Lying face first...(Ryuu From the Future)

[Patrick O'Connor]

Theme

The smell of booze brought the memories back. A dimly light room with a lot of wasted people. It was a bar, some where in Boston. Where Patrick learned how to survive on his own. Memories of both family and loneliness. It was his way. It was how he had carried on. Memories of this inevitably moved on, to worse ones. Memories that forced him to drink worse. Maybe cracking that beer wasn't the best idea. Inevitably it would bring him all the way here. All the way to his own personal hell at 259. A story that was a sad tale. The main character that one could call "fate's joke". One who had been led around and kicked down every time he might have been happy. Funny thing, it always tore him down. It broke even him.

But not quite. Through the dark nights and dreary days Patrick drove on. He wasn't quite sure exactly what it was. He thought it was an indomnitable will that had come from being raised by the streets but now he was sure not the case. He knew somthing drove him on. It was moments like this that had Patrick scared. In rare moments like these he was the simple truth of things. He was a monster, a cold and calculating murderer that was without mercy or remorse. It was not that that scared him, that he had killed and would kill again, but it was the fact that he had no remorse. Was he really that far gone? Once upon a time he might have been called a hero, but now he was an amoral individual deviod of any compassion or caring. He would kill only because it so suited him and there was no qualm within him. These rare moments were brief as in a few minutes Patrick would pass out and the amnesia of alcohol would cover over him once again. He had no strength left within himself it seemed.

Truly as now he lie face first on the cold hard pavement next to his pickup truck which had its door left open from which he fell out of. He lie in a pile of his own vomit without the strength to pick himself up. He had truly fallen far. His clothes were now ruined, his black tanktop and khaki cargo shorts, even the white bandana that was tied around his head was now drenched with the khaki fluid. The only thing that showed of him that was not truly covered in vomit were the tips of the scars that were coming out on his shoulders. The tips of the knife wounds that came together to form an intricate pair of wings. A pair of wings that were both his blessing and curse, wings that had been feared once upon a time in New York.

Funny, in such a miserable state the only thing that Patrick could utter from his lips, resigned to his fate was the name;

"Zea..."

[Ryuu]

Worn down black Converse shoes slapped against the pavement, as Ryuu walked down the street, his hands in his pockets, the light breeze blowing his front hair back, revealing his gray piercing eyes that were looking straight ahead. He passed by the people walking on the street, trying their best to get away from the heat, to no avail. As much as they wished they could get away from the sun, no matter where they turned, the sun was always there, beating down on them relentlessly. He turned the corner, and continued walking down the sidewalk, keeping to himself. The gray overcoat he wore on top of his black shirt and black track pants fluttered slightly in the warm breeze. As he walked down the sidewalk, his free hand in his jeans pocket, he walked past a guy who was lying face first on the cold pavement next to the open door of a pick up truck, his gaze casually sliding over him. The guy however, was somewhat familiar to Ryuu, and the minute his face registered in his mind however, he stopped in his tracks, and turned around quickly, as a frown appeared on his face.

Ryuu knew the guy, although he didn't know his name, he recognized his face. Although the two of them hadn't meet on less than hostile terms, and though it had nothing to do with him, Ryuu still couldn't just leave the guy there, so he immediately jogged back to the guy, as he squatted down beside him, trying his best to ignore the smell of the pool of vomit the guy was lying in. His clothes, the bandanna around his head, everything, was drenched in vomit. The only part that wasn't covered in vomit was the tips of the scars that Ryuu could see coming out on his shoulders. "Hey, can you hear me?" Ryuu asked, nudging the guy with his left hand. "C'mon, say something." Getting no response, Ryuu sighed, before shifting over, and lifting the guy's right arm up, drapped it over his shoulders, before lifting the guy up, grunting slightly. "C'mon, talk. I don't know who you are, so before you pass out, if you can, at least tell me your name."

[Patrick O'Connor]

He was in the middle of another surreal nightmare dream sequence. As usual he was on the same pier as he was on that fateful night almost two years ago now. Also similar he was armed to the teeth with weapons and guns. There were many armed men that he was and had to fight his way through. He killed wach and everyone flawlessly. He swiftly shot everyman that stood between him and his love. Everything was going perfectly, if that was a word that could be given to this action. Perfect until he rounded the corner only to hear a shot ring out. He heard Zea, his love scream and watched as her head sagged down. Her Killer was hidden in the shadows. Patrick screamed in anger as he turned his gun towards the man, but he was too slow. Three shots rang out and he fell to the ground, dying as his killer emerged from the shadows. Patrick growled in a righteous anger as he lifted his gun and shot his and his love's killer. A mirror image of himself fell to the ground, laughing.

As his shoulders were nudged he gave out a slight groan, "Zea," he whispered weakly.

As he was lifted to his feet He was out of it. He had been about to pass out and was still no better. The guy lifted him up and Patrick didn't really know why he was doing this. Something told him that this guy was at the slightest familiar so Patrick couldn't imagine him being on good terms. But anyways he was helping him, for now at least. The irishman's eyes were getting heavy and he knew couldn't stay conscious for too much longer. The guy asked him something that Patrick had a difficult time making out.

"C'mon, talk. I don't know who you are, so before you pass out, if you can, at least tell me your name."

"Patrick," He whispered out weakly and in a drunken stupor, "Patrick O'Connor."

Under anyother circumstance Patrick would not have given his name out so freely but now drunkenness compelled him too. He was still not entirely trusting of the man that was helping him but at this point there was not much else that he could do. He had no other choice but to give himself to the mercy of this man. All through this Patrick was wobbling and bobbing from side to side, zoning in and out of consiousness...

[Ryuu]

Ryuu raised an eyebrow as he heard the guy groan before weakly whispering a name out, but all the same, Ryuu lifted the guy up, grunting slightly. Next time I decide to help someone out, remind me to pick someone who isn't drunk up to the grills and can't help by not putting all their weight on me... Ryuu could see the guy's eyes were looking heavy, which meant he wouldn't be conscious for very long, and the minute he passed out, he would be of no help to anyone, including Ryuu. But at least the guy managed to tell Ryuu his name, despite the drunken state and stupor he was in. "Ryuu." Ryuu said, as he half dragged Patrick up the sidewalk, though he had doubts as to whether Patrick was able to register what Ryuu said. There weren't many places Ryuu could take Patrick, given the state he was in, so the most logical solution would be to take Patrick somewhere where he could sleep off the hangover.

And the best place would be a motel, not a 5-star motel mind you, but a cheap but clean motel. As Ryuu dragged Patrick up the sidewalk, Patrick sure didn't help Ryuu very much by wobbling and bobbing from side to side, drifting in and out of consciousness. "Don't pass out on me now Patrick," Ryuu muttered, as he continued to head towards a relatively reasonably priced motel, the Geary Parkway Motel, "Because I'm already half dragging you around, if you pass out, I'm gonna have to really drag you behind me." At a few more minutes, Ryuu finally reached the motel, and headed in, as he made his way to the front counter and obtained a room. He then headed to Room 215, and opened the door with the key, and then gently lowered Patrick onto the bed.

From there, he then grabbed the chair that was at the desk, and flipping the chair around, so that the backrest was facing Patrick, Ryuu sat down on the chair, resting his arms on the top of the chair. All that was left to do, was wait. Because Ryuu had a feeling there was more to Patrick than just the drunk to the grills vibe he was giving off right now.

[Patrick O'Connor]

Ryuu? Hah, japanese names, or asian at the very least. Patrick was too drunk to tell. But seriously, Ryuu? What was he, from the future or something? Was it just him or did all asian names seem oddly futuristic? Well, perhaps that was just the booze speaking.

At any rate Patrick Was nearly being carried by this guy. He still couldn't quite figure out why this guy was helping him. Was there no member of this kid's family that he hadn't killed or maimed? At any rate it didn't seem fitting to pass out on him. Regardless of whether he was a threat or not it didn't really matter at this point. He could be soothing him only to kill him like Patrick had done on occasion but either way it was out of his hands. So Patrick fought to stay awake until they got to where he was taking him. When they got to the hotel Patrick fell to the bed and promptly passed out.

After what seemed like hours blackness turned into another nightmare sequence.

Patrick walked into their shop. Everything seemed wrong. Dark and forboding. He called out to Zea that he had the shipment of books. She didn't answer. We walked behind the counter to go to the door that led to their apartment. There was a note on the door. Somehow even a month after his stopping the italians had found out who the "Angel of Death" was. There was only one explanation, he had ratted him out. Betrayed both of them. Patrick swore to kill him, it was a vow he had yet to carry out.

There was a timewarp he was at the docks. It was the same as everyother time. The bullets were flying and everything was going perfect as usual. This time however there were no shots as he got to the corner. He turned around the corner and then the shot rang out. He was shot in the chest, but Zea. "Why?" he gasped, looking at her form which had its own bullet holes in.

"Because you failed me" She said as she shot him again.

And then out of the shadows behind her another figure appeared, another version of himself, this time twisted and evil. He put a gun to the back of her head and pulled the trigger. Brain matter sprayed all over both of there faces. Patrick Tried to raise his gun but his arms were too weak. He couldn't even pick himself up...

Patrick sat up screaming, sitting up fast, his hands going to his belt to grasp a gun that wasn't there. He found himself lying on the ground in between the two beds. During his time asleep out he had rolled out of the bed halfway through to continue and toss and turn on the ground.

After a moment Patrick let his hands down. He had realized that he was awake. He was sweaty and his head was pounding. For probably the first time now Ryuu would see the scar on Patrick's face. The scar that ran down from his right eyebrow straight down past his nose. Patrick sighed and sat back against the wall laying his head back. He had almost forgotten about Ryuu and why he was there. He was still out of it but more aware then he had been...

[Ryuu]

"Easy now..." Ryuu said in a low but calm voice after Patrick sat up screaming on the floor, having rolled off the bed during his tossing and turning, Ryuu had tried to get him back up on the bed, but he had been rolling around too much and too erratically for Ryuu to get a proper grip on him, so he gave up and left Patrick where he was, as long as he didn't hurt himself, he'd probably be fine. Ryuu saw him lower his hands after they had shot up to his belt, trying to grasp something that clearly wasn't there. Ryuu's eyes flashed in surprise at the scar that ran down from his right eyebrow straight down past his nose on Patrick's face, as his eyes went back to calm. Just how many scars did this guy have? Ryuu had only one scar, the one on his chest, just above his heart.

"Easy now, you were having a nightmare," Ryuu said in the same low voice, "I'm not going to ask what you were dreaming about, nor do I want to know." That was how Ryuu got through life, minding his own business. Minding his own business is also what kept him from landing in what could've ended up becoming potentially fatal situations. Ryuu continued to stay sitting in his chair, his arms resting top of the backrest, as he looked at Patrick, his eyes hidden by darkness and shadows. No, Ryuu didn't plan on killing Patrick, for one thing, he had absolutely no reason to. It would be absolutely pointless. "Just relax, calm yourself down, it's not like anyone is going to attack and hurt you."

[Patrick O'Connor]

He heard the other guy telling him to relax. He sighed. Everything was hazy but he rememberd that someguy had picked him up or something. He had thought it was a dream, because no one did that crap. It was dog eat dog. The last time he remembered being carried like that was when he was left half dead and saved by Zea. It was also oddly reminiscent of his time with Sampson. Damn That was so long ago. Back when it seemed like there was a shred of decency in the world. Now he couldn't help but wonder where the world went wrong, or more probably the answer loomed larger behind him. Where did he og wrong? Still Patrick couldn't accept that as a question. Denial probably but yes, he was indeed a screwed up individual.

"It ain't paranoia if its true," Patrick replied to his Ryuu's comforting advice. In a sense it was truly a mix of paranoia and reality. It was for certain that there were people out to kill Patrick, and certainly more if they knew the truth behind the scars on his back. That was not paranoia but there was paranoia. Patrick looked at everybody as if they were a threat. That was the paranoia. And Patrick believed everyword of it.

In a world where the was no right and no wrong. Patrick had one glaring question. He wondered why the guy had done it. He had given up time and probably money because Patrick sure as hell wasn't going to pay the motel. He wondered why he had gotten down and dirty to help the scum of the earth like him. Was it some misplaced sense of right and wrong? Some idea of a higher world of existence? A better tommorrow? Who knew? It was time to find out though, "So, why'd ye do it?"

[Ryuu]

"Perhaps," Ryuu replied, partially agreeing with Patrick, "But I don't see anyone here that would attack and hurt you, including me. I have no reason to attack you, and it's not because of the state you're in." Perhaps there were people out there that had a vendetta against Patrick, and would want to hurt and attack him, possibly kill him. But right now, there was no one here that would attack him, no threat up against him. Though there was probably some paranoia on his part, and he couldn't blame him, if there were people out there who wanted to exact revenge against him, he'd have a heightened sense of caution and paranoia too. Heck, for Ryuu, it didn't necessarily have to be someone who wanted to get even with him, but someone who wanted to get even with his father, Kane Hikari, and could possibly use Ryuu as a means to do so.

"Because I have a feeling there's more to you than meets the eye." Ryuu replied, continuing to look straight at Patrick. "Nothing is for certain in this world, there is no right or wrong, and not everything is what it seems. I didn't help you because I want to be some self-glorified hero, I helped you because you needed help, whether you wanted it or not. They say don't judge a book by its cover, well, there's probably more to you and what you know than what can be seen by others." Ryuu had helped Patrick, who looked like to be the scum of the earth, not because he wanted praise or thanks, he had helped him, because he just wanted to, and there was nothing left to say about it. But then again, what he had said, was only a hunch, a guess. He could be completely off the mark in the matter. But then again, you'll never know until you ask and find out.

[Patrick O'Connor]

No reason to attack him? There was plenty of reason for Ryuu to attack him. It just appeared that Ryuu was too naive to see it. He could attack him just because he had something to prove, he could attack him because he liked violence, because he was a sadist or perhaps he had a vengeance to carry out on Patrick. There were so many reasons for him to attack Patrick any reason both small or large. The irishman never saw a difference in reason. It was pointless. Also if he saw everyone as an enemy then he was always prepared. He could be ready for everything. It may be a depressing way for some to live but that was how Patrick survived, it gave him the best chance of finding and dealing with threats.

The guy said that there was more then met the eye behind Patrick. That he had helped Patrick because he had needed help. Because Patrick needed it whether he had wanted it or not. Honestly that was laughable but what really struck him was Ryuu's comment on there being no right and wrong. Patrick absolutley agreed with him there. Though the guy was a bit too altruistic for Patrick's liking. It seemed to say that there was a right and there was a wrong. Patrick gave a chuckle, "Because I needed it? Yer a funny one fer beliving there's no right and there's no wrong. But yer treadin dangerous bloody water's mate. This life is about survival of the fittest. If yer weak then ye die. Ye go and stick yer neck out like that fer someone and ye'll end up dying."

[Ryuu]

Unlike Patrick, Ryuu didn't feel like laughing, if anything, he was still calm, almost frighteningly calm, and cool. There was nothing to gain or prove by attacking Patrick for no reason, although Ryuu liked to fight for fun, this wasn't one of those times, and he had no personal vendetta to carry out against Patrick. He had nothing, absolutely nothing that would make him want to attack Patrick. It may be hard to believe, but that was simply the facts, and the truth of the matter. "... It's true, there is no right or wrong in this world, there is only decisions and truths. What you make of a situation, is all up to you, all dependent on your own judgment." Ryuu got up from the chair, and stood beside it, folding his arms across his chest, as he looked at Patrick, his eyes still hidden in shadows, despite the adequate amount of light shining through the window.

"Dangerous waters... My old friend. It's not the first time I've crossed and threaded in it before. If I wasn't fit enough to survive against it, do you honestly believe I'd be standing here, alive and talking to you right now? The strong will survive, the weak will fade away." Ryuu agreed with Patrick on that one, the weak will die. So to avoid that fate, the weak push themselves to become strong. "Don't think I'm sticking my neck out because I want to be friends with you. It was simply common sense. There are people in this city that are cowardly, and will take advantage of a situation where the person is too wasted to even fight back. Given the state you were in, even a feather would probably one hit KO you." Ryuu walked over to the motel room, as he stared out the window from behind the thin curtain. "Kill or be killed. The law of the predator."

[Patrick O'Connor]

Ryuu Gave his own take on life and philosphy. Decidions and truths huh? That bull? Well from an altruistic nature that was the closest Patrick had ever heard to the real, and actual truth. It was pretty close. Though he still had things askew, to Patrick's thinking, "Close but ye're still shittin' yerself. Based on what ye make of a situation? That is ingrained in morals. On an idea that at on some abstract level there is a right and wrong decision. What ye make of a situation? That's irrelevant, Life is shit no matter what ye make of it. Surviving is just about as good as it gets."

He was so close. Ryuu had the right idea it seemed. He agreed that there was no right and wrong. Then why the hell was he trying to save people? Didn't that negate the idea of surviving? But he brought forth the idea that he hadn't been bitten yet. That since he was still there was proof that he was strong. That was stupid. There was always someone stronger. Patrick scoffed, "Yer still standing here today? That's yer proof that yer strong enough? Yer a fool among fools then. Sooner or later ye'll be pit in the arse and ye truly damned if ye make it out of it alive. I'm all the damned proof ye need."

It was true he was broken and damned and no one gave a rat's ass about him. He was a lost cause. Pathetic really. Patrick would be the first to admit that. Ryuu pointed that out to a degree that he had been easy prey, "If I died I died. If I am to weak it's the law. I ought to be swept away. It would be better too."

Ryuu called him a predator, though indirectly, through the pounding headache Patrick laughed, "No, Law of the survivor."

[Ryuu]

Ryuu barked out a laugh, though his facial expression clearly said otherwise. He clearly did not find any of this funny. "I highly doubt a split-second decision would allow anyone to think upon their morals. Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut, and make a decision, one that could mean the difference between life and death. Maybe life is shit, and everything around you is complete crap, but if surviving is all you've got, it sure as hell beats giving up and letting your life waste away to nothing." Why the hell was he saving people, when he clearly stated there was no right or wrong? Because he didn't give a damn if it seemed right to people, he was only doing this, because if he didn't do something, no one else would. It may not be completely obvious, but people don't like to associate themselves with those below them. Sure, some may give money to people begging on the streets, but is it really out of the goodness of their hearts?

Ryuu scoffed inwardly at this notion. Of course not. Most do it to make themselves think they're doing something good. "I don't recall ever saying I was strong. I'm just working my way up in this hellhole we call the world. The world doesn't give a damn about anyone, it just keeps moving forward. Proof? Yeah, you're one of them. But you're still here aren't you? You haven't died yet. If it doesn't kill me, it doesn't bother me. If you're weak, you get stronger. People want power, even if they don't outright say it. This world may be cruel, but what good would it serve for you to be swept away? You're a survivor, you've survived, so why give up at this point? The moment you give up, is the moment you've truly lost. As much as your life may completely suck, if you quit, then you're truly a lost cause, and no one will even stop to flick change at you. Good and evil, right and wrong, none of it will matter in the end."

[Patrick O'Connor]

This was getting annoying to Patrick. That and the pills were kicking in. The pills that he had gotten by sticking a knife down a dealers throat. Yeah, the cops, they were probably pretty curious. Patrick stood up. He had had enough of this guy telling him to not give up on life. He hadn't given up on life. If he had a lot more people would be dead and he would be lying on the floor in a pool of blood a big and for once true smile on his cold dead face. Revenge would be his. Until then he didn't really want to hear it from Ryuu.

He walked to the Door and turned his head to Ryuu, "I haven't given up. I just don't really give a shit if I live or die."

If Ryuu didn't have anything else to say Patrick would leave.

Yeah, he knew that the room hadn't been free...

[Ryuu]

Ryuu watched with a look of mild interest as Patrick stood up, and walked to the door, before stopping and turning his head to face Ryuu. Ryuu scoffed the minute he was sure Patrick was completely gone. "Funny, because I don't really give a shit if you live or die either. So keep on living Patrick. Because it would seem that no one would care what fate will bring you." Ryuu wandered back over to the window, and pushed the curtain aside, staring out the window at the clear sky above. Right and wrong... Good and evil... Nothing is absolute in this world... But I do know what is absolute... Life and death. People are born into this world full of life, and they leave this world, the last bit of life fading away from them. Death, is but the next great adventure... But is that even for certain? Who really knows...

Ryuu then moved away from the window, letting the curtain fall back into place, as he replaced the chair in the location he had gotten it from. Making sure everything was back where it was, Ryuu then grabbed the room key, and taking one last glancing sweep of the place, opened the door, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He then headed to the front desk, and placed the key on the counter, before walking out of the place. The room hadn't been free, but it wasn't expensive either. Not like it had placed a dent in Ryuu's wallet anyways. Patrick O'Conner huh? I think you and I will cross paths once more sooner or later. After all, San Francisco ain't exactly a huge city. We'll meet again...

(End thread)