Chapter 15: Sanctuary 

Three days later: “Ja control that power” Bashiru says as they watch Ja take deep breaths. Opening his eyes his right eye glows blue with lighting like energy flowing through him like veins. “Good job…this is what we call a base form,” Bashiru said to other boys that were watching. “We activate a base form when we are either in a situation where it needs to be used, or when we are about to break down a wall.” He continued to explain to them, but not understanding Lucky raises his hand. “So like a brick wall?” he asked, but Bashiru smirked, “ I see this is all new to you….a easier way to explain is like this….A soul is what makes you and me who we are, they are the foundation to us….then comes the bodily functions such as heart, brain, etc.  Now add being chosen into the mix we now have barriers protecting the soul called walls.” Bashiru explains to them as Ja looks down at the blue energy flowing through his arms. “ Walls are what are given to us, from the disciple and shaitan that we are chosen by. They each contain an ability that helps us fight, and protect” He continued to explain to them, as Saken flicks his fingers, turning the fire off and on. “Now how many walls, and how powerful they are is completely random, and luck based….but what you do with those walls is up to you.” He said, but before he continued to talk he got light headed. Morales walking up to him concerned seeing Bashiru wobble back and forth. “ You alright?” He asked as he grabbed on to him, but looking at Morales and the boys, Bashiru stood up. “Yeah, I just felt a little dizzy,” he said as he smiled trying to hide the nausea, and pain he felt. The pain resembled a charlie horse, but instead of it being in one part of the body it was all over, but as he looked at the boys, he quickly began to fight through the pain. “They can't know yet” he thought to himself. “Let's take a quick break,” he said. 

Walking over to a nearby bench, Bashiru takes a seat as sweat drips from his forehead. The heat from the sun hitting harder than usual, Bashiru closes his eyes as he tries his hardest to get this odd feeling under control. But right as he tries, Morales sits next to him. “Are you sure you're ok?” Morales asked. Bashiru opening his eyes turns to him, Trying to smile to hide the pain he takes a deep breath. “Yeah, Just feeling a little off” he answered Morales, as all the boys surrounded him. Turning to the boys Bashiru gets up, “Alright boys lets get back to work” he said as he got up and walked back to the open field, but as they walked away Morales stared at Bashiru sensing something is wrong. 

Later that evening: Saken alone by a tree watches as Ja, and Lucky play tag in the distance, “No fair, You're incredibly lucky!” Ja yelled in the distance as he misses Lucky, but Lucky simply just moving out the way laughs, “You're just too slow” he said to Ja as they continued to play tag. But as the two of them continued on, Ronin walked over to Saken. “Can I sit here?” Ronin asked, Saken turning to Ronin gave a light smile as he scooted over just a bit. Sitting down Ronin, and Saken sit in silence for a brief moment. “Sorry to hear about your brother” Ronin said to him, Saken hearing the question turns to him. “Thank you for your condolences” Replied Saken. Another brief moment of silence is had, all being heard is Ja, and Lucky laughing in the background. “You know my whole life I've never been surrounded by kids my age,” Said Saken as he flicked his finger and a flame came out. “I was born into a house of men…except for my mom….from what I heard she was an angel.” Saken continued to say to Ronin as they sat there. “But when I was born I came out with this flame, and it scared everyone….Scared everyone to the point of sanity, except for my brother and mom.” Looking at his flames it continued to grow. “ but out of nowhere one day my dad lost his mind and kept repeating a name, and that's when he turned and killed my mom….*a pause is held*...I was three so I don't really remember much but What I do remember was my brother protecting me every single day after that incident.” “I'm sorry to hear that” replied Ronin, but Saken just kept looking at his flame. “My brother called this flame a gift, something I can use to change the world ... .but all I see when I look at these flames is pain, and anger…and now this so-called “gift” is what resulted in his death. So tell me Ronin do I deserve a second chance, Do I deserve to be a round kid my age…Tell me Ronin” he said as his voice became lower, and more depressing. Ronin, hearing his question, looks at Ja ”I never met my parents.” Ronin said, as Saken began to listen “Me and Ja were taken care of by an old lady named Gloria ... .but one day the house burned down and she died with it…..We were 6 when that happened.” he said to Saken, as Ja dashes quicker towards Lucky in the background as the game of tag intensified. “Ever since that day we have been moving from city to city, surviving on scraps…. And each other” he said, as Saken turned to him. “ Then we came here to Gerusa, Had a few run ins here and there but nothing ever serious…. And the first thing me and Ja do when we get here is kill two men.” Saken's eyes widened in shock hearing what Ronin said. “ Then after we killed those men, I felt this guilt…this weight that I never felt before...I just wanted to give up, but then we met Morales.” He said to him, “Morales showed us something I never saw before….he showed us hope ... .even when I thought a person like me didn't deserve a second chance he showed me” Ronin said, reaching over Ronin grabs Saken's shoulder. “Just because of what happened in the past doesn't make you who you are now, it makes you a better person tomorrow…Prove your brother right ... .use this flame and help people” Ronin said as he smiled at Saken, but Saken felt something in his gut. With nothing to say he just stared at Ronin, “Why do I feel like this” he thought to himself, as Ronin got up. “You know Saken, we've all done bad things...but from what I've seen in you…you're just like the rest of us…..good kid stuck in a bad situation.” he said before he ran off to play with Ja, and Lucky. Staring as Ronin ran off, Saken began to tear up. For the first time in Saken life he felt comfort, warmth, but most importantly Saken felt hope. 

As the boys played tag, Dr.Phobos, and Bashiru stood next to each other on an open field. “Are you sure you want it here little brother?” Dr.Phobos asked, as Bashiru nodded his head. “It's perfect here, away from the city where no one can hurt them, I also set up anti scent markings all around this area” he said, but Dr.Phobos leaned in closer to Bashiru. “That's great to hear, but the scent coming from you smells rotten, Have you been poisoned?” He asked Bashiru, but all he could do was stand there. “Yes…I have” Bashiru said to him, but right as Dr.Phobos began to use his ability on him, Bashiru would stop him.  “Please brother, Make them a sanctuary.” he said, Dr.Phobos trying to help his brother stops his ability from anger. “Why Bashiru ... .why don't you let me help you?” Dr.Phobos said angrily, but Bashiru just looked at him as he lifted his shirt. “I was stabbed with a curse, back when we fought Tiras he caught me during my fight and stabbed me with his blade, but he didn't pierce my skin….it pierced through soul”  he said in a soft tone. Turning to Dr.Phobos, “There is no cure, not even your wall would work, it will only slow it down.” he said, but all Dr.Phobos could do was just freeze. “There must be a way,” he said in a panic, but Bashiru gave him a hug. “Just help Morales with these boys….He won't be able to do it by himself” he said as he turned to the open field. Seeing the boys play, he smiled. “ Remember when we were their age….we would play outside all day.” Said Bashiru as Dr.Phobos looked at the boys. “Of course brother..like it was yesterday” he replied. “When I see these boys, I see the future ... .I see a chance to change everything” Said Bashiru, but Dr.Phobos having faint memories of him and his brother grew frustrated.  “I wont accept this curse Bashiru ... .I'll make your sanctuary, but you will live to see these boys change the world ... .even if it takes me day and night I will find a cure” he said as he opened his hands, and a building began to be made. “And you, will be the one to help Morales” he said as the building got closer to being built, “and you will be the one to change everything” Said Dr.Phobos as the building was completed. “WOOOOW” Ja yelled in the background as they all saw the building made. “That power of yours is something else, Doc” said Morales as he walked up behind the boys. Dr.Phobos looks at Bashiru as his worry grows for him, but hiding his emotions he smiles. “Of course” he said, Walking over to the building he opened the door. “It's a fairly simple building with 5 rooms, enough for each child, and you two, Offices, Labs, kitchen, and living room.” he said to them. Morales walking up to Dr.Phobos shakes his hand, “thank you” Said Morales. “All right kids pick your rooms..and make sure” Morales began to say as all the boys ran past him. Ronin and Ja go into a room together, Lucky going into one as well as Saken. “Well it seems like they picked their rooms already” he said while they all laughed together. “This is great honestly ... .these boys finally have a home” Said Morales as he sat down. “Well i'm glad I could assist you both…but I am needed at the village” Said Dr.Phobos as he walked towards the door.  Snapping his fingers, a portal opened behind him. “Please be safe you two” he said to them as he walked through and the portal shut. “Seems like he was in a rush don't you think?” Said Morales. 

As the portal closed, Bashiru began to speed walk to his lab. Remembering him and Bashiru in a lab years ago working on gadgets together, “Protect your baby brother, Phobos' ' Remembering his mothers voice as he walked towards the lab, his determination grew more and more each second that passed by.   “Hey Dr.Phobos…have you seen where my football went? '' a younger kid asked, But ignoring his questions Dr.Phobos continued to walk towards his lab. Inori seeing him walking past everyone knew something was wrong. “What's wrong with him?” Yukon asked as he took a bite of his burrito. Inori, looking down at the ground, connected the dots in seconds. “Something has happened with his brother” he said calmly as Dr.Phobos closed his lab door. “Where is the book! Where is it!” Dr.Phobos said in a stressed tone as he opened all his drawers, pulling out a book he begins to flip through multiple pages, searching through each page, he finally stops. Ripping out the page he walks over to his computer and begins doing research on it. “I will find this cure” he said as began to look through multiple pieces of equipment he has in the lab. “I will save my baby brother!” He said to himself, as his determination took over and his mind was set 

Back at the sanctuary: “Dr.Phobos has an amazing wall ... .I mean imagine being able to do all this with your mind” he said to Bashiru, as they both looked around the building. “Yeah my brother has always been a showoff” Said Bashiru as they both laughed. Sitting across from each other they both sit in silence, as Bashiru drops his cup. “You ok” he said as he walked over to Bashiru, but as he got up Bashiru faints. “Bashiru!” he yelled as he picked him up, and put him on the couch. Looking at his neck he sees green liquid go to his head. “Shit what do I do” Morales thought to himself as he began to panic, thinking of what to do. He paced back and forth, but to his surprise Dr.Phobos walked through the door. “Move” he said as he injected Bashiru with a syringe. “I have only slowed down the curse, but it is not broken.” He said to Morales. “What curse?” Morales asked, but Dr.Phobos moved Bashiru to a bed. “Will you be coming…I need to go to Japafri.” he said as Morales looked at the kids' rooms, and back at him. “I can't just leave the kids, '' he replied, but Dr.Phobos, looking at Bashiru, lay in bed, sweating as the green poison in his veins slowly went up his neck. “He only has a week left…I smelt it... .his body hasn't decayed but his soul has.” said Dr.Phobos, Morales remembering him and Bashiru as kids pulls out his phone. “I'll go…Just give me 2 hours to get things settled here” Said Morales. Dr.Phobos, facing away from Morales, lifts his finger “2 hours Morales” he said before teleporting away. Looking through his contacts Morales sighs. 

At the wing shop, Micheal and Iko wash dishes as people leave the front door. “See you Mike!” college students yell, waving as they walk out the door. Mike leaning back, waves catching them before they leave. “Man, what a busy day” Said Iko, leaning against a wall he wipes the sweat off his forehead. “Hey Mike, whatever happened to those boys you were taking care of?” Iko asked. “Ja and Ronin, They went back with the detective” Said Mike as he continued to wash dishes. “The one that broke your door?” Iko asked, as he turned to Micheal. “Yes, that's the guy” Replied Micheal, but right as he turned to Micheal his phone began to vibrate. “Hellooo it's Mike, how can I help you?” he said in an excited tone which would quickly turn serious. “Oh…detective. Why such a late call” he asked, as Iko watched in the background trying to catch what was happening. “Yes, of course I'll be there shortly” Micheal, putting down the phone, turns to Iko. “You get the weekend off…I need to go take care of the boys” he said, as he grabbed his coat, and patted Iko on his shoulder. 

“Morales what's wrong with Bashiru?” Ronin asked as the boys came out of their rooms to the living room. Morales spaced out slowly and turned to the boys, “Bashiru really sick…And I'm gonna be out of town…to find him some medicine” said Morales as his tone became more depressed. They sat in silence when suddenly Dr.Phobos teleports to the sanctuary with Micheal. “What the fuck just happened” Micheal asked as he looked around the living room. “He's here, let's go!” Said Dr.Phobos, as he tossed Micheal, and walked right back through his portal. Morales getting up walks to Micheal, “Sorry about the short notice…we have food..entertainment…everything you need.” he said as he walked past Micheal. “The area is also scent proof, this place is pretty much invisible..” he continued to say, but turning to The boys Morales winks. “Be back soon” he said before they teleported away. Micheal, completely in shock, turns to the boys, “Well uhh hey boys” he said, as they all smiled. 

Watching from the distance is Ryoshi. “They're gone.” he said before turning around revealing five other people. One girl, and four men. “ Extract the boys…and bring them back to the boss” Said Ryoshi, as he and Vocex began walking away.

End of chapter 15