Hello again everyone. Thank you all for the continuing support that you have shown on the series. So far, I don't really have a schedule of when to upload them. So far, I've been able to upload at least once every day. However, within a week or two, some of my exams are coming up so, my upload speed will diminish. I'll still write whenever I have some free time but don't expect constant uploads.
With that taken care of, please enjoy the chapter.
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Chapter 2- Miko vs Death
Within the confines of Makoto High school, classes were going along as they usual do. Students walking about and talking. Teachers running errands. Amongst the normality of high school life, one room in particular was everything but normal.
Within the Student Council room, Kuro and Rin silently glared at one another. Each brimming with hatred for one another. The two kept their distance, waiting for the other to make the first move.
“You said your name was Rin Minami correct?” breaking the tense silence, Kuro asked a question. Skeptical of her true objective, Rin remained docile before returning her answer. “That is correct.”
“I see, I remember now.” A small smile crept up on Kuro’s face. “Your family runs a rather famous shrine in this city. To think that a mere shrine priestess could hurt me. Your spiritual energy must be massive to be able to hurt me.”
Complimenting Rin, the tension in the air only rose. Rin wasn’t too sure if she truly meant it or in actuality, mocking her. Reaching its boiling point, it was Kuro who struck first. “Your ability may be strong, however! They mean nothing if you can’t get off your incantation first!” Dashing forward, Kuro lunged forward with her knife. It was clear that Rin wouldn’t be able to complete the incantation. However, she didn’t need no.
Remaining calm, the talisman shined as before. Throwing it forward, the room was filled with blinding light once again. “….Impossible…A silent incantation?!” Flat on her back, Kuro couldn’t contain the surprise in her voice. Not only was she caught off guard twice, but Rin performed it with little to no effort.
Looking back at her, a look of contempt could be seen on Rin’s face. Which only infuriated Kuro even further. Soon the entire room began to rumble and shake under her pressure.
“Kouta…can you walk?” Rin silently asked while keeping her eyes on Kuro.
“Yeah, but what’s going on?” Kouta asked.
“I’m sorry but I’ll explain everything once we escape...”
“Once you escape? Like I would let you do that!!” As the two whisper amongst themselves, Kuro quickly caught wind of their plan. Charging forward again, Rin this time prepped three talisman this time. Uttering a silent incantation, she threw all three of them at Kuro.
Prepared for Rin’s attack, Kuro quickly wrapped herself in darkness to take the blunt of the light. However it wasn’t what Kuro expected. Halting in midair, the talisman grew and expanded. Light began to refract, forming a bubble; encasing Kuro.
“Let’s go!” Grabbing onto Kouta, the two of them raced out of the room. Leaving behind a furious Kuro within the bubble.
Running, the two ran ignored everyone they passed on the way. Eventually the two stopped after running a moderate distance. Exhausted the two rest in silence only for a minute or two at most.
“I think we lost her.” Catching her breath, Rin accessed the situation. “My barrier won’t hold for long…In the meantime, let me see your wound Kouta.” Before Kouta could interject, Rin caught a glimpse at his wounds only to find them healed. There was no sign of any damage whatsoever.
“What…your wounds, they’re gone!” Grabbing his arm, Rin couldn’t believe her eyes. “How…Kouta. What’s going on?”
“I can ask you the same question. What was that thing you did back there with those paper talisman?” questioned Kouta in returned. For once, Rin’s expression softened.
“I suppose it’s no use keeping it hidden.” Sighed Rin. “Please listen to me very carefully. This may sound crazy but I’m a Miko. My duty is to exorcise creatures of impure natures. Of which are called Ajin. I understand this may be confusing so ask me any question…”
“Oh, ok.” Before Rin could finish her longwinded explanation, Kouta nonchalantly replied back. Upon hearing his answer, Rin stopped with a perplexed expression.
“Ehh?” Rin looked to Kouta in disbelief. This wasn’t the first time Rin revealed herself as an exorcist and had to explain the reality of the situation. She got so used to it that she even prepared another longwinded explanation on concept of Ajin, a miko duties and so forth.
But never had she ever encounter an occasion where the individual in question simply calm accepted the reality in front of him. Then again, Kouta is no normal boy.
Kuro has lived with Kouta for roughly six years. The thought of supernatural beings never really surprised Kouta that much. After all, Kuro was all the proof he needed. If anything, Kouta was more surprised that Rin, his childhood friend was a Miko. Snapping out of her dazed state, it was her turn to ask the question.
“Anyway Kouta, if you know the gravity of the situation. Then please tell me, what exactly was that girl? I’m guessing she’s a spirit of some sorts.”
“Yeaaa….spirit….”Faced with Rin’s question, Kouta answer trailed off all the while avoiding eye contact with Rin. Kouta couldn’t really tell Rin that Kuro was the personification of death.
“I see. That makes sense. No doubt she’s a spirit with some earthily regret that is keeping her. But the question now is, how do we get rid of her?” Mumbling to herself, Kouta too was racking his brain. He still needed to explain how his wounds healed so quickly.
“So wait…you still haven’t explain why your wounds are gone.” Getting back on track, Rin asked the same question once again. In the time available, Kouta couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. In the end, he was left with one opinion, the truth. “That’s because…she tethered her soul to mine. Every wound she inflicts heals itself.”
Giving his answer Rin’s eyes widen. It looked as if her eye balls could pop out at any second. “I-Impossible…only a powerful spirit can use such an ability…But if that’s true…” Mumbling to herself again, Rin was visibly shaken by the information presented to her.
“Rin…are you alright?” Hearing Kouta’s voice, Rin immediately snapped back to reality. “Why didn’t you tell me?!” Grabbing hold of his shoulder, Rin started to violently shake Kouta. Rin was clearly upset.
“Tell you? Even if I tell you, what exactly do you even do?” Answering back, for the first time, Rin couldn’t say anything back. Clenching her fist in frustration, Rin got back to the matter at hand. “To think I would encounter such a being…I need to call in reinforcement.”
Reaching into her pocket, before she could do anything, Kouta intervened. “Rin! Don’t call in reinforcement!” Kouta adamantly objected.
“What? Why?” Fighting back, Rin wrestled with Kouta over the phone. “Please listen to me…don’t call in reinforcement!” cried Kouta, struggling to keep it out of Rin’s hand.
“Are you crazy? Don’t you to be separated from that spirit?” objected Rin.
‘It isn’t that easy’ Kouta screamed inside his mind. What Rin see’s is just some spirit, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Kuro is no ordinary spirit, she’s death herself. Through the years they known each other, Kouta knew better than anyone of Kuro’s personality. Although she exhibit her obsessive and violent nature, Kouta was always there to calm her down. If she wanted to, she could hurt those she deem as an annoyance.
And seeing how Rin hit Kuro and knocked her around. Kouta doubted that Kuro was going to let Rin go that easily. The only one that can stop her from rampaging was Kouta.
“Please…trust me on this.” Pleading one last time, the two stared at one another in silent. “…Fine. I only hope you know what you are doing.” Sighing under her breath, Rin resigned. “However make it quick, my barrier won’t last much longer.”
Nodding, Kouta then filled Rin on his plan.
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On top of the school, Rin silently stood on the rooftop; waiting. Access to the rooftop were only available to the staff of the school and those of the student council. Informed to Kouta’s plan, Rin took the necessary preparation. Preparing a number of defenses, which included a spell that silence the area as to not disturb the classes below.
Waiting in anticipation, it was finally time. Standing alone amongst the vast rooftop, a spec of darkness formed a few meters away from Rin. Slowly the darkness expanded and condensed. Within seconds Kuro was on the rooftop with Rin.
“It’s about time you finally showed yourself. What’s wrong? Was my barrier too much of hassle to break spirit?” Jokingly questioned Rin.
“Hmph” Kuro scoffed. “Don’t pat yourself too much on the back Cow. I will admit that it was stronger than I expected but in the end, it couldn’t contain. Also the reason I didn’t come sooner was because I was looking for Kouta. What the hell did you do to him?”
The question Kuro asked pertained to the fact that Kuro couldn’t sense Kouta anymore. Since the two are linked, Kuro had the ability to know where Kouta is at anytime and anyplace. That was how she know when he is cheating on her (interacting with other girls.)
However, during her imprisonment, the connection between the two was severed. Panicking, Kuro scoured the school, looking for Kouta. But no matter how hard she looked, Kouta was off the radar. Yielding no results, she came to the conclusion that the one responsible would be Rin.
Upon seeing Kuro’s irritated expression, a smile arouse on Rin’s face. “Wouldn’t you like to know? Enough talk, let’s go!” Pulling out half a dozen talisman, Rin took a battle stance. All the while Kuro stood there, unthreatened by Rin’s decree.
“Before we begin, I want to ask you something. What is your relationship with Kouta?”
“What does it matter to you spirit?” Rin returned the question with a hint of malicious in her voice.
Gazing back at Rin, Kuro sighed under her breath. “Well it doesn’t matter now…Once I kill you, I’ll need to punish Kouta for being unfaithful. No doubt you tempted him with those massive tits of yours. I’ll teach him what it means to cheat on me for some Cow.”
“You sure like using that word, Cow. All I hear are words of jealousy from someone with poor breasts, stature and mind. How Kouta can put up with you is beyond my imagination.” Rin rebuked Kuro with an insult of her own.
Kuro frowned before grinning. “It doesn’t take a genius to see why Kouta and I are together. Anyone with eyes and a brain can see that we make a good couple. I guess only a fat cow like yourself would have a hard time seeing why we’re perfect together. I guess all of your smarts went into your volatile tits.” Returning the insults, the tension in the air only escalated even further.
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A terrifying silence came to pass as the two smiled at one another insults.
“Washing board.”
“Lumps of meat.”
“You’re dead!!” screamed the both of them after their exchange of insults. Kuro charged forward, her knives in both hand. Ready to cut Rin apart. Uttering the silent incantation, Rin threw forward several paper talisman.
“That trick won’t work twice!” roared Kuro, countering Rin’s attack. Erupting from the ground, the shadow moved according to Kuro’s will. In the split second the talisman stopped, the shadow were converted into spheres of absolute darkness. Completely canceling out Rin’s attack.
“Haha! Let’s see you try and beat me now!” A smile crept up on Kuro’s face as now there was no way for Rin to hurt her from such a distance. Kuro expected a look of defeat on Rin’s face, however. “Are you so sure about that?”
“What are you rambling on about this…” Before Kuro could finish her sentence, the ground beneath her feet brightened. Faster than anyone can act, a ray of light shot forth from the ground. Knocked back, Kuro’s body steamed as before.
“What…the…” Laying her eyes back on the ground, her eyes widened at sight before her. Sprawled all across the floor were paper talisman. “I see. You laid a trap for me!” Standing back up, the two glared at one another.
“Give up! You won’t make it across my minefield so easily!”
“Give up? I will admit that you’re very creative when it comes to attacking me Cow, but don’t think for a second that you can win this.” Flicking her wrist, Rin silently observed Kuro’s action from a distance. Instantly, the hair along her neck stood up.
Something was wrong.
Trusting her instincts, Rin moved out of the way. And just in time too as a streak of pure darkness flew near her face. Rin was a bit slow on the move, so the attack managed to graze her cheek.
“Tchh, I was aiming for that head of yours. I guess you’re not half bad Cow.” Clicking her tongue, Rin alertness skyrocketed. Much like how Kuro manipulate her body and the shadows around her. Kuro had the ability to attack from a distance using said shadows. Connecting the dots, it was clear that Kuro wouldn’t go down so easily.
“Be pure. Be cleanse. Grant me strength to stand before the impure. With great strength, walk towards the path. Cloak!” uttering an incantation, a majestic light showered Rin. It radiated a sense of warmth and fortitude.
“A reinforcement talisman? Do you think that can save you?” Thrusting her hand forward, a wave of shadows slivered towards her. Striking from the ground up, Rin was light on her feet. Never staying in one spot. Jumping around, all Rin could do was dodge. “What’s wrong Cow? Too hard for you?”
Gloating, Rin in returned threw several more talisman towards Kuro. Watching with a bored expression, Kuro effortlessly blocked the attack by incasing them in spheres of darkness. “It’s only a matter of time before I catch up to you. I now hold the advantage at long range engagement.”
“Then perhaps I should try a different approach.” Landing, Rin pulled out even more paper talisman. Uttering another silent incantation, a multitude of light shined upon her. Applying additional layers of reinforcement, Rin dashed forward. Dashing towards Kuro.
“I guess I was right. You really are stupid after all!” Seeing Rin’s reckless action, Kuro re-directed her shadows towards Rin. Intercepting the shadow attacks, Rin used several talisman to destroy the shadow. Closing the distance Rin used one last talisman to destroy an incoming shadow attack.
Due to the close proximity of the attack and the talisman, Rin was blinded for only a few seconds. But those few seconds cost her dearly as Kuro charged forward amidst the blinding light. She had wrapped herself in her own shadow.
This time, Rin was completely defenseless as Kuro plunged one of her knife within the Rin’s right shoulder blades. “Ahhh!” Rin screamed in pain, taken by surprised by Kuro. Not stopping there, she held the knife in place and got ready for a second strike.
This time, Rin was much faster to react. Bringing the knife up, Rin stopped the blade mere centimeters away from her forehead. Her hand gripping the blade of the knife, clinging on as to stop the momentum. A burning sensation coursed through her palm as blood tickled down.
“What this your master plan? Running towards me? If you wanted to embrace death, you should have said so sooner!” A wicked smile emerged on Kuro’s face. As she took in it all, all the while putting in more force to kill Rin.
“It’s you who will meet your end.” Bellowing in retaliation, Rin used her free remaining hand and placed a talisman on Kuro’s chest. In the split second that Kuro was distracted, Rin kicked herself free. The talisman on Kuro’s chest began to gleam to life. But it didn’t end there.
Soon the talisman that Rin laid as trap too began to shine. Levitating, they all rushed towards Kuro. Within seconds, her entire body was enveloped in the paper talisman, forming a sphere of paper. “Be pure. Be cleanse. Shower of light, bask thy I impure in thy holy light. Wither impure, Majestic Purify!”
Performing a powerful incantation, all of the paper talisman began to shine. Shielding her eyes for what’s the come, they all activated. Even with her eyes shielded, the intensity of the light was still strong.
Waiting for the light to die down, Rin slowly opened her eyes to see Kuro on the ground. Part of her was disappointed that Kuro didn’t die. Especially taking such a powerful attack. However, it looked to have done some massive damage.
Walking over, Kuro lied on the ground, motionless. Immediately, checking her reserves, Rin had only a few talisman left. Another battle would spell her death. Kneeling down, Rin held a talisman to her neck.
“If you release Kouta then I’ll promise to give you a quick death.” Threatening Kuro, she remained unresponsive to Rin’s threat. “Hey! Are you listening?!” Slowly Rin’s attitude was turning sour. Kuro was still conscious but she wasn’t talking.
“Why? Why should I let go of Kouta. He’s my boyfriend, why should I let go of my lover?” answering back, Kuro finally spoke up.
“Lover…Don’t you fucking dare call it that!” Hearing Kuro’s words, Rin exploded. “Love? Is that what you called it? Don’t lie to me!! What kind of girlfriend stabs his boyfriend? There’s no way in hell a spirit can ever love someone!!” Letting out all of her emotions, Kuro remained silent.
“As if you could understand anything…” Whispering to herself, Rin’s patience had meet its end. Preparing to activate the talisman, Rin felt an explosive presence. Darkness exploded all around Kuro, a terrifying pressure was emitted from the darkness.
Unable to take the pressure, Rin was forced to jump back. Sweat flowed like a waterfall, unable to cease from the monstrous aura. Slowly, Kuro’s figure could be seen standing up at the epicenter of the darkness.
Extending her hand outwards, she grabbed a hold of something within the abyss of darkness. An object emerge from the infinite void of darkness within her hand. It was scythe, one made of pure darkness. Even looking at it made Rin nauseous. It exuded a petrifying atmosphere. As if it could suck even the light of day.
All Rin could do was stand there and watch from afar. Unable to even move an inch. The raging darkness ceased, leaving only Kuro and the scythe.
“What…what are you?” It took all she could to even move her mouth and let out those words. Turning her attention back on Rin, the two looked to one another in silent.
“What am I? I go by many names. The Pale Horseman. The Darkness amongst the Light. The End of all crossroad. Reaper. Death. Shinigmai. I am each and every one of those names. But I suppose Kuro will suffice.”
Answering Rin’s question in a rather over the top manner, it was then that Rin realized the gravity of the situation. Despite that, Rin couldn’t give up so quickly. Not with some much at stakes. Preparing her counter attack, it was all for naught.
With one simple swing, Rin was sent flying backwards and sent crashing against the fence that surrounded the rooftop. A miniature sonic boom occurred, destroying part of the surrounding. The air rippled from just that one swing, as if her scythe cut through the air itself.
Rin’s mind was unable to process what had truly happen. Her body was covered in bruised from smashing against metal fence. As she struggled to get back on her feet, Kuro strolled on over to her. It looked to be that Kuro was about to deal the finishing blow until Kouta appeared in between the two.
“Kuro…please stop this.” Appearing out of nowhere, Kouta halted Kuro.
Originally the plan that Kouta devised was to Lure Kuro away and perform a sneak attack in the form of a kiss to calm her down as he usually does. However Rin wasn’t a fan of the plan. Eventually Rin agreed on one condition. That she first have a chance to exorcise Kuro first in hopes of quickly putting everything to an end.
However, the outcome was beyond the two imagination. “Out of my way Kouta. That Cow needs to pay for what she said.” Staring into Kuro’s eyes, they were empty and hollow. But this time, there was something different about them. As if the time where she freaked out was just for fun, this time she was truly angry.”
“No! If you want to get to her, you’ll have to go through me!” declared Kouta.
“Fine then.” In one swift motion, Kuro swung her scythe. A clean diagonal cut, straight through Kouta’s body. The cut was so clean and swift that not even a speck of blood spew anywhere. Rin’s cry became muffled as Kouta’s two halves hit the ground.
To Kouta, a wound like this would be healed within a few seconds. But within that time span, Rin would surely die. Already, he could feel his conscious fading away. Walking over Kouta, Kuro approach a horrified Rin.
“S-stop…it…” Hearing Kouta voice, Kuro stopped once again. The upper half of Kouta’s body was still alive. Clutching onto her leg, Kouta muster all the strength he could to stop her.
“I-if you…reall…love me….then p…please….stop this…” Barely getting his words out, he had seconds left before blackout. Un-moving, Kuro remained silent and still only to shake off Kouta’s grasp. The last thing Kouta saw was Kuro raising her scythe in the air.
And then…nothing.
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Originally the chapter was much, much longer. However I cut it down to make more easy on my part. This is also a chance for me to try writing cliffhangers and read your comments expressing your hatred for me for stopping at such a crucial moment. (^_^)