Risuke Otake: I have already given up. Lost a family or two back in the days. The only one that remains is my strong old man. I do not know what his name is, I just know that we travel together for some reason. He would not let me leave, but with the passage of years I think that I want to stay alongside him. I do not understand why he was so helpful to me.

I was so desperate back then. Watching your family burn in front of your eyes is not a good sight you know. The pain was too much, not only the psychological one but from the wounds as well. I was hungry and thirsty. I could barely move. Yet this man, for no particular reason, gave me a home, some food, and water, and healed my wounds.

I remember waking up in an unknown bed, seeing him washing some plates in the background. And then he said these words that never left my mind: "Hmm, I see you are awake already. That's great! Good morning fella', from now on you will be my hostage!". I did not want to be someone's hostage of course. But I had no choice at that moment, I had to survive somehow, and this man would give me everything I needed to manage that. 

"Hostage? What do you mean?" I asked him, while my body was fully covered with bandages for the wounds. "You will never leave my side young one until you repay me the dept of a lifetime. I saved your life and shared my belongings with you. Now you are obliged to provide me the company that I had missed all this time" he answered.

 I tried to get back on my feet. I threw the blanket away and jumped quickly out of bed. It was the moment I realized that doing too abrupt and fast moves would bring me terrible pain since the wounds were not fully healed. "I never asked you to help me old-man, why am I supposed to be obliged to you?" I spoke. After washing the last plate, the old-man took the towel, wiped his hands, and lounged to a chair nearby. "Well, I am such a good man that I didn't even bring you to the shame of asking. Now go back to your bed young fella', if you move too much your wounds will be reopened" he responded.

We stayed in that house for some months, until my wounds were healed enough for me to move freely. It was a beautiful and sunny day when the old-man said that we should leave this place as soon as possible, and travel as far as we can. I did not know why he said that, but I knew it was my chance to escape since I had no need for him anymore. I will steal some food and water from him and then flee to survive myself. I did not like being a hostage of a stupid old guy.

We were in a small village and the old man was in a shop buying some things for the journey. He had let all the food and water in my hands until he buys what he wants. Without a second thought, I fled towards the forest outside the village as quickly as possible. Some minutes later I had successfully escaped the village, with no sign of the old-man following me. "That idiot...he really thought that he could keep me, hostage, forever" I spoke to myself.

When I reached the forest I lied on the trunk of a tree and took some breaths. Then, I got up and continued walking until there were no possibilities to meet the old man. However, I did not succeed. After doing only 3 steps, I heard his voice coming behind me saying: "Heya kid, how did you know that we were heading this way?" I was frustrated. "I am leaving old-man. Don't try to stop me, it will not work" I said. 

The old man looked disappointed. He knew that this would happen one day. "Kid..." he spoke "...your life is in danger. There are people hunting for you and you are too weak to take them on. You can not leave and I am willing to hurt you if you don't listen. I know it's hard to believe but one day you will understand what I am talking about. Now then, let's keep going". But even now I would not stay. I turned around and started running away from him. With a little glance that I gave him, I could see that he got angry. It was my first time seeing him like this. 

Yet again, I did not see him following me. I thought that I had escaped but his voice reached my ears once again: "I think I know this forest better than you do, I can get in front of you without you even realizing..." I did not know what was going on, but I was even more frustrated then. I tried thousands of times, yet he kept getting in front of me. "Leave me alone you scum" I said.

I was so angry that I could not do as I pleased. It was not bad living with him, I just could not accept that I would be this man's hostage. I do not want to be under anyone, I do not want anyone to control me. I tried so desperately to escape a life that was fine, only to show him that I could do what I want and that he can not keep me as his hostage without my approval. Yet again, I failed.

Each time, each and every time, he was there. He was in front of me like he was protecting me. I do not need anyone's protection, I was thinking. I kept insulting him every time he appeared to my eyes. I even ended up crying. Why is it so hard to escape this man. I did not understand at all.

In the end, the old man punched me right on the face with enough power to leave me unconscious. He kept carrying me on his shoulders until we reach the next destination and rent a room for the night.

I failed. That was my thinking. But it is not over yet, I kept telling to myself.

"The only way for me to escape is to kill him and make him sorry. Yes, that's what I'm gonna do" These were the lines that would not leave my head at that period. I was planning to kill him in the worst way possible.

(Next Risuke's episode): Despair