Chapter 9: Blackened Past
After greeting each other with a hug, Lilly and Hanako turned to face the threat. Hanako was scared out of her wits, yet Lilly seemed
determined to fight back. Hanako was her best friend, and she wasn't about to lose her to some abomination of the mind.
The being in question simply smirked at them, obviously enjoying their discomfort.
"Lilly, please don't fight! She...It's too strong!"
"Don't worry about me, I can handle myself."
"So, you wish to fight me little girl?"
Lilly simply nodded, materializing a daito in her left hand. Since they were in someone's head, it was possible. Probably.
Hanako didn't know this, she just stared.
Lilly readied her blade as the Darkness readied itself. Yuuko hung back out of fear and awe( mostly fear ).
Then they attacked.
Lilly struck aggressively, which was against her nature( as noted by Yuuko ) while the Darkness simply blocked. The creature couldn't
help but marvel at Lilly's strength and speed, she seemed a pacifist. It then punched her in the face. Lilly landed on the floor
then got up and attacked again, only to be put back down by a kick." Give up now little one. I like it better when my victims
squirm upon the floor, hihihihiii..."
"NEVERR!" With that she lunged at her opponent, finally landing a hit. This just made it angry however, yet happy at the same time.
She did enjoy a good fight. The monster jumped up into the air, shouting "Burn Hammer!" while executing the attack. Lilly blocked it but
the force of the attack sent her once again into the ground. Lilly didn't move.
Back in the real world, 20 minutes had passed with no sign of either person waking up. Everyone was worried, yet they tried not to show
it. Hisao couldn't help but feel he was missing something big.
Hanako screamed at Lilly to get up. The thing in her mind just smiled a cruel smile." Do you remember? " it asked Hanako. " Do you remember
their screams? "
"What?"
"Back when you were first unleashed. You did things..."
"No..."
"You killed them. Burned them. DESTROYED them! Hahahahahahaaa..."
"No!..."
"Face it girl. You're a murderer!"
"No! Shut up! Go away" Hanako cowered in the corner like a frightened child. Yuuko went to comfirt her but was interrupted by a backhand.
At this point Hanako noticed Lilly stirring. The creature looked and noticed too, and was confused. After all the crap it put them through,
she still wouldn't stand down.
" Why do you persist, human? Is it because of her? " it asked Lilly, pointing to Hanako.
"Isn't it... obvious?" said Lilly, leaning on the daito.
The Darkness just growled, then it smirked."You don't know her history do you?"
"W-what?"
"She killed her own parents, destroyed her own home. She was hated and feared at those orphanages and soon that negativity became sentient.
It became me" it said this with a smile.
"NO! YOU'RE WRONG! I LOVED THEM! THEY LOVED ME!" screamed Hanako.
"Oh that was just a facade. They never cared, and you knew it. That's why you had to set yourself free..."
"I-I get it now..." Lilly stepped forward.
"No you can't believe that... thing! It's not true, I swear!" she was was on the verge of tears as she said this.
"Not that. I just realized the truth. This thing was in your head since before your Awakening. When that happened, it took over. You're
not a killer Hanako. It was all this thing's fault!" she said, pointing her sword at the Darkness. Yuuko had helped on that one, she'd
later admit, by mouthing 'split personality' to her.
"What?"
"You are not to blame!" and with that, she attacked again, this time slashing its back. This surprised the demon, who retaliated with a back-hand.
This statement caused Hanako to remember the night of the fire. She had woken up to the ruins of the place she once called home. She spotted her
mother and father on the floor near her, burned to a crisp. She crawled to them in panic and found her dad barely alive.
His last words to her were: "Don't cry. You are not to blame."
He died with a smile on his face.
Since this was Hanako's mind, the event played out as an illusion in front of all of them. Everyone now knew her past. This took a lot of
weight off her shoulders. Suddenly, Hanako got up, a look of determination on her face.
This was the day Hanako would do something incredible. It would be remembered by her friends for all eternity.
She would defeat her Darkness.
_Chapter 9: End_