Cloud Of Unknowing (Toya Setsuno Character Piece)
 Hereâs a roleplay audition I made for the best bird boy! He deserves all the content and love in the world, and Iâm happy to try to contribute! I hope you enjoy!
âhttps://open.spotify.com/track/0NDOVMOT6ah2k6HuXLrq5x?si=ms6utsQ0RDCMje6qO0K_KA (I recommend listening to this while reading!!)
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âSittinâ around, waitinâ to be kidnapped. This is the best day ever.â
  The sarcastic thought passed through Toya Setsunoâs mind as he stood propped up against an alleyway wall. The mission was relatively simple. Act as the bait. Quote unquote, âget kidnappedâ, so a surprise strike could be garnered. Why some low-level gang decided to go against the Hassaikai was beyond Setsuno. Why he had to serve as the bait was even farther on that spectrum.
  âWhy would they even want to kidnap one of us, anyway?â He questioned, eyebrows furrowed as he looked back to the entrance of the alley for potential enemies waiting to ambush. Questioning Overhaul on the matter once did not gain a result, and Setsuno didnât want to push it or aggravate the Boss. âI owe him that, at the very least.â
  Letting out a sigh, he slid a hand into his jeans pocket and looked up at the dark sky. âChronostasis said their supposed âsecret planâ was to catch one of us off guard here at one oâclockâŠâ He thought again, pulling out his phone and checking the time. â12:27 a.mâŠâ
  Putting his phone back into his pocket, he looked up at the sky set between the two buildings of the alleyway. The crescent moon was out, a sight Toya might have appreciated if he wasnât bored out of his mind. âOkay, remind me why I had to be both early and the target.â He said to himself with another exasperated sigh, adjusting his mask.
  âNo, yaâ already know the answer to the latter.â He thought, knowing how most of the other Expendables had a thing against the uncleanliness that was the cities alleys. And you couldnât catch any of the self-respecting higher-ups in the gang dead there. ââPretty sure the Boss would bathe in Clorox after even getting a glimpse of this place.â He thought as he kicked at an empty beer bottle lying at his feet.
  Toya watched as it slowly rolled down the alley, stopping promptly at a crate tipped on its side. He wouldnât deny the surprise he felt as two eyes peeked out of it, looking to the bottle and then to him. And before he knew it, out crawled a filthy black alleycat.
  âOhâŠâ Setsuno said lowly, now feeling like a prick for potentially waking it. âSorry, lilâ guy.â He said to it unconsciously, watching as it started to stalk towards him. Crouching down, he put out a hand to pet the feline, not expecting it to be receptive due to their nature. Alleycats are usually abandoned, hurt, and timid creatures at heart. Toya would be lying if he said he didnât have a soft spot for the species.
  When the cat allowed him to pet it's head, he let out a small noise of surprise, followed by him lightly smiling under his mask. âYâknow...most animals hate me.â He said to the critter in a quiet voice, knowing it couldnât reply. All it did was let out a content purr as Toya gave in a gentle pat.
  âIn some ways, you and I arenât too differentâŠâ he trailed off, noting the cat's multiple scars and swollen eye. âYou mustâve been through hell, huh? Just to be abandoned here.â He said sadly, looking back at the crate the feline came from. âAbandoned...lonely...broken...not even able to put a stop to it. Just expected to recover, like a piece of you wasnât just savagely ripped away.â
 Thinking about the katana he had slung across his back, a thought crossed his mind for a split second. âYâknow...I could stop your suffering.â He thought, conflicted about his sense of mercy. However, he quickly shook the thought out of his mind. âNah...thereâs hope for yaâ, I know it. Youâll find your purpose, youâre not a waste.â He said out loud, running his free hand through his blonde locks. âThatâs somethinâ that separates us, I guess.â
  He looked back down at the critter with a troubled face. âYâknow, if the Boss wasn't such a stickler for cleanliness, Iâd be tempted to take yaâ in.â He said as gently as possible, looking down at his hand he had petted with. It was now covered with filth, presumably from the feral animal. Wiping his hand on his jeans without a care as he knew heâd alright have to sanitize himself for even being there, he petted the creature one last time.
  âFor now, you should really get backâŠâ He trailed off, looking to the entrance of the alley and back again. âIf the altercation is gonna go as I think it will, the last thing Iâd want is for yaâ to get involved.â He thought, picking up the cat and taking it back to its crate. Setting it down gently, he sighed. âIâm sorry, lilâ guy. Yaâ deserve better.â He said, taking off the jacket he had been wearing over his normal dress shirt and placing it in the crate to serve as a blanket.
  âGood luckâŠâ He said sadly, petting the gentle creature on the head one last time before walking back to his post. Upon returning, his mind only continued to fill with thoughts. Like dark storm clouds, the thoughts came, casting a haze of self-doubt and questioning upon the young man. The simple comparison of himself to the feline with a hopeful future made him cast himself back to a place of doubt.
  âNo, no, no...stop.â He said to himself, gently slapping himself on the head. âThese thoughts wonât get ya anywhere. Except back to that placeâŠâ He said lowly, remembering the time of his life where the thoughts had taken over him completely. Where it truly seemed as if there was nowhere to go to escape from the thoughts. And the only way to be free from themâŠ
  â-Dumbass, what are you doing?â He said again, managing to clear most of the thoughts for the time being. âYou know what you are and what your purpose is now. Youâre a pawn, so he can advanceâŠâ His voice trailed off as he looked back up at a cloud that now obscured his view of the moon.
  âYeah, all that matters now is that Iâm a good pawn. So I still have something to live forâŠâ He thought again, eyes welling up with tears. Desperately shutting them in effort to stop it, he unsheathed the blade from off his back.
  âAnd that starts with me fulfilling the mission.â He said, looking at his blade intently. âAnd by not letting your head cloud up with those thoughts, idiot. By not returning to that cloud of unknowingâŠâ His thoughts trailed as he let out an uneasy sigh. Looking blankly at the night sky, Toya stood, waiting for the plan to take motion.  Â
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