Chpt 2 - Part 2 (Duo's Backstory)

<BS:ZA> Chpt 2 - part 2 (Duo's backstory)

Logo: RINNΞ

November 25, xxxx

He lets out a sigh as he stares mindlessly at the board, he’s barely listening to his teacher if he’s being completely honest.

"Alright, before we end class, I would like you to grab a partner and build a model on our topic" The teacher tapped the board. "This will be your last project for this school year," She recalled as the other students took out their writing instruments and started to take down notes. "The deadline will be after your last exams, so you have plenty of time. '' The teacher then soon dismissed the class. Everyone packed their belongings and finally stepped out of the classroom, that includes the teacher. 

"Hey" 

A student approached Kaitou; 

"Do you.. have a partner already?"

The boy asked, seeming to be hesitant.

"Mukha bang may partner ako?" (Do I look like I have a partner?) Kaitou snarled, he just wanted to go home. He doesn't wanna deal with anyone from this horrid place they call school. He's tired. "Yeah, no wonder no one wants to partner with you.." The boy muttered to himself, Kaitou could clearly hear him as he whipped his head and glared at the boy. "If you're complaining already then fuck off." Kaitou slammed his palms on the table, the boy flinched and Kaitou could care less. He grabbed his back and stormed off the room. 

The boy was a stubborn one as he ran off to Kaitou. "Oy, teka lang!" (Oy! Wait up!)

The boy chased after Kaitou, grabbing his wrist abruptly stopping Kaitou's walk. "Ano?!" (What?!)

Kaitou looked back and saw a helpless boy, panting. 

"I know you don't have a partner and you won't bother asking someone," The boy paused, catching his breath. "Let's partner up on this project and once we're done with it we don't have to interact." The boy looked at Kaitou straight in the eyes. He won't give up til he said yes hm.. 

"Fine." Kaitou replied, nothing but joy can be seen in the boy's eyes. "Give me your number" Kaitou then pulled out his phone. "I'll send you the research and other details next week" The boy nodded and grabbed his phone then gave it to Kaitou. The two were silent while putting each other's number on each other's fine. "I'll get going, don't chase after me" Kaitou sighed, turning on his heel and walking away. Thankfully, the boy didn't follow. He opened his phone and checked his contacts. "Koe?.." It took Kaitou a good minute. "Oh that's his name." 

A week passed by and as Kaitou promised he sent all his research to Koe. The boy appreciated this and suggested that they talk more about this during their break time, Kaitou was hesitant but still agreed nonetheless.

"You remember how ma'am said that we have to build a model?" Koe asked and Kaitou simply nodded while eating his snacks. "I was wondering maybe I can build it while you do the research?" Koe requested and this made Kaitou's vein pop. "Do you just want the points to yourself?" He glared at the boy and Koe just shook his head. "No no no! That's not it– I–" Koe stuttered out and Kaitou wasn't having it. "Why bother looking for a partner when you want the grades to yourself?" Kaitou balled his fist trying not to slam it on the table. 

"Just hear me out, please!" Koe begged and since Kaitou didn't want to embarrass himself, he just waited for Koe to start talking once again.

"Thank you. I'm not being selfish, I just want to split the work. That's all" Koe explained and Kaitou is not convinced one bit. "But.. if you feel like helping just ask me, a little help wouldn't... hurt" Koe looked down, staring at his lap waiting for a response from Kaitou. 

Kaitou just lets out a sigh and arises from his chair. Koe looked up to see him packing up already, panic stricken.

"W-Where are you going?" Koe mentally slapped himself for stuttering. "Going back to the classroom, what else? We have 5 more minutes of break." Kaitou reminded Koe. "What about the-" Koe was cut off by Kaitou clicking his tongue. "We can split the work." And without further discussion Kaitou is off, heading to their classroom. 

Koe lied; 

And Kaitou knows. 

Whenever Kaitou would send Koe one of the research he conducts he would always ask the boy if there's anything he can do. Koe would always turn him down. 

Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and the next thing Kaitou knows the deadline is near. 

By the end of the examination he just gave up, he stopped asking Koe if there's anything he can help. He accepted the fact that Koe is taking all the credits to himself and Kaitou has no time to create another research let alone build a model.

The day of the deadline comes and everyone has their model in front of the class. Kaitou was sitting at the back— listening to the students present their work. 

When it's time for their work to be presented, Kaitou couldn't help but look away, Koe's presenting by himself. It made every blood in Kaitou's body boil. 

He couldn't fucking believe it. 

Once every student had presented their work the teacher walked in front of the class.

"I have everyone's index card right here" She announced, waving a stack of index cards in one hand. "I mentioned the rubrics in one of our free time but if you forgot it's written here" The teacher then tapped the board with the written rubrics. "I also mentioned that whoever is in charge is allowed to grade their partner based on their performance from 1-10, 1 being the lowest" 

The teacher then looked at each index card. "And the highest right now is..." She prolonged her sentence, trying to find a specific card. "Ah, Koe and Kaitou seem to be doing well, they've split up their work pretty well it seems." Kaitou's eyes widened, he whipped his head and caught Koe's eyes. He couldn't hear what the teacher was saying after that, the two just had a staring contest the whole time the teacher was talking. 

When the teacher dismissed the class Kaitou hurriedly got up from his seat and chased after Koe. "Oy, dickhead!" He spat out, grabbing Koe's shoulder and forcefully spun him around to make him look at Kaitou. "What was that all about?"

"I did mention we're splitting the work," Koe said smugly. 

"You fucker. I keep asking you if there's anything I can help with— like you said, but I always get fucking ghosted." Kaitou then shoved Koe. "L-Look.. I'm sorry, I heard you're not a huge fan of working, s-so I spared you a bit" Koe stuttered out, slowly stepping away from Kaitou. "And you didn't bother asking me?" Koe was silent, letting Kaitou yell at him. "Did I just waste my breath telling you that I can help with the building process?! I even went to your house to try and help you!" Finally, Kaitou lets out a sigh. "Whatever." He muttered and shoved Koe out of his way. Koe just watched Kaitou walking away. Koe sighed and walked the opposite direction. 

Thankfully, school's over, the two can forget about this experience. 

A month went by and the two stopped talking to one another, they didn't mind anyways. 

Kaitou stepped out of the grocery store, both hands holding a plastic bag filled with groceries that his mother listed down, he also grabbed a couple of snacks for himself. He started walking to the direction of his house when he passed by an alleyway, in that alleyway he heard low groaning. Kaitou looked at the alleyway in disgust and proceeded to walk. "Who the fuck would have sex in a dirty ass alleyway" He muttered to himself, completely oblivious to the fact that someone or something was on his tail. It slowly approached him til it finally had its filthy hands on Kaitou's shoulder.

Kaitou flinched and immediately kicked whoever was behind him. Kaitou turned around to take a good look at whoever dared touch him and god..

He regretted it. 

This creature that Kaitou was looking at— it almost made him throw up. The creature is covered in dried blood, skin decaying, mouth ajar and one of its eyes is dangling out of its own socket. Kaitou took a step back, then another, til he's finally sprinting home. 

One creature turns into swarms of creatures. He ran as fast as he could; the joy in his eyes when he spotted his house. He swung the front door open and slammed it shut once he's inside, locking it. "MA!" He called out and the response he got sent shivers down his spine. 

A low groan. 

Shit. They got here already. How?! 

He dropped the groceries and slowly walked his way to the kitchen and grabbed a chef's knife. He doesn't want to do it. But.. he knows.. his mother is gone. 

He quickly grabbed the groceries he bought and before he could step out of the house he heard stomping, slow once but soon enough the footsteps became faster and louder.

Kaitou swung the door open and dashed out the door, leaving his now corrupted mother behind. He ran and ran, he didn't know where he was going and just ran with groceries and a knife in hand.

You sent

Once he came to a stop he dropped down on his knees and tried to catch his breath. "Fucking christ.." He cussed at no one, he slowly arose from the floor and looked up noticing a familiar house. "Kaitou?" A familiar voice called out. 

"Well fuck." 

"I see you just got back from an errand" Koe teased and jogged to the front of his house. “This is not a good time to be teasing me, asshole. Did you not notice our predicament just now?” Kaitou yelled at him, Koe just stayed silent, opening the door and letting Kaitou enter before him. “I know, I saw” Koe sighed and slid his jacket off his shoulder. Koe pointed at the counter, insisting Kaitou to place the bag of groceries there. Kaitou understood and did as he was instructed. “It’s best to mentally and physically prepare ourselves before going outside,” Koe said before hanging his jacket on one of the chairs. “Thankfully we got groceries.” He then pulled the chair and sat down, sighing to himself. “Why are you suddenly here out of all places?” He started to ask the boy who’s currently storing the groceries away. “Tried to go home, mother’s corrupted and I have no place to go” Kaitou said softly. Then silence, no one dared to mutter out a word. They didn’t mind it one bit, they needed to wrap their head on what on earth happened and what they just experienced. 

“And the rest is history” Kaitou then clapped his hand as he finished telling the story which included every detail he can remember. To put it simply, Toko has no words as she listens to every word the two are spitting out. She’s thankful that Suro and Rinne found them and decided to take them in, they would be a good part of the team. “Is there anything else you want to know?” Koe asked. 

“That’s all, no worries,” Toko smiled and tapped her fingers on the table. “I do have a question though,” Kaitou stepped in. 

“Go on?” 

“Do you give the others their “job” or do they have to pick?” 

Toko hummed at Kaitou’s question. “It really depends. If they’re unsure on what they want to do they come to me and I'll give them a position. But other than that it’s mostly them giving themself a position.” The two boys nodded at the information that Toko gave. “Is that all?”

Koe hummed and the duo stood up from their seats. “That’s all for now, thank you” Koe smiled at Toko as he walked up to the door and opened it. “I should be the one thanking you two for trusting me with your story” Toko softly chuckled and watched the two step out of her office. Once the door was closed she leaned back on her chair and she let out a groan. “What’s with everyone with traumatic ass stories” She then lets out a sarcastic laugh.

“You’re one to talk” Another voice spoke, she immediately sat up and saw Rev leaning on the door frame. “As if you don’t” Toko teased which earn a laugh from Rev. “No one is stable in this shelter” He grabbed a chair and slid it behind him then he sat down. “True” said Toko, 

“Also, aren’t we supposed to move out?” Rev added. “Maybe tomorrow, i’m not too sure”

“You said that last time”

“Shut it!” Toko lets out another groan and she lays her head on the desk in front of her. “Finding a new shelter is no problem, we already found one. The drive there will be a big one” Rev nodded as he mentally took notes. “We’ll have a meeting tomorrow, for now, go to sleep”