The Man in White
...
Darkness.
...
Voices...
Distant.
Unintelligible.
...
"No..."
Jinsu whispered.
Then it grew louder.
"No..."
His breathing became faster.
"No...!"
His eyes flew open.
"HAAAH..."
His body was trembling.
His breathing was uneven.
He sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his chest.
His heart pounded violently.
He slowly reached toward his face...
Then stopped.
Tears.
They were real tears.
He stared at them for a few moments.
Then slowly stood up.
And walked toward the mirror.
He stopped in front of it.
His reflection stared back at him.
His long white hair.
His gray eyes.
And the tears that refused to stop.
He raised a hand and touched his cheek.
Stolen from NovelPhoenix, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Then whispered,
"Why..."
Silence.
"...am I crying?"
He continued staring at himself.
As if he didn't recognize the person standing before him.
Then he lowered his head.
And closed his eyes.
...
Knock.
Knock...
Knock.
He raised his head.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Standing there...
Was Tsukiro.
He gave a faint smile.
"May I come in?"
Jinsu silently stepped aside.
Tsukiro entered.
And closed the door behind him.
He looked around the room.
Then sat down in the chair opposite him.
As for Jinsu...
He remained standing beside the window.
Silence filled the room.
Finally...
Tsukiro spoke.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."
The answer was cold.
As though it ended the conversation.
But Tsukiro continued.
"If something is bothering you..."
He looked at him.
"I hope you'll tell me."
"Before it's too late again."
Jinsu's expression didn't change.
"Don't concern yourself."
"There's nothing."
Tsukiro sighed.
He knew...
Jinsu was lying.
But he didn't force the issue.
Instead, he calmly said,
"In two days..."
"The Gaia Assembly will be held."
Jinsu turned toward him.
"The Gaia Assembly?"
Tsukiro nodded.
"The meeting that's held once every ten years."
"But..."
"It was moved forward."
"Because of you."
Silence.
Then Jinsu coldly replied,
"That's not my concern."
"You were the weak ones."
"You couldn't even protect the members of your own organization."
His eyes stopped...
On Tsukiro's severed arm.
He looked back up at him.
But said nothing.
Tsukiro...
Simply gave a faint smile.
And quietly said,
"...I'm sorry."
Silence returned.
But before either of them could speak again...
Jinsu sensed something.
...
Someone.
Behind him.
He turned instantly.
But...
He was too late.
A powerful hand seized his arm.
Twisting it behind his back in a single motion.
He was slammed into the floor.
"You bastard!"
His aura erupted.
The entire room shook.
He tried to stand.
But the hand pinning him down...
Didn't even move.
He gritted his teeth.
"Get off me!"
He reached for his sword.
But...
Before he could fully draw it...
His body was lifted into the air.
Then...
BOOOOOOM!!
One strike.
He crashed into the ceiling.
Then into the floor.
And consciousness left him.
...
...
His eyes slowly opened.
His head throbbed with pain.
He tried to move.
But found himself bound by black ropes.
Seated on a wooden chair.
He raised his head.
The room was spacious.
And empty.
Except for one person.
A young man.
His hair was split into two colors.
Red...
And white.
His right eye was crimson...
Bearing a symbol resembling a swirling vortex of wind.
His left eye...
Was a clear, pure white.
He wore a long white robe.
And on one ear...
Hung a small golden earring.
He stood before Jinsu with a gentle smile.
Then calmly said,
"You're finally awake."
Jinsu looked at him in silence.
Then smiled mockingly.
"You really think..."
"These ropes..."
"Can hold me?"
In a single instant...
His aura exploded.
CRACK!!
The ropes were torn apart.
He stood.
Drew his sword.
And vanished.
He appeared directly in front of the man.
"Don't regret this."
He brought his sword down with all his strength.
But...
Before the blade could reach him...
The strike stopped.
No.
Rather...
It was reflected.
Jinsu's eyes widened.
Then suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!!
The entire attack rebounded toward him.
It felt as though a mountain had crashed into his body.
Blood burst from his mouth.
He was hurled across the room.
And slammed into the wall.
He dropped to one knee.
Coughing blood.
With great difficulty, he raised his head.
The man...
Hadn't moved.
Not even a single step.
He smiled.
Then calmly said,
"They didn't bind you..."
"Because the ropes were strong."
He placed both hands behind his back.
Then looked directly at Jinsu.
"...They bound you..."
"Because I alone..."
His calm smile remained.
"...am enough to keep you imprisoned."
Silence.
Tsukiro slowly entered the room.
He looked at Jinsu.
Then said,
"Oh..."
"So you're already awake."
Jinsu glared at him.
"Who is he?"
The man in the white robe smiled.
Then gave a slight bow.
And said,
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is..."
"Ivo."
He raised his crimson eye toward Jinsu.
His smile never faded.
"And I believe..."
"We're going to have a very enjoyable time together."