"...Luke is that you?"
"Yeah...It's me." Luke didn't smile or cry when he saw his mom laying there.
"Why are you here Luke..." His mom looked sick.
"I came back to follow my dream."
"Your dream...Tell me what was your dream?" His mom ran out of breath easily.
"You want to know now? I'll tell you then. I'm going to turn this slum into a beautiful school and give people jobs."
"I see...I think that would be nice." His mom smiled.
"...Why are you acting like this now?" Lukes face saddened.
"...Luke I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." Luke's mother began to cry.
"What?" Luke would have never thought his mom would say something like that to him.
"Back then I treated you so poorly because when I saw you...I saw all of my mistakes. I saw myself in you. And I hated myself. That day you yelled at me...And I had no response. It was because for the first time...I saw you. My son. And guilt rushed over me. Looking back now I wish I could have been better to you. I'm so sorry."
"I-I...I met a great family mom. I also went sailing on the far open sea. I've been to beautiful places where stars lay in the water! I've seen an Ocean of sand! I met a guy named Tom and he showed me a lot of places could've never imagined! A village of people that live in another world!" Tears started flooding out of Luke.
"I went flying high in the air on a big ninja star! It was scary but I did it!"
Luke's mom grabbed him and pulled him down and hugged him. with her weak arms
"I didn't do this for you back then. But now...You can cry all you want in my arms." She gently rubbed his head as he cried.
"I love you, Luke..."
"I love you still mom..."
Then suddenly she stopped rubbing his head. Luke lifted up.
"Mom?"
No response...
"Hey get up...there are still things I want to talk about." Luke shook his mom gently.
Stagnum came over and hugged him. Ashly, Musabi, Ishiga, And The king did the same.
And Luke cried in their arms. With nothing being held back. At least he would have one good memory of her.
They carried her to the cave that they went to so long ago. They started walking inside until they reached that door and opened it. They got the same feeling they did all those years ago. They all watched as Luke dug the grave then they put the body in.
While he was feeling up the hole, the king walked over and looked on the table and found a book. When he touched it he felt something. But he didn't know what. But all he knew. For some reason, he couldn't let anybody touch it.
"What's the book?" Ishiga asked, walking up behind The king.
"I don't know...but don't touch it. Something about this book isn't right."
"Should you be holding it then!?"
"No..."
The group walked over and saw The king holding the book.
"Was that on the table?" Musabi asked.
"Yeah, it was. Don't touch it though. Somethings not right about it."
"What's wrong with it?"
"Everything."
"Did I just hear something?"
"Wait, I talked?"
"Put the book away."
The king quickly put it away in his bag and they returned to normal.
"What just happened!? I feel like I just fell out of reality. Into reality...How would even know what that feels like?" The group was confused.
"It's because of that book. I don't know what it was doing...but the writing on it was not something I could understand. Whoever it was created by is extremely powerful. I'll keep this book and let nobody touch it." The king looked serious.
"That's probably for the best," Luke was dazed a little as well.
They all walked back to the dock As The king was about to leave.
"So this is it." Stagnum tried to keep smiling.
"Yeah..." Everybody knew that this was the last time they were going to see him.
"Oh! Yeah, I forgot! I got you all gifts. I made them myself back at the lost forest." He pulled out a ring just like he had on.
"I left this part of the story out because I want to wait for this moment. But back then all the Heavenly Demon Members had on these rings." It was a black and gold ring with yin yang on it.
They each came up and took one happily. The king had 2 bags also so he gave the infinite bag to them as well.
"I think it looks cool!" Stagnum looked happy about it. They all did. But he did more than the rest.
"Hey, Stagnum."
"Yeah what is it?"
"Don't hold back what you're feeling because you want to keep everybody happy. You'll destroy yourself in the end." When The king said that. His face started to drop.
"I-I don't want this to be the last we see yo-" The king cut Stagnum sentence off with a hug.
"It's ok. Let somebody else be strong for you when you're weak. But never forget how to pull yourself up." Stagnum cried in The king's arms.
"I hope the day you get your boat it feels amazing." The king let him go.
"The way you cheer everybody up is what this universe needs in any timeline. Don't stop being you."
Stagnum wiped his eyes and nodded.
"I would have never ended up with Stagnum if you never came along...just a scared little girl...So thank you."
"I would have still been in that place, all alone still wondering why I'm alive and if I wanted to be...So thank you."
"Me and Luke have gotten even closer thanks to you...so thank you."
"I learned a lot from you, My notebook is almost filled...so thank you."
"I would have never left that ship without you and seen things that I could have never thought of...so from the bottom of my heart...thank you so much."
"Y-you guys...don't thank me...It's weird." Toyomo smiled as a tear came down his face.
"Shit...am I crying." Toyomo started wiping his eyes.
When they saw him crying they all did the same. And gave him one final hug. After a little bit, they let go.
"...Thank you guys for that..." Toyomo smiled from the bottom of his soul.
"Luke I have one more thing for you." Toyomo took out a book and tossed it to him. Then he tossed him another one.
"Those books should make your school the most advanced place on this planet. It's full of me and Jahol creations. use it well." The king turned and walked to get on his boat.
"Family?!" Luke shouted.
"Forever and always Luke!" Toyomo waved goodbye as he got on his boat. And the boat set sail.
"We love you!" Toyomo heard Stagnum yelling as the boat left.
The king smiled.
"I know! I tend to have that effect on people! ...Love you guys too!" Toyomo smiled and waved as they waved back.
"Heh...That man." Luke chuckled a bit.
"So...Let's get to building this school. For our family!" Musabi yelled.
"Hell yeah!!"
"So where do we start?" Stagnum asked.
Luke opened the book and a note was found inside of it.
"What's the note say?"
"It says 'Already lost without me? You need to buy all the land in the slums to get started. In order to do that you need to go to the ruler of that place and make him an offer. Sincerely Toyomo.' He knew we'd be lost...Always 10 steps in front of us." Luke laughed a bit.
"Makes fun of us even when he's gone." Ishiga started laughing as well.
"Alright, you heard the note! To the ruler!" Stagnum pointed at the walls.
"Yeah!"
They all began their walk to the entrance.
When they reached the gate they saw the same guard they saw all of them years ago.
"Wow! You still work here!? That's dedication." Stagnum said to the man.
"Don't bother him while he's working Stagnum." Luke punched Stagnum on the head.
"You're those kids...from all those years ago. You've grown." The man smiled as the group walked past and smiled as well.
"Heh...They make me feel old." The man said to himself.
"Man to back in this place feels weird." Musabi looked around.
"I agree with you there," Ashly said.
For some reason...The mood was just so sad but now the aura around them was so bright and warm.
"So that castle is where we are heading." Ishiga pointed at the big obvious castle.
"Yeah!"
They began the walk to the castle. This time they didn't get any dirty looks because they didn't look poor. Not that any of them would have cared anyway.
"Everybody that's not working in this place looks like a stuck up ass." Musabi was looking at some people drinking tea.
"Who cares about them. You guys are here after so much hard work. Focus on that." Ishiga was trying to act like an older cousin.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Look at you Ishiga. Finally able to talk without ranting on for hours."
"Screw you Stagnum! I can talk without going on for hours! I do it all the time matter of fact!"
"Looks like Stagnum got her started." Luke laughed a bit then started running.
"Last one there has to wash the clothes!"
"Hey that's cheating," Stagnum yelled chasing after him.
"Hey, I wasn't done talking!" Ishiga chased after both of them.
Musabi and Ashly just smiled and ran after them.
"Look at them. They don't even act their age." A cocky woman said as they were running. Musabi heard her.
Musabi turned around and backpedaled and yelled "And that's why yo tits sag you old hag!"
The whole group started laughing. Causing Musabi to run in front of them.
They just ran to the castle not caring about what anybody thought really.
When they reached the gate that led to a path that led to the front door of the castle, 2 guards were standing there.
"Hey, we need to get through. We're here on business." Luke was trying to put on his businessman mode.
"Sorry but we weren't told anything about this. We can't let you through."
"We came here to buy land from the ruler. They probably didn't feel a need to tell you guys. Because let's be honest, they probably don't treat you with respect here, even though you are risking your life! Let us through and I'll make it worth your while...I am a very rich man." Luke patted one of the guards on the shoulders and smiled.
"...How much are we talking?" Both of the guards seemed interested.
"Enough to make you never work again. And provided for your loved ones. I'll pay you as soon as I come back out." Luke shook his pouch full of coins.
"...Alright you may go in." The guards opened the gate and just let them casually walkthrough.
"That was easy."
"Money talks Stagnum." Luke explained.
"Really!? It never talked to me."
"It doesn't literally talk Stagnum..."
"It's probably good you're not becoming a teacher Stagnum," Ashly said to herself chuckling.
As they opened the door and saw the ruler sitting on his throne, They also saw, guess who. The soulless eyes sixs on one knee in front of the ruler.
"These guys are everywhere," Luke said walking in.
"Who are you?" The ruler asked as they walked closer. He was an older man with white hair and a beard
"We are the Heavenly Demons. But I am Luke. We came here to discuss something with you."
"What are you doing here!?" John looked a little more daring now that Toyomo wasn't around.
"None of your business puppy." Luke didn't give John much attention.
"You litt-"
"John kneels. We can't do this here." Orion shot a mean look at John.
John obeys like a puppy and kneels again.
"You know these people?" The ruler asked.
"We have a history with them. But we are not friends." Orion explained.
"I see...What exactly did you want to speak to me about?" The ruler asked Luke.
"Well, we want to purchase some land from you. We of course have money."
"What land did you want to purchase? Depending on what you want to buy I'll pay attention."
"We want to purchase the slums."
"The slums? Why would you ever want to buy that?"
"I like the space. That's about it. So how much would you be willing to let me have it for?"
"Hmmm, how about 1000 gold coins?" (1,000,000$) This man charges GTA prices. But that price wasn't much compared to how much money they had.
"Shit...That's kinda a lot." Luke was acting.
"I don't plan on going lower so take it or leave it."
"...Fine, you have a deal." And he absolutely fooled him.
"Great, send a maid to go get the paperwork now. As for you Soulless eyes six, You can leave."
"Yes, your majesty." They got up and walked out.
15 min later the maid came back with the paperwork. The ruler got up and led them to a room with a long table.
Luke reads over the paper carefully to make sure there was nothing wrong with it.
Then the ruler signed the papers, Then Luke reads the paper again then signed.
"So the payment." The ruler said.
"Oh, yeah here you go." Luke tossed him 2 platinum coins like they were nothing.
"What's that face for? You thought you were going to get over on us with that stupid contract. Must pay in 5 min or less in order to own it permanently or it is not theirs. Like I didn't see that. Have a nice day prick." Luke grabbed the paper and walked out. When they got outside Luke stopped.
"We finally got it guys...This is a dream come true..." Luke smiled gently.
"You say that we've already finished. Come on we got work to do." Stagnum patted Luke on the back.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Luke walked outside the gate and flipped 2 platinum coins to the 2 guards.
"Thank you very much!" The 2 guards bowed deeply
Luke just waved and kept going.
After walking back to the slums...
"So where do we start?" Ashly asked.
"Let's check the book he left us." Luke opened up the book and started reading some of the creations.
"Mmm. This is going to be a lot of work but with the help of the people, it should make it easier. And the best way to get them on our side is food and water. Clothes as well. Alright here's what we'll do, I'll make some food trips with Stagnum. We can't use Platinum anymore. Stagnum And I will be in charge of getting money. Even though our healing abilities aren't that good when it comes to healing other people, the rest of you will be in charge of helping the people until I make some medicine. Let's get to work!"
"I sir!"
They all split into groups. Stagnum and Luke ran back into the city.
"Alright, Stagnum. It's time to go bounty hunting and get an S rank like our elders!" Luke was looking for a bounty house.
"Hell yeah!"
They found the bounty house and went in.
"Excuse me is this where we become bounty hunters?" Stagnum asked the lady at the bar.
"Yeah, It is, you 2 registering?" The woman had a ruff voice and short green hair, I'd smash. But then again that's not saying much because I'm desperate.
"Yes please."
She gave them the little bronze pins.
"There you go. Try not to die noobies." She looked completely uninterested in them.
"We are better than most S ranks, we'll be fine," Luke said, putting on his pin.
"HA! I doubt it."
"You guys are here too!?" John said walking in with his group,
"Yeah, we're bounty hunters now!" Stagnum was happy to be a bounty hunter.
"You know the Soulless eyes six!?" The woman from behind the counter jumped in surprised.
"Are these guys famous?" Luke asked.
"Yes! They're easily the top 10 bounty hunter group in the world!" The ladies' whole mood changed.
"That's a joke right? They can't be in the top 10...and be so weak." Luke refused to believe it.
"Wait...Weak?" The woman was confused.
"Orion you wanna tell her?" Luke looked like he was having fun.
"...I lost a fight against this man."
The whole bar stopped.
"Holy shit really!?" Everybody was in shock.
"Yeah but the past is in the past...Hey, It seems like you gave up on chasing Tom. So there is no more beef. So how about we start over." Luke stuck his hand out for a handshake.
"...I don't want to be your friend-" Orion was cut off by Odwin shaking Luke's hand.
"Don't worry I wash my hands a lot. Anyway, I'm willing to drop everything. You seem like cool people."
"I never really had a problem with you though, I always thought you were the coolest." Luke knew he was pissing Orion off.
"Then I look forward to the future to come." Odwin let go. Not once did he look up from his porn mag.
"Anyway, we're busy, got to go." Stagnum grabbed a bounty and left.
Luke grabbed his own bounty and left.
"That guy...He's miles ahead in power compared to me now." Orion said after Luke left.
Anyway, screw that guy. A day went by and Luke and Stagnum Nonstop kept running in and out doing bounty after bounty. And made it to C rank within a day. Couldn't disgrace the Heavenly Demons reputation after all.
The amount made on that day...530$
Back in the bar.
"Nice! We got a decent amount! Let's go and buy as much food as we can!" Stagnum was still happy.
"Wait you worked that hard just to spend it all on food?" Icarus asked them with a gentle voice.
"Oh, the food isn't for us. It's for the people in the slum."
"Wow so cool. If I may, can I come with you to the slums?" Of course, taking care of people was right up Icarus lane. Goddamn, saint!
"Yeah! We would love to have you." Stagnum and Luke walked out with her.
"Did they just leave with Icarus?" Scarlet asked.
"Yep..." John responded.
They started buying food and next time clothes.
"Wait so you bought the Slums? Why?"
"Because Icarus you shouldn't need a reason to want to help people. I want to build the world's best school and give them houses." Luke explained as they entered the slums.
"...I wasn't expecting you all to be this nice. You all have my prayers" Icarus put her hand together like she was praying.
"Um, can I ask you to help us with something? A lot of people here are sic-"
"I will do it." Icarus didn't even think about Luke's question. She already knew she wanted to help.
"This girl is a goddess and we must protect her at all cost." Stagnum whispers to Luke.
"I agreed."
See you next time space cowboy...In the Vampire Bund