Arc 9.5: Before the fall
Two days.
Christmas was in two days and Eren was busy preparing Christmas lunch for the Silvermane HQ. A feast for those within that had nowhere to go for the holidays.
A rumour had spread about Eren's prowess in the kitchen; thus, he was tasked to cook the feast, which to be honest. The Reaper agreed because it would be a relaxing change of pace for the reaper.
There was some truth to that rumour.
However, the kitchen was anything but. A small room, for such a large task and Eren had to call upon some extra help. His shadows tried as best they could to help.
Often the smell of charring or burning of food would fill the air. The shadows had no experience cooking and needed the overbearing of a human.
"Don't add garlic to the pudding, you Muppet."
"You two, stop messing with the turkey it's already cooked!" Virtue and Vice both continued to prod the massive bird that had been roasted. To see if it truly was dead.
"You... Stop crying in the corner." He growled at an orc who cradled himself in the corner; pressure too great for the brute who only wanted to help, the heat of the kitchen finally caused the orc to break down.
*Knock* *Knock*
The presence on the other side of the door made all the shadows meld back to their domain.
Eren with his pink apron; turned down all the appliances on the kitchen counters. Before going over to the front door.
Opening it, the face of two fine suited officers. Youthful, although they weren't young. Both with slicked back black hair, heavy smell of aftershave and a stern expression on their face. They eyed Eren suspiciously, looking the Reaper up and down before one of them cleared their throat.
"Are you Eren Heart?" Asked the one on the left; a shorter man than the reaper.
"Yes, is there something I can help you officers with?" The reaper looked at them with suspicion, officers were never a good sign. The last time officers came to his door, they asked about the Reaper.
"I am detective Kojiro of the ward 5 precinct and this is my colleague Detective Tatsuya." He flashed a badge at Eren, an ID number, name, and a photo of what appeared to be the man in front of him.
"Do you know a Kaito Heart?" Asked Tatsuya; a lazy stubble beard covered the bottom of his face, clearly, he hadn't shaved for a few days.
"He is my farther. Why?" Eyeing the pair suspiciously, the two shared a look with each other. Kojiro nodded and turned back to face the reaper.
"Mr. Heart has been in and out of our cells for the past couple of months. The captain wants to release him to family; to see if perhaps that can help with his drug related offences."
"No thank you." Eren closed the door on the officers.
"Wait!" Kojiro stopped the door with a swift hand. Pushing the door back open.
"I don't think you know who we are. We are Ward 5 detectives, also known as the hounds of ward 5. I'll put this simply. We track down the flow of crimson spice and crush any producers, traffickers or pushers of the drug."
"Okay good for you... Have a good day." The reaper attempted to shut the door again, only for the detective to stop it. A single brow raised at the pair; patience was wearing thin.
"Hey, c'mon man. We're doing you a favour here. Your old man is a real sad sack of a man. Christmas is only a couple days away; wouldn't want to be spending it alone, right?" Tatsuya leaned on the wall of the house. His words did little to sway the unforgiving Eren.
"Last time. No." Eren closed harder this time; pinching the fingers of the detective on the doorframe, a grunt of pain escaped the mouth of the officer, pulling away his hand. He glared at the reaper who gave a cold stare in response.
"What is the matter with you!?" Kojiro shouted, throwing up his arms in frustration.
Eren sighed. 'Why can't they just get the picture and leave?' The Reaper thought bitterly.
"What kind of son throws his old man in the trash?! Huh, you some punk who doesn't respect his family or elders?" Tatsuya added, pushing on the closed door.
"That man is not the man who raised me or my sister. He's a junkie and a coward." Eren replied sternly. Door back open; in his eyes Kaito stopped dad when he came back.
"Look kid, we're not here to make your life more complicated. We're just trying to do the best for our community. He needs help; I know you probably got some beef with your old man. But... It's Christmas and maybe this could be a chance to patch up any bad blood?" Tatsuya spoke with a sincere tone of voice.
Eren stood there, silent for a moment.
'There're playing the Christmas card; guilt me into taking him in.' The cynical side of Eren broke through. The side that didn't allow people to be shown any sympathy without it benefiting them.
"Give me a couple of hours..." Was the only response that came out from the reaper.
"Alright. That's all we're asking for, a second chance. Everyone deserves one, right?" Tatsuya smiled. Both the detectives nodded and left Eren to finish preparing.
5 hours later:
"We thought you weren't going to come." Kojiro said, sitting on the reception foyer sofas. The ward 5 precinct was one of luxury and wealth; not a surprise since they used profits from their drug seizures to fund the station. Marble floors and golden gilding on the walls and pillars; the place looked more like a palace than a station.
"Here, sign this." Tatsuya threw a clipboard at the reaper who caught it mid-air.
'Prisoner discharge.' It said in bold letters, although the picture on the document showed a dishevelled looking Kaito. Eren's cold gaze only got colder, staring at the photo.
"Eren!" Mr. Heart called from down the hall, being escorted by a female officer. He wore a large grey overcoat and black pants; hair a matted mess with tuffs of white starting to show.
Eren didn't even respond; a glare was all that could escape. He was 5 meters away now, but the stench of ill kept hygiene still invaded Eren's nose. A hand raised to cover the bottom of the nose and mouth.
"He's all yours. Please take care of him, a lot of us here want to see the old man do good for once. Have a merry Christmas you two." Kojiro wished the two a happy holiday watching them leave the station.
"Are we going home? I know I don't look as good as..." The voice of Kaito drifted off as the pair walked over the road.
"What do you reckon? Are we on the nice list for Santa?" Tatsuya asked playfully at Kojiro.
"Let's hope so. It would be a nice change to do something good for once. Bringing together a family at Christmas." Kojiro responded with a smile.
Although, it quickly dissipated watching the pair walk away.
"What's wrong?" His partner asked.
"Ward 4. It's too the right yeah?" His response was filled with worry; as if knowing where the pair was going. Tatsuya's eyes narrowed at the comment.
"Yeah... Why?"
"There heading to the left."
"So, uh... How's Emi going? She misses her old man?" Kaito asked nervously, trying to break the silence of the walk. They walked down the streets of ward 5; an ever so slightly better than average ward.
Eren had learned that the wards were often numbered based upon their income and wealth. Ward 5 seemed to be the exception.
Small office towers and apartment blocks reached high; roads and cars were well maintained, and all the buildings still looked worn well; the forgotten part of the world ward 5 was. The lights were on and the streets were bustling with life even into the late night. A different story for ward 4.
"I don't know." Eren didn't care for the old man who walked himself down into the muck.
"So... Um how are you going then?" Faux interest in Eren's life, there was something more he wanted. Eren could sense it behind his fathers' yellowed teeth.
"Good."
'Money, probably.' The reaper predicted; eyes forward, focused on the snow beneath his feet.
"Listen I've been taking crimson spice. I-I know that I've been a bad father, but I want to get better." The words came out from Kaito's mouth, filled with... something like sincerity.
But Eren didn't allow his words to penetrate the armour of apathy.
"I've been trying to get clean ya know? But the spice is too much for a junkie like me. So, I wanted to ask you..."
Silence. The reaper didn't reply; waiting to hear it. The question all junkies ask.
"...If I could borrow some money; I've got some debts to a spice dealer. And I just need enough for this last batch and I'm clean. Please..."
Silence. A deafening, hollow silence. Eren continued to walk ahead.
"Son. I'm asking for help. Then we can be a family again... Won't that be nice?" Kaito reached out to grab the hand of the younger man. But Eren pulled away from the old man; not even looking back at the man, continuing down the road.
"If I say no?"
"I don't want anyone to hurt you or Emi. Please Eren, only 1-million yen. Then I can finally kick the habit." Desperation in Kaito's voice.
'As if.' Eren thought bitterly. He knew how addiction worked; a drug fuelled delusion of grandeur.
They had come to a wide-open shopping square. In the centre stood a massive tree, decorated to the brim with all sorts of ornaments and lights. It shined bright over the city, casting a warm glow to those below.
People looked at the ragged man with disgust, keeping their bags and children away from the druggie.
"I know it's a lot... Please, Eren it's only this one time- Eren?" When he turned to look to his son. Eren vanished in the crowds of people.
"Eren please! I need that money!" A shout echoed across the courtyard, but no one listened. All too cautious to get involved with the crazy man screaming in the middle of a peaceful Christmas evening.
"Please... Don't go." The only thing left for him, the ridicule of the passers-by. A fate that would follow Kaito for the rest of his days.
'I'm sorry.'