Third Person

~

Cold as the frigid night air is, Ryoichi doesn’t think it can ever compare to the icy dread deepening within the pit of his stomach.

He runs, the world passing by is an almost inconceivable blur of greens and blues glowing beneath the full moon. Memories of their time together flash unbidden and it's all he can do to fight the urge to scream, to go back and demand answers, shaking and punching at Shiro’s stupid face until he at least gets something to go on.

To understand.

Something that'd tell him it wasn't all a lie.

But Hikari-sensei and Amanai-san come first, he has to warn them Nightmare has caught on and in order to do that he has to get back.

With his shielding magic, it should be easy to avoid chase all the way there.

He should have known better.

The air trembles with the fierce ripple of Magic Energy

Shiro’s energy.

Ryoichi leaps into to air, off the tree branch he'd been hiding just as all the trees in the immediate vicinity go flying through the air, separated from their lower trunks with one clean cut. Thunderous thuds and cracks rise into the air above him and he avoids most of the flying debris to land amidst the devastation.

His keeps his ability working, turning back to see Shiro flying toward him in the form of a Tengu with a katana. They'd sparred together enough times for him to know the state of heightened physical power this form gave his former so-called friend.

Shiro lands in the newly created clearing, the long red Tengu nose shrinking and other body parts following suit, shifting and settling back until the taller boy looks human once again, reddish-brown eyes surveying the the damage with disinterest before sighing.

"Ryoichi! I know you're still here! This game of tag will only waste valuable time."

Silence.

Shiro starts pacing now, "I don't want to fight you, or hurt you, but if you don't come out...I might just visit the village and-"

"You won't do that!" He waves off the shield, revealing himself to actually be not that far from where the other is now. They're face to face but while Ryoichi’s is part shaking with anger and indignation, Shiro looks calmer, although less relaxed than he usually is.

He steps forward, Ryoichi holds his ground, "And why do you say that? You know the truth now, doesn't that change your opinion of me?"

"Killing innocent people, you don't want to do that."

Shiro huffs out a mirthless laugh behind his mask, "Just like always, pretending you understand everyone, let me make it clear. To stay alive I'll do whatever it takes, I don't care about anyone but myself...until I met you." He stops when they're finally just some inches apart but it's close enough to see Ryoichi’s distrustful eyes widen in surprise before narrowing in suspicion again.

The Keeper's Apprentice stands ready to fight and run at the slightest movement, "I let my guard down because it was nice to finally meet someone I could just be myself with, but I won't let you lie to me again...Akane...you broke-"

"I know but there's no point in me lying now," Shiro grits out, "I meant everything I said, I don't care what happens to anyone but you're the only exception. Maybe it's because we're same, or some other reason but the thought of hurting you and taking you back to him makes me sick, Ryoichi...I'm afraid...forget it, he's going to find us if we stay here any longer."

Ryoichi chances stepping closer, gaze never straying from the other all through their conversation. The atmosphere though tense is tinged with vulnerability, fear. He makes a mental note thoroughly beat Shiro black and blue if they survive this but he's rushing forward, grabbing the taller boy by his shoulders.

"Then leave, come with me instead, Demona will-"

Shiro shoves him off almost as if burned and grabs the collar of his shirt, "Damn it Ryo! Why don't you get it?! You're being used too!"

"It's not the same thing!"

"Grabbing a vulnerable kid off the street and promising them some out of reach perfect future if they serve and follow you? All these Magic cults to use the same tactic to feed their ranks and wrap us up in the lies and feuds, Ryo...even your Keeper 'Master'" He drops Ryoichi gently, tearing his gaze away from the pained silver eyes but keeping his voice grave, "If I join you it's only a matter of time until he finds us and you don't know the horrible things he's capable of."

Ryoichi’s expression is downcast, "So you're going to fight me because you're scared of him, after all the times..." His voice catches in his throat. He feels stupid for wanting to cry, he should have seen it coming.

Shiro stops him however, taking his hand, "But we can be free, with our powers combined we can run and stay hidden since He won't come after us on his own," Shiro has heard it done before, two who ran from Nightmare’s control and evaded capture for nine years.

But they got careless, had a family even, but he and Ryoichi wouldn't be so stupid. They'd run further and take more precautions, anything was better than to be used as a tool until death. He had stopped himself entertaining these kinds of hopeful thoughts a long time ago but meeting Ryoichi had changed that.

Together they could leave all the Magic nonsense behind and be free to do what they wished. Leave the fighting and the madness to those who started it.

And Shiro wouldn’t have to constantly feel like a monster on a leash.

He was a coward but if Ryoichi chose him, he could fight.

"Aka-chan...I..." His voice catches.

Ryoichi’s gaze is lowered, looking at their joined hands all the while.

'Pick me,' Shiro wills through his tightening hold.

"That's...impossible..."

A chilling breeze blows through the clearing, Shiro’s hands fall away but Ryoichi holds fast, "I can't abandon my Master, but I don't want to give up on you, with us it'll be different just please!" His voice is strained emotion now, "Just trust-"

"Stop talking already, you're making it harder..." The air around him burns with Dark Magic.

"Akane...don't-"

"If you come peacefully, I can make things easier," Shiro scowls, stepping back. He wasn't selling himself to another master, especially the ones so self righteous to call themselves the better while doing the same as Nightmare. He watches Ryoichi form energy spheres, a loyal student to the end; kind and strong but over confident to fault.

"I don't want to hurt you Akane, but if you choose to stand with that monster, I can't ignore you...I'll knock some sense into you."

"Try your best!" Shiro growls out as his form melds and shifts into the form of the giant and terrifying serpentine yokai. He lunges for Ryoichi and just like that, their duel begins. One fiercer than any of their previous sessions as they aim to draw blood with strike.

Shiro doesn’t want to kill, but with every blow he takes from Ryoichi's vanishing and reappearing attacks, the bloodlust side effects of his Shape-shifting curse grows. He craves that power, to have it dwell within his and taste the skin on his tongue. He never wants Ryoichi to see that side of him, so he reigns it in.

He shifts to normal, deflecting a silver ribbon of light darting toward his face with his own knife. The sound of metal scraping rings sharp in his ears but he pushes on and they keep at it. Battle taking them to deep and steeper parts of the woods, across streams and through several boulders.

It's short but intense, their vicious dance of hurt and anger seemingly without end, until almost suddenly Shiro finds himself on the ground, held in place by several of Ryoichi's glowing binds, one tight around his neck straining his already ragged breathing.

He should use his last resort, fight to take Ryoichi with him and make Nightmare see reason. Memory wiping or maybe hypnosis, anything as long as Ryoichi was safe and by his side.

'But that wouldn't be Ryoichi,' The voice in his head he loves to ignore strains within him.

Maybe it's for the best.

If he had to die, he didn't mind this...

He stops his struggle, and looks up, a bruised smile on his lips, "What are you waiting for Ryo? If you don't end me here, I'll be back for you and your Master, maybe even watching Nightmare tear her to pieces."

Ryoichi’s piercing gaze had a forced distance to it now, looking down at him. The Apprentice is bloodied up too, Magic Energy waning fast.

"You should do it with your own hands, it feels better that way, trust me I know," he eggs on chuckling, head falling to the ground, "I'm Nightmare’s scum after all."

He feels the bind tighten only little, but no more.

"Whatever you've done, I don't believe you ever enjoyed it," Ryoichi says lightly. He turns away before their eyes can meet, there's bitterness in his last statement, "I hope whatever reason you stay is worth it."

Shiro startles, struggling to chase the retreating figure, "Come back and finish this right now, Ryo! You don't get to change me and just walk away!" His head falls to the ground, vision blurring with tears of anger and frustration as the bloodlust strains against his weaking will, "Kill me!"

Don't leave...

Ryoichi starts to run, hoping to get as far as possible before removing the bonds but a thick miasma fills the air. He spins on his heels to assess the situation when the space before him is taken up by none other than Shiro.

Eyes wide, he looks past the figure, but Shiro is still there, held in place by his bonds.

"How?!"

He wants to punch the one before him him, an illusion of sorts he guesses, but his wrist is held by another Shiro appearing behind. Solid and with the exact same bruises and cuts as the real deal.

The realization dawns a bit too late.

Clones.

The one in front leans in close eyes red as blood when he whispers, "You should've killed me, Ryo..."

"Akane, you don't have to-" His words are cut off by a sharp pain spreading from his back right through to his heart, he coughs up a mouth full of blood as the knife goes deeper and deeper still. He looks up into Akane's eyes, "You..."

"Two Abilities, yes," soon the real Shiro is standing in front of him. The clones vanish leaving Ryoichi to fall into his arms, "I never wanted to do this, you should have killed me before it took over."

They sink to the ground just as the sky above them lights up with colorful glares and the soft sounds of exploding fireworks.

"I should have known better," Ryoichi whispers with a strained laugh, he could feel the energy seeping out of him already, "But I couldn't do it?" He glares up at Shiro, "Because I'd miss you, the real you that I got to meet."

"Ryo..."

"Don't go back..." he coughs up more blood, his Magic boosted healing wouldn't kick-in quickly enough, he knew it was only a matter of time, "If you take me in, you'll absorb my powers too right? Take them and run, if that's what you want, just don't go back...don't help him hurt Hikari-san..."

For the second time that night, Shiro feels the world fall apart around him again. It was always going to be about her, but staring down at what he'd done and the choice he'd made, he had no one to blame but himself.

He was always going be a selfish, cowardly monster.

He holds Ryoichi closer, each sniffle of pain and sob tearing at his own heart, "Whatever you wish..."

"Thank you..." Ryoichi pulls back to give one last somber grin, almost haunting with the way the colors in the sky glowed wonderfully in his silver eyes, "At least, we got to see the fireworks together after all."

***

The worst part of their last few seconds was having to lie.

Shiro is back in the cave he'd left Nightmare. The spell is still on and unexpectedly, or rather not, his Master is still there inspecting a ornately carved crystal dagger. One of a select few objects that spelled the end of this world and the creation of one no person could stop.

The Shape-shifter couldn't care less at this point, not with the rapidly cooling body of the one person he's ever felt a connection to in his arms. He places Ryoichi gently on the ground, fighting the urge to hold on even longer.

Nightmare sighs, "I was really hoping you'd be able to bring him alive."

"Couldn’t be helped, I'll start making preparations to return to base," He says, he hears the pain in his own voice, cringes at it, but there's little he can do about that when Nightmare most probably already noticed.

"And why do you say that?"

"There's no way to track the Keeper, especially with the closest person to her dead," he frowns, "And I can't take her on my own if she decides to come looking for what happened to him."

"I trained you to be smarter, Shiro-kun," The Summoner laughs, he points languidly at Ryoichi’s body, "Devour the boy, become him, and things will be easier than ever. "

Shiro stands straighter, his initial dismay melting into a ugly mess of fear and frustration, "I won't...I can't do that!"

Nightmare’s slit eyes narrow, but the silence is left to stretch as thin as Shiro’s fraying nerves. He knows he has to say something, or he'll be joining Ryoichi once he's been thoroughly tortured.

"My Ability can't replicate the unique state of his soul, even if I hide my aura, it'll still be noticeable to anyone that should know he's Pure of Heart."

A full minute passes before Nightmare speaks again.

"Lead with that next time." The Summoner growls, pulling out a small glass orb before proceeding to slice open his own palm, "I absolutely hate doing this long distance but it can't be helped, when else shall we have such a golden opportunity?"

He begins muttering a spell, drawing symbols in the air with a blood stained finger.

Shiro watches, enraptured as Ryoichi's body begins to glow, the last slivers of his aura pulsing with life, struggling against the taboo soul sealing Magic. The light dims in time to the ball in Nightmare’s hold brightening, the soul within a breathtakingly beautiful swirl of white and gold.

Ryoichi’s soul.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The ball is tossed through the air and Shiro hurries to catch it, cradling it with shaky hands.

"Fortunately, the soul didn't get to breaking down yet, keep this on you and it should sufficiently fool them, in the short run," Nightmare waves dismissively, then grins "Now for the good part."

Shiro grits his teeth, stowing the ball away in his bag and pulling down his mask before kneeling once more. It was naive of him to hope he could walk away from this, from the kind of punishment only the Monster that raised him would delight in.

He takes Ryoichi’s hand in his, still trembling and struggling to fight back the tremors. He's done this a hundred times by now without issues, afterall human bodies are merely vessels, useless without a soul, and fragile without magical protection. He's hammered these thoughts in, lived and breathed by them.

People didn't matter.

But Ryoichi had.

He lifts the cool soft flesh of other's palm to his lips. Disgust builds at the back of his throat, and he wonders hopefully if what little humanity Ryoichi had seen in him would make him cringe, throw up even, act as any normal person would when being forced to carry out such a vile act.

The jagged razors that are now his teeth sink in; blood, wine red and warm, coats his tongue sweeter than any other he’s ever tasted. He loves it.

He'll forever be a monster.

***

Morning comes slowly but he can't bring himself to start moving until late noon.

Shiro’s world is eerily quiet and muffled as if mourning, he knows there are sounds, he can't bring himself to listen. Not when every sight, sound and smell, strikes a chord in his heart. His mind overrun with memories mixing and struggling to make sense to his being.

He can't tell where he stops and Ryoichi begins, he stumbles through bushes and streams, following the path the memories instruct to the hideaway. It's never been this hard getting a hold of himself after the deed, he briefly wonders if this uncanny disorientation is as a result of he and Ryoichi's closeness.

'The more you consume, the closer they are to you, the faster you break.'

He recalls the Demon's words on the day he received his Ability.

His curse.

He chuckles derisively to himself, leaning against a tree trunk to catch his breath.

'All it took was one guy.'

"Ryoichi?!"

He forces himself back to reality, he knows that voice.

Ryoichi knows that voice.

He turns slightly right, coming face to face with a tall, stern-faced woman possibly in her late twenties. Her hair is dark; short but neatly layered and she's dressed simply as a shrine maiden would be but from the memories, he knows she's a formidable kunoichi.

'Amanai-san!' Ryoichi’s voice beams in his mind.

Before he can speak she's marching up to him and snatching up the collar of his robes, Ryoichi's robes, in an angry fist.

"Where the hell did you run off to?! Hikari-sama has been worrying non-stop, you fool!"

"I..."

"And the state the place is in doesn't make things better! What. Did. You. Do?!"

He swallows thickly, suppressing Ryoichi’s hazy memories screaming at him to fight back and be more stubborn. This isn't the time.

"One of Nightmare’s scouts was here, they were getting close but I chased them off."

Her swift anger gives way just as quickly to worry, suddenly she's pulling him in the direction of their hideout, muttering under her breath, "It's worse than we thought."

By the time they arrive dusk has fallen. The foliage bathing in the soft orange light of the setting sun parts almost willingly before them to reveal a small home cottage in a slightly raised incline.

Right in the middle of the forest, like some sort of joke as if this wasn't one of the first spots he had checked.

His self depreciation is cut short by the sound of wood being split several feet away.

In the fading daylight, he catches his first ever sight of her, the one who's presence he was sent to confirm. The Fourth Keeper, Gushiken Hikari.

In one arm she wields an axe, chopping easily through several blocks of wood as if through air. The top of the robe she's wearing is pulled off and tied around her waist. Bandages are wrapped around her chest and back but save for those her skin is practically exposed to the chilling evening breeze.

Her skin, marked with the dark ink of a deadly curse. Thorny vines snake along every inch of her, blooming from a pulsing lily at the nape of her neck.

The Moonlily Poison Curse.

A variation of the spell usually drawn on a paper talisman by blood. This was more permanent, the symbol of a broken oath, incurable. Victims could only survive by giving up use of Magic entirely. A single powerful spell would be the end of the host.

Very few human Magic users could use it.

Amanai drops his arm, running up to the orange haired Keeper with bright red blush on her cheeks, "Hikari-sama! You're meant to be resting!" She immediately begins trying to make the Keeper put the robe back on.

Hikari is surprisingly younger looking and shorter than expected, he's about a foot taller in Ryoichi’s form. She turns to him after sating a fussy Amanai. The smile on her lips is soft and inviting as she approaches.

He reminds himself not to get swept up in her aura, she's been alive for decades and killed those more powerful, one wrong move was all it'd take for his life to end here. But when her hand touches his head, the warmth of safety engulfs him, Ryoichi's feelings or his, he's not sure, but understands now why the Apprentice had never wanted to leave.

She grins, vivid blue-green eyes sparkling, "Go to see you again Ryo-kun."

***

He's treated to the explanation of her curse over dinner, something he knows from Ryoichi's memories was never there before.

Her last mission had gone terribly wrong, searching for leads on Nightmare’s plans in Demon territory; she had been misled into making an oath with one of the prominent Demonic families that had taken over since the six of the Seal left a void to be filled.

Everything had been going perfectly, until it wasn't.

"It was a very simple exchange, I got information and I help them bring in some guy that's been in hiding," Her tone is airy, almost nonchalant but there's a tightness to her movements that betrays her, "They were scum, I killed my mark, then went back...I couldn't get all of them but I made sure they won't be considered a powerful family for a while before the curse could kick in." She finishes the last of her tea and pushes the tray forward with a loud contented sigh, "I've missed your cooking way too much Ama-chan!"

"Hikari-sama, I don't mean to be disrespectful but this isn't an issue to take so lightly! You're the Keeper! Nightmare must never get wind you can't use magic!"

"Who says I can't?" The ginger haired Keeper grins.

"You can't though, you'll die, Sensei," Shiro states simply, he tries not to wince, the sound of Ryoichi's voice coming out of his own mouth still feels wrong, his skin crawls and his mind is assaulted with memories of when consumed the other's flesh.

Hikari puffs out her chest with a pout, "How do you think I got back to the Human Plane?" She waves a dismissive hand, "It only hurts a bit, I can bear with it until I end this once and for all. I still got what I needed to hear."

Seeing the world as Ryoichi does now, every tick, every shift of movement, it all screams lies. Her eyes turn to him, softening as she reaches for his hand across the low table, he pulls away even when he knows he shouldn't. Ryoichi would never pull away from her, but he's not Ryoichi, he hates her, hates voice and the way she acts.

Why hasn't she noticed yet that he's not her beloved Apprentice? Ryoichi would have known right away, would have done something, anything. All because of her.

She says nothing, the surprise on her face melting into exasperation as she looks between him and Amanai, huffing, "You're both way too hard on me you know that?!"

"You should have kept your anger in check-"

"How do you know I was angry?" She cuts Amanai off in a low growl.

"Because you never think of yourself when you're mad!"

Shiro doesn’t know how long the silence lasts but it seems like forever before Hikari gets up, muttering a soft thanks for the meal then leaving the cabin all together.

Amanai stands once she's gone, gathering the plates, "Let's clean up then you'll go straight to bed."

"I'm not a kid, I want to prac-"

"You can do that tomorrow, we've got a long day ahead."

He bites his lip to keep from arguing.

She watches him, "You're a lot calmer today, keep it up and things might not be as bad moving forward."

His brows furrowed in question, she either doesn't notice, or chooses to ignore him. It isn't until a bit later that her words would finally make sense.

Later, he's laying at his spot by the hearth, the flames long since extinguished so the room is drenched only in moonlight and darkness. He's supposed to be asleep but how can he while wearing the body of his former friend and living a new lie?

Over and over he's played the roles he had to, taken the lives of others while wearing the faces of their lovers, children or closest friends. It's never mattered, until now.

Now the guilt eats away at him. Consuming the one who ought to consume others. He waits, pleads even with the Universe to be discovered and maybe, just maybe, the Keeper would make his death quick, so anytime he closed his eyes, he would no longer fear seeing Ryoichi’s bloodied and half eaten corpse in his mind.

Footsteps outside draw his attention, his body going rigid and ears straining even in the quiet. He knows of the Keepers enhanced senses so he's careful not to move, he can't have her knowing he's awake still if she's the one.

"You should come in," Amanai's voice is brittle, but laced with undeniable love. Shiro frowns inwardly, there's only one person she could have been talking to, how hadn't he not noticed the Keeper had been there that long?

"The moon is quite lovely tonight, isn't it Ama-chan?"

The quiet stretches for a long heart rendering minute, there's a stifled sob from Amanai.

"You're still set on going to Tokyo, aren't you?"

He doesn't know what's happening but there is movement, the sound of rustling clothes brushing against each other.

They might be hugging.

"I told you what I heard, it's the only way I'll be able to stop Nightmare."

"Then let someone else deal with it!" Amanai bursts into more tears, unable to hold herself back.

"No one else will believe me, even you don't believe me-"

"Because it sounds so impossible! One dagger is destroyed, the correct location is only a guess at this point and the amount of Magic Energy needed to summon those monsters would kill any Magic user."

"Any user that isn't a Summoner," Hikari corrects, "It's nearing two hundred years now, he started out being a mere nuisance, but he's grown, and he's been searching, making bigger moves, if what I've been told is right, I can't let 'impossible' stop me when one condition has practically been fulfilled by his birth."

"You're in no condition to fight!"

"Don't start this again Ama-chan."

"Fine! Explain why you won't let me and Ryoichi come along then?"

"No."

Amanai seemingly ignores the note of finality in the Keeper's voice, "You said it yourself, the attack means this place isn't safe anymore, take us with you."

Hikari's sigh is tired, a tinge melancholic, "I don't want Ryoichi in this life anymore."

Shiro can feel a swirl of emotion not his within his chest.

Pain.

Rejection

The soul orb in his pocket suddenly feels hotter and heavier against his skin.

"What-"

"I don't want him gone per se," she chuckles, "I just don't want him chasing me, this lonely existence isn't something you want for the people you love, and I've started to love him...and you."

The wind sings through the tree branches, there's of movement again, this time something, or someone, hitting the ground. "I've missed the grass so much, the Demon territory is all rocks and dead twigs, can you believe that?"

"Hikari-sama..." the broken tone of Amanai's voice does little to hide the scolding nature she's inclined to.

"I mean what I'm saying, I don't want you two in danger," the Keeper continues, "I want you both to live, to explore, there's a world beyond magic and bloodshed. I've seen it, from this perch too high up to reach, the face people make when they're truly happy, I want to see you two like that."

"And what about you?"

There's no explanation for why Shiro knows, but he's sure she's smiling.

"I'll come join the both of you, once I'm done...we can be a real family."

He hears someone falling to the ground, most likely Amanai now, more muffled sobbing follows and gentle patting sounds before Hikari's voice, now trembling, speaks above the quiet cries.

"I've got you, everything will be fine."

Shiro buries his face into the pillow, trying to regain control of his ragged breathing before he's caught. Ryoichi's voice is all around him, cheerful, pained , angry; emotions throbbing within him, because that is all Ryoichi had ever wanted.

To be loved by his Master.

His own heart, selfish to the very end, wishes he could have been enough.

***

Before noon the next day, the cottage had been stripped to the bone, desolate as if it had never been occupied to begin with.

Shiro is dressed in regular clothes rather than Apprentices' robes, a purple hoodie and some white jeans. All their possessions are packed into a small magically modified dufflel bag slung over his shoulder. Amanai's outfit is a soft pink blouse over a long frilled cream colored skirt and a straw sun hat keeping the sun out of her eyes.

"You look beautiful," Hikari tells her as they reach the forest's edge that spits them out into the town. She's dressed simply as well, so she can escort them to the only bus stop. From here, they'll be meeting one of Amanai's contacts belonging to some Magic Organization with relations to the Overseers. They'd be set up with new identities so they could travel when needed or just live.

"What about me?" He pesters for appearances sake.

"Could use some work," she teases.

"She means ugly," Amanai supplies gruffly.

"Hey!"

The two women burst out laughing, despite the heaviness of the previous night, they both seem content and Shiro can almost pretend that all is well and they're just friends separating for a while.

That he wouldn't be contacting Nightmare about his discoveries once he could get a proper moment alone.

That things would work out.

But they won't, because he's not Ryoichi.

Hate.

Envy.

Fear.

Regret.

His soul feels poisoned even further. What use is joy without the one person that matters being there? A dark part of mind tells him he's wrong, that they are one now and Ryoichi is always with him, inseparable. He dispels thought, the saner part of him aware of the side effects of his ability.

The violent madness claws at him, his emotions torn between his wants and those of someone else's.

"Ryo-kun?"

He's brought back to the present, they're already at the bus stop, the vehicle is there as well and other passengers are climbing on.

Hikari leans in, inspecting him closely, "Is everything alright?"

He wipes cold sweat from his brow, pulling back, "I'm alright, just nerves, Sensei."

"You? Nervous? That's a first!" She chuckles, then pulls him into a firm hug faster than he can evade, "Maybe there's hope for you maturing after all."

"We should get going," Amanai interrupts.

"Get in on this Ama-chan!" She whines petulant.

The kunoichi huffs before giving in and joining the hug, when they pull apart Amanai wastes no time, face straight and betraying her true emotions as she begins pulling him toward the bus. She doesn't look back but Shiro does.

Alas, Hikari is gone, like she was never there.

Their last encounter.

***

About four months later...

Shiro stands from the floor, hands bloodied from probably the second hardest fight of his life. Not because of his opponent's strength, but because of who they were.

What they meant to him.

Ryoichi’s emotions had tugged at him all through the very brief struggle and he's sure, any minute now, the cops the neighbors had probably called would arrive.

The knife falls from his hand and he collapses unto a chair next to the dining table. Amanai's lifeless eyes glare at him from the ground, her throat crudely split open.

'Stop looking at me!'

Ryoichi’s voice screams in his head.

But he's not Ryoichi.

'You just killed the last family he had though,' a dark voice at the back of his mind laughs cruelly.

His family.

Our family.

'You'll Devour her too, you know you want to.'

"Stop talking," he grits out.

'Monster!'

'Imposter!'

'Stop wearing his face!'

"STOP IT!"

The echoes of her last words in his head disperse, but not the blood on his hands or the body that taunts him with the knowledge of what must be done.

He sighs into the darkness, amidst the wreckage of the recently rented condo.

Some hours ago, Nightmare had instructed him to go to Tokyo, meet with the Overseers and from there take the Seal from the new Keeper, as well as get as much information about the Organization as he can. He had tried to convince Amanai as carefully as he could without raising alarm bells, she was afterall the only one who knew those that could get them there, but her adamance had left only one option.

The worse option.

Another death.

Another role.

Another idyllic dream taken over by nightmares.