biceps.
"Toshiro! Lift me!" A little girl, only 5 years old, demanded. She had her arms raised up.
"Ok, Ok." He said, lifting her up as she rode on the palm. "Be careful, we don't want you to fall."
Around and around, he spun, the kids would laugh, run, and play around all the boys.
However, not all the boys were as keen to be with the kids. Yuri and a couple of others were less than excited to deal with the children.
"Yuri! Bring us the ball!" A child demanded. A tennis ball at the base of the tree. Whilst the kid sat up in the branches.
Silently he grabbed it a quickly tossed it.
Fair enough. Kids aren't for everyone. It takes a special kind of patience to deal with them, and Yuri didn't seem to have that kind of energy, instead taking the approach of the quiet, stay away from me one.
Although, a program meant for his students; Eren didn't escape the attention of the children.
*Tug* *Tug*
"Eren... Can you read to us?" Little Himari. One that Eren had saved not too long ago as the Reaper.
On one hand he could count how many people knew of his identity as the Reaper. Jun, Emi, Baelor, and Himari.
"Call of the wild. Were up to chapter 4. Remember?" The young girl held a thick hard covered book.
A personal favourite of Eren's. His mother used to read it to him in English. Now he reads it English to a group of children.
"Alright. Let's have story time." Eren took a seat under a nearby tree.
The kids gathered around, mostly the shy quiet bookworm types. Some sitting cross legged, others laying down, and some on the laps of bigger kids. They all liked the way the white-haired man spoke English. Some were learning the foreign words; others just enjoyed the sound.
"Chapter 4: Who Has Won to Mastership."
"Buck did not like it..." Eren read. Speaking English, but in a quiet, calm voice. He even did the voices. Buck was deep, whilst the other dog Sol-Leks was higher pitched.
Funny, Eren always hated how he sounded when hearing himself. Not many do, yet these children loved how the man sounded.
Himari especially, leaning into the Reaper, using the arm of the Reaper as a pillow.
Her safe space.
***
Story 2:
"Good afternoon boys."
"Good afternoon, Lady Emiko." Greeted the students.
The high school's daily afternoon training session was always a treat for the boys. The carrot that kept many going through the boring and monotonous lessons.
"Today. Lady Emiko has offered to spar with you."
"Line up behind... Yuri. You can start us off today." As ordered the boys all got into a line, Yuri in particular was excited.
"Remember now... Don't hold back, I can take it." Lady Emiko. Who could easily be mistaken for a sweet grandmother, although her full set of blue armour, and big hammer said otherwise.
"I won't miss." He spoke, charging forwards, fists clenched, body tense. The boy had been practicing the fundamentals for some time now; working on his technique, training to be a martial arts expert. Now was the time for the young man to put into practice what Eren had been teaching them.
"Come and get me." Emiko taunted. She stood her ground; her stance was relaxed. Not afraid in the slightest.
*Crack* *Crack*
Yuri began the fight with a strong right, following through with a powerful left. A simple, yet effective double jab. His movements were crisp, and precise. He didn't waste energy in the strikes. However, Emiko blocked both blows, with the hilt of their hammer.
*Whack*
With an instant response. She struck back; the hammer's head moved towards Yuri. The boy was able to dodge, but the strike was only a feint. As the hammer passed, she twisted the hammer in her hands, the head striking his side, and sent him tumbling to the floor.
"Ah! Shit." Yuri gasped; the wind knocked from him. He laid there, staring up at the sky for a few moments before getting helped up.
"You're doing so well Yuri, your power behind your punches have increased and I could feel the strength in your blows." Emiko praised, a smile on her face.
"Just remember. Move those legs when you're punching. It will add a lot of oomph to the punch, and make you a harder target to take down."
Yuri smiled and nodded. He wasn't one to take praise. However, coming from someone like Lady Emiko, it was a big boost to the boy's confidence.
"Now... I've baked everyone some cookies, and there's hot chocolate or coffee for you all to have after your sparring match." The boys cheered, excited to have the lovely ladies baking.
"Next!" Eren called. Toshiro was the next boy up to fight. He was a giant compared to the boys, but dwarfed by Lady Emiko. The man had to look up to face the woman.
Boy after boy fought and lost. Although, they learnt something each fight, and the boys were improving.
"Good work. Alright... Who's next?" Looking down the line, Eren noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Sora?" He was off to the side, sitting by himself. It was strange to see the boy alone; especially since the rest of the crew would stick to Yuri as if they were glued to him.
"Next person." Eren called, Dai would go now, as Sora wasn't interested.
Eren approached the boy, a look of frustration on the face of the teacher. He didn't like the boys to skip out on training sessions. They were too important for something trivial.
"Oi, Sora..." Standing over the boy. Eren was annoyed. He had given them an order, and one of his boys disobeyed it.
"I... Don't want to fight Lady Emiko." Sora replied. His tone was low, almost a whisper.
"Why?"
"Because I don't fight women."
"..." A scowl appeared on Erens face.
"Why?" His face changed from frustration to a look of confusion, perhaps even a little anger. Why would a boy in a guild not fight a woman.
"I just don't like seeing women hurt. I know I wouldn't be able to hold back against her." The boy explained. His fists were clenched tight. He looked down at the ground, ashamed. A hurtful memory playing over in his mind.
Eren understood where he was coming from. He didn't want to see anyone he cared for hurting.
"I think I get it... You care about people, and that is a good thing. However, Lady Emiko didn't live to her current age by luck. She's strong, powerful, and a better fighter than I could ever hope to be."
Sora sighed. "I know." He replied.
"She also didn't live to see some punk dismiss her abilities based on her gender. What have I taught you about respect?" Eren knelt to the boy's eye level.
"Respect is earned. It is a mutual relationship, and both parties have something to offer each other." Sora repeated.
"Yeah... And today you disrespected Emiko, a person that holds you lot in high regard when everyone else thinks your nothing more than criminals in the making." Eren spoke. He could see that the words stung, but the man didn't want to hold back.
He needed to teach these boys a lesson. Respect, it's earned through actions and behaviour. Not just given freely, but also, it is not given when one doesn't want to earn it.
"I... Sorry sir." Sora was in the wrong, and he knew it. However, he knew what he wanted, and not to fight Lady Emiko was what that was.
"That's it." Eren stood up. "You're out of this training session. Go stand over there." Eren pointed to the corner of the yard, the boy had to stand, facing the wall.
"You've gotta get outta your own way Sora." He spoke as he trudged off.
***
Story 3:
"I'm telling ya! You lot are hiding something." A cop accused.
"What, are we hiding ya pig slop or something?" Yuri along with Dai and Renji stood outside of club Eden. A haven for them filled with kind women and the best fried chicken around.
However, the cops. Who had one of them painted as the Reaper, or at the very least low-level peddlers of crimson spice, had the boys cornered. Again, it was the third time in a month.
"What you say boy? We used to put punks like you in jail for having a mouth like that." The police officer was getting frustrated with the boys. Years on the force well-worn all over his face. His partner a young man, a recruit looked concerned at his senior officer.
"We ain't hiding nothing." Dai replied, the delinquent had a scowl on his face, but his body language told another story. Dai was tired of being harassed by the cops. Tired of getting stopped for no reason. He just wanted to hang out in his favourite spot.
"Let us search ya bags then."
"No fuck off piggy. You have no... um."
"Probably cause." The quite Renji spoke. The police officer laughed at the boy. His partner shook his head, embarrassed for the senior officer.
"Yeah, three delinquent boys, loitering around a titty bar, acting all shifty. Yeah, I think I do have cause." He grabbed hold of the bag, Yuri tried to hold it close, pulling on the strap as hard as they could.
However, with a tug of war the officer let go of it. Sending Yuri flying back, into the alley walls.
*Smash*
"Fuck." Yuri cussed. A sharp pain in the head, warm liquid running down the back of the neck. A head wound.
"Yuri! Shit!" The other boys ran to check on their friend.
"You three are under arrest for assaulting a police officer."
"Wait, sir... We don't want their teacher or the Silvermane guild getting involved. If we get a summons from them again-"
"Bah. Those guilds are nothing but talk. Get up ya punks." The officer grabbed Dai, attempting to handcuff him.
However, a voice from the door to the bar called out to the group.
"Hey! What you think you're doing to them!" Mei Jiao. The owner of club Eden, a woman of formidable presence and well respected in the area, stood at the entrance to the building.
"Back off ya Shina slut, this has nothing to do with ya."
The officer was stuck in a different era, one where such discrimination and words were more readily used and accepted.
"Oi, you don't get to call me that." Approaching the officer, she looked up to the tall man. A harsh look on her face, one that would tell anyone to back off.
*Whoop* *Whoop*
Two more police cars pulled up to the curb. Four officers got out to see what the commotion was. Luca Romano, who always seemed to run into these boys at the worst moments was the first out.
"Officer Genji, what's going on?" He asked, looking at the group. The woman was holding onto the officer Genji's shirt, and the boys looked to be on edge, like they were ready to get into a scuffle.
"We got some troublesome boys causing some issues, loitering and being a public disturbance."
The boys scoffed, shaking their heads. They looked to Luca, eyes full of contempt.
"They've been harassing us all afternoon, then this one had the nerve ta-"
"That's a lie! You're the ones who came over and started harassing us!" Yuri yelled out.
"Shut the hell up ya little shit!"
"Genji... Enough." Luca called out, looking towards the boys and then to the man, a sneer of disgust on his face. The officer Genji was notorious for causing problems with his temper. A gruff old man who was stuck in the past.
"Is this true?" Luca asked Genji's partner first. The boy looked at the ground, ashamed but nodded to confirm the accusation.
"Yeah. They've been hanging around for hours." The younger officer lied. Under the scrutinising gaze of Genji, the young cop knew it was better to lie than to get an earful by the senior officer after the fact.
"We'll sort this down at the station. I'll take statements from everyone-"
"No!" *Punch*
Dai delivered a swift punch to officer Genji's sternum. Out of the many lessons that Eren taught them. 'Don't go anywhere near that place. They will find a way to pin a crime on you. Avoid the police at all costs.'
"Renji. Go get Mr. Heart- Ooof." A strike to Yuri's stomach. Genji's fist slammed into the boy, knocking the wind from the smaller man.
Renji ran. As fast as he could, a nimble and agile young man could dodge and weave through traffic. Using the back alleys of the ward. He knew how to get to the school quickly and where Mr. Heart would likely be.
"C'mere ya little runt!" The younger officer took pursuit, although, Renji had gained an upper hand, and knew the area much better than the cop.
---
"What have you done?" Like a ghost, appearing suddenly. Eren stood at the end of the back alleyway, looking towards Renji.
"Sir, their trying to take Dai and Yuri. Even Mei. Trumped up charges." Renji spoke, out of breath from the sprint.
Without another word Eren strode towards Renji, pushing past the boy, walking towards the trouble.
His boys didn't know it, but Eren has eyes everywhere. Shadows, that were his eyes and ears. He knew what happened before Renji could tell him.
On their knees were, Dai, Yuri and Mei Jiao. They had been arrested, the cops standing over them, like a pack of wolves.
*Whistle*
A sharp, loud whistle pierced the air. Drawing everyone's attention towards the white-haired man.
"You have three seconds to release them, before I start cracking skulls. One..."
"Mr. Heart, please your boys attacked-" Luca tried to speak, yet Eren cut them off.
"Two... The Silvermane have 24/7 access to security feeds. We saw everything." A lie, his shadows were watching, not any camera. But they didn't know that.
"Listen ya white haired-"
"Three." A flurry of punches to Genji. Two punches to the jaw, left hook to the ribs, right uppercut, then finally a slam into the nearby brick wall of the alleyway. Officer Genji was left a mess of a human before anyone else could react.
"Put your hands up-"
"STOP!" Luca's voice called out. All the others had guns near ready to aim at the man. Yet one glare from that icy cold stare made the officers back off.
"Mr. Heart. Our junior officer says that the boys-"
"He lied... Your senior officer has been harassing them, making baseless accusations, and making a scene. Now I need to get my students back to the guild; I hope that Yuri doesn't have brain damage after being assaulted like that." Eren spoke. His tone was cold.
"Brain damage?"
"Yeah, uncuff them or you'll join your senior." The air seemed to get colder. The surrounding police officers removed the cuffs. The boys rubbing at sore wrists.
"Mei, can you take them to see Lady Emiko please." Eren nodded to the woman.
Quickly, back into club Eden they ran. Mei watching over the boys, and then out the back door to bring them to the Silvermane.
On the way past in Mei's car, the boys looked at the alleyway. It was like something from a manga. Six offices all collapsed on the ground, with a white-haired teacher standing over them.
"Thank god for Mr. Heart." Renji sighed. Leaning back in the chair, a look of relief on their face.
"Yeah, imagine if he hated our guts." A scary thought that made the boy shutter. What if that powerful man wasn't on their side.