Legend of the Phoenix : All confidants and partners
I write these kind of requests:
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-- NSFW NOW ALLOWED!!! --
As long as it’s not pedo, furry, rape or any major super weird kink.
I won't write anything I'm not comfortable with, and some characters that I don't know very well or can't accurately depict.
I DON'T DO MATCH UPS UNLESS SPECIFIED FOR EVENTS!!!
That's why I specifically removed "match ups" from the list of things I write :) So stop asking - Unless there's a pinned post that specifies I'm writing match ups!!
Also, NO YANDERE, PLEASE!!!
In addition, I won’t write for anything involving cheating, since I’m completely disgusted by it, and stuff that revolves around pregnancies, childbirth, children and whatever things that can relate.
There may be other topics that I can’t think of that I may refuse to do because I’m uncomfortable with them or simply don’t inspire me, but there aren’t many topics I won’t write, so anything dark or related to comfort, I’m super okay with that and I’m happy to do them.
And before I forget, I don't think I'll write more than 3-4 characters per post anymore. I tried to do all the brothers and other in Obey Me in one post, and it was the most draining and frustrating thing to do, so I'll limit it to that, sorry.
And imagines/one shots may or may not appear anymore - It really depends on the request itself, if I like it, if it inspires me, stuff like that.
And I delete all asks that I know I can't do, I've left them there for too long, or simply don't inspire me at all.
Also
To state the obvious, since y'all don't get it already...
first attempt to scam me on tumblr kinda nerves
if user @/starryoblivionworm
or someone writes something like that to you, just block them
try not to interact with them or click on anything they send you
P.S. I attached the post describing this scam but I still want to add: DO NOT CLICK ON THE SCREENSHOTS THEY SENT.
These days, your data can be stolen even if you just click on a suspicious picture
💬 19 🔁 2202 ❤️ 2565 · Oh yeah forgot to even explain the scam, thank you
first attempt to scam me on tumblr kinda nerves
if user @/starryoblivionworm
or someone writes something like that to you, just block them
try not to interact with them or click on anything they send you
P.S. I attached the post describing this scam but I still want to add: DO NOT CLICK ON THE SCREENSHOTS THEY SENT.
These days, your data can be stolen even if you just click on a suspicious picture
💬 19 🔁 2202 ❤️ 2565 · Oh yeah forgot to even explain the scam, thank you
It was yet another day at RAD, with Kitsune walking down the halls of the academy holding Satan's elbow and chatting idly about whatever detective book they convined to read together at their little and very exclusive Reading Club. The conversation itself was as insightful and filled with joy, as Kitsune always loves talking to her blond friend, yet the atmosphere was easily destroyed by the not-so-subtle whispering and gossiping buzzing around her like the plague.
Satan frowned angrily, hearing all those awful words. 'Whore' some called her. 'Seductress' others said. 'She's not even a demon, what does Lord Diavolo see in her?' came some others. 'She's a human, her body is frail - Maybe that's what Lord Diavolo is into these days. It won't last long' came the reply. 'The nobles are going crazy with anger. Everyone thought Lady Eisheth Clauderic will become Lord Diavolo's Queen Consort.'
"Aren't you bothered by this?!" Satan whisper-growled at the girl, who seemed completely unbothered, as if she hadn't even heard them.
"Not one bit." she spoke with a passivity that it drove the demon's brain completely blank.
"What do you mean - No?!" he gasped, shaking his head in bewilderment. "Do you want me to drive them away?"
"No." she said, once again. "The more you feed into it, the more the gossip will burn you alive. No need to put more fuel to the fire." she explained with a soft smile. "The gossip will never stop - What matters is that I do not pay attention to it." she continued sweetly.
"How... How can you do that...?" Satan asked, stopping in his tracks. "It hurts ME - It angers ME - The way they talk about you. I can't just let them speak this way about my best friend."
Kitsune merely chuckled sweetly, placing her hands on Satan's face; The demon blushed a little, but still leaned into her touch. "I am very grateful to you, my best friend, but truly, I have heard much worse before. Their words are mere fleeting leaves in the wind." she spoke in such a serene way, that Satan couldn't help but feel upset rather than angry. "With Nobunaga, they were ostracizing me for being a demoness - A temptress who seduced Lord Nobunaga into doing her bidding... The curse who would bring about the realm's downfall." she chuckled bitterly. "I know the truth - You know the truth - And so does Diavolo. As long as the people I care about know me for who I am... Being called terrible names holds no value in my heart."
Satan sighed, shaking his head. "Why must you always be so... Insightful?" he sounded almost as if he was whining. "Before you, all everyone did was fight and argue. Now they actually take more time to talk about issues and figure things out before they retort to bloodshed." he cleared his throat. "The Brothers, I mean, of course." he coughed again awkwardly.
"Are you trying to tell me you, boys, are getting bored with the peace?" she giggled a little more mischievous than he expected.
"One might say so, yes." Satan smiled playfully, returning to walk with Kitsune by his side.
"Then, why don't you trail behind me, just by two steps, and watch a little show~?" the girl had that vixen grin on her face - That impish smile that Satan knew was trouble. He matched her grin, and did as instructed, trailing behind the girl as she started walking.
Although it seemed as if the gossiping got louder, it quickly disappeared; Satan forgot how to move, maybe even how to breathe, as soon as Kitsune let the haori fall loose around her elbows and walked graciously ahead, showing off her beautiful, bare backside, now perfectly tattooed fully with the glowing black-crimson mark of the Prince of Hell, Lord Diavolo himself. As soon as the lesser demons saw Kitsune, her tails out in a fluffy fan, her markings blood red, and that glowing mark on her back... The scent of Diavolo became an intoxicating perfume that seemed to bring about their demise, as though it was a noxious gas ready to kill them. The atmosphere hung heavy, the demons bowed deeply to the passing girl, then ran away before she could blink.
The halls were completely empty.
Kitsune turned to look at Satan over her shoulder, displaying a rare but incredibly cute giggle. "Quite the show, would you not think so, my dearest friend?"
And, indeed, it was a crazy stunt she pulled - One that made the Avatar of Wrath laugh heartly, and continue the previous conversation about the detective books as if nothing happened. He should have known, there was no way someone like Diavolo would let Kitsune all alone to fend for herself in the venomous pit of vipers that is Hell - Even if, in theory, she was heavily protected by her sinful bodyguard with whom she has forged pacts.
Classes at the academy went as they always did, nothing to quite brag about; But the lunch time came by, and with the good weather outside, the brothers decided to eat outside by the large pretty tree with the glowing purple flowers. It took a lot from them to fight Beel not to eat all the food, but truly, it was times like these where Kitsune just sits in the back and watches with a bittersweet feeling tugging at her heartstrings, remembering the similar times she used to have with the warlords, back in the day. Different times, same feeling. A feeling of belonging. She finally felt at home.
From afar, however, a loud, feminine, high-pitched screeched made the birds fly the heck away, and everyone looked in the direction it came from - All of a sudden, Asmodeus runs full-speed to their little picnic spot, and screeches again, stomping his foot down like an angry brat.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE HIM! THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL! NO! I REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS GOD DAMN BULLSHIT!" Asmodeus, cursing? That was a bad omen - Everyone gasped at the Lust Demon's vocabulary. "DON'T JUST STARE AT ME - LOOK!" he slammed down the letter that was written and copied hundreds of times, and distributed through Devildom. "CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! THE AUDACITY?!"
"YOU MUST BE FUCKING KIDDING ME! WTF!" Levi's reaction, although equally shocking, didn't garner any dramatic reaction - Because the others felt the same thing he was voicing.
"Those fucking Clauderics... I can't believe this..." Satan accidentally transformed into his demon self, getting close to burning the food away - But not even Beel cared about that; He was too disappointed and indignant about the news he just read.
"That Lord Diavolo... When I see him, I will kill him!!" Mammon also screeched - And him, Levi and Asmo started shrieking together, harmonising almost perfectly to scream 'CHEATING SWINE!'
"HE BETRAYED US! HE BETRAYED US ALL! I WON'T EVER FORGIVE HIM!" Levi's anger made him transform into his devil self also... Making it pouring rain upon them. How awful. Hopefully, he won't be summoning Lotan... Or something worse.
"We have to force him to refuse that offer, no matter what." Beel frowned, crossing his arms together.
"What are you guys getting so upset about?" their little circus came to an absolute still once hearing Kitsune's melodious voice.
With incredible calm and nervousness, Asmo kneels in front of Kitsune, pointing down at the letters on the paper. "Kiki, sweety, this letter here... Now, don't get upset, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all this, but..."
"A noble demon family is offering their daughter for marriage to the future King of Devildom." Kitsune spoke bluntly. "Yes, I have read the letter. What about it?" her simple, easy-going words made all the demons fall to the ground, getting closer to her, shocked at how light-heartedly she took all the information in.
"Kitsune, that's sacrilege! They are outright disrespecting you - You, who just married Diavolo barely a week ago!" Asmo cried out, grabbing Kitsune face. "Marriage is supposed to be sacred, Kiki! Love and intimacy and sacred, all in one sentence - You even have that pretty ring and the pact mark to prove it! You and Diavolo are tied for life! There's no way that ugly-ass whoreface can take you spot by his side!" he was more offended than she was.
"Marriage is political." she said, blinking in confusion. "All Lord in my time have multiple wives. The main, lawful wife has the highest status, and the others, consorts and concubines, are of lower ranks and banners. The main wife hardly ever was the receiver of the Lord's heart." she tilted her head slightly, not understanding why everyone was getting so agitated. "Diavolo needs to marry women to produce the rightful heir to the throne - And for that, he needs a woman of his own blood. A demon. Correct?"
"Kitsune, honey, that's not how it works here!" Asmo cried out, his heart almost breaking in despair at the pitiful sight. "Don't be foolish, love! Demons don't mate to create heirs, that's not how demons are born."
"Yeah, take Satan for example!" Mammon spat out angrily. "Lucifer's negative emotions and all the gist. No sex, no nothin'."
"Even so, the point still stands. Noble families wed each other for political power. This... Clauderic family... They have all the right to send the proposal towards Diavolo, if they have a right candidate." she shrugged her shoulders simply. "And if Diavolo thinks the Devildom will benefit from their union, then I will not be opposed to it."
"And you would be right not to cause a circus as you always do." a dark voice came from behind them, as Lucifer looked down at his brothers and the red haired fox lady. "It pains me to say, but Diavolo's... Preference for you is rather... Evident." he cleared his throat, looking away for a second. "He indulged you with that stupid charade of a wedding - He even deluded himself into making a pact with you - All to keep you alive." he looked down at the girl with burning hatred, blaming her, filling her with guilt. "The whole Devildom is mocking Diavolo's standing now - The great future King of Hell, making a pact... With a lowly human, no less. Pathetic." he spat with disgust. "You would do well to tuck your tails away and step back from this. You got what you wanted, now stop butting into everyone's lives and ruining everything."
"Hey, you jerk, what the hell ya on, ey?!" Mammon jumped up to his feet, grabbing Lucifer by the front of his shirt. "Y've got no right to speak to Kitsune like that, ya hear me?! None!" Kitsune had never seen Mammon get so angry before - It was actually breaking her heart.
"Yeah, what he said!" Levi was the next to follow, his demon form creating torential raining once again. "You don't get to speak for Lord Diavolo!" the Envy Avatar glared at his elder brother.
"You're just jealous he loves her for real! What do you know of that, anyway? You don't hold love for anyone in your heart, Lucifer! You are as dark and empty as the night!" Asmodeus scolded Lucifer, stomping his foot down on the ground.
"This matter is between Kitsune and Diavolo - The way I see it, you're the one butting in where you don't belong." came Satan's poison-sarcastic comment. "Fuck off. No one wants to see you and your arrogant face."
"Kitsune has been to us more of a sister than you have been brother since we got here, Lucifer." perhaps Beelzebub's comment was the one that truly broke Lucifer's heart - But it mattered little - These young fools were too damn stupid to see the truth, even if it were to bite them in the ankle.
The anger that took over Lucifer was so great that he, also, transformed into his demon self, the dark malice radiating all around him... But he did not attack. The last thing he wanted was to anger Diavolo for losing control and attacking the little plaything a third time. He knew better than to do that. "Imbeciles. All of you." he scoffed, turning his back at them, as he always did.
"...Thank you. All of you." Kitsune's voice returned them back to their senses, and they all flocked around her once again, speaking about how insensitive Lucifer is, and not to put his words to heart. "It is okay, truly. Do not worry about me." she smiled sweetly at them. "You are my true family, and I will always cherish you in my heart." she continued. "I shall visit Dia and see what this is all about. It could be, just as I said, a simple proposal. Whether he accepts it or not is a complete different manner - Thus, we need not get upset before we even get informed of his intention." she hummed peacefully, getting up and making a cute little curtsy. "Be well, you guys. Go watch a movie or something, and when I find out what happened, I promise to inform you."
She transformed into her fox self, small and swift so that no one could spot her... So that she could finally be left alone without having to fake how she felt. Sure, she knew politics all to well, she was no stranger to political arranged marriages and what not - But to be subjected to that, well... No woman can ever admit, truly, from the bottom of her heart, that she is fine sharing the heart of the man she loves. Duty is one thing, but love... Love is another.
Left alone to her misery and endless speculation, she had plenty time to arrive to the Demon Lord's castle, where she was welcomed by Barbatos, who was seemingly awaiting her arrival. He guided her in front of the large, massive-wood doors to Lord Diavolo's cozy study, and thus, she entered.
Diavolo was a complete mess - Papers were scattered everywhere, his blazer was discarded on the ground and his shirt had buttons undone and sleeves messily rolled up. His hair was everywhere, showing how much he tugged at him, and the dark aura of anger and unintentionally shifting between the demonic version, and the normal one, were clear signs of chaos within his soul.
"Dia." her voice came like a beacon of light, where he was drowning in the vast abyss of darkness. "What are you stressing yourself over?" she asked with concern, walking up to him and placing her hands on his beautiful face. "Please tell me you're not overreacting over the whole proposal thing also. The brothers always made a whole show out of it."
Where Dia expected Kitsune to be angry, to throw a fit, to feel disappointment or betrayal... He was perfectly stunned to see she acted completely normal and unfazed. "...Wh-What?!" he stammered, petrified. Slowly, he brought Kitsune to the couch, placing his hands over her shoulders. "You -- You saw that thing too? The proposal? The Clauderic family?"
"If I understood correctly from Asmodeus, the letter has been printed and distributed all over the Academy... And Devildom." she coughed awkwardly. "Also, to me, it seemed as though it was more... A wedding invitation, rather than a marriage proposal."
"If you know all about that, why aren't you angry?" he blinked, his lips parted in surprise.
"Have I ever been angry?" she chuckled awkwardly, looking away with a wry smile. "If I have, forgive my manners, it was not my intention. It is unbecoming of someone like me." she returned to her sweet smile. "Besides, what is there to be angry for? The Demon Lord received a marriage proposal from another noble demon family. It is all politics. A demon lord must marry a demon lady, right? Or, well - Whatever the marriage-equivalent is for you."
"No!" Dia jolted up to his feet angrily, frustrated, throwing his hands in his hair, tugging at his pretty red hair. "No, Kitsune, no! That's not how it works - That's not okay!" he paced around the study room.
"Duty is duty, Dia. If marrying another is what is best for you, your reign, and the Realm, then I promise I will not cause trouble or stand in the way. I will step back and not interfere." she licked her lips, looking down with a bitter smile. "If you ask me of it, I will even return this beautiful ring, should you want to give it to Lady Eisheth Clauderic." as soon as Kitsune got close to taking off the ring, Diavolo was on the ground, grabbing Kitsune's hand in both his own.
"NO!" he cried out, panicked. "No... Don't do that. Please." he placed his forehead against her hand. "Stop. Please. Stop acting like this. I hate this. I hate this!" he growled lowly, though still restrained his strength so he wouldn't hurt her by gripping her hand. "That ring... You keep it. It is my love for you. It will never go away, and neither will our marriage." he stated firmly.
"Dia..." she breathed out, eyes wide; She bit her bottom lip hard, gulping down her feelings into the void. "I cannot be selfish. I do not want to take you away from duty." she sighed, hanging her head. "I... I just... I understand arranged marriages and political ties. Noble blood bound to noble blood. Lord marrying multiple women of high status. Baring heirs." she shrugged pitifully. "None of it is news to me. I understand my status and role in this Realm. You need not worry about me. As long as you are happy, then so will I, whether I remain by your side or not."
"Shut up!" she never heard Diavolo shout at her, especially with such raw emotion. "You don't understand anything - Not about this place, you don't! So, Kitsune, kindly shut the hell up and listen to me, because for once, you're so god damn fucking wrong that it tears me apart!" he stood up now, grabbing the girl by the shoulders, shaking her a little. "The problem is not that a noble family mocking me publicly for marrying you - That, I could not care less - You are my beloved Kitsune, and there is no other that I hold in my heart other than you. That is an irrefutable fact that cannot change."
The girl gulped, her green eyes gleaming slightly with stinging tears; It was not her lover raising her tone, but rather, the raw emotion that was bubbling deep inside his soul - The anger, the rage, the disappointment, the betrayal - All of them directed to someone... Someone that she couldn't figure out who.
"S-So... If there is no need to marry out of politics... Out of duty... If there is no requirement for the Lord's consort to be of the same race... And there is no need for heirs..." she counts into her head all the points she made previously - The harsh points that always broke her heart, centuries prior. "Then... Why...?"
"Kitsune - Look at me." she did so. "Say it clear - Do you WANT me to marry that Clauderic girl?"
"W-Well, I-..." she stammered, stumbled over her words, unable to form a proper sentence. "I-If duty calls... I-If it is... For the Realm, th-then I... I cannot..."
"Stop hesitating! Yes or no, say it!" his voice rose a little, grabbing her face to get her full attention and focus on him. "I am risking everything here - My status, my place, my reputation - Everything I have, everything I am. I want to know if it's worth it." he was so sharp and straight-forward, is was almost scary. "Tell me - Yes or No. Simple question. No duty, no pretty words, no nothing."
Diavolo forced Kitsune to look him straight in the eyes as she answered; He peered straight into her soul, into her shattered heart, and her eyes flooded with tears, each a broken feeling escaping its cage. "Of course I do not want you to marry someone else." she finally managed to whisper out. "Of course I am selfish and I want you only to myself. ALL to myself." she continued, her sharp nails digging into his hands, her teeth gritted together, as if to keep at bay the flood of emotions.
"Finally..." he sighed in relief, cradling the girl into his chest, holding her tightly as she cried. "Forgive me, my love." his voice much softer now, tender even. "I just..." he sighed once again. "When you force yourself to speak of duty over your heart, it breaks me. I know you mean well, but seeing you try to take off the ring... Self-sacrificing like that... I just couldn't take it." he caressed her hair, kissing the crown of her head. "There is a secret that only a select few know - Lucifer, Barbatos, and the Clauderics also unfortunately." he brought the girl to the couch once again, pulling her in his lap and holding her dearly. "Truth is, around the time you came here for the exchange program, my father, the Demon King, had vanished. We don't quite know what happened, but... While most think he is slumbering, the truth is... Out. Somehow." he continued explaining. "They are blackmailing me now - And they threaten to make it public, to make me, the brothers, and even you, responsible for it... You, for manipulating me into laying down my power to you and neglecting my role as the Prince." he continued with yet another exhausted sigh. "If this gets public, my credibility as the next King will be ruined - And if the Devildom loses its leader, the Celestial Realm and the Human Realm will feel the consequences drastically. The last thing I want is for them to lynch you and imprison you to the depths of Devildom, tormented until you go mad... Not that I would allow such a folly to begin with."
"I see..." she hung her head, getting closer to her beloved. "So that is why Lucifer was so angry at me today." she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck. "What can I do to aid you, my love?"
"I... Do not know. Not yet." he cradled her to his heart as if she was the most precious thing he held dear - Which, she truly was. "But I will figure something out, even if it's the last thing I do. I know the Clauderics are shady and have been fiddling around where they shouldn't have - I just need someone to investigate this properly, and then maybe I can find a bargaining chip... An opening to strike... Something... Anything at all."
Suddenly, Kitsune leaned away from him, looking at her beloved. "I think I have an idea." her voice came out like sweet honey of her lips. "Let the brothers investigate this - Satan especially, I mean. He is the most reliable person I know when it comes to these shrewd things." she admitted, then a little mischievous smile played on her lips. "The letter stated a quiet ceremony tomorrow evening in the gardens, correct...?" her eyes looked narrow, sharp, like a true vixen ready to strike. "I will make sure that ceremony becomes a funeral rather than a wedding." her giggle sounded impish, demonic even, and whilst Diavolo was shocked at first, he started laughing, hugging the girl tightly.
"I always knew I was right to give my heart to you, Kitsune. You mean everything to me." he cupped her face, pressing a sweet kiss to her lips, then smiling tenderly at her. "The skies could shatter, and I would still not give up my love for you." he admitted softly. "My father was different - He compromised us, his family... His wife and child... All for power and status. I will never be like him. I will always follow the path I think is right, even if it ends up burning me instead."
"You are brilliant and noble, Dia. A gentle and kind heart like yours will never have to suffer defeat - Not when you have so many incredible people who love and cherish you truly." she spoke sweetly, looking at him with darling.
"Kitsune..." the Demon Lord blushed for a few seconds, though he looked at his beloved with such love and dear. "What do you have in mind?"
The fox lady merely displayed a vixen smile and pressed her finger against her lips, as if to show a little secret. "Let us just say... It will not. be compromising on your part." she giggles enigmatically. "Though my concern is Lucifer's well being - I fear, if he continues stressing out so much on the matter, he will simply explode."
"Lucifer..." Diavolo sighed, speaking out the Avatar if Pride's name. "Lucifer was once God's most beloved Seraphim. He was favored above all angels... But he was unhappy. He led a rebellion against his Father, and the others joined. As you well know, Lilith died in the altercation, and the brothers fell from grace, their wings burning, halos ripped apart. They endured torture and humiliation here, hidden away from the other demons, as they slowly became corrupted with sin and forced to live with the taint they became." he sighed, caressing her face. "Lucifer feels responsible for them - He made a pact with me, walking all over his Pride, so that he may protect the people he believes he screwed over just for believing in him and his cause." he stopped to breathe in, then reluctantly continued speaking. "But there is one secret that only I, Barbatos and Lucifer know." he licked his lips, trusting the girl with a precious secret. "Lilith did not die - Not truly. I helped her be reborn as a human, in your Realm, so that she may live a beautiful life, the way she always dreamt of."
"So that is why Lucifer is always truly aware to keep you safe and satisfied. He does not care about you, but about what you represent. A powerful safety for the Demon Brothers... And the knowledge that his beloved sister was able to live a happy, fulfilling life." Kitsune breathed out silently. "Rescuing the Heavens' outlaws... Protecting them from those who persecuted them... You must have been shouldering an impossibly heavy burden, my love." her voice sounded like lullabies to his ears, feeling validated for the risky move he pulled by fostering the brothers.
"You make me sound far too selfless - I am a demon, you know? I had selfish intentions." his comment sounded too playful to the girl.
"Yes, of course, the Prince of Hell, Sin Incarnated, the Evil within." she couldn't help but chuckle at him, playfully pretending the be ominous. "In truth, I have never seen a more gentle creature than yourself, Dia." her words made Diavolo's heart stop. "You present yourself so compassionate and pure, I am almost tempted to break you, just to see how the Realm trembles and breaks apart once you unleash the anger you're caging inside." she mused, placing her hand where his heart would be.
"Don't speak so dangerously to me, darling. Losing myself is the last thing I want to do - Both as a husband, and as the future King of Hell." still, she laughed playfully.
"Then, if you cannot allow yourself to let loose of your anger... Let me portray it myself, the way only I know how." her comment half amused and half intrigued the Demon Prince.
"You will not tell me what you're planning, will you, little vixen?"
"Nope." she popped out. "You will have to see for yourself tomorrow, when we meet for the fateful ceremony." without another word, Kitsune kissed him passionately, then hopped off his lap, casually waving her fingers at his as a simple goodbye, and returned to the House of Lamentation, activating the pacts for the first time to gather around the brothers for a most sinful circus.
Lucifer is going to rip his hair off, no doubt, but it's gonna be worth it.
---
The before the ceremony arrived, and the Clauderics were all settled perfectly in the beautiful garden, and all around, many lesser demons were gathered, probably as bodyguards.
Kitsune, dressed in her usual priestess attire with the revealing back exposing the obscene glowing pact tattoo, slowly prowled like a panther through the crowd, reaching the front of the procession, in front of the bride and her father.
She barely spared a glance to the demoness dressed in black, seeing how excited she was to tie the Prince to her name, and her father scheming fraud and malice.
"What are you doing here, human whore? You were not invited to our wedding." the bride, Lady Eisheth, spat out at the vulpine lady.
Kitsune chuckled sardonically. "You say 'your' wedding, as if it will actually happen. How very quaint." she hummed, playing coy. She knew the Brothers would be just around to watch the show. "You completely failed to realise that your empty threats were not enough to scare the Demon Prince into submission. How pathetic of you, undermining the very name of Lord Diavolo himself." she spat with absolute disgust. "Say what you will of me, but once you drag Diavolo's name and threaten his position, you will fear the Wrath of the Ashura." her jovial attitude dissipated in a blink as she played idly with her folded fan. "Your impertinence and evil-scheming will become your downfall, House of Clauderic."
The demons around started laughing mockingly, some of them doubling down with amusement, not believing that a mere human could be so damn stupid - She thinks she has Diavolo's protection, the little stupid bitch, but she's nothing but a powerless ant in the middle of a wolf hunt. She will get ripped to shreds.
"By fire be purged for thy sins." Kitsune unfolded her fan, and suddenly, the seemed to be almost in slow motion; with lightning speed and perfect precision, she flashed in front of the bride, piercing her torso with her hand, then grabbing her heart and ripping it out of her chest, laughing as she showed it off to the bride's feather - Still beating. With a dark smirk, the vixen smashed the heart in her hand, letting the tainted blood fall into her mouth, licking her lips, then throwing the remains of the viscera to the father. "No one shall disrespect the righteous rule of Lord Diavolo." wide eyes and wide smirk, Kitsune's blood soaked fingers drew stripes and dashes onto her skin as she dragged them down her face and neck. "None of you shall remain alive." the rest of the demons soon followed the demise, unable to react in any way; some were ripped apart, burnt to ashes, broken and all kinds of brutality an ancient soul with the era of war lingering in her veins knew how to torture. Some got their heads ripped off along with their spine and used as clubs to bludgeon their peers to death, some were split in half by pulling the jaws apart, and others received far worse - Until only the Clauderic patriarch remained.
"Wh-What kind of sorcery is this?! My men... My family, my people... My daughter... How could you, a mere, pathetic little human whore, wipe the ancient bloodline of Clauderic without any bit of effort?! How did you manage to keep them from even moving a muscle!" the Lord shouted at her, angrily holding his daughter's body, splattered with blood and gore from the deceased. "Imbecile little slit like you thinks she is smart - Eliminating us means eliminating the problem - As if the other nobles won't stand up to riot against the crown for permitting a genocider to rise above law and take matters into her own, filthy hands! You have doomed your beloved Lord Diavolo! Doomed, I tell you!" he yelled at her with spite and malice.
"That is where you are wrong, Lord Clauderic." the vixen giggled, stepping over the mess she created with perfect grace. "We will forever be ten steps ahead of you, no matter what may be plotting." she look down at him, eyes flashing dangerously, along with her pact tattooes.
"Filthy whore, selling your body and soul to the highest bidder. You will not become Queen over me, even if it is the last thing I do in this life!"
"It might as well be." she flashed an ominous grin, her canines looking dangerous and bloody.
From behind her, far in the back, she heard a loud gasp, and her name being called. Finally, he came. "Kitsune...? What... Is this...?" the lady turned to look at her beloved Diavolo over her shoulder, offering a wicked grin, before bringing her fan up to her mouth.
"This is my little gift for you, Dia." she giggled venomously. "Revenge. And order." and thus, she folded back her fan and turned her back at the Clauderics, stepping in front of the Prince.
The wedding procession was back to what it was before she came; No blood, no gore, no death nor viscera; Lady Eisheth was still very much alive, if not incredibly disturbed, clutching at her chest. "You asked me how I did it, Lord Clauderic - The answer is simple, yet you couldn't even figure it out." she laughed boastfully. "From the second you held eye contact with me, you became enthralled within my charm. Everything you witnessed was me manipulating your consciousness... And, based on what I see, I believe I successfully managed to remind you of your place, under the direct rule of Prince Diavolo."
The brothers made their presence known too, with Levi livestreaming the entire thing. He was gonna become crazy famous thanks to this whole thing.
"And even if Kitsune's charm represented the truth, it would not have mattered." Satan stepped by her side, just like the co-protagonist he was; Partners in crimes in everything. "Bribing people for votes for Diavolo's coronation is an inexcusable act of treachery. A noble who commits such fraud loses their seat under the laws governing the House of Lords." Satan spoke out the laws of Devildom loud and clear.
"You... You... filthy, disgusting little worms... How dare you go against me and the ancient House of Clauderic!" The patriarch's aura was dark and he spat maliciously, but the brothers were all their demon selves, and the patriarch daren't move from his spot.
"You might have been once a great house that supported the Devildom, but now you were made into filth by a 'mere human', as you call her. Pathetic, don't you think? Ancient, great and mighty, yet the whole family was slaughtered like livestock?" Asmo giggled venomously at the patriarch.
"Yeah, so, like, we gotta think what we do with ya and y'er slimy ass family, right? We can't have ya goin' around and fucki' up Lord Diavolo's reign just 'cause you all jelly and want money'n'power'n'all that razzle dazzle." Mammon, whoever right he was, earned a few groans from his brothers for being a complete menace.
Kitsune turned to Diavolo, skipping to him to grab his hands and drag him towards the Clauderics. "The choice is entirely your, Lord Diavolo. Make it count."
Though bewildered the the core, Dia cleared his throat and continued the act, crossing his arms and looking down at the traitors; the atmosphere grew dark, heavy and almost painful, and the Clauderics were trembling with fear. Looking into Diavolo's eyes made their spine blight and electrocuted with torturous agony. Perfectly deserved.
"Swear fealty and serve the Devildom with me, and I will be merciful and overlook this... Unfortunate transgression, as it is your first wrong-doing." he threatened them. "Should this incident be repeated, I will not be so lenient."
The Clauderics all knelt to the ground and bowed I worship at the Prince, swearing their fealty one by one. The livestream chat was going wild and crazy with comments, stickers, donations and what not, praising the Prince, the brothers, even Kitsune - All that while the once noble family of Clauderic completely fell from grace.
"That was fun." Kitsune giggled playfully once the incident was done and everything ended. "Let us never do it again!"
"Well, now that the Clauderics are done for, Lord Diavolo is a free man, right?" Levi asked, his hands buried deep in his pockets. "Captain Levi signs out and resigns for the night. I've got a game that just came up 23 minutes ago and it needs my urgent attention." and with that, the Avatar of Envy disappeared into the void, never to be seen again out of his otaku cave.
"Now that all the commotion is done, surely we can have a little bit of a celebratory evening, right?" Satan was very proud of himself.
"I believe the star of the night deserves all the glory!" Diavolo's laugh was mirthful and full of heart. "Your investigation skills are extraordinary, Satan. I praise you from the bottom of my heart." the Prince's comment made the blond a little sheepish.
"Then let's go PARTY!" Asmo chirped loudly, already jumping in ecstasy.
"I will make a reservation for Ristorante Six for the evening." everyone celebrated loudly. "I will steal Kitsune until then. See you guys later." the two waved the brother good bye and returned to the castle.
Once they settled on Diavolo's large, comfy bed, the Prince looked at the vulpine lady and let out a childish sound. "WHAT YOU DID WAS SO COOL!" of course, Kitsune's jaw fell to the ground in complete shock. "You were right - You and Satan make such a strong pair! Partners in crime, they say - But you are partners in justice!" he laughed heartly.
"All is well that ends well, they say, correct?" Kitsune smiled sweetly, cupping her beloved's face, caressing his tanned cheeks. "No more stress coming from them anymore. You can continue perfecting yourself until the coronation, and if you so will, search for your missing father. The world is yours to take, and any problem is a merely transitory one; Nothing can stand in the way of your happiness, my darling."
"That's right - Because my happiness is you, Kitsune. As long as I have you by my side, I can rule the Devildom without any worry." he declared boldly, holding her tightly is his arms, before kissing her with all the love in the world. "What would I do without you?"
"You would probably have less fluffy tails to tickle you." the girl jested.
"Okay, so - Let me get this straight." Kat laid on the hood of Billy's freshly cleaned car, looking straight at the one in cause. "You've got yet another basketball match - But this time it's actually super mega important... Unlike all the other times you said they're important." the young man nodded his head almost enthusiastically, his messy curly hair flowing like a halo around his head as he placed his hands on either side of the girl, getting closer to her. "What makes this one so special?"
"Well, Tutti Frutti, I will have you know, if we win this one match, I'm pretty much all set up for that scholarship I've been telling you about." he grinned all smug and prideful, and his smile grew ever bigger, noticing the sparkle in her eyes.
Unexpectedly, Kat threw her arms around his neck and dragged him into an almost painful hug as she congratulated him over and over again. "Goodness, Billy, that's A-MAY-ZING!" she cheered for him loudly. "You've worked so hard for this - And now you're just one match away from going back to Cali!" she then immediately let go and started clapping happily. "You must be so excited for this!"
"Yeah, well - I am, alright. Just hope those dumb brick walls I have to call 'team mates' will play their part. I can't be winning on my own, y'know. And there's that fucking Harrington who's been shittier than a mud puddle since that day you put him to respect." although his comment was non-chalant and meant in no way to jab or insult the girl, he could see how meek she got all of a sudden, as if a light was extinguished from her heart, and she hugged her knees to her chest, hiding her face inside the neck of her sweater.
"Can you... Like... Forget about that, if I ask you really nicely? Cherry on top and all that sugary stuff?" she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I do not want you to remember me by my bad moments of weakness. I... I'm not... I'm not that. I swear, I'm not. I would never... I..." she coughed once again, realising her words were only disserving her. "Anyway - Forget about me. This is all about you. Is there any way I can help you out?"
Billy remained silent for a few seconds, analysing the poor girl - Yeah, he knew all about shame and violent outbursts, ain't no way he was gonna bring it up again if it affected her so much. There's only room for one terribly damaged, self-destructive, mentally fucked up teenager in that relationship, and that's him. A precious angel like her won't be allowed to bring harm to herself - Not while he was around, at least. That shy smile of hers was the only light in his shitty life for a while. If that went away... He didn't want to go back to remembering his disassociating times, hiding in corners so his father won't beat him anymore... Or desperately trying to get ahold of his mum who never called him after she abandoned him like that...
"I've got a few ideas..." he was so closed to her that it made her blush - As if they hadn't kissed before, how silly of her - Still, his lips planted a soft kiss on her forehead, making her get even more flustered. It was such a sweet and precious kiss that she almost melted on the spot. "Cheer on me as nicely as you always do, okay Tinkerbell?" he leaned back a bit, to look at her and drink in her adorable visage. "And then come with me to celebrate our victory at Tina's house."
"But Billy..." she sighed, rolling her eyes. "I really don't belong there - Or, anywhere around these people, for the matter. They're all loud, obnoxious and SO uncouth."
"Uncouth? Really?" Billy chuckled at her. "Who uses that word, anyway?"
"Well - Apparently. I do!" she stuck her tongue out all silly. "But, really. I mean it. You know they don't really like me all that much, They're only tolerating me because I'm your girlfriend."
"And because you mix Vodka like a true Russian Saintess." the comment made the girl hide her mouth to laugh.
"That was a good one." she admitted, grinning. "Okay, fine, you got me. I'm in."
"Ha!" he fist pumped the air like a winner. "1 point scored for the Californian Beach Waves once again!"
"You're so silly." Kat hopped off the car and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Come on, Clyde, don't make your Bonnie wait on you for your next hit." the girl winked at him, walking ahead of him towards the blasted gym, as he sprinted right by her side.
"Smooth, baby-cakes. Very smooth." he placed his arm around her waist, pulling her closer into his body.
"Smooth operator." the girl puffed a bit, only to hear the boy groan.
"Never mind. Your 5 seconds of glory ended. The one-liners come back to me." Billy declared boldly.
"Hey, I'm doing my best! You know how difficult English is to learn, when all you know is Russian and Chinese? Even the writing is completely different!" she pouted up at him, making him coo at her teasingly.
"What a cute little baby, learning her first words!" the girl instead placed her hand spread on his face, making him shut up.
"Jerk." still, she laughed and continued her walk towards the gym. "Go fuck them up, babe. Show Harrington what's it like being a real man, and snatch that scholarship."
"Aye, m'lady." he stole a deep kiss from her before rushing towards the changing room, leaving her all alone to find a good spot on the bleachers.
Here we go again, time wasted when I could be at home, reading Li Bai's poems, Kat thought to herself. Instead, she's forced to watch a bunch of sweaty guys running around with a ball in their hands. What a silly sport.
People gathered all around, until there was no empty spot left any longer - Even still, people sat up to support their favourite player or team. The cheerleaders were doing wonders for both sides - And, Kat had to admit, Tina, as the Lead Cheerleader, was doing quite the great job. She certainly knew how to attract people's eyes on her. What a beautiful specimen of a Queen Bee.
The noise was echoing all around the large gymnasium, exhausting the girl - She felt very overstimulated from being surrounded by so many people, so many different sounds, it was getting on her nerves to the point that she could have ripped apart a book with ease.
Oh, but how could she ever do that? No way in hell could she desecrate such a sacred object. Her father taught her books were gifts from their ancestors, meant to teach us about life and what not.
What was she supposed to do for the duration of the match? She had no idea - Definitely, she was not going to pay attention to the match, no way, it was boring...
Except, Billy was shining quite beautifully, almost as if the spot light was on him, and he was bright like an angel, his muscles flexing like a Greek God sculpture with every move he made, and...
Ah, she was having impure thoughts, not good, not good at all, she can't be thinking like that... And yet... That evening, in his room... THey were so close... So intimate... So... Hot...
She didn't know when the break was finally announced because she darted out of there, and towards the bathroom to wash her face with cold water and regain her composure. She couldn't let Billy know of the things she was thinking... It was improper for a young lady of her caliber... Or so her father said so many times, at least.
Taking one last breath, checking herself in the mirror to make sure she looked acceptable, she slowly made her way back towards the gym, only to meet up with Billy in the corridor, a towel wrapped around his shoulders, and him smirking like a fool.
"Where'd you run off to, Angel Kiss? Didn't I tell you to stay there and watch me play?" he leaned on the wall, looking down at her with his usual charming look - His eyes peered into her soul as if he knew what she was up to.
"Ah, well... You see..." she grabbed a fan from her bag and covered her face dramatically, showing she needed some air. "It was too hot inside... I felt like I was suffocating. Too many sweaty dudes running around, and all."
"Ahhh, I see. What a pity." he coyly shifted around, seeing through her facade. "And here I thought I was so hot that I gotchu on fire." Kat said nothing, except she bit her lip and looked away, fanning a little faster. "Oh? What is that? Was I right, Princess?" he leaned closer to her. "Did I fluster up Princess Peony?"
"I... Well... You see..." she tried her hardest to find the right words, but none were coming into her fried brain. "I did tell you before that I find your... Erh... Physique... Just as attractive as your many other traits, haven't I? Why must you tease me so? Don't you see it's cruel?"
The boy's smirk widened more, he bit his lip briefly and licked his teeth, before gently pushing away the fan and picking her chin up. "Am I really that cruel, if I say I want to see your flustered face? 'Cause you're so fucking precious, you're driving me crazy, and you've got no idea how hard it is not to kiss you so hard you forget what year we're in." it was so adorable to him, how she seemed to almost tremble from his words alone. What a cutiepie. With the bell ringing and announcing the second part of the match was approaching, he pressed another kiss, this time, on the crown of her head, and held her hand. "Let's get you back in your seat. Don't want anyone to steal you away from me, amirite?"
"O-Okay..." she was far too flustered to say anything else.
The second part of the match felt like a blur, and she had no idea what happened, except for the times when Billy scored, and at the very end, when he was roaring with triumph, holding up the cup and yelling out with joy.
The rest of the team and the cheerleaders grabbed him, throwing him up and down for being the MVP of the team, and then dragged him all the way outside of the gym, and into the parking lot.
Kat reluctantly followed right behind, smiling softly - She didn't care if Billy saw her, she was fine being proud of him from afar - But she was wrong. Billy didn't forget about her. Immediately, he turned his head and grinned, motioning his hand for her to join the group, pushing Carol away from him and getting the red head right into his arms. "Atta girl! Finally - Been lookin' all over for ya!" his laugh was loud and boasting - Deserving of a winner. "Let's party!"
Everyone around hollered 'PARTY!' so hard, she thought her eardrums ruptured, but it mattered little - Billy was happy, so it was all good.
The champion drove her to Tina's party, and from there, everyone began to behave like monkeys, screeching, yelling and drinking. Just the every day party of your typical American highschool kid, Kat thought to herself. Never mind. She was fine sitting on the couch next to Billy and sipping from her Bailey's chocolate liqueur mixed with vodka glass shots and pretending she pays attention to the senseless rambles of those idiots.
It was only an hour or so into the party that she realised the party got divided into all the guys, on the left of Billy, and all the girls, on the right of Kat, of all them gossiping and hollering about the most obscene things. She was raised differently - Intimacy is sacred, it belong only in marriage, she was taught - And yet, here everyone is... Letting loose.
Guys speaking how they had a three-way Eiffel Tower on a blondie - A blondie that was in the room with them, gossiping about how little one of their dick's was, and how he tasted musky and unwashed.
Kat's head was spinning with faint dizziness from hearing so many things - In under half an hour, she was sure the girls taught her the entire Kama Sutra or something. How bold and confident do you have to be to speak so openly about such things? Or was it the alcohol talking? She couldn't be sure.
From the other side, she could hear faintly a girl giggling, praising Billy for being a champion. "Surely, the champion deserves a champion's treatment, hmmm~?" she shifted on her feet, biting her lip all lustful.
"Don't even bother, Kirstie. He's taken." Tommy warned the girl sternly. He wouldn't want to hear such bullshit, especially with TIna around.
"Yeah, so? We all know Freaky Kommie Kat won't spread her legs until she's married, that prude. Billy's a man, he's got needs, and she's not capable of fulfilling them - But I certainly can." she caressed her big tits through her skimpy tank top, raising them up. Billy was, however, too busy to notice all this, as he was in an argument about who was the better player from their team, and how many points they scored individually.
"His body count is easily in the two digit area - Ain't no way he's staying all nice and saintly, even with her around." Kirstie scoffed in annoyance.
"How d'you know that, huh? She's living alone, no parents and all. You don't know the naughty-naughty things those two lovebirds are doing at night~" another girl joined in, creating an even more heated debate about whether or not Kat and Billy are being intimate - And, if yes, in what freaky ways.
"Yeah, why d'you think her nickname is 'Freaky'? The shy ones are always freaks in bed, y'know?" Kat didn't know if those were supposed to be compliments or insults, but by that points, she was sure she was gonna faint - Especially after she noticed a guy doing hip thrusts and laughing.
Suddenly, she felt Billy's hand on her knee, and heard him laughing all drunken. "Yeah, well… I got my own present waiting right here.” he said with a cocky grin, though she wasn't quite sure in what context. Still, her heart felt sunken and humiliated by the whole ordeal.
The group roared in laughter, some girls whistled, someone calls out, “Damn, Billy! Already planning something for tonight? Lucky guy, poppin' that cherry!”
Kat stiffened, heat rushing to her face - It wasn't the same kind of suffocation she felt during the match, when she thought she would pass out, in a good way. This time, she felt tears stinging in her eyes and the desperation of a prey animal to flee from the vipers' hole.
Finally, she managed to slip away from the shit show, and dragged herself to sit on the hood of the car - It seemed to be her favourite place to curl up, except it the cold december wind was freezing her to death. It was fine though, the numbness cooled down the hot-running thoughts burning up inside her head, and igniting sparks of doubt and insecurity through her entire bloodstream. The parking lot was quite, save for the faint beat of the music coming from inside the house, or the stray shrill shriek from whatever dumbass wanted to be louder.
It couldn't be that Nancy's words were right... Right? It couldn't. Billy was nice, he would never... Could never... Not him. No, he wouldn't hurt her. Definitely. It was just the awful atmosphere there that was messing with her head...
Though the faint whisper of doubt, in the tone of Nancy's voice, crept inside her heart, gnawing at her conscience, ripping her feelings apart... He just wants to claim her, then ditch her... Like any other popular hot guy... He'll go to Cali and won't take her with him, because why would he? She's just a highschool fleeting fling, and he won't even remember her. She will be yet another digit in his long body count list.
Her breath fogged the air with ragged exhales as she tried her hardest to fight back the tears threatening to fall down like dew drop crystals on a flower petal. Her chest was aching so hard, she thought there was a hole there, where her heart had been ripped apart and stomped on cruelly. The December air was cruel, but her mind was crueler. What felt like an eternity, were only 10 minutes of sheer torture. She was sure this hurt more than being experimented on.
She did not hear the door slam, nor bottles breaking, or the sound of heavy footsteps stumbling clumsily towards her, for she was far too absorbed into her succumbing abyss of misery.
Then—
“Kat!”
A manly voice cut through the cold. It was Billy, stumbling into the parking lot, drunk but determined, looking around until he spotted her sitting on the Camaro.
“There you are.” he breathed out. He walked toward her — Too fast, too clumsy. His boots skid on the frozen ground and he almost trips, but quickly catches himself back up. Finally making his way there, he slammed his hands onto the hood on either side of her thighs, caging her without touching her, his forehead nearly bumping hers. “Why’d you leave?” he asked, voice uneven, his breath hot and reeking of alcohol.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, but did not dare look up at him. “It was crowded.” she managed to breathe out.
“Bullshit.” he mutters, but not mean—just scared. “You… You never leave without telling me.” She looked down, unsure of what else to say, trying to hide the swirl of insecurities inside her. But Billy leaned closer, squinting, drunk but incredibly focused on her expression. “You’re sad.” he murmured. “I don’t like that. Don’t — Don’t do that. Don’t be sad. I hate it when you're sad.” He tried to straighten up but nearly loses balance, so he puts his forehead gently against her shoulder, breathing shakily. Then he adds, soft and slurred but unmistakably sincere. “…Did someone hurt you? Was it Harrington? I swear to God, Kitty, tell me who said shit to you. I’ll kill ’em.”
Hearing his sincere, drunk words, she froze, and with her body frozen, so did those nasty thoughts, shattering like ice cinders into the wind. To think, even at his most unfiltered… His first instinct was to protect her. How could she ever doubt him? To think what they had was not true and pure? What a fool she'd been...!
Billy lifted his head slightly, then cupped her face gently, her frozen cheeks warming up from his heat. "Don't leave without me again. I hate it when I don't know where you are." he was looking for her... And he couldn't find her. In his drunk stupor, he must have been afraid that she left him... Just like his mother did. "Don't leave me alone... Not you too..."
He noticed she was gone. He truly cared for her. He was looking for her.
Kat’s breath shivered out of her. She tried to blink away the painful sting in her eyes, swallowing hard — Once, twice, a third time — Fighting it with everything she has. She didn't want him to see her cry. Not like this. A woman was supposed to be strong. The emotional rock of the family. She couldn't show such weakness to anyone, especially her man... And yet...
Her voice gave her away when she whispered “I thought you were… Busy.” and tears silently escaped their emerald caze, falling down her cheeks, and down to her bittersweet smile.
Billy frowned, confused and frightened, his brows knitting like he’s trying to solve an SAT question while blackout drunk.
“Busy?” he snorted, leaning in closer. “With that circus in there? Hell no. I was lookin’ for you.” Billy saw it now — Her trembling lip, her watery eyes —And his expression shifted. Not sober, not entirely lucid, but concerned in a raw, instinctive way he couldn't filter... Just like when Max was younger and would cry from whatever reason, and he'd try to pacify her. “Hey… Hey, hey...” he murmured clumsily. “Don’t — Don’t cry, okay? Did someone say somethin’? Do I gotta fuck up Harrington again? What's up, sweet cheeks? Why you cryin'? Please, tell me, I don't know what I gotta do." he began to tremble a bit, though Kat was unsure whether it was the drunk panic, or the cold. "Kat, say somethin', don't do this to me. I don't get it - I'm too dumb to get it, okay? So tell me - Tell me like I'm a fucking 5 year old dumb fuck." he sniffled a bit, his eyes getting red, but never once did he look away from her. "No one ever taught me how to fucking feel - I don't wanna fuck this up with you - So, for fuck's sake, if I did something to make you cry, tell me." he swallowed. "Please."
"Xièxiè." she whispered in a voice as soft as a melody. "You could never make me sad, Billy. You're the only reason I feel happy every day I wake up." she admitted, pulling him into a deep kiss. "Let's go home, okay? The champion needs a good night's rest."
His arms hang at his sides for a bit, his brain lagging behind. Then, he gives her the keys to drive them home. "Y'er only drivin' ‘cause my head’s doin’ the spinny thing." he slurred out, slumping in the passenger seat.
"Guess you're my passenger prince for tonight." she smiled sweetly at him, starting the ignition and getting ready to go.
He looks up at her with sleepy blue eyes, lids heavy. "Thanks for coming to this shitty party with me." he muttered slowly. "We ain't going there again."
"Hm? Why's that? You seemed to have fun." the girl asked, confused at his statement.
"Bunch o' brain dead losers who still measure their dicks in the school's bathroom and boast about whose is bigger. Lotsa bitches who just wanna fuck and gossip. S'boring as fuck, girl." he groaned, leaning like a little kid on the side of the door, looking out the window.
"Don't tell me you want to hang out with me and read Dostoevsky." the girl let out a chuckle, then laughed harder when seeing the boy's confused face.
"S'that a bird o' what?" Kat simply shook her head at him and went on to drive back home, pulling into the driveway and circling around the car to help him get out of the car, and half-way carrying him towards the house. "Y'er stronger than you look, angel."
"I work out almost daily." the girl hummed in amusement, getting him inside the house, and into her bedroom.
There, the boy basically plopped down on the bed and... Just laid there like road kill. “Bed’s comfy.” he mumbled.
“You haven’t even gotten under the blankets yet.” but he was already fast asleep. "You're so precious." the girl smiled at him, sitting next to him for a few seconds, admiring his beauty and caressing his face. "If only wish I wasn't so afraid to tell you how much I love you." she whispered softly, pressing a kiss on his forehead.
Without realising, she started slowly taking off his boots and socks, his already unbuttoned shirt, his belt and jeans, then grabbed some of the sleep wear he left over at her home and dressed him in a black Tshirt and a pair of sweat pants. He looked so adorable, Kat couldn't help but coo at how cute he was, as she tucked him in bed and he immediately went to hug the pillow.
Tranquility took over her as if this peace and quiet was nothing more than their usual, nightly routine, and she hummed to herself softly as she got ready for bed. Once she claimed her spot next to him, she couldn't help but caress his messy locks of sandy hair and sing to him the lullaby her mother always hummed to her whenever she would ward away the evil nightmares and terrors of the past plaguing her.
Sleep, my dear one, sleep, my beauty,
The stars will stand guard.
If a shadow tries to creep toward you —
Let it take my path instead,
Let it forget your name.
Sleep, my child, in dampened dark,
Dreams will guide you homeward.
Shadows walk behind my steps—
Silence guards the night.
Once the morning Sun peered its light through the window, Kat was already up and into the kitchen to make some breakfast for the two of them. She was going to surprise him with breakfast in bed - She doubted he ever had anything like that done for him before. In a way, she was kinda excited to see his reaction.
A simple omelette, some fried bacon, toast, a glass of juice and a little glass holding a pretty flower. It can't get more American than this, right? It's what she saw in movies, so it had to be good - Right?
Placing everything on a tray, she placed it by his nightstand and went to kneel in bed by his side, caressing his face. "Wake up, beautiful. Breakfast is ready." it might have been almost afternoon, but for someone with a probable raging hangover, it was always time for breakfast.
"Hmmm...? Wha'chu talkin' 'bout, sweet cheeks...?" he mumbled aimlessly, until he took a long whiff of the air, and his eyes shot open. "That smells god damn good."
"I hope it tastes just as good, if not, better." with a smile, the girl grabbed the tray off the stand as the boy dragged himself in a sitting position, placing the tray on his lap.
"You, my girl, are an angel." the poor, disoriented boy switched his gaze from the food, to the girl, back and forth. "Wha' did I do to deserve this?"
"You're my boyfriend. Do I need a reason to do cute things for you?" she tilted her head to the side, slightly confused. "My dad said a girl always takes care of the boy she likes; And mum said boys don't get enough appreciation and stuff. So - I hope you like it." she smiled sweetly at the boy, who could only stare down at the food with a bittersweet smile.
"You're too good for me, Betty Boop. There ain't a thing 'bout you that ain't god damn perfect. What the fuck do you even want from a fuck up mess of a guy like me? Ain't no way a girl like you should aim for a hopeless dumbass like me." the girl was confused at the sudden moment of weakness and self-deprecation. She couldn't understand why the nice gesture of hers garnered such a strong, negative reaction from him.
"I'm sorry... I don't understand what you're saying." the girl spoke in a sweet, sympathetic tone. "I just thought I would do something nice for you, because you always treat me so nicely, and take care of me and protect me." she explained herself. "Did I... Do something wrong? The movies said that the breakfast Americans love - Flower and all. Should I have done something different?"
Billy looked at her with wide eyes, his jaw agape as if he's seen the Eighth World Wonder. "Girl, you crazy? What I'm saying is - My own mother never treated me this good - What the fuck did I do to deserve someone as good as you?"
"Uhm..." the girl scratched the back of her neck. "I guess... You, uh... Talked to me... And became my friend... And stood up for me... And treated me like a princess..."
"It was a figure of speech." his words confused the girl more than before. Sighing, he shook his head and gingerly took her hands, bringing her closer. "So, what happened last night?"
"How much do you remember?" the girl asked, leaning her head on his shoulder as he finally started eating.
"We got to Tina's." he munched happily on the food. "And then I started arguing with some piece of shit who said he was a better player than Tommy. As if twig-dick could even compete with that muscle-head."
"That's it?" the girl asked, surprised that he was missing such a big chunk of the previous night. He simply hummed positively. "Well, I drove you here, tucked you in bed, and that's about it. You were out like a light."
"That's it?" the girl nodded. "No stupid comments from those retards? No touchy-feely on my part?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle." she shrugged her shoulders non-chalantly, as if the previous night didn't make her cry. "I didn't think you'd want to go to your home, so I just took you here. You had some clothes around and just kinda changed yourself and hugged the pillow - Fell asleep immediately."
"What about that song? What was that from?" he asked, confusing the girl.
"Song? What song?" the boy frowned a bit, as if his brain was processing difficult equations, and then he started humming the familiar tune. "Oh...! You remember that?" he nodded. "I sang to you while you were asleep. I didn't think you'd remember it." she giggled sweetly. "How lovely!"
"Nice song." he muttered, then put aside the tray and went down, placing his head on her lap and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Sing it again."
With a smile, Kat leaned back on the bed rest and caressed his hair once again, singing to him the sweet lullaby; He relaxed so much that he fell right back to sleep. How very precious of him.
Hours later when Billy finally woke up for good, they decided to watch a movie before he would have to leave back to his unfortunate home. He grabbed a coke from the fridge, watching the girl preparing tea from herself. She was so enticing, wearing that long Scorpions Tshirt of his, he couldn't help but get behind her, hugging her and swaying slowly together. His lips found their way to the shell of her ear, to the side of her face and to her neck and shoulders - She didn't seem to protest - However, one thing he noticed but kept quiet about was, once again, that peculiar '3' tattoo on the back of her neck, slightly visible through her hair... And from the way the neck of the blouse fell to the side a little, he could see light-coloured lines adorning her otherwise porcelain skin. With the way Billy punches things so often, he knows more than perfect how old scars look... He just couldn't possibly understand how in the world couldn't someone as reserved and sedentary like her - An outright bookworm - Could possibly be having such awful scars down her back...? Could something have happened before? The parents that she loved so much... No it couldn't be, definitely not them - Not every parent is as shitty as his are.
"Something wrong, Billy?" the girl turned slightly to look up at him, but the boy simply kissed her sweet lips.
"Nothing can be wrong with you around, dollface." as smooth as ever, but the image of those scars will linger in his head forever.
Christmas was approaching, but not with good news for Will and his DnD party, as the problems of the Upside Down were going to spread so much through Hawkins that even Kat, with her forced ignorance, was going to get dragged into their mess.
Will was laying on the couch, half conscious while the other kids were sitting around a round table; Steve was leaning by the window, while Nancy was trying to comfort Jonathan; The police guy was angrily talking on the phone, and poor Joyce was a catatonic mess after having witnessed her lover being torn apart and eaten by those damn monsters. There seemed no hope for them. Their campaign was doomed for failure. Silence was their only friend.
"If it was just Dart... Maybe we could have killed him, but... There's a whole army now." Dustin looked down at his fiddling hands.
Mike snapped in an instant. "HIS army." he realised. "His army!" he exclaimed, suddenly revitalised. "Maybe if we stop him, we can stop his army too!" he rushed to the drawing Will made of a huge shadow monster, showing it to the others. "The shadow monster - It got Will that day on the field. The doctor said it was like a virus, it infected him."
"So this virus is connecting him to the tunnels?" Max asked, trying to make sense of this mess.
"To the tunnels, monsters, the Upside Down, everything." Mike replied in a second, so fast that Steve needed him to slow down. "The shadow monster is inside everything, and if the vines feel something like pain, then so does Will." Lucas added that Dart feels the same also. "Yeah, just like what Mr. Clarke taught us. The Hive Mind."
Steve, once again, was confused, so Dustin's encyclopedic knowledge replied. "A collective consciousness. It's a super-organism."
"And this is the thing that controls everything. It's the brain." Mike continued his explanation.
"Like the Mind Flayer!" Lucas and Mike gasped in eureka at Dustin's comment, watching him throw down the huge book of DnD rules. Everyone gathered around the book as the boy explained what the hell was the deal with this Mind Flayer, how he's from another dimension and he's so damn ancient. H.P. Lovecraft would be impressed. He continued to explain how he uses some kind of highly-developed psionic powers to enslave other races.
"Okay, so - This Mind Flamer thing --" Dustin corrected her. "-- Flayer. Fine. What does it want?"
"To conquer us, basically." he explained. "It believes it's the master race." smart Steve had to make the analogy to the Nazis. The important part was that this thing wants to take over other worlds he sees as inferior and destroy them eventually. Or something like that.
"Okay, so if this thing is like a brain that's controlling everything, then if we kill it --" Nancy started, and her brother continued her sentence. "-- We kill everything it controls."
"We win." Dustin said.
"Theoretically." Lucas added pessimistically.
Unfortunately, the only way they knew how to kill it... Was with un undead army... Because zombies don't have brains.
Amazing.
After Hopper started arguing with the kids who claimed the monsters can't be killed by bullets, Joyce's weak voice garnered everyone's silence, as she sniffled and proclaimed they had to kill that fucking monster. It killed her lover, but it will not claim her child also.
"We HAVE to kill it." she said. "I WANT to kill it."
"Me too, Joyce, me too - But how do we do that? We don't exactly know what we're dealing with here." Hopper came to her, gently trying to ground her.
"No, but he does." Mike looked at Will. "If anyone knows how to destroy this thing, it's Will. He's connected to it. He'll know its weakness."
"I thought we couldn't trust him." Max mumbled. "That he's a spy for the Mind Flayer now."
"Do we have any other ideas?" Mike asked her.
"I think I do." Max ran to the phone. "I know someone who can help us." she said, quickly dialling the phone number. "You guys said El is like... A mage, right? Well - She's just like El. Maybe better even! I can guarantee, I've seen her powers first hand."
"Just like El? Max, what are you talking about?" Lucas asked, rushing to her side. "Did you tell someone else about all this?!"
"I didn't need to." Max said deadpan. "She already knows all about this, and more." she smirked, as if she's got the coolest big sis. "She'll know how to help."
Finally, the ringing tone disappeared, and she was greeted by a confused voice. "Hello? Katrina Black speaking, who is this?"
"Kat!" Max chirped out. "Kat, we need you! ASAP! Code red emergency!" she yelled out frantically.
"Whoa, hey, slow down there, what's going on? Who is 'We' and what happened?" Kat asked, placing her book down and trying to understand what was going on.
"We're dealing with a Mind Flayer! He took control of Will and made him into a Spy. He's got a whole army now and he's trying to destroy us! We need your help! Come on, hurry!" Max tried to rush the girl.
"Who's Will?" Kat blinked in confusion. "Where are you and who are you with?"
"Will - Will Byers. Y'know, one of the guys from the group that I wanted to join? We're at his house. He's in a bad state right now. I think only you can help him." Max continued speaking.
"Will Byers - Jonathan's younger brother? Are you kidding me? How did you guys get -- No, never mind. You guys are all a bunch of nerds." she sighed deeply. "I'll bring out all the weapons I can muster and be there ASAP. Wait for me and don't do anything stupid, okay? If anything happens to you, Billy will kill me."
"Thanks, Kat. Bye." she hung up. "Okay, she's coming."
"Did you say - Kat - By any chance?" Nancy blinked in surprise. "Girl my age, pretty, long red hair, green eyes?" Max nodded her head proudly. "Kat -- Kat has powers?!" she was just as shocked as Steve and Jonathan.
"It certainly fooled me." Jonathan mumbled, just as surprised.
The biggest shock was on Harrington's part, however, as he face palmed so hard it resounded through the place. "I've been such a dumb ass." Jonathan and Nancy nodded simultaneously. "If I were her, I'd have snapped my neck ten thousand times." they nodded again, watching him groan in agony. "God damn it."
Kat used her 'military' training to quickly get dressed in her mother's uniform - Comfy black pants, white tank top and a jacket over. She looked in the mirror as she fixed the cap over her head and smiled thinly. She hadn't thought she would ever have to fight, especially not a whole army of monsters that want to take over to world... The army that she was supposed to bring into this world for experiments and all that. Horrible.
With a whole arsenal of weapons thrown in the trunk of the car, she zoomed all the way to the Byers residence, thankful that she was once friends with Jonathan and knew where he lived.
Parking in a hurry, she gets out of the car and hoists some rifles on her back, an axe in her left arm and a sword by her hip. The rest remain for emergency in the car.
She politely knocked on the door before entering. "Freaky Kommie Kat at your service." her presence there surely garnered mixed reactions.
"Kat, you came! You really came! Thank goodness!" Max jump-hugged her tightly.
"Kat, I... I don't know what to say." Nancy slowly approached her - She didn't feel betrayed, she could obviously understand why she'd never say her secret to her... It was a pitiful smile that empathised with her. "Will you be okay?"
Dropping the weapons on the ground, Kat took off her hat and flipped her head down, taking all the hair from the back of her neck so the tattoo will be seen. "Experiment number 1 - Died of internal hemorrhage after overexerting his powers. Failure." Kat said. "Experiment number 2 - Went into a deep coma after overusing her powers. Cerebral activity null. Failure." she continued. "Experiment number 3 - Phenotypical abnormalities caused by genetic mutations appeared after overusing powers. Black hair turned red after suffering severe blood loss. Black eyes turned green after awakening from coma. Subject unresponsive to stimulus. Failure." she cleared her throat as she straightened. "Subject disappeared from the facility after being kidnapped by the two researchers experimenting on her. Location unknown... Wanted by any means, dead or alive." she smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders. "Bet I've got a better character backstory than all of you, DnD nerds put together." she chuckled nervously at them.
Through the silence, the only one who managed to break free of their stun was Jonathan, who gathered Kat in a tight, desperate embrace. "Please... Please, save my brother."
"Don't worry. I will do everything I can to save Will. I promise." with a sweet smile, she extended her pinky at him. "I heard Americans like to do this thing - Pinky promise, was it? Because the little finger, you guys call it 'Pinky'. It's very cute. So - You hook your pinkies, and say - I pinky promise. So, I pinky promise that I will do all I can to save your brother."
"Thank you. Truly... Thank you."
"So then, what's the status? Where's Will and how are we doing?" Kat asked, digging her hands in her pockets.
"Poorly." Mike scoffed. "We completely blinded out the shed. We think, if he doesn't know where he is, he can't spy on us." he continued. "We think he knows the Mind Flayer's weakness."
"Smart." Kat nodded her head. "Okay, take me to him. I'll see what I can do."
Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan and Mike escorted Kat to the shed where they kept Will bound to a chair. He was wearing a hospital gown. Poor kid looked like he was half-dead already. "Alright. Here's what I'll do." she takes out a scarf which she blindfolded herself with then knelt on the ground in front of the kid. "Bring a radio or something or start it. Then, make sure you have a pen and a paper to write the things that the radio will say once I create the connection with him. You will hear static instead of the radio channel, and then faint words or letters will blurt out."
"Alright." Jonathan said, rushing out to get everything prepared.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything you're doing for my Will." Joyce wanted to reach out and hug the girl, but was too afraid to disturb her focus.
"Thank me after I get good results." the girl chuckled.
Soon enough all was set and the room became graveyard quiet. Kat was clutching and fiddling nervously with her Buddhist rosary beads that her father held sacred. He told her nothing bad will ever happen to her if she recited the Heart Sutra.
"Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā..." she chanted unconsciously - It might have been looking weird for the others around her, but her heart was filled with peace and safety whenever she said that mantra, over and over and over again, until her soul was free and her mind clear of all distractions.
In real life, she was still chanting the sanskrit Sutra, but inside her mind, she was in a black void, a complete different dimension altogether - A place where there only her and Will Byers, who was being shackled to the hands, feet and neck, and looking completely terrified.
"Hello, Will." she slowly stepped in front of him. "I know you're scared, but this fear won't last for much longer." she spoke softly. "My name is Kat. I'm just like Eleven." she explained briefly. "Everyone is waiting for you at home."
"I can't go home... HE is watching me... Every time I'm awake... HE watches. HE knows everything. If I wake up... He will... He'll..." the poor boy stammered through his tears.
"He will not." Kat answered firmly. "This is why I'm here. To protect you." she said. "Nothing you say now will be heard by HIM."
"How do you know that?" he cried out desperately.
"I will not let him. It's that simple." she said. "If you think of that entity as a Mind Flayer, consider me the impenetrable shield that ensures you don't get mind controlled by it." she went on. "Of course, I can only do that for a limited amount of time, and that's only when you see me in front of you. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee you anything."
"Will the chains disappear? Can you take me home, Kat? Please? I wanna go home..." Will whimpered pitifully.
"No." she said. "I cannot take you home - But what I can do is ensure the others know how to kill that fucker who is controlling you. I can try to destroy some of the chains binding you, but once I do that, HE will know I am here and will tear us away. So, until then, I need to know everything you can tell me about that monster."
On the outside, Hopper and the others could hear the tapping of Will's fingers against his chair - He was signaling Morse Code, whilst the radio was painfully slow in translating it. Will wanted everyone to know he was still there, that he was still fighting for autonomy over his mind.
"He likes it cold. I don't know why - But whenever there's heat around, there's so much pain. He writhes in pain and goes berserk. He hurts me." he admitted, weeping like a baby.
"What do we have to do to bring him direct pain, but not you?" Kat asked.
"I... I don't know..." Will trembled. "The tunnels... The monsters... If you light them on fire, maybe..." he stuttered. "You have to close the gate. If you do that, HE can't bring more monsters in our world."
"So there's some kind of portal that we have to close - A portal that connects our world to that of the Upside Down?" Kat deduced.
"I think so - Maybe, I don't know --" Will was shaking terribly.
"Okay, Will, listen to me." she spoke sternly. "Calm down and look at me." she raised her hand towards him. "I cannot touch you physically - But with my powers, I will try to systematically break you free of one shackle at a time. It could be that the Flayer will find us out and stop this before I can finish - But if even one shackle is destroyed, you can have more control over your mind and fight him yourself. We're doing everything we can to stop him. Just tonight, it's all I ask you. Fight one more night, and we will be able to take you home."
Poor Will nodded pitifully through his tears. "O-Okay... I-I will try my best..."
After the ones outside heard "CLOSE GATE" and "HE LIKES IT COLD", they heard a terrifying shrill screech from Will, who was fighting in the chair; It was Katrina's doing, as she was using her power to destroy the painful chains holding him back.
She kept apologising to him, her heart shattering, seeing him in so much agony, but she rejoiced when the shackle on his left arm was destroyed and dissolved into nothingness.
"It worked! Kat, it worked!" but his glee was soon overcome by dread, hearing a terrible growl echoing menacingly through the darkness. "KAT, YOU HAVE TO GO! LEAVE ME HERE - OR HE WILL KILL YOU!"
"No, he won't." once again, she focused on another shackle; This time, it was much more difficult to complete the task. A heavy weight was pressing on her body as if a huge boulder was trying to crush her. "Gah...Cào nǐ mā..." she wasn't one to use profanities, but if the Mind Flayer had a mother that gave birth or created him... Well... She wasn't gonna take her swear very lightly.
With another shackle dissolved, the monster roared loudly, deafening the two. Will was screaming in the real world, while Katrina was doing the same, inside her mind, though her outside body was still chanting the sutra. With the third shackle, she was being lit on fire, scorching at her very bones and charring her alive. She couldn't hear Will's voice anymore, but she knew he was still there. She knew she had to try her hardest to save him. Life gave her a second chance to live - That meant she can only reach Samsara if she does good deeds. The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara Guanyin said so, with her compassion, one must always help out those in need - And only the Heavens know, Will needed all the help he could get.
"Kat, stop, please! He's coming! He's here! He will kill you before you destroy the chains! Go! Go out, tell my mum and brother that I love them!" he was struggling against the shackles, trying to yell out to her, but it was in vain. Seeing her form burning alive was terrifying.
"Tell them that yourself, kid." she gritted through her teeth, braving through the searing of her nerves.
"In emptiness there is no form, no sensation, no perception, no memory and no consciousness." in her mind, as well as outside, she was speaking out the words louder - The words in sanskrit that her father taught her - The words that she chanted, the mantra that became her every day prayer to the universe. "No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body and no mind." she continued, watching as she successfully broke another chain, and settled for the fourth one. "No shape, no sound, no smell, no taste, no feeling and no thought;
no element of perception, from eye to conceptual consciousness." what once was cinders and ashes became frozen and cold, her body was now being crystallised with frost from the inside. "No causal link, from ignorance to old age and death, and no end of causal link, from ignorance to old age and death." wind was whipping and slashing at her skin, flaying flesh from bone, reminiscent of old wounds and scars. "No suffering, no source, no relief, no path..." with the fourth link broken, the Mind Flayer was in plain sight; As HE felt the last shackle of his slave being meddled with, his psychic powers rained down torment upon the girl, a high-level mind breaking spell taking effect. "No knowledge, no attainment and no non-attainment." she was close... So close... Winning a fight against the Mind Flayer itself... So close...
But reality shattered around her like a mirror glass punched into nothingness; The blindfold was ripped off her face, and the lights of the lantern brought her back to reality.
She was on the ground, blood all over her, iron in her mouth and streaming down from her eyes.
"... What happened... ?" she managed to find the mental fortitude to search for the English words she needed.
"Are you alright?!" Joyce fell to her knees in front of the girl, using her jacket to clean her face; Blood was caked and clogged on her cheeks, and she looked terrible. "You... You were screaming and... You looked like you were having a seizure."
"I don't know..." she panted, trying to catch her breath. "Will is shackled. I tried to break his chains... I was almost there. One more, and I would have gotten him out of HIS claws, and yet... Something happened that brought his attention."
"... The phone rang." Jonathan groaned angrily.
"... Excuse me?" the girl's jaw fell down in shock.
"I think the monster... Uh... Was alerted or something because the phone rang in the house." Kat let out a deep sigh, shaking her head.
"Never mind. Will is going to fight the Mind Flayer for us - And in return, we have to save him." Kat spoke, trying to get up, but her body was too weak for that. Jonathan quickly gathered her in his arms and helped her stand, guiding her, along with the rest, inside the house for a quick debriefing.
"Oh my God, Kat, what the hell happened?!" Max gasped loudly, jumping down by her side.
"I got burnt, frozen, flayed and mind broken." she showed a weak wide grin and a thumbs up. "That aside - Will said we have to burn the tunnels or something. And close a gate-portal-thingy to stop the Mind Flayer's army from jumping in our world. Or something like that."
"Easier said than done." Lucas slumped down in a chair. Nancy gently got a wet napkin to clean Kat's face while Steve couldn't help but stare with horror at the girl. He couldn't believe he's been such an asshole to the girl who literally took on some kind of Sci-Fi boss-monster. She could have mind-broken him like an ant!
"And, uh... I don't know if you know, but the phone rang." Dustin coughed awkwardly - In that second, a bunch of scary growls and roars were heard from the far outside.
"... Don't tell me..." the red head felt like she was going to faint. "Can someone give me an energy drink or something? I feel like I'll decompose like a cadavre in a pond."
"Best I can do is some shitty coffee." Hopped patted her shoulder.
"That will do." she nodded weakly.
"Yeah, so, uh... The Mind Flayer knows where we are." Lucas gulped.
"Yep. We're kinda screwed." Max admitted, with a sarcastic smile.
"It's okay. Mama taught me all about weapons." Kat laughed a bit, getting up on wobbly feet. "King Steve here sports one nasty bat here. Bet he can take a guy or two." she stumbled towards the door. "I'll get all my arsenal in the house. I trust Nancy is as much of a fairy as I am."
Following her suit, Hopper also got some weapons, and as promised, Nancy knew how to use a shotgun. The older ones who knew how to use a weapon got in the front to shield the little ones; The sound of screeching beasts was approaching, everyone was tense.
Suddenly, the window broke and a demo-dog was laying dead on the ground. Very dead.
The door opened and an edgy girl wearing all black and sporting a mean nosebleed got in. She was smiling nervously. She was Eleven.
After Mike had a mental break down over Hopper hiding the girl away from him, Kat dropped the rifle and stepped in front of the newcomer, raising her hand at him. "Hi. Eleven." she smiled. "I'm Three. Last time I saw you, you were a little baby"
"Three...?" El gasped, not knowing how to react. "The one who got away! You're the one I heard so much about...!" she was in awe.
"The one and only." she nodded her head. "Go on to your friends. I won't keep you." she went to plop down on the couch. "I need a long rest. You guys explain the rest to her. I'm exhausted."
After a much needed reunion, they found out the 'Gate' they are supposed to close is the very one Eleven opened before, therefore, she was the one tasked with doing this now. Everyone had a plan to fight now.
Jonathan, Joyce and Nancy were going to get Will to another location to make the host uninhabitable - To 'burn' the monster out of him. Once that happens, Hopper and Eleven will make sure to close the gate.
Meanwhile, Kat and Steve will remain the babysitters at the home until further notice.
Finally some peace and quiet for them. Hopefully, at least.
"Hey, Harrington? You're on first watch. Wake me up with something happens. I need to hibernate after all that." and she was out like a light.
And just like a good babysitter, Steve let Dustin clear out the fridge and they stuck the DemoDog inside for... Whatever reason. Lucal and Max were cleaning around and Mike was pacing around super worried about El.
But the party had another brilliant idea - Make an opening for Eleven to close the gate by drawing the army's attention... By getting the tunnel on fire. The voice of reason was Steve, and he was doing a great job at it - Until some suspicious feral sounds came from around the house.
Harrington got his bat out as the kids immediately went quiet. Kat immediately jumped to her feet and grabbed the axe she brought, placing her hand on Steve's shoulder. "You stay here and protect them. I go out."
"Didn't you do enough? You wanna die out there or something?" Harrington showed surprising concern for her. "Look, I know I was a shithead with you, and I'm sorry, okay? For real - But you look like you went through hell to help Will and you're about to pass out on the spot. I can't let you get out to fight who knows how many monsters."
Kat showed an impish grin, nudging the guy in the ribs gently. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you have a crush on me." she laughed playfully. "You know me. I'm Freaky Kommie Kat for a reason. Vodka Queen and all." she put the axe on her shoulder and made a peace sign. "I'll be back in a jiffy. Don't miss me too much." and with that, she was gone to make the rounds in the perimeter.
"Think she'll be okay?" Dustin asked, watching her go.
"Of course she will! She's super tough!" Max said all smug.
"Yeah... She is tough." the young man nodded to himself.
As she was doing searching the area for loose monsters, chopping them down like she was a lumberjack babushka for hire, the guys received an unexpected guest at the door. They were screwed worse than if the Mind Flayer himself was there, knocking at their door.
Filled with uncontrollable rage and swagger, Billy got out of his car, cigarette in his hand and a wide, mocking smirk on his face; Leather jacket placed over a half-buttoned sexy red shirt, just like he knew Kat would love to see him, especially with that dangling necklace over his chest. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to give her a surprise visit as he planned because he just had to find that stupid little sister who ran away from home. As if it was HIS fault that she was a dumb bitch and didn't give a fuck about him - If she did, she wouldn't have gotten him in so much trouble. Stupid Max.
"Am I dreaming, or is that you, Harrington?" he called out with an amused bark, puffing out that cigarette into the aint.
"Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants." Steve had his hands on his hips like an angry mother seeing her late child home.
"What are you doing here, amigo?" he took of his jacket, throwing it inside the car and slamming the door shut.
Steve approached Billy, just as the other did the same. "I could ask you the same thing - Amigo." he hated how intimidating this fucker looked - And he hated what will happen once Kat gets in the house and this psycho sees her being all bloody and bruised. He might actually kill someone for real.
"Looking for my stepsister. A little birdie told me she was here." Billy spoke truthfully, not taking the cig from between his plump lips.
"Huh, that's weird. I don't know her." Steve lied in a low, threatening voice. He wasn't doing such a great job, he feared.
"Small? Redhead? Bit of a bitch?" Billy frowned theatrically. "Y'know, like a smaller version of Kat, but not as pretty." he said. "Surely, you remember how she looked six years ago, right? You were her first friend as far as she told me."
He was totally fucked. "Doesn't ring a bell. Sorry, buddy." Steve looked away for a split second.
Billy sighed and smiled sarcastically. "You know, I just don't know this..." he clicked his tongue, gesticulating dramatically. "This whole situation, Harrington, I don't know. It's giving me the heebie-jeebies."
"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Steve asked, trying to appear confident and strong. This guy was unpredictable.
Billy took another drag of the cigarette. "My 13 year old sister goes missing all day, and then I find her with you, in a stranger's house." he looked disgusted at Steve. "And you lie to me about it." he went on. "Are you trying to do to her what you couldn't with Kat or what?"
What a low blow. Still, Steve chuckled and looked away in disdain. "Man, were you dropped too much as a child, or what?" he watched as the psycho blew the smoke in his face, clicking his tongue out of his mouth, crazy eyes and all. "I don't know what you don't understand about what I just said." he continued categorically. "She is not here."
Billy looked towards the house, taking another drag of the cigarette. "Then who is that?" he whispered at Steve, who turned around and saw the idiots standing there by the window. Great. He was triple fucked.
"Oh, shit..." he turned back to Billy. "Listen--" but he was roughly pushed to the ground.
"I told you to plant your feet." Hargrove warned, kicking his stomach harshly, then stomping to the house, slamming the door wide open.
From there, all hell broke loose. Hargrove picked Lucas up and roughed him up, everyone was yelling; Harrington got back inside the house and sucker-punched Billy's nose until blood went down to his lips - And began an outright brawl between the two guys, hitting each other, destroying shit and what not while the kids were cheering for Steve.
Billy went berserk, everyone was panicking...
And then the door was opened.
"What the hell is going on?"
Everyone turned their head collectively, seeing the red head get inside the house, axe dirty and bloody, falling onto the ground. "What - What is going on? And -- Billy? Why are you here? Wha--" she had a sudden spell of faintness and almost fell off her feet; She tried to grab the furniture nearby, but someone caught her. Billy was faster. Billy was always there to catch her when she needed him.
"Why are you here?" the Californian slowly lowered her to the ground - He was filled with too much adrenaline with rage. "Why? What's going on?! Is everyone plotting to get me killed or what?!"
"It's... A very long story." she tried to catch her breath. "Do you have time?"
"No - No, I fucking don't!" he didn't want to yell at her, but he couldn't stop himself. "I'm the one getting hell at home every fucking time that little shit does something to intentionally get me in trouble - She never even gets as much as a scold - But me? Ohhh, no sir, no way in fucking hell do I get some fucking leniency!" he punched the ground hard enough to draw blood. "Why do I have to waste my fucking life looking for a little bitch who runs away from home?!"
"Because if she didn't, we would all be dead by tomorrow." she said it with such a serious tone, that it made Billy flabbergast - He then got up in a fit of laughter.
"Are you kidding - Are you for real? You must be fucking joking, right? Even you, Kat? Even you? Really?" he was pacing around violently.
"Billy - Look at me. Please." Kat used the night stand to drag herself up. "Please - Look at me. I can explain everything. Just please - Listen to me."
"I don't wanna fucking listen, Kat, I fucking don't! I'm fucking done with this -- Everything! I'm done with this fucking town, with this fucking family -- With her! With everything!" he punched the nearby wall again.
"Billy - My darling, my soulmate, love of my life - I swear to the Heavens, if you don't look at me and listen to what I have to say, I will make you listen to me." he did not, in fact, even hear what she was saying. With a sigh, she signaled to the kids to drag a beaten up Harrington out of the room so they can have some privacy. Then, she grabbed Billy by the shirt and pushed him onto the couch, straddling his lap and cupping his face, forcing him to look into her eyes. "Are you going to listen now - Please?"
"That's a lot of effort you put into making me listen." he mumbled, his eyes wide and sparkling looking with awe into her beautiful eyes. "Are you gonna tell me why do you look like you were a punching bag for a whole MMA tournament?"
"There are a lot of things about me that I didn't want to tell you. A lot of things that... That will probably make you think I deserve to be called a freak, and that will drive you away from me. And if that happens, I won't hold it against you." she began speaking, though reluctantly.
Billy furrowed his brows. "The hell you talking about?"
"I... The things I told you about me... Moving here six years ago, my parents and all... They were half-truths... A made up story so that no one would know who I am." she licked her lips, trying to find the strength to tell him the truth. "So... uhmm... There is another dimension out there, called the Upside Down, and in there governs this huge monster called the Mind Flayer, and he has a huge army of monsters that he wants to get into our world, to kill and enslave us until he's conquered the whole world." she hated herself for telling him all this. She felt like a pathetic loser saying the plot of a shitty DnD campaign. She's never played DnD. "This boss guy took over Jonathan Byers' little brother - Who is friends with Nancy's younger brother and the other two guys - And, also, Max for the matter." she continued. "The only way to save the kid from the monster's control was to call... Me. To get inside his mind and fight the monster to release his grip from him, and figure out his weakness to defeat him." she cleared her throat, seeing how confused the boy was... Rightfully so. "And from there, we gathered here so a girl can go to close the portal... the kid's family to get the monster out of the kid... And, uh... We have to go burn the underground tunnels to distract the monsters from attacking the girl trying to close the portal."
A painful silence took over them, as Billy's mouth was agape, and he looked at her like she grew another head or something. "You... You watched a lot of shitty movies to come up with that story, didn't you?"
"Well - No." she admitted. "But, uh... I have proof. And, uhmmm... I can show you, I guess."
"Okay, alright - Let's say I believe this bullshit story." he slapped her thighs, laughing sardonically. "Why call you? You can't even throw a basketball anywhere close to the hoop. You some kind of comic book hero? You're gonna fly through the sky, or become invisible or some shit like that?"
"Erh... Close enough...?" she tilted her head a bit to the side. "Although that would make people look at me with positive eyes." she said, as a matter of fact. "Well..." with a sigh, she hopped off his lap and turn her back at him. She dropped off her jacket and raised the tanktop over her head, removing the hair from the back of her hair, and consequently, remaining only in her bra, the old scars were shown. "I know... I know you noticed them before. And thank you for not saying anything." she turned meekly towards him. "Truth is... I don't know if I had human parents, or I was just an artificial creation in the lab - But, it doesn't take away from the fact that I was created in a communist laboratory where I have been experimented on to the point my my DNA got fucked up and I have some telekinetic powers. The parents I told you about... They were the two researchers who experimented on me - They inflicted all this on me. Over-exertion, exhaustion, overuse of powers... Led to a coma and intense bleeding... But somehow, I survived. The only reason I escaped from that hell was because the Russian got diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the Chinese came out with an escape plan. Together, we played house for a little while. Everything about me is fake - The name you know... My ID card... The name that I gave myself..." the tanktop fell from her hands, and onto the ground, giving a deprecating smile. "I am known as Experiment number 3." she shrugged her shoulders.
"What the fuck." perfectly natural reaction.
"Yes, I know, it's a lot to hear. I hate just thinking about it myself. It's nothing more than a sobby pity party story." she sighed dramatically. "That's why I didn't want to tell you any of this. I didn't want to give more reasons to have people call me a freak - Though I can't really blame them." she started idly playing with her rosary. "I just..." she sighed, hugging herself and looking away. "I just wanted you to think I'm a pretty girl who's worth your time. To go together in Cali and spend the rest of our live being happily ever after... Or whatever they say in fairy tales."
He couldn't take it anymore. He could feel the heat of the Sun on his skin, hear the sound of the waves, and feel of the sand beneath his feet. Just thinking of a future in Cali, with her by his side...
His heart was beating fast, it wanted to pound outside of his chest, he wanted to roar out all his rage and punch all the furniture, people and walls around him --
But seeing his little fairy girl broken to such a degree, scars, bruises and caked blood all over her... His mind went crazy, he felt dizzy and his eyes were stinging, wanting to unleash all the bottled up emotions he held deep inside his soul.
In a second, he leapt towards her, embracing her tightly, not letting go; Her head lay on his chest, and he held her tighter and tighter, like a plushie that was about to explode.
"They're dead... I get that... But did anyone else apart from them do this to you...?" he mumbled in a low, threatening voice. "I will rip apart anyone who ever touches my little princess."
"It was the monster, Billy. You can't harm it." she sighed, nestling into his chest. "This... This happened when I went inside Will's mind. The monster was there as I was trying to destroy the chains around the kid... Burning, freezing, flaying, destroying... It tried everything on me... And when I use my powers for too long... I start bleeding. Nose, eyes, mouth... And then, I seized, apparently."
His grip on her tightened, if ever possible. "You said you got proof?" she nodded. "Show me."
SIlently, she stepped away from his arms and towards the fridge. There, she used her powers to levitate the bag with the DemoDog in it, and revealed the grueling sight. "This... Uh... Is a Demogorgon Dog. DemoDog for short, if you will."
"It's... Dead?" the girl nodded, watching as he crouched to the ground, poking it with a disgusted look. "What the fuck?" she nodded again. "And you're saying there's a bunch of these guys, running around, ready to eat us alive or what?" she nodded a third time. "For fuck's sake."
"I... I'm really sorry, Billy. I never wanted to rope you into this mess. I... I wanted to protect you from... Whatever this all is." the man licked his lips, rubbing his chin a bit, then looked up at the girl, his hands on his hips as if he was ready to battle.
With one last look into the gorgeously painted auburn sky, Kisara turned her back at the noble Murasaki palette of the sunset and stepped towards the stone tablet surrounded by flowers. She crouched down and hesitantly swiped the dust from the inscription. 'Momoi Department Store Fire VIctim Memorial' how somber. She started reading the many names carved into it... From names she didn't know, to Seiji's cousin and uncle... To Tomoko's husband and son... And interestingly enough, to Ooue's parents and brother. It made sense now why she was so invested into unveiling the mystery... She knew far too much for a simple cop trying to do honest work. She was shady, and for good reason.
Kisara still couldn't stand her like leprosy, but she could at least somewhat relate to her pain and grief, to her desperation over the loss of her family. How annoying.
Her heart was pierced and pulsating with a dull pain that was growing ever stronger, as if a ghostly hand was holding it hostage in its clawed cage that was threatening to squish it into a juicy mess. Gross.
Shaking her head, she returned her focus on the last names displayed - And much to her shock, she saw one name completely scratched out and impossible to read. Could that have been some nasty teenage hooligan prank? Or...
She felt her body shiver slightly and her skin get goosebumps. She wasn't sure whether it was the chilling breeze of the summer evening, or simply a very bad feeling. Regardless, Kisara hopped back to her feet, and with one last look at the humble memorial and the lingering spirits of the 25 victims, she returned inside the now vacant Moon Tower.
Once again, she returned to the scene of the crime, stepping into a puddle soaking the spread out flare. Before her eyes, a chaotic scene appeared, involving a fire made by a flare, and people panicking, being guided ironically somewhere in the very back of the shop where the culprit could easily hold them hostage.
Unlike last time, Kisara's path was sprinkled with spiritual phenomena - From toys scattered everywhere, almost as if guiding her towards the Toy Department, to kids' giggles and laughters, reflecting the joy before the incident. How cruel - But she was completely blind and deaf to them, walking as if remote-controlled. She wasn't quite sure what her next step should be, considering she had already gone through the torment of reliving past memories of the victims... Of Okayama Momotarou....
Gripping the handle of the katana, Kisara stepped through the corridor and returned to the ominous, charred back chamber where it all happened; The Demon Tsukuyomi ritual... A mirror, chains and something to burn... And a wish.
Perhaps performing the ritual will give her a clue into what path to take further into her investigation? Clearly, getting rid of this spirit is her task, but... Would that impact Tomoko? What if her anger resurfaces even more? What if...
So many what ifs.
No, that's not the right way to approach this, she should know better. She has to be brave and do what's right - For Tomoko and for all the wronged victims. She has a debt... A moral responsibility to the truth. And justice must prevail - Just like Batman said. Probably.
She has a lighter, she has plenty of materials throughout the store that could easily burn, she has a compact pocket mirror in her bag, and most of all, there's the arsonist' chains all around.
Flashes of burnt bodies went in and out of her vision as she grabbed the still scorching chains and arranged them in a circle. Next, she took some plushies that weren't completely soaked, along with some tinsel and artificial tree branches and placed them in the middle of the chain-circle, making a small camp fire. And finally... As Kakuya said, join two mirrors... She had only one mirror, but the puddle from the sprinkler water served as a perfectly murky reflection.
And now, to sit in the middle of the circle and say the magic words of the ritual...
Kisara knelt on the ground, placing the katana neatly laid in front of her; Closing her eyes, she placed her hands together as if she was praying, carefully wrapping her Buddhist rosary beads around her hands - It helped her when she purified the Kannon Soldier, and hopefully, it will give her strength now too. And for a wish...
"Demon Tsukuyomi... Demon Tsukuyomi... Pleas---"
A gargled sound escaped her throat, raw and panicked, as the air intake was taken away from her violently.
The burning chains she had so carefully placed now bit into her neck, dragged back with ruthless force. Kisara’s eyes flew open, her ritual scattered, her beads slipping from her hands. Her nails dug at the chain links, hot enough to burnt - Not physically, only mentally - And she gasped like a fish on land, her body thrashing in the circle of firelight.
“How many years has it been, girl?” a voice hissed in her ear, slick and venomous. “How many years have I waited to finish what I started. You thought you could hide behind cops? Behind friends? Behind your brother?” he let out a laugh that sounded more like a strained snarl. "How many years have you denied me? The promise we have made as children - Your father's blessings - All of it, you have completely destroyed everything good we could have had!"
Anzo Kenzo was there to finally get his revenge... What he considered was his by right...
Her blood turned to ice hearing his slimy voice, though some part of her had known it would be him. She had expected him to finally make his appearance - But not here, not in this situation... Not now... He had always been the shadow in the corner of her eye, the breath down her neck. And now, here he was — Chains locked around her throat, reeling her back like prey caught in a trap.
Her vision began to blur, streaks of red and orange bleeding into each other like the sunset outside as the fire she’d built crackled mockingly beside her. Kisara’s feet kicked against the soaked tiles, sending plush toys scattering, water splashing, the puddle-mirror rippling uselessly.
With a strangled cry, she forced herself sideways, twisting under his grip; She reached down, grabbing the katana with much effort. Her shoulder screamed with pain as the chain cut into it, but she used her momentum, slamming the side of her head back against his jaw, then hitting the scabbard down his head.
He grunted, loosening his grip just enough for Kisara to tear herself forward, coughing violently, ready to leap to safety down the dark corridor and towards the elevator - Only for him to yank her down by her long scarlet hair. They hit the ground together in a brutal tangle, rolling through wet ash and broken ornaments. Her fingers scraped desperately for any item she could use as a weapon; A shard of glass, a piece of wood, anything. Her katana was left discarded too far away. Anzo was a man - Stronger, taller, his weight pressing into her chest, his deranged laughter serrated blades into her ears... Just like Ishimaru Masaru's psychotic laughter creeped the hell out of his victims.
“You’ve always been mine, Kisara.” Kenzo growled, pinning her wrists with the chain, pressing harder on her throat. “No yakuza shitling, no ghost, not even your brother of family can change that." his grin was wide, splitting his face in two like the Joker. "If you won't have me, then no one can have you either. You die here, Kisara. With me.”
Her lungs burned, her head screamed for oxygen, but somewhere deeper — In that same place where Tomoko’s sorrow and rage had planted itself — A spark flared. A spark that was quickly transforming into wildfire began to take over her senses, blinding her to anything else but murder.
Somewhere in the far back, footsteps echoed wet down the corridor, mumbled voices in the back of her head; She couldn't hear them. Anzo quickly discarded the chain, laughing as he used his fists down on her, over and over again; And when the newcomers saw what was happening, they called out her name - Neither of the two could hear them. Kenzo's hands perfectly covered Kisara's throat, pressing down on her windpipe as her spine bent as if she was exorcised like in movies, all to get some leverage and air.
And then she fell limp, a broken marionette, bloody and bruised, never to recover.
"KISARA!" multiple curses were heard, along with a gunshot, but none matter for the laughing psychopath who was having the time of his life...
Until, with a burst of fury and impeccable composure she stole from movies, Kisara grabbed Anzo by the shirt, pulling him down as she snapped her head forward and butted him square on the bridge of his nose. Bone crunched; blood spurted. His grip faltered, a snarl escaping his lips.
Just as Satoru taught her, she jabbed her knee up into his ribs with all the strength she had left. Anzo slipped from his mounted position, and she took the opportunity to punch his face again, then throw him on the ground, changing positions.
She didn't think she would ever be in the position of an MMA fighter, but she and Satoru watched plenty of matches before where the guy above rained punches down on the other's face - The idiot couldn't parry all of them. She growled and snarled like a feral beast, her fists not hitting with the accuracy she wishes she had, but she was running on fight-or-flight rather than logic. She was still light headed and unconsciously yelling vicious curses and insults to the bastard who dared hurt her over and over again through the years. Her blows landed again and again, fueled by every sleepless night, every phantom whisper, every scar his presence had left on her life. Her knuckles split against his jaw, his cheek, his temple — She wanted to erase him from existence.
But then, with a vicious snarl, Kenzo managed to twist his torso, and his fist shot upward. The punch drove into her ribs like a hammer. Kisara’s breath left her in a broken wheeze, her body lurching sideways. He shoved her hard, throwing her off, scrambling out from under her before she could recover.
She coughed violently, clutching her side, but before she could get up — He was already on his feet, bolting down the dark corridor. "GET BACK HERE, YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! I'LL TEAR YOU APART TILL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT OF YOU!" her scream tore through the ruined Toy Department, echoing off broken glass and wet tiles and charred walls. Instinctually, she leaped to grab the katana, and in one smooth, trembling motion, she unsheathed it, the pristine blade gleaming cold in the flickering firelight. It was thirsty for blood.
And then she was running. Not thinking. Not feeling. Just running. Murder was on her mind, murder in her heart, and murder was all she could think of. Her vision was tunneled, locked on the fleeing silhouette. She didn’t even see Seiji until she slammed into him, as if he were just another obstacle in her path. Her eyes were wide, pupils blown, hair wild, her breath a hiss between clenched teeth. She probably didn't register him at all.
"Shouldn't you stop her?!" Ooue scolded the Yakuza.
"No one will miss that piece of shit."
Her phone lay abandoned behind her, buzzing with the jolly tune of a song, signaling missed calls. Seiji’s sharp eyes caught it, and without hesitation he picked it up, seeing the name written on the display. "You're Kisara's brother, aren't you? Mashita Satoru." he spoke with urgency. "Are you on your way here?" his heart was trembling with fear, pounding against his chest with nervous abandon; He couldn't believe what he saw - The stalker he promised to protect her from almost killed her before his very eyes - How could he let that happen? And how the hell could he let his precious angel get blood on her hands like that? He was the man, he was supposed to protect her... And yet...
"Wha, hey, you must be the Yak brat she likes so much? Amanome, was it?" Seiji bit back a snarky reply and simply said yes. "Where's Kisara?"
"We're at the Moon Tower. She got attacked by Anzo." the line was silent, except for the faint sound of a punch against the wall from Satoru's end. "She's out for blood and has a weapon. I don't think there's anyone but you who can stop her from doing something she might regret."
Mashita sighed heavily. "She won't regret it." he grit his teeth in anger. "But like hell can I let my little sister be thrown in jail for the incompetence of the cops." he turned his head to Yashiki. "Slam the pedal, Yashiki. We gotta hurry." he returned to speak in the phone. "Better make sure she's still alive by the time I arrive. No stupid ghosts or anything."
"Believe it or not, the ghost is her best friend." Seiji muttered before hanging up.
"Amanome, look. She already started the ritual." the signs of struggle were evident against the crashed ritual - Even still, things were easily fixable.
"Let's get to work quickly. Kakuya's making me hurry. There's not much time left."
Kijima grabbed the chains and put them in a circle, Reina grabbed her lighter and lit up a fire, while Seiji used Kisara's mirror to create the joined reflection. With the cursed boy making his wish - To not be cursed any longer - He chanted the Demon Tsukuyomi the same way Ishimaru Masaru did.
The air grew heavy. The fire sputtered unnaturally, shadows stretching long across the ruined shelves. A chill swept through the space, coiling around them like a tide.
And in the heart of the circle, the figure began to manifest.
The Demon Tsukuyomi had arrived.
As the trio began their purifying ritual against the monstrosity that had arrived, Anzo banged against the elevator and quickly slipped inside, praying for it to be closed before the enraged banshee of a woman could catch him. Thankfully for him, his prayers were answered one last time... Though against his wishes, the elevator went up to the roof, instead of going down, to escape the building.
Kisara banged against the elevator violently, punching the button until it finally opened its doors for her, allowing her to get in and follow her biggest enemy. She sprung out of it before the doors could fully open. "I found you, little mouse~! Come out, come out and play with me~!" Anzo stumbled through, his chest heaving, his shoes slipping against the cold cement. His hands clawed at the ledge as if there could be escape beyond it, but there was none. Only the open sky — And her.
Kisara ran after him, katana gleaming in the crimson moonlight, her hair clinging wild to her tear-streaked, bloodied face. “RUN, RABBIT, RUN!” she shrieked, her voice broken and raw, echoing across the rooftop. “You’re not escaping your fate this time!” Anzo glanced over his shoulder, panic flickering in his eyes as he scrambled toward the far side of the roof. “Fish bait!” she screamed. “That’s all you are! I’ll slice you into tiny little bits and feed you to the gutters like the roach you are!”
Anzo whipped around to dodge, but the katana’s silver arc was faster. The blade bit into his side, tearing through cloth and flesh. He howled, clutching his ribs as blood sprayed in a crescent. Kisara didn’t stop. She pressed forward, slashing again, again, the sound of steel tearing through him mixing with his pitiful cries. Her rage was blind, her strength unrelenting and her vengeance nigh.
One final strike carved across his neck, dropping him head to his feet. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the rooftop dark red. His breath came in wet, shallow gasps as his disembodied head stared at her in disbelief — But she wasn’t looking at his face anymore. Anzo Kenzo's body was slashed into numerous uneven pieces during her rage.
When it was finally over and there was hardly anything left to slash save for the porridge of bloody viscera and bone, the perpetrator let out a scream that carried every ounce of pain, humiliation, and fear he had ever inflicted on her -
And then the rooftop fell silent save for the wet sound of blood drops falling down her blade, and onto the ground.
Kisara stood over what once was a human, her chest heaving, arms shaking as the katana dripped scarlet onto the puddle below. For one suspended moment, she seemed frozen. Then her lips twitched, curled upward, and a sound bubbled out of her throat.
A laugh.
It started small, fractured — And then it grew ever more.
She threw her head back, laughing like a maniac beneath the swollen red moon. Blood splattered across her face, catching the light like war paint, and she twirled the katana with an almost graceful flick. Her body began to move, her feet swaying in strange, uneven steps — An eerie echo of an elegant dance she had once seen in dramas. Twirling, bending, her arms extending like a dancer’s, but jerky, erratic, stained in sin.
Tears mixed with blood streamed down her cheeks as her giggles broke between sobs, blending madness and elation into one unrestrained sound. “He’s dead… he’s dead! He can’t hurt me anymore! I’m free… I’m finally free!” she danced around his corpse bits, spinning lightly on her toes, katana trailing arcs of blood across the rooftop. The moon above glowed a deep crimson, ominous and vast, casting her in its murderous light. It was an infernal moon.
So caught in her euphoric bloodlust, Kisara didn’t even notice when the elevator door clanged open again. She didn’t see Seiji, Akira, and Reina step onto the roof — Or the way shadows shifted as the form of the Demon Tsukuyomi loomed behind them, spectral and dreadful.
In her world, there was only laughter, only release. Only freedom.
She didn't hear them calling her - It was almost as if she was possessed, locked in a dark jail among murderous whispers controlling her mind; A puppeteer controlling her body. She continued to dance, and laugh, and smile, to sob and shriek, and sway all across the rooftop.
Seiji ran up to her, grabbing her by the wrists, trying to talk to her. "Tomoko-san... Revenge is so good... Ishimaru Masaru... Evil fucking bastard... And Anzo now too... Hahaha....Revenge never felt so good... They won't get away with it... May they forever be stuck in limbo, never to reach samsara..." she spoke in delirium, over and over again, cursing her stalker and... Ishimaru Masaru.
"Ishimaru Masaru was the second son of Noboro. He was a victim too." Reina said at first, only to slowly correct herself. "Or... Masaru was the arsonist... And it was his name that was scratched out... I can't believe it, if that's true, the victims were stuck with their killer all this time."
"That's fucking unbelievable." Akira cursed under his breath as he looked at the grotesque spirit before them. "What the hell do we do now?"
"Dunno - This is your speciality, not mine." Reina shrugged her shoulders, though she was still frowning in anger knowing the truth of behind the arson.
"Some kind of ritual? Fight the supernatural with something supernatural?" carefully, he grabs the katana from Kisara, letting her sway idly at her own pace. "Kisara can't help us now... But Killer Peach gave her the sword to get revenge, right? Maybe we need to slice it up or something?"
"How do we know which one is Ichimaru?" Ooue asks, bewildered.
"Guess we'll just have to find out." Akira says. "Sorry if I guess wrong."
"We'll all die together then." Seiji lets out a breathless, empty laugh.
"Die, Ichimaru!" Akira then holds the katana in his hands tightly, jumping and slashing at the monster's face - But it barely flinched, at best. "Great, now what?"
"Carve.... Carve... Carve..." multiple voices coming from the monster wailed simultaneously... But more, Akira heard a woman's voice whisper in his head. "Please... Let me be with my family again... Kenji... Momotarou... I miss them so much..."
"Carve? What are we supposed to carve?" Akira said out loud.
"The memorial - It was supposed to comfort the victims..." Seiji said, taking his eyes off of Kisara.
"Comfort? Hey, don't you think that's kinda like a ritual?" Akira asks swiftly.
"Now that you mention it... Yeah. But what do we do?" Seiji asked back. "This thing's already built so it achieved its purpose."
"The blank space in the memorial - I think we need to carve something into it." Akira mumbled to himself.
"A name!" the yakuza cried out in realisation. "But whose name?"
"Yeah, that's the problem." the trio looked at each other. "Whose name do we have t--"
His voice was cut off but another's, loud, booming and echoing loudly through the air. "OKAYAMA TOMOKO!" the trio turned their heads towards the girl - Miraculously, in the minute no one looked at her, Kisara climbed on the railing and was balancing perfectly, a large smile on her face, her arms spread wide and looking into the skyline. "STRONG LIKE MOMOTARO AND COOL LIKE MOM!" Kisara yelled loud and clear, though her eyes were glazed over and she didn't seem to be much in control of herself. "OKAYAMA TOMOKO!"
"KISARA, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING -- GET THE HELL DOWN FROM THERE -- HEY! HEY, KISARA, LISTEN TO ME!!" as soon as Seiji lunged forward towards her, the girl started giggling and pretended to lose balance for a second there, freezing the boy on the spot. "Wh-What the hell is going on...? You don't think she's... She's..."
As she let out another shrill, copious laughter, the rooftop door was slammed over, and everyone's attention snapped towards the newcomers - The spirit of Killer Peach was silently pointing towards Kisara - And two men who looked around 30, burst through. "MASHITA KISARA, GET THE FUCK DOWN FROM THERE RIGHT NOW!"
Mashita Satoru ran like lightning towards the railing as he noticed the girl snapping; She slowly turned to look over her shoulder - She was seeing him. That was Kisara, in her right mind and confused like hell. "Satoru...? What are you...? Where am I...?" her eyes widened with horror as she realised where she was, and panic surged through her. Through her fear, she lost balance, her bloody shoes slipped and she fell forward like a discarded rag doll, shrieking her lungs out.
"I've got'chu." with incredible strength, Mashita managed to grab one of Kisara's hands, and the back of her blouse, though her skin was bloody and sweaty, and the top sliding off her form.
"OH MY GOD, SATORU, DON'T LET GO OF MY, OH MY GOD -- DON'T LET ME FALL, I'M AFRAID -- FUCK, NO, NO, NO, NO--" she was hyperventilating - She liked heights, but not quite like this.
"KISARA!" he yelled at her, forcing her to look into his eyes. "I said I've got you. Put a bit of faith in me, yeah? Your little ghostie friend got me here - Now let me get you outta this mess."
"... Tomoko did...?" she finally stopped flailing around, calming just a little bit.
"Yeah." he breathed out. "Yashiki, hurry up and get here. Let the kindergarden deal with the big bad ghost. We've got bigger problems here." at once, Masamune came in sight and quickly grabbed Kisara's other arm in a tight grip.
"You'll be okay." it was a promise. "When I count to three, we'll slowly pull you up. Put your feed on the base of the railing to help us get a little boost." they were all but hunched over the railing... Just like in Masquerade... Almost thrown out of the 6th floor of a Love Hotel... But this was the roof top of a fucking sky scraper!
"I'm slipping -- I'm afraid - I'm slipping, Oh my God--" just as she let out another short yelp, Satoru got a better grip on her, and with inhuman strength, they pulled up the girl.
"Don't yell in my ear or I'll drop you." he gritted his teeth, straining his strength, before he pulled one more time.
With Kisara getting a good footstep at the base of the railing, she pushed herself up, and the three of them fell backwards, onto the ground, tumbling over. The spirit had grabbed the back of both Mashita's and Yashiki's coats, pulling them backwards in an effort to help them. Meanwhile, Akira appeased the ghosts of the victims, writing Okayama Tomoko's name onto the memorial, destroying Demon Tsukuyomi.
Silence took over the roof top, save for Kisara's shivering and broken sobs, burying herself in her brother's chest. "I don't want this anymore... No more ghosts... I'm so done with it... I don't want it... I just want to live a normal life, damn it..." Satoru didn't say anything, just held the girl tightly in his arms, his chin resting on her head.
"That's what you get for being too kind." he muttered lowly for only her to hear.
"So... The Tsukuyomi thing... Is it really over? We're done with ghosts, and curses and all that?" Ooue asked, making Akira shrug.
"Hope so." he said, watching the woman go to the memorial to lament over her lost family.
"Kisara... Good girl... Kisara..." the once gargled voice of Killer Peach now sounded like that of a proper woman; Slowly, Kisara shifted to look towards the ghost - And much to everyone's shock, the monster was now Okayama Tomoko, just as she was before her death - A woman whole, with a gentle smile. "Thank you..." from the monstrous Tsukuyomi amalgamation, two spirits diverged next to her, taking the form of a young boy and a man.
"Thank you..." the man said, his arms lovingly around his wife and son.
"Strong like Momotaro! Cool like mum! Cool like the nice lady!" the little kid giggled adorably.
"Tomoko... Kenji, Momotarou..." with shaky legs, Kisara got up, stepping in front of them. "You are finally together again... As you were supposed to. May you be forever in peace and harmony."
"Thank you..." the ghostly woman said. "Your parents... Proud of you... Good girl... Kisara good daughter... Proud of you..." with tears in her eyes, Kisara tried to reach out to Tomoko, but the family vanished before she could touch their spiritual forms.
"Great. I shouldn't have let you watch Casper as a kid. Now you think you're a witch, you can fly, and befriend ghosts." Satoru scoffed, taking his jacket off and putting it over her shoulders.
"... I think I'm fine being an extraordinary ordinary human being, to be honest." the man scoffed at her answer, pulling her into his side.
"Like hell you do."
Just as the Okayama family disappeared, Seiji got two spiritual bodies in front of him - At first, he gulped in fear, his eyes wide and terrified, but then... "Did you get the doll you promised me, Se-bro?" it was a little girl, giggling mischievously. "You promised to get me the feudal princess doll for Christmas! Did you? Did you?"
"Seiko...?" Seiji's heart dropped with emotion, and he smiled, crouching to her eye-level. "Well, 'course I did, who do you take me for?" he answered with a playful huff. "It's on your vanity, waiting for you."
"Awesome! Then can we finally play again? The Princess and the Samurai? Please, Se-bro, pretty please~? With a cherry on top?" she was jumping up and down in joy and glee.
"Of course, Seiko-hime. Of course we can." she was smiling so beautifully... She would have been such a brilliant young lady...
Seiji was then patted on his shoulder; As he got up, he saw the ghost of his uncle, proud and smiling fatherly behind his stuffy moustache. "You grew up in such a fine man, Seiji. You make your father proud. You will be a great leader some day."
"Thanks, old man. I'll tell pops you said hi." the uncle hummed, picking his little girl up, and they smiled together.
"May you be well."
The same phenomena happened to Reina also, who was surrounded by her family, and catching up... For the little time they had, at least.
"So... About that slob of red liquid and guts on the ground... Care to tell me what's going on...?" Satoru looked at the sheepish girl who didn't have any words to speak.
"Killer Peach killed her stalker. Her sword, her kill." the policewoman gave the detective a wry, ugly smirk. "No cameras, no evidence to tell otherwise."
"Good to know." Mashita said, guiding the girl out. "Let's go home. You're filthy. I'm sure Your Majesty would appreciate a long, hot bath to wash away the gore." as pissed as he was that not only his little sister was forced to bloody her hands, but that she also was possessed again and almost jumped off a damned skyscraper... He was so bloody thankful she was still alive and within his reach.
Nothing could touch her any longer.
That night, Kisara scrubbed herself off from all the filth and disgust she ever felt, from the gore covering her, to the fear and humiliation she had to endure for so many years; She fell asleep like a baby cuddling into her brother's side as he watched whatever show was on TV at the time.
Seiji returned home and went straight to the attic, taking the samurai figurine from his old toy box and going to his parents to tell them the bittersweet news of Seiko and Taichi being appeased and finally passing on into the afterlife.
Akira, however, was forced to confront Kakuya at his own home - Little did he know Kakuya was the little girl he thought he saved; The Ami he got from the Kakuriyo was the devil in disguise; But finally, the nightmare was over. He saved Ami, and Aunt Natsumi woke up. Hazuki, also, thankfully woke up.
Ban and Rose had investigated the ins and outs of the Okayama residence, and along with all the evidence they found, and the help of the Yakuza leader and Ooue's connections, the truth behind the fire of the Toy Department was spread all over the news and TV broadcasts.
And finally, the next evening, all the people involved in the Kakuya case gathered together at the Black Rabbit, celebrating not having to see ghosts ever again in their life. Hopefully.
With the end of the holiday coming soon, Kisara finally agreed to move in with Seiji and his family, ready to start the path to a perfectly normal, ordinary and boring life... And Yakuza meetings, responsibilities, underground matches, finance managements, blackmail, kidnap attempts, coercion, money laundry and so many more other things that she could never tell her brother.
And at the end of the day, the katana that Tomoko stole from Ishimaru proved to be an ancient feudal jewel after Taizou unlatched the handle and saw the name of the blacksmith inscribed into it, and it became her precious belonging, using it as motivation to start learning kendou like her feudal warlord icons.
The porch was cool beneath them, wood faintly damp from the night air. Kisara sat on a rock next to the cherry tree, leaning against Seiji’s shoulder, while his arm rested lazily around her back. Before them, the garden stirred with life — The faint chirping of crickets fading as morning took hold, the quiet trickle of the river weaving its eternal song through the rocks and pebbles..
The sky was blushing awake, painted in pale rose and gold, and with the dawn, came the drift of cherry blossom petals, spinning gently in the breeze before coming to rest on the grass and water.
Neither of them spoke much. They didn’t need to. The silence was soft, gentle, filled only with the rhythms of the world around them. Kisara tilted her face up slightly, eyes reflecting the pink glow of the horizon, the same colour as her dress. Seiji glanced at her, not saying a word, but the corner of his mouth lifted, content just to watch her breathe in the morning. To see her smile that beautiful smile of hers, and be happy. To be by his side.
A petal landed in her hair, and without thinking, he brushed it away, fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Kisara smiled faintly, leaning a little more into him, as if the whole world had narrowed to that small spot, that garden, that moment.
The dawn grew brighter, warm light spilling across the boards where they sat in bright fans of gold. Petals kept falling, the river kept singing, and for once, there was no weight on their shoulders, only the quiet, unshakable certainty that they had made it through, and that they were together, now and for an eternity going on.
In the afterglow of dawn, wrapped in stillness and blossoms, they let the world keep its chaos. Here, there was only peace, hope and tomorrows.
Just a little reminder that your fics are awesome, wonder if one day you'll write a book, or maybe some of your series already make a small book, who knows.
Haha, I don't think I will ever write a story of my own, but I'm very content and happy with all the fics I have written and those I'm currently writing at the moment! <3
What would be your opinion if Chris Walker (Outlast) got added as a killer in dbd
I remember when Outlast came out, it was one of the coolest things to see online. Tbh, I actually don't know much about game-lore and I never dwelved too much into it (esp with the newer games).
Still, it would be cool to get an Outlast chapter (Although DBD might stray away from killers who look to similar to what they already have)
But maybe he could be a skin for some big killer like Nemesis?
The next day, just as promised, Kisara got ready for the much dreaded police hearing, as if nothing had happened the previous night. The dull white lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sterile glow across the cracked linoleum. Kisara sat perfectly still in the cheap plastic chair, back straight, hands folded politely in her lap. Her expression was serene — Almost eerily so — As if she'd rehearsed this humiliation dozens of times. She had.
She sat there, looking like a porcelain doll, unmoving, unflinching. Not a strand of crimson hair was out of place, not a wrinkle on her pearl pink shirt, not a blemish on her soft brown business pants, not a stain on her nude heels, not a flaw on her doll make up. Nothing she showed was flawed.
Beside her, Ban loomed like a storm cloud, arms crossed over his chest, lips pursed, jaw twitching. He seemed ready to start a war. He was always cranky after a rough night, and he knew even more that this would be a tough battle to fight. He wrote the report himself, with all the details and photographic evidence she had at hand, backed by the previous folder case from her hometown which had been faxed and e-mailed to this police station the previous day.
The older officer with silver hair, clearly waiting his retirement day, leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs like he owned the room. “So let me get this straight.” he drawled, flipping through the incident photos Ban had provided. “Your... ex-boyfriend—” he smirked. “—breaks into your house, paints ‘I love you’ in red paint on your wall, makes a huge heart made out of flowers with your names in the middle, and we’re supposed to believe he’s a danger to you?”
"First, that was blood, not red paint." Ban snapped. "Second, he is not her 'ex'. He is her stalker since she was a child. And third, he has a record of breaking into her house since years ago."
"We did not ask you - So don't speak unless spoken to, or this whole hearing will be canceled." the officer grumbled at the journalist, who bit his lip hard and took a step back in anger. "We are already going out of our way to listen to your sob story when clearly there is nothing actually going on - Especially considering plenty other competent police force officers came to the same conclusion. Perhaps you just suffer from attention seeking and thrive on wasting time on overworked and underpaid upstanding citizens like myself and my colleagues." as always, the comments from the police were harsh and unwarranted. That's why she didn't want to go through all this again - Nothing was going to change. Unless a woman is killed, nobody bats an eye or tries to protect victims from creeps. How disheartening.
"Do you have nothing to say for yourself, Miss Mashita?" the only officer lady in the room asked in a stern, cold voice, cutting like a blizzard.
"The whole story is in my files. I assume we are here because you have read it." her voice was calm and collected. "Anzo Kenzo found me on the playground when we were children and declared he will marry me. Later on, I was adopted and moved to another state, where he followed. He attempted assault multiple times, and even broke into and hid under my bed, getting close to killing me. I was hospitalised that evening." she continued her story. "Since then, he broke the restriction order numerous times, violating his agreements of not contacting me again, attempted assault once again, stalked me, chased me in the streets, moved in different cities to follow me, and most recently, broke into my hometown house to vandalise my property, chased me down and threatened me numerous times." she explained simply. "That is all I have to report. You may make your own opinions over the facts I have stated, correlated with the folder and report in front of you."
Her partner, a younger officer, laughed under his breath. “I mean, you girls always say you want someone devoted. That’s devotion, no?” he snarked the lady. "Don't you girls like being chased after? Or you're one of those girls who never knows what she wants from a man?"
Ban slammed his fist on the table. “You think this is a joke?! He nearly killed her when she was a mere child! Hid under her damn bed and tried to choke her out while she slept!”
The younger one’s face twisted into an ugly grin. “And yet here she is, pretty as a peach, no blemish or bruise on her gorgeous little face. Guess the punk wasn’t that committed, huh? Not into that? You're more the vanilla type o' gal?”
"Why did you lead on that poor man for so many years? You could have simply told him 'no' and he would have stopped his romantic pursuit of you." the lady officer scoffed with spite. "You are quite a cruel young woman, to shift the blame on a man in love. Many would be jealous to have a man so loyal and devoted." the woman threw her arms around gesticulating like a harpy.
"Exactly as she said - Only a woman knows how a woman feels, right? If even our lady officer here says so, then it must be true!" the younger officer chirped.
Kisara said nothing. She didn’t flinch. Her smile remained where it was, honed by plenty past hearings just like this. Her voice, when it came, was soft and melodic — Too calm. "Then I wish for you a man to treat you as Anzo has been treating me."
"What a vile and vengeful woman..." the old officer huffed in disgust.
"Let's go, Kisara. We're not welcomed here." Ban lunged forward to grab the folder and report while with his other hand he grabbed Kisara's arm and pulled her up. "It's clear the police has remained as useless as always, parasiting every working person ever by taking our tax money for lazying around and doing nothing." the journalist spat at the police force and stomped out with the girl. Once outside, he took a few deep breaths.
"That went better than last time." she spoke serenely, shocking the pissed man.
"You're kidding, right?" she shook her head. "You're fucking kidding me." he lightly punched the light pole nearby. "I'll call a cab for you to that brat. I'm too pissed to be around people. Talk later." and thus, he whistled and put his arm up, signaling to a taxi driver to come over. He told the address, gave the money and closed the door as the girl got in. "... I'm sorry." he left.
Once she got off the car, she looked at the large Japanese-styled wall-gates that surrounded the enormous family estate of the Amanome family. Did she want to be here? Not quite. She'd rather got home - But that was hardly an option. She wanted to be alone for a while... All alone, and without social interaction... Without a pity party, or the need to fight and keep her facade. How annoying.
She knocked on the door, knowing bodyguards would be there and let her in. She smiled sweetly at them, greeting them before going towards the house. With heavy steps, she kept her head high and that damned smile on her lips. She slid the door open, placed her heels neatly by the other doors and put on her pink slippers, looking for any of the Amanome family members.
The first to greet her was Yuki, who ran up to her and barked happily, running around her in circles and jumping up to get some attention. Dogs were always Kisara's soft spot. She scooped up the pup and started loving and gushing over how cute and adorable she was.
Slowly, Seiji also made his way there, as handsome as always. He greeted her with a smile, placing his hands on her face and kissing her softly.
"Did you go to a photoshoot for Vogue?" he chuckled, taking a step back and admiring her. "You even smell Vogue. What is it, Chanel?"
"As if I could ever afford a Chanel no 5 in this lifetime." the girl smiled childishly. "I don't mind the compliments though."
"Wait until mum sees you. She's gonna go crazy." he placed his arm around her, guiding her towards the pantry where him and his parents were drinking some tea and enjoying some snacks. "Mum always wanted a girl. Y'know, dress her up. She got a doll instead. I suppose it's about the same thing, right?" the boy joked, placing a pillow between his and his mum's so Kisara would stay between them.
"Who needs a doll when you have such a pretty girl right here!" Mitsuki got up, embracing Kisara, before admiring her also. "My, you look stunning, sweetling! What could be the occasion?"
"Ergh..." Kisara was tongue-tied. She knew she should have thought of an excuse before she stepped in this place, but... Like hell, she wasn't good at coming up with things on the spot. "Well, you know... I..." great, she screwed up a perfectly peaceful and lovely family afternoon tea. Just what she wanted from life.
"Were you at the police?" Kisara snapped her head to Seiji, shocked to hear those words come out of his mouth. How the hell could he know? "You went to get your restraining order renewed, didn't you?"
"Restraining order? Kisara, what happened?" the girl looked like a deer in the headlights, her mouth slightly open yet not knowing what to say. Mitsuki embraced her dearly and Seiji sat down next to her.
"I was right, wasn't I?" Kisara looked down, her hands into her lap, her fingers fiddling idly with one another.
"Yep." she managed to say. "Went about as good as I thought it would."
"The police are useless." Seiji spat bitterly. "Dad, do I have leave to capture a guy and torture him to death?"
"N-Now, now, come on, it's fine, really...! No need to get anyone involved. It will be okay!" the girl chuckled awkwardly, scratching at her neck as if she was suffocating. "Let's drop it. It's no big deal."
"Kisara, you've got a violent stalker on your back since you were a kid. What part of it is 'No big deal' ?" the girl couldn't help but sigh. Family friendly afternoon.
"Oh, no, why didn't you tell us?! Goodness, my sweet girl!" Mitsuki gathered her into a tight embrace. "You should have told us! You can't live in fear!" she petted her hair as if she was Yuki. "Seiji, why didn't you tell us sooner?!"
"I asked him not to say anything." she whispered softly. "It's okay, really. It's no big deal. I don't want to bother anyone with this."
"Kisara, you are my daughter as much as Seiji is my son. You are a member of this family. I will not allow my daughter to be in danger under no circumstance." Taizou spoke, his usual jovial disposition going down the drain. "Now tell me the name of that criminal and I will put an end to him." his voice was grim. "I will not have my daughter walk the streets of Tokyo without feeling perfectly safe."
"Please, I... I don't want to... Impose... I..." she stuttered a bit, feeling her heart beating faster. She was losing her composure.
"Kisara." Mitsuki cupped her cheeks, making her look into her eyes. "You saved my life, as well as my son's. Please. Let us save you now."
Kisara bit her lip, trying to fight back her tears. "Anzo Kenzou..." she whispered, and with plenty of stops and sighs, she gave a brief version of the events that have been haunting her since she was a little girl.
"The police mocked you?!" Mitsuki gasped in horror. "Multiple times? In such disgusting ways?!" she punched the floor in anger. "I will kill them with my own two hands...!"
"When the law fails..." Taizou muttered, getting his phone from his pocket and making a call, out of hearing range.
"Forgive me. I did not mean to ruin the mood. I shouldn't have come." the girl sighed, ready to get up, but Mitsuki didn't let go of her. She held her tighter, cooing in her ear and petting her head.
"Sweet girl, never apologise." she spoke with motherly warmth. "You will always be safe here, with us." leaning back, Mitsuki placed her hand on Kisara's cheek, using her thumb to wipe away a forming tear. "You will always be loved and welcomed here. This is will always be your home, as well as we will always be your family."
Her body started trembling softly, and she hid in her embrace, like a little mouse, whimpering and crying in distress. "I miss my mummy and daddy so much... I was so alone... All these years... So lonely... Only me and Satoru..."
Taizou looked over the girl in silence, once again hating the justice system and the corrupt government. Everything was flawed, and only the vulnerable were suffering. He stepped next to the girl, placing his hand on her back. "No member of this family will ever feel afraid while I'm still alive."
"See? Even pops is getting serious. We'll have that jerk done with in no time, and I'll see that beautiful smile of yours once more." Seiji didn't approach - He knew she needed a family hug for a few years now - And she was finally getting what she was craving for. It was her moment, and he won't distract her from it.
The girl kept muttering broken 'thank you's to the family that was treating her so well, and she almost sounded like a broken record. It mattered little. She was safe and she was loved. She was home.
Finally, after a while, she settled; Her sobs were no more, her sniffles disappeared and her breathing evened. "I will go make dinner." Mitsuki said, knowing that Kisara wouldn't compute the fact that Mitsuki never really cooks - She always preferred baking.
"I'll go set the table." Seiji followed his mum, seeing that his father wanted to have a private talk with the girl. She didn't realise they were left alone at first, too busy being lost wandering inside her own thoughts, staring idly into the dawn. For a while, neither spoke. The soft chime of the wind against the house filled the space, along with the soft sound of the running water pond. Taizou reached for the teapot and poured her another cup without asking, sliding it toward her.
"You are just like a flower, trembling into the wind." he spoke, placing the pot down. "Chamomile tea soothes the soul."
"Thank you." she whispered, taking the small cup into her hands dearly, yet not looking away. She truly looked like a broken doll, a suffering princess whose fate was being played with. "Forgive me. I thought I got better at handling my emotional outbursts."
He studied her face in the fiery-gold light of the setting Sun — Too young to carry that much pain, too strong for how fragile she looked. “No one teaches us how to carry certain weights.” he murmured, his voice low, as if not to disturb the quiet.
Her throat tightened. She swallowed hard, and before she lost her nerve, she spoke, turning her gaze towards him. "Can you help me?"
He raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Go on." he said, encouraging her to speak. It was the first time he heard her asking for help.
"Have you heard of the tragedy from 10 years ago? The burning of the Toy Department from Christmas night?" surely, he would know about it - He lived in Tokyo since Seiji was born, there was no way such huge news wouldn't reach the Yakuza boss's ears.
Unexpectedly, Taizou's expression turned grim. He got up from the cushion and went inside the house, only to return a few moments later with a precious framed picture. Kisara could recognise a younger version of Taizou, holding a young girl of about 10 to twelve years old; She was wearing a beautiful princessy dress, had long black hair in the popular hime-cut hairstyle and had a glamorous pink bow at the back of her hair - She was smiling beautifully, sitting comfortably on Taizou's left shoulder. Just like a little princess.
Next to Taizou there was an older man with sandy hair that began to grey - He looked to be around Taizou's age now, and had similar features. He, also, was holding a young boy on his shoulders - Based on those lovely eyes and the cute light-brown flock of messy hair, that was Seiji.
As the father offered her the framed picture to look at, Kisara's hand gently traced the little girl's image. Looking into her gorgeous, sparkling onyx eyes, her heart trembled with emotion, and a tear escaped her eye, streaming down her cheek, and onto the glass protecting the picture. "They are no longer with us, are they?"
He hummed melancholically in agreement. "How can you tell?"
"I can sense the fragrant perfume of death." she said softly. "I smell fire and gasoline. I hear cries. I feel terror." with a shaky hand, she offered back the picture. "Just like with Mitsuki-san's shiromuku... I can sense things when I touch objects with intense emotional attachment."
"That night, me and my brother were supposed to take Seiji and Seiko to the Toy Department... They had a special showcase, and they’d begged us for weeks." he explained in a somber tone. "Mitsuki’s friends dragged us to some Christmas party instead. Seiji cried a lot that night, blaming us for not keeping our promise to go with his cousin at the toy store for Christmas. They were very close to each other... As close as I was with Taichi." he sighed, placing the picture on the table, looking into the horizon. "They died in that fire while I was laughing at stupid jokes and drinking sake through the night."
Kisara looked down, her jaw set in frustration. "Forgive me. I did not wish to make you relive such awful memories." she said slowly.
"Why did you ask about the fire?" the man asked; She turned her gaze back at him, holding an empty expression.
"Do you know what happened?" Taizou was confused; Why would anyone dig out such an old incident?
"I heard it was a technical accident. Something about fireworks going off and burning the artificial trees and tinsels." he explained - So even the Yakuza didn't know the truth of the incident.
"Arson." she dead-panned, making the man's eyebrows arch all the way into his hair line. "It was a covered up arson." she repeated.
"What are you talking about...?" the man asked, incredulous. Without either of them knowing, Mitsuki and Seiji came by to call them to dinner, but quickly hid to eavesdrop when they realised the gravity of their conversation.
"The man who caused the arson was Ishimaru Masaru - Ishimaru Noboro's son... The president of the Sumii group." she explained, only to stop abruptly. "I... Won't go in details. I have already made you suffer enough by unearthing awful memories..." she trailed on in a low tone. "I just want justice for the victims and vengeance for those grieving the loss of their loved ones."
"You weren't here 10 years ago. How could you possibly know such things...?" the man was completely flabbergast.
"The latest spirit we pursued was a Dietwoman whose husband and son died in that fire. She recorded her investigation into that incident and she found out what happened." she gulped her words away, not wanting to accidentally let slip of the awful details. "The Moon Tower's floor 44, if you go through the special elevator, leads to a spiritual Toy Department after the burn." she continued. "I touched a stain, and it showed me Masaru in a psychotic state. He was afflicted by Kakuya's curse and started the fire in the name of Demon Tsukuyomi. He was sure he would revive his mother." she continued the story. "I talked to the Spirit of that woman... She showed me glimpses of her life... Showed me her investigation... And then, I saw her confront the 5/5 Club... She got Ishimaru's katana to attack them, seeing as she couldn't unveil the mystery, and... The men killed her. Cut her head off and dumped her body somewhere that nobody could find." she finished the recalling. "I promised Okayama Tomoko I will bring her vengeance, but she already killed all those involved. The only thing I can do to ease her suffering and help her pass on and be reunited with her family is unmasking the conspiracy behind the cover up." she coughed a bit. "... And Ban promised to help."
There was a heavy, lingering silence falling over the Amanome residence - Unexpectedly, the first to speak was Seiji who got out of his hiding spot. "There's no way I'll let those old fucks get away with killing my cousin and uncle."
"But... Kisara said they're all dead already. There's no one left to take the punishment." Mitsuki spoke meekly, unsure and shaken by the story.
"Karma got them all, but we owe a duty to the truth, and to the people who didn't get a closure after what happened." Taizou's voice was stronger now, righteous and ready for carnage. "Whether Ishimaru is alive or not matters little. The Sumii group will fall, and with it, all those who were involved in the corruption."
They remained silent for a little while, before the sense of unity slowly dissipated and Mitsuki called them all for dinner. With things calming down, Seiji casually mentioned that Akira managed to save Ami and that they should all meet up at the Black Rabbit to discuss what steps to take going on.
After an amazing meal, Kisara went to change is something a bit more comfortable, but was quickly stopped by the Yakuza Prince, who held a mischievous look on his face. "After we're done with the meeting, I want to go chill by the club. I've got a guy who's been crossing the line, and he's got to pay."
"And you want me to be the intimidating factor of your interrogation?" the girl giggled playfully.
"Nah, I'll leave that to Kijima." he waved his hand dramatically. "Thought you'd like to have a drink. Usually Friday night is when the girls of the gang gather around and have fun. I think you'd get along very well."
"Okay." she smiled sweetly. "Sounds like fun. I'm in." they shared a sweet look with the each other, before Kisara spontaneously felt a zest of impulse and threw her arms around the boy, holding him tightly, then kissing him. "You're the best, you know? Thank you. Truly - Thank you. For everything. And especially for your amazing family."
"Now, now, what are you thanking me for, darling?" he chuckled casually, picking her chin up to look at him. "Isn't it natural for a Prince to look after his Princess?" he hummed before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. "Now have fun getting all dolled up - This time, with more party in mind and less formal."
"Gotcha~" with a wink, she put together an outfit and went in the bathroom to get ready. She was coquettish as always, even when wearing cool street clothes; Black jeans, a crop top and a haori, make up and rouge lipstick, hair done up and she was all ready to go.
With as many compliments as always, Seiji was outdoing himself by being a sleek gentleman. One of his bodyguards drove them to the Black Rabbit, and when they got in, they seemingly barged into a much awaited brother-sister reunion moment as they found Ami hugging Akira.
As the boy cooed playfully at how cute they were, Kisara zoned out briefly. For some reason, she felt something off, but she couldn't quite pin-point the reason. There was a familiar feeling tugging at her heartstrings, but she couldn't understand it. A vague spell keeping her mind away from the present, as if she was supposed to figure out something was wrong.
She only briefly heard Akira mentioning Ooue coming over soon to take care of Ami, who was sleeping in the kitchen. As if remote-controlled, Kisara went to the desk by the book shelf and stared at the title - Nagoshi no Gi. It was a rather fancy-looking book with traditional Japanese binding. She gingerly picked it up and stepped in front of the brunet.
"Did Aunt Natsumi give this to you?" she asked, pointing at the author - Yakumo Miroku. "N.G." the book was the colour of a faded scarlet hue, save for a white rectangle where the author and title were displayed evidently. "I know it relates to the realm of the dead - Kakuriyo - But I don't know how exactly."
"Isn't Miroku the psycho who killed little girls?" Seiji stepped behind the girl, looking at the book with a pondering look. He earned affirmative answers from both of them.
"That's right... That night, on the phone, Aunt Natsumi told me about Nagoshi no Gi... Maybe... Maybe if we read this, we will find out what the hell was going on with Miroku and Kakuya." the trio plopped on the couch and started skimming through the pages of the book, eagerly hoping for useful information.
'Nagoshi no Gi' is a short story featuring a certain man as the protagonist. For generations, the man's family performed a rite called 'The Nagoshi no Gi'. THe rite was meant to seal a doll-shaped spirit by the name of Kaguya.
Kaguya played with humans using various games and stole their lives and consciousness. But the man's ancestor, who was a spirit medium, caught Kaguya and sealed her in a certain place. He sealed her inside a mirror, in a world known as Kakuriyo, the Realm of the Dead. The 'Nagoshi no Gi' is a ceremonial rite used to keep Kaguya sealed inside the mirror.
When a special doll filled with spiritual power is given to Kaguya as a playmate... Kaguya becomes satisfied for about ten years, until the doll loses its power. Every ten years, the doll must be recharged with energy and offered back to Kaguya.
That was the duty given to the man's family, who descended from that spirit medium. After his father's death, the man was also going to inherit that rite, as was his family's custom. As long as the rite continued peacefully, Kaguya would never appear in the real world again....
... Or at least, that's how it should have been ...
But the man lost his spiritual powers in an accident before he had any successors, and because of that, the Nagoshi no Gi was unable to be performed.
If Kaguya's seal was released, there would be many victims. THe man was bound by his duty, and devised an alternate method. He took drastic steps to find something to replace his lost powers.
The Nagoshi no Gi he devised... Was to take living girls, make them into dolls, and offer them to Kaguya in the Realm of the Dead. The pain, regrets, and grudges held by the girls would be a substitute for his spiritual powers.
Just as the man hoped, Kakuya was delighted and remained in the mirror... The man had turned the Nagoshi no Gi into a blood-soaked ritual. Nevertheless, the man continued to fulfill his duty - For that was the fate of all those born into that household.
The trio remained speechless and breathless reading all that - The contents written in that book were too heavy to bare - Only Kisara alone let out a hushed curse word and got up, fiddling with her phone. "Not another fucking Mary." she kept saying, along with "Fucking chisels and dolls and god damn rituals." she left, trying to call Yashiki and talk to him about it - It wasn't much different, having a spiritual family that had to seal a doll from destroying the world - But this was not something she thought she would see again; Truly, not for a second did she think Kakuya could be a doll, considering Mary wasn't exactly able to roam around so freely. Kakuya must be stronger in some way, or had different restrictions from Mary. How bloody awful.
Seeing as Yashiki wasn't answering, she returned to the bar, listening to Akira read out loud some of the contents further in the book. "If Kakuya opens a path to the Realm of the Dead in a mirror, it can be reopened by joining mirrors." he said, mentioning that's how he got Ami out.
Soon, Ooue came in, bitchy as always - But as soon as Ami entered the room all sleepy and cute, her demeanour changed entirely, being all sweet and nice. Still... There was something that wasn't quite reaching Ami's eyes... That smile seemed... Forced, somehow. No, 'forced' wasn't the right word... Maybe...
Kisara quickly shook her head to dismiss such thoughts and followed the rest to the hospital to get Ami for a quick medical check up. The kid remained there overnight under the strict surveillance of a nurse (and no mirrors) in the room) and then everyone got out. Ooue was going to the forensics to get some insight of some fire report she found and left quickly.
Seiji, with a cunning smirk, wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and best friend and pulled them in a high class club. He guides them in the back of the club, in a rather luxurious private area where he sat on a black leather couch, pulling Kisara to his side. Pretty hostesses surrounded them with lovely smiles and gave them plenty of expensive foods and drinks of all kinds and preferences. Everywhere around, a bunch of girls around her age or older were having fun, drinking, cheering and dancing to the beat of the loud music.
As if remembering something, he flipped his phone to make a call, and an old man appeared, sitting opposite of them. Akira sat on the back rest, looking menacing and flexing his biceps dangerously. Seiji propped his feet on the table and leaned back, barely sparing a glance at the new-comer.
Unexpectedly, Seiji pulled Kisara into a deep kiss, making all her thoughts completely disappear, before he pulled back with a charming smirk. "You'll get more of this later, Princess." he whistled and got his arm up; In an instant, two pretty girls, a blonde and a chestnut haired girl came by his side. "These are Ayumi and Nana - Sister and girlfriend respectively of Jin, the bodyguard who got you back that night on the bike." he said, nudging her to leave his side. "They'll take good care of you. Go and have fun - You deserve it." he winked at the girl, who blushed softly, a little too shy to go join new people so freely. "Girls, take good care of her, yeah? She's very precious to me."
"Awww, the young Master has such a beautiful girlfriend! What a lucky man!" Ayumi giggled as Nana immediately grabbed Kisara's hands and snatched her up. "Come on, let's dance!" in a matter of seconds, the red head was completely assimilated in a sea of gorgeous ladies partying their hearts out.
"Don't be shy, pretty girl! Go wild, no one's gonna judge!" the other said cheerfully.
"We're all part of the family here." Nana said proudly, flipping her shiny hair.
The bass thrummed through the walls, low and dark, the kind of beat that invited sin. Kisara couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so loud, or felt her own body this light. One of the girls handed her a drink; another lit her cigarette with a gorgeous grin sharp enough to cut glass. They were so amazing and welcoming, all of them - Kisara never had friends like this, to hang out with every weekend and have fun - More from fear of getting caught by Anzo, and a bit of her shyness kicking in also - But now, here she was, shoved in a sea of pretty girls who immediately assimilated her as one of their own.
Glorious victory.
She danced like there was no tomorrow; The music, the alcohol, the haze of smoke — It all melted the weight she’d carried for years. Every sway of her hips, every toss of her hair, every wink she threw over her shoulder was a scream that she was still alive, still capable of living and having fun. She wasn't just surviving - She was truly living and thriving.
Lilith - She was sinful, blazing through an inferno of joy and hedonism of her own making - The sinner, blasted for her blasphemy, with her fan of flames and cinders flowing all around her with each flip of her hair - Lilith, she was temptress she always dreamt of being, a succubus, enjoying the pleasures of the abyss, safe from any danger or divine retribution. The holy light could never torch her soul any longer.
From across the room, Seiji sat in that shadowed corner, all deadly calm, voice low and sharp as a blade while a trembling man on the couch beside him nodded, wide-eyed. The conversation was quiet enough not to draw attention, but dangerous enough to make the air colder in that corner. Still, between threats and promises, Seiji’s gaze wandered — To the center of the room, to her. His girl, dancing like fire. A seducing kitsune that charmed him entirely.
The fun cracked briefly when some half-drunk fool stumbled into her orbit, flashing a grin like he thought he had a chance. She didn't hear him, didn't even notice him. To her, this interaction didn't happen at all, for the lady warriors around shielded and protected her. The friends she always dreamed of.
“Hey, sweetheart.” he slurred, leaning in too close. “You’re wasted on this crowd. How about you and me—” he didn’t get any further.
“Back the fuck off.” one of the girls snapped, the one with the sharp bob and sharper nails, she stepped in, drink in hand and murder in her eyes.
“You deaf, asshole?” another chimed in, her hand already on the guy’s collar, before she used the hand with all the rings to punch him straight in that already crooked nose.
“Touch her again, and we’ll shove your own balls and dick down your throat.” a third snarled. The sleaze didn’t even try to argue. He stumbled back, groaning in pain, before one of the girls shoved him hard enough that he fell. He didn’t return.
Kisara laughed, breathless, giddy — The loyalty, the danger, the thrill. For the first time in years, maybe ever, she wasn’t just surviving. She was untouchable. She was ecstatic. She was a bright light.
The music pulsed. The smoke curled like silk in the low light. And then Seiji was there. He didn’t say a word. He simply caught her by the waist, eyes gleaming with that quiet manly, confident aura that made her heart flip, and dipped her low, lips capturing hers in a kiss that stole the breath from the room. When he pulled back, the grin he gave her was pure arrogance, pure pride — The Prince showing off his girl.
He twirled her before anyone could even react, the gold thread of her haori gleaming in the dim lights as carefree laughter spilled from her lips. They danced together like they’d been made for it, a perfect little storm in the center of the den. Everyone made a circle around them to have their own fun, cheering and singing the lyrics of whatever song was on. He was the Hades to her Lilith, the King of the Underworld welcoming the little demoness right into his lair, and into his arms, never to part again; To dance the waltz of the devil together, flames sprouting where they stepped and intoxicating fumes of noxious desire drunkening their want for one another.
He was a sinner - Forever chained to the darkest horrors of the abyss - And she, an angel, long since destined to fall into his grasp, just like the Morningstar ever bright and everlasting, fading to darkness, within the devil's claws. Yet she was more than willing to paint her holy wings with tar and let horns grow from her forehead and be accepted into this new life, than to pretend she was ever the seraph, kind and almighty, untouchable and unseen by all eyes of Eden - For she was a sinner also.
When they finally left, the night air cooled the heat still burning in her chest. Kisara leaned into his arm as they walked, heels clicking on the pavement, her buzz softening into something sweet and warm.
“So.” she said, casting him a sideways glance. “What was that little meeting about?”
Seiji smirked, eyes forward, letting a soft hum. “Just work, babe.” he said casually, low, like the words were more a secret than a lie. “Nothing you need to worry about.” and then, softer, just for her to hear. "You were damn hot tonight, my little kitsune."
Unexpectedly, Seiji was in such a good mood that, on the way home, he sang 'Wander Rabbits', Momo's song. He may not be a fan of Hazuki, but he still likes the song - And by hell, Kisara loved his voice so much. "Will you sing me to sleep also? Your voice is so lovely."
"If that's what you want, I can do that." he kissed her temple. "Anything for you."
The next day, when Seiji went to meet up with Akira to check on Ami, Kisara went to Ban's place to retrieve the katana Tomoko left her. She had to wait a bit for Ban to do his little tricks and get her inside. After some persuading from Ooue and Kisara, he agreed to go to Atami and investigate Tomoko's house thoroughly with Rose.
It was already sun set when Kisara got inside the Moon Tower and took the phone up to the roof. She went by the railing and leaning on the metal bar, looking over the city. Tokyo was truly gorgeous, she thought, as the warm summer breeze went through her hair, caressing her skin and calming her mind.
Suddenly, a phone call woke her up from her reverie. It was Seiji speaking with a slightly panicked voice, telling her that Kakuya cursed Akira again, even though Ami was saved. "This time it has something to do with some Demon Tsukuyomi thing." Kisara remained silent on the line. "Hello? Kisara, do you hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you." she said in a passive voice. "I already know." she continued monotonously. "I expect I'll be seeing you in the Moon Tower tonight also, yes?"
"How -- What do you mean?" Seiji asked, his brows furrowing from the other side of the line.
"I already knew about this Tsukuyomi thing, and I was planning of going there with Ban tonight to investigate a bit... With Killer Peach's help... Assuming she's still there." she explained, making the boy's head swim with confusion and a million mixing emotions. "Don't worry, it will be fine. I have a vague idea of what to do. I know we're on thin ice and Akira has little time to spare, but... I'm sure... Things will end up just fine." she reassured him easily.
Seiji sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do you know the rumours of Demon Tsukuyomi?"
"Only briefly. I remember people playing it years ago, but I always hated it because I'm sort of a Shinto lover. I love the night, and to hear people calling my beloved Moon God a demon irked me to no end." she chuckled awkwardly, realising how silly she was being. "Haha... Sorry, I know, it's ridiculous, forgive me." she said. "I know you have to do some kind of ritual for Demon Tsukuyomi to grant you a wish. The sacrifice had to be proportional to the wish otherwise Tsukuyomi won't grant you that wish." she explained what she knew. "Likewise, the arsonist tried to do the ritual to revive his mother - But that's because 10 years ago Kakuya cursed him - Just like she's cursing Akira now." she told him as she looked down at the blade of the katana. "I have no sympathy for a deranged man though. He died burning in the same fire he afflicted on others... But he didn't suffer enough to be absolved of his sins, nor will he ever. I hope he burns in the deepest pits of hell for all eternity, never to be reincarnated or saved."
"Can't say I blame you." the boy let out a heavy exhale. "I guess you know how the ritual has to be done?"
"Not entirely, but I think I can guess it has to involve the moon and chains?" she asked, unsure. "The moon because he is the God of Moon... And chains because the arson victims were chained up together."
"You'd be quite right. You also need something to burn and two hand mirrors." they remained silent for a while, before he heard the girl groan.
"The God of Moon wants a sacrifice using the burning fires of his sister, Amaterasu the Sun Goddess." she cursed idly, almost as if she was offended. "I guess it's easier to sacrifice the old way, than to freeze people to dead."
"Maybe it's not related to the God after all." Seiji commented unsure of himself.
"Hold up." the girl snapped swiftly. "Mirrors -- Like with Kakuya? Joining two mirrors like what we read in the Nagoshi no Gi book?" the girl asked quickly, but the boy didn't really know how to reply. "Demon Tsukuyomi from 10 years ago... Could it be that Kakuya summons ghosts to play with the marked person, just like Mary did with the Mark bearers?"
"I'm not sure I follow." the boy said. "Did something similar happen before?"
"Remember my ghost-hunting adventures with my brother and Yashiki? Well - We were cursed by a doll who summoned ghosts to kill us. Sounds familiar?" she asked with a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh, yes, and I forgot to mention - Yashiki's family was also spiritually imbued and made to seal the body of this blasted doll so that she wouldn't wake up and destroy humanity as we know it."
"... You're kidding, right?" she offered a negative answer. "So what do we do to destroy Kakuya when we never even met her directly?"
"... Fuck if I know." Kisara coughed out that curse. "Truth be told, I was kinda out of it after I almost got killed by the last spirit who inhabited a huge buddha statue." the girl remained silent, shaking her head. "No, hold up, I don't want to remember that. Anyway, the point is, I don't have a clue how Yashiki defeated Mary, because he did it in his own mansion. I tried to talk to him since last night, but he and my brother aren't picking up. I'm worried about them, but I'm sure they're fine. I hope." she ruffled her hair. "I'll keep trying to call Yashiki so he can tell us how to defeat Kakuya, okay? Tell Akira not to give up hope."
"That doesn't sound like the cheerful kind of encouraging that I'm used to, but I guess it works." the boy exhaled once again. "Will you be okay until we get to you?"
"Yeah, totally. That ghost is my biggest ally. Never thought I'd trust a ghost to protect me, but here we are." this time, the girl laughed more light-heartedly.
"I... Won't comment on that. Just be safe, please. I don't know what I'll do if you get hurt." his voice was so tender and mellow, she melted.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I promise I'll be okay." before she hung up, she chirped a quick 'I love you' and ended the call. Kisara looked once again into the horizon and let out a breathy chuckle, bittersweet and nervous. "And so our story begins..." she whispered into the winds, letting her words be carried into the skies.
"What are you talking about?" she seemed completely clueless.
"The earthquake we just had. It shook the hell outta the elevator." Akira explained to the cop. She had no idea about any earthquake.
"Wait, so what was it, then? Only the elevator shook?" the reporter seemed skeptic.
"If that were the case, it'd break. The damn thing better not be busted after all we did just to get access to it." Ooue sneered through her teeth in frustration.
"What if it was a spiritual earthquake? Well, not an actual earthquake, but just like... A spiritual phenomena happening that had as a consequence the shaking of the elevator." Kisara was quick to suggest, but none seemed eager to agree or even think about the possibility. She couldn't blame them.
Akira pressed on the 44th floor button, and the elevator started smoothly, continuing its ascension normally. When they were almost at the destination, the floor display vanished, and some impact was felt from the elevator ceiling. Since they couldn't move anymore, they hopped off the elevator at whatever floor they were on; The scene was baffling for them all.
The floor looked as though it was a shop decorated for Christmas... And it was wrecked to hell and back. Christmas trees were fallen, toys were broken and scattered everywhere, fireworks had their powder spilled on the numerous water puddles... What in the world was going on? No one knew.
Kisara felt a heavy pressure over her heart, and she clutched at her chest, crouching on the ground. She felt hot, suffocating even... And her mind was beginning to feel foggy and dazed. In an instant, the imagine of the Christmas shopping center, normal and buzzing with happy people, jingling bells and merry carols flashed in front of her - And next, just ungodly screeches of terror amidst the infernal blazes of flames scorching the victims to ashes.
"This place is cursed..." the girl found herself mumbling to herself, using Ban to prop herself back up on her feet. "Akira, this place is no good. I think... This is a spiritual place of sorts... Like a nightmare projected into reality. This has something to do with our ghostie."
"Killer Peach's reason for revenge?" Kijima guessed correctly.
"I think so. A Christmas shop... Sounds like the perfect place for a family to go to... A young son and his father... But then something happened..." she looked up and noticed the sprinklers just above the water puddles. "A fire... That caused the sprinklers to go off..."
"So, a fire accident that resulted in the death of Killer Peach's family? Doubt it. Who'd she get revenge on? The sprinklers?" Kijima shook his head. "Besides, I don't think any of those old guys in the 5/5 Club owned this shop."
"Maybe, but you never know these days." Naomasa chimed in. "Since we're here, might as well see what Miss Peach prepared for us." he almost shuddered at the thought.
Together they went on ahead, down the hall - But just as they started looking around, the ragged voice of the spirit surprised them. "What... Are youuu doing hereee?" she asked.
"We're investigating a serial killing." Kijima was the only one to speak, and very quickly thankfully.
"Investigating... Now....? Those who... Bent... To Ishimaru's power...." it was shocking how coherent she sounded.
"W-Wait just a sec!" Reina jumped in front of Killer Peach. "You seem to know something. I'm lookin' for some details!" she has a death wish.
"Who... Are you....?" the ghost asked.
"I can't just letcha do what you want! I'm a police officer. I'm in the middle of investigatin'..."
"You'll get yourself killed, you dumb broad. Step back and be a good girl before your stupid mouth says something that will make you regret being such an arrogant cunt." Kisara yawned, rolling her eyes at the frustrating and annoying woman.
"Police? RIdiculous..." Killer Peach started laughing, first booming, ominous, and then, almost feral. "Wag your tail for Ishimaru... You useless fraud...!"
"Who are you callin' useless?!" Ooue gasped at the ghost's cheek. "Just tell me what you know already!" she clearly had no understanding of ghosts... Or self-preservation.
"Hey, what are you doing?! You'll get yourself killed!" Akira yelled after her.
"Shut up, idiot!" Reina shouted at him angrily, brushing him off as he tried to pull her back in line. The ghost's breath became ragged, agitated, violent.
"I'm a detective. Don't worry, I've got this under control. I won't let nothin' bad..."
In an instant, Reina was slashed into bits; It sounded like a bucket of water is dumped on the floor as she collapsed. Akira and Ban ran away like hell was on their tails; Kisara remained there, staring at the backpack Kijima dropped to the ground.
"Tomoko." she called out. "Please tell me - Takada, Kagawa, Bandou, Shima... They are part of the 5/5 Club, aren't they? They are the ones who killed you." she continued, crouching to the ground and rummaging for the memorial tape from the bag. "The 5th member... Was it Ishimaru?"
"Yes... Noboro Ishimaru... That sick, evil bastard... He did this to me... To my family... To many families..." the ghost howl terribly into the echoing damp hallway.
"Ishimaru is dead. He was hospitalised and died half a year ago." Kisara explained, showing her the tape in her hand. "Let me show you the proof, so that you may rest easy; Your vengeance has been acquired... Without any of my help. It was all you." the two slowly walked towards the small TV from the entrance of the shop, placing the tape inside and turning it on. "I am sorry you wasted so much time looking for a man who was already dead. Forgive me."
"I see... They are all dead... Finally... Wretched devils..." she growled, though she seemed at peace. "Thank you..."
"Don't thank me yet. I still haven't uncovered what happened to your family. I will try everything I can to show the world what happened to you and the reality of your family's death... But I have to know... What happened here and how does it relate to your family's death?" Kisara asked the ghost, who hummed softly, extending her hands and taking her own, gently guiding her back to the hallway, and into the adjacent room - There was no way to describe it, except a hellish nightmare. Everything looked burnt, toys, arcades, ash silhouettes of people on the ground... And even a large chain sprawled around the ground.
"I will be here... For you..." Tomoko's ghost said, as she lingered behind the girl who was in complete shock at what she was seeing.
How could something so gruesome exist, even though it is a spiritual place, rather than real world? How could normal people with morals and a conscience come to this place and clean up to the point that no one could tell a fire burnt so many people alive?
Could they not smell the nauseating scent of burnt flesh? Did their hearts not stop, seeing charred remains and bones small and big alike, embraced together and turning to ash? Did they not be haunted by the agony shrieks of the victims? Did they not see this very scene before their eyes, every time they blinked?
Horrible, all of it - The disappearing forms of the dead bodies surrounded her at every corner, the chain on the ground was still sizzling hot and coiled across the ground - And Tomoko remained here, haunting the place with desperation, at the death scene of her family, until her vengeance was fulfilled, doomed to forever wail and lament over her broken heart.
How cruel life can be, and death alike, where one cannot be reunited with their beloved and rest in peace, even after such torment.
Sprinklers rusted, stale water puddling on the ground, too cloudy to see your own reflection, but enough to mirror the dark image of a scorched silhouette; A bent metal bench that served as proof of the gravity of the fire; A still steaming arcade game somewhere in the corner, surrounded by a bunch of ashen plushies and toys... These all served as clues to the real incident, except...
A gun lay somewhere on the ground, still hot, yet not enough to be unable to touch it - Was this the arsonist's weapon? The thing they used to threaten the families into falling in line and behaving? Threaten them into... Allowing this monster to chain them together... And be burnt alive...?
"Tomoko... Would it be alright with you if I witnessed the incident?" Kisara asked, her voice trembling in emotion. "Allow me to experience what they went through. Let me see the truth for what it is." she slowly tilted her head up, to look at the spirit. "I couldn't help you. I Couldn't keep my promise and become your vengeance. I couldn't soothe your soul bath into heaven and appease you. Forgive me. This is the only way I know how to apologise and make up to you."
"Just like me... Kisara... Suffered also... No need... I forgive..." her voice was gargled and beast-like... It almost reminded Kisara of Tsubaki, the crane ballet girl from the previous case, so miserable and pitiful, yet so beautiful still.
"Please, Tomoko, let me do this for you."
Insisting more, the spirit slowly went towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder to guide her to a specific black spot on the ground, splattered crudely. "Momotaro... Sweet, innocent Momotaro..."
"Even like this, you can feel your child... Tomoko, mothers truly are incredible..." a tear fell down her cheek as she smiled bitterly, remembering her mother. "I miss my Mommy also... So much... And my Daddy too... I miss them so much, every day... Sometimes I wish I would die, just so we could reunite in the after life... To feel their embrace one more time... To hear them speak my name..."
"Good girl... Kisara... Good daughter..." she mumbled softly, squeezing her shoulder before her hand slid down to her own, guiding it towards the black spot on the ground.
The familiar feeling of dizzying dark void took over her, and a panic rush of voices overwhelmed her. From children crying out to their parents out of fear, to adults cursing and threatening the culprit - What was that mad man trying to do? To accomplish?
The sleazy young man was completely out of it, Kisara thought to herself; His eyes were unfocused, he wasn't truly hearing the people crying for help or those trying to reason with him, nor the children pleading for mercy. He splashed gasoline from the tank everywhere on the people, on the ground, on the furniture.
He grabbed one of the children - Masaru, a young lad - He said his name was Masaru also, and hopefully, that will make his mother happy... Though truly, in what world would burning a child alive make a mother happy? Not even Shinozaki Yoshie was happy when Sachiko started killing children so her mother would be appeased... Corpse Party was a video game, not real life, though clearly, it seemed to be inspired by some real events.
The father of the child tried to leap forward and grab back his child, but two women held him back, fearing the mad man would kill them all.
Laughing, the psychopath plucked the cigarette from his mouth and turned the fiery tip towards the child, then flicked it onto him - The child caught on fire, shrieking in pain, terror and complete and utter agony - All whilst the mad man was laughing his lungs out. "Cry louder, Masaru! Cry loudly, for Demon Tsukuyomi's sake!" his voice was hoarse and raspy. "Demon Tsukuyomi... Demon Tsukuyomi... Please come here..." he chanted as if it was a holy ritual and he was summoning a God. "Demon Tsukuyomi... Demon Tsukuyomi... Please grant my wish..." he kept going. "Please... Mom..."
Unwillingly, her body moved on its own; It must have been Momotaro's body clinging onto his father, a handsome young man who was shielding his son and trying to protect him from the devilish display in front of him... From the reality that awaited them... A suffocating and painful death... And an afterlife without their sweet Tomoko, who would grieve for them both.
"Don't be scared, Momo, I am with you. You have to be brave, just like Momotaro, okay? Brave like Momo, and cool like mum." he hugged his child tightly into his arms, squeezing him and kissing his black locks of hair. "I love you, son. Don't be afraid, I will always be with you, no matter what."
"Okay... Daddy... I will be brave like Momotaro... And cool like Mama... And strong like you...!" with a scared smile, Kisara hugged the father, her little hands gripping tightly onto his jacket, as the infernal blazes rapidly took over them... All the while the child recited the tale of Momotaro the Peach Boy...
Once upon a time, there lived an old man and his wife. Every day, the old man would go to the mountain to gather firewood, and the old woman would go to the river to wash clothes. When the old woman was washing clothes in the river one day, a huge peach came floating down the river, bobbing up and down. The old woman picked the peach out of the river and took it home. When she cut the peach to eat it, however, out sprang a bouncing baby boy! The couple was delighted, because they had no children. They named the baby Momotaro and raised him with great care. Momotaro grew into a healthy, strong lad. One day, Momotaro told the couple that he was going to Onigashima Island to fight the bad demons...
"Momotaro..." Kisara spoke softly, tears falling down her eyes, wetting her cheeks, as she collapsed to the ground. "Tomoko... I'm so sorry... I'm so,m so sorry... For something like this to happen... That fucking monster..." she dared look at the spirit. "Masaru... Masaru... Is he related to any of those bastards from the 5/5 Club? Is that why you wanted to kill one of them? Because of the cover up? So one of them wouldn't get in deep shit because of the ruthless actions of that mad man?"
"Ishimaru... Masaru... Mad man... Monster... Monster... May you never reach Samsara... May you forever limbo in the void..."
"Tomoko... I don't know... I don't know how to make it right... Both Masaru and Noboro are dead... The whole thing was covered up..." her body trembled lightly. "Maybe... Maybe I can somehow make this whole thing public... Somehow... I don't know how... But I will try... I swear, I will try."
"Make it right... For me... For you... For us..." Tomoko said, offering her hand for her to take and get up.
"I am just a woman, I have no power, no influence, no wealth, fame nor anything in my name. I'm just a student, truly... So I don't want to make a promise I cannot keep... But, Tomoko... From one woman to another... I swear to you, on my honour and name, that I will do everything in my power, until my last breath, to unmask this conspiracy and bring peace to all the victims of this murder, and to the poor people who lost their loved ones in such a horrible way." Kisara squeezed her hand tightly, watching Tomoko's head tilt to the side. The monkey head opened, showing its fangs - It looked almost as if it was grinning.
"Good girl... Proud... Promise... Trust... Forever... Justice..." with a smile, Tomoko slowly dissipated from the place in a beam of fading light. Whether Killer Peach was appeased or not, Kisara had no clue... But without Tomoko by her side... She felt... Empty. Terrified. Such a dark place, so many shadows, no many hallow cries echoing through the walls... She was afraid... So afraid... So creeped out...
On the spot where once Tomoko lingered, a splatter of fresh blood appeared - This must be one of those visions from Kakuya to Kijima after he succeeded in purifying a ghost - Begrudgingly, she touched the blood, and true to her supposition, she saw a little girl with black hair, crouching on the ground and hugging her knees, crying for her brother. She seemed to be in a bathroom, and she mentioned having to open a path from the outside... Or so Kakuya said. And then, she was back in that terrifying place.
Gulping, she dared to take a shaky step forward towards the hallway - It rang through the place with a wet splash, and then she took another step, her hand gripping tightly on her gun - And she took yet another step, and another, until she made her way back into the Christmassy lobby with the flickering lights, and saw the elevator. Ooue's corpse was nowhere to be seen, nor Akira or Ban.
Did they forget about her? Did they go to investigate? Or were they too scared of Killer Peach? She couldn't understand why they were so afraid of Tomoko - She was just a normal woman, like any other - More normal than most people; Why were they afraid of her? Black eyes, black hair, the body of a woman - She wasn't that scary, and she spoke better than most ghosts she encountered. She was just a lost soul, crying for help, begging for revenge and a shoulder to cry on.
Begging for a friend.
A small sense of relief took over her as she tapped the elevator button and it clinked, indicating the elevator was moving up to take her away into the real world.
She felt empty, hallow even, a husk of herself with way too many crazy thoughts going around in her head, confusing her, conflicting her... Terrifying her...
Murder... She wanted murder... She wanted revenge... She wanted peace, she wanted blood, she wanted to live, she wanted to kill.
She didn't feel the supposed elevator earthquake going down, nor did she realise each floor going down until the lobby leading outside - Yet when finally the doors opened, she saw three figures in front of her, staring with wide eyes and agape mouths.
"... What? You look like you've seen a ghost." she smirked weakly, stepping in front of Ooue; She tossed the arsonist gun in her hand, patting her dumb head. "Can you guess what this is, police woman? If not, get your Sherlock hat on, 'cause the story's about to get wild."
"Why do you always have to give us such a scare?" Ban sighed, leaning his arms on her shoulder from the back, his chin on top of her head and leaning his weight on her. "Gonna give this old man a heart attack."
"How'd you get rid of Killer Peach?" Akira asked, only to see the girl shrug.
"I didn't." she said simply. "I just... Saw what happened to her son and husband... And promised to try and unmask the arson incident."
"Let's go back to the bar and talk about what happened. We also found some clues in the elevator." Kijima suggested, and they did just that.
They went to the Black Rabbit where Ban told her what they uncovered from Okayama's tape recorder and the Momotaro drawing, while Kisara explained what she saw in that vision in the nasty arson room, about Ishimaru Masaru and how the whole thing was covered up.
"By the way, Akira, I got a vision of your... Sister? Cousin? She mentioned Kakuya saying something about opening a path from the outside. She looked to me as if she was in a tiled white room... Eh... Like a bathroom, mind you, though I've got no idea if it's true or not. I mean, why would Kakuya hold Ami hostage... In a random bathroom in Kakuriyo?" they remained silent, though Akira seemed to be deep in thought.
"Anyway, it's getting late and we've done enough. Reckon it's time to go get some rest." Ban said, getting his arm around Kisara and guiding her out of the bar. "Wanna stay over at mine or at that brat?"
She remained silent.
"Hello? Earth to Kisara? You copy?"
"Can you help me unveil to the world the truth of the Toy Department Arson from 10 years ago?" she asked so sudden that the journalist almost couldn't compute. "I want to bring peace to Tomoko and all the poor victims of that horrible murder."
"Dunno." he muttered, looking away. "Can't deny, it would be the scoop of the century. My finances have gone to shit, I told you before, ghosts don't put food on the table." he remained quiet a little. "Let's make a deal. If you come with me tomorrow to the police, I'll work with you to put that story out there. No promises involved on either side of the deal, just a mutual agreement that we will do our best. How's that?"
Kisara sighed, shaking her head - Clearly, she didn't seem to like that idea, but she couldn't deny either. "Fine. It's a deal. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
Ban smirked with triumph as he called a cab to take them both to his home.
There, Kisara got comfortable wearing one of his shirts then stole a pack of cigarettes and some booze, going out on the terrace looking up at the starry night. She puffed from her cigarette, lost in thought, before dialing a speed number on her phone.
"Satoru? It's me, Kisara. Sorry for the late hour. Got a minute?" she spoke softly into the phone, leaning back on the comfy chair, her legs dangling from the side of the arm rest.
"You've got nerve, calling at this hour." the man on the other side of the line scolded her, but not in bad faith. "Did something happen?"
"Ban wants to take me to the police tomorrow to re-negotiate the restriction order." she said simply. "I said no, at first - But... I pulled a Yashiki on a ghost, and now I've no way to turn back."
Mashita groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Faintly, she could hear him cursing Yashiki for being a bad influence on her. Satoru and Masamune must have been on a ghost hunt together. "What did you do now?"
"I stumbled upon a cover-up of the toy department fire from 10 years ago. In truth, it was arson, and the culprit was Ishimaru Masaru." the line was silent. "The ghost we were investigating was a dietwoman who tried to get revenge on the Sumii president for the cover up... Because her son and husband died in that fire. The 5/5 Club killed her and dumped her body... Somewhere." silence. "I... I resonated with the spirit of Okayama Tomoko, and she resonated with me. I saw her memories, and she saw my own. She held me as I comforted her, and she gave me her katana to instil her revenge on the world... And my own."
"I better not hear you doing something stupid, or I'll never forgive you." this time, the man was dead serious.
"Don't worry, it's not like I'll go around killing people. The ghost already killed all the high-up people involved in that mess." she said with a dry chuckle. "It's just... I made a deal with Ban - Y'know, the underground shady journalist who's been taking care of me since that psycho broke into my house." she cleared her throat. "Anyway... He made me agree to go to the hearing tomorrow, in exchange of trying to expose the whole arson ordeal to the world... And... I guess I couldn't refuse."
"It won't go smoothly. You know as much." Satoru sighed. "I'd rather you stay with that brat you like and know you're safe, than hear you got humiliated by those useless pricks again." Kisara could hear the faint sound of a fist hitting something - Probably a tree, or a wall. He was angry.
"Well... What's one more time. I've got nothing to lose, do I? I wear my pride as a shield and my smile as a weapon. Nothing they say can hurt me anymore." she shrugged, taking a sip of whiskey. "Maybe I'll ask Seiji to catch him and torture him to death in front of me - Y'know, as a dowry gift for our wedding." she laughed dryly.
"That was far too many fucked-up things in one sentence alone." though even he kinda chuckled. "Flick that cig away, drain the booze and get some sleep. Call me if you got a positive, or text me for a negative. Or the opposite, whichever you want, doesn't matter." he went on. "Just stay safe. I'll come by tomorrow. Can you hang in there until I get there? Shouldn't take longer than two days."
Kisara smiled widely. "For you? An eternity." she heard the end of the call through the beeping from the other side. "Forever... And ever... And ever... Until we are no more, brother..." she muttered quietly, placing the phone on the table next to her.
Few minutes passed by, and the door to the balcony was slid open. Ban came through with a bottle of alcohol and a cup in his hand, and two packs of cigarettes in his pants pocket. Quietly, he sat down on the other side of the table, pouring some whiskey in his glass, lighting up a cigarette and leaning back on the chair, looking out into the starry, dark horizon. The night was calm, uneventful it seemed, with no wind and just the slight scent of freshly mowed grass mixed with cigarette tar. After he finished his cig, he put it out in the ash tray, then took another for himself, and one for the girl next to him, who gratefully picked it between her fingers, placed it between her lips and leaned towards Ban to get the fire together, puffing the smoke up into the sky.
"What's the point in smoking if you don't inhale it? Waste of money, I call it." the man was the first to talk.
"Lung cancer is more expensive than me puffing some paper straws." she replied in her usual soft voice, as if she didn't want to disturb the peace of the night.
"Paper straws, she calls them." he chuckled. "My son used to call them cancer sticks." he said casually. "I stopped smoking for a while. Promised him when he was little I'd quit if he did good at school. Couldn't go back on the promise, otherwise I'd be a shitty, uncool dad. Didn't wanna embarrass the little squirt."
"Naomasa Ban, the coolest dad ever, huh?" the girl had a bitter smile on her face. "I can see that." silence took over them. "What was his name?"
"Niko." he spoke.
"Like 'sunlight'?"
"Like 'smile', actually." he placed his glasses down, a hand going down his face, rubbing his jaw, before he spoke again. "I don't know if you know this or not, but when kids are born, they're supposed to be crying up a storm. Shows they're strong and all that." he chuckled a bit. "My lil' boy didn't. He was special." he said. "My lil' boy came out with a huge smile on his face, and a damn cute giggle."
"I never heard that before." Kisara whispered in wonder.
"Neither did any of us. The doctors and nurses were overjoyed, celebrated it as a miracle, even took a picture of him to put it on a board." he continued with a bittersweet tone. "Naomi was too exhausted, was in labour too long... The nurse wanted to give me the baby instead... My knees went limp and I almost fell from my feet seeing him." he said. "Another nursed gave me a chair so I could sit and hold him. I cried like someone was cutting onions in front of me. Niko smiled wider, and tried to grab my hair with his little hands." he choked back a sob. "He looked like the cutest, wrinkly potato with small flocks of black hair on his head."
The descriptive comment made both of them laugh a bit. "Did you ever tell Naomi you thought the child she birthed looked like a cute wrinkly potato?"
"Yes." he admitted. "She said she thought he looked like a Shar-Pei pup." they laughed a bit harder.
"Quite the odd pair, you two." she said.
"Definitely." he snorted. "Can you believe she was a lawyer?" Kisara gasped in shock. "A lawyer, falling in love with the bad boy journalist of the underworld." he said with a smug smirk. "My charm never failed me - Even if she won a suit against me, and that's how we met."
"... The more you speak, the more I'm inclined to believe you are telling me a story, rather than your life." that was the cue for another cigarette.
"And what, you had a perfectly ordinary life, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?" Kisara looked up to the stars, humming a pondering sound.
"Up to a certain point, I think I did, yes." she said after much consideration. "Obviously, I don't remember a lot of things because I was very young, but... I was just an ordinary kid with incredibly loving parents. In that regard, I was very lucky." she explained simply.
"What changed?" another few seconds were allowed for thinking.
"I'm not sure." she muttered. "Truth is... One day I remember my dad was with me, packing up my stuff in a huge luggage - Well, huge for my young self, that is - And asking me which things I treasure most from my room." her chin tilted downwards, her eyes narrowing, as if she was trying to recall memories long forgotten. "Now that I think of it... He wasn't as happy as I remember him being all the time - Well, he was never a cheerful guy, rather, he was calm and collected - But... He always smiled when he looked at me." absent-mindedly, she started scratching lightly the inside of her arm. "That night, I didn't sleep at all. We watched a bunch of cartoons and movies together, we celebrated mum's birthday... It was so much fun... And then I remember feeling sleepy. My parents got me in the car and said I will go for my first sleepover at mum's bestie, to meet her son - I always wanted a cool older brother, you see - And then... I don't remember reaching that place. I just remember waking up in an unfamiliar room with step-mum watching over me, caressing my hair."
"That... Sounds awful." Ban gritted his teeth.
"It was much later that I found out my mum's cancer came back and it went to shit... And her hair was just beginning to grow back... It was curly, unlike before." she muttered softly. "I remember one day... Me and dad went to the countryside. He got shit faced drunk... And was weeping silently. He told me how much he loves me and mum... And that he cannot imagine living without us." just like her father, Kisara was smiling and weeping silently. "My mum didn't want to live through the agony of the illness. My dad didn't want to live without mum. So... You know... They took the car, and... They walked the road together, hand in hand, until the road led them to the Heavens." she shrugged a few times, her grin breaking, her lip trembling. "And I got the coolest older brother I could ask for."
Ban had no words to be spoken. He was terrible at comforting people, and even worse at showing sympathy, especially when his heart was also hurting for the girl. The pain of loss... The grief... No matter how much time passed, it would never go away.
"I'm sorry, Ban. I didn't mean to make it about me. Forgive me." she whispered, looking down at her lap. "I know I'm being selfish. I love Satoru's parents... And even Seiji's parents took me in and care for me like their own daughter... I'm lucky... It could be much worse... Hell, even you... How can I even be allowed to complain like a brat..." she sniffed a bit, then gulped down her tears. "But they are not my mummy and daddy... And I miss them so much..." she muttered in a broken tone. "Their hugs will never be like my dad's... Their kisses will never be like my mum's..." she propped her chin on her knees, smiling sadly at the stars. "And sometimes, when I'm alone... I truly feel lonely in the world."
Ban nodded and sighed heavily, gulping down the whole glass and sloppily pouring more. "The house is cold, quiet and dark like never before, and you would do anything to force yourself through another night, and shove yourself out of the bed for another day, just so you won't disappoint those believed in you the most."
"What a shitty reason to live." the girl scoffed, though she agreed. "And you wonder every day - What's the point in even trying, when they're not there to see you thriving?"
"And you wonder every night... If it wouldn't be better to join them where they are." Ban concluded, defeated, as they both clinked their glasses together, downing whiskey after whiskey after whiskey, their throats burning raw with tears and anguish.
"Cheers for making it through to another night."
"Cheers for not going mental for yet another day."
Breakfast time was such a domestic bliss for Kisara, as she hadn't eaten a family meal since she was twelve. It was such a beautiful and natural scene, that she almost burst into tears of glee. She was so happy to be so thoroughly accepted into the Amanome family, even though she appeared out of nowhere, and her introduction came at the worst time possible. If anything, she expected Seiji's parents to hate her, to call her an awful influence - But it was the exact opposite. After the prior afternoon happenings and the unveiling of an incident from 5 years in the past, the Amanome family grew closer - And they gained a fifth member. Kisara officially became Seiji's girlfriend.
And now, with the privileges of being the Yakuza Prince's own Princess, the parents treated her as if she was their own daughter. With the boy telling them about her ghost encounters, her unfortunate childhood tragedy and the continuous stalker horror, not only they pitied her, but they insisted she doesn't return to her home - Because the Amanome Residence is as much her home, as it is theirs. It was such a heartfelt moment, that Kisara fell to the ground and hugged Mitsuki's legs, crying like a child and thanking her over and over again. Poor girl missed her mother's embraces and her father's praises more than she realised herself.
"Can you believe we've met barely three weeks ago, and yet so many things happened?" Kisara was laying on the bed, turning on the side to look at the boy who was reading a detective novel. "I've already been parasiting your kindness for a week and a half. Time flies so fast, don't you think?"
"It almost sounds like you're feeling guilty." the boy look away from his book, and down at the girl. Her eyes were wide and beautiful, like a doe. It wasn't often that she was this peaceful, he realised. She was so beautiful, with her carmine hair splattered everywhere on the bed, in long ribbons of red silk. "In spite of my healing leg, I have enjoyed your company very much. In fact, I'd say, I've gotten used to you being here. That night when you stayed over at Ban, it was actually awfully lonely and quiet." his confession earned quite the lovely blush from the lovely lady.
"I can't help but feel like I'm overstepping. I am not contributing in any way, and I'm taking advantage of your kindness. It's not fair. I can't just stay here and leech off your love for me." the girl refuted, the tip of her pointer finger drawing shapes into his forearm. "Tell me how I can make up to you and your family."
"You can repay me with kisses." that half-joke flustered the girl for a brief moment, before she found herself chuckling and jolting up to lean on her elbows, reaching down to kiss the corner of his mouth. "What a tease." unexpectedly, Seiji bookmarked the page he was at, placing the book on the nightstand before cupping the girl's face and pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss. In the heat of the moment, they almost didn't realise how they rolled so easily, and how absolutely seducing yet innocent Kisara looked under him. "I'll take this as payment."
"I feel like I am the one getting rewarded." her comment only made the two lovebirds laugh. How silly of them. It wasn't often that the two got the privilege to just behave their age, like two very in love and silly teenagers, but at least for the afternoon, they were rewarded with a glimpse of bliss and peace - What could have been a normal day, were it not for the plaguing, looming darkness of the spiritual world hunting them down.
Alas, there was only so much peace they could feel comforted by, as Kisara's phone rang - It was time for yet another ghost-busters actions. Ban told them all about the latest rumours concerning "Killer Peach" - Supposedly, a woman was working late one night, in one of the office floors of the Moon Towers, and heard another employee; She went to check on him, only to see a ghost figure behind the typing man - A figure that had the face of a monkey, she claimed, as reflected on the computer monitor. Frighteningly, this figure was holding a katana in one of its hands, weapon with which it decapitated the poor worker, leaving behind only the dead body, whilst the spirit disappeared in a flash. Rumours say, four people were killed in such manner, throughout the month, but there comes the bizarre statement from the multiple people witnessing the horrific killings of the ghost - They said the face of the ghost resembled different animals, from a dog, to a monkey, and even a pheasant; Rose Mulan thus mentioned the similarity to the children's fairy tale of Momotarou, and how this is the reason the ghost got its fabled name.
Instinctively, Seiji looked over to his girlfriend with evident concern on his face - All ghosts they've encountered were terrifying and dangerous, yet this one in particular sounded bloody awful. The protective gentleman side of him wished he could jump into action and shield her from all the threats of the outer world... But he wasn't sure his leg would allow him. In fact, he was quite afraid of burdening them on their quest of saving Akira and Ami... Or worse, getting in their way and potentially endangering one of them.
And if the ghost wasn't enough of a problem for them, Ban also mentioned government-involvement, and about the Sumii group, the guys who created the Moon Tower, and who have offices there; He briefly hinted towards his influence, and how he'll be able to solve most of the issues regarding the sneaking around and investigating around such a tightly-guarded area. Of course, Seiji knew all about influence, but he didn't expect Ban could be able to go that far. What a foe.
Before he hung up, the journalist urged her to hurry up to the assigned meeting spot, for he's got a surprise for her. Things were gonna get fun, for once.
"Seiji? Do you know the story of Momotarou?" Kisara asked, rushing to get her outfit ready.
"That children's fairy tale that Ban mentioned?" Seiji muttered, ruffling his hair a little. "It's about an elderly couple who found a baby in a peach and they raise him as their own. The child grows up and goes to a Devil's island, and on the road, he meets three companions - a Dog, a Money and a Pheasant, to which he gives some food, and they help him defeat the devils, and together, they return home to his family and celebrate their success." he summarized the already short story. "Odd thing to associate with a ghost, don't you think?"
"I wonder what is that all about... With the three animal faces..." Kisara muttered to herself, before she hopped off the bed. "Anyway, whatever the case, the Gov and the Sumii group are definitely involved in something big. Let's just hope we can appease this ghost."
One of the Amanome members drove Kisara to the assigned meeting spot, where Akira and Ban were already there; After her, two more women followed - Rose Mulan, and an unknown, yet very plain and dull looking woman. The journalist wrapped his arm around the red head's shoulders and pointed in the direction of the Moon Tower with a satisfied smirk. "3... 2... 1..." he said, and just then, all the lights from the Moon Tower were turned off, making her gasp in shock, then squeal in joy like a child seeing Christmas fairy lights for the first time.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!" she exclaimed, applauding as praise.
"That smile of yours cost me 3 million yen. You're one very expensive woman. No wonder you seduce Yakuza men, you little kitsune." the man teased the girl, who could only stare at him in horror.
"HOW MUCH?!"
"I won my gamble, so I didn't lose anything." he spoke vaguely. What a man shrouded in shadows.
"Yeah, you didn't lose anything. I lost 30 thousand yen." Akira grumbled, although he, too, was impressed.
"You're insane." Rose sighed, disappointed.
"What was your plan if you lost?" the new woman asked, scowling.
"Might've had to sell a kidney or something to cover the funds, but I had options." he joked lightly.
"With how much you smoke, your organs are as healthy as mine, after 2 coffees per day." Kisara couldn't help but checkle.
"Oh right, I remember. He can never get ahead, but when he's at his last best, he always wins." Rose shook her head.
With more interaction on the go, they decided to have someone wait constantly in the security room, in case the bribed official wants to betray them. The assigned person ended up being Rose. With the help of Ooue's entrance card, they got inside the dark building, and she proposed to first investigate the four offices where the victims were killed.
Despite Reina's suggestion of going in order, first to the 22nd floor, then to the 33rd, and afterwards, to the roof, Akira hit the elevator button to the last floor - The gang stepped out, onto the open roof - But there wasn't really anything of importance there, with the exception of a stone tablet that served as a memorial for the victims of a fire hazard that occurred some time ago in the building.
Thankfully, there were no bloodstains on it, but regardless, Kisara felt pulled towards that table, so she crouched besides it, her hand automatically reaching out to touch it. "Ah!" she gasped, drawing back immediately and jumping to her feet. "It's... Bloody hot. I guess the souls of the victims still left some regrets and emotions into the last remaining thing tying them to the reason of their death." she muttered, rubbing her hand, pensive.
"Really? Let me see." Ban's eyes were wide with curiosity, but upon touching said tablet, he didn't even flinch.
"Maybe you just don't have enough spiritual power to be affected. Or something. Kisara and I had ghosts visit us regularly at home during these investigations. I bet you had some really nice rests." Akira snorted, making the older man glare at him.
"Lucky me. Let's move along already." he muttered, going ahead of the younguns to the elevator.
This time, they got off at the right floor... Although, at the end of the corridor, though the tinted glass doors, they could see the twisted silhouette of a slender figure... A very tall woman - The ghost.
"Hey. Ooue. Overtime has been banned, so nobody's supposed to be here, right?" Akira asked, looking at the plain policewoman.
"Yeah, that's right. Plus, this floor's closed off even during the day, since it's the scene of a murder 'n all. What about it?" she asked, nonchalantly.
"I see a figure beyond that door there." the boy explained.
"Huh? Where? I don't see anything." she frowned, spazzic.
"Huh? It was just there-" Akira grumbled in shock.
"You're probably just seeing things. There's no time to waste jumpin' at shadows. C'mon, let's get lookin'." Reina is such a bossy bitch.
"You're speaking to a guy who almost died three times to ghosts. Akira isn't seeing things. I saw that figure too. I think it was the ghost we're looking for. Anyway, as it disappeared, there's no time to waste. We have to search for clues everywhere, but be very careful. We don't want such a premature encounter." rolling her eyes defiantly, Mashita snarked the policewoman. She really disliked Ooue Reina.
"Fine, whatever. We should split up. Boys and girls, like in school? I and Mashita go look further in, you two go take the office straight ahead." Ooue proposed, making the red head cringe visibly.
"Yeah, no thanks. Sorry, I don't trust you to take care of me during a ghost-chase... And I don't really like you either. I'd rather go alone than go with you." Kisara showed a wry smile, watching her scowl, offended.
"Splitting up isn't the smartest idea. How did you survive so far, anyway? Or maybe there were no ghosts to begin with." Ooue jabbed her harshly with her words.
"Next time a ghosts decides to possess me again, I promise I'll wring your neck like a dove and take pleasure in seeing the life seep out of your ugly, dull eyes." sparks were obviously flying between the two women, as if they were arch-enemies or something.
"I could have you arrested for threats, you know?" the woman glared at her.
"I know the legislation inside-out, try me. If anything, I can have you in jail for wasting Akira's precious time instead of being useful and investigating properly these strings of murders." she shot back immediately.
"Enough with the cat-fight. Ooue, give us the guest card so we can investigate properly." Ban grumbled, stepping between the two of them as he snatched away the card and dragging Kisara away with them.
"Bitch." the red haired girl muttered under her breath, hearing a hum of approval from the older man.
"God save us, with that bitch." Ban sneered softly. "Damn brat and his bad luck, getting the bitchiest police on our back. Good riddance."
However, before they could go on, Ooue started glaring at the door - The Sales department apparently doesn't open with a normal card key, so she's gotta try a bunch of different card keys and see if any works. Perfectly time-wasting activity for the worst member of the group. Talk about karma.
The room was very large and pitch black, but with the help of flashlights, they got to properly check around here and there. First, they had to look into a drawer, but it was locked - That is, before Ban forced it open like the cool guy he is - Finding a paper titled 'Floor Guide or Newcomers' and it has a map of the office. It displayed the locations of all the fire extinguishers and other equipment, as well as which employee works at which desk.
"Hmmm... Takada and Shima were on this floor, right?" Ban grumbled under his breath with a pensive tone.
"At the end of the third row from the window it says 'Takada, Senior Staff', it seems." Kisara answered him. "The bitch said to keep an eye out for this guy, correct?" he hummed in approval, absent-mindedly staring at the illuminated map - Only for the light to change course.
"Hey, I was still looking at the map." the older man snarked the girl, frowning as he looked at her. Something was wrong, he noted, as she was frozen in place, staring fixated across the other side of the room. "Kisara - Earth to Kisara - What's going on?" he followed the direction of the flashlight, but saw nothing. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I might have." her voice was whispery soft, but then she shook her head. "I will remain on high alert. I might have gotten a glimpse of Killer Peach."
"Right." he blanched a little. "Anyway - I might have found Takada's phone number. Look." he points toward a short sequence of numbers that says Senior Staff Takada. They walked by the guy's computer, finding a cigarette pack which was unfortunately empty, save for some paper trash stuffed inside. Some documents were neatly organised next to the desktop. Flashing the light on the phone, it seemed that the letters on the dial were quite faded from frequent use.
Together, they started rummaging through some documents - 'Albatross' , 'Rainbow' , 'South Dragon' , ' Island' - Each project seemed to have its own little secret. The last attempt was to turn on the computer, but found nothing of interest - That is, until they found a stuck label with 'Isle 25' written in paper on it.
"Any clue what this could mean?" the girl asked, taking the label from under the keyboard.
"Maybe some kind of password. People like keeping their passwords close to them, don't they?" he shrugged his shoulders uncaringly.
"Close - Like the 'Island' Document we just found?" sharing a look of urgency and eureka, they hurriedly took out the said document and flipped through it, getting to page 25, revealing a Dimple Key.
"Awfully cautious fella, this one. What the hell is he hiding?" Ban huffed, pocketing the Key, then angling to open the locked drawer - With no avail. "This fucker even has an anti-theft lock on his drawer. Who is he, National Security?"
"That... Is very curious..." Kisara muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Things don't add up with this Takada guy. No way a regular office worker could need all this. Things are definitely rotten." she said, crouching by the drawer for a few seconds, before snapping her fingers. "Hey, Ban - Didn't we just find a key? You said it yourself - People keep their passwords close - Isn't the key the drawer's password?"
Immediately, Ban crouched down next to her and tried the key - Successfully - Revealing a thick envelope and a video tape. "Well I'll be damned." he said, revealing the pictures inside the envelope, all of them taken from unnatural angles... All of them women either wearing only underwear... Or completely naked. "Fucking pervert - I bet these nasty hobbies are forbidden in the company's HR handbook." he took out a lighter and burnt the pictures on the spot. Changing rooms, bathrooms... All peeping pictures taken inside the very building.
"Well, the tape is probably not porn. It seems to be some President's memorial. What a weirdo." Kisara huffed, rolling her eyes.
"Ishimaru?" Ban looked at the tape caption. "Oh yeah - I heard he died recently - He was the former president of the Sumii Group. Died about six months ago. Big news."
"Why would anyone right in the head have the boss's memorial tape in their work desk? Not that a guy who keeps illegal pictures like these should be considered 'right in the head' to begin with -- Still, you get my point." Kisara asked with a hum.
"And why was it hidden so carefully?" Ban asked, following her statement.
"What's the deal with this 5/5 Club?" Akira grumbled under his breath.
"Yeah, that's what's bugging me too. I've never heard anything about a 5/5 Club ties to this company." the reporter explained, throwing the tape inside the boy's backpack.
Once out of the office, they told Ooue about their discovery, but she didn't know anything about the Club either. How mysterious. Next, they will go towards the 33rd floor, where Section Chief Bandou and the Department Head Kagawa work. Just as they reached the elevator halls, Reina's phone started ringing - She seemed rather displeased at what she was hearing from the other end of the line; At some point, she called Ban over, handing over the reports about the 33rd floor, urging the trio to go on ahead without her, as she'd be too busy with the call.
Once arrived on the 33rd floor, they skimmed over the reports real quick - They talked about the two victims, Bandou and Kagawa, and the locations of their work desks. Based on the assumption the floor layout was similar to the previous one, they went on ahead to enter the office - Except, just as Akira swiped the card to open the door, from the other side of the glass, the grotesque silhouette of a woman with multiple head flashed before their eyes.
"Whoa!" Kisara gasped, almost stumbling back. "That was scary."
"I knew I saw something! But that's definitely not a person." Akira sneered through his teeth, alert and ready for anything.
"Yeah... Based off of the rumours, I'm gonna guess that was Killer Peach." Ban grimaced in fear. "But why's it here? We're not Sumii employees." he continued.
"Haha... I thought this was gonna be a cake walk - But now our lives are on the line again." the reporter smirked almost with unease. "This is getting interesting." not unease, perhaps - Professional curiosity?
They carefully enter the first office, looking for Bandou's desk - The atmosphere was... Different. Much heavier, as if ready to suffocate you. Everyone seemed to instinctively tense up, feeling overwhelmed with dread. The smell of stagnant air filed their noses, reminiscent of old blood; With the flashlight, Akira followed his nose like a dog and noticed some unnatural dark stains on the ground. With a sigh, he squatted low and touched the blood, ready for another vision.
He was met with a creepy high-pitched laugh... And on the ground, he saw a massacred man... Behind him, a terrifying monstrous being with three animal heads, holding a katana -- It went towards him, the silver blade slicing the air towards him, and --
He panted hard as he woke up, recounting the horrific death of the manager, and how thrilled Killer Peach seemed... And with it, followed the bleak realisation that perhaps they were the monster's next targets.
Not having found much of value looking around, they headed straight to Bandou's computer and searched his workdesk.
First, they found a rather disturbing book about the popular idols of Japan. The computer and phone were as dirty and neglected as could get. Moving the chair, Kijima found a paper stuck to the desk with Bandou's password... It was 'BANDOU'. Not only that, but he found some laundry soaked in some cheap cologne also. Ban had him hold onto it - He didn't want to be found anywhere near that disgusting scent.
Kisara turned the computer on, quickly entering the pass, and opened the text file in the middle of the desktop. It was a written document Bandou must have written, saying how he needs to be prepared for the upcoming idol concerts so he can chant with the audience during the calls and what not. Scrolling through, they saw K's password - SOLO FIRST. They had no clue what it could mean, but they went on forward to the next office.
Spreading around, they found some Pinky Bath bath salts that Ban was eager to take home for his relaxation rituals and floor guide. Then, they searched Kagawa's desk, which was surprisingly clean and tidy. Once again, they turned the PC on - Yet this time, various animal pictures flashed the screen, depicting images of a rabbit, bear, bird and a pig, followed by the text 'Check the password!' . How peculiar, Kisara thought to herself.
In the meantime, Ban forced a drawer open, and found a bag that said 'From Kagawa'. Considering he's probably one of the victims, it could be he's this guy's boss, he thought out loud. The bag had 2 CDs in it, and one of them had a CD cover that had Hazuki's idol persona printed on it.
"Hazuki?!" Akira drew back in shock.
"What. A. Pervert." Kisara spat in disgust, snatching the other CD who had Ai's picture, and was titled Love & Hero. "Urgh - Not Ai also." she was fuming. "I will confiscate these." she snatched both CDs and threw them in the bag.
"Hey, don't judge. People can listen to whatever music they want." Ban's comment made the girl roll her eyes at him. "Besides - Since this says 'FROM Kagawa' , this means he probably got it from his boss." he said.
"So his boss Kagawa owns these CDs?" Akira asked, realising the links between the two managers. "That still means they belong to an old man." he pointed out.
"Ha, you can talk like that now, but you'll be an old man before long too." Ban chuckled lowly at the two. "So was there anything else?"
Akira rummaged through the drawer more, pulling out a safety deposit box. As the two were looking around for a key to open the box, Kisara entered the password, clicking on the Rabbit picture, then the pig.
<<Password confirmed!>>
<< Welcome back, Master! >>
Great, the girl thought to herself with a shiver.
The desktop displayed a large calendar with a bunch of marks on it... And most of them were concert points, Meet & Greets, Radio shows, TV shows with the idols... How gross. But after finally getting over their disgust, they noticed a dinner plan with the 5/5 Club. Finally, something a little useful! Takada was senior staff, Kagawa department head... How are these 5/5 Club guys connected was the big question of the century.
Another interesting little thing was a day in which 'CDs to Bandou' was written, along with a little note saying 'Bandou is suspicious. Be careful. Use MOUSE if needed.' yes, how suspicious indeed. Immediately, they looked at the computer mouse, popping out the ball and miraculously, they found a cylinder-style lock key; Finally, they could open the drawer from Bandou's office desk. Inside, they found a printed email and what looked like financial documents.
Since Akira was just a kid and Kisara was clueless about finances, Ban took the stack of papers, slowly flipping through them - And then, he got a lightbulb eureka, along with a satisfied grin on his face. "Aha... I think I get it now." he said. "The 5/5 Club... These papers seem like fake orders and illegal exchanges." he explained to the two.
"You mean, like, embezzling? Money laundry, scams, swindles and all that?" Ban nodded his head at her.
"Yeah. Basically, these guys were filling their pockets with company money." shocking. Not quite. "This company has a group of people who took advantage of it." he cleared his throat. "Well, I guess Killer Peach could have killed 'em all, so maybe 'HAD' is more accurate."
"Okay, buy... How does Killer Peach fit in all this? What motive would they have to kill them? I don't think stealing company money would affect a random person enough to become a ghost and seek eternal vengeance." Kisara explained, frowning in confusion.
"Well, it's nothing more than a hunch for now, but Bandou probably kept these documents as leverage in case things went south." he explained. "He didn't want to be made into the scapegoat so he needed something to threaten them with."
"So they were all basically trash." Akira summed the situation up perfectly.
"Right? It's enough to make pure-hearted people like me turn rotten." Ban's snarky comment made the girl giggle. Akira was not as amused. "Anyway, what's on the print out?"
"An email, it seems. The sender is Kagawa." she cleared her throat. "Seems to be a convo between Kagawa and his mistress." she went on. "Oh, goodness - Apparently they hooked up in the middle of the night on the sales department floor below here." the lady smirked in amusement. "Oh, and - He also mentioned that he hid a card key, but that's not as fun as an affair in the workplace, eh?"
"Few things are." Ban said. "If his mistress could find the card key to visit him on those late-night sexcapades, we should be able to find it also, right?"
"Think so. Here he wrote 'You must be careful not to burn yourself with the flames of passion!' and yes, he put an exclamation mark on the riddle. Gross." and then she read on, and sighed. "Nevermind, it's not a riddle. He says he hid it on the fire extinguisher. What a loser."
"The floor plans had the location of the fire extinguishers on, right?" Ban pointed out, and the other two confirmed.
"So Bandou kept this email as blackmail in case something happened, huh? They're all trash for real." Akira's comment made them chuckle.
But after checking out all the extinguishers on the hallways, they were in a slump - Only to realise there was an office kitchenette they missed. Finally, they found the card - And it was a different colour than Ooue's. Could be it had a more general access, which would be amazing. At that point, the policewoman finished her phone call and they had to waste time explaining their findings to her.
Together, they returned to floor 22, to try and access the office where general manager Shima worked, the guy who was decapitated. Was he also part of the 5/5 Club, they wondered.
Once arrived at the hallway, heavy breathing was heard ominously filling the silence. From the very end of the hallway, a strange figure with a katana in one hand was panting like a beast.
'Hate... Hate...' it was growling animalistically. "You... Smell like him..."
"That's not good." Ban grit his teeth, backing slowly. "So this is Killer Peach." the figure was swaying as it started walking towards the group.
"I saw.... Whaaaat... Are you looking for....?" the ghost was screeching. "Are youuu... With Sumii...?"
Without realising, Kisara's body started stepping forward, her hand snatched Akira's backpack and unconsciously started unzipping it. "I am just a medicine student. Here, you can sense it already, and hear my voice also - I am a woman. Just like you."
"Then why.... Do you smell... Like him...?" the spirit's voice was low and hostile, but it wasn't moving forward - Just Kisara was.
"Kisara, what the hell are you doing?! Get back already!" Ban was whisper-yelling at the suicidal girl, who looked to be almost caught in a trance.
"I found this stinky shirt in the office. Is this what you were looking for?" as she snatched the cologne-filled shirt from the backpack, it dropped to the ground with a loud thud, while she held up the shirt as if it was an offering.
"Get the hell back, Mashita!" Akira called out after her, but she didn't even seem to hear him.
"That was a smart move - Killer Peach doesn't kill women." Reina nodded her head unconsciously.
"You don't know that! It could just be a weird coincidence!" Akira snapped at her.
Kisara was deaf to all the buzz-noise behind her; Her mind could only focus on the raspy voice of the spirit and its twisted body. It was calling to her, attracting her unconsciously like a moth to the flame, ready to get burnt to death - She shall willingly be the next Icarus if need be. That was what her body was telling her.
"Sumii.... Murder.... er.... Murderers..." with a feral snarl, the ghost grabbed the shirt and threw it in the air, aggressively slashing at it with the katana it was holding, cutting it to shreds and bits, slowly floating to the ground.
"Who did the Sumii murder?" Kisara asked in her usual soft voice. "The 5/5 Club... The criminals hiding inside the Sumii group... You were hunting them down, weren't you?" the growl the spirit let out seemed to confirm the girl's words. "Who did those bastards murder that it incurred your wrath, even from the afterlife?" she kept asking. "You are not 'Killer Peach'. You are a woman, just like me, wronged by the world."
"Just... Like me..." the spirit howled into the hallway. "Murdered... Bastards.... Sumii..." the spirit was doing very well, trying to communicate coherently. "Wronged... Just like me... Evil bastards...."
"My name is Mashita Kisara. I am 21 years old and currently studying Veterinary medicine. My parents died when I was a child, but I got adopted by my mum's best friend, and their son became my beloved elder brother and guardian - I would be dead without Satoru. I was stalked by a boy my age since I was little; At some point, he broke into my house and hid under my bed so he could choke me to death when I was sleeping. Luckily, my brother heard me and got rid of him before he could inflict lasting damage. The police gave me a restriction order against him, because my brother was in the police force - But once the higher-ups saw him sniffing around their shady business, they fired him and destroyed his reputation, and with it, the restriction order. I tried five times to get the restriction order up again, with photographed evidence of my stalked continuing to harass me - The men there told me I was asking for it; Or worse, that I was lucky a man was so loyal, in spite of my haughty attitude." Kisara spoke clear and continuous about her life, seeing at it somewhat resonated with Killer Peach's hatred of evil men. She raised her hand slowly, as if to connect with the ghost. "Plenty of men in my life wronged me... But plenty of men protected me also. My father, my brother... My love..." her other hand gently waved towards Ban and Akira. "My friends also..." she looked at the spirit again. "I am sure you were the same - Right?"
"You and I... The same... We are the same..." Killer Peach rose her hand slowly - Long, slender, skeletal and ghoulish - And she placed it against Kisara's. They connected. They were the same. Just two small women going against the harsh outside world.
In an instant, the trio behind Mashita saw her legs trembling, as if she could keep herself standing; She was whimpering, whining, as though she was in torturous agony from within. She was slowly losing strength in her knees and going down, falling to the ground - And the spirit knelt in front of her, still keeping her hand over hers. Killer Peach let out a noise that resembled a soothing whisper to quiet down the girl who was falling into hysterics, trembling and hyperventilating.
Flashes of a beautiful woman wearing a business suit went through her mind - She was being humiliated, mocked and taunted... And then, decapitated. The blasted 5/5 Club that Killer Peach sought revenge on... But why did Killer Peach try to kill them in such a blind rage, only for her to get killed just like that? What was her reasoning?
She could hear the faint voice of a little boy calling out 'Mummy' and telling her how cool she was, just like Momotarou from the fairy tale. She then heard the voice of an adult man, calling out to her - Tomoko, he called her - Followed by the heartbroken wail of a woman. Was it her family, Kisara wondered for a brief few seconds... But then, she felt like she was suffocation; It was hot, burning hot, like the flaming blaze of the inferno. It was so hot, she unwittingly started clawing at her own throat, breathing heavily, trying to get away from there - It was all black around her, an endless void of nothingness surrounding her from every side and every dimension. She was burning to death, and there was no saving her.
Suddenly, a bright light engulfed her, and she was blinded by pure white - It was the neon-lit hallway. She was back in the real world. Slowly, her ears could hear the faint voices behind her, calling her name. They were unimportant. The priority was in front of her, towering over her with the monkey-head instead of a womanly face.
"Tomoko...!" Kisara suddenly threw her arms around the twisted silhouette of the spirit. "Tomoko... I'm so sorry... God, I'm so, so sorry..."
"Vengeance..." the spirit seethed through those animal teeth. "My vengeance..."
"Your vengeance..." Kisara muttered lowly. "Tomoko - Will you let me be your vengeance?" the trio behind her almost gasped in unison from the shock of hearing the girl say such abstract words - And even more, seeing the ghost drop the katana in Mashita's lap. "I will unveil the secret of your family's death - Of your death - And bring your vengeance on all those who wronged you. This is my vow to you, as a woman - I will avenge you and your family so that you may rest in peace in the afterlife, together, as you should have been in life."
With a loud howl, Killer Peach slowly dissipated from the hallway; And as she did, a whisper broke the deathly silence that filled the air. 'Thank you' it said.
Kisara didn't have the strength to get back on her feet; Her hands were gripping the katana so tight, her knuckles got pale white. "Hey, Kisara! Earth to Kisara! Are you with us?!" she wasn't sure when it happened, or how long it took for her to realise, but Ban was kneeling by her side, gently shaking her out of her stupor, calling out her name borderline desperately.
"Ban... I'm sorry. I worried you, didn't I? I'm really sorry." unexpectedly, she pulled the man into a gentle embrace, holding him as when she was a child, holding her dad in a loving hug. "I don't know what happened - I don't know why I did what I did... Or what I did... All I know is that... I... I felt as if she was calling to me... And... I guess I answered."
"I will scold you more when we get home - And don't even get me started when that brat hears about what you did --" Kisara let out a sheepish, guilty smile of embarrassment. "Just tell us what happened."
"Killer Peach... I saw some old men killing her... I heard her son and husband calling out to her... And then... I felt a suffocating heat, before a scorching burn, like I was being burnt alive." she explained briefly. "Killer Peach... No, Tomoko... I think she wants vengeance for something that happened to her family... Because I saw her trying to kill those men - But they killed her before she could even try."
"So if we find out what happened to her family, we can appease Killer Peach?" Akira's voice was heard louder as he approached them.
"So Club 5/5 - Did your vision confirm they are the ones who killed Killer Peach, and that's why she's hunting them down like rabbits?" Ooue called out, but the red head only hummed.
"I... Think so. I don't know how either of these men we've been investigating looks - But I'm pretty sure our supposition has been correct. Although... We have to figure out what 5/5 Club did to Tomoko's family to make her try to kill them." Kisara muttered, being helped up by Ban.
"Maybe they killed her family." Akira suggested.
"Okay - But why? What would they gain from killing the child and the husband of a regular office woman?" the red haired girl asked.
"That's what we have to find out I guess." Ban said, lifting her hand up, revealing the sword. "That - And what the hell is the deal with this katana. It looks too good not to be an expensive original piece."
"Seiji's dad knows how to identify an original katana from a replica or a cheap rip-off. I'll ask him about it when we get home." the girl explained casually.
"There's no way I'm letting you on the streets with a stolen weapon." the trio looked at the policewoman with bothered expressions. "I may bend the rules, but I'm not completely breaking them. Weapons are dangerous."
"Yes, you're right, especially in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use them." with a poison-smile, Kisara turned towards the policewoman, holding a gun pointing towards her head. "Luckily, I have both a gun permit AND a sword possession permit - Which, thankfully, at least these haven't been revoked by those cunts after kicking my brother out of the force." she even giggled lightly. "I don't need some shady bitch like you to tell me what I can or can't do. All of you are the same - Shameless, corrupt, weak, greedy - I don't trust you, Ooue Reina. For your own sake, stay out of my way, and the investigation will go away smoothly."
"You do know you'll get jail for pointing that at me, right?" Reina seemed unflinching, unyielding, unafraid.
"Criminal Code - Penal Code of Japan, Article 208: If the gun is pointed but not fired, this may qualify as assault. Penalty: Up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. Moreover, even with a license, improper handling of a firearm could result in up to 5 years imprisonment, plus getting your license revoked." Kisara spoke serenely. "Thank the useless police force for me being forced to know these things."
"Not everyone is as corrupt as you think we are. You wouldn't call your brother a lecherous, greedy bastard, would you?" was Reina provoking her on purpose, she wondered? Or was Killer Peach's influence and malice washing over her? She felt so... Angry... Bloodthirsty. She wanted to see blood. To rip ribbons of flesh. "He'd be disappointed, seeing you abuse his kindness, just to show off to someone you hate." a loud shot was heard, and Reina's left ear rang loudly, along with everyone else's. Kisara's gun was steaming from the barrel, but she remained unflinched.
"Speak of my brother one more time, and I promise you, I will not miss next time." dark, horrific, threatening - A tone that Kisara never held before, this time, it was spewing from her tongue like it was natural. "I believe it is time to part ways, otherwise our investigation will become faulty." as if nothing happened, she flicked the safety on and placed her gun back in the back of her pants. "No harm done!" she chirped with a careless laugh, snatching the card from Akira's han and finally, getting inside Shima's office.
"Are you crazy? Threatening a policewoman like that? What the hell was in your mind?" Ban grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her with anger. "Do you think that will get you any closer to living safe and getting that restriction order back?!"
"I won't need a restriction order once there is no more reason for my fears." she spoke sweetly, tilting her head to the side with an eerie, almost child-like grin. That bastard Yakuza was rubbing off on her, and he didn't like it. Kisara wasn't like that - She wouldn't... Although, after what he just witnessed in her house... And knowing what she went through, perhaps... He would do the same for his child, so...
Ah, screw it. It wasn't as if he was the epitome of sanctity... But he was also twice her age, he couldn't just let her go down the dark path of the underworld - At least, now without holding her hand and being her guiding light, for she was succumbing swiftly into an abyss of hatred and dread.
"Come with me to the next hearing - We'll get your restriction order together." he was serious, his hand gripping her shoulder as he looked down at her. She clearly didn't believe him, but still smiled, for his sake. "And if it doesn't work, then... Well, I'm sure that brat you're fond off will think of something more... Adequate."
"Okay." he was almost shocked to see her agreeing so quickly to his proposal. "Just once. If it doesn't work, his blood will be on my hands."
Together, they searched Shima's work desk; Next to the PC, a glass award was displayed - Sumii Group President -- Noboro Ishimaru. So, the dead guy on the video tape awarded this to Shima. Because the award was made of glass, it was evidently dirty - From a bunch of fingerprints.
Ban gave Akira a handkerchief to pick the trophy up and keep it safe. Shrewd Ban wanted to use the right tools to get Shima's and Ishimaru's fingerprints to make use of the special elevator that was out of use. What a villain - She wanted to learn that skill and show off to Seiji -- Although the Yakuza Prince must already know the trick inside out by now. He was, after all, very witty and dexterous.
Before they left to do the trick, Kijima noticed a cologne bottle inside a small drawer - It was a brand that Ishimaru liked, Reina mentioned - And given on the fact that the bottle was only half-full, it was clear Shima used that cologne also. No wonder Killer Peach was attracted to its scent as a killing-motivation; That's how she pin-pointed her well-deserved victims, the link between the 5/5 Club.
I have a question, has hermes in your gow series been based off the gow 2 novel? I have been reading the novels after reading your gow fics ans they seem similar, great writing tho, keep that up
Hey, thank you for asking - And thank you also for your lovely words <3
To be very honest with you, I had no idea GoW had novels ^^" I only ever played the games (And for what consoles I didn't have, I watched online playthroughs)
So I had no idea I wrote Hermes similar to his novel counterpart - But I will take that as praise <3
Kratos placed Mimir's head by the giant horn, and thus, the old head summoned the Giant world serpent; With a roar, he rose up, then went straight to destroying a statue of Thor - Katrina found it highly amusing, enough so that it earned a chuckle. Big snake has quite the unpleasant history with the fat God - Or, as Mimir said, WILL have an unpleasant... Future-History. How confusing.
The Head started yowling at Jormungandr, and the snake roared right back in response - Neither of the three present could even guess what they were speaking in such an ancient tongue - Yet one thing was certain - The air was getting rather foul.
The serpent moved their bridge platform into the right direction, the the old goat told them about a rune they had to learn, and about some kind of magical chisel that would aid them in traveling.
As for the brief moment the trio thought they were going to be eaten alive by the Giant... Mimir misspoke, making Jormungandr think they were friends of Odin - Small mistake from one who never spoke the language sober. How funny this one was. Dionysus would have had a field trip hanging around Mimir and belching the ancient language.
They hopped back on the boat and rowed towards the statue of the oarsman, and thus, it was time for the much awaited story time. "Mimir - You never did tell me why Freya spit in your face." what a naively cute thing to point out.
"Well, she blames me in large measure for her present circumstances.... And not without reason." the old head sighed. "It all goes back to the Long War between the Aesir and the Vanir." he said. "Prior to that, wars for the Aesir were easily won -- But the Vanir had proved their equal, and exacted devastating damage." he went on.
"That sounds exhausting - And terrible." Katrina placed her hand over her heart - She was glad the Gods never waged war with each other quite like that. In a sense, Zeus ruling over Olympus and ensuring everyone had their own role in the 'family' wasn't the worst thing to happen; That being said, they did not have multiple realms fighting each other - Just the occasional Titan uprising here and there. "With such a war, both sides must have suffered tremendous losses."
"Quite so, sister - And for many of us, war was simply no fun anymore." sounded like something Ares would never be caught dead saying.
"War is always a senseless waste of precious life." the Goddess spoke plainly, looking down into her lap. For her, the loss of life broke her heart - Be it human, animal or plant. Life was precious above all.
"We all agreed to that, sister - And at last, Odin's most brilliant advisor became determined to find a more enlightened path. He set about to broken a peace between the Gods. Took some convincing, but ultimately, Odin was persuaded to marry his deadliest enemy." he narrated their old past.
"Freya - Sorry, you pronounce it as... Freyja... Freyja was married to Odin...? That sounds like hardly the blissful marriage." the lady scoffed in surprise - Though he couldn't blame either party. During the worst times of war, people would do anything to survive - And leaders would take the worst deals just to save their people. Even so, she still wonders why Hera did not divorce Zeus after cheating so much on her.
"Yes, indeed - The very Vanir Goddess legendary not only for her fertile beauty, but her genius at the very Vanir magic that Odin had long aspired to master." Mimir explained the deal.
"So... The Vanir got peace... While Odin got to marry a gorgeous and talented woman who would end up teaching him the very thing he was desperately seeking? No wonder Freyja hates Gods so much." Kat scoffed once again, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Truly, she deserves better than she got." Mimir hummed in pitiful agreement. "But of course, there's much more to that story..."
"I can't believe Odin and Freyja were ever married." Atreus spoke in surprise.
"I thought your mother taught you about Gods - As it stands, is Odin not the Allfather, and Freyja the Allmother? Or their marriage was veiled in secrecy?" the Olympian Goddess asked.
"It didn't last very long... Nor was it a happy outcome for any party, involved or otherwise." Mimir sighed. "Love and hate are more closely intertwined than one might imagine. You see - Odin's one and true love was Fjorgyn, a giantess - Thor's mother --"
"Wait - Thor is half-Aesir and half-giant?! So weird!" Atreus exclaimed in shock.
"Truly - And once Fjorgyn was gone, lonely ages passed for Odin... And after no small amount of convincing, Freyja agreed. For a while there, he really turned on the charm; He seemed happy. He seemed interested in making her happy. He granted her so many wishes I can scarcely recall them all."
"Sounds like another certain Allfather I know..." Kat rolled her eyes.
"I was foolish, sister - The peace held for a while, and I truly believed all had worked out better than I could have planned... But Odin's true face showed itself again in the end... Once he won Freyja's trust, and she taught him some of her Vanir magic - Another choice she would live to regret. Sadly, despite his wise counsellor's best efforts to persuade him that peace was the only true path to stave off Ragnarok... Odin never let go of his obsession with Jotunheim. The taste of Vanir magic led him to new forms of experimentation, and new levels of depravity." he spat down in disgust.
"I cannot say I am surprised in the least."
Soon, the waters took them towards the frozen northern docks, where Mimir told them all about the sad story of Thamur. The saw the hammer of the blacksmith giant, and even the giant hand and what not -- It was quite a macabre idea, climbing over the dead body of a frost giant who froze over a whole village with his dying breath; And under a thick layer of frozen ice was hiding a powerfully glowing red light which they must reach.
"I have a plan." Kratos said, looking up.
"You do?" Mimir gasped in mock-shock.
"Do not act so surprised, head." the Spartan then looked at the Olympian, who simply smiled and reached her arm up.
"Hold on tight and enjoy a wild ride." thus, Katrina summoned long vines from the ground, latching around Atreus and his father, and then shooting up into the sky, all the way on the top of the giant Hammer. Kratos seemed a little shaken by the unexpected ride - Atreus on the other hand was clutching his heart and laughing happily.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!" he squeaked adorably. "Can we do that again some time?! Pretty please?!"
"Certainly!" she giggled at him. "Now then, Almighty one, do your thing." she patted Kratos' back, as he huffed and went towards the mountain wall.
"Do not do that again." he mumbled under his breath - Clearly he wasn't one for extreme sensations.
With his Godly strength, Kratos pushed the Hammer down, and with it, urged both his son and his lover to jump down with it; Unfortunately, they lost balance and fell - Kratos and Atreus almost got trapped under the hammer, whilst Katrina fell outside. Thankfully, Atreus was still holding onto the flower she made for him, so he could feel she was still very much alive and well - The flower would pulsate with life and energy the closer they were to each other, and thus, find their way to reunite;
However, the Goddess had other plans; As she got up from the ground, her eyes were captured by a faint glow from the top of a mountain - It was purple, and fading, calling to her like a dying voice seeking aid. She gravitated towards that spot like a moth attracted to the flame, and she climbed up the steep cliffs and mountain peaks until she reached the very top.
But she wasn't alone.
On the edge of the cliff was the source of the light - A small flower, wilting and glowing with faintness - Over it, a man was towering; He was tall and fair, his skin as white as snow, his hair gold like a sun-caressed field of wheat, styled in intricate braids, he was wearing a white tunic and leather armor, adorned with solid gold ornaments and embellishments... But what stood out the most about him were not his golden teeth bared and sneered at the dying flower, but the fact that his eyes were purple and glowing, akin to the very flower.
As she approached with quiet steps, Katrina could hear the stranger muttering — Not with awe or reverence for the gorgeous flower, but with complete disdain.
“Stupid, fragile little thing. Could’ve bloomed when I needed you to, but no — You just HAD to go and die just to spite me.” the stranger got up to his feet, stomping the snowy ground in anger and frustration.
The Goddess tilted her head, then slowly stepped forward, making her presence known. "Flowers do not usually respond well to being insulted.”
The man turned sharply, violet eyes narrowing as they landed on her — Surveying her with instant suspicion. How come he didn't hear her steps? How come he didn't sense her presence?
“Who are you?” he snapped, glaring at her.
Katrina blinked at his hostility, but smiled nonetheless. “No one you would be familiar with.”
“Mortals really are everywhere these days,” he muttered, rising to his full height. He was radiant, but his voice was soaked in disdain and malice. “Do you people just sniff out sacred places like dogs?”
She raised a gentle brow, unfazed by his sharp tongue. “I only wanted to see the flower.”
He scoffed. “Well, congratulations. It’s dead. You can grieve together.” he turned his back at her briefly. "What a waste of time - Getting through all the trouble of getting here... The Allfather's gonna be pissed." she heard him muttering under his breath. Was this man... An Aesir God? A lackey of Odin? What a terrifying thought. Even so - He couldn't be that scary if he couldn't even sense her presence, right?
She ignored the bite in his tone and stepped closer to the bloom. It was withered, but not gone — Just dormant. Her hands, warm amidst the freezing cold of the blizzard, lowered to cup the tiny stem and the fallen petals. Her fingertips glowed with a soft, radiant gold-green aura, her most beloved magic - Life - Drawn from the earth and herself, flowed into the frozen bloom.
The stranger watched with a sneer at first, but then — Something subtle shifted in his gaze. Disbelief and awe took over him as the petals lifted, color returning; The faint violet glow surged like a heartbeat, now stronger than ever. Even the frost beneath the flower melted into a small, glimmering puddle, making the whole peak green with grass and tiny mountain flowers.
Katrina smiled and gently plucked it. “There we go.” she turned toward him, walking with a gentle smile on her face, showing off the gorgeous flower in her hands. “Alive and lovely once more.”
He stared at her with a furrowed brow, lips slightly parted — Confused. Caught off-guard. He had never witnessed such magic before - Even the Vanir did not possess such an enigmatic type of magic... What WAS this woman?
She studied him for a moment. His features were sculpted, ethereal — And those eyes, glowing amethyst and crackling faintly with light - The flower in her hand, she suddenly realized, matched them perfectly.
Without thinking, she reached up and gently tucked the violet blossom behind his ear. “It suits you.” he went completely still.
His brows drew together into a frown, his body stiffening as if he had just had his intimacy violated rudely. “What did you just—?”
“The color.” she said softly, smiling. “It matches your eyes. You have an ethereal beauty about you - Even when you are scowling.”
His mouth opened and closed like a stunned child. No one — No one — had ever spoken to him like that. Especially not a witch who did not belong to these lands, soft in voice and warm in presence.“You’re insane.”
She giggled softly, like a crystalline lullaby sang by the nymphs. “I have been called much worse.”
He looked away sharply, his ears just faintly pink now - Just the cold, he lied to himself. He muttered under his breath something about 'absurd mortals' and 'silly parlor magic tricks' but didn’t pull the flower from his hair.
She did not know what came over her - Perhaps it was Aphrodite's influence taking over her, or Anteros kicking her to move forward - Katrina found herself in front of the seraphic man, placing a soft, warm kiss on his pale, frozen cheek, and leaned back to smile - And admire her handy-work in making the man try so hard to hide he was flustered.
“Be kind to flowers. They might bloom for you next time.” she offered an enigmatic smile as she turned her back at him. "Unless you want to summon me again and make use of my magic."
She left as softly as she’d arrived, the snow parting around her and flowers blooming where she stepped - And then, much to his shock, the lady jumped off the cliff; By the time Heimdall reached the edge to search for her, she was long gone, vanished into the wind like a sweet dream.
Heimdall stood alone, fuming — Not at her, exactly, but at the strange fluttering in his chest. The glowing flower still clung to his hair, pulsating with life and warmth akin to a heartbeat. What the hell did he just witness? Who was this woman, where did she come from - What was she? A mortal couldn't possibly achieve such an elusive level of... Whatever she was. No, she couldn't be... And yet, there was no way she could be a Goddess of the Realms -- He was familiar with every living, breathing being in all Nine Realms... Surely... She must be some kind of traveler from another land... The way she spoke, the was she looked, the way she was dressed, the way she behaved... She was nothing like the log-brained women of these lands who thought wrestling a beer keg was the most attractive thing to a drunk man.
She was... Truly out of this world.
Finally, amidst wreckage and destruction, Katrina found her was back to the party, reuniting once more; Kratos had blood splattered on him, and Atreus was panting - Still, as soon as he saw her, the boy skipped in front of her and chirped happily. "We killed a God! Kat, we killed Magni!"
"Who is Magni?" the red haired Goddess looked in confusion at the young boy - And then it registered to her. "Wait - Did you just say - You killed a God?! Here?!" she crouched to his side, grabbing his face gently and analysing him from each side and angle. "You are not hurt anywhere, are you? Everything okay?"
"Yes, we're okay! Don't worry!" he smiled cutely.
"Magni is one of Thor's sons - Magni and Modi - They attacked us when we went for the chisel." Mimir explained proudly. "Minor Aesir, yes - But Thor... Not minor at all."
"Hey, I just realised - Magni - He didn't come back to life!" Atreus pointed out, making Mimir hum in realisation.
"You said you killed him - He would just... Die... Right?" Atreus shook his head at her.
"It's known the Aesir find their own way to Valhalla. No Valkyrie escort, no processing at the gates of Helheim. THAT may be significant." the head explained to the Olympian.
"How fascinating - And scary." Katrina patted the boy's head. "What is dead may never die - Wonderfully done, Atreus. You have truly come a long way. I am sure your father is very proud of you - Is that right, Kratos?" she turned to look at the Spartan with a vixen look.
Kratos grunted under his breath, looking away. "Yes." he let out, making the boy blush and look down.
"Thank you, Father."
"Think nothing of it. They attacked us - I simply defended ourselves. I fear no judgement." the laconic one spoke simply. "Let us be on our way."
Back on the boat, the party was finally leaving that frozen wasteland; Mimir was telling yet another story, Kratos was rowing the boat, and Atreus, exhausted as he was, fell asleep leaning into Katrina's side. Smiling, she placed her arm over his body, bringing him into a warm embrace - Except, she also eventually got lulled into a quick nap, thanks to the head's stories.
How did a story about Freyja and Odin turn into a dream about herself into a moonlit forest, she did not know, but she was disorientated. Tall trees were surrounding her - So tall she could hardly see the stars peaking through. The snarls of wild animals brought her out of her wonder, and howls sent shivers down her spine. Soon, she was almost surrounded by a pack of starving wolves - And she could not use her powers. What an awful dream, she realised - With no way of waking herself.
Begrudgingly, she started to run in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could take her; Hermes' sandals weren't working, her powers weren't working - Was she supposed to become wolf food for her to wake up?
Finally, she reached a flower meadow, and she felt... A sense of calm and safety. She couldn't explain why, but seeing the silver light of the moon falling onto her made her feel like nothing in the world could hurt her;
The wolves arrived soon after, but she was not afraid.
The sound of heavy hooves pounding against the ground made her head snap in the opposite direction, and a large stag pranced in front of her, his large antlers throwing the predators away, making them run away yelping in fear and pain.
Katrina was in awe - Not only had she never seen a stag twice the size of a regular one, but... This one... He was so proud and imposing, with his head high and looking like a true King; His fur way silver, and glowing in the moonlight, with runes she could not understand painted onto it. His large antlers looked like silver or white gold, and they were adorned with jewellery of all kind. He stepped away from her, and offered one look - Large, purple eyes, glowing like two amethyst gems were looking at her.
"Thank you." she whispered in a voice that was mixed with love and admiration. Her hand slowly reached out, one foot was placed in front of the other, slowly taking steps towards it. "You saved me." but the more she approached, the more wary the mystical animal looked - And soon, in pranced away, fading into the forest like mist. "Wait, no - Do not leave me here - Please...!"
"Kat?" her eyes opened, yet her body remained still - Atreus calling her name woke her out of her daydreaming. "We arrived at Tyr's temple."
"Thank you. It seems I was daydreaming a little." she smiled sweetly... But the Spartan could sense something was not right. Still, he said nothing - Not yet.
They entered inside Tyr's vault and found a triptych about the very man - A God, yet loved by all, Giants included. But their attention was drawn to the sand bowl, not to the vague Tyr mural; Kratos urged his son to read the rune, but Atreus had another plan -
"Come look - Let me show you how to read this." what a sweet boy! "You too, Kat! I'm sure all these weird runes must look confusing to you - Coming from another land and all that."
"That is not necess--" the son cut off his father.
"You've taught me so much." the boy insisted. "Let me teach you something."
Katrina's face was all a smile, and she was glowing with joy, seeing the two finally having positive interactions. "That is so sweet of you, Atreus! Truly!" she pushed Kratos towards his son, and she herself stepped forward.
"Atreus..."
"Come on. You already speak it. Learning to read won't be that hard." Atreus kept going.
Kratos knelt by the sand bowl to get a closer look. "I know how to read, boy. Just not this tongue."
"And it is quite the difficult language." Katrina admitted sheepishly.
"You're halfway there already then." he pointed towards the sand. "Okay... So the runes represent a lot of different things. Some Gods, some animals, and some are--"
"Wait."
Kratos held his hand up, making the boy stop abruptly, looking apologetic. "Oh, am I going too fast? Sorry, I'll --"
"Not that. Do you smell something?" the two gods shared a look;
"Yeah, I do. Smells like.... Rain?"
Rain? Thunder? Thor? Thor's son looking for revenge?
As soon as she realised that connection, Katrina threw her arms around Atreus and leaped out of the way of vengeance, as Modi, the other son of Thor, threw lightning from his weapon at the sandbowl. Kratos was sent flying away, but the other two were safe in a corner.
And then, Modi came into the scene; A burly man with ginger-yellow hair and bear like straw, a mace with which he held Kratos down with its lightning powers, and a shield in his other arm. He hardly looked dangerous, and yet...
"You ruined everything!" Modi growled angrily. "I earned that fucking hammer! But now everyone's gonna think I only got it 'cause Magni's gone! I'll be a JOKE!" how was that cheap lightning keeping the Spartan to the ground, Katrina wondered in shock. There was no way any power in the world was capable of overpowering the God of War, Kratos himself... Right? "But if I'll kill you --" he amped up the power of his lightning. "No one's gonna laugh at me!"
"No!!" Atreus got up, shooting an arrow at Modi - Which he easily deflected with his shield. The poor boy, seeing his lack of power, slowly approached his father, reaching out to him - But the lightning latched onto his arm also, hurting him.
"Wow, are you dumb." that comment, along with the profanity earlier, truly angered the Goddess. "That your father's doing, or did you get it from your mum? She stupid AND ugly?"
"SHUT UP!!" the boy tried to lash out at the Aesir, but Katrina immediately caught him mid air. "You don't know anything about my mother!!" he wiggled aimlessly in her arms. "Kat, let me go! Let me at him! I'll kill him!"
"Oh, that's true, but I'm gonna get to know you really well. You're gonna be my new brother... Right after I finish killing your father!"
"STOP IT!!! WAAA!!!!" in her arms, Atreus started glowing, roaring loudly... Similar to Kratos' Spartan rage. Alas, the boy was weak, and did not know about his true heritage - Instead of unleashing his powers, he fell limp into her arms.
"Atreus!" she carefully placed him onto the ground.
"Whoops... I think I broke him." the bastard laughed mockingly.
"You will regret the day you were born into this world." Katrina was visibly angry; Glowing with green magic, vine tendrils flowing around from the underground latched onto Modi's mace, repeatedly plummeting him with his own weapon; Blood was spraying everywhere ---
And the bastard ran away like a coward.
"Kratos." calming down, she ran to kneel by the boy's side. "We must go to Freyja right now. Only she knows the magic to save him." she placed her hands on the Spartan's face. "I can only keep him stabilised, thanks to his Greek heritage - But the other side of him is foreign to me, and my powers do not work on him."
"She is right, brother - There is no other way." Mimir urged the father to quickly pick up his child and follow the Goddess quickly towards Freyja's cottage - Instead of going slowly by boat, Katrina summoned a tendril bridge across the water sheen going through the witch's cave, close to the entrance where they went up by the elevator.
Kratos was pacing, step by step, back and forth with worry. The Goddess could do nothing except keep her hand on his arm, squeezing it. "The fever burns hotter. He is shaking." he looks at her with pleading eyes.
"Give him to me. Rush to Freyja's door and let her know we are here. I will be right behind." he nodded his head, placing his son into her arms to carry and nurture slowly across the wooden bridge to the witch's door.
"Freya! Open the door!" Kratos shouter, kicking and hitting her door desperately. "We need your help!" no answer. "Woman, do you hear me?! It is urgent!"
"I am still a God! Go away!" came her cheeky response.
"The boy has fallen ill!" that caught her attention. "Freya!"
When it came to the child, the door was already open, and Freyja was met with Katrina and her soothing green magic engulfing the boy in her arms; By her side, an almost-trembling worried father, whose heart was breaking at the mere sight of his fainted, ill son.
Freyja guided them inside swiftly. "This is no ordinary illness - The boy's true nature - YOUR true nature - Fights within him." she urged the goddess to place Atreus on the bed. Kratos knelt by his side, cupping his son's face.
"I did this to him...?" terrified, he looked up, begging the witch. "Will you help me?"
"Of course." she breathed out, sitting on the bed. "There is a rare ingredient found only in Helheim. The keeper that protects the Bridge of The Damned... I need its heart."
"Hel..." he grunted out loud.
"The Realm of the Dead. Do you know it?" the witch asked.
"Not this one..." but the land of Thanatos truly was terrifying.
Freyja closed her eyes, her head tilted away as if reliving the dread of those forsaken lands. "It is a land of unyielding cold. Fire cannot burn there, and no magic in all the nine realms can create a blaze. As for the dead... Your frost axe will be useless. You'll need to find something else."
"Do you think my nature magic can work there? My Magic is not of these lands... Yet it hardly can count as fire." Katrina asked softly.
"It may work, but I cannot say to what extent." the witch spoke solemnly.
Kratos straightened his back, and looked resolute. With a heavy heart, he spoke. "Then I must return home..."
"Sparta?" the Goddess blurted out without thinking; For a second there, he thought Kratos would still consider his birthplace his 'home'... Clearly, no longer.
He didn't say anything at first; He looked down at his arms, his fingers trailing over the ghost of the chains seared painfully into the flesh of his forearm. "... I must dig up a past I swore would stay buried."
"... The Blades..." the red haired Goddess whispered, her eyes wide with surprise. "You took them with you...?"
"I had no choice." he muttered. "Everywhere I went, they followed. Cast in the deepest waters, burnt in the hottest blaze, frozen in the coldest mountains... Yet when I turned, they had already returned by my side."
Katrina sighed solemnly. "Thus goes the curse of Athena and Ares. They might be dead, but they will never stop being menaces." she understood him very well - Though not physically afflicted by their ill-will, she still flinched thinking of everything she went through, at the accord of the Gods. Were it not for Hermes and his love, she would have long given up on people and become one of the Hunters of Artemis... Or maybe become a Moon Sister for Selene...
"Who you were before doesn't matter. This boy is not your past - He is your son. And he needs his father." she grabbed his hand, drawing a rune in his palm to be able to open the bridge to Helheim; Then warned him not to cross the Bridge of The Damned under any circumstance known to mankind or any other race.
Freyja urged the Spartan to leave already and do his duty to his son - Alas poor man was stuck by his child's side, cradling him protectively. He was terrified to leave his side... Not out of mistrust of Freyja, but out of fear of anything happening to Atreus. "Worry not, Kratos. Neither of them can touch you anymore. We assured of that ages ago." Katrina placed her hands gently on her lover's face, making him look at her - Her kind, loving eyes that never failed to caress his heart with safety and warmth. "I will come with you back home. I will protect you from them."
"You must to stay with the boy." the Spartan replied gravely.
"I have done all I can for now. I will help you retrieve the Blades... And return when you must leave for Hel." she carefully kissed his brow. "Right now, you need me more than he does, Kratos."
"Whatever you decide to do - Just be on your way already. The situation is urgent." Freyja urged them to hurry up.
Kratos rose to his feet, took a few steps towards the door, and then stopped. "Freya." he breathed out. "Last we spoke... I was..."
"no. You are right to distrust the word of a god." despite their earlier altercation, the goddess knows best about the capricious and disloyal nature of gods. "No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that." her voice was tender and mellow, with hints of sorrow. "I will keep him safe. That's a mother's promise."
With one last look at the boy, Kratos nodded at Freyja and exited her cottage, Katrina walking right behind him.
Together they boarded the witch's boat to return to his home. Mimir tried to speak, but it was for naught - Kratos needed quiet... He needed peace of mind... Reassurance...
His hands were held tightly together, his head bowed - Instead of Katrina, he could see opposite of him the arrogant smirk of Athena. O, how he dreaded that loathsome bitch, how glad he was that he killed her back then, even by accident.
The storm was raging, the animals were running away, the sky was blood red and the world was in disarray - But that was all in Kratos' mind. Katrina tried to reach out to him - But then stopped. Her arm fell down by her side, and for a second, she hesitated - Should she really disturb him? Touch him? Bother him out of his stupor?
She rose her hand back again, but before she could speak a word, the boat arrived upon land, and her opportunity to calm his mind was lost - He was already off the boat and meters ahead of her... He was always ahead of her... She could only ever see his back, never within reach... Always out of her reach...
Finally catching up to him, she saw the man knelt on the ground, with a blanketed item took from within the hidden trap in the floor... A red greek blanket that once unwrapped, revealed the old blades... His arms were shaking, his body was stiff, his mind in turmoil. Katrina knelt next to him, her hands taking hold of his own.
"You can do it, Kratos. I am right here. Atreus needs you." her sweet whispers breathed life and courage into him. "Ares is no longer here - Nor is Athena... Or Zeus." she went on. "The chains will not burn you any longer... They will not betray you again. They are yours alone to control from now on."
"Athena is speaking to me." he grumbled lowly, frustrated, angry, as he grabbed the chains of the blades and hesitating, he wrapped them, roll by roll, over his forearms.
"Athena is only in your head. She is not real." her hands grabbed the chains, helping him wrap them over his clothed flesh. "You do not answer to her any longer. You are the master of your own life. No one is left to dictate your fate - Everything in this world is forged with these two hands of yours, Kratos." her hands moved over his own, closing them in tight fists over the handles of the weapons. "No matter what may happen... No matter where you go... I will always be there to protect you."
"... Thank you." it was not often he thanked anyone, but this was his confidante for so many ages... He owed her plenty, yet offered her nothing.
She got up, extending her arms for him to take, helping him up. "Think nothing of it." she smiled sweetly at the man. "May this flower protect you, just like old times. May you return to me, safe and sound, and with your goal achieved." sheepishly, she placed her hands over his broad chest, getting on her tippy toes and stealing a kiss. "I have waited for you aeons. Do not make me wait any longer."
"I shall try." he grunted, turning to walk out of the cottage.
"Take care of him, okay, brother?" she playfully called out for Mimir.
"Aye, sister, I will!" and thus, the two were completely out of her sight; And with that, the Olympian sight, stepping out into the snow.
This little cottage once sheltered a loving family... A family she will never belong to, with a woman she could never replace. She could see clearly, Kratos loved Faye, the same he loved Lyssandra... And he loves Atreus the same he once loved sweet Calliope. She will never truly have a spot in his heart, it seemed... Yet her heart will never stop loving him all the same.
Even so, she did not feel hopeless as before... DIsappointed, yes, truly... Making such a journey to find a man who did not wait for her, and made a loving family for himself... A bittersweet outcome for the both of them... Yet with all that, she cannot truly fault him, not entirely. She had Hermes, and Hermes she loved more than life itself. Though a mere comfort at first, he become her home more than she could ever imagine... And now, she feels guilty and cold... She feels... Out of place.
The connection she once shared with Kratos seemed frozen... Perhaps out of grief, his heart broken, shattered, unwilling to mend itself; The mourning was far too fresh to heal, if ever it will... And Katrina knew best, there was no cure for a broken heart, no matter how loving one is.
Perhaps she should leave the Nord once she helps them achieve their goal. A long journey, yes... But she was unsure whether she had any place staying in this frozen wasteland any longer... No one holding her back...
Yet... That dream she had, of the mystical stag protecting her... What was that all about? She had plenty of dreams in her lifetime, but none quite like that. It felt... Like her soul was being embraced with love and purpose... A warmth of understanding and safety that she didn't feel before. It was something akin to her friendship with darling Artemis with whom she was bound with heart and friendship, yet also it felt... Intimate, in a way that only Aphrodite and Anteros would understand. It was a bond that transcended any planar universe and spiritual myths, all which she could not understand. Truly, this place was filled with mysteries.
Once she reached Freyja's cottage, she quickly sat back on the bed, tending to the boy - Or at least, the side of him that held Kratos' Greek blood.
The cottage was hushed, lit by low firelight and the eerie blue-green glow of protective runes dancing around Atreus’s unconscious body. Freyja murmured incantations under her breath, her hands steady as they floated over the boy’s brow. A sacred mist hung in the air, thick with herbs and subtle Vanir magic... Or maybe it was the famed Old magic, she was unsure. Katrina knelt beside the child, palms glowing faintly with her own nature power, stabilizing the child’s fevered breath.
Hours passed. Atreus’s color slowly returned. The worst was being held at bay — For the moment, at least.
For once, her thoughts were not occupied with images of home, of her family and friends, nor worries of Kratos - In her mind, she kept recalling the scene with the stag, dissipating into the forest like mist. She did not know how long she was absorbed by her thoughts - Until the witch stepped away from the child to brew some tea for the two of them.
"Thank you, Lady Freyja." she smiled dearly, tasting the tea. "Hmm... Herbal, yet very sweet and aromatic, with a touch of honey. Just how I love it. You are an amazing tea-brewer."
"Thank you; I imagined you would be the sweet-tea type." she hummed, a small smile on her face. "Your mind is elsewhere, sister. What is bothering you?"
She thought she was being subtle, how rude of her! "Forgive me - I did not realise my transgression." she offered an apologetic smile.
"There is nothing to forgive." the witch spoke. "Kratos will be fine out there; And the child is safe, until his father arrives." she reassured her. "Yet, if I am not mistaken, your thoughts are on neither issue."
"You are correct." the red haired lady let out a breathy chuckle. "I had this dream recently, you see... A most peculiar dream, yet no less fascinating." she went on, looking at Freyja; Her voice was almost giddy, like a child. "I was in a moonlit forest... I could not use my powers, and I was being chased by a pack of wolves. I ran through the trees until I reached a meadow - And then a stag appeared out of nowhere, protecting me. It hit the wolves with his antlers, making them run away." Freyja's breath hitched in her throat - She knew what the dream represented... But... How could a foreigner have such a dream, when she herself never had one such dream? "The stag was twice as big as any I have seen before, fur was silver, shining with the moon; It had some kind of runes in his fur... The antlers were large, like silver, adorned with jewellery..." she did not know yet, but she was holding a most precious smile on her face - One of a woman truly mesmerised. "And his eyes... They were glowing with the most beautiful purple I have seen in my life. Those eyes were... So gentle when they looked at me... It was like... He could see me. Like no one's ever seen me before."
"Sister - What you are describing is what we call a 'fylgja dream'." Freyja explained.
"Fyl-Gee-Jah?" Katrina tried to pronounce the difficult word, making Freyja pronounce it slower.
"Fylgja." she repeated herself. "A fylgja is a spiritual bond between two living beings... It is... Something very powerful, more ancient than even magic. Few are lucky enough to have one, and even fewer to meet their own." Freyja spoke with disappointment. "I, myself, had never dreamt of one." she continued. "The stag your dreamt of the is spiritual representation of your mate's soul. Likewise, when he dreams, he will not dream of you, but of the shape your soul will take in the astral planes of your dreams."
"... Are you saying a Fylgja is like a soulmate? A person bound by soul and love?" Katrina sounded almost terrified. "But - That cannot be. Kratos is my fated loved since long ago when Anteros, the God of Love, shot his arrows and it hit the two of us. There is no way there would be another... After so long..." she turned to look at Freyja with eyes that sparkled with confusion and... Something else. "... Could it?"
"Kratos may be your fated loved from your own homelands - But a fylgja is something deeper - Something that connects two people by their soul. It is not only the love of a wife and a husband, or that of two lovers - It is a love that transcends the boundaries of time and land. It is stronger than a friendship, stronger than trust." Freyja hesitated a little. "It is as if someone finally understand you wholly."
Katrina's eyes widened in surprise. "That is exactly what I felt looking into the stag's eyes!" she exclaimed. "So... This Fylgja... It manifested because I came into these lands? And the other person... It must mean they are also from here, then? And... Not Kratos."
"I fear so." Freyja nodded solemnly. "And... The only being I know with purple eyes is an Aesir named Heimdall."
"Heimdall... As in, the seer? What were they saying... Watchman of Asgard...?" the lady tried to recall things that weren't insults about the very God.
"And quite literally one of the biggest assholes I have ever met, and coincidentally, Odin's lap dog - May Nature protect you, sister, if your fylgja is truly him." Freyja's words were spat with disgust.
"I... I met a stranger with purple eyes a little while ago - By the frozen northern dock where Thamur fell. I found him on a mountain peak, throwing insults to a dead flower." she explained softly. "He thought I was a mortal, yet when I healed the flower, he spoke no more of his profanities."
"Did you touch him?!" the witch sounded visibly allarmed.
"I -- Yes, I did. I placed the flower in his hair - Very beautiful gold hair styled in complex braids." and she also kissed his cheek, but she didn't feel recalling that memory out loud would have made the Vanir Goddess any happier.
Freyja started muttering under her breath agitated - No doubt, curses, Katrina thought to herself. "Do yourself a favour and try to stay as far away as possible - You hear me? He is dangerous - Not only to you, but for everyone. He is merciless, arrogant - And loyal to a fault to Odin only. He sees things others can't - He hears thoughts, reads minds - Sister, he will be your worst nightmare... And your own undoing." her warning was sharp and vehement.
"But... He did not pull away from my touch. It felt... It felt right." she tried to reason with the witch - But she shook her head, sighing in sorrowful resignation.
"It will not be easy, I know - Your hearts are already calling to each other. You are already connected. But listen to me, Kat - A fylgja can be a blessing... Or a curse, especially when the one you're bound to was never meant to love."
Katrina gulped and spoke no more; How could it be, that an innocent dream turned into such a fright? A being that protected her couldn't possibly attack her... Wish her ill... Could it? No, it was... It was impossible.
Still, she didn't feel compelled to speak again, nor did she need to, for thankfully, Kratos arrived just in time to spare her the awkwardness of silence.
Freyja snatched the frozen heart from the Spartan's hands then rushed to the cauldron, throwing it right in the boiling concoction; As he knelt to the boy's side, the witch brought the glowing blue magical liquid, placing the bowl on his chest so he can inhale the cinders and mist.
She then told him the story of her son... Of how she tried to protect her son from the prophecy that predicted his death... And yet, in the end, she did nothing but make him hate her. She thought herself selfish and arrogant for trying everything in her power so save her child...
Atreus woke up with a gasp and hopped to his feet. He still looked pale and dizzy... And sad. Even still, he was in the right condition to travel. As a silent thank you, Freyja and Kratos held each other's arm, squeezing softly and nodding at each other. He will never forget her kindness.
Once again, they left through the back door to reach the boat; Even when he hopped in the boat, the child was quiet... Brooding. He must have overheard their talk. He remained silent.
"Why do you say nothing?" his father asked, the rope of the boat over his shoulder so he can carry it into the waters.
"You said I was cursed." Atreus spoke serenely. "You think I'm weak because I'm not like you. I know I was never what you wanted... But... After all this, I thought... Maybe things were different."
"Child... You misunderstood your father's words." the Goddess sighed, patting the boy's head. "You are not weak because you are not like his father - You are weak because you are just like him." and once again, she spoke in riddles.
"You are wrong, Kat... And at least I know the truth now." he spoke almost spitefully, slowly pushing her hand away.
"The truth..." Kratos stopped walking and contemplated. He briefly looked back at the Goddess. "The truth." she nodded at him, encouraging him to speak. He turned back to look forward, and spoke. "I am a god, boy." his voice was loud and clear. "From another land, far from here - The same land as Katrina." he spoke. "When I came to these shores, I chose to live as a man... But the truth is... I was born a god. And so were you." his words were grave and solemn. "Boy? Have you nothing to say?" the father's heart was tiny with fear at what his son's reaction will be.
Kat looked at the boy - He was puzzled, if anything. "I'm... Can I... Turn into an animal...?"
"Can you... Turn... Into an animal...?" Kratos, repeating his son's words, made the Goddess laugh copiously.
"You two are so adorable!" she leaned back on the boat, almost falling over.
THe man shook his head, pulling the boat again, making both the others lose balance a little. "No... No, I do not think so." he spoke simply, incredulous at the childish and outlandish question he just received.
"I'm a god! Mother knew? She was a god too?" the boy asked very curious and excited.
"No, she was mortal, but she knew my true nature." he said plainly.
"I'm a god...!" he exclaimed breathlessly. "Why did you wait so long to tell me?" he asked curious.
Kratos got onto the boat, sitting down and placing his head over his child's cheek, having a heart-to-heart with him. "I had hoped to spare you." he breathed out. "Being a god... It can be lifetime of anguish and tragedy. That is the curse."
"What sorts of things can I do?" the child asked immediately. "Can I fly? Or turn invisible?" he looked down briefly. "I... Do not feel like a god."
"I do not know the reach of your godhood, but over time, we will learn." Kratos pushed the boat off the shore with his oar.
"You sure I can't turn into a wolf?" the boy asked once again.
"You are welcome to surprise me." his father answered.
"Kat, what can you do? I mean - You're just like a witch, but not quite! You're a god - Like Freyja!" he looked at the lady who smiled sweetly at him.
"As you saw previously, I govern over nature itself. I feel the energy of life itself... And, on certain occasions, I have lovely chats with squirrels." she giggled sweetly.
"How cool... Do you think I'll be able to do that too?" he inquired immediately.
"Who know? It does take a while for your powers to manifest, I suppose. Forgive me, many centuries passed by, I remember little of my childhood." the lady scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "I just knew I was drawn to the nature itself, so I spent most of my time in the forests."
"Every god is unique, lad. You will figure it out." Mimir chimed in after so long.
"So... Maybe I won't get strong like father... But I'll have abilities all of my own?" he asked, tilting his head to the side like a cute puppy.
"You already do, laddie! Your faculty for language is extraordinary for one so young." the head praised him. "Time alone will tell what else you'll become capable of."
"And thankfully, there is plenty of time ahead of us." the lady added.
And with this realisation, the veiled truth coming out, the party was free to return to Tyr's vault, back at the sand bowl where they were previously attacked by that cowardly Modi, ready to embark on a new journey and find their way to Jotunheim and finish their quest.
