We're at chapter 50 now, huh? You know, this is the point where my last story started to become… not so cringe-worthy (I still cringe every time).
*sigh* and that's where I'm from.
Nightlyy: I wonder—
WHERE IS HE?! I WILL FIND HIM! I WILL FIND HIM OR I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!
…Bitch.
Raze Olympus: We also have pancakes… and chocolate! We have so~ much chocolate!
Pf, I wish. Take it from me; the only chocolate you get is nothing more than a tentacle trying to rape your ass.
Blahblahblech: Really? I mean, I felt a little bad after writing the scene in my first fic, but I didn't cry like a wimp. Kinda saw it coming, really.
Not to mention, that scene is filled with plot holes. Seriously, we could write an entire chapter explaining why that scene was bullshit.
Guest: I'm typing as fast as I can… motivation required to proceed.
Clevernameeh: Thanks for being my 300th review! *gives an e-cake*
Where is he?! I will find him and tie him to my bed if I have to!
NEVER! He's mine forever and ever!
Wow, they're both doting over the same prick.
Helel The Guardian of Light: *narrows eyes* don't threaten me. You wouldn't like me when I'm threatened.
Lose him and you lose you updates, just something to remember.
No! I need my husbando!
No! I need my prince!
?
The sun slowly began to rise and its rays began to beam on everything within the city to illuminate the dark corners that had existed from the night before. Accompanying the light was also the sun's warmth which slowly began to replace the cold air that had come from its absence.
But there was one place in the city where even the sun's rays could not warm no matter what. Lying there in an alley way was Makoto Yuki who had passed out from exhausted when he ran from the dorm. He ran for so long that his feet had begun to bleed.
The cold air was persistent where he was, and even while unconscious the boy was left shivering uncontrollably as he felt his own body heat continue to slowly leave him. He knew the risk when he left the dorm and now he was paying the price.
Eventually, the bluenette's eyes began to open and he began to grunt and stand himself up after a long, restless slumber. He was forced to bite his lip and wince in pain when he put his weight back onto his aching and bleeding feet, but continued to press on. He couldn't go back to the dorm now, but all the pain he suffered was worth it as long as she was safe… as long as she never ended up like her.
After what felt like hours of stumbling, Makoto made it to the same place he had escaped from weeks ago. Luckily for him, Pharos remembered to clean up most of the mess he made when Kotone carried him out, so if anyone tried to investigate, it was nothing more than a cold apartment.
When he entered his apartment, the air suddenly felt several degrees colder and the fear of previous events beginning to repeat themselves caused extreme unease and even slightly unsettled the boy's stomach. However, there were still a few things here that he had left that he was going to need.
Makoto shivered as he slowly changed out of the school uniform he had been wearing (the only outfit the dorm had that was in his size), and changed into a turtle-neck sweater with a grey coat over it. The entire city had been getting colder and colder ever since he came here, and now it was getting unbearable even for him. Of course, he was sure to also pick up his headphones and the mp3 player that had been left alone for weeks now.
As he was getting ready to leave, Makoto noticed something sitting on his bedroom desk. Sitting there was nothing other than his phone that had been missing ever since Kotone carried him out.
You little bastard… Makoto thought as he picked up and pocketed the device. It was like Pharos was taunting him now by giving him what he needed to talk to her no matter where he was, but he knew that he could not, no matter how much he wanted to. He could have left it there, but Pharos likely would have carried it with him anyway.
Throughout the day, Makoto kept to the alleyways and avoided contact with people as much as possible. It was unlikely that Pharos would harm innocent people for no good reason, but it was better safe than sorry. As long as he lived, he was a danger to anyone near him, and as long as Pharos as inside him, he would continue to live.
However, even when he attempted to isolate himself, he was still able to hear the news of a Gekkoukan student having been shot to death. Apparently, last night's victim was Shinjiro who had taken two high-caliber rounds to the torso which caused him to quickly bleed to death. What little chance he may have had of surviving was completely destroyed by the fact that his body had been ravaged by a 'mysterious drug' that had all but destroyed his endocrine system.
In another time and another life, Makoto might have felt bad about what happened to him. But for now, he could only be glad it was not her, and try to do whatever he can to keep himself together.
…
…
…
Makoto… Makoto who had been curled up into a ball looked up in response to the whisper of his name to find that twisted smirk sitting there to greet him on the opposite end of the alley. Over and over that thing was there to greet him, and over and over he heard his name being whispered. No matter what he did or where he went, the thing would follow him.
Letting out a sigh, Makoto slowly got on his feet and picked the mask up, only to then toss it to the roof of the nearest building. If he could not reach it, then the thing would finally shut up… at least, for a few hours.
With that done, Makoto sat back down and curled back into a ball. There was nothing left for him to do but sit, wait, and pray that he can last.
"It's been awhile, huh?"
Makoto's blood turned cold as he slowly turned his head to the direction of the voice, only to be greeted by the last thing he would ever want to see.
The bluenette girl tilter her head and smiled, "How ya doin' Nii-san?"
"No…" Makoto shook his head before burying his face in his legs, "You're not real. You're dead. You've been dead for a long time."
"Well, gee, I wonder whose fault that is." Minako's smile quickly changed into a frown as she looked at her brother, "But I think we both know that, don't we?"
Makoto kept his eyes shut as the memories of that terrible night forced their way into his head again, "I… I didn't mean to…"
"Oh, really..?" Minako asked as she walked in front of her cowering brother who still kept his face hidden, "Last I checked, I'm pretty sure you meant it."
"I was scared, okay?!" Makoto screamed as he looked up into his "sister's" eyes, "I was only seven years old!"
"So was I!" Minako retorted as she quickly dashed quickly towards him until she was face to face with him, her entire body briefly changing into the hellish form that was scarred deep into his brain until the day he died.
"There's not a day that goes by where I don't wish that it wasn't me instead." Makoto admitted as all of the pain that Kotone helped him forget about came flooding back in, "I wish it was me, and I wish I—"
"Shut up!" Minako's voice briefly sounded almost demonic which startled the boy enough that he was rendered speechless, "It doesn't matter what you want, and the fact is that that's not what happened! And now, you're sitting here for the sake of some girl. What? Was she a good lay, is that it?"
There was nothing more painful than hearing this coming from his twin sister. He knew this was not real, but sounded it looked so real that it might has well have been. All he could do was look at her weakly as she continued to glare at him, "T-That's… That's not—"
"Then what, Minato?!" Minako screamed as she grasped him by the shoulders and pushed him back against the wall, "What could possibly make her more important than me?! You've saved her so many times, and where were you that day?!"
"It's… It's not like that!" Makoto tried to explain, "I… I…" try as he might, he was not able to find a way to explain his actions.
"You know, you're right…" Minako said as she finally back off and took a few steps back, "It really should've been you. I hope a bastard like you gets what you deserve." With that, the image of Minato/Makoto's long dead sister finally faded away, leaving only him just like that very night years ago.
"I'm so sorry…" Makoto whispered as he hanged his head. What happened then was the greatest regret he had in his entire life. If he could, he would be willing to sacrifice everything, even all of his time with Kotone if it meant that she could live in his stead. After all, he was a coward that was less than a dog.
"It's quite sad, truly." Makoto's eyes widened as before he quickly turned his head towards the person he once considered being the only person he ever trusted.
"You little fucking bastard!" Makoto quickly dashed into a full sprint and lunged at the boy, only to then phase right through him and land on the ground.
Pharos slowly shook his head, "Tsk, tsk, shouldn't you have known that wouldn't work?"
"Shut up!" Makoto screamed as he lunged at the boy again and again, each time going harmlessly through the boy who showed little to no reaction. After what must have been the twentieth time, Pharos yawned.
"I see that you're not in a talking mood. I'll be going now." Pharos said before disappearing once again.
Then again, I'm never really gone, am I? He whispered into Makoto's ears which only served to infuriate the boy more.
In a fit a violent rage, Makoto strike and kick anything that was around him whether it was a trashcan, dumpster, or even the walls. Such actions caused his already injured feet to swell and his knuckles to become bloodied, but he could not care less.
"Uh, are you alright?" Makoto felt a hand on his shoulder, but his irate state had him unable to think clearly.
Next thing he knows, Makoto found himself hovering over a man whose face had been bloodied to a pulp. Whether he was dead or alive and taking shallow breaths was anyone's guess, as the shocked Makoto could only slowly take a few steps back to process what had happened before running as fast as he could out of the area.
How did… when… What just happened? His heart was racing and he felt the exact same high that he felt when he killed Ikutsuki a month ago. In fact, some part of him wanted him to—
No, he had to stay away from everyone as much as he could.
Pharos was not the one who was a danger to anyone anymore. Now, he was the one that everyone had to be wary of. He had to stay away from everyone for as long as he could, no matter what.
…
…
…
It had now been at least a week since he had left the dorm. Now, his hallucinations were only getting worse and worse. Sometimes it was Kotone being killed, sometimes it was Minako and/or his parents condemning him, and sometimes it was just him being tortured by Thanatos' chains or something.
Sitting in yet another alley way was Makoto whose hair was now black on the edges and his skin had become grey-ish. He was trying to eat some of the takoyaki that he had bought from a stand with the money had left at his apartment, but it was like his throat was refusing to cooperate with him. No matter how hungry or thirsty he was, his throat just would not budge at all.
Finally, after an entire hour of trying, Makoto finally managed to force himself to swallow something. The boy panted as such a little action felt like it had drained everything from him as the substance slowly made its way down his esophagus and finally into his stomach. Just then, he felt his insides churn.
Makoto barely had time to process what was happening before he felt his stomach twist and turn until he was forced to regurgitate all of its contents out onto the alleyway's floor. Everything he managed to swallow and more was now all for nothing.
The boy could only pant as he got as far from the pool of his own bile before collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion. He was already drained before, and now he was slowly beginning to have his body break apart. Pharos would not let him die of starvation, but that did not mean that starving was painless.
"She's not coming, you know." Pharos whispered as he stood above the boy.
"Fuck… you." Makoto whispered, the muscles in his throat barely had enough strength to even talk coherent sentences anymore which was only made worse from the burning sensation that was now present in his throat.
"Even if she does look for you, you know what'll happen." Pharos reminded him as the boy beneath him continued to pant heavily. It would not take too much longer now. After all, he knew exactly where his friend's pressure points were.
"Leave… me… alone." Makoto wheezed, unwilling to listen to Pharos anymore. He could not harm the boy in any way, so all he could do was ignore him until he went away.
"Tch, you're never alone." Pharos scoffed before disappearing again, leaving only Makoto in the alleyway again.
Makoto finally regained enough of his breath to stop panting, but he was too exhausted to move a muscle. It felt as if his body was slowly beginning to degrade and die; only something was trapping and preventing his soul from leaving his body.
Left unable to move, Makoto could only lie there as the day slowly progressed. He could only listen as the day of everyone else in the city carried on as usual, unaware of the boy's predicament and how the lives of so many people could depend on it.
Makoto could only remain there silent as his hallucinations took hold and that dreaded mask continued to call out to him. If could kill himself, he would have done so a long time ago if it meant that all of this could finally end. Alas, that was another thing that was nothing short of impossible. He could do nothing but try to keep his mind from falling apart like his body.
The only thing that occupied his mind was the feeling of hunger that was quickly building in his stomach, especially after he regurgitated everything. His throat burned and now he could feel it beginning to dry, the whole world was beginning to swirl around him, and his head was beginning to ache. If it were not for Pharos ironically enough, he probably would have died a long time ago from all of this.
All he could do now was sit, wait, and silently pray.
…
…
…
Makoto had lost track of the amount of days that had passed now. It had probably been maybe two weeks or perhaps a week and a half since he left the dorm now, he was not too sure. What little motor functions he had now were next to worthless as his body constantly trembled and any actual voluntary movement would take out everything he had and caused him to pass out from exhaustion.
His hair was now completely black and black veins had begun to appear to contrast with the boy's pale skin. He could barely see anything now with his tired eyes that were now constantly glowing a dim blue involuntarily. Around his eyes were dark patches that were beginning to form almost as if it was mimicking the same mask that was still taunting him.
Makoto… It continued to whisper, its promises to make this all end were becoming more and more tempting by the second. Funnily enough, all of his ailments quickly went away the moment he tried either move towards or touched the mask and immediately returned when he tossed it away again.
He could barely even feel his own heart pounding in his chest and each of his breaths were labored and slow. His muscles had degraded from the lack of use and starvation leaving him extremely thin. Whenever he tried to look at his watch or phone, his eyes could not quite focus properly. No matter how hard he tried, he could not make out whatever the devices were trying to show him. Not that it would mean anything as the entire world continued to swirl around him.
The only thing he could see now were the hallucinations that he was forced to endure over and over. The frequency of these little trips to hell was becoming more and more frequent, as well as much clearer than before. No matter what he did, he could never escape the nightmares that continued to show themselves to him over and over whenever the boy was awake.
Whenever he was asleep, he was plagued by the same nightmares that have haunted him throughout the past ten years of his life. No matter what he did, there was no escape from this hell.
"Minako…" He whispered his long dead sister's name, his mind becoming so addled that his speech was no restricted to merely calling out to his sister.
If anyone were to look upon him now, they would be horrified to see everything that had been done to him. His anger towards Pharos had almost completely quelled now, unable to sustain itself through all the mental pain that Makoto was in now.
The boy's body was practically dead at this point. His skin had gone grey and his eyes had drifted off to the side, rarely doing something as basic as blinking. If it were not for his chest slowing rising, one could easily assume that he was dead.
One would likely wonder where Minato was in all of this, but no one would be able to give a definite answer. Perhaps Pharos had finally gained enough strength to suppress him. Perhaps the mask's presence was so seductive that it was keeping Makoto anchored. Whatever the reason, it was all the same.
For now, all that was left was a hallow husk of the boy, "Minako…"
…
…
…
Makoto remained in the same alleyway that he had been left to rot in for the past few days. Rot was indeed the correct word as the stench of death littered the area, though the boy's sense of smell had left him a long time ago now.
His eyes had changed from glowing a dim blue to a bright yellow. Adding to his inhuman appearance was the dark patches around his eyes had now gone completely black and the black veins that littered his body now pulsated which caused them to glow a dark purple.
By all means, the boy had changed into a monster.
The boy continued to wheeze as he silently watched the world continue around him. Everything he saw was a blurry mess, but he was able to make out some details of what was going on out there. He was even able to spot a few people from school…
… Including a redhead with her hair tied in high-ponytail.
"Kotone…" Makoto called out a loud as he could, only to have it come out as nothing more than a silent whisper. In that instant, the boy felt his body dragged further into the darkness as he continued to watch the girl as best he could.
Even after all the time that has past, here she was scanning the crowd to try and find him. Whether she fell for him because she loved broken things like him or some other reason he will never understand, she was still willing to look for him now even with the next full moon drawing closer and closer. She needed to prepare, but here she was.
When she came close to the alley that the boy was his, he reached out as far as he could and whispered, "Kotone…" but his voice was still far too weak to be heard.
After a few moments of scanning the area, Kotone muttered a series of curses as she marked today as another failure with absolutely no leads.
"Kotone…" He called out her name once again, even though he knew that he would not be heard.
Help me…
…
…
…
Makoto's eyes slowly opened as the cursed hour that came every night began to settle like it had so many times before.
However, now, for the first time in weeks, he was finally able to move his limbs voluntarily. The boy's fingers began to slowly twitch before he slowly began to stand back up on his feet and finally use his now stiffened muscles.
With his ability to move his once again, Makoto slowly began to walk out of the alleyway and was able to get a good look of the street for the first time in what felt like eons.
He did not have to suffer alone anymore.
Now that he could move, he could bring himself back to the dorm and promise never to leave again. He could take those pills again to keep Pharos suppressed while being comforted by Kotone's warm embrace. Perhaps he can reveal everything to Mitsuru and Aigis, and they would be able to rip Pharos out of him.
Makoto took a deep breath as he took a step forward… in the opposite direction.
Something… Something else was there… calling to him… something that he had to answer.
Makoto…
…
…
…
Makoto began to slowly wander the halls of the giant tower; his mind still cloudy and unfocused like before.
All of the shadows in the halls simply watched from the side. They were not cowering in fear; rather they seemed to be welcoming him as if he were royalty.
"I must admit, I was wrong…" Makoto heard The Reaper say as he slowly made his way past him, "I had thought before that you were a cancer to Death. But now I see, you were never truly his incarcerator…"
Makoto continued to walk through the dark halls; his injured feet were once again beginning to bleed once again.
As he wandered, several thoughts began to invade his addled mind. Pain… He was in so much mental and physical pain.
Pain…
Pain…
Pain…
It followed him wherever he went. It was the one thing that never left him no matter what. Whether it was in his dreams or in his everyday life, the pain would continue to persist.
So much pain… was it not natural for those to seek vengeance on those that harmed them?
Vengeance…
Vengeance…
Vengeance…
Makoto's legs finally gave out from exhaustion and he fell to his knees.
"You are his avatar."
Makoto looked up and saw a familiar object sitting there to greet him.
Makoto…
...
…
…
Kotone sighed as she looked out the window in the dorm's lounge. Even though it was the Dark Hour, everyone gathered in the same room.
Even though he had not done much to win them over, Makoto being missing was still affecting them all with their leader's normally high morale being some of the lowest it has ever been. It was not just the fact that her boyfriend was missing, but also that it was her responsibility to make sure nothing bad happened to him while he was at the dorm.
Mitsuru sighed as she looked at Fuuka, "Anything, Yamagishi?"
Fuuka slowly shook her head, "I couldn't find him anywhere. It was like he completely disappeared." She answered somberly.
"I see." Mitsuru said as she put her head down. If a shadow really was sealed inside him, then it was her family's fault if he was suffering right now. Regardless of her personal opinions of the boy, he was still a victim of the Kirijo group.
Kotone sighed as she felt her eyes beginning to become heavy. It had been a long night, it was time for her and everyone else to finally—
Suddenly, the ground began to shake beneath their feet as a deafening roar began pierce the air. The roar was so loud that everyone immediately covered their ears as the lights that worked in the Dark Hour began to flicker and a few of the window began to shatter into pieces.
After several minutes, the roaring finally stopped and whatever glass was left from the windows was quickly frosting over as if it were the middle of winter. SEES began to talk amongst themselves about what had just happened, that chill in the air could only mean one thing to Kotone…
Makoto walked out of Tartarus with Thanatos behind him and the mask on his face. Nothing was going to get in his way now.
Kotone panted as her mind and body reeled from the insane shout and the added exhaustion. She ignored the orders of her seniors and ran out of the dorm one more time, her half-lidded eyes desperataly scanning the area for Makoto one last time-
"H-Hey!" Kotone yelled as loud as she could, as loud as her drained senses could manage. "Minato!"
"Vengeance..." Makoto repeated inside his head as he lumbered his way forward, aimlessly walking around as Pharos further steeled his resolve-
"Minato!" Kotone tried one more time, taking a step forward despite knowing that the being who screamed just a few moments ago could very well attack her and take her life. "I know you are out there!"
"They will pay," Pharos whispered, pleased when Makoto did not explode at him in fury like he did before-
"I refuse to believe that you are gone!" Kotone continued-
"They must..." Pharos continued-
"I'll find you," Kotone promised. "I will drag you back to myself from hell itself if I have to."
Makoto cracked his neck and exhaled, giving a dumb nod to Pharos who kept talking, edging him, and reminding him of why he was born.
"You were engineered for one purpose," Pharos reminded-
"I'll get rid of that little bastard that has been haunting you," Kotone reminded herself-
"That is to claim vengeance and dispose of everyone who stands in your way-"
"He is going to pay!"
"THEY are going to pay!"
"Remember,"
"Always remember,"
"Never forget about us,"
"Never forget about me,"
"Minato..."
"Minato..."
Makoto hissed in pain, his knees giving out at the exact same time as Kotone who finally reached the limit of exhaustion and collapsed down, face first, akin to the prince who lost his senses due to the nonstop torture and fell to the ground, his 'friend' looming over him with a satisfied smile because Makoto was ready. This was going to be a joy to witness-
"Don't worry, I'll save you..."
Well, shit.
NOOOOOOO!
Yes!
... Biscuits?
Shut up!
Shut up!
*shrugs* Eh, I'll take one! *takes a biscuit*
Why is everyone a dick to ME?!
