the shaman way

Within multiple streets, people were going about their mundane lives, but suddenly, they heard gunshots—or at least noises they thought sounded like gunshots—not knowing that those noises were coming from two pieces of wood clashing against each other with unimaginable strength.

Umeboshi was struggling to deflect the young boy's assault. Every onslaught of the pale boy was executed with precision, control, and clarity—the pure mentality of a shaman!

"Damnit! How is he so strong?!" was all Bokujō no Tatsu could think in his head after experiencing a humiliating loss against the boy. In front of the souls of the abandoned graveyard, he swore to have his revenge against the boy!

"Curse it all!"

Seeking to land a devastating blow on the boy, Umeboshi staff turned into an annihilating barrage.

Deflecting the barrage with little difficulty, the boy looked at Umeboshi and stated:

"My grandmother always told me that a heart filled with rage will never achieve anything… Every day, she seems to be proven right because of people like you."

Diverting Bokujō no Tatsu final onslaught, the boy sent his wooden staff crashing to the ground. Before delivering a devastating blow to Umeboshi, he said:

"Umeboshi you've got it all wrong… I didn't meet you because I thought I was more responsible than you, or because I wanted to lecture you. I wanted to meet you because you needed guidance. You've spent decades upon decades filled with regret, and your soul refuses to move on. If you continue down this path, your heart will grow corrupted, and you will be forever lost."

Having no weapon left, Umeboshi threw one final, hopeless punch at Cyrus and shouted:

"What do you think you know about me, brat?!"

For the first time in a long while, the boy let out a gentle smile at the thug.

"I probably understand you more than anyone in this world right now because it's the job of people like me to understand the pain of tormented souls like you. It's because I'm a shaman—there's no more to it than that."

With a devastating slash below the chin, he sent Umeboshi flying into the air—the final attack that ended the fight.

as he descended to the ground, Umeboshi had a single thought:

"Uh… I lost again."

Then he passed out on the ground. It seemed he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon—which said a lot, considering he was already dead.

Watching the thug with a distant expression, Cyrus said:

"Didn't you guys hear me say "these guys again?" Go somewhere else. I'll deal with you guys some other day… Or do you guys want to deal with it today?"

Around the boy, multiple distant voices could suddenly be heard:

"He defeated Umeboshi again! Run!"

"Didn't this idiot say he was going to get rid of this brat?! I'm out of here!"

"This kid is a monster!"

And just as quickly as the voices came, they stopped, leaving the streets silent once more. Cyrus let out a sigh, then grabbed the thug by his afro hair and walked back inside through the massive hole in his fence.

***

Umeboshi then woke up with a pathetic scream, shouting:

"It's not over yet!"

But as he looked around, he realized the fight had been over for an hour or so.

"You're wrong—it is over. Honestly, I'm surprised you woke up so fast. You really are strong."

The voice came from a boy lying on a couch, staring at the ceiling with a bored expression.

"Tch, not strong enough to beat you, apparently…"

Umeboshi then stood up from the ground and looked at Cyrus with intense emotion. The boy continued the conversation:

"So... will you let me help you?"

Umeboshi glanced at his wooden staff on the ground with a strange, distant emotion before picking it up and saying,

"Hell, no."

The boy, still staring at the ceiling, spoke in a low voice:

"Thought so... but can you at least repay a debt?"

Umeboshi let out a small sigh and said,

"You told me I wasn't going to repay you with money but with something else. But what is it, actually?"

The pale boy then shifted his lazy position and replied,

"I'm surprised you want to repay your debt. I thought you'd just try to beat me up as soon as you woke up."

"You beat me twice... by my loyal code as Umeboshi Tatsunosuke, I had to listen to you at least once,"

he said, a blush on his face.

"You're a weird guy," Cyrus muttered before sitting up.

"As if you weren't weird yourself!"

But before he could continue with his frustration, Cyrus said,

"Do you know what kind of spirit is in the 'park where people drop dead'?"

Chapter Six ends.