The ballroom fell silent, the onlookers' voices caught in their collective throats as they watched Suzuki drop to the ground. They looked from the daeben, to the dying Adjudicator, who had begun to break into light particles. Finally, the Maggots and Adjudicator alike, looked at Vanzuela, wondering how he would react to this blatant challenge.

As expected, Vanzuela's expression was red with fury and rage. If looks could kill, Suzuki would have died ten times over. Strangely, however, he did not make any move to attack Kashi. His decision was as a result of a prompt he got from the system. It declared the Adjudicator's death justified as the daeben had been acting in self-defense.

Vanzuela was thus forced to accept that he could not punish Suzuki. Not this time. "Don't get comfortable," he warned as he prepared to leave. "You will eventually pay for this insult." He then looked at Lunette and sneered, "The longer you stay by their side, the more trouble you'll cause for them. If you truly care for your friends, you will come with me."

Lunette's eyes shook, but before she could answer, a large back suddenly broke her line of sight to the Adjudicator. Her heart involuntary thumped hard as she looked at the daeben's back, her emotions a complicated mix of dread and security.

"She is not going anywhere," refuted Suzuki with a hard glare. "We can handle ourselves just fine." His gaze turned condescending as he said, "Especially if all we have to fear is a bunch of chickens to scared to get their beaks dirty. If you have the guts, lose the adjudicator status and face Kashi on the battlefield fair and square."

Vanzuela snorted, "Hmph. I will not fall for your childish antics. It is only a matter of time before it returns to its rightful place. As for the rest of you..." the adjudicator glared at the Maggots and then declared, "...Watch yourselves. You have been marked."

"Ah, shut it already, old man!"

Kashi, Syèl and the Maggots were stunned to see Stryke step forward, irritation evident in the child's ferocious glare. "You've been chirping non-stop ever since you got here, acting like some big-shot, but Kashi cuts one of your people down, and all you can do is chirp some more. I've had enough!" The young Sphinx spread out his arms as he revealed a toothy grin. "Here, a free shot! Let's see if you can actually back up your words. You don't dare do you? Even if one of you dies, you're disposable. But if you so much as insult one of us..." Stryke walked to Kashi's front, forming a shield between the Adjudicator and the daeben. "You'll get crushed by all of us."

"Well said, kid!" declared Absalon as he too stood in front of Kashi. The old general glared at the floating adjudicators. "No soldier left behind."

Shokō shared a look with Syèl, and then walked to the general's side. Syèl let out a rueful chuckle, and then followed suit, though with a hidden coldness in his eyes.

Miote shook his head as he sighed then muttered, "As a businessman, I do not indulge violence. However," he said as his gaze grew hot with rage, "You KFC rejects are directly threatening my bottom-line." He walked up to Stryke's side, and then declared, "Now, that I cannot stand for."

Jade looked at Kashi, a small smile on her face as she recognized the daeben's eyes. Shaking her head, she cracked her knuckles, and then walked up to Miote's side. Gazing up at the flying adjudicators, she warned with a cheerful, but threatening grin, "I wouldn't piss us off if I were you. This group's full of nothing but abnormal freaks."

Suzuki's brows shot up as he stared at the human wall in front of him. What the hell was this?

"How does it feel, having soLmeone protect you for once?"

Suzuki looked to his left, where a smiling Leila stood with her arms crossed. "Protect who? Me?"

"Well, not exactly," corrected Leila. "These bonds are Kashi's." Gazing at the wall, she said, "Little threads connecting to each person. Individually, they might be weak, but together, they can combine the strongest, toughest rope. And, you remember what you told me about rope?"

Suzuki revealed a rare smile as he replied, "Always have rope on you. They are the most versatile tool for any adventurer."

"Yes, and just like rope to an adventurer, bonds to a human is the most versatile tool in the world," explained Leila. "They can pull you up when you feel down, protect you from danger, topple any obstacle in your path, or form a safety net should you ever fall." Leila's smile deepened as she questioned, "For a moment. Just for a moment, when you forgot that wall was Kashi's... How did that feel?"

"Feel, huh?" Suzuki muttered. He thought back to his life, constantly engaging in fights. Often, whenever he beat someone up, their friends would rush in for protection. If he overcame the friends, then they would call their senior brothers or older friends. Always. There was always someone more. He often wondered what it would feel like to have someone he too could rely on.

Although, now that he thought about it, Suzuki realized his line of thinking had been wrong the whole time. He had thought of any potential companions as a simple tool to ensure he won more fights. It was a completely one-sided relationship.

But, friendships, like a piece of rope was a two-way street. Sometimes you pulled, and other times, you got pulled along. That was the basis of a true relationship. That was why the Maggots were a terrifying foe. They were a closely-knitted group, their members willing to let themselves get pulled on for support whenever a friend needed help.

Suzuki thought back to the strange feeling in his chest when the Maggots lined up in front of him. With a sigh, he let out a defeated chuckle and then said, "As always, Yumi-kun, you prove why you're infinitely more intelligent than I am." He then looked at Lunette and said, "Try not to hate Kashi too much, okay? This had nothing to do with him." He then looked up at Vanzuela and said, "Wash your neck and wait. Eventually, Kashi will find where you live."

Vanzuela's eyes burned as he gritted his teeth and challenged, "Are you threatening me!?"

"No." Suzuki said as he closed his eyes...

A few minutes earlier...

Suzuki rested against a wall in the hospital room, staring at the child on the hospital bed. Opposite him, Kashi watched with a mix of anger and pain. Suzuki, feeling the daeben's hot gaze, looked up and said, "What? I did not kill her. Just punished them a little. Surely, you can give me credit for that much?" When Kashi did not respond, he shook his head and said, "Look, Ryumaki designed her to be perfect. She's too logical to remain pissed at you for too long. She might avoid you for a bit, but it'll eventually work its way out of her system. All you have to do is wait and be a goo—"

"Will you ever shut up!?" interrupted Kashi with a loud, frustrated shout.

In response, Suzuki's brow shot up. "Rude. There are people who would pay to hear me speak more often."

"Is this a joke to you?"

"If it is, it's not a particularly good one," replied Suzuki as he pulled a chair and sat next to the bed. Looking at Kashi, he then said, "If you have something on your mind, spill it." He then chuckled, the irony of that statement not lost on him.

Kashi nearly jumped over the bed to punch some emotion into Suzuki's bland face, but then he took a breath to calm himself. He then leaned over the bed, and declared, "That stuff about me killing you. I just want you to know it will never happen. I will not participate in your suicide."

"So you say now," Suzuki replied with a shake of his head. "But wait until you fall in love. From what I've heard, it's pull is so strong, brothers betray and fight each other, and mothers can mentally justify abusing their children." The young man looked at Kashi with a heavy gaze as he said, "Whether its love of money, love of life, love for a woman, love for glory... Eventually, you will fall in love with something. At that time, all I will be is an obstacle."

There was a short pause, and then Suzuki said, "Yumi just said something interesting. Seems like you've forged some strong bonds with your friends. I wonder, when the time comes, will you be able to fight your friends' pull to live." Suzuki reached out and patted the child's head as he then said, "You must come to terms with the fact that in the end, only one of us will live. There is no future in which we both inhabit this body." He looked up at Kashi, and then said, "Strengthen your resolve. It's the only way you will beat me. Unfortunately, I will not go easy on you."

As Suzuki said this, a door opened behind him. Blinding light poured in, flooding the entire room. Within moments, the light consumed everything, forcing both men to shut their eyes. Half a second later, the light dissipated, and they found themselves in the familiar, empty white space.

Suzuki smiled and then pointed at the still open door, "It's time to go. I promise not to interfere in your world again."

Kashi glanced at Suzuki, and then made his way towards the exit. However, just before he walked though, he looked at the young man, and then said, "No matter what our future holds, I will not kill you."

"Heh. Then you're resolved to die? Just like Razznik?"

"No. I don't want to die either."

"Then—"

"No. No then," interrupted Kashi. "You've been yapping nonstop. You listen to me for once." The daeben looked at Suzuki with a strong gaze as he said, "I will not die. But I will not kill you either. I will find a way where we both win. No matter what it takes. I will find a way."

Suzuki shook his head. "Careful there. You're starting to sound like a Fairy Tale character."

"Maybe so," retorted Kashi, "But, they might have a point. You've already lost if you never strive to win." The daeben's eyes shone with resolve, a smile curling up his lips as he said, "What's the worst that can happen if I try my best? I lose? One's a possibility, and the other's a certainty. I'm not a betting man, but if you had to choose, which direction makes more sense?"

Suzuki looked at Kashi with a ghost of a smile. "You've already lost if you never strive to win... huh?" His dark gaze shone with a challenging gleam. "Good. I like it. Alright then, I'll be watching. Let's see what wins out. Your desire to live, or your misguided loyalty to me."

Kashi responded to Suzuki's challenge with a confident grin. "Watch closely. Don't blink or you'll miss it all." With those words, Kashi stepped into the exit and was then swallowed by the light.

Suzuki watched Kashi disappear into the void. Moments later, his lips spread in a brilliant, pleased smile. "You've already lost if you never strive to win... huh. Guess that's where we all failed..."

Ballroom

Kashi opened his eyes, the familiar warmth and cunning returning to his gaze as he looked at Vanzuela. A smile spread up his lips as he said, "No... I am."