Prologue

Peko slowly inhaled through her nostrils and exhaled out of her mouth, creating a brief puff of condensation in the air. Cold, grimy rain water drizzled down her forehead and face. A slow trickle of red blood flowed down her right cheek, embracing it in a sticky, fleeting warmth. The cut on her face was minor and she couldn't even feel it. Her eyes were on her opponent, a girl with short dark hair and lightly dotted freckles. She wore a black tactical vest over her school uniform, a button up white shirt paired with a black skirt. She stood confident and poised, not even winded. The rain continued to pelt down on them. The ambience of raindrops and the muffled riots in the distance was eerily serene.

The silence was shattered as Mukuro advanced on Peko once again, drawing her kukri blade and locking it with Peko's Katana. The cold steel ground together as Mukuro leaned in close to Peko.

"You're still holding back aren't you? Don't get mad at me if you die," Mukuro said in a casual tone.

Peko simply glared daggers at her and hardened her stance, before pushing Mukuro back. The wet pavement was slippery, so Mukuro slowly slid backwards, her shoes grinding. This didn't phase the "ultimate soldier." She simply smirked and leapt backwards, distancing herself from Peko.

(She is toying with me) Peko thought to herself. She noticed her hand quivering with adrenaline as she gripped her sword tightly. This was unlike any opponent she had ever faced. Mukuro was always a step ahead of her. This girl was no amateur. She lived up to her title.

"I assure you, Miss Ikusaba, I am just getting warmed up. I hope you haven't been holding back for my sake, " Peko spoke sternly. Mukuro casually flipped her curved blade in the air a few times. She smiled warmly at Peko with a hint of madness in her gaze.

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm actually having a good time and I'm just trying to make the most of it. I just hope my sister doesn't get mad at me indulging myself. " Mukuro responded, blushing at the thought of Junko castigating her for this later.

"peaking of your sister, I have a question for you. What is it that you two are planning exactly? " Peko inquired. Mukuro simply shrugged off the question.

"You wanna interrogate me? Okay then. Let's play a game. Whoever wins this fight will get to torture the loser," Mukuro said in an almost seductive voice as she brought her blade to her tongue, licking off Peko's blood. She then lunged at Peko.

Peko shifted her style. She kept her sword tilted inward close to her body and deflected Mukuro's strike. She moved in close to Mukuro making up-close sawing motions with her sword. As Mukuro shifted to Peko's right, Peko extended her blade outward, forcing Mukuro to make a last minute effort to dodge it by contorting and arching her back. She then somersaulted backwards before Peko could make another attack.

"Wow. You almost got me there, Pekoyama. I guess I should be more careful around a close combat specialist." She remarked in a surprisingly casual, polite, and sportsman-like tone, as if she was complimenting her opponent in tennis. It was as if this fight had not phased her one iota. Even Peko, who had killed in the past and had been trained for that purpose all her life was shaken by this encounter, as any human would be. What was this girl?

"I presume that you and Enoshima are behind the student council murders and the current riots. But I still don't understand. What is your goal? " Peko interrogated. Mukuro looked perplexed by the question.

"Our goal? That's all you want to know? It's only despair. That's it. " Mukuro responded callously. Peko looked at her in abject confusion.

"Wh-what? What are you talking about? What does that even mean?" The swordswoman asked in confusion.

"Despair is despair. I don't really- " Mukuro said before she was interrupted by her phone going off. A cheery tune played, awkwardly as the two girls stood in the rain. "Uh, give me one second. I need to take this ." Mukuro said as she reached down to pull her cell phone out of her pocket. Peko stood there, still holding her sword, contemplating whether to take this as an opportunity to attack or not, but her better judgement told her to wait it out.

"Hello?" There was a brief moment of silence from Mukuro before continuing, "Oh it's you. What's going on?... What? What do you mean? " Mukuro asked in shock. She turned her back from Peko as she listened to the phone. "N-no! That's not possible. That can't be! You're lying! Put her on the phone! Right now! " She yelled before she stood there silently and dropped to her knees. Peko was even more perplexed. It was as if she was watching all the energy being sucked from the dark haired girl. "This…. This wasn't supposed to happen…. this…... " She whimpered as tears streamed down her cheeks, blending in with the raindrops that continuously fell on her face. "Fuck!... Fuck!... Fuck! Fuuuuuck!" she screamed, in a frantic tantrum has she pounded the pavement.

There was a long, uncomfortable pause of silence. Peko stood there watching her.

"I understand….. You're right….. Ok…... ." Mukuro said as she stood up. She hung up the phone and placed it in her pocket. She turned to face Peko, holding her knife in her hand. Her eyes were inflamed and tears continued to fall down her cheeks. However, her visage was like nothing that Peko had seen. She had the widest smile. It was a maniacal, gleeful smile. Her eyes were euphoric and her cheeks were flushed red. She looked like she was on ecstasy, even though moments ago she was bawling her eyes out.

Peko took a step back as Mukuro began slowly hobbling towards her, dopamine surging through her brain.

"W-what was that call about? " Peko asked uncomfortably as Mukuro loomed closer and closer to her.

"Oh, nothing much. My sister gave me a great gift. That's why I'm smiling. I would like to share it with you " She said, raising her knife. Peko raised her sword and pointed it directly at her.

"Stay back! Don't try it! " She said, as Mukuro continued to menacingly make her way closer to the silver haired girl. Mukuro's vision was blurred slightly from the tears, but she could still see her target. She licked her lips and jolted at Peko. Peko raised her sword in defense and skillfully parried Mukuro's flurry of strikes. Mukuro's movements were clumsier and less precise than before. She was off her edge. She relentlessly stabbed and slashed at Peko, with a look of twisted lust in her eyes. Her blade sliced into Peko's left shoulder, causing Peko to yell out in pain, but as she did, she thrust her blade into the right side of Mukuro's chest.

Peko's Katana stuck out of Mukuro's back as blood began to dye her white collared shirt crimson red. Mukuro showed no sign of pain. She looked down at the wound with indifference. She coughed up blood and her breaths were ragged. Her lung had been punctured. Peko was shocked to see that the fight was over. Tears continued to pour from Mukuro's eyes as she choked out barely audible giggles. She fell to her knees, clutching the blade that had been thrust into her. She clutched it so hard that it cut into her hand.

"Why did you do all this? For what purpose? " Peko looked down at her, somberly. She had hoped that it wouldn't come to this. She clutched her shoulder as it was still heavily bleeding. She looked down at Mukuro with sternness, but also pity. "Tell me, before you die. I want to know the truth. "

Mukuro coughed a few times, as blood seeped from her mouth. Her lips curled into a grin.