.
.
1.
"My name is Yui!"
She lunged, grabbing Bishamon by the throat.
"Fukuhara Yui!"
Bishamon struggled, gripping her arms.
"And I died like that."
Her voice changed. The crack in her name widened.
"Why didn't anyone save me?!"
An explosion. A burst of radiant energy, the life-force of Bishamon's name gone nova.
xXx
.
Iwami was reading in his room when he felt it: the slightest tremor of power, the telltale sign of a phantom breaching the perimeter.
He rushed down the corridor, eyes widening as he came upon the scene: the lady held aloft by tentacles, hands clinging uselessly by her neck as she shrilly begged Kazuma not to kill her.
"Kazuma-dono!" Iwami said, just as Kuraha rushed into the room. "Kuraha-san, take position by my side! Kazuma-dono! Step back! We must form a line!"
Kazuma threw a glance back at Iwami, and retreated toward them, lifting his fingers into a halberd.
"On my mark!" Iwami said, and he lifted his fingers.
"Mark!"
There was a starbust of white light, as one of the lines cut through the tentacle wrapped around Bishamon's throat. Tsuguha screamed and slammed her monster's body into the barrier, Bishamon dropping onto the ground.
The lines shimmered. Bishamon coughed, her hand fluttering by her throat.
"Veena! What is going on? What happened to Tsuguha?!" Kazuma said.
"Kazuma." Bishamon's voice was hoarse. "Tsuguha turned."
"What?" Kazuma's face was stricken. Iwami's grip on his arm tightened.
"Kazuma-dono! You must concentrate on your lines, we do not have time for questions now!" Iwami said. "Lady Bishamon, I have the masks that the late Ebisu entrusted to me. They are in the chest in my room. Please get a mask if you can!"
"A mask?" Bishamon said. Her eyes were wide.
"Yes, Lady Bishamon! It is the only way to tame that phantom. You must get the mask before the phantom breaks through this barrier."
Tsuguha roared. The barrier tightened.
"Lady Bishamon! Please! We don't have time!" Iwami said.
Bishamon nodded and lunged forward, barreling down the hallway and throwing herself into Iwami's room. The chest was exactly where she had pictured it, resting neatly at the foot of his bed. She threw the lid open and dug through the papers, grabbing Ebisu's old notebook and one of Ebisu's masks.
She ran back into the bedroom. Tsuguha roared, Kazuma and Kuraha struggling to maintain their borders.
"Put the mask over your face and say the incantation," Iwami said. "When you're done press the mask over the phantom's face."
"But I don't know the incantation!" Bishamon said.
"It's just like naming a shinki, Lady Bishamon! Follow your instincts before the phantom takes over!"
She placed the mask over her face.
"My name is Bishamonten. Bearing a posthumous name, you shall don this mask. With this name, I make thee my servant..."
Tsuguha screamed. Bishamon lifted her hand into a halberd.
"Ye names that now assemble cannot defy my orders. Submit and obey this mask!"
She drew Tsuguha's name across the barrier.
"Yield! SHOUKI!"
She slammed the mask against the ayakashi's forehead. And the ayakashi screamed, then shrank, transforming back into Tsuguha.
"Drop your lines!" Bishamon said. The borders flashed. She ran toward Tsuguha, pulling her into her arms. Kazuma started forward.
"Stay back!" Bishamon said savagely. Kazuma and Kuraha stopped, shocked. "Get out, all of you! I need to be with Tsuguha alone!"
"But Veena-"
"Ojou-"
"Get out!" Bishamon said. Kazuma and Kuraha looked at each other uneasily. "Now!"
"I see," Iwami said, softly. He knelt next to Bishamon. "The child has been touched by the god's greatest secret." Bishamon's eyes widened.
"I will wait outside," Iwami said, bowing. He touched Kazuma by the arm and led him out of the room.
xXx
.
Tsuguha was crying. Fat tears rolled down the sides of her face. The mask had shrank down the size of a small gemstone in the middle of her forehead, and had the same look as a bindi or a small jewel. Tearfully, Tsuguha squeezed her eyes, then touched the mask with trembling fingers.
"Tsuguha," Bishamon said, gently. And then, more softly, "Yui."
Tsuguha looked up. Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
"Ane-sama," Tsuguha sobbed. "Ane-sama, I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, Yui," Bishamon said, and she hugged her. "I understand. I know these things are painful. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you your real name before."
Tsuguha sobbed, burying her face into Bishamon's shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tsuguha asked. She sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Ane-sama. Why didn't you tell me how I died?"
"Because a shinki's human memories are a god's greatest secret," Bishamon said. "Once they find out, they turn into phantoms, just like you did. I kept that secret so I could protect you."
"You...you have all my memories?"
"Yes," Bishamon said, and she smiled. "I know that Fukuhara Yui was sixteen. She was a goofy girl who liked math in high school. She liked the color pink and watching the fireworks in the summertime. She thought her glasses made her look cool and she was blessed with many friends."
"Ane-sama..." Tsuguha's eyes filled with more tears.
"I know," Bishamon began, and she hesitated, trying to find her words. "I know that I can never replace your parents, and we can never be like your human family. But I want you to know that I love you like you're my own daughter," Bishamon said, and she wiped a tear from Tsuguha's eye. "You're all good children and I love all of you."
Tsuguha started crying harder. "I'm sorry, Ane-sama."
"I know."
"I'm really really sorry, Ane-sama."
"I know."
xXx
.
She was quietly closing the bedroom door when she saw Iwami standing in the hallway.
"How is young Tsuguha faring?" Iwami asked.
"She's fine," Bishamon said. Iwami nodded, quietly.
"I am glad to hear it," Iwami said. "It is not often a shinki can survive such a transformation."
Bishamon knitted her fingers, carefully.
"How did you know about a god's greatest secret?" Bishamon asked. Iwami smiled.
"Ebisu-sama told me about it, six incarnations ago."
Bishamon's eyes widened, shocked. Iwami smiled.
"When one deals with phantoms," Iwami said, and he stepped toward her, "One must be knowledgeable in everything pertaining to phantoms. Even the things that could harm us," Iwami said. "Even the things that could shatter our god-given names."
"Did his other shinki know?" Bishamon said. Iwami shook his head.
"No, Lady Bishamon. Ebisu-sama only entrusted that information to me."
"But how did you keep from turning?" Bishamon said. Iwami smiled.
"I have no desire to learn about my past life," Iwami said. "I have served Master Ebisu for twelve incarnations. The seven odd decades of my human life are but a mere blip to the time I've spent serving at Ebisu-sama's side."
"He's always been a bit unusual," Bishamon said. Iwami smiled.
"Bishamon-sama," Iwami said. "It is always good to have a confidante. Someone in whom you can trust your darkest fears. You have a devoted young hafuri by your side. While you may choose to keep the existence of a god's greatest secret buried, I have no doubt that that young man will equally honor his life with you over his old one."
"Thank you, Iwami," Bishamon said. "But I don't want to take that risk."
"I understand, Lady Bishamon."
xXx
.
Kazuma was in their office, pacing. He and Kuraha had spent the last few hours quarantining the other shinki and cordoning them off from Bishamon's living quarters, ushering them down the hallway and back into their beds. "Is Tsuguha all right?" Mineha asked. Aiha's face was pale.
"Tsuguha is fine for now, but she's very contagious," Kazuma said. "Until we get a better handle on things, we need to treat her as if she's suffering blight."
The other shinki nodded, huddling amongst themselves.
Now he was in their office, pacing anxiously. Kuraha had gone to bed - "There's nothing we can do but trust our lady," he said - but Kazuma couldn't sleep. He switched on a desk lamp and waited.
The door to the office opened. Kazuma looked up and saw Bishamon walking wearily into the room.
"Veena," Kazuma said. He started toward her. "What happened?"
"I can't tell you," Bishamon said. Her eyes were tired and he could see her exhaustion. "If I do, it could happen to you, too."
"Does Iwami-san know?" Kazuma asked. He placed his hand on her back and guided her forward.
"Yes," Bishamon said. "But he has experience dealing with phantoms. Thanks to Ebisu, you could say he's immune."
Kazuma nodded, quietly. "If it was an issue of you trusting me, I would be more worried. But I understand you're trying to protect me. I won't get in the way of that. It's enough to know that the sorcerer's magic can infect all of us if we're not too careful."
"Thank you, Kazuma," Bishamon said, and she managed a weak smile.
She felt drained of energy - Tsuguha was under the influence of a mask, but the emotions she was feeling was starting to take a toll. Unlike the emotions of a shinki, though, the emotions of a shinki with human memories swirled inside her in violent eddies, so much so that she couldn't separate Tsuguha's despair from her own.
Kazuma touched her arm.
"You're pale," Kazuma said, in a low voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired," Bishamon said. "A little unsteady, but otherwise fine."
"Let's sit you down." Carefully he guided her by the elbow and led her to the couch. Bishamon sighed and Kazuma perched beside her, worried. Bishamon smiled at him, weakly.
"I'm fine," Bishamon said. "Tsuguha's transformation knocked the wind out of me, but I promise you I'll be okay."
"Ebisu-sama was also blighted from his masks, Veena."
"Tsuguha isn't a phantom, Kazuma."
Kazuma's mouth thinned. She gently touched his arm.
"Kazuma," Bishamon said, gently. "I know you're worried about me. But I don't have much reserve right now, and your worrying is also affecting me."
"I'm sorry." Kazuma took a breath, getting a hold of himself. "It must be pretty bad for you to actually say something."
Bishamon laughed softly. She shifted and laid her head against his lap, closing her eyes.
"Just let me rest here a moment," Bishamon said, softly. She felt Kazuma gently stroke her temple in response.
Time passed, and eventually Veena fell asleep. Carefully Kazuma lifted her head from his lap and gently slipped a pillow beneath her.
Kugaha's medicinal notebooks were still locked away in storage. Silently, Kazuma ducked through the crawlspace of the attic and began pulling down the boxes.
He had seen enough of Ebisu's phantoms to know that Veena could suffer from the same sort of blight; even with the mask tempering Tsuguha's transformation, there was no telling whether or not Tsuguha would continue to affect her.
Fortunately, they had a similar situation before, when Kugaha was hiding Aiha's blight, and Kazuma knew the medicine would be enough to ease the pain of holding a mask.
Unfortunately, Kugaha had destroyed his notes pertaining to that peculiar medicine; Kazuma had saved some of the residual powder, and while his abilities were such that he could discern its ingredients, he had no way of knowing exactly how much to use.
"Kazuma-san?" Kuraha poked his head through the attic. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Not yet, Kuraha," Kazuma said. He set down Kugaha's notes.
"I'll have to take a trip to the Near Shore, first."
xXx
.
2.
The mask Iwami made was smaller than the size they used to originally bind her; two centimeters wide and the thickness of a five-yen coin, it had shrunk to roughly the size and shape of a small diamond, easily hidden beneath combed-down bangs and looking more like a bindi than a phantom mask. Sometimes, Yui stopped and looked at her face in the mirror, sweeping up the lank strands of hair to look at the concentric circles decorating the smooth white oval, a seal as strong and sure as the bond that used to tether her to Ane-sama's name. She was staring at her forehead when there was a knock on the bathroom door.
"Tsuguha?"
Yui didn't notice; she leaned over the sink and stared at her reflection again, her fingers worrying over the smooth bump, memorizing the shape. The voice called the name again, "Tsuguha? Tsuguha-"
"Yui?"
Yui turned. Ane-sama was standing at the doorway, brow furrowed and her fingers pressed into an apologetic steeple.
"Oh," Yui said, and she smiled, rubbing her neck self-consciously. "Sorry about that, Ane-sama."
"You needn't apologize," Ane-sama said, smiling. She crossed the room and lifted her fingers.
"Does it hurt?" Ane-sama asked, brushing back her bangs. Yui shook her head emphatically.
"No, Ane-sama! It doesn't hurt. It just feels a little strange."
"I'm sorry about that." Ane-sama smiled apologetically. "We were able to halt your transformation, but I am not as experienced as Ebisu. I'm afraid my naming you was rather haphazard."
"It's okay, Ane-sama," Yui said, and smiled. "I'm fine, really."
"I'm glad, Tsuguha," Ane-sama said, and then corrected herself. "Yui."
"Thank you, Ane-sama."
Ane-sama smiled.
It was still odd to her hearing her god-given name, even though she had been called 'Tsuguha' for almost all her afterlife. Ane-sama knew how jarring it was and called her 'Yui' in private, and even though Yui knew she couldn't tell the others, it still felt lonely having to keep the secret alone.
"How are you feeling, Tsuguha?" Aiha said. She poked her head into the bedroom, where Yui was reading. Yui looked up.
"I'm fine," Yui said. She smiled. "I'm just not used to this mask, is all."
"It's pretty," Aiha said. She crossed the bedroom and sat next to her on the bed. "It kinda looks like a fancy jewel."
They lapsed into silence. Aiha started working on her cross-stitching while Yui clasped her hands, wondering what to say.
"Ne, Aiha-senpai?" Yui said, finally.
"Yeah?" Aiha said. She set down her cross-stitch, carefully.
"That medicine Kugaha made you take? It was pretty gross, right?"
"They're making you take it?" Aiha said, making a face.
"Well...Kazuma-san is making me. He said even though I have a mask, we can't be too careful." Yui winced at the memory. She was barely coming out of her post-ayakashi fog when Kazuma barged into her room carrying a cup of bitter tea; apparently he spent the entire night combing through Kugaha's books, trying to learn the recipe.
"Ugh, that sucks," Aiha said. "Yeah, the medicine is really gross, but if you mix it in hot chocolate it tastes better."
"Really?" Yui said.
"Yeah," Aiha said. "Here, lemme make you some hot chocolate. I'll be back, okay?" And Yui watched as Aiha hurried out of the room.
No one talked about her transformation, but Aiha was the only one who seemed to understand. She stung Ane-sama too; she knew the humiliation of giving up and turning into a phantom. Even though Yui knew it wasn't her fault, she still couldn't help but feel awful about what happened.
Aiha ran back into the room, carrying a mug of hot milk and a packet of chocolate power.
"S-senpai! You shouldn't be running around like that! Aren't your legs still healing?" Yui said. Aiha grinned.
"They're fine," Aiha said. "Here. Gimme your medicine. It'll go down better this way, I promise." She took the little envelope and dumped the contents into a cup of hot milk, stirring it with a little packet of hot chocolate. "It's so bitter, it's almost like drinking chocolate coffee. It tastes better this way."
She stirred the cup and handed it back to Yui, who took the cup from Aiha, gratefully.
"Whoa, it tastes like expresso," Yui said.
"I know, right?" Aiha smiled. Yui grinned.
"Thank you, Aiha-senpai!" She lifted the cup and drank her medicine with a huge gulp.
xXx
.
It was good being able to hang out with Aiha. Sometimes if Yui thought too much about it, she would start to wonder how the other shinki around her died. Aiha looked to be around her age, even though she was named by Ane-sama almost a century ago.
She walked out into the garden. Whenever these thoughts got into her head, she found it was best to talk to Ane-sama directly.
Ane-sama was in the garden. Yui fidgeted a little, peering out behind a tree trunk, and waited while the younger shinki played around her. One of the littlest one was weaving a crown of flowers, which she presented to Ane-sama excitedly. "That is very pretty, Haruha," Ane-sama said, and Yui shuddered, thinking of how old that girl was when she died.
"Oh, Tsuguha, you look tired today. How are you faring?" Bishamon asked, as Yui approached. The little ones were still playing in the field a few feet from them, she knew Ane-sama couldn't be too careful.
"I'm fine," Yui said, and Bishamon gave her a doubtful look. "I'm a little stir-crazy," Yui admitted, and Bishamon patted the ground, letting Yui sit beside her.
"The others don't really talk to me anymore," Yui said. She plucked a flower from the ground and twirled it between her fingers, frowning. "Other than Aiha, everyone stays away from me. Well, Aiha, and Kazuma-san. They're the only ones who talk to me."
"What do you and Kazuma talk about?" Bishamon asked. Yui brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her elbows.
"Nothing, really. He watches me to make sure I take my medicine, then makes me open my mouth to show him I swallowed."
"Oh." Bishamon winced. "I'm sorry, Yui. Do you want me to talk to him?"
"Nah, Ane-sama. I think he's just worried. And even though I stung you he's still nice to me."
"He knows it wasn't your fault," Bishamon said. "That was the work of the sorcerer. He knows you would never harm me."
"Ane-sama, may I ask you a question?" Yui said, and Bishamon glanced back at her. Yui plucked a petal frowning.
"How did the other shinki die?"
Bishamon frowned. "Why would you want to know that?"
"I'm just curious," Yui said. Bishamon sighed, shifting beside her.
"You mustn't ask me these things, Yui," Bishamon said. "There are shinki all around us. Even if you aren't affected, a God's Greatest Secret could accidentally be revealed."
"I won't tell anyone," Yui said.
"Yui-"
"I died by some rando jumper landing on top of me! That's like, the stupidest death ever. There's got to be other shinki like me."
Bishamon laughed softly.
"How do most shinki die?" Yui asked. "Are most of us murdered? Or are they accidents? Are a lot of us dead from illness?"
"Quite a few," Bishamon said.
"How about Kazuma-san?"
"Hm? What about him?"
"How did he die?"
Bishamon considered.
"Someone hurt him," Bishamon said, finally.
"Geez," Yui breathed.
xXx
.
In her head, Yui made up stories of how the other shinki died.
Kuraha was a sailor, drowned at sea during a savage thunderstorm. He was a captain and even though his crew survived he went down with the ship.
Karuha and Kazuha froze to death. They were abandoned by their mother and were living on the streets.
Aiha was a ballerina, dead from tuberculosis or some sort of turn-of-the-century plague.
Yugiha got hit by a car because he was too busy texting to look up when he was crossing the street; Akiha died from a car crash because he was too short to reach the brake pedal.
xXx
.
"Ane-sama," Yui said, and she hesitated. "Ane-sama, if I...if I were to go see my family...would my family see me?"
Bishamon set down her papers.
"I'm sorry," Yui said. "I was just thinking, now that I have my memories, I was wondering about my family. Sorry for bringing it up!" Yui said, quickly. "I know it's bad for a god's greatest secret, and-"
"No, no, do not apologize," Bishamon said, and she smiled kindly. "Would you like to see your family, Yui?"
"May I?"
Bishamon rose. "Come," she said, and she held out her hand.
They descended together to the Near Shore. Around them, the streets were quiet; a boy on a bicycle rode past and there was an old lady sweeping. A cat purred. A couple walked down the street.
Yui pressed her fingers together, nervously. This was her neighborhood. This was her street. She remembered the path she used to take to school, the corner where she used to meet her friends. Nothing around her really changed.
"There," Bishamon said, and they stopped in front of her house. Walking around the back, Yui could see how her mother's tomato plants were growing along the trellis; their futons were folded over the balcony, getting air.
"Will they see me?" Yui asked. Bishamon shook her head.
"The families of the deceased rarely do."
Yui ignored her, walking around the backyard. Her brother was working on his bike. She took a step forward.
"Chouji?" Yui said. "Hey, Chouji?"
Her brother oiled the chain, not looking at her.
"Hey, Chouji, do you see me?"
"Tsuguha," Bishamon started, but Yui leaned forward.
"Chouji!" Yui said. She grabbed the bike, startling him. "Chouji!"
"Mom!" her brother turned away, walking toward the patio. "Mom, I think the bike's broken. Mom! Hey mom!"
"Chouji, wait!" Yui said, and Bishamon touched her arm.
"It is the same way with gods," Bishamon said, quietly. Yui tugged her hat over her eyes and sniffed, miserably.
Ane-sama hugged her. She smelled good and Yui hiccuped pathetically.
"Never forget," Ane-sama was saying, while Yui began crying hard and Ane-sama gripped her tighter. "Never forget, you may have lost your human family. But you are my child, and I will never let you go."
xXx
.
3.
The Yatogami was more surprised than anyone when he found out Tsuguha had been tamed with a mask. "That's not good," Yato said.
"Why?" Bishamon said. "We halted her transformation. I was able to give her back her name-"
"No, you suppressed her Liberation. The moment that mask comes off, she'll turn phantom again." Yato ran his hands through his hair, agitated. "If you can control her with a mask, that means my dad can, too."
"Meaning?" Bishamon folded her hands in her lap while Yato paced, agitated.
"Meaning, if my dad attacks any of our other shinki, he could kidnap them and control them with his masks. He's already threatened Yukine. What's to stop him from liberating him and slapping a mask on him, too?"
Bishamon stood at the edge of the balcony, surveying her family. The Ha clan's numbers were cut in half by Kugaha's betrayal, and she watched with growing trepidation as her non-combat shinki laughed and walked together in the grass.
They were all good children. No other god should have to go through what she went through.
xXx
.
"Veena," Kazuma said. "When will we take the counter-offensive against the sorcerer?"
Bishamon lowered her papers.
Funny how Kazuma could read her thoughts; she hadn't mentioned anything about going after the sorcerer.
"If you cannot attack close range," Kazuma began, stepping closer, "then long-range attacks would be more effective. I suggest a sniper rifle. With my target guidance you will have a 100% chance of taking the hit."
"None of our shinki is a sniper rifle, Kazuma. And it wouldn't be fair to ask Karuha and Kazuha to put themselves in danger like that," Bishamon said.
"I didn't say it had to be a shinki." Kazuma's voice was quiet. "There are only two ways to kill a god: with a phantom or with a divine instrument. But if that god is in the possession of a human..." Kazuma lifted his eyes. "So long as there are no other humans around to leap into, that god will die along with his host. It is the only way to force his reincarnation."
Bishamon sucked in her breath. "You're asking me to kill an innocent teenager?"
"You were willing to attack that teenager with the use of a cursed vessel. I don't see the difference." Bishamon's eyes widened.
"I know about the renegade hafuri." Kazuma's voice was smooth, unruffled. "I spoke with Iwami a few moments ago."
Bishamon stuttered. "I was just- I was just curious about the legends-"
"You are thinking of naming that hafuri in order to go after the sorcerer." Kazuma's eyes flicked upward. "Isn't that right, Veena?"
Bishamon stared.
"I understand why you would do it," Kazuma said, quietly. "You want to kill him while keeping the others out of harm's way. If that is what you want, then let me guide you. I can kill the sorcerer with a single head shot. You just need to be willing to let me."
Bishamon blinked her eyes. She couldn't look at him.
"What if you die?" She turned to look at him again. Kazuma smiled.
"I'm an earring," Kazuma said. "My surface area is small. If she cannot touch me the point of that is moot."
"But Kazuma..." Bishamon's face was drawn. "What if I can't protect you?"
"I am Bishamonten's hafuri," Kazuma said. "What good am I if my master cannot use me?"
Bishamon lowered her eyes.
xXx
.
It was still dark when Bishamon rose, and made her decision. Walking down the corridor, she glanced around to make no one else was awake, before quietly opening Kazuma's door.
Kazuma was sleeping. Quietly Bishamon slipped into his room, carefully closing the door behind her to make sure he didn't wake.
Kazuma's eyes were still closed, and he was breathing deeply. He looked peaceful in his sleep.
Bishamon considered. If she left now, there was a chance he could still follow her. That risk just would not do.
"Chouki."
Kazuma's eyes opened just as he transformed, slipping into a ray of light and sliding gently into her earlobe.
"Veena? What's going on?"
"I've decided to take on the sorcerer."
The earring glinted. In her minds eye, she could see Kazuma nodding, gravely.
"Very well. But Veena. If we are to snipe him, I need my glasses first. I can only guarantee 95 percent accuracy the way I am currently."
"That won't be necessary, Kazuma." Quietly she fingered her earring, then gently pulled it out of her ear.
Kazuma glanced up. Though his ability made it so that he could see everything, he couldn't see the look on Bishamon's face. She bowed her head forward and her hair covered her eyes.
"Veena?"
"I'm leaving you behind, Kazuma."
She set him on top of her dresser.
"I don't want to put you or anyone in harm's way and I didn't want to take the chance you'd follow me. I'll snipe the sorcerer myself."
The earring glinted, frantically. "Veena! That's insane! You're unarmed! What if you miss? He'll attack you and you'll have no way to defend yourself!"
"That won't change if you come with me," Bishamon said.
"Why don't you trust me, Veena?!" Bishamon's jaw tightened. "You know I can hit him. I've never guided you wrong!"
"This isn't up for discussion! Stay here. I'll release you when I come back."
"Veena! But what if you die?"
Bishamon stopped. The earring glinted, tearfully.
"If that happens, you'll revert back to human form. I know that you'll guide the next Bishamonten faithfully."
She put her hand on the doorknob.
Pain whacked against her neck, slamming her onto her knees. Her body seized. She raised a shaky hand to her neck, wheezing.
Kazuma was stinging her. It was what happened when a shinki knows his master is doing something wrong.
"K-Kazuma. Stop it. Let me...go."
She screamed. Pain wracked her up and down her body, a thousand blades tearing and searing at her skin.
"Do you think I can't fight like this?" Bishamon gritted her teeth, her hair falling over her eyes. "I'm too strong to let a little blight stop me. If I need to be armed, I'll name the sealed hafuri and make her my own!"
The earring glinted. In her minds eye, she could see Kazuma clasping his hands, pleadingly.
"Why don't you trust me, Veena?" Kazuma said. "I know I'm just an earring. But at the very least, take my guidance! It's the greatest chance you have of defeating him. I promise you I'll protect you. I won't let the sorcerer do you harm!"
"Don't you understand, I don't want to lose you!" Bishamon's voice was harsh. Savage. "You're my blessing. And this is what I have to do to protect you!"
"Veena, wait-"
"I'm sorry," Bishamon said.
"Veena, don't!"
Bishamon shut the door.
xXx
.
"Yui," Bishamon said, and Tsuguha lifted her head.
"Ane-sama?"
The mask on her forehead glinted. Bishamon smiled.
"How would you like to help me face the sorcerer?"
.
.
end.