Lilly

"[Name] You're so amazing!" "Look at them go. They've always been so talented" "They managed to speak so early too? A Toddler like that is destined for something amazing."

You've been praised for as long as you remember as a baby and toddler. You managed to learn to walk and talk with ease before most children your age. Everyone around you praised you for being a wonderful angelic child, never crying nor make a tantrum.

You could enter into a room with a giggle and smile simply, then everyone would coo and praise you. Your parents showered you in love and affection. You got to show off your talent of singing and dancing along with the music from your mother's favourite music box.

You were perfect and talented. 

Were.

You were talented and impressive.

The early years of school started to reflect the lack of skill you truly had. 

Your skills in learning fell slowly behind everyone else your age, you struggled learning to read and write while others reached more complex words for their age by the time you could barely do the basics. You were first out whenever playing on the monkey bars or tag or even hide and seek.

"You're doing your best [Name]. You'll catch up to everyone else..." Your parents talked about you less and less, praising your friends and siblings more than you.

"Your friend, she managed to get top scores for her last tests. That's impressive."

Your drawings got shoved to the back of the drawer. You would continue to bring them your newest pieces of art or test from school, hoping for any chances for them to put the pieces up on the fridge or walls. Yet they would smile at you. "You managed to do nicely." Before the piece of you got shoved away into the drawer along side the rest of the pieces you made.

When your younger siblings started to grow up and slowly reach your level while you still struggle to catch up to people your age. You couldn't help but want to disappear from how you could hear your parents praise out to your siblings.

"Your little sister is getting really good at drawing."

"Your younger brother can talk in full sentences!" 

You just wanted them to look at you the same way. You want them to look your way, give you the same affection that your youngest sibling gets compared to you. You wanted their love and affection. You wanted people to look your way like they did when you use to sing and dance as a 7 year old.

You hate that you, an 11-year-old, is barely reaching the same level as a 7-year-old in school. You just wanted to cry. You wanted to be special again. You wanted to be praised again like you used to be. You wanted to be something extraordinary, someone who isn't seen as normal or below everyone else.

You wanted your parent's love to be back on you alone again.

.

Your parents were busy as normal.

They were in and out of the house. Left early and came back late some days. You would learn from your friends, they are part of a group of people known as Hell Guards. A group of people that are mostly Non-Givers that enforce the law and protect everyone. That is what you've been told.

Your parents are amazing in your eyes, they are so strong and powerful. They desire all the praise you hear your classmates tell you about the Hell Guards. You want to stop disappointing them so much.. So that's when you saw it. Your friend's mother had a poster stuck up on the board with a schedule right beside it.

JOIN THE HELL GUARD Hell Guard Training Academy 12 and up

There was your chance, one way to grab the attention of your parents once again. You can't help but feel a warm feeling bubbling in your chest at the idea.  You were going to join the Hell Guard. Your parents will praise you if you want to become just like them? Right? You must. 

So the moment you got home, you finally had a moment alone with your parents as your siblings were out with their friends for atleast another hour, having dinner with their friends' families.

"Mother, Father. I'm going to become a Hell Guard." Your parents glance between each other at the dinner table. Your father would glance towards you once their silent conversation finished.

"Are you sure that is what you want dear?" Your father questions you, with you giving a quick nod right back. "You've always been talented at singing and dancing. Why don't you pursue that?"

"I want to become a hell guard. That's all I want to do." You confirm again. You stare at the two. Your hands gripping tighter onto the utensils in your hand as silence was in the room.

"Alright. You know it will be hard work." Your mother places down the set of chopsticks in her hands. You nod your head a bit. "You will spend all your time studying and training. You won't be able to spend times with your friends, or even your siblings some days."

"Yeah. I want to!" You have to become one.

"Alright. You'll start training on your own. If you want this. You have to put everything in it." Your mother's words explained to you, but it didn't matter. You have to do this to get the love you want.

So you spent months and months studying. Training. You put every free moment you had into this. You saw your friends less, your parents checked on you occasionally to see if you were still focused. You had to put everything into this...

You have to become a Hell Guard.

You NEED to.

It's the only way to get your love and praise back.

So that's when you went to take the exam. It was a simple check, see if you would do well enough for both the training and keeping up in school. You could get accepted into the Hell Guard. You need to do well. You spent every second of the exam writing down answers, trying to not jumble up the letters down on the page. You had to run the race and beat most. You had to show off your strength.

You have to show your worth. You will be a Hell Guard.

...So that letter in your hand gave you more fear than anything else. You waited weeks and weeks for this letter to reach your hands. Something to tell you that you are worthy enough for your parent's love and praise.

So you ripped open the envelope to read the words across the page.

You passed.

Your grades are the best ones you've ever had - The average grade that everyone else gets that most wouldn't bat an eye at them, yet it made you want to cry. You had to show your parents. They have to be proud of you now. You got into the training camp.

You hurried down the stairs as you reach towards the kitchen door. As you shuffle over and your hand reaches up you hear.

"I mean They should get in right?" You could hear your parents from behind the door as they talked. You stopped, feeling you should wait before going in.

"They don't have the best of grades, and they've put so much work into doing this." Your father's voice had the hint of worry. It made you feel more excited to show off the letter in your hands, how you managed to pass and get into the school.

"Dear, don't worry." Your mother's voice hummed softly. "They will get in." Your mother believes in you. You reach for the door knob, getting ready to push open and tell them the news.

"We put a word in. They'll pass [Name] for being part of our family."

What.

You stood frozen in the spot as your hand rests against the doorknob. Your breathing stopped in that moment at hearing those words. You glance down towards the paper in your hand. Your feet take a step back as you lift the page back up towards your face.

You didn't actually get in did you? Your parents made it happen.

You hold the letter in your hands as some water drips down onto the paper, smudging the ink.

You're nothing special. You're less than normal.

You're pathetic.

You don't deserve the praise that you would get if you simply showed them this letter. You want to rip the paper in your hands, yet you know. This is still your only chance to bask in the embrace and love of your parents again. 

You just need to work harder. Keep trying to be seen as something special again.

You will show them that you becoming a Hell Guard isn't just because they chose you to. Even if you have to give up all your freedom in the sake of barely passing the exams and seeming normal.

You have to. 

So at the end of those 4 years, you'll be able to stand as a Hell Guard and gain the praise from your family like you desire to.

_______________________

You and Enjin have never had a proper fight with each other in the last almost 2 and a half years of you coming to HQ. You've had small disagreements here and there about food, or maybe you didn't realise that you grabbed something of his or just something random. Though those were simple fights that usually get solved within a hour at most - you're too much of a forgiving person that has way too much patience than anyone deserves - especially Enjin sometimes.

Though this is the first time Semiu actually sees you this upset. 

Returning from your mission with Enjin, you seemed normal, introducing the new young girl that the two of you picked up from your mission. You went with Enjin to give her a tour - taking her to the boss to get accepted - and the moment the doors close for the girl to go rest in her new room. That's when you finally broke your mask to start ignoring the blonde idiot.

"[Name]." Enjin was walking at your side, he reaches out, touching your shoulder before you pull yourself back from his touch.

"Enjin! Just go away right now! I really don't want to talk to you." Your clear annoyance with him and harshness in your tone was definitely not something Enjin was use to.  "You lied to me, and that is really upsetting me."

"It was what I believed was the best for you at the time." Enjin adds to you as you're walking away, your hand gripping tighter onto the cane as you are reaching towards the entrance once again, you were going to the other side of the HQ to go and get to the infirmary. Though you stop at hearing those words before turning towards Enjin.

"Holy shit Enjin! Do you not get what's wrong with that statement!" You whip around towards what you believe is the direction he was located in. "You can't just decide what you think is the best for me! Lying about letting my own sibling come with me here is shitty." Your hands press against the blood-soaked fabric against your face, you needed to wash it soon to get the blood out before it stains.

"[Name] Listen to me. Tamsy was being a real weird kid-" This is where you cut him off. "I know the two of you hated each other. But going this low because you don't want him to come with me here is another type of shitty." 

"Is everything okay? We could hear shouting.." You hear what you can only describe as the voice of reason as two sets of footsteps start to head over. "You guys look like you need some care.. Let's go to the infirmary." Bro and Gris's voices could be heard. Your body moved away from anyone's touch as you turn towards the door.

"Gris. Bro. Lets go out. I'll be fine." With the harsher tone and lack of cheerfulness, Bro and Gris look towards each other first before at Enjin. They manage to atleast figure out Enjin did something. Enjin's face tells them that they can go follow you, so the two would go after you, calling out as you walk out.

"So.. What did you do." Semiu's voice pips in as she turns the page of her magazine, her eyes glance up towards Enjin. "Why do you assume I'm to blame." His eye twitches as he huffs out, he was annoyed, he didn't want this to come out to you. 

"I've never seen [Name] that angry. You must have done something real bad for them to get that upset." He hates to admit it, but Semiu would be right. Lying about your brother not being able to come, letting you leave after having a fight with him was clearly not something you wanted, he can be blamed for the first part, but he will have to apologize to you. Though he couldn't do that right away as Semiu adds something to the conversation.

"The boss told me to call you up to his office once you're back. So, get patched up and go to meet with him. Once [Name] calms down, you can talk with them." Semiu's attention was back on her own magazine as Enjin stares in her direction. He glances out towards where you went off to with Gris and Bro before he has to give up and head towards his boss.

Getting to the car was silent as you push open the door and climbing into the passenger seat - the two males decided to have Gris get into the driver's seat as he was the best driver out of anyone.

"Can you take me to my old hometown..." Your voice grumbles a bit, as your head presses into your hand a bit. Your eyes glance out the window, your lips pressing against each other. You cant believe Enjin, he would lie to your face about your brother not being able to join. He wouldnt have been left alone. "It's located near..."

As you mumble off what you could remember about your hometown, Gris and Bro would manage to realise the place and start to head off, letting you settle in the quiet - excluding the soft music playing through the radio.

Enjin's a piece of shit. What person lies to keep them away from their family? You can't understand that. As children, you weren't an idiot, you could see Tamsy's disliking of Enjin - then again Tamsy didn't like anyone besides you. He tolerated Olive at most if you could be nice about it. Though that was just a kid being a kid, jealousy is normal. Why would Enjin not let Tamsy come? Was it jealousy?

You let out a groan and reached for the side of the window, pressing down the button as you hear the window open, letting you shift and poke your head out to feel the wind hitting your face.

"What happened?" Gris was the first to speak from the group. You didn't move your head from the window as you let the wind keep hitting your face, keeping you somewhat cool.

"Enjin's a piece of shit. That's what." Hearing those words come from you made both Bro and Gris glance at you. Enjin really messed up. "I just want to go home. I've been pushing it back for so long... So there, that's why I asked to come here." You push up your arm on the rest against the door, resting your head on your hand. You don't believe your friends think that's the full story. Though they are good enough friends to know when to not continue asking you.

As the car continued it's way to eventually stop, it parked and Gris glances towards you. "We're here." He gets out while Bro follows with, you push yourself out the car, using your cane to feel around the ground.

"I'm gonna go reunite with my family." You send a smile their way. You push down your bandana around your neck, trying to cover it with your top so that the blood that was soaked from your eyes wasn't visible. You look towards what you believed was their direction. "Do you see any blood."

"You're fine." Bro tells you, as you nod and give a small wave before walking off. You walk around, you could hear the chatter from different stalls as you relax a bit. You decided to make a quick stop, going towards the familiar alleyway, you felt a door and push open.

"August." You hear a softer voice before shouting, your shoulders relax at the familiar environment that you knew you were home. "Be careful!" Eisha's soft voice barely let out a shout as you hear some rattling. "Eishey-Weishey! LOOK AT MY NEW MASTERPIECE!" You can't help but let out a giggle at hearing the siblings in the room.

"What do you want! We're busy! " The familiar yelling doctor calls out before hearing footsteps as a you feel the breath of the doctor against your skin at how close she was, you took a small step back. You can't help but smile.

"You gotta have some time for me Gran-Gran doctor." The familiar nickname and tone of voice catches the attention of the family.

"[Name]?" "[NAME]!" The two siblings called out right behind before you knew it, another face got closer, grabbing your shoulder told you that. "YOU'RE BACK! YOU'RE BACK!" August's shouts and calls as the teen was cheering around you. You hear softer shuffling as a second person reached you, her hand touching yours. "It's nice to see you again..." The voice was soft - letting you know it was Eisha.

"It's glad to hear you guys again. It's been so long." You laugh before feeling a gentle whack against your head. "I thought I was finally rid of you brat. But my grandkids are happy to see you."

For once she didn't tell off your nickname. You smile brighter. "I missed you too." You laugh a bit.

"So what are you doing here?" You glance in the direction of Alice. "I'm coming for a visit. After today I'm going back to the cleaners, The trash beasts won't kill themselves." You laugh softly.

"[Name], are you hurt?" You hear Eisha's voice, as you feel her hand reach up, touching your shoulder as you flinch, the pain spikes up as you get reminded that you actually didn't go and fix the injury the bullet did when it shot against the side of your shoulder. "Oh shi- crap." You move back as your hand places against your shoulder. 

"You gotta patch that up or it'll get infected." Eisha would move, collecting what you can only imagine as a bandage. "You can come sit on the bed." You hum a bit.

"Alright." You use your cane to lead your way, once it hit the bedframe, you feel up the side of the bed before feeling the fabric of the cover, sitting down on the bed.

You hear a bottle open before Eisha speaks. "It's going to burn.." She tells you softly before a cottonball presses against your shoulder, you flinch back, but stay still as she cleans your injury. As you hear something getting pulled apart. "It doesn't look deep... So I put a band-aid on?" You hear the questioning in her voice, only to get back a 'yeah' from the doctor. You can only assume that Eisha is getting taught how to become one.

"There..." As the band-aid is stuck against your skin. You move your hand to feel the smooth surface of it as you smile. "Thank you Eisha! You'll be a really great doctor one day. You patched me up perfectly!"

"I-I'm not that good..." "You will be amazing. Trust me. I know things." You smile at her as you reach your hand over feeling for her head - touching her shoulder and slowly moving your hand up - before ruffling it gently.

"I'll get going. I need to go visit more people. But I'm glad to have seen you three." You let out a grin, giving a hug to Eisha - that August joined in on. Before you head out from the doctor. That is when you make your next stop, going towards where you remember the restaurant was.

"[Name]?" A voice calls, a sense of confusion and surprise as you smile. "Is that you Olive? It's nice to see you again." Silence before you hear movement, getting faster before a body rushes onto you, wrapping around you as you stumbled a bit. "[Name]! You're here!"

You relax and smile as you wrap your arms around her, relaxing against her body. "I missed you." "Me too..." "Let's grab a table, my dad won't mind us eating out in front. It's on the house."Olive pulls away after a moment, her hands reaching to hold yours as she leads you towards the restaurant a bit.

You hear a chair getting pulled out. "The chair is infront of you." You feel out before slowly lowering yourself on a chair. "I'll grab your favourites." She hums before walking off, leaving you to sit down on your own.

In the two years you've been gone, it seems her edges softened. You remember how much harsher she was on you - though she said it out of love - you are glad she isn't as tense as she was then.

"My dad will bring it in a moment." You hear a chair across getting pulled as she sits down. "It's been so long since we've seen you. How have you been, atleast from last we've called?"

"I've been alright, we recently have gotten more supporters and we got a new cleaner joining us. Her name is Riyo." You tell her softly. "Other than that, I've been alright. I just wanted to come visit everyone today, so it's a surprise visit." You smile in her direction.

"Yeah, everyone at the orphanage will be surprised." Atleast the ones who haven't been adopted out since you were there. 

"I can't wait to see Tamsy. He will be surprised as ever." You laugh a bit as you hum. "I wonder how he has been, especially since he was so attached to my hip. He should be aging out in a couple weeks. It is almost April."

"Y-yeah." The slightest stutter in Olive's voice catches your attention. That's weird "How has everything been with you?" 

"Everything is fine, the restaurant has been going as usual, I've been planning to take over for my dad when he wants to retire, even if its still a couple years." Her father could be confused to be her grandfather if you didn't actually meet him when he adopted Olive out of the orphanage. 

"That's good." You smile. "I hope the restaurant continues to get more and more popular! It's the best!" You can hear the bashful laugh from Olive. "Thank you, I will do my best. I assume your next stop is to the doctor? You were always close with her."

"Yeah, I was there first. I'm going to the orphanage next." You hum a bit.

"Why don't you visit the market next? The store owners would be happy to see you! Oh or the light house, you liked going there when you were younger!"

"I'll go there after. I want to see everyone again, plus I know Tamsy has missed me." "But..." You only grow suspicious at the fact she is telling you to not go, its clear as day.

"What is wrong? Did the orphanage lose money? Is it out of business? Did the old owner come back?" You question her. Olive takes a deep breath.

"I forgot to tell you but... Tamsy got adopted out." You blink, you would have said 'that is all?' but the tone of her voice told you enough. That isn't the truth.

"What happened to Tamsy?" "He got adopted out like I said-" "What Happened. To Tamsy Caines." You couldn't see how Olive flinches at your voice. She tenses up.

"... He isn't here anymore." You blink once again. "What?" 

"He..." Her voice trails, almost scared to tell you. "... He went missing when you left."

Tamsy... is missing? He disappeared when you did... Why did nobody tell you. "We went searching but none of us could find him." Olive was quick to explain. "We spent a couple weeks, but... none of us could fine him that it was stated to be a missing person case and was told to forget it."

Two years. Two whole fucking years. And nobody told you?

"Why didn't you tell me." Your voice calls out to Olive. You need to know why. You were off running around with the cleaners to kill trash beasts when someone you cared about was missing? Why? Why were you not told anything?

"I thought it was for the best-" Olive's voice was gentle, but yours cut her off harshly. "Why do people keep thinking for the best for me! I'm an adult. I can decide what's the best for myself." You press your hand against the top of your head.

You can't believe this. Tamsy is gone, missing since you left and No one told you this? Why? Why did no one bother to say a word about this to you? You want to dig out the rest of your eyes from its sockets at how frustrating this is. 

"I brought the food-" You push yourself up from your chair, taking a deep breath. 

"I need to be alone." You stand up fully, pushing your chair back in before grabbing your cane. "I'll be back."

You don't know if thats true as you walk away. "[Name]..." The guilt in Olive's voice was clear as you walk away. So you do what you should have done so many years ago. You hoped that it wasn't true, you visited the orphanage in search of Tamsy. You checked his room, you looked upstairs at your old room.

You ran down the streets in searching for him by chance, even calling his name incase he could hear you around. You were in hopes that Olive was just lying, it was a dumb prank of sorts...

Yet it was the truth.

Tamsy is nowhere in sight.

He is truly gone. You could only fall down onto the ground at the entrance of the town, tears falling down your eyes as you press against the side of the entrance. 

.

Enjin hopped out of the car as he spots Gris and Bro standing by the other Cleaner's car. After what felt like forever, he left the meeting with Corvus to search for you. You weren't back and he took a car out to the nearby places that you hang out, before the thought crossed his mind and went to your home town.  He glances around - you were no where in sight with them. "Gris. Where are they?" Enjin's voice causes the two to glance in his direction as Enjin was out of the car finally. Gris and Bro glance towards each other before at Enjin. 

"They went off on their own. They said they were talking to someone called Olive." Enjin nods as he turns away and goes right towards the place he visited a couple times with you. He would find the girl that he was looking for, who would inform him that you rushed off. Enjin looked and looked. Before a last resort came. Just out of town by a familiar light house.

There you were. 

"Listen-" "You don't have to say it." Your eyes were narrowed onto the ground as your legs hang off the edge of the hill - the same one the two of you had spent sitting and dancing in the rain. Your hands held onto the bandana in your hands. Enjin glances at you before placing himself right beside you - the same spot he was all those years ago. ".. I know." He doesn't know what to say.

The silence between the two of you was long as you stare out, Enjin glances out, letting the view and silence take over before you would decide to cut in. "Tamsy's gone." Those words came out of you with so much hurt in your voice. Your hands grip into the fabric of your clothes. Tears that you were clearly holding back overflowed your eyes suddenly.

"It's my fault he went missing... If I tried harder. If I just made up with him before I left. Maybe he would have still been here." Hiccups slip from your own lips as you press your arm into your eyes to stop the tears. "My choices caused this. Not yours, not Olives. Mine. I'm at fault if my brother is dead somewhere in the No Man's Land." You hand points out towards the no man's land.

Enjin stares towards you before he moves towards you. His side pressing against yours as your head moves to rest against his shoulder. The familiar and comforting close proximity between the two of you was never unusual. Though the fluttering feeling was new. "I was still wrong for lying to you..." He speaks to you.

"You chose what you wanted. Tamsy chose what he did." You press your hands against your eyes once again, swiping away at the tears falling. Your head tilts up a bit towards him. "You shouldn't worry about other's choices. You make the ones that you think is best."

You look down. "How do you know if you did." Enjin shrugged a bit. "You don't. But It could have been a hell of a lot worse if you made a different one." You let out a soft laugh. Enjin smiles a bit at you're slowly coming back to yourself. He lets you rest against him as he moves his arm to rest against your side, letting you relax against his touch.

He glances out as time would go, letting the sun slowly fall closer and closer to create the beautiful view - one that could match you atleast.  As he thinks back, something came to mind - the reason why Corvus called him. So he decided to change the topic, atleast somewhat.

"I want you to lead a team of cleaners with me." You turn your head, moving it back to stare at him fully - even if you can't see him. "Huh?"

"The boss asked me to create a team - I want you to lead it with me." Enjin stares back at you. "I trust you, and your choices." You stare at him. He wants you to lead a team with him. You press your lips against each other before a smile rests against your lips.

"I would love to."

"Great." Enjin's shoulders relaxed as you lean against him once again, the sunset was a pretty view, though he prefers closing his eyes with you. 

"So what did you want to name the team?"

"Team Akuta." You let out a small laugh.

"Doesn't that just mean Garbage? You saying we're trash?" "What you got a better choice." You hum and shake your head with a small laugh.

"No it's perfect."

.

.

.

Late that evening Semiu moved to sit at her desk, flipping through the last couple of pages in her magazine.

You had came back with Enjin, Gris and Bro, you were back to your normal self - maybe a bit more somber than usual, but a lot better than before. You also came back bringing a bunch of food for everyone as Enjin's and your family's sorry gift to you apparently. Her eyes glance over towards the phone. She slowly closes up her magazine, shuffling to place it into her drawer before her hand moves over slowly, hovering over the phone.

As a singular ring comes out, Semiu picks it up, pressing it against her ear as she hums before speaking.

"Cleaner HQ, How may we help." She glances towards her nails before fixing the phone on her ear as the voice speaks through the call. She lets out a hum, nodding a bit unintentionally as she listens to the voice, someone she suspects isn't anyone older than possibly 18 at most.

"I see... Does tomorrow morning work. We'll send someone over to meet with you..." Semiu says her goodbyes before placing the phone down onto the table once again.

She stares at it for a moment before getting up. She needed to inform Corvus about that call. 

Someone, a giver, has asked to join the cleaners.

-----------------

Wooo! Hope you guys enjoyed lol

There are a few small references to Tamsy's own crash out in chapter 4 lol. This chapter was planned out about the same time as chapter 4 was written, so i've been waiting on writing Mc's crash out for a while. I wonder who this new giver is lol - not like I know the story or anything. Love to hear your thoughts in the comments :]

See you next chapter Angels!

[This chapter may change once this information gets revealed in story]

This mission is not going well at all.

"Ah-..." You hiss out as You press your hand against your shoulder; you could feel the warm liquid spilling out from your shoulder as you catch your breath. Enjin was at your side as he grips onto you, his umbreaker in his hand.  Shit man. He regrets sending all the supporters to go out and help the other teams, he thought you and him could deal with this on your owns - which in all fairness, you did.

The trash beast is dead, though the current issue was a different story.

"Man, Its a good thing no one else came." Enjin comments as he glances at the singular beast infront of the two of you. "Getting called for this would have been a waste of there was more of us." 

The beast wasn't that large; it was slightly hovering over you from what you could see with your ability. Apparently the town the two of you are located in now has been constantly attacking this town that everyone moved out until the beast would be dealt with. You can only wonder why they took so long to call the cleaners. "I bet I can beat it before you can~" You tease a bit towards your teammate. Enjin chuckles a bit. "No ways." You nod your head a bit. "Yeah way." Enjin activates his own vital instrument, resting it down as he glances at you placing your cane down to the side, ensuring it was stable.

"Good luck to you, Boo." Enjin's tease came out before you and him both dash in different directions as you go right towards the beast while Enjin goes to the side, opening up his umbrella. You move as the beast gets ready to slam it's head down on top of you, you grab the threads, sliding between the legs, pulling the threads down with you as the beast's head crashes into the ground.

"Hah! I did it!" You call out to Enjin as you start to pull the threads, yet.. As You pull on the threads, before you knew it the beast was infront of you.

"Huh-" Your body gets flung up as you grip onto the threads still. The beast lifting up with you as you were flung up. You let go of the threads as you try to figure a way out of this. Suddenly a set of arms wrap around your waist as you are pressed against the side of the guy who grabbed you from falling.

"Got ya." Your fast falling slowed down as you can imagine Enjin's umbrella open and keeping the two of you from falling down fast. Enjin glances at the falling beast before he turned the umbrella to be underneath the two of you. "Hold on." Before you could truly react, Enjin's words started, getting you to realise what he was about to do.

"Umbreaker: Octoshredder." You grip onto his arm - and your bandana - as you started to fall faster, the umbrella shooting down, planting into the body of the trashbeast before it shoots out, breaking the body into nothing that you can no longer see the beast. You shut your eyes at the intense wind shooting at your face as you both were falling.

"I did it." Enjin's voice had some smugness to it as you shake your head. You hold onto him. "Well done Enjin." You hum a bit before Enjin's umbreaker went back up to help the two of you back down from your free fall. As the wind blows, it pushes yours and Enjin's body, landing down on the ground.

"We're back at the town." You hum a bit as you reach towards a rock, feeling for the familiar cane that relaxes back into your hand. You hum a bit as you glance in the direction of your friend. "Well as your reward, we can check out the town a bit." You reach to grab his hand with your free one. "Then the 'great trash beast slayer' can ensure there is no others." You let out a laugh, which gets you an elbow to your side.

Enjin lets you lead the two of you around, you take steps cautiously as your cane leads the way. The more Enjin glances around at the place, the more that it looked abandoned. The plants are all dead, cobwebs cover houses and the intense build up of dust. Enjin presses his lips together as you cover your nose.

"There is so much dust... I need to sneeze..." You mumble as you try to get yourself to sneeze. The more Enjin looks, he doubts people lived here... Why would someone call you both out to kill a trash beast for an abandoned village?

"[Name]-" 

A gunshot was heard as it shoots past you, slicing through the skin of your shoulder as you step back, your body pressed against Enjins as he pulls you into the building, as another gun shot is headed towards him instead.

You both had defeated the trash beast and soon got attacked when you both were distracted.  Enjin glances out the side of the crate before a bullet hits into it. He closed his eyes as he moves back behind.

"How's your shoulder?" He focuses back onto you, you glance at him. "I'll be fine." You press your lips together, your hand pressing harder against the open wound. Your glowing eyes look in his direction. "It just grazed it. You managed to pull me out the way before it did anything really bad." Your eyes glance away to look at the moving string that was behind the stone. The person that was trying to kill the both of you.

Enjin knows you can't do anything. That gun isn't a vital instrument, without any Anima in it, you can't see or sense it in anyway. You're the worst possible person to be going against a gun. 

Enjin knew he was going to be the only one to deal with this. "Where are they located?" Enjin asks you. You glance over at him before you look through the crate. "They're on the right. All the way in the corner."  Enjin nods slightly.

His hand grips against the umbrella in his hand. He had his vital instrument transformed as he moves fast. He shoots it open as he moves, the bullet bouncing off of it as he closes the umbrella to get any sight of who he would be fighting. Yet the person seemed to expect such as their form was no where in sight.

Though as he moved. He hid behind a crate. The abandoned warehouse was one of the best spots for him to be able to hide away from the shooter. He glances at you. You watch the string move fast to a different spot. "In the middle now." Your hand presses against the crate as you push yourself up from the ground, yet keeping yourself crouched down.

You move your hand against the ground, feeling for anything to help you, a round like object was located at your feet as you pick it up, lifting it slightly before throwing it to the opposite side that you heard Enjin move to. Then a gun shot was heard right after. Enjin took it as a moment to move. He moved fast to get closer to the figure, yet as he notices the gun is raised, it shoots towards him, causing Enjin to move aside fast, letting it just graze against the side of his head.

Enjin ducked down behind a different crate as blood started to drip down the side of his head, he reaches to feel for the blood against his head. He didn't have to worry about that right now, he can't see you, you're too far back for him to try and communicate with besides calling out to you. He can barely hear the moment of the person.

You glance as you see the moment of the person, they are fast, though you could atleast see what they were doing. You see as their figure moves, it was getting closer to you, instead of going for Enjin, they were going for you.

You reach for the thread as the ends get close to you, pulling it suddenly as you hear a body slam down against the ground. A groan like noise comes out - a higher pitched than what you would have expected. A child's whine is what you could describe it as. 

"A child?" Your voice echos through the warehouse a bit. Your eyes stare at the thread that shoots up, you move back as you hear the movement of something stabbing into the crate that you were just hiding behind. Your eyes glance, the object that was in the person's hand had the slightest of glows. A vital instrument - or something that would become one based on the less amount of anima in it compared to your own and Enjin's.

This fight was now in your favour if they don't pull out the gun. You move back forward as you see the thread get ready to swing once again. as the hand goes right towards you, your hand grabs onto the wrist, your hand pressing against the side of the person. Your hand reaching to feel the holster for the gun before a leg kicks into your stomach, pushing you back against the wall.

"[Name]." Enjin called out as you felt him grab onto your arm, pulling you with him to the side behind a crate once again. "We don't need to worry..." You let out a breath you didn't realise you were holding before you showed the gun - or atleast what you believe is a gun - in your hands. Enjin looks at the weapon, taking it from your hands and stuffing it away in his own jacket before your head turns back, pulling yourself and him aside as the weapon in the child's hand stabs into the wood of the crate.

Enjin glances as he pushes you back a bit. His eyes glance over to the figure, a girl - not older than possibly 12 was pulling a pair of scissors out from the wood. Your eyes focused on the threads that still lead to your hands. "Enjin... You trust me right?" You call to him.

"Yeah-" "Good, stay here and distract them, have like a nice long conversation or something! They're a kid, so dont hurt them." You scramble up from where the two of you were originally, leaving Enjin alone to fight against the child. Enjin's eyes glance as he sees the set of scissors transform infront of his eyes into a vital instrument. Great...

You moved, your hand feeling around as you try to not bump into anything. If you're right, the person was attacking from a height up originally, that means there should be a staircase... You continue walking around as fast as you could before your foot bumps into something, your hand reaches to feel the metal railing as you smile. You found it!

You go up the stairs to reach the top eventually, you walk slowly feeling a railing against the side before walking around, reaching somewhere on the balcony of the floor. Your eyes glance over at the threads down somewhere behind the boxes. The thread in your hand atleast tells you that. You glance at it before you wrap it around the metal railing, pulling it fast and roughly.

Suddenly as you did, the body of the attacker gets pulled away from Enjin as it hangs slightly above the ground, their pair of scissors tossed on the ground somewhere where Enjin was.

Enjin slumped a bit down on the ground before he pushed himself up - having a large set of scissors ready to be plunged into his body while talking to the kid was not a fun activity. He takes the set of scissors that changed back to normal before he goes to approach where you had ran off to.

Blood started to drip down from your eyes, forcing you to disable your own power. Your body slumps against the ground as you reach to your own pocket, grabbing the handkerchief to press against your eyes as the blood was getting soaked up slowly into the fabric. You needed to lay there for a moment; your body was sore, not including the wound open on your shoulder. You push yourself up, going back down towards the staircase. Your eyes closed as you find your way down, voices started to fill your ears.

"What's your name." ".. Riyo Reaper." Huh Reaper is funny surname for an assassin. You can atleast now tell that she is a kid based on her voice. 

"Do you want to join the cleaners." You came to a stop on the staircase for a moment. Inviting them to the cleaners? Isn't she just a child? Aren't children not allowed to join?

"I tried to kill you and I'm a kid." You wondered the same - the latter not the first. Enjin's chuckle was easy to hear. "You have a strong vital instrument. The cleaners could use someone like you, even if you're a kid." 

You open your eyes as you stare at who knows what for a moment. Huh.... You walk down to the ground floor as you turn towards the direction of the discussing voices.

"So are you joining the cleaners?" Your voice catches Enjin off guard - the slight tenseness in your tone is what caught him as the memory resurfaced to the two of you.

"No he can't... He has to be of age to join the cleaners, even with a Vital instrument."

Oh shit.

-----------------

Riyo is here!! Girlie pop had to show up haha, her showing up was what lets me start on everyone else's appearances [including everyone's favourite sibling]. The next chapter will be fun, especially since I get to write MC being angry for a section haha

The wind pushes through your hair as the window was pushed open, normally you would have enjoyed the feeling of air rushing past you, or the breeze the wind offers, but you were mostly hanging out, hoping your stomach wouldn't puke up all of your guts. Enjin's driving didn't help when every bump caused your body to want to throw up even more.

Finally as the car stopped, your body dragged itself out the car as you let what came from your stomach pour out into the sand. Enjin stood by your side before offering you an arm to pull you up. "Remind me to not eat when you drive..." You wipe away at your mouth before you focus on walking, your cane in one hand while your other wrapped around Enjin's arm for him to lead you forward as well.

"Welcome to Canvas town." You hum a bit, as you walk in, you could smell spray paint all over as you hear the noise of shaking cans as people talk in the town. You can only imagine what the place could look like, probably covered in different art styles and pieces. You smile at thinking how cool everything must be.

"This place must be covered in art then since it's a 'Canvas'." You laugh a bit, getting a small chuckle out of Enjin. You could hear some music as people were assumingly listening and painting at the same time. "

Enjin continues to walk alongside you, your hand reaching to touch the wall, feeling the small bumps of layered paint as you walk by a building. "Hey Enjin." The new voice to you calls out as Enjin came to a stop, causing you to as well. "Hey Gob." You turn your head towards the voice, you could hear the set of footsteps getting ever so closer as you stand and wait until the person comes to a stop. 

"[Name], this is Gob, our local spellcaster." Spellcaster..? You've heard those words before. Bro explained it to you once, someone able to grant abilities, such as a spell saving you from death once or something small like creating fireworks to shoot up all around the place. You have to admit, its something that sounds so cool.

"Hi It's nice to meet you." You grin, hopefully at the guy who Enjin was referencing to. Gob glances at you, seeing the bandana wrapped around your eyes and the cane in your hand. His eyes glance over towards his friend who was looking back at him. "It's cool to meet you. Enjin's mentioned you before." Enjin has? You hope good things and not when you've ran into walls... More likely the latter... 

"You can cast any spell right?" You look at him with a grin, your one hand reaches out, grabbing one of his as your grin widens more. Enjin chuckles a bit at seeing your expression while you were definetly too close to Gob's face with that look on your face.

"Can you cast a spell for me?" 

...

...

"You really wanted a spell for... paint?" Enjin's comment came from behind you, as you push up the sleeves of your jacket. You nod your head a bit. You hear the paint bucket get placed down beside you before Gob holds out a paint brush towards you, which you slowly reach out, feeling for the wooden handle before holding it in your hand

"I wanted to make an art piece." You hum a bit, reaching down for the bucket before glancing in the direction of Gob."There isn't anyone else's art right? I don't want to accidentally paint over anyone's."

"You're fine. I'll be right beside you." You hear a metal ball clashing against the sides of the spray paint can. "So you can go as much as you want." You grin a bit, you bend down reaching for the can as you feel the rim of the bucket before slowly dipping the brush in. You lift it to feel if the paint is at the bottom of the brush and hum.

"And Since Gob used his vital instrument." Your lips slowly lift up more as you push your bandana down from your eyes, using your ability. the glowing threads mixed in the paint shows you the paint was getting ready to drip down off of the brush and how it was coated on the brush itself. "I can see my art myself!"

Enjin chuckles a bit as he watches you feel out towards the wall, pushing the brush against the rough texture before moving it around, creating shapes of who knows what, but you were humming and smiling happily as you were painting.

You would have never asked Gob to give you back your vision.

Such a simple and obvious question you could have asked to make life easier for yourself. Being able to see everything again, being able to see the art of Canvas town, the faces of people you know and not need to depend on others in simple tasks such as driving. Yet you choose to embrace your lacking vision and find ways to use different things to help make your life better.

Enjin takes a puff from the cigarette in his hand as he watches you continue. You bumped into Gob a couple times as you get closer to the edge of the wall. You continue, drawing what can only be described as really bad stick figures with a couple strands of hair. You reach as high as you could to draw one while others were a bit smaller. You finally take a step back, slowly towards Enjin till you felt the wall behind you, a grin on your face still as you stare at it.

"My masterpiece." You hum happily. "Of stick figures." You hear Enjin's comment before turning back to him in a huff. "I don't have any art skills!" You bark back, with a flush of red against your cheeks before turning your head away back to the piece. "What did you draw anyways."

"Us." You rest your hands against. You see the threads within the paint from the hints of anima in all of the paint. You point towards the first corner. "Over there is Bro and Gris." Your finger continues, pointing out Semiu, Arkha, Gob and finally to the large group more centered. 

"Then its you, me and Tamsy - because Tamsy wouldn't want to stand anywhere else..." You hum. "Olive and all the children from the orphanage. I grouped them together..." You stare at the piece silently.

"It's my whole family in one picture." Your voice was soft and Enjin picked it up immediately. He glances towards you as the grin turned into a softer mellow smile. Your eyes reflected the same feeling, as the color fades away as you stop your own vital instrument, the rare times that Enjin sees your eyes, he stares up at you before you slowly drop down onto the ground beside him, shutting your eyes for a moment.

"Well that was fun." You turn towards him, picking up your grin again. "Why don't you paint something." "I can't draw." You huff a bit, puffing up your cheeks. "I can't and I still did. Draw something!" You hold the brush towards him. He huffs, taking the paint brush from your hand, you hear a bit of movement and the slight movement of the brush. "There."

You activate your vital instrument once again, your eyes glancing at the painting you made. "You didn't draw anything?" "Look behind you." You turn your head before slowly looking down to see...

a dick.

Of course he drew a dick. You stare towards the guy, who started to cackle a bit at your expression towards him. Gob would eventually seat himself back down beside you two, his eyes glancing towards the drawing of a dick against the wall and lets out a laugh.

"Nice dick Enjin." Enjin snickers a bit as he glances towards you who lets out a sigh and lean against the wall again. You stare towards the painting you made. "Nice mural." Gob tells you, which you smile and nod.

"Thank you! Someone appreciates good art around here." Enjin snickers, resting his arm on your shoulder as he leans towards the group to talk again.

Allowing for all 3 art pieces to dry as the trio talk the day away.

...

"Maybe next month, I have a mission that is going to keep me busy for the next few weeks." 

You hum a bit, tapping against the table a bit, your phone call with Olive was going well. Semiu was right beside you, seemingly scrolling through a book or magazine by the noises of papers turning. You press the phone back down on the stand as you come to the end of your conversation. You turn your head towards Semiu. "I'll get going." You hum, getting off the seat. "See you later Semiu."

You get moving, your feel against the walls as you continue down the hallway. You close your eyes, letting a soft hum out happily as you hear out for the different footsteps. Hearing the familiar set, you smile a bit.

"Hey Gris." You call towards the guy that approaches you. "What you doing?" You hum a bit as he greets you back. "Semiu called us over a little while ago. I'll be going out on a mission." You nod a bit, you've all been going out a lot more recently for work, its exhausting but rewarding work.

"Coolio, I'll see you later." You give a small wave before continuing your way. You had your cane in your hand, yet you didn't need it that much. After a couple months, you've slowly come use to travelling around the HQ, you can get up and down stairs, you generally know where every important room is.

You settle yourself in the lounge, slumping down onto the empty couch as you relax. You close your eyes a bit.  You thought you would have visited the orphanage sooner, yet some reason you've always pushed the idea of going back over and over again.

"It's really been storming out huh? I'll try to come over once the rain goes away."

"I got something on. It's Bro's birthday!"

"I have plans this month, I'll make sure to come as soon as I'm available."

You open your eyes as you think about it, every time, its been a valid reason on why you can't go. You got to make some time for yourself to visit them again... Its been a while since you saw Tamsy too.

"[Name], Bro, can you both come to my desk." Semiu's voice calls out, even if you were just there you jump up, grabbing your cane again to get going.

You have a mission, maybe another time.

"I um..." You press your lips against each other. What excuse can you come up with... Wait? Excuse? Why are you making up excuses for going home? It doesn't make sense... How long has it been since you were there? If you think back on it, its been almost two years since you first left... It's surprising to you that so much time has past.

"[Name]?" You hear Semiu call out towards you as her heels click against the ground, and the second heavier set of footsteps tells you that Enjin is following not that far behind. "I got to go!" You press the phone down fast before Olive could answer. You get out of the desk. "Sorry for holding it up so long." You hum a bit and step away.

"Well its good you're here. I need to talk with both you and Enjin." Semiu rolled her seat back before seating down as you find your way back to the front of her desk. Enjin grabbed your arm so you didn't step too far off before you face towards the desk. "The two of you will be going on this mission."

You blink and hum. You couldn't help but perk up a bit. You would be working with Enjin for the first time in a while. You don't know why the two of you don't team up more often, but you can't help but enjoy the idea of teaming up with your friend.

"All the supporters are split out between different groups. If you need, I can call for some to come back-"

"Nah we'll be fine." Enjin cut off Semiu. "We got this. " You can't help but not your head in agreement with him.

How wrong could this mission go?

-----------------

Hope you enjoy! The next chapter is done and will be posted tomorrow :)

Becoming a Cleaner was one of the hardest moments in your life to get use to, yet one of the best decisions you made. 

Your body jolts up suddenly as your hands move to grab at your chest, you take a deep breath suddenly, your head turning towards where you expect the trap door of your previous bedroom to be. "Everyone?" You call out a moment before you come to the realisation.

Right, you aren't at the orphanage. The silence from the halls and room told you this. You let out a sigh, pushing your body off of the bed after laying for a moment. You move to get ready to the best of your ability. You didn't unpack your bags, yet you found the uniform placed on your side table still from yesterday as you change into it to the best of your ability.

After eating breakfast and getting lost in finding the cafeteria, you got called over the intercom by Semiu to meet at the front desk.

"I called you all as a Trash Beast has been spotted edging nearby the town, they've called us to clean up." You tap on your cane hesitantly, the familiar scent of tobacco and perfume was no where nearby. You wonder where Enjin could have been.

"Semiu?" You cut into the conversation once she finished explaining, you felt out for the desk in front of you as you wait for her to speak so you could turn your head in her direction properly.

"Yes?" "Um... Where is Enjin? If we're going to defeat a trash beast, he's going to be late." Semiu glances at you before humming, her eyes focusing on the papers across her desk. "Oh, he's already out. He isn't going on your mission with you."

"Huh?!" You blink, you expected that atleast Enjin would be going with you on missions, now you're getting told that your friend is already out doing a different one. "Then... Who's coming with me?" 

Suddenly a loud voice was heard that it made you jump, your cane slipping from your hands and you reach to grab for it in that moment, catching it before it fell. "HELLO [NAME]! OUR NEWEST FELLOW CLEANER!!" You didn't expect it as you hold your cane close to you to not accidentally drop it.

"Hello." You smile a bit in the direction of the shout. "It's nice to meet you..."

"You can call me Delmon!" You smile in the direction of the voice and nod a bit. "Alright Delmon. Let's get this done!" You gave a pump up the air of your own before he cheered with you, though a lot louder - this time you were at least somewhat prepared for it. Semiu glances towards the two of you. "You all will be heading towards the northern borders." She points down to the map for Delmon to see as you stand off to the side to listen since the other supporters were also checking out the map.

"They called mentioning trash beasts have been going up and starting to attack the fencing around the area, they require our services to clean up." Semiu focuses on your direction as you were standing and tapping your cane a bit. "You'll be taking charge of this mission, [Name]." Your attention focuses back now on what Semiu was saying.

"Delmon is going along to watch over and step in if needed." You nod your head slightly. "Okay..." You weren't prepared for that. You expected maybe to slowly join missions and well, see the fight through your vital instrument's threads to atleast have some analysis of what's going on, but it seems you're getting fully thrown into the mission on your first day.

"Don't worry, [Name]" A large hand rests on your shoulder as Delmon came back to your side. "You'll work hard and show your strength and abilities! I'll be right there if you need me." Atleast Delmon will be there to aid you, so you aren't alone. You nod a bit and grin happily.

"I'll do my best!"

...

Oh Fuck.

Excusing your own language, you and the supporters were getting carried away from the roaring trash beast under Delmon's arms as you held onto the threads connected to the beast. "GO RIGHT!" You cry out as you watch the thread move, as Delmon moves to the side, the beast crashes into the ground right beside you, causing the ground to shake beneath you both as you were getting carried away.

This was really bad, you thought you could handle it on your own, yet getting to the scene, the beast was larger and faster than any of you realised. Before you could use your ability to see its threads, you went flying through the fencing with probably a broken rib or two, Delmon used his own hose, yet that apparently caused the beast to grow larger than before - though he didn't have enough time to continue until the beast burst, causing you all in this situation.

Delmon managed to atleast grab you and the supporters before making a break for it, leading the beast away as you finally used your own vital instrument to watch the beast.

"PUT YOUR GAS MASK ON, WE'RE ENTERING A POLLUTED ZONE." Hearing the yelling voice, your hand reaches to your neck, feeling for the harden mask to shove up over your mouth, letting you still breath fresh air even when entering into the environment. You glance back up at the thread leading towards the beast. "We need to go to the left!" You shout back before suddenly Delmon haults and stops. "Why are we stopping??" You can only question.

"There is no more forward! We're at a cliff." You glance behind you as you see the thread that would be Delmon, it was a lot taller than you imagined, so atleast you know that now. "How far is the fall?" You question, you've done this before, a cliff isn't that bad for you.

"It's a death trap of a fall-" You push yourself out of his hold as you walk towards the end of the cliff, you hand off your cane towards him as you bend down to feel the edge and for a large rock - your hands move to wrap the thread around the rock a couple times, pulling it to feel tight enough to catch your own fall. "Alright. Sounds good."

You hum a bit and turn your head in the direction of all the cleaner threads. "Get moving, I'll be fine. Trust me." Delmon looks at you, he would have questioned, yet the confident expression on your face told him to not. Some of the supporters didn't seem on board with you jumping away from them to deal with the beast alone. 

"I'll see you down there." You give a thumbs up before you step off the cliff. You just hear some voices shout out at you walking off - the supporters no doubt as the wind pushes through your hair and against your body. You stare down, there were a few threads distributed all around the area you were falling into, your hand still gripping onto the thread in your hand. You glance up as the thread was long. You can only hope it stops soon. As you hear a roar from above, you see the thread shoot past you the beast fell faster than yourself, as you held your arms and legs out to use the wind to slow your fall a bit.

The beast fell along side you a couple of seconds before a large thump was heard beneath you, you grip onto the thread tightly, pulling on it before you stopped, the thread tightening around the boulder ontop as you manage to prevent falling to your death. You take a deep breath as you pull more and more on the thread in your hands, before the distinct snapping noise could be heard. The threads fade as the beast dies. You can let out a sigh of relief before the threads disappear from your hands.

You yelp out as you fall, you don't know how fall the ground is from where you were hanging, you shut your eyes out of instant in getting ready for the impact before you drop into someone's arms.

"YOU DID WELL [NAME]!" The booming voice brings you comfort along with a bit of a scare. You relax a bit, sighing in relief. "We did it Delmon!" You laugh a bit with a grin. You managed to do well on your first mission atleast, and that was the important part. Though as you deactivated your ability blood started to leak down from your eyes.

Eventually you would return back to HQ, expecting to be ransacked by children - though remembering you are infact not in the orphanage - you just go to the infirmary to get patched up and rested until you are healed.

"I came to check on you." Enjin's voice was heard letting you turn your head in the direction. You laugh a bit. "Yeah, it went really well. Though I did get injured. And for some reason my eyes started to bleed." You hum as you touch your face, where a set of bandages rests against your eyes - the familiar feeling from all those years ago.

Enjin looks at you and he leans on your side a bit, letting you relax and lean on him a bit. "You did better than I did on my first mission." You chuckle a bit and smile. "You better tell me that story." He laughs as he pats your head.

"Never gonna hear it."  "Come on! You gotta tell me now!" You laugh a bit, allowing your voices to fill the silence of the room.

Though missions came and went, one after the other. Sometimes you had to be the one leading in the fight, other times you had to be the supporter for people's abilities.

"Good Job [Name]."  Bro Santa hums as his hand ruffles your head a bit. You grin in his direction as you give him a thumbs up. "Glad to help." You hum a bit as you get praised. The trash beast wasn't too hard this time around, luckily your abilities work well with the older male, while he used to move the two of you around as you immobilise and eventually kill trash beasts.

The two of you work well as a team, you hold up your hand, which Bro gives you a high five back as you smile. You make your way back to the van happily. Though your stomach and body wasn't happy for the ride back - you've learnt that you are severely car sick, no matter who is driving.

You sometimes went on your own, though with supporters to aid you.

"Wait! [Name] Don't-" Before you let out a screech as you fall into a large pit - luckily it wasn't deep enough to hurt you. The supporter goes to the side and pokes his head into the pit, seeing you laying on the ground. "... Can I get a hand please..." You laugh a bit as a small, embarrassed smile rests on your face. 

Gris stares down at you before a small sigh, and smile rests on his face a bit. He holds out his hand for you to grab before hoisting you up out of the pit, grabbing your waist to pull you aside once you get up.

You hold your hands out to balance yourself a bit once again. "I really regret forgetting my cane in the HQ now..." Gris looks at you as he taps your shoulder to get you to look in his direction. 

"You can grab onto my sleeve if you need." You nod a bit, grabbing his wrist. "Thank you..."

"Gris! [Name]! We spotted the trash beast!" One of the supporters call out towards you as Gris helps lead you towards the space to hide out as you pull up your blindfold to see the situation, watching the threads infront of you dance and move to find out what to do.

Though as missions go well with you working in the teams... Other situations outside of work don't always go well...

Your hand presses into the couple of stars all over your cane. You take a deep breath to focus back on the present. You push open the door before plopping yourself on the couch right next to someone. The smell of tobacco makes you perk up at thinking of who it is. "Hey Enjin. It's nice to be able to finally hang out properly again!" You haven't gotten a moment to properly talk with your friend in days, you've gotten back from a mission, pass out in bed, eat food and then learn he is busy before going to find someone to train with you until you get called out or just relax out in the lounge.

"I'm not Enjin." You blink before sighing, you recognise the voice as one of the supporters you haven't properly aquainted with. "Ah... Sorry." A tint of red started to warm up your face as you quickly get off the couch and disappearing from the room out of pure embarrassment. You run into someone else. "Enjin?"

"It's me." Bro talks before you let out a sigh, mumbling a hello softly but atleast giving a small smile in your friend's direction. "If you're looking for Enjin, he is in the lobby." You perk up at knowing where your friend is. 

"Thank you, Bro!" You call out. "Be careful!" Bro response as you start to book it down the corridors, tucking your cane under your arm to stop you from slowing down, though not using your cane came with the issue of running right into a wall... in front of Enjin and Semiu.

Enjin was laughing his ass off as he was trying to help you off the ground. Though he struggled as he was probably pissing himself from laughter at you and the probably massive large mark on your head and face from injury and embarrassment.

..

"Throw at me all you got!" You call out to Gris, you stretch a bit, bending to the sides before you push your blindfold down, your eyes glow and stare right infront of you. "I can handle it. Trust me!" You move your foot back a bit as you stand in a position. Settled on the side was two sets of threads - Bro and Enjin were settled on the side.

Today you all haven't been sent out on missions, so you ended up asking Gris to train with you. He was one of the strongest when it came to fighting without a weapon, you thought it would be the best person to try and train with for that. Youve been training for the last couple of hours with Enjin and Bro on using your vital instrument so now you had to focus on actual combat. Gris watches you, he wonders for a moment if he should hold back, he has a lot of strength, he can crush trash beasts within his bare hands. 

Your body is known to be weak in comparison to a normal person. You've explained it was due to exposure to the polluted zones as a child, but you're still able to win all of your fights - even when you come out with many injuries. You're probably the person who has ended up in the infirmary more than anyone around, though your visits are less severe compared to everyone else that goes to the infirmary. 

Gris knows you won't be exactly happy if he holds back against you, you want to train and be able to fight against him. So he swings with his full strength. You manage to dodge with ease, bending down to avoid, his hand moves without him realising as it slams into the ground as you pull against the threads only you could fully see.

He swings a second time towards you, you step back, your body staying light on its toes as you glance around. Your eyes focus back on him as you move to swing towards him, as Gris moves to grab at you, you pull away slipping a swift kick at his gut, he takes a step back from the hit - though it doesn't do any damage towards him. He glances back towards you for a moment before he stops and hesitates

You watch Gris not move before you move to attack again though you see a thread coming inbetween the two of you as you step back, preventing you from continuing your battle. You get hit with the familiar smell as you glance towards the thread that stood between you and Gris.

"Enjin! Why did you step-" You feel a warm liquid dripping down your cheeks. Your hand moves up to touch as you could smell the metalic liquid dripping down onto the floor and that was coating your hands.

"You're at your limit." You deactivate your ability as you press your hand towards your face, the blood still dripping down before you feel a piece of fabric being placed in your hand, a handkerchief of sorts as you move to gently press against your eyes, letting it soak up the blood. 

"Is it because of time? Was I using it too long?" You wonder a bit. You've had this experience before, fighting trash beasts after a while your eyes start to bleed, or though the time is inconsistent, sometimes its little and sometimes its hours of time.

"How long was it this time?" Enjin questions you as you think a moment. "Maybe 2 hours at most? We've been out here a while... I've used it on you guys, inside the HQ as well..."

"Could it possibly be how much you see at a time." You hear Bro's voice as he approaches towards the group. You can tell based on the footsteps and how his voice was getting louder. "When you happen to fight large groups of trash beasts, your time is a lot less before you start to bleed. While now, you've only seen the group of us outside." You nod your head slightly.

"That could possibly be it." As you don't feel any more liquid dripping from your eyes you hold the handkerchief in your hand and look towards the group. If your limit is only shown through your eyes getting more and more damaged, would this affect your own abilities later on?

"Though I'll need to test that theory...I'll test it later.." Though you decided to try it one more time. Maybe the limit reset every time you deactivated it and each time its a different amount of time you can use your ability. There was only one way to find out.

 You hum a bit as you activate your eyes before blood started to pour out. "Crap! Get me another tissue or handkerchief!" Enjin and Gris scrambled a bit to find you another to stop the bleeding.

...

"Woah! I love this stuff." You take a sip of the sweetened tea. It was flavoured different berries as you hum happily. Bro chuckles a bit as you were happily drinking the tea. 

The door opens as you could smell the familiar cologne as you look up. "Hey Gris!" Gris looks in your direction with a small smile a bit. "Hey [Name]. How you feeling." You take a sip of your own drink once again. "I'm good. I'm so happy to finally relax." You grin out towards him a bit before you relax, settling into your seat a bit. Though suddenly the announcement came on, Semiu's voice could be heard as she calls out Gris and Bro to meet with her.

"We best get going." Bro comments before looking at you. "We'll see you later." You nod your head slightly. "Yeah, I'll see the two of you later. We gotta go and get some drinks, next time it'll be on me." You grin towards them as you hear movement and shuffling before they head out the door, leaving you in the unfamiliar silence again.

You hold the warm cup in your hands as you close your eyes, the small fragments of light from your damaged vision gone as you let out a soft sigh. You hum and mutter to yourself softly, hoping to fill the void of silence with some sort of noise. You've come to learn, that silence is never comforting to you. You would prefer loud and chaotic environments over silent and calm ones.

You lean back against the couch a bit.

Months have gone by, Olive's 18 now you know as Semiu has gotten a few calls from her which Semiu tells you about what your friend has asked about... eventually Tamsy's birthday will eventually come up once again as your own. Every time you've tried to contact the orphanage through a phone call, you aren't able to, nor Olive talks about anyone there including Tamsy. You just assume Tamsy still doesn't want to talk with you, and he has never been close to Olive so you can see why Olive has nothing to tell you about the boy

You wonder what Tamsy is doing now. He'll be 16 this coming year, you can only hope that he is becoming a stronger person, you wonder if he still grows out his hair or chose to cut it in the time you've been missing. Your first year of working with the cleaners is approaching, you hope you'll manage to find time to go and visit home.

"Hey." The voice causes you to jump a bit, whipping your head around towards the direction of the voice. "Enjin! Don't scare me like that." You huff out as the guy makes his way towards the couch, leaning against the back as his arms are touching against your shoulders. You lean your own head back, resting it on top of his arms as he looks down at you while your head was tilted up towards him.

"I'm bored..." You hum a bit. Enjin chuckles at you, he had time off himself, you also happened to have time off now. He leans down getting closer to your face a bit before asking the question. "Wanna go out?" Your head stares up towards him.

"Yes!" You grin up at him. You move away, hopping off the couch as you hold your own cane in hand. Your body turns to face him as you grin happily. "Let's go! Let's go! I've been wanting to go shopping for gifts!" You move around the couch, grabbing onto his arm, your cane in your other hand, using it to lead you as you start pulling Enjin along with you. He pretended to not move, forcing you to tug and pull at him before walking along with you.

You may have not hung around Enjin as much, though he made sure to keep an eye on you over the last few months of you working here. It started days of you going and doing your best, you made new friends, you walked around the place with mostly ease - bumpy stickers covering doors that the cleaners as a group started leaving around for you to find where you're going.

You've slowly grown more here, and he can't help but feel glad for you. He pushes back the feelings of guilt he originally had when it came to lying about allowing Tamsy to come along. He plans to keep that secret from you for as long as he can. He wants to see you become the person you want and can be.

-----------------

Sorry for the wait! But my exams are over Yippee, I got a final assignment then everything is done for the semester, but I hope everyone else is doing well :]

- Lilly

"Those three milkshakes please." You hum as you point your finger against the menu of the travelling van. You toss the couple of coins into the hands of the vendor before taking a step back to let them do their work.

Tamsy found his way back into holding your hand - ensuring he found himself standing right between you and Enjin as you turn your head to look towards your friend. "We can wait for the milkshakes and then walk up towards the light house out back." You let out a hum.

"Sounds good to me." Enjin glances down the street. The different stalls set up all over the streets definitely made this place livelier than. The festival has been going on for hours by now, the light was slowly going away and would let the streets light up with the festival lights.

You wanted to get going to the light house for a better viewing for the fireworks, as it was going to be Enjin's first time experiencing this festival, you wanted to make sure he got the best experience possible.

Tamsy on the other hand couldn't care about the festival - he mainly goes because you have lots of fun at it. This year he planned to stay back, but those plans changed when you mentioned about hanging out with Enjin to Olive one day when she asked about it.

Tamsy glances towards the little teru teru bozo tied onto your belt, it makes him more and more annoyed every second he stares at it. So he glances back to the threaded bracelet around your wrist connected to the hand that held his.

He got matching bracelets with you too. It's more special that you matching with that dumb blonde-haired idiot. You didn't even get it at the same time as him so it's not even matching!

"Your order is ready!" The voice called as you reach to grab the drinks, letting go of Tamsy's hand much to his dismay. You take the three cold drinks before offering towards Enjin first who thanks you before taking the chocolate drink. You give the vanilla to Tamsy which he accepts happily from you - you always know his favourite flavour.

You ended up buying the three choices, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry since the guy at the stand was so adamant about none of you getting the same flavours. So you ended up with the strawberry drink in your hands. Whether you liked it or not, you would deal with it. You didn't want Tamsy or Enjin to get a drink they each didn't like.

You take a sip as the berry flavour fills your mouth, it wasn't overly sweet luckily - as sometimes they can be - it was decent enough for you to enjoy it.

So the three of you started to walk back, you would need to walk through the festival once again to reach the light house on the other side, and then go out of town to climb the hill up. Luckily you've come use to walking that distance.

As you start to walk, You glance over towards Tamsy who was taking sips of his drink slowly as he looks in the direction beside you - looking at Enjin who somehow slipped to stand at your side once again much to his dismay. "Tamsy." The boy looks up instantly at you when you call his name. You hold your drink towards him. "Want a sip?"

Tamsy nods his head a bit, he takes the drink from your hands, taking a sip of the sweeter drink before handing it back to you. "It's good..." He holds his drink to you. "Want a sip?"

You smile and not, taking a small sip from the vanilla, the most basic flavour some would say, but it was still good.

Tamsy took a sip of his drink once you finished to wash away the flavour of strawberry. Sweet drinks and foods aren't his favourite. He would much rather a bowl of noodles over anything sweet. Vanilla is the only real flavour he can somewhat deal with. But if you keep buying him sweet stuff, he'll eat or drink it, especially if you offer him some of your own sweet treats.

Though you didn't notice right away as Enjin bent to steal a sip of your drink the moment you went to take a sip of Tamsy's you turn your head to see him pulling away.

"I was going to offer it to you too!" You let out a laugh before pulling your drink away from him. "Now I won't." You tease a bit.

"How could you. You won't get any of mine." You grin at Enjin who chuckles, taking a sip of his drink. The moment he pulled away to comment back at you, you moved to grab his drink, taking a sip onto the straw to suck up a large amount of chocolate milkshake.

"Hey! You're drinking it all!" He pushes your head away from the drink as you swallow, laughing at his answer. "Don't be a theif"

You laugh a bit. "Aw You upset Enjin." You snicker a bit and hum. You see his hand reaching towards to grab your drink, which you hold your hand out as far as you could from him as he pushes closer to you, reaching for the milkshake in your hand.

Though your antics got cut off as you feel someone squeezing between the two of you.

"Don't steal [Name]'s milkshake!" Tamsy fumes a bit as his cheeks puff out like a chipmunk while his glare gave more of a kitten towards the oldest of the trio. "Go away!"

Enjin stares at Tamsy. As the little boy started to ramble off about getting close and being mean to you. He took his oppotunity of what seemed like a harmless prank and taking a sip of the boy's vanilla milkshake was infact not harmless.

"YOU INFECTED MY DRINK WITH YOUR STUPID GERMS!" Tamsy wailed a bit in Enjin's view as the boy gave a disgusted and horrified look the moment the guy bent down to take a sip of the drink.

"Tamsy... Your milkshake is fine-" "No it's not!" Tamsy huffs a bit - your patience and doting to the boy would not solve this issue at all. Tamsy's hatred for this man was much larger than his love of you in this very moment.

"You can have my milkshake? We can take the straws out too so you don't have to worry about germs." Tamsy shakes his head as he glares towards the drink in his hand a bit. "No. He touched your drink too. He could have backwashed. He's gross." The boy grimaces at the idea.

"I can hear you..." "Good!" Enjin stood there, he could imagine this kid would start punching and kicking the air on his back if possible like a turtle that can't turn around. Enjin tells himself this is why he wouldn't want kids - though this statement is very much forgotten later down in his life.

You glance at Enjin. "Can you hold this." You pass him your drink while you take Tamsy's vanilla from his hands. "Lets go get you another one Tamsy." You tell the spoiled brat- boy who takes your hand and nods.

Tamsy turns back and points at Enjin as you start to lead him away. "You stay away! I don't want your germs infecting us again!"

Enjin stands there and stares at you as you lead Tamsy back towards the vendor. He glances at the two drinks in his hands. Some people walk past him as he just stands and waits for you.

You would return back with a Tamsy who held a new drink in his hands who was glaring daggers right towards Enjin the moment he came into view.

Enjin glances at Tamsy before slowly pushing your drink up to his mouth taking a slow long sip - which annoys the boy even more.

"Get your grubby hands away from [Name]'s Drink!"

Yup. Tamsy seems to be the best form of birth control for Enjin.

The ride there was the least bumpiest part of the journey - and that was saying something when Enjin was constantly running over potholes and not slowing down whenever he turned. You were horribly sick after that ride, especially since you can't predict whenever Enjin made a turn or hit a hole.

"Ugh..." You hold onto the top of your new cane. Pressing down on it as you were trying to get your stomach to calm down and stop wanting to throw up everything you've eaten that day. You hear the door behind you push open before shutting as you've grown use to the smell of tobacco as Enjin gets to your side.

"You good?" He glances at you as your head turns in his direction, your expression said anything but fine. You slowly pull yourself up a bit as you take a deep breath. "I will be... We're here now, right?" You smile as you grip onto the cane in your hand, a bit tighter than when you were driving here.

Enjin  looks at you. "Yeah.. [Name], Welcome to Cleaner HQ." Though you couldn't see the building, you can only imagine if it looks at least somewhat cool. You hum a bit as you reach towards your side to where Enjin stood. "Lets get going then." Though you soon felt Enjin's hand move away from you. "Get going. It's just ahead of you." Enjin hums a bit as you stand there a but confused at his pull away. You reach for him again - which he held himself back from you.

"Hey." You huff a bit. "How Am I suppose to get there without you leading me." Enjin stares at you, knowing you can't exactly see him staring at the cane in your hand, he taps it. "Maybe your gift can be useful."

You blink as you remember the item in your hand. "Oh... right." You press your lips against each other as you have the cane on the ground.

It felt wrong in your hand, the sound and feeling was nothing you were use to... You've never used this in the two years of your blindness. Somewhere deep inside of you worries that it wasn't going to work, you're going to fall and hurt yourself. Tamsy would be right in telling you that you're too dependent on him, all these years and you can't use a cane. You press those feelings back as you take a deep breath,

You were hesitant as you grip onto the item in your hand, as you take a small step, the cane pushes forward, feeling the bumps along the road ahead that vibrate slightly, long enough for you to feel what was up ahead. Though after a couple of steps, the cane bumps into your leg, as you realise you weren't pushing it forward correctly so you move it again to hopefully move properly.

Your steps were small as the cane drags along the floor, it made a soft clunk, hitting something that laid on the ground before you, holding tighter onto the end you move it to the side to feel the ground once again as you take a step to the side before you finally hit a wall, or a pillar? you don't entirely know. Your hands move around to feel what you got to.

"Yeah you got it!" You can hear Enjin still far behind you before his footsteps reach up towards you, his arm resting against your shoulder as you get use to his smell once again. You turn your head in his direction. "Yeah... I managed to." You grip onto the cane a bit.

You wonder why you nor Tamsy thought to get this sooner. Maybe then he wouldn't have thought you were so dependent on him. "Though please let me grab onto you. I don't wanna run into anything when I'm inside." You plead a bit, you can focus on learning to use this cane later, just you don't want to make a fool of yourself. He chuckled as you feel his arm hook around your arm, you relax at the familiar feeling.

You hear a click and a slight door creak as Enjin opens the door. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the boss." He leads you inside with him as he closes the door. The place was weirdly quiet, something you barely have experienced, always filled with children chatter and screams in your home. This silent entrance was something off putting to you.

Enjin looks ahead, he notices right in front was the other new face - she had been around though officially joined to become the receptionist a day before he left. She was laid against the desk infront - seemingly happy to be placed right there.

And the person Enjin was looking for stood right at the side of the new receptionist. Corvus glances over towards Enjin as he stands at your side. "Enjin, I see you came back early."  Enjin smiles in the direction of his boss. "Yeah, we came back earlier today than I thought we would." He looks in your direction - which you can only assume his boss does the same to look at you.

"Ah- My name is [Name]  Saiserit." You held your hand out infront of you. "It's nice to meet you!"

A large hand holds onto yours with a bit of a firm grip as it gives your hand a good shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you [Name]. You can call me Arkha Corvus." You nod your head a bit and move your hand away once he lets go. With him being closer, you could smell a somewhat wood like smell, it was comforting in a way, it wasn't very intense, but enough to know he wears some good cologne.

"They're going to join the cleaners." You hear Enjin tell his boss right beside him. "Yeah, I want to join the cleaners... If you will allow me of course."

Corvus glances at you before humming. "It would be a pleasure to have you join us. Let us continue this conversation upstairs in my office." You just nod a bit as your hold on Enjin's arm to signal him to help you figure out where to go. Enjin helps lead you to the front where the woman seated looks towards Enjin.

"Welcome." You hear the woman's voice as you turn your head into the direction of the voice. "Hello! I'm [Name]. It's a pleasure to meet you." She glances at you as you smile in her direction. 

"Semiu." She hummed as she touches her glasses, glancing towards Enjin who was still hooked around your arm. "Semiu is our new receptionist. Her glasses are her vital instrument." Alright she wears glasses cool. "They amp up her kinetic vision, letting her see what people are made of."

"Oh really?" You hum a bit as you smile in her direction again - which you can only assume is infront of you. "Check me out! Tell me what I'm made of!" You move your hand to press against your chest, as if you make yourself boost up and more confident.

Semiu's eyes glowed as she stares at you, taking in the information about you before she shut her eyes, deactivating her abilities. "You have a great relationship with your own vital instrument. You are also flexible." "Mhm! I can do some acrobatics. The kids at my home use to teach me how to." You tell her, you feel your ego somewhat inflate at being told what you're good at. You can't help but be proud of who you are-

"Although physically you're weak." You deflate right after. You're weak?? You can pick up some of the kids still and you use to carry out a lot of stuff from polluted zones when you were a bit younger. How are you weak? "Your body is a lot weaker from what it seems to be long exposure to polluted zones." Ah crap. You could feel Enjin's gaze on you even if you couldn't see it. Hell, you could imagine Tamsy is doing the same all the way from the orphanage if he learnt about this. You started to sweat at realising what shit your younger self [and boss] caused to your body.

"We can't do much about that. Atleast not without a healer who knows how to heal your body's long exposure." Semiu pushes her glasses up, her eyes hover around the scarring of your eyes that poke out from your bandana. She learnt through her vision of you, that you can't see - even if the cane and blindfold didn't give it away already. She didn't mention it since both you and her know it's already something that gives you a disadvantage.

"... Well I'll still train and try to get stronger." You hum a bit. "I can focus on being acrobatic, my abilities don't require me to be close." You confirm. "After all, my vital instrument is all to do with movement and manipulating my opponent's movement." You comment to yourself, nodding a bit to what you think. "Then I don't need to worry about fighting if I just immobilize with my abilities." You can work with what you got. Your past mistakes of entering a polluted zone and a No Man's Land as a child won't hold you back now.

Enjin smiles in your direction before his hand moves to ruffle at your head. "That's the way to think about it. You go boo." You grin and reach up to grab his hand before your hand moves a bit to reach up to his head - copying his movement of ruffling his hair. "Yeah! I got this." Enjin could have stopped you from touching his head, but he let you as he eventually stopped and chuckles.

Semiu glances at the two of you. "You can get going to the boss's office. Enjin will show you the way." You nod your head a bit as you thank her, linking your arm once again with Enjin as he starts to lead you.

The walk was slow, but you manage to get up. Enjin pulls his arm away. "I'll wait out here til you get back." He nudges you a bit as you reach your hand out slowly towards the door. "Oh... okay.." You press your lips together for a moment and nod your head. You hold the cane in your free hand as you push against the door. As you feel the door open, you slip yourself through the opening between the door.

"Thank you for coming up here." Corvus smiles in your direction as you were feeling around the door before turning around in his direction. You press the cane onto the ground, moving it slowly forward before it knocks against something, your hand moves down to feel for the plush feeling, you assume its a seating of sort as you move your hand around on the arm rest before seating yourself down.

"Would you like some coffee?" He offers to you - which you shake your head.

"That would be nice but I'm going to have to say no. I can't really drink hot drinks, I don't want to spill on myself." You hum a bit. Even if you did take any hot drink - you always overfill with milk and sugar, the milk to cool it down and the sugar to make it sweeter.

"I got you a uniform." You perk up a bit. "Oh thank you." You hear a soft click against the table - assuming the buttons or zipper touched the table as you reach out, feeling for the fabric between your fingers before taking it and placing it onto your lap.

"So you are unable to see correct?" You jump a bit at hearing him, considering he wasn't downstairs to hear from Semiu about your analysis - nor was it ever actually mentioned. You did get surprised at the comment.

"Oh yeah. I'm blind." You hum a bit. "I lost my vision in an accident a couple years ago." "Sorry for that." You shake your head. "Don't be. My life has gotten a lot better since I became blind... If we ignore that I can't see shit- anything!" You correct yourself, with a quick sorry.

"You don't need to apologise for the swear words." You laugh a bit. "Still, its not something I should really do in front of people, sorry again." You hum a bit, your fingers fidgeting with the fabric between your fingers.

"My blindness is something I don't want to hold me back. I've made mistakes, and I want to grow from them. So I hope you can trust in me." The silence between the two of you did make you a bit nervous. Maybe you giving some sappy speech only works on children. Maybe he won't let you join the cleaners.

Though the chuckle calms you down a bit. "That's a mature view to have." Corvus hums as he takes a sip of his own cup of coffee. "I'm sure you will find yourself at home here in the Cleaners."

Your body straightens up, perking up at hearing those words.

"Welcome to the Cleaners, [Name]."

..

After your short meeting, Enjin would meet with you once again outside the office to give you a small tour. As much as you wanted him to help lead you. You were stuck using the unfamiliar cane. You bumped into so many walls by accident, or almost walked into someone.

"So there isn't that many of us if you include the givers and the supporters. But we all work around the clock to help where we can." Enjin glances at you as you were slow, he slowed his own pace to meet with you. He stayed at your side, if you desperately needed help, he would step in. But he knows you need to get use to the cane in your hands. So you don't feel the same dependency you had before.

Soon Enjin stopped, tapping on your back to get you to stop with him. "Right here is your room." He hums a bit as he looks at you. "My room is on the right if you need me."

You stand at the door, feeling for the door handle. "How am I suppose to know this is my room and not accidentally walk into someone else's." You hum and turn to him. Enjin glances at you before he thinks. "Oh wait." He reaches into his pocket to pull out the star puffed up stickers once again. You smell Enjin as heat radiates off his body as he moved closer to press something onto the door. You move your hand up to feel the sticker under your hand.

"There." You laugh a bit and smile. "Thanks Enjin." You hold the door handle before pushing it open. "I'm gonna go get some shut eye. I don't want to be tired for my first working day." You smile in his direction. "See ya."

Enjin looks at you. "Get some good sleep."

"You too." You shut the door behind you. You had no idea the layout of the room, but you push yourself against the left wall. You feel the wall before your side knocks into something, your feel around to touch a wooden desk, as you move your hand around to feel for the chair, you continued around before turning to the next wall and as you continue down, at the end was something that hit your leg, as you bend down to feel the softer material under your hands, you finally found the bed.

You sat down first before moving to lay down. Your bags of clothes were probably located in the room already - Enjin mentioned something earlier about someone going to help him grab your bags when you were eating earlier in the cafeteria.

The silence around here was weird. Everything felt so quiet, it was weird. Your shut your eyes. Nothing was familiar, Enjin would be the only thing you truly know.

Everything was diffferent that it makes you think about what you're missing. The children, Olive... Tamsy.. You wonder if Tamsy has gone to look for you now. Is he eating well? Could he be trying to reach you to talk now?

Those feelings make your stomach turn at the last interaction you had with the person who wanted to be your forever family. You move your hands up, pulling off the bandana around your eyes. You let out a soft sigh.

"Tamsy..." You open your eyes, the couple speckles of light in your damaged vision. You sigh softly. You start humming a soft tune to yourself - one that usually soothes and calms the babies and toddlers down to sleep. Maybe it can help you too tonight.

-----------------

Hope you've enjoyed! Also how everyone feeling after chapter 167.2? :,] I was not coping well til I realised what I could do with what was given in this book even if its not permanent haha.

Don't expect semi daily updates for the next couple of weeks, with exams coming up, I got to focus on finishing my final project, celebrate my birthday and studying my exams. So please be patient with me during this June period. 

- Lilly

"I'm going to join the Cleaners."

Tamsy - who was cleaning up after everyone had left the birthday party - dropped the cup in his hand at hearing those words come from your lips, his head whipped right over towards you. You couldn't see his expression of somewhat destress and annoyance at the mere idea of joining the group.

"What?" Tamsy had to hear those words come out of your lips again to fully understand what you were telling him. "I'm going to join the Cleaners." Those words repeated didn't help Tamsy feel any better.

You were silent in waiting for some sort of reaction from the boy. You have to admit, you saying this to Tamsy suddenly must be a shock. You yourself would have never thought you would leave this town - especially after losing your own sight.

"[Name]. Do you want to join the cleaners?" 

That sudden question makes you whip your head back around in the direction of Enjin's voice. You move your hand to point at yourself. "Me? Join the cleaners?" Enjin stares at you. "Yeah. My boss wouldn't mind, we need more people like you to help." You stare at him, you blink and continue to talk.

"I'm blind. I can't see shit." Your hands wave infront of your eyes to add onto that fact. "I struggle enough already finding my way around here. Going out constantly to defeat trash beasts in environments I can't see or predict on my own is bad news waiting to happen." Enjin listened to you before rebutting your claims. "Well you can see those threads-" "Only if that object, person or beast has anima in it. Other than that, i can't see things." "Still, you handled defeating those trash beasts now. And you won't be alone. You're part of a team."

"What about this town. They need protection." "And us as cleaners will come and help when they call." You press your lips against each other at the argument before coming up with a final point.

"I'll hold people back-" You add on before getting cut off right away.

Enjin looks at you. "Even without your sight, you won't hold anyone back. It's a chance for you to step out and help people." You glance in his direction. You press your lips together. Your life now was stable, simple and easy enough for you to navigate. 

You've come to accept your life wasn't going to be that much exciting since your loss of sight, the younger version of yourself two years ago was excited at the possibility of getting away and exploring the world when you first got told you could join the cleaners. After the incident, you knew to bury those thoughts away.

Though with this offer out on the table. The chance for you to go out and discover yourself was a hard thing to not want to do. The orphanage can function without you at it's side now, you've just come of age that you would have to leave the place you've called home for the last 8 years.

This would be the best chance for you to discover the world outside of this place. If you don't like it, you can always come back here, right? "If I end up not wanting to work as a cleaner anymore... Do I still have the option to leave?"

"Yes. Though I'm sure you will discover you'll find yourself welcome there." No other options felt as open as this one. You've chosen to live your life in benifiet of others, and going down this path will give you the freedom you wanted as a child, and still allow you to help people.

"Yeah... I'd love to join." 

"You can't join them!" You blink, not expecting that sudden lash out from Tamsy who moved right up to you, his hands gripping onto the fabric of your sleeves. You take a small step back at feeling him getting so close.

"Tamsy..." Your voice stays soft and calm to the best of your ability. "It's not a choice for you to decide on. I've chosen to do this myself." Tamsy's grip tightened against your sleeves as he stares at you. "But... that means you're going to leave me behind..."

"..." Your eyes squint a bit as your lips press against each other, letting out a soft sigh. "I know... And I know it's not something you, nor I would want... But I'll be gone for at most 3 years. I'll come visit when I am able to of course in those 3 year. But I want to take some time to discover everything the world can offer me." A softer smile rests on your face once again. "If I don't like it, I'll come back and everything will return back to normal, okay?"

"Why don't you just stay here and wait 3 years and then we can both go???" Tamsy brings up which you try to calm him down as you speak. "I can't stick around for 3 years doing nothing. I need to settle in and learn myself before we can both just drop everything and go..."

Tamsy was panicking now as you answered him. "Y-yeah but..." He couldn't come up with something as his tongue twists, preventing him from saying something to argue with right away.

Tamsy's eyes glances down at the teru teru bozo still against your jacket. "Was it his idea?" He brings up. "Is Enjin forcing you to do this? You can tell me." You shake your head. "No, It's all my choice. No one is forcing me." Your hand pulls out of his hold and you move to gently pat on his head.

Tamsy stares down, his breathing was shortening with each breath. You are going to leave him? What the hell? You say it's all your choice? You're lying to him. You must be... Enjin must be pulling the strings and forcing you into this right?? RIGHT?? 

You look at him with the confident expression, no matter what he said before was convicing you to drop everything... He looks up at you as he started to spout out words, in hopes it would convince you to not do it. "Y-you shouldn't go because... Because..." Suddenly words came out that he wouldn't have been able to take back.

"You can't even see!" The harshness in his voice caught you off guard, you were use to the occasional rude tone Tamsy made towards others, though you've never heard it this bad.

"You get lost all the time, you can't even walk around without help, how are you supposed to go out there and fight things?!"

Tamsy's hands grasp at your jacket collar, making you flinch for once at the boy's touch. "The only reason it even works now is because I'm there to help!" You stare at Tamsy, the blind fold dropping down to rest around your neck as Tamsy stares up at you.

He came to some senses right then as he sees the genuine fear settled in your eyes. Your eyes shaking as your breathing was uneven. As the boy's grip just loosened slightly, you pulled yourself away from his hold as Tamsy's eyes stare right at his hands. You take a deep breath, the insulting words hit harder than you would have wanted them to, maybe because it came from the one person who has been so caring and doting at your side these past two years.

Your lips open a moment before shutting as no words come out right away. You were still processing these words that came out. Though you have to try and force yourself to say something.

"I..." Your voice was hesitant, choking you as you try to force it out to comfort the boy in front of you - trying to use it to comfort yourself as well.

"...I was hoping you would have been more supportive..." Your voice shaking a bit as you move your hand to reach for the bandana around your neck, gripping it tightly in those moments. "... I feel a bit disappointed I upset you so much..." You let out a strained laugh as you push the bandana up your face once again.

"I'm... I.... Let's calm down okay? I'll head to my room and we can talk tomorrow before I leave.... kay?" You gave a small wave before turning the corner, leaving the boy in the room.

Tamsy didn't move as he stares down at his hands, his throat was closing up as his own vision blurs. What the hell did he just say to you. He felt vomit start coming up his throat as he goes to the kitchen, grabbing onto the trash can as all the food he ate earlier came up from his stomach.

He grips onto the container tightly as he tries to breath, though it felt like more vomit would come out as he was panicking. His hand now punching and dragging against the floor to try and get the feeling of your jacket out of his hands. He bashed his hands against the tiles over and over that some drops of blood comes out as he didn't stop.

He didn't know what came over him... now you hate him right? You must hate him... 

"It's your fault They are leaving" No it isn't... "They hate you now." You would never hate him right?

The voice continued on and on. Tamsy moves to push himself off of the trash can as he moves to shove himself out the door of the house as the rain pours down that night.

..

"You ready to get going?" Enjin calls out towards you as he was parked right out infront of the orphanage. Children clinging at your sides and arms as they call out their goodbyes. 

"Yeah I'm ready." You're just glad the bandana around your eyes covered up the eye bags and redness your eyes contained. Last night didn't go as you thought it would have. You barely slept, you didn't want to intrude on Tamsy this morning so you just hoped he would have atleast come out - though Olive said that he didn't.

Olive stood right by you as she placed the couple of bags of clothes you had packed up weeks ago in preparation of moving out. She glances at Enjin, staring up and down at all the tattoos, the piercings in his ear and leans over towards your side a bit more. "You sure you wanna go with this guy. He looks like a criminal."

You laugh a bit and nod your head. "I'm sure." You reach down to pat the heads of the children at your feet, ruffling their hair and smiles softly. "I'll come and visit. This isn't a goodbye forever." You tell them as a couple wail out and hug your legs. As you manage to get out of their holds, Enjin calls your name.

"Right before we leave, I got you something." You stare at him. "You didn't need to get me a birthday gift-" Suddenly something was shoved in your hold before you could get into this argument. You grab it, feeling the material against the palms of your hands. "What is this??" You reach as it was long enough to touch the ground from your hold.

"You'll figure it out." You could hear the hint of amusement as you feel it before realising. "You got me a cane?" You turn your head towards him. "Bingo." You shake your head a bit but feel it, you stop as you touch a small bump, it was shaped in a star, a little sticker, a second one right beside it.

"August and Eisha said you like stars. So August made a bunch of stickers for everyone to put on." Enjin took out the packet of stickers that were quickly taken from his hands as children start placing stars down on your new cane, scribbling out their names on the stars with their own name.

You move your hand to place it on a spot, keeping your hand there as stars were placed all around. "Why are you keeping your hand there?" Olive asks as she herself gets a star. You move your hand a bit. "To keep you and Tamsy a spot." You move your hand a bit to let Olive place her star in the upper part of the cane where your hand was placed. 

Tamsy... Enjin glances at you with mentioning the name. 

"Yeah... I'd love to join." You smile in Enjin's direction. This decision feels like the first ever selfish one you've made in a long time. Though your mind does drift towards thinking about someone else, someone who you know won't take this as well. "Tamsy..." You murmur his name and glance at Enjin. "Do you think Tamsy could join the Cleaners too?"

Enjin looks at you in that moment. Tamsy. Enjin hates to admit it, but he doesn't want the boy to come with. He has seen what the boy was like around you in the time he use to spend with you in the past - and he doesn't seem to have improved since then from the singular interaction he had when meeting you again.

"No he can't... He has to be of age to join the cleaners, even with a Vital instrument." He lied through his teeth. Enjin sees your expression dampen a bit, and he feels shitty for lying to you, he knows it's wrong to tell you something that would be disproven almost instantly later on... Though he feels like it would be the best decision for you right now. You and him need a moment away from each other. He can't help but realise the toxic dependency you seem to have with him, that you can't go around without the kid at your side. Hell you don't even have a cane or something.

He knows what he is doing is wrong in lying. But he hopes that it will make both of you become better.

"Enjin! You gotta put a star on too." You grin in his direction as you tap the area you covered up. Enough to fit two stars right beside the one that Olive placed. One for him and the other for Tamsy.

"Where is that two-toned kid." Enjin moves to take a sticker, pressing it down onto the cane before using the pen given to him. "The one that doesn't leave your side. Tamsin? Tammy?"

"Oh Tamsy..." You seemed to dampen a bit as you glance at the house. "He and I got into a bit of a squabble last night... I was hoping he would calm down and come to say goodbye..." You glance and hope to hear the voice of Tamsy. "But it seems he still feels upset with me... Which is understandable." You laugh softly, yet there wasn't a hint of humour in it. "We can get going... Olive, can you tell Tamsy I say goodbye and that I'll miss him."

With your final words, you would get helped into the car, seatbelt buckled up as your window was down as the final cheers of goodbye yell out as the car starts to leave...  

While you were disappearing off from his life, Tamsy stood on the edge of a hill, glancing over the polluted zone in front of him. He didn't want, no he couldn't see you go. His hands pulling against the fabrics of his shirt as his own voice was telling him off.

You didn't want him around you anymore. He failed at protecting you. He stands off the edge as he stares down, one more step and he could meet the ground after a minute of falling. Though he hears a noise.

His head looks up as he sees trash raining down onto the ground. The sphere is dropping it's trash down once again... The sphere.

He wanted to go back up there didn't he? You being so much in his life made him forget that this was the original plan, to get back up there. Those 5 years went by with you that it only occurred to him now that he could have been still living up there. The thoughts of reaching up there, maybe getting back up there, out of your life could be a better choice.

You hate him right now.... maybe it would be better if he got back up there instead.

This was the first time, he sprouted those wings, full of Anima and his intense depressive feelings of getting away. He took a step off the edge as the wings flapped out, he was going to reach up to the sphere, then you won't have to deal with him anymore. The constant rain down of trash was what Tamsy dodges with ease as he goes up.

He goes past the clouds as he glances out. He stares right at it. He can't explain it out, yet that laid right at the border between the two places. As he reaches up, his wings flap as he goes up.

He can't fail here, the only thing he cared about down on the ground now dispises him. He uses his hands to cover his face from the sun as the wings flap harder and harder. He has to get further up. He glances towards the thing once more... It disappeared. He was past the border in that moment. The flight was easier as he continues up, before his body collapses right down onto the sphere, not caring the dirt and muck soaks into his clothes.

The flight up took so much energy away from him as he takes multiple deep breaths as the wings fall away, so does his ability to use his vital instrument does. He looks ahead as the place was so similar to the side of the wall, he only remembered going into once.

The metal houses look thrown together and struggling to stand up. Tamsy pushes himself off the ground, hoping the dirt won't continue to soak into his clothes as he takes a couple of steps around the place. He glances around as children run across into their homes, adults talking and whispering about who knows what.

Tamsy could only think back to the ground and how this place felt similar even if a bit cleaner. You being there made living in this type of filth so much better. Though he would be returning back to the otherside of the wall where it was clean and better. He starts to walk before stopping, as he sees someone not too far off down the alleyway. Tamsy presses his back against the wall before poking his head out.

The older male was crouched down to a boy, someone no older than 7 that was crying. The boy had white hair that faded to black while the guy had a blue toned black hair. The adult was talking, yet Tamsy couldn't hear what the older man was saying. It wasn't due to distance, it was due to something else that caught his eyes.

The black type of scarring on the boy's hands caught Tamsy's attention first - causing his breath to stop. Memories of that same pattern floods his mind in that moment as he watches the older man pull out a set of gloves, putting them onto the boy's hands.

The bulky gloves were the second thing that caught Tamsy's attention, the same way that scarring did. Memories that reminded him of something he wanted, what he admired and hated...  Tamsy stands and watches the moment, focused entirely on what the little boy was doing.

The little boy that Tamsy feels connected to - was in a way, a weird similar feeling he has towards you. Some connection he wants to have or something he wants to happen in relation to either of you. A smile rests against the teen's face as he stares and watches the little boy get taken care off by the man with those gloves. This starts to let his mind wander off as he smiles at the thought of the boy and you....

...This event begins the Act of Love Tamsy obsesses over

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Yeah so... Tamsy isn't gonna be around much next act for a while... He will come back dw! Let me cook with this or smth like that haha.