Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Kakashi suggested the Vr-cade, but no, it was rejected. Kyoryu said, "We are not hiding anymore. I am out of the lair, I have left that kid alone, but for what? Not for hiding. The final resurrection process will kick in a few days, I would not be able to help if you guys call, so I want to finish this before the final process."

"Can you delay that?" Akira knew it was a mistake and stupid, but still.

"You know his condition. Delay it by even an hour, he will NEVER come back to life. At least he has some low chances right now."

"What are you trying to say? Attack that bastard father again?"

"What was that hitman you were telling me about?" he asked. "He was at the house, right?"

Kakashi's mouth dropped open, and Akira realized what Kyoryu was planning. "No way, we are not doing that."

"We are doing that," Kyoryu said, "I do not know how you make him understand it, but we are doing it. For all the years I have been with Hiro, I never ran. We invited the danger or attacked. Till the end of my life, I chose to live that way. If you want my help, you will have to do it my way."

With that being said, no one argued. Akira slowed his pace, crossed Eya, then met Hitori who was jogging now.

"So what did he say?" Hitori asked.

"We decided our next stop."

"Yeah? Go and tell him we are taking a detour. I know the shortcut to the Vr-cade."

Akira dropped his head and slowed his pace. Hitori frowned but slowed down, too. "To the house…" Akira muttered. "Kyo-san says he wants to tackle the hitman head-on."

Hitori stopped. "Is he crazy? I do not think any of us are in the condition for another all-out battle. We need to rest!"

Akira came to a stop and looked gravely into Hitori's eyes. "If you want his help, you will have to do what he says. And believe me, you need his help."

That somehow offended Hitori. He was never someone who worked in groups or teams, he believed he was self-sufficient. "I do not need his help. I can do it alone."

"Now that is your ego talking. Drop your ego, you need our help. If someone who can fight—"

"My parents… I do not know where they are, but I think I have a clue by now. Wherever they are, they left enough to protect their son."

Akira clenched his fist, trying to suppress his motive of revealing his parents and their whereabouts. "But their son can not protect himself," he muttered.

"What did you say?" Hitori stepped toward Akira, he clicked his tongue and turned around. "Forget it. If you want to help, you will help me. But if you don't, you are free to go. If I die, I will die alone."

"That is the point! We do not want you to die. We care for you."

"So you will stick by my side."

Akira had to recite this: "If you are doing something, I will stick with you. If you are in trouble, we will help you out of it. But if you are trying to put yourself in trouble, by god, we will stop you even if we have to use force."

The defeat Kamino made Hitori suffer through had put an impact on his emotions. He jerked around and grabbed Akira's collars. "Why the hell do you talk like that? Why do you talk like you are my responsibility and I am yours?"

This time he did not go too far. Hitori dropped Akira and turned to take the path to the Vr-cade. "I know we should vote for this…" Akira said, "but when the elder tells you to do something and you know it is right, you should follow his orders."

"I do not follow anyone's orders. I have lived most of my life alone, and I like it that way."

"Really? Ask yourself, do you want to live that way? We are here for you, no one was there for you—"

"There was," Hitori muttered under his breath, "not that it matters now."

"—back then. Let us help. If you cut yourself off from the world, how will the world help you?"

"What if I do not want help? See, I have gone through many situations alone—"

"Yes, and that was in the game! This is real fucking life! This started because you met Kamiya, then led a partnership with him, and ended up in this mess. No single person started this, so no single person has the right to end this."

Hitori stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "You are right. No single person has the right to end this. So I will end this with Akemi and Reon. They are the only remaining people who were a part of this."

"You are wrong. Kakashi and Eya-nee were a part of this from the start. They were keeping an eye on you, did you not realize it? They were looking out for you."

"Then where the hell were they when Kiku-san died?! Bullshit. This is all bullshit. Get lost, you know, just get lost."

Hitori's voice was breaking, he knew he was going to cry if this continues.

"The same thing will happen again. With Reon, with Akemi, or with you. You have to listen to me, you need our help."

"Listen to you? Why, why should I even listen to you? Who are you to me?"

Akira's face was filled with excitement. "Are you asking me that?"

Hitori turned and walked a few steps. "Now that I think about it, who the hell are you? A gay? A nerd? A well-wisher who is ready to give his life? Or… who?"

"Do you want to know that?"

"And that man… what relation does that man have with you and Eya-nee? They seem to know each other like childhood. Why are you helping me? Where did he come from? Why is he helping me? Yes. I want to know it all."

Akira sighed. Then inhaled and got ready to record Hitori's reaction in his mind. He opened his eyes and pointed his finger at Hitori. "You," he said, "are my elder brother. And I," he pointed at himself, "am your younger brother. Dad practically rose those orphan siblings."

Hitori stood petrified.

Akira lowered his hand, then stretched his arms. "You should listen to your family, aniki."