Chapter 28: Struggling in the Genua City
The air was thick with the scent of saltwater as Ikki and Pairo trudged through the busy port city. The city lights glistened like pearls in the night, luring them closer with each step.
"We made it," Ikki exhaled, his voice relieved.
Pairo's sleepy eyes met those of his friend. "It was worth it," he said, a faint smile twitching the corners of his mouth.
The bustling streets were lined with vendors hawking their wares, their shouts blending with the creaking of ships being loaded with cargo. Ikki and Pairo made their way through the throngs of people, their senses assaulted by the city's sights, sounds, and smells.
Ikki and Pairo trudged wearily into the town, their clothes tattered and muddy. They looked very miserable, with Ikki sporting a lot of bruises and skin abrasions. The people passing by them gave them a wide berth, eyeing them suspiciously.
"We need to find a way to make some money," Ikki said, his voice low.
Pairo nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the nearby streets for any sign of opportunity. "Maybe we could ask for some work," he suggested.
Ikki scoffed. "Who's going to hire us looking like this?" he said, gesturing to their shabby appearance.
Pairo's shoulders slumped. "I don't know," he said, his voice defeated.
As they walked, they noticed a group of children playing in a nearby alleyway. Ikki's eyes lit up with an idea.
"Let's put on a show," he said, a mischievous grin.
Pairo looked at him quizzically. "A show?" he repeated.
Ikki nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for props. "Yeah, a show. We'll do some tricks, juggle some balls, and put on a little performance. People love that kind of stuff," he said, his voice growing more confident.
Pairo smiled, his spirits lifting at the prospect of earning some money. "Okay, let's do it," he said.
They got some sticks, balls, and other other items from nearby garbage cans and began practicing their routine. Ikki effortlessly juggled the balls, while Pairo began to crack jokes.
As they performed, a small crowd began to gather around them, clapping and cheering at their antics. A few people even threw some coins into a hat that they had placed on the ground.
Pairo started with some light jokes, mostly poking fun at the Kurta villagers they had left behind. "Why did the Kurta villagers cross the road? To get away from us!" he chuckled, Ikki eybrowes went up at his friend speech.
Pairo continued with more jokes, gradually becoming darker in tone, as the small gathering laughed along. "What do you call a Kurta who has lost his eyes and family? Alone and hopeless!" he exclaimed, his smile fading.
Ikki noticed the change in his friend's demeanor and tried to catch his eye, but Pairo didn't look up from the ground. He continued with another joke, but his voice was now shaking. "Why did the Kurta villagers have to die? Because they refused to share their amazing red-eyes with the rest of the world," he said, winking at Ikki. he said, his voice breaking.
Ikki stopped juggling and looked at Pairo with concern. "Hey, Pairo, are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.
Pairo shook his head, his eyes filling with tears. "I can't do this, Ikki," he sobbed, dropping the sticks and balls. " They didn't deserve to die like that."
Ikki immediately wrapped his arms around Pairo, pulling him into a tight embrace. "It's okay, Pairo. It's okay to feel that way," he said, his voice soothing. "I will find a way to make things right, I promise."
Pairo buried his face in Ikki's shoulder, his body shaking with sobs. Ikki held him close, rubbing his back and murmuring soothing words until Pairo's tears finally subsided. The small crowd had dispersed, leaving the two friends alone in the alleyway.
"We'll make it right, Pairo," Ikki repeated, his voice firm. "We'll find a way to make things right."Ikki and Pairo grinned at each other, their spirits lifted by the small bit of success. Maybe things weren't so bad after all.
Their stomachs churned so they went to find it, and they soon found themselves at a little food booth where the tempting aroma of grilled fish and rice filled the air.
"We'll take one of each," Ikki answered, pulling a few coins from his pocket.
The vendor's expression soured as he counted the meager amount. "That's all you got?" he grumbled.
Ikki and Pairo shared a worried look. "It's all we've got," Pairo remarked quietly.
The vendor grunted in annoyance before begrudgingly serving them their meals. As they ate, they savored every bite, knowing that they would need to stretch their meager funds as far as possible.
They set out to find shelter for the night, their hunger satisfied. Ikki noticed an abandoned structure just down the street, its dilapidated shape looming menacingly in the darkness.
The floorboards creaked beneath their feet as they slipped inside. The inside was gloomy and musty, with cobwebs hanging from every nook and cranny.
"We'll stay here for now," Ikki said, his voice hushed. "But we need to be careful. This city isn't safe for us."
Pairo nodded in agreement with the others, their faces grimy and lined with exhaustion. They were a sorry sight, beaten down by the harsh realities of life on the streets. The tattered clothing they wore hung off their emaciated frames, and they had nothing but old cardboard to keep them warm.
As they huddled together for warmth, the sounds of the city outside were a constant reminder of the world they had left behind. They had fallen through the cracks of society, discarded and forgotten like so much trash.
"I'm sorry," Pairo whispered, his voice barely audible.
Ikki looked down at him, concern etched on his face. "What for?"
"For slowing us down," Pairo said, his eyes closing.
Ikki shook his head, his voice firm. "Don't be ridiculous. We're in this together. We'll get through this together."
Pairo nodded, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah."
And with that, they drifted off to sleep, their bodies exhausted from the non-stop running and their psyches at their limit.
The cardboard they used to cover themselves was a pitiful defense against the cold, but it was all they had. The cardboard was dirty and torn, and it smelled of mildew and decay. But they cherished it, knowing that without it, they would be even more vulnerable to the elements.
As they drifted off to sleep, their minds were filled with thoughts of the uncertain future that lay ahead.
Ikki and Pairo were startled awake by the sound of a gruff voice. They jolted upright, their eyes wide as they saw a disheveled homeless man standing before them.
"What are you doing here?" the man asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
"We're just passing through," Ikki replied, his voice strained from exhaustion.
The homeless man studied them for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "You two don't look like you're from around here," he said, his tone still wary.
Ikki and Pairo exchanged a nervous glance. They knew they looked like they had been through a lot, covered in mud and tattered clothes.
"We're just trying to find a way to survive," Pairo said, his voice low.
The homeless man seemed to soften at this, his expression growing more sympathetic. "I know how that feels," he said, nodding.
"I used to be just like you two, lost and alone in this city."
He proceeded to teach them how to beg and make money on the streets, showing them where to find food and how to convince people to give them what they needed. Ikki and Pairo listened intently, grateful for the guidance.
As they talked, the homeless man warned them about the Don family and the danger they posed. "You two need to be careful," he said, his voice low. "These guys don't take kindly to outsiders. If they catch wind of you, it could mean trouble."
Ikki and Pairo nodded, their eyes widening at the thought of facing off against a powerful crime family.
But despite the warnings, the homeless man treated them kindly,
Pairo and Ikki had been surviving on the streets for several days now, perfecting the art of begging to get by. They had learned where to find food and how to approach people to convince them to give them money. But they knew that they needed to do more if they were going to stay alive in a city ruled by a powerful crime lord.
One night, as they huddled together for warmth in their makeshift shelter, Pairo spoke up. "Ikki, I think I have a plan."
Ikki looked over at him, his bruised and exhausted face reflecting the dim light of the nearby streetlamp. "What is it?"
"I've been watching the people around here," Pairo said, his voice low. "I think we can find people who look rich but are too dumb to notice if we take something from them."
Ikki raised an eyebrow. "You mean pickpocketing?"
Pairo shook his head. "No, not like that. We'll just approach them and act like we're lost or confused. Then, while they're distracted, we can take something from them and make a quick getaway."
Ikki raised an eyebrow at Pairo's suggestion. "So, you mean pickpocketing?" he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Well, why beat around the bush? Let's just call it what it is."
Pairo looked sheepish, but nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right," he said. "But we don't have many options at the moment."
Ikki let out a sigh. "Fine, we'll try it your way. But if we get caught, it's on you," he warned, a small smirk appearing on his face.
Over the next few days, Pairo and Ikki put their plan into action. They found people who looked rich but were too distracted or naive to notice them approaching. And, with a little bit of sleight of hand, they were able to take small items like wallets and jewelry without being noticed.
It wasn't a perfect plan, and they had a few close calls with the police and the crime family's enforcers. But overall, it was working.
(Flash back)
As they made their way through the bustling city, Ikki and Pairo kept a sharp eye out for any signs of danger. They had perfected their act, with Pairo acting as a confused boy lost and Ikki playing the part of a helpful stranger. It had worked well so far, but they both knew that one wrong move could lead to their capture.
One afternoon, as they were making their way through a crowded marketplace, Pairo spotted a police officer up ahead. He tugged on Ikki's sleeve, motioning for him to follow. They slipped into an alleyway, ducking behind a stack of crates as the officer passed by.
Once the coast was clear, they continued on their way, scanning the crowds for their next mark. It was then that Ikki spotted a woman walking towards them, her arms full of packages.
Without thinking, he took off running, trying to weave his way through the crowd. But in his haste, he didn't see the woman coming towards him until it was too late. He lightly bumped into her, causing her to drop one of her packages.
"I'm so sorry," Ikki said, his eyes wide with panic.
The woman turned to him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Watch where you're going," she snapped, bending down to pick up her package.
Ikki started to back away, his heart pounding in his chest. But then Pairo stepped forward, putting on his best innocent face.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, his voice shaking. "My friend here is a little clumsy. We didn't mean to cause any trouble."
The woman eyed them both warily, but then she seemed to soften. "Well, be more careful next time," she said, before hurrying off down the street.
Ikki let out a sigh of relief, his body still trembling with adrenaline. "That was too close," he muttered. a stylish wallet in his hand.
Pairo nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the crowds for any signs of trouble. "We need to be more careful," he said. "We can't afford to get caught."
(end)
They were able to make enough money to survive and even buy a few luxuries like hot meals and warm clothes.
As they counted their earnings one night, Ikki turned to Pairo. "You know, I never thought I'd be able to pull something like this off."
Pairo smiled back at him, his eyes reflecting the same determination. "We're a comrades, don't understimate two kids who's entire family was slaughered" he add with a deprecaucious smile.
............
Ikki and Pairo sat in the dimly lit warehouse, their tired faces illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby streetlamp. The air was thick with the scent of saltwater and damp cardboard.
"I can't help but feel like we're being watched," Pairo said, his voice low.
Ikki nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. "It's possible," he said. "We can't let our guard down."
Pairo leaned back against the wall, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Do you think they're still after us?" he asked.
Ikki hesitated before answering. "It's hard to say," he said, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "But we can't take any chances."
Pairo nodded, his expression solemn. "What do we do now?" he asked.
Ikki thought for a moment before answering. "We need to keep a low profile, no bank robbery for us" he quirkly said.
Pairo nodded in agreement. "And we need to be ready to run at a moment's notice," he said.
Ikki grimaced. "I don't know how much longer we can keep this up," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Pairo placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ha don't worry my blind fist style will reach them first."
"But we need to know if they're still after us," Pairo said, his voice low.
Ikki nodded in agreement. "But we can't risk getting caught again. We need a plan."
They sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts. But then, Ikki's eyes lit up with an idea.
"I think I have a plan," he said, excitement creeping into his voice.
Pairo looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.
"We'll need to pick the right day, a day when the surroundings are at our advantage" Ikki began. "And we'll need to find an inn near the docks, somewhere we can escape quickly if we need to."
Pairo nodded in agreement, his mind already whirring with possibilities.
"Then we'll need to find a ship," Ikki added. "One that is scheduled to depart soon, with a large number of people on board." We can blend in with the mob and slip away."
Pairo grinned, his tired face lit up with joy. "That could work," he speculated.
They spent the next two hours arranging their escape, going over every detail. They chose a day when the city was teeming with activity, and they located the ideal inn near the docks with a window overlooking the water.
Weekly Power Status
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