Three days.
It has been three days since the incident in the forest. Three days since Gakushuu, Hakufu, Koukin, Ryomou, Saji, and Ukitsu had been caught in the trap set up by a bunch of Rakuyo punks and either almost been raped, killed, or both. It has been three days since they last saw Haru run into the forest. But most of all, it has been three days since they learned the dark secret that Haru kept from them. The truth is that Haru wasn't just a weird little kid they met, no for he was something else, far more. He was in fact the one thing that put all of Kanto on edge from coming out of the safety of their homes. He was the reason that all the Fighters had to watch their back twenty four seven. He was the one that caused all those deaths.
For Haru was none other than the Kanto Beast!
To say they were shocked when they find out was an understatement. Never in a billion years would they ever have the idea that Haru, a sweet, kind hearted child that had a slight speaking problem and one that wanted to make friends, was actually the monster that killed hundreds of people in the years that past. And yet what they saw confirmed it. But now the question is what to do? Should they call the police and tell them the identity of the Kanto Beast or silence their lips in fear that Haru will come after them if they speak. But with no sight of Haru in the last couple of days meant that he won't be appearing anytime soon.
But deep down they knew Haru wasn't a killer even if what they saw contradicts their feelings. In fact, it was Hakufu, Ryomou, and Ukitsu that truly believed Haru wasn't a blood thirsty killer. They believe he is just a poor soul burdened with a curse, one which transforms him into a monster but in fact Haru is not one. It took a lot of persuading, and a one scary threat or two, to get Gakushuu, Koukin, and Saji to also see that Haru isn't a true monster. Both Gakushuu and Koukin now believe it but Saji still had his doubts.
So we see Gakushuu, Hakufu, and Koukin sitting in Koukin's living room discussing about Haru.
"So you haven't found Haru-san yet?" Gakushuu asked.
"No, I was actually hoping he would try to get his satchel bag from here since he left it but so far nothing. And my search for him has come up with nothing too." Koukin said.
"I see… It seems Haru-san is very good at evading us and is smart enough to not come get his belongings when he might know we will be there. But then again, with him being homeless and moving from one place to another must of giving him a great opportunity to know multitude of routes and alternate ways of moving around the city without going into the main streets. And it also seems he knows to stay away from us even though we don't hate him."
"Yeah… but what still gets me is that he never told us he was homeless, I mean I knew he was poor but I never would have imagined a child his age would have no home or family. Why didn't he say anything?"
After the incident in the forest, the group gather themselves up and helped Gakushuu and Koukin to get medical help. Right before they left they heard a low groan coming from the mass of dead bodies. One of the teens was still alive but barely. They made him tell them everything he knows. With his last breath he told them that Haru was homeless and has no family and his orders to kill him. This shocked the group learning that Haru was not only homeless but was also alone. Learning this plus the fact of his secret, it was no wonder he acts like he does and he was nervous when they ask him certain questions. The teen died shortly after and now it was even more crucial to find Haru.
"He must have thought we pity or belittle him if we ever knew. So it's understandable that he didn't want to talk to us about something that sensitive. Plus if what that Rakuyo scum said about Haru-san being hunted more than once is true, then he has some trust issues to begin with. I can't imagine what Haru-san has been through." Gakushuu sighed.
"Yeah… so where's Ryomou-san? I haven't seen her for a few days."
"If I have to guess, still looking for Haru-san. I'm surprised to see Hakufu-san here; I would have thought that she would be still looking too."
"I would have if Koukin-kun wouldn't have stopped me… jerk." Hakufu said the last part in a whisper.
"I know you're mad at me but you had to rest. You've looked for Haru-san for nearly forty-eight hours straight. You need to think of your health too. And going around all over when you can barely keep your eyes open won't do anyone good, you need to rest. Look, I know you really care for Haru-san but you have to think clearly on your health as well, if you push yourself too hard you could cause serious damage to yourself so making yourself sick to find him won't help anyone." Koukin said.
"He's right, so far this searching blind technique has gotten us nowhere in finding our friend. We need to think, where could Haru-san go? Since he is homeless and probably has no family to speak of, he would most likely hide in an area that has little to no people around and away from the main streets." Gakushuu said.
"So like empty buildings or alleyways?" Hakufu asked.
"Most likely but we also have to considered other places like the forest, the sewers maybe, and even places like warehouses he could easily hide in. As for empty buildings, there are a few dozen or so of them in Kanto but finding out which Haru is in or if he is in them still would take time. Again if he is in them. So we narrow down the possible locations of where he could be but that still leaves a large area to go over. And I'm afraid if we don't find him soon… it could be too late." Gakushuu had a sad look on his face.
Hakufu looked down and looked like she was about to cry. She was holding Haru's satchel bag close to her, hugging it real tight as if she did this Haru would magically reappear before her and everything would go back to the way it was. But she knew he wouldn't come back, not after the reaction they gave when they knew his secret. For in the moment he transformed, they all feared him. And when he saw that fear on their faces, it broke his fragile heart. How did she know this? Hakufu can't explain it, but somehow within her heart and soul, she could feel what Haru felt. His feelings of dread, despair, fear, and above all else sadness. It was written on his face but she could also feel it. Both Ryomou and Ukitsu also felt it, as though their souls were reaching out to his.
But whatever the case was, they hurt him in the worse way, far worse than the pain those teens inflicted on him. She felt like they betrayed him. So now she along with the others must find him and soon.
"Oh Haru-kun… where can you be?" She whispered to herself.
"So… it all comes back to this… alone and with no hope of a future… Haru has shown them what Haru really is and now… Haru is alone again… just like always." Haru thought sadly.
After he ran away from his friends, Haru wandered through the forest in a lost dazes hating himself for revealing who he really was. He didn't know what to do anymore. He believed he destroyed his bond with his friends for once they knew. The look of fear and disbelief was so clear on their faces that it burned in his memories, he could never remove that memory ever. After just roaming around the forest, he somehow made it back to the city. He didn't know how but at that point he could give a damn. He just wanted to hide and never come out for he figured that if he hides and never make human contact he wouldn't become the Kanto Beast ever again.
As he walked to the condemned building he found, he past the park and saw something that made his heart twist. It was around seven or so early in the night and there were a few people out that night, more precisely couples. They were enjoying the night with the person they care for hugging and kissing each other not caring who was watching. Haru felt a bang of jealousy as he saw the affection they were displaying to their significant other. Haru always wondered what it would be like to have someone to care for you like that, to know there is someone out there that loves and cares for you with all their heart. And it wasn't just the couple love either, parents, friends, and even sibling love that he feels so jealous that they have it and he doesn't.
He hated that he felt like that, it wasn't anyone's fault that he was alone and had no one and he knows that. But he has been alone for so long that he can't help himself. And it was even worst that in a small time frame, he actually had someone that cared for him and he blew it. He'll never get the chance to even come close to have friends like them ever again. He was a freak of nature, a monster in human skin, a walking killer with a time bomb just waiting to go off. He knew he couldn't risk hurting or killing someone so he must shut himself off from the world.
So this is where he is now, in the building's basement just sitting in corner in the dark room. He has been there for two days just sitting there. He was hungry and felt weak but he didn't care. Everytime he turns into the Kanto Beast, it always leaves him drain of his strength as it takes a lot of his energy, mainly for the fighting and healing of his wounds. All his wounds were healed but now he is left weak and tired. But it doesn't matter, all he cared was that he will be alone and not hurting anyone and the only way to make sure he will never do that is to never become the Kanto Beast.
And to do that he must remain in the basement for the rest of his life and die there.
He figured that not having human contact wasn't enough, no in order to never become the Kanto Beast and hurt anyone again he needs to die. So if he dies early from hunger then so be it. But he knew he won't die from that. No, more than likely he'll die from the building crushing his body for in the next few days they're tear down this building and he'll be in it when it happens. He doesn't want to die but he thought he had little choice in the matter and for all he's been through might as well get it over with. No one likes him, he was cursed at, made fun at by his looks or speech, beaten to an inch of his life, and hunted down cause he was a stain in society. So why not end it all? No one will miss him and he was alone too. He has no friends, not any more, nor does he have family.
But it got him thinking. Since he revealed to his friends that he was the Kanto Beast and was sure they fear and hate him now, he was confused as to why the police didn't find him yet? Before he enter the building, he heard on the radio that they found the bodies he made in the forest but said they have no lead as to where or who the Kanto Beast was. Now he was certain that the others would rat him out and tell the police he was the killer but yet nothing. No wanted poster, no descriptions were made, and for the better part of his knowing there haven't been any attempts to find him. So why haven't they told them he was the killer?
"Maybe they thought Haru would come after them if they talk… they think Haru is a monster… and they're right."
But the pain in his heart hurts so much, more than any hit or damage his body ever gotten. Those pains would go away in time, but this pain will be there till he dies. He wish he could see them one more time but knew he couldn't.
"If only Haru was never born. Then maybe none of this would of ever happen. Haru hates this life Haru has, Haru wish Haru was never born." He said with a low but angry whisper.
Soon Haru fell to sleep from lack of energy and food.