Chapter 22: Sanctuary

-The Next Day-

Aku walked out the hospital door with a blue jacket, black sweatpants, and off brand shoes. He looked around in daze as he appeared to be a large dome made out of dirt and brick. There were pillars the size of houses to ensure that the dome would never cave in. Roots seem to hang from the ceiling of the dome furthermore making it seem like they were underground somewhere.

But it was beautiful the lighting was magnificent even with no sun. Colors seemed to reach far and wide like it was painted by an angel.

'I need to look around, this place I've never seen or heard anything like it.'

Aku watched as a few kids were play-fighting. None of them could have been older than 7 and yet something about them shocked Aku.

'They're all demons?'

One of the kids activated their Karada as he started to over power the other one. The girl who was being overpowered activated her Shiryoku as she moved out of the way letting the boy fall to the ground. The two giggled as the girl started to run away again.

"Not fair there's no way you're getting better with your eyes!"

The boy got up and started to run after the girl. Aku was confused as he noticed all the people in the village were also not human. Some not even being demons.

'What is going on? Where am I?'

"Confused aren't you, again when are you supposed to be dispatched? I just wanna make sure I don't have to throw you back in there."

Aku turned to the now familiar voice of Tarin although his appearance was now very different. He had a ponytail in the back and had a wolf cut in the front now. His appearance was a lot friendlier than it was the first time they met.

"I was just dispatched, but where am I?"

"Well before the kids notice me you're in a place called "Sanctuary" I am a personal founder so if you have any insults or complaints I'll take them critically."

"Guys, look its Tarin!"

"Tarin?"

Soon enough about 10 kids swarmed Tarin. They giggled and laughed in excitement of seeing him.

"Did you beat up any more bad guys?"

"Did you save any more kids?"

"Where's Ms. Frizzy?"

"My parents said you don't like pickles, is that true?"

Aku saw how the kids looked up to Tarin. It was almost sweet.

"Now, now kids , I'm actually very busy right now. He might not be so much of a kid in age but he kind of acts like one, the boy in front of us here is a newbie so lets not scare him off already."

The kids looked over at Aku as he looked dead inside.

"He looks rough."

A kid whispered to another one.

A girl then walked up to Aku and hugged his legs.

"Why are you hugging me?"

The girl looked up at him with her Shiryoku out.

"You are sad and scared, I can feel it with my eyes."

Aku was taken aback as he felt her embrace leave him as the kids started to walk away in their own directions.

"Sad and scared huh, well wouldn't be the first time."

Aku then turned away from Tarin and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

Tarin was suddenly behind Aku with no noise at all. Aku's body tensed up remembering how Tarin knocked him out swiftly.

"How strong are you?"

The question brought Tarin a smile.

"Aku I'll be honest with you, you won't be leaving right now, I know you're not leaving without your sister. Therefore we have a house for you and your sister all set, as well you and I can spar tomorrow."

Aku then remembered what happened in the hospital room when his fist was fractured from Tarin catching his punch.

'This guy is no joke, which means sparring him could prove to be useful.'

"Guess I have no choice, where's the house?"

***

*Slam*

The door slammed behind Aku as Tarin and him walked into an apartment-like house.

"Here's your home sweet home, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, and a small living room."

Aku first looked at the kitchen and then looked at the TV and two couches.

"There are frozen rice and chicken dinners in the freezer and plenty of snacks in the cabinets."

Tarin walked over to the couch and sat down.

"Oh, and also if you win tomorrow's sparring match I'll get you anything from the grocery store."

Aku looks at Tarin.

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Can't someone just be nice?"

Aku looked at him with judgemental eyes.

"Well good bye, I'll be seeing you tomorrow."

"By-"

*Slam*

"...okay then."

***

*Whistle*

Aku walks over grabbing a kettle off the oven. Pouring it into a cup as he sits down with a bowl of sweets in front of him. He took a sip of his tea as he hunched over the counter. He sat alone in silence as a singular light shone over him and the countertop.

'Only if I smoked huh?'

Aku thought to himself of smoking under the light looking all mysterious but knowing the truth he was just a teenage "boy" sitting under a light drinking tea.