Revenge or reward? [Maki91/Dimitri]

[Maki91]

He didn't get it. Why had someone just shoot her? She had never done anyone any harm. She had said she would go get them some lunch from the restaurant down the street, stepped out of the small family pharmacy and then she got shoot. Right in the head. He'd seen it all. The blood, all the shocked people on the street... But he never saw the shooter. She had seem so small and young when she lied in his arms, dead, staining his clothes with blood. Her eerie ice blue eyes had looked up at him. They were so empty and yet so full of fear. At that point he knew he'd never sleep calmly again until he got revenge for his beloved mother.

The family had seen very seriously on the shooting. Not only was it Ren's mother that had been shoot, within three hours six people in the family had died. All had been shoot in the head and no one had seen the killer. The head of the family was worried. Only a few days later, Ren was told that it wasn't just his family that had been targeted. A hand full of other non-human families had suffered loses too. The family heads of each clan had agreed to issue a reward to whom ever caught and possibly killed the one responsible for the killings. At that point Ren had already stated to plan how he should get his revenge.

Ren-Shu was normally a pretty calm and caring boy. He lived a pretty simple life with his mother, father and brother. He worked in the family business, a pharmacy selling herb medicine and other Chinese medication. He rarely shape-shifted to his cat form, only if he wanted to travel swift and easy though the town, and when he did, he made sure no one saw him. It was a probable death sentence to shift in front of a human. But now, after his mother had died, the calm boy had become more ill-tempered. One morning, he just left the small apartment, begging the search for his mothers killer.

Around midday Ren ran in to trouble. On a narrow backstreet in a dodgy area of town, two tall men blocked his way. When he turned around, another man stood behind him. Polity the shape-shifter asked them to move, but instead he got attacked. His white haired head hit the ground in an instant, but he didn't give up. With nails sharp as claws, he scratched and fought back. He hissed like the cat he was between the calls for help.

[Dimitri]

Money. Money was always good. Whether you were rich or poor, young or old, everything could always be sorted out with money. And Scythe was prepared to go to great lengths to get his hand on it.

It wasn't just greed, of course. He had his reasons. One of the main ones was his little sister - she was about the only family he had left. Not that this ever bothered Scythe; he couldn't recall his childhood or parents no matter how far he had tried to look through his memory. It was always just him and Belle. The brunet could never recall his own given name, or his sister's, so he went ahead and made them up. He called himself 'Scythe' from his sister's favourite bedtime story, about a farmer and a crow, though she insisted on pronouncing it as 'Skyth', which eventually stuck with him and became his permanent name. And for Belle, he had once managed to get a glimpse of an animated story where the princess was called that, as apparently it meant 'beauty'. Scythe had no idea whether this was true or not, but he thought it fit the little girl well. She meant the world to him, and everything he did, from stealing to sneaking into basements, it was always for her.

They had lived as street rats. With no family or home, they had to make-do with nothing but their own skills. Scythe was thankful for his power over electricity - it made things that much easier. Belle, however, didn't seem to be able to learn to control her element. Maybe he didn't know how to teach her properly, maybe she was too young, but either way the only thing she was capable of doing was creating a small ball of light in her hands. It was warm and comforting, especially when they had to hide out in the dark of the night, and it kept the eight-year-old happy. Sometimes Scythe wished he could send her off to a school for elementalists so she could learn more, but that was something he couldn't afford, despite trying to save up any last penny he managed to pick off the ground.

Yes, elementalists - they were a cruel race. They reflected their powers well; it was all about individuality, independence, the singular power. They had no sense of oneness between their race, and their idea of 'family' was absurd and lacking. Those in power, the apparent leaders that were to look out for the good of their race, were also corrupted and selfish. Greed was the main force behind their actions and anyone who opposed loud enough was quickly and smoothly gotten rid of. Of course, so soon as the rumoured killings had happened, the government panicked and all of a sudden they were offering riches and rewards to the one who could eliminate the danger. Scythe knew it wasn't because they cared about their race dying out - it was because they feared being targeted.

He wouldn't have done a thing to help these cruel bastards out if not for Belle. The brunet was worried for her safety, and when he heard about elementalists being shot in the area they made their home, he decided he wouldn't sit around and wait to be killed. There was one place he could take Belle to that was safe. Gathering every last piece of money he had, he went to the Elemento Famiglia - the main body of the elementalists, hidden behind an identity of a group corporation. It was a large, castle-like mansion, surrounded by gates and with tight security. That was also where the schoolings for young sorcerers were held, and where the more aristocratic members of their race made their home. Scythe took her there and managed to persuade them to let her in, despite the fact he was missing about half the required fee. He was lucky; the woman he spoke to happened to be a mistress of water, making her heart that little bit gentler. Scythe hugged Belle a goodbye, but didn't tell her he wouldn't return that day. Didn't tell her he might not return at all. It would be easier that way.

And now, there he was, five days later, scurrying through the streets. He had done his research, done some snooping and asking, done anything he could at the moment. His next goal was to find a semi-permanent hideout and gather every piece of information he had gotten into one. As the brunet turned a corner, he heard a strange noise, as if a hissing cat, and then... a cry for help? With his curiosity piqued, he slowly made his way in the direction of the sound, to be met with three shady-looking guys attacking a younger boy. Scythe didn't care enough to help - everyone was out on their own as far as he was concerned. But these men didn't look like simple thugs, and he guessed they might even know something about the racial killings. So, without hesitation he crept up behind one and reached out a hand to place it upon the taller male's shoulder. When the man twitched in surprise and turned around to glare at him, Scythe sent a shockwave through his body. The man gasped, shaking violently, and when the brunet removed his hand, he collapsed onto the ground, muscles still twitching from the electrocution. Turning to the other two, Scythe waited for their moves, wondering how they'd react - did they know of elementalists? If so, who were they?

[Maki91]

In the heat of the moment, the more catlike part of Ren took over. The survival instincts kicked in. He didn't want to be beaten to death, no way! He was on a mission. He couldn't fail already, not on the first day. The shape-shifting powers didn't work in a stressed situation like this, but Rens nail still grew a bit longer and sharper, more clawlike, and his teeth became sharper, pointier, almost like vampire's teeth.

Rens sharp nails hit one of the men other the chin. Four, long and red markings quickly appeared as the man stumbled backwards, cursing the cat's claws. This was the man that, only seconds later, lied on the ground, twitching. One of them barely noticed this. He straddled over Ren, held his hands down with one hand and beat him with the other. Ren fought back. He wriggled, tried to get his hands free and made everything in his power to make it as hard as possible for the man to get a good punch. He tried to bite and scratch the man, but it didn't work so well. The angry, catlike hissing became more like growls and Ren really sounded like a very angry cat.

The other man saw the elementalist. From a holster under the black jacket he was wearing, he pulled out a gun.
"This is none of your business, elementalist. Fuck off or I'll shoot!" he yelled with a hoarse voice, as if he had smoked one to many cigarettes. It was obvious they had orders not to kill, at least not yet.

[Dimitri]

"Right," Scythe's hands rose into the air by his head. "Calmly," he instructed, staring at the man with the gun. For a moment longer he didn't move, but then a light smile crossed his face - seconds later, a powerful wave of electricity shot out of one of his hands, aimed straight for the man's gun. Connecting with the metal, the current travelled through the weapon and reached the man's hand, burning him. When he screamed in pain and dropped the gun, his palm now stained a rotten black, Scythe didn't waste a moment - he jumped forward and aimed a kick to his gut. The guy bent over, and Scythe took his chance, grabbing his head and giving him another kick, this time with his knee.

Finally, he turned to the third man, who was apparently set on harassing the white-haired boy. The brunet laughed under his nose - how pathetic, three grown men were sent to assault this helpless kitty? Scythe's legs were back in the work, and this time he prodded the man in the back with his foot, ready to send another electrical current through, though he didn't want to risk it so long as the man's body was in contact with the other male. Surely there was a reason to attack him, so maybe he knew something useful. Scythe couldn't afford to go around killing information sources. "Oiii. Over here, old man."

[Maki91]

Finally Ren got one hand loose. He struck the man over the face, clawed his cheek and made three large, bleeding marks. The man let Ren's other hand go and screamed. The foot in the back got him to turn his head around. He frowned at Scythe, but then lost his breath as Ren punched him in the stomach. The man bent forward, holding his hands over his belly. Ren, quickly, grabbed him by the shirt and through a full body movement he tipped, almost threw, the man to the side and got loose. He didn't get up on two legs though. He stayed on all four, staring at Scythe with the catlike eyes, the right one was blue and the left was a greenish yellow. He hissed lowly at him, which was no surprise, because he was scared.

The man that Ren had punched in the stomach slowly started to get up. He growled angrily, but instead of focusing on Ren, he now looked at Scythe.
"Fucking brat." he grunted and reached for the gun placed in a holster under the jacket. But before he got a chance to point it at the elementalist Ren hit the man in the back of the head with a piece of paving brick the size of a fist. The man dropped his gun and fell, fainted, to the ground.

Ren didn't think at that point. He leaped at Scythe, still holding the stone, growling as a angry cat. The eyes were full of fear. Luckily he dropped the stone, but he still pouched Scythe to the ground, straddled him and tried to pin him to the pavement.

[Dimitri]

Scythe watched with light amusement as the kitty-boy and the man fought, until finally the latter was knocked out. He was fairly surprised when the boy had remained on his fours and hissed, but he quickly realized it must've meant he was a shape-shifter or some other similar race with animal control. One thing he certainly didn't expect was to be jumped by this boy, so with his guard down he was soon on his back. He grunted when the pavement scraped his skin, glaring up at the white-head.

"What are you doing? Is this how you repay me for saving your sorry ass?" he grunted, pushing Ren away by his shoulder and sending a light electric spark through - it wasn't enough to leave a burn, but it was enough to give a warning.

[Maki91]

Ren's more human nature slowly emerged and the eyes became softer. The nails and teeth shrunk down to normal size. The brunettes words got Ren feeling guilty, but the feeling got replaced with a pain that shot out thought the shoulder and arm as he fell to the side.
"Ouch." he whined and sat up. He looked at the elementalist and frowned a bit.
"Sorry... I... I couldn't control my self. I driven by the natural instincts of survival." he explained as he rubbed his shoulder. It hurt a bit, but he would survive.

Ren tried to rise from the ground, but stopped halfway though, holding his hand at his ribs. One of the thugs had kicked him in the ribs, but if wasn't until now Ren felt the pain. He breathed slowly and with every breath he straightened a bit. When he stood straight his gaze landed on Scythe. He looked a bit guilty as he gently rubbed his ribs.
"Sorry for jumping at you. In the heat of the moment I though you were one of them." he said, hoping the elementalist would accept his apology.
"Thank you for saving me, though." he said with a grateful voice and a small, catlike smile appeared on his lips. He decided to introduce him self to his savior.
"I'm Ren-Shu. Who are you?"

[Dimitri]

Instincts of survival, huh. How about self-control, Scythe wanted to say, but he didn't see the point in trying to argue with the boy. While Ren was sulking on the ground, he rose to his feet and ran a hand through his black hair, feeling his hand burn slightly from all that electricity usage. He'd have to slow down for a while or he'd burn his skin. The brunet leaned over one of the fainted men and started to look through his pockets, glancing at the albino only once when he said his apology. "One of them? I look like those idiots to you?" he grumbled under his nose, rummaging through the unconscious man. Bullets, a photograph, some coins, he'd keep those, a bill, a tissue..? Ew!

Holding the coins and the bill in his hand, he stood straight again and stuffed them in his pocket. "Scythe," he said simply, then visibly eyed Ren up and down with his pale blue eyes. "So what are you? Shifter, or what? And why did these weaklings attack you?" he asked with a light smirk.

[Maki91]

Ren tried to breath the pain away, like his mother had thought when he hurt him self as a child. The good thing was that it actually worked. Slowly, but surly, the pain went down from terrible to just a bit bad. He let the hand leave the ribs and relaxed. Now he could stand like a normal person. The shifter followed the elementalist with his eyes. He frowned a bit and snorted.
"No, not now you don't, but... I'm sorry, okay? I can't change what happen." He sighed och shook his head a bit.

When Scythe asked if Ren was a shifter, Ren nodded.
"Yeah, I am. And you're an elementalist." He knew of all the families, at least he thought he knew. Ren's forehead wrinkled a bit. He was wondering the same thing as Scythe.
"Honestly... I've got no idea. But I guess it has something to do with the killings." he said and looked at the unconscious man with a look of distaste. Then he looked at Scythe instead.
"Though, if they wanted me... us dead, then we'd probably be dead by now. The other killings... they were fast and anonymous." He began pondering about this. Could this attack really have something to do with the killings?

[Dimitri]

"Mm," Scythe murmured as he mused over the different possibilities. "They don't appear to have any powers, so I doubt they're from a family, but it may be possible they're after the rumoured killings themselves," he spoke, walking around slowly, a hand on his chin. "That would mean they suspect it's someone from within the family, if they attacked us," he went on, letting that sink in. It was just a guess, a random chain of thought, and yet, if this was true... locating the killer would be a real pain the ass.

Scythe turned around sharply, suddenly realizing he was leaking information to an unknown person. After giving him a harsh glare, the brunet turned on his heel and began walking away. Right, where was he? A base. He needed a base.