Previously on Doerai: The Face of Betrayal...
Rage within his voice, Nick slowly turned to Melissa. "You didn't."
"I already did," Melissa answered, not at all fazed.
"Saiki-kun..." Yuki squeaked. That was all Nick could take.
"You little BITCH!!" Nick shouted, charging for Melissa. She was about to teleport away, but Nick was too fast for her, slamming Sekai no Hikari into her side and knocking her straight into the wall.
"RAINBOW WAVE!!"
The whirlwind of energy caused even more damage, but Melissa still wouldn't give up.
"Why'd you do it?!" Nick exclaimed. "He never did anything to ANYONE!!"
Melissa dodged another strike. "Just to get him out of the way so he can't interfere with our plans," she explained.
"You're going to pay for that!!" Nick exclaimed, hopping back and rushing forward once more.
"RAINBOW STRIKE!!"
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Nick slashed at Melissa multiple times, each rainbow-colored strike causing major damage before he delivered a final overhead blow that sent Melissa crashing through the nearby window.
"So, you've gotten stronger. Next time, then?" Melissa asked, disappearing in a flash.
Yuki had noticed none of this, too shocked to even move.
Saiki-kun... dear god, no...
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(Sometimes, we are faced with the toughest questions we've ever had to ask ourselves.)
S.P.D. Gold Ranger and YukiShinoya444 present:
Doerai: The Face of Betrayal
Story Created: July 29th, 2008
Summary: AU. This is a story of betrayal upon the very foundation of life. Nick and his friends face the questions of a dark curse and an adventure that many could not comprehend in a dark new world...
On Today's Episode: Yuki seems to be growing more and more distant because of her tragic loss, but when someone very dear to her is attacked, she's going to have to make a rather difficult choice...
Note From YukiShinoya444: All I got to say is this... I'll do my best!
Disclaimer by Nick: I've said it before and I'll say it again. Neither Yuki-chan nor I own ANYTHING of Ojamajo Doremi, though we really wish we did. The series and all of its affiliations belong to Toei Animation and whoever licenses it for their particular country.
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Phase 12: Under the Pale of a Vanishing Moon
"Yuki-chan, see that star?"
"Which one? There's so many, Saiki-kun..." Yuki looked around the night sky, wondering just which star he was referring to. Saiki laughed, taking her hand to point at one certain star that was twinkling brighter than the others.
"That one. The North Star."
"Huh?" She blinked twice, still confused. "The North Star? What's so special about it?"
He sighed, his hand moving to her shoulder to give it a squeeze, perking up when his action earned a light squeal of delight.
"Um..."
"Gomen, gomen. Please go on, Saiki-kun."
Saiki lightly blushed and smiled. "The North Star's always in the same place in the sky." Yuki perked up, surprised.
"Meaning... It's always there? But... If it's the North Star then..."
"A long time ago, this star was how sailors could tell their direction... It's always been quite a sight to behold... Even now..."
Yuki giggled. "You've always loved stargazing... Haven't you?"
Her boyfriend shrugged. "It's comforting... I guess..."
"You know something? You and that star are a lot alike to me..." the black witch whispered, her hand reaching out for his. He looked at her, rather confused.
"I'm like a big ball of gas that only appears at night?"
She giggled. "No... I don't mean it like that..." Before he could ask, the girl leaned forward and kissed him full on the mouth, making him shiver a bit before she pulled back, her glimmering brown eyes watching him avidly.
"Yuki-chan..." he started, blushing darkly as she caressed his cheek. "I..."
"I love you."
Saiki perked up, opening his mouth to say something but instead she continued.
"And I always will... Because Saiki-kun will always stay the same place in my heart... I'm sorry, was that too sappy?" She heard him smuggle a laugh, and slightly nodded. Sighing heavily, she just snuggled up close against him, breathing in that same comforting scent.
"Saiki-kun..."
"Yuki-chan..."
All was silent for a few moments.
"I love you too, Yuki-chan."
He felt her smile against his chest, and flustered, stroking her hair.
Yuki relaxed herself in his arms, feeling both cuddly and warm. She just wished she could stay with him longer... Forever, perhaps?
Smiling ruefully, she whispered in a volume that was only barely heard.
"Together... Forever..."
Yuki's eyes fluttered open, and she let out a light breath. She was in her room again, and in her bed.
I must of passed out... last night...
She looked out her now unshattered window, grimacing at the fact that it still seemed to be night. Either she only slept for a few minutes, which she probably had due to the fact that she still felt very tired, or this darkness was infinite...
Getting up, her hand landed on the door knob, locking it. She paused, wondering for a moment what even happened to make her act like that.
Then she remembered.
Saiki-kun...
Blank, she collapsed in bed. She wasn't crying... No, tears weren't going to bring him back.
She stared angrily at her bandaged fingers before she began coughing again, covering her mouth, only slightly aware of the blood splattering on her hands from her mouth.
Yuki winced, tears brimming in her eyes as she recalled the one of many times she had started crying just so he would comfort her... hold her... telling her it would be okay...
Memories she held close to her heart... Memories filled with feelings she didn't even tell him about.
"D-Damn it all..." she whispered, shutting her eyes tightly. "I hate them... I hate them..."
If I hadn't of let Nick convince me... Saiki-kun... He...
A light knock on the door got her attention.
"Yuki-chan...?" Akemi wondered from the other end. "Are you alright...?"
Anger filled the black witch's heart.
"Go AWAY!!" she shouted, fists clenching. "I don't want to see ANY of you!! Just..."
Finally her voice cracked, the tears falling.
"Just... Saiki-kun... I want to see him... Only him..."
"But Yuki-chan..." she paused, and Yuki soon heard her walk away and huffed.
Akemi-chan... I'm sorry... But I can't be your friend anymore because... You can't touch my heart... It's all Saiki-kun's... Only he's allowed in... Saiki-kun...
She took out her poron, glancing at it curiously.
Would I be able... To give my own life to him?
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"She still won't come out..."
Nick sighed heavily. "She just found out he's dead, Akemi-chan... And unlike me, she has no shoulder to cry on..."
Akemi shook her head. "No... Yuki-chan had her whole future planned out with him... But for something like this to happen... She's completely lost the will to talk to any of us..."
She frowned. "I think she hates us..."
"Akemi-chan..."
"Think about it, Nick-kun! If we had left her alone earlier, and if she had gone after Saiki-kun... He'd..." Nick cut her off.
"He'd still be dead... And Yuki-chan along with him... Still..."
The crystal witch sighed.
"Nick-kun..."
"If we stopped her sooner... This wouldn't of happened..." he muttered, making Akemi gasp.
"Nick-kun! Don't you dare blame yourself for this! It's that woman's fault, and we all know it! All that matters is making her pay... And... Saiki-kun knew this would happen, didn't he? That's why he kept writing to Yuki to stay strong!!" Akemi clenched her fists.
"Perhaps... He even wrote the answers... Don't you see?! This entire thing... It's like a story! And we can't give up... Because..."
Nick stared at her, his eyes widening.
Akemi-chan... She's...
"Because... If we don't... more people will lose their lives! Who's next...? Onpu-chan? Haruka-chan? Ai-chan? Even Yuki-chan herself... Everyone's life is in danger until we stop this, Nick-kun! Even you and me... T-That's why we can't give up!!"
Nick began to blush, blinking as he stared at Akemi.
Spoken... like an angel... Akemi-chan...
Akemi shut her eyes tightly.
"That's what Yuki-chan needs to know... I don't want to lose her... No..."
Her voice trembled.
"That's why, Nick-kun... I..."
A knock on the door snapped Nick out of his trance, as he quickly got up, answering the door.
"Oh... Onpu-chan..." he stated at the sight of the purple idol, looking concerned.
"Yuki-chan... Is she...?"
When she saw him shake her head, she walked in, sighing.
"So... She's still in shock... Isn't she...?"
Nick and Akemi both frowned, looking down, guilty.
Onpu bit her lip.
And for some reason... I know she won't talk to me... If she won't talk to Kellysi-chan, that is...
"Let's just leave her alone for now..." she heard herself say. "We'll comfort her when the time is right..."
The two just nodded.
"Right..."
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Doremi sped down the way to the Shinoya household, her heart pounding since this was probably the first time she ever ran so fast.
Yuki-chan... Have... Get... Hurry...
She stopped for a split second to catch her breath.
Akatsuki-kun... I'll keep my word.
The pink witch groaned and hurried to the house, breathing like she just had a seizure. Looking up at a two-story window, she quickly deducted that was Yuki's room.
I have to get up there... she thought before staring at a nearby tree that was beside the window.
That could work.
("Tsuki no Keifu" plays)
Yuki looked at her poron, standing up straight.
Saiki-kun... Saiki-kun...
She trembled, tears trickling down her cheeks.
To bring someone back to life is forbidden magic... And if you succeed, you will pay the price with your own life... Still... This is for Saiki-kun's sake...
"But... What about all your other friends?" she heard a soft voice ask, making her instantly flinch.
What... What about them? she asked in her head, tears rolling down her cheeks
"You really disappoint me, Yuki-chan."
Her eyes widened as she looked around. "S-Saiki-kun... Where are you?" This time it was silent, and Yuki fell to her knees, dropping her poron as she began sobbing.
"Saiki-kun... Saiki-kun..."
She perked up when she heard a knocking on her window. It wasn't Akemi's soft knock, and Nick's forceful one... It certainly wasn't Onpu's gentle knock... It sounded like the person who was knocking was about to have a heart attack.
Making her way to the window, she gasped.
"Doremi-chan??"
Doremi pressed her face against the window as she clung to the tree branch she tried so desperately not to fall off of. It words "Please let me in, it's really important" was written all over. Yuki made a face, opening the window up wide.
"Y-Yuki-chan! T-Thank goodness you answered..." the red head cried out, actually in relief before sighing. "Um... Uh... How can I say this... Er... Akatsuki-kun... um... He... He contacted me... and... Er... I'm sorry... But Saiki-kun..."
Yuki's eyes widened before she ruefully smiled at the pink witch. "He's dead... I already know that, Doremi-chan..."
Doremi looked confused, but shook her head. "N-No... Well... Yes... But the thing is, Saiki-kun... There was one last thing he..."
The black witch gritted her teeth, and slammed the window down on the red head's fingers, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Y-Yuki-chan... T-That hurts!"
"Go away Doremi-chan... I don't want to hear it... Go home..." Yuki whispered over and over again, pressing down even harder on Doremi's poor hands.
"I-I'm sorry if I was just being a bother Yuki-chan... Please stop!" the pink witch begged, tears in her eyes as she tried her hardest at wiggling her fingers out from under the window to prevent them from being squished. "Gomen-naisai... Gomen-naisai!"
Yuki shook her head.
"Go home... GO HOME!!" she yelled, pressing down with all her strength, making Doremi's whimpers turn to screams.
"YUKI-CHAN, I'M SORRY!!"
Yuki stopped, and took one good look at the pink witch sobbing as she looked down at her crushed fingers. The black witch bit her lip, shaking at the sight of the red liquid that was trickling out.
Trembling, she lifted the window for Doremi snatch her hands back, trembling at the sight of them covered in blood. The black witch blinked, her heart pounding as tears trickled down her cheeks as well.
What have I done...?
"D-Doremi-chan... I... I'm so sorry..."
Doremi blinked through her own tearstained eyes as she just smiled.
"N-No worries... Yuki-chan... As long as you didn't really mean it..."
"B-But... Y-You're..." she stopped, too choked up with tears to even finish her sentence. Instead, she just draped her arms around the red head's shoulders, sobbing. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... Doremi-chan... I..."
Doremi separated herself.
"Didn't I say it was already okay? Mou Yuki-chan..."
Yuki just blinked.
"I..."
Her eyes widened as she spotted a figure near the branch the pink witch was sitting on, and almost felt her heart stop.
No...
"DOREMI-CHAN!!" she yelled just before the figure slashed at the branch, making Doremi fall to the ground, wincing as she held one of her bleeding hands before the figure jumped to the ground, revealing another possessed man with sharp claws and glowing red eyes.
"D-Doremi-chan... Abunai!" she called out. Doremi perked up and the figure charged, ripping open her shoulder, earning a scream in pain as it added to her other injury.
"DOREMI-CHAN!!"
Yuki could only watch in horror as the man charged for Doremi time and time again as she tried valiantly to defend herself with her poron, her own hits weakened from the throbbing pain in her fingers and the heavy loss of blood she was suffering.
If I don't do something... Doremi-chan... She won't survive...
It was pretty much clinched when the possessed man ripped out the pink witch's other shoulder, making her drop her poron and hold her injured shoulders in a vain attempt to prevent more blood to be lost.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!!" the black witch shouted, jumping down and blocking a fatal blow that would have been dealt to Doremi's stomach. Knocking him back, she quickly rushed to her fallen friend's aid.
"D-Doremi-chan! Are you okay...?" she asked, stroking her cheek. Doremi simply smiled.
"I'll be just fine."
Yuki nodded, and turned to the man, fury filling her eyes.
"You're going to pay for hurting Doremi-chan!"
Taking no time, she raised her poron, chanting her spell.
"Pururunu pikapikan chanchii!! PURIFICATION!!"
Nailed with the purification blast, the man fell to the ground, reverting back to normal. Breathing easily, Yuki rushed back to Doremi and raised her poron.
Please... Please work!!
"Soten kisshun!! I reject!!"
Within moments, the injuries the pink witch had taken had vanished, even the ones Yuki had caused herself on her fingers, however now she seemed to be unconscious.
"Doremi-chan..." she whispered before dropping to her knees and gathering Doremi in her arms, holding her tightly. "Doremi-chan..."
Just then, Nick rushed out, having heard the commotion as well as Doremi's screams.
"Y-Yuki-chan?! What just..."
The black witch said nothing, still holding Doremi close. Nick understood as he saw the unconscious man not too far from them.
"Yuki-chan...?"
Nothing.
"Yuki-chan... Let's take Doremi-chan inside, okay?"
Despite her staying silent, he could still see her shake her head.
"It's alright... Come on."
Yuki finally casted him a glance, blank.
"Nick-kun... I really hate you, you know that?"
Nick just smiled.
"I know... I know..."
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Next time:
Phase 13: Thrown Into The Sentimental Labyrinth
When Yuki realizes the circumstances of this situation, she decides to exact her revenge once and for all. However, with her growing concern for the pink witch and her sudden notices in the change of Nick's behavior, she begins to ponder... That is, until she's contacted by someone even more dear to her than anyone else...