Special thanks goes out to Dr Facer and Escoger for taking the time to beta-read this chapter.
Well here it is again. After nearly a year, "Red Thread" is no longer a simple one-shot. I was a bit worried that chap. 2 of this fic would become outdated by the time of release, but it looks like I lucked out in the end.
For those interested, chap. 1 has also been revised. No major changes or anything, just cleaned up the passages/dialogue so that it all flows a little better and is a bit less choppy.
"I knew it..."
Sighing heavily, Yuuki Rito can only hang his head and stare at the bland meal before him, its sheer whiteness seeming to mock the famished teen. All around, the aromatic air of homemade curry fills the kitchen area and tantalizes his hunger even further. Yet here he is, having to settle for a plate of nothing but white rice for dinner tonight.
Sitting on either side of the teenager, Momo throws him a small, sympathetic look while Celine remains completely oblivious to the glum atmosphere, happily slumping up her side dish of cup ramen whilst in her booster seat.
His sister Mikan is the last to arrive as she carries over and places tonight's meal at the dining table, her expression still one of tightly-woven composure and calm. She takes the opposite chair across from her brother, pointedly avoiding his gaze while she distributes the potful of spicy beef curry to everyone but him.
Try as they might, neither he nor Momo were successful in clearing up the incident which occurred earlier today. And so this is the situation they find themselves in, with his sister remaining unmoved by their plight.
"Won't Mikan-san reconsider?" the princess inquires, playing the role of peacemaker as she tries appealing to the younger girl once more, "Surely there's just enough of your delicious curry for everyone here to go around."
"... Maybe so. But there's also Nana-san to think about, you know. What exactly is she going to eat if Rito scoffs down all the leftovers?" the brunette remarks with a question that secretly holds its own answer. There's always the option of taking out the extra batch of curry which she had stored away for tomorrow's use, but bringing that up won't exactly help strengthen her case.
"But don't you feel anything for your brother, sitting there as he is right now? Just look at that sad, gloomy face and tell me you aren't moved in the slightest."
Mikan glances over and a sympathetic frown begins tugging at the corner of her lips. Sure enough, there's a heavy air about Rito as he continues to robotically eat off his dinner plate, too caught up in his own slump while paying little attention to anything else. Depriving him of his meal seems to be working far better than she had ever intended. So maybe, just this once, it'll be okay to ease up on him a little. It couldn't hurt to give him some of her cooking if he's going to be this stupidly depressed about it...
With a quick shake of the head, Mikan stops herself from caving in, "Rito brought this on himself, so there's no point in feeling sorry for him. And anyways, he has to learn one day for his own good..!"
As to what that lesson may be, she can't quite pinpoint it out herself. But it likely has something to do with keeping Rito from causing her so much needless grief all the time!
That's right; just recalling some of his past blunders with every other girl besides herself vastly helps to re-harden her heart.
Not to say she isn't upset with Momo as well. But when it all boils down to it, her brother is the one who's ultimately responsible for allowing it all to continue. Even though it probably isn't his fault this time around...
Mikan's gaze falls onto her uneaten plate. Although she can never be too sure what that devious princess is plotting, a small part of her already knows that Rito would never lie to her given the situation, that he wouldn't be so insistent on his innocence if he didn't truly believe in it.
But still, it had irritated the brunette without end that he along with Momo had taken up a unified front and argued against her. That's probably why she continues to stubbornly hold her ground. Even if she's the one being unreasonable here, a thought which is becoming louder and louder within the back of her mind, it's too late to give in now or else she'll only end up looking like the bad guy in the end.
"No means no! So it's pointless for you to keep asking."
"Oh my... Mikan-san as well can be surprisingly strict when the situation calls for it. But I am starting to see your point about holding Rito-san accountable for his actions today," Momo admits and the younger girl lets out a mute breath of relief, glad that this discussion can finally be put to an end. However, contrary to her beliefs, this matter is far from settled as the princess scoots her chair closer to Rito and pleasantly continues, "Since I'm also partly to blame, it's only fair that I should bear half of his burden as well, don't you agree?"
And so, just as the absent-minded teen opens up for another unappetizing bite, a different piece of silverware intercepts his spork and shoots straight into his mouth. The next thing he knew, a zesty, savory sensation assaults his taste buds and brings him back to his senses, "Huh, Momo? What's going on here?"
"I guess one might say that we're comrades-in-arms now, Rito-san~" she says as a way of reply. Yet her ambiguous answer isn't enough for the teen as he grasps the incoming spoon in her hand and brings it down.
"Hold on a second. Mikan's okay with this?" he asks while glancing over her shoulder. But before he can get a good look at his sister, a high-pitched voice chides in and grabs everyone's attention.
"Mau, mau mauuu!"
Not wanting to be the only one left out, Celine imitates the princess' earlier example and shoves a chopstick full of ramen noodles into Rito's mouth while thoroughly enjoying time spent inside the kitchen with her family.
"Nice assist, Celine-san..!" Momo silently voices, pumping a fist from below the table while the teen gags a bit from the overflow of excess food. As expected, Rito can't find it within himself to refuse the petite flower girl and eats the noodles if only to indulge her. With this, it becomes remarkably easy for Momo's own utensil to slip in between bites and pacify his would-be protests with spoonfuls of yummy curry.
All the while, Mikan had been rendered speechless by the sheer audacity of that devilish princess. Yet even after recovering over the initial shock, the pure and cheerful vibe from Celine makes it that much harder for her to interrupt such a homely scene.
So she instead directs a withering glare at her brother, as if daring him to continue eating happily right in front of her; a sure-fire tactic had he not been assaulted from both sides and was too preoccupied to glance her way.
"Say, 'Ahn!'"
"Aaaahhn..!" Rito repeats while playing along and taking a hearty bite.
"What's with this lovely-dovey scenery?" she thinks, silently fuming over the blissfully guiltless look on her brother's face, "And Rito... being all innocent and susceptible. He doesn't care where it comes from, just so long as he's getting some..!"
She continues watching with chewy disapproval even as the teen reels back and covers the burning insides of his agape mouth, taking extra note that Momo's spoon-feeding him all wrong; it's because Rito prefers his spicy curry and rice at a 3:4 ratio, you know..!
"Is it tasty, Rito-san?"
After gulping the spicy food and cooling down, he replies a bit bemused, "Well yeah, of course it is. That goes without saying."
"Whew... I'm so glad~" she replies in an overly domestic way which in turn positively grates on the younger girl's nerves.
"Momo-san... Only those who actually did all the cooking should have the right to feel happy about being praised!"
Yet she already knows this is how that devious princess operates. And then there's Rito, being swept up in Momo's pace time and time again; his earlier consideration for her nothing more than an illusion at this point. Moreover, it's as if they were deliberately disregarding her very presence inside the kitchen.
She has just about enough of this. With a resounding slap to the table, Mikan drives her chair back and rises to her feet, "Knock it off, you..!"
Rito turns, surprised at the outburst, while Momo's smile widens, waiting for this precise opportunity as she skillfully cuts in, "Pardon me, Mikan-san~! It's only fair for you to oversee and deliver your brother's rightful punishment, isn't it? Here you go~"
And before anyone else can react to what's happening, Momo places her spoon in the bewildered brunette's hand while getting up in a hurry. She then collects the dishes as well as Celine, clearing the table of any and all obstacles which includes even herself. With a supportive grin, the third princess gives her an encouraging pat on the shoulders while Mikan can only look on, stunned; just what was she expecting to come out of this..?!
Her attention is drawn away from the older girl, however, as Rito looks at her with a somewhat apologetic expression on his face, "Is it really alright, Mikan? I can understand if you don't want to."
Still standing in a slightly bent posture, Mikan is caught in a brief moment of indecision. Even now, her brother is willing to go along with whatever she decides on, "Honestly... he can stand to think about himself more often than this."
She grabs hold of her plate and sits herself closer to the unsuspecting teen, taking the chair which the princess had previously sat in, "Here. The food's going to get cold if you don't hurry up and eat."
Clearly not expecting this, a loose grin once again eases back onto the teen's face while her own mouth slips into a not-so-angry frown.
"Just what are you smiling for?"
"Huh? Ah..! Well, you know," Rito vaguely replies with an ounce of chagrin, "I was just thinking... It's become a rare sight for Mikan to ever be in the wrong nowadays, so I kind of figured that it'll be okay to overlook this one. But now, it looks like I won't even need to."
"Rito... are you trying to imply that today was mostly my fault?" she teasingly remarks with an uplifted eyebrow, "Honestly. You make it sound as if you were waiting for the day when I'd fall on my face or something. Were you really that desperate to show me up?"
"Y-You know I didn't mean anything by that..!" the ever earnest teen stutters out with an unconvincing denial. Rito had never been a very good liar, so she can pretty much tell that's exactly what he was thinking, or at least in part.
"You're so weird~" she fondly verbalizes that final thought. And before any more objections can be made, she feeds her brother the meal specially meant for him in mind right from the start.
At a distance not too far away from the dining table, Momo has been monitoring their activity while washing the dirty dishes by the kitchen sink.
"Such a lovely atmosphere we have building here."
"Mau... mau mau?"
The third princess glances to her left where a curious Celine sits perched on top of the kitchen counter, "So you were able to pick up on that too? It really does seem like those two have forgotten all about us, haven't they? And here we only went to put the dishes away, it's not as if we left clear across the country."
"Ma Ma Mauuu..!" the petite flower girl sulkily pouts.
"My, there's no need for such jealousy. I'm sure given the choice, Rito-san would naturally pick you over the rest of us girls in a heartbeat," the princess reassures and Celine once again shows a big smile. Of course, this also factors in their father/daughter relationship being the simplest to handle out of the whole bunch, "Having said that, just how will Celine-san celebrate such a momentous occasion?"
"Mau, mau! Mau mauu~!"
"Hmmm... I believe something like playing video games together all night long would still qualify as only 'liking' a certain someone," Momo assesses before directing an empathetic look at the petite girl, "Well, perhaps it's a little too soon for you."
"Maaauuuu..." Celine murmurs out while puffing her cheeks, quite unhappy about being treated like a child, and the princess gives her a mild, if not patronizing, pat on the head before returning her gaze back towards Rito and Mikan.
Everything looks to be as right as rain at the dining table. Between the two, there's nothing more to forgive since the today's incident has already been forgotten. But naturally, a small trifle between siblings is simply like that.
"Oh, Mikan-san... You know how your brother is. Something truly amazing may blossom if only you pressed forward just a little more..."
Now that the two have reconciled, Momo becomes extremely tempted to push things further and give the brunette a helpful, if not unwanted, nudge in the right direction. Her trap mind has already devised several different ways in order to accomplish this.
Stopping her train of thought, the princess woefully recalls her self-imposed promise about giving the troubled teen a small break. And unlucky for her, it was still technically the same day, "How very unfortunate. And this was such a good opportunity too...
… How about we leave those two alone and give them some privacy time? Also, I could use some help in answering a few questions regarding Celine-san's biology," she then says to the petite flower girl after handing over the last dish and letting her little helper put it away.
Starting to feel like a third wheel at this point, she may as well busy herself by transferring those old roots outside to her botanical garden and begin analyzing them for further study.
It takes a little over a minute before Mikan realizes that it's just her and Rito inside the kitchen, and it takes slightly longer for her to truly evaluate what she's currently doing.
Having thought about it, there's really no reason for her to continue spoon-feeding Rito since she's already given consent for him to eat...
Mikan looks at her brother who has his mouth wide open, eagerly awaiting the next bite, "That Rito... always so oblivious."
Well, since he isn't going to bring it up, then she won't either.
Then a simpler realization strikes the brunette after munching down some of her own homemade curry. All this time, they've been eating off the same dish, sharing the same food, and most of all using the same spoon...
That scarlet streak on her cheeks ever growing, the brunette shakes her head at herself, scarcely believing that she's actually getting excited over something so childish. But then again, this also means that Momo had already done the same thing before she did; an unappealing thought which leaves a sour aftertaste in the younger girl's mouth.
While pondering, she inadvertently takes a heaping portion of food onto her spoon and it requires the teen to open up extra wide just to gulp it down.
"Ah, Rito. On your face," Mikan says after noticing a dribble of curry sauce roll slowly down his chin.
Realizing what she's getting at, he licks around his whole mouth, "Is it gone?"
"You still have a little bit here," she replies, pointing at the far right corner of her own lips, then frowns at the teen who seems to be disregarding her directions, "Not there. I'm telling you it's on the other side."
"But isn't this where you're pointing? Over here on my right side, right?"
"Geez! I was talking about my right..!" the brunette exclaims with a light flush, thoroughly deciding that it's her brother's fault for their minor miscommunication. Yet even after receiving specified instructions, he still somehow manages to miss that tiny, troublesome spot, "My gosh... just where are you wiping?"
Mikan reaches over, rubs off the morsel of sauced rice from his mouth, and licks her index finger clean without giving it much thought. It isn't until she catches Rito's wide-eyed expression does the brunette realizes what she had so casually done.
If eating off of the same spoon can be categorized as an indirect kiss, then this would definitely be a step up from that. And no matter how dense he usually is regarding this particular subject, it's obvious that her brother is making those same connections at this very moment as well.
"What's this? So Rito's not such a hopeless case after all," Mikan thinks while she inwardly smiles. Just knowing that little fact somehow makes those bits of spicy, Rito-flavored curry taste all the sweeter.
The two siblings were so caught up in what they were doing that neither of them were aware of anyone entering the house; not until that very person steps into the kitchen and announces loudly.
"All right, curry for dinner! So what kind are we having?"
Mikan turns with a startled gasp while Rito accidentally bangs his knee against the bottom table.
"Nana-san..!" / "Nan-aaah—!"
Deviluke's second princess stops and blinks, baffled as to why her sudden entrance caused such a weird reaction out of the two. It's not like she had seen them doing anything indecent. Or did she..?
Nana furrows her eyebrows and stands there, lost in thought, while both siblings remain rigid in their seats like deer caught in front of moving headlights. A few more beats tick by in still silence, then a light bulb seems to flash inside the princess' head.
"Oh, so that's what it was..! Geez! You guys don't need to be embarrassed or anything. I love Ane-ue just the same, so I know exactly where you're coming from on wanting to do nice things for each other every now and then," she states before nodding in self-satisfaction and Mikan is once again able to breath more easily, glad that the other girl had come to the wrong conclusion. Nana then turns her head, directing her next sly remark at the troubled teen, "Though if it were me, something like shooting food out of a 10-foot slingshot would be good enough for that perverted beast."
Taking clear offense to her comment, Rito scowls and retorts, "Hey now! Just where do you get off treating me like some kind of zoo animal during feeding time?"
"Pssssh! As if you were up on that level! Even now, I bet you were still having all kinds of pervy thoughts about Mikan, weren't you?"
For the second time today, the two are thrown back as Nana's usual accusations leaves the both of them hot and flustered.
"D-D-Don't be stupid..! S-Something like that between us—! That's just plain impossible! Just what are you thinking anyways?!"
Stunned, similar words remain stuck inside Mikan's throat. She was going to deny it herself, but the way Rito had rejected the notion so feverishly... it places a terrible tightness in her chest, "T-that's right..! Of course there's no way that could ever happen..."
Even though she had only ever entertained the thought while in absolute privacy, for her to be alone in wishing that they can become something more is too awful of a feeling.
Still sensing something strange about this whole situation, Nana looks back and forth between the two siblings as a worrisome frown sets on her face.
"Not like I care about Rito or anything..!" she soundly reminds herself while the flustered teenager in question tries making himself look scarce. But Mikan was another story. It bothers her to see the younger girl getting depressed over something she might have possibly said.
Just then, Nana suddenly recalls someone who's sure to cheer her right back up, "Oh yeah..! I hope you guys don't mind what with this being last minute and all, but I brought some guests with me today."
Hearing the distant sound of footsteps steadily approaching, Mikan glances behind the princess and soon sees Yami wonder in, her attention focused elsewhere on whatever is behind her.
"Yami-san! What a pleasant surprise!" the brunette happily exclaims, her gloomy expression instantly dispelling upon catching sight of her best friend, and the assassin turns, giving her a slight, yet warm smile in return.
"Hello, Mikan. I hope you don't mind the unannounced intrusion."
"Don't be silly! You know that you're always welcome to come at anytime."
"We ran into her on the way over here and she insisted on tagging along," Nana explains before brushing the topic aside with a offhanded wave, "But besides that. You've only met my new friend briefly, right Mikan? Here, I think it'll be good to properly introduce the two of you!"
Excitedly, she takes hold of the younger girl's hand and leads her towards the front entrance where another visitor awaits, hunched over while in the process of leisurely removing her shoes.
"Hiya, Mea! You remember meeting Mikan before, right?"
The redhead looks forward and a thinning grin spreads across her face, "Of course, how can I forget? The younger sister of Yuuki Rito-senpai and Yami-san's one and only friend..."
Mikan pauses for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment. Cerulean blue eyes and maroon-colored hair styled in a long French plait, its length so great that her braid is currently sprawled in circles on the wooden floor – indeed, it's that weird lickity-lick girl from before.
But really though. Had the brunette not known any better, she would have expected such an unusual girl to be a friend of Momo's more than anything else. They certainly seem to be on the same wavelength with each other, especially when it comes to her wayward brother.
Well anyways, Nana did take the time to set this all up, so she may as well make the effort, "Good evening, Mea-san. How have you been lately?"
She then extends a hand out towards Mea in order to help her up. The other girl looks down at the offer before reaching over, smiling all the while, "Simply wonderful, and all the better now that I get to see you again face-to-face, Mikan-chan."
But before their fingers can even make contact with each other, Yami comes up from behind and sharply intervenes by seizing the redhead's wrist and forcing it down.
"A word with you now, Kurosaki Mea," the assassin states with a glare that says she has no right to refuse.
"Hey..! Just what do you—" Nana begins to protest yet is stopped by Mea who flashes her with a disarming smile.
"It's fine. It looks like Yami-san simply can't wait to continue our private discussion from class the other day. This shouldn't take too long," she manages to say before being yanked through the living room by the abrasive assassin.
Once outside, Yami releases the redhead after securely sliding the glass door shut behind them. Mea, undisturbed by her rough handling, simply wanders about and takes in the outdoor view as if she's a tourist currently sightseeing.
"Wow... the lawn sure looks a whole lot messier since the last time I came," Mea idly remarks before abruptly sidestepping one of the many gravels scattered throughout the backyard. With mild annoyance, she kicks at the offensive pothole which had nearly sent her tripping over, "Maintenance could use some real work. Someone could seriously get hurt around here if they're not careful."
Still standing on the patio, Yami continues to mutely track her sister's every movement like a hawk, "... What exactly are you aiming to accomplish here?"
Mea glances back and gives her a perplex, innocent look, "Hm? I was simply invited by Nana-chan to come over as a guest today. Like I said before, Onee-chan, I wouldn't dare take your assigned target away from you."
Yami stares at the redhead, long and hard, "... If that's really the case, then what was the meaning of that just now?"
A brief, yet profound pause. Then she twirls fully back around on her heels, that slight, knowing smirk practically confirming the assassin's suspicions.
It had only been for a split second, fading out as quickly as it came in, so Mikan couldn't have been made aware nor was Nana precarious enough around her new friend to take particular notice. Yet Yami had distinctly felt it, the nanomachines within her own body resonating with those of Mea's. The redhead had transfigured her outstretched arm back then, in order to send a message or perhaps as a means of provoking her.
"Truthfully, I just wanted to see what you would do. I've been noticing this for awhile now, but Onee-chan acts like a whole different person whenever that girl is involved."
With wavering eyes, Yami's expression grows unwillingly tight, "I've warned you once before, didn't I? If you were to try anything like that again—"
"'you'll consider me to be your enemy', right? I know the routine. First Rito-senpai, and now with Mikan-chan," Mea interrupts with dismissive disinterest, "But that's no good, Onee-chan. We have so much catching up to do, and I want to know everything there is to know about you."
The redhead's gaze moves slightly away, her expression turning almost wistful.
"You know, I've been wondering for a long time, on why you and I aren't very close even though we're suppose to be family. And then, I think I finally realize..." she draws out, then glances back at her sister with a look more unhinged than a moment before, "It's obviously because we've been apart for so long..! Once we spend just as much time together, then I'm sure I'll become way more important to you than that little girl ever could."
More and more, it's as if Mea is descending down a path where even Yami's past self has never before fallen. She stares into her sister's eyes through it all, searching for a glimpse of something which she's able to recognize and hold onto.
"That's right... If it's just Onee-chan here with me, then I don't need any of those other things..." Mea says, her words catching at the very end, and Yami understands right away, snatching onto that sliver of hope.
"Not even Princess Nana?"
The redhead's eyes widen in surprise, darting back and forth as she becomes unsure of herself. Then, her gaze abruptly snaps back into unnatural focus, "It's just like Master said. So you should also know already, Onee-chan, that associating with others is an unnecessary task for weapons like us. That's why in the end, it can only be you, me and Master, together at long last. Just like it should have been from the very beginning~"
Disconnected from everything around her, it's become incredibly difficult to tell whether the redhead is even speaking to her own sister anymore as she continues her ravings with a flair of inhumane joy.
"Wouldn't that be so wonderful? Oh! But before that can happen, we first need sever your pointless ties with the rest of the people in your life. Then you'll finally be free from any reason to stay on this dingy planet, the place which has tarnished Onee-chan so much already..."
Mea's face increasingly darkens as unhappy recollections begin resurfacing from her memories.
"Letting some third-rate like Azenda get the better of you... Whatever happened to the strong and cool Onee-chan who's hailed as that legendary assassin, feared throughout the whole galaxy?" she openly questions. Her voice then drops low, dripping with malice, "Is it because of that girl? It's all her fault, isn't it? She's the one making Onee-chan so pitiful and weak..."
Again, Yami can feel the shifting of nanomachines from her sister beginning to run amok. This time, however, it isn't some calculated show meant to invoke a reaction out of her. This is pure, unadulterated blood lust.
"Someone like her... an earthling girl who only drags Onee-chan down is better off disappearing entirely..!"
Whatever compassion Yami had left for her sister disappears in that instant as she's forced to face the cold reality before her, "It's hopeless. Kurosaki Mea... she's too far gone. If I can assess the situation in that manner..."
The assassin repeats that thought like a mantra, killing off her emotions one by one until only a familiar, hollow apathy remains.
Picking the most opportune moment, Yami positions herself at just the right angle and steps closer to Mea, effectively obscuring the view of the redhead from inside the house; she wants no one to witness what will happen next.
All it takes is a brief, unguarded instant. In a flash, a lock of golden hair encircles the redhead's neck and constrains around it without mercy. That single strand is as strong as steel, and with a mere twitch of thought can become sharper than any razor in all existence.
Mea stares at her sister's face in astonished disbelief right as she starts to feel her knees growing weak. Instinctively gripping onto that long golden thread, her mouth moves to speak yet only the slightest syllables can be croaked out. Even still, Yami can make out the rest of her words by reading her sister's lips.
['… no way... Yami-oneechan... could never do that... We're family after all...']
Family...
That single phrase causes something pitch black and frighteningly dark to well up inside Yami. For someone like Mea to even speak the word violates its very meaning.
Those lost, yet joyful times she had spent with her surrogate mother, Tear – she knows for certain family members don't act in the way that they do. Never in their lives would two sisters wish to destroy everything that's ever been precious to the other.
It's all so obvious now.
She tightens that thin golden trace to its utmost limit, depraving the redhead of any and all oxygen as her dark blue eyes grow horribly bloodshot with each passing second.
If reason has never worked, then actions surely will. She'll need to completely and utterly smother that naive little fantasy of Mea's into pieces.
"If you dare so much as lay a finger on Mikan ever again..." Yami lowly states, her monotone voice set to a negative chill, the void of her blood-red eyes refusing to acknowledge what this unrelated girl is suppose to mean to her. Anymore pressure and she'll snap the neck of her one and only younger sister, "... Then it's all over for you here."
A long, agonizing beat crawls by until the suffocating redhead is able to complete so much as a feeble nod. Yet even still, the black cladded assassin maintains her stranglehold, demanding definite proof of their one-sided understanding – that the very idea of harming Mikan has been entirely eradicated from every corner of her mind. It isn't until Yami becomes certain that Mea can no longer make any physical response at all does she release the redhead from her suffering.
The power in her limbs having left her long ago, Mea limply falls forward and is caught by her older sister. However, such a charitable act was the furthest thing from mercy. In order to avoid arousing suspicion, she needs to keep up this charade by appearing to hug the redhead in this false embrace.
Slowly and steadily, the assassin can hear the younger girl start to take in regular, shallow breaths. And before she has time to reflect on her recent atrocities, Yami steels herself against the redhead's next response.
To cry and beg profusely, to vow revenge by shouting empty death threats, or simply to stay quiet while cowering in fear: any number of those reactions she had witnessed countless times before from both defeated warriors and bounty hunters alike. Yet nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.
With a burst of impossible vigor and strength, Mea grabs hold of the assassin in a viselike grip and brings her face directly in front of her own.
"Amazing..! Absolutely wonderful!" she declares with sheer fascination and even Yami flinches away from the deranged gleam shining in her eyes, "Now I really want to know—! Why her? What makes that girl so special that you're willingly go to any length for?!"
The frantic strain on her shoulders continues to spike higher and is gradually becoming too much for the assassin to handle. However, within that spiraling vortex of madness, a hint of sanity glimmers beneath the depth of those deep blue eyes. And from then on, her own pain is forgotten as Yami can only stare fixated at the quivering form of Mea speaking soundlessly before her.
"Hey, you two! We're just about ready in here, so why not come back inside and eat together with everyone?"
Immediately, Yami can feel the grip on her shoulders slacken. Mea ducks her head, only to raise it back up the very next second.
It's like the flick of a switch. All the unrest and turmoil, all that raw intensity from moments before, everything regresses back behind that chipper smile.
"Wow, so quick! Thanks for letting us know, Senpai," she cheerily replies and, without another word, brushes pass the blonde assassin while Rito steps aside and allows her back inside the house.
Still shaken, several beats pass by without Yami's awareness before she drags her feet along, the image of Mea desperately clinging to her burnt vividly into her mind.
Her bleak, distorted expression. That wide, brimming look in her eyes. Those unspoken words, too weak to even leave her lips. All of that was—
"—ou okay?"
She blinks, unable to catch what the teen had said, "Eh..?"
Rito peels at her, concerned, "I asked if you're feeling alright, Yami. You don't look so good."
Unable to meet his gaze, her eyes fall to the floor, long blonde hair swaying slightly as she shakes her head. Even if the teenage boy is aware of the circumstances and can empathize with her on a certain level, she can't bring herself to talk about this. Not now.
Wandering back into the kitchen, the disquieted assassin instantly grows alert at the sight of Mea assisting the other two girls with setting the table. Yami stands there with a watchful eye, unable to feel any of that earlier malice or ill intent from the redhead. However, the way she's purposely sticking so closely to Mikan like a second shadow... as if looming danger can arrive at any given moment.
"It was a mistake to have come..."
Kurosaki Mea will pick and probe, playing this game of make-believe while continuing on with this cold war. It's her ultimate trump card, the fact that her true identity remains hidden to all but a few, yet it's also the only hand in which she can play. There's no telling what measures Mea will take should her secret be revealed, which is why the assassin can't carelessly expose her.
"Yo, what's the hold up? Are you going to sit down with the rest of us or what?" Nana scathingly questions after everyone else had already taken their seat.
Instead of answering, Yami shuts her eyes and concentrates on picking up the faint sounds of activity emitting from the second floor above, "The light, mannered rhythm of those footsteps... Undoubtedly, Princess Momo is here as well. So Yuuki Rito will have sufficient enough protection even should the worse case scenario occur. Mea also won't make any careless moves as Princess Nana is present. Now, all that remains is...
… I'll be taking my leave now."
Taken aback, everyone around the table reacts differently to the sudden announcement: Mea closing up into a tightly guarded expression, Nana with indifference, Rito continuing his quiet observation, and Mikan with open puzzlement, "Leaving so soon, Yami-san? But you just got here."
"Hey, if there's someplace else she'd rather be, then I say just let her go," the second princess interjects while looking away, still rather peeved by the way Yami had mistreated her new friend.
The assassin's main focus, however, rests completely on Mikan, her eyes imploring for the brunette to somehow understand the silent message she's trying to convey.
The younger girl stops and stares at her friend for a good while, then she finally says, "... I'll walk with you, Yami-san. That is, if you don't mind."
Mikan begins getting up from her chair and relief washes over the blond assassin. However, that too is short-lived upon witnessing Mea quickly interlock her arms around the brunette's elbow and prevent her from standing, "But this is our first meeting in such a long while, Mikan-chan. And besides, I really want you to stay so that we can take this opportunity get to know each other better."
"It's not like you'll never be visiting us again, so we can always hold something like that off until later," Mikan suggests while gently trying to pry herself away from the redhead's grasp yet finds she is unable to.
Several beats pass by in steadily awkward tension. But before the atmosphere can become strained beyond repair, Mea reluctantly relinquishes her hold over the other girl's arm, "... Then, another time maybe."
Not wasting a single moment, Yami takes her friend away from the kitchen and through the living room area with quick steps, all the while feeling the redhead's lingering gaze at their back. It isn't until they're both outside does the assassin allow herself to feel at ease and let her body relax.
From beside her, Mikan turns and inquires, "So Yami-san, where is it that you need to go exactly?"
Blinking, the blonde assassin pauses upon recalling that one essential detail. Her primary concern was getting Mikan out of that house and away from Mea, so she had nothing planned further in advance.
A trip to the local library? No.
The used corner bookstore then? Even worse.
All of her typical hang-out spots aren't good enough to serve a lie of this magnitude. Her eyebrows furrow as she struggles to think up a better, more appropriate excuse.
Noticing her friend's hesitation, Mikan waits a bit more before providing an alternate suggestion, "Actually, before that. Do you mind if we swing by the shopping district first? There's something I forgot to get during my first trip there, so it would be really great if Yami-san were to accompany me."
"Ah, yes..." the assassin absently replies while looking down, ashamed, "My apologies, Mikan."
Yet the brunette merely responds with a sunny smile, "What's there to be sorry for? I'm the one who's imposing."
With that said, Mikan walks on and leads the way. Yet the clouded expression on the blonde's face only intensifies.
How many secrets must be piled on, how much blood must be spilled in order to preserve this way of life? Those thoughts weigh heavy on Yami's heart as she solemnly follows after her very best friend.
(0)* : Nothing to look up here, just your average, reference-free chapter.