Night was falling at a slow pace and tranquility loomed with no remaining worries before the Akatsuka students.
The acquaintances sextuplets took separate steps as they had been doing since they first entered high school, so it was normal to see them alone and each by their own side.
Karamatsu left during the sky at dusk for his theater club which took more time than he should, he ran through the corridors looking for his little brother with whom this morning he decided to leave with him back, thinking it well he must have a great outburst of annoyance expressed in an unbearable pout for seemingly leaving him for so long.
The second son came out to the entrance of the establishment and took a deep breath when he saw his youngest in the entrance waiting while he looked at the sky dyed in red and orange colors. When he saw him, he frowned and crossed his arms, starting to leave without waiting for him, Karamatsu caught up with him and both continued in a brief silence, Todomatsu could not stand it and ended up shouting at him for his delay while the older one responded with monosyllables and with sorrow knowing his guilt for offering to pack everything forgetting his responsibility.
_Ugh! I order you not to do it again Karamatsu-niisan! They all left and the only one abandoned as a dog was me. He crossed his arms and looked away, curving his lips at his frown. He was really upset and Karamatsu couldn't say much.
The pair of brothers finished in silence again, their feet taking the path traveled hundreds of times with the sky darkening sooner than in other seasons of the year. Night came early and Todomatsu could not help getting closer to his eldest because of the fear that he carried in the gloom of the sky.
They came to the city with the brightest light and the largest population of people.
_Could we take a shortcut? _Todomatsu turned with a pleading look to a second son who came out of his reverie. The older one observed him and considered his route that it would take some time to get home, besides that Todomatsu was not in a position to handle the night much, especially because of the monsters that haunt them.
He shook his head at that normally ignored thought, the city of Akatsuka did not harbor them, there had been no accidents for decades due to the great advantage of the city of Tokyo by closing all its borders and where Ghouls lived in large numbers.
Todomatsu continued to pull on his uniform, wishing to get home as soon as possible. He looked at it for a while and turned towards the accumulation of people and their route that took a place away from the citizens and returned for a longer time between turns of their streets. In any case, they would have to continue in solitude and their routes were rarely crowded.
In addition, the alternative of following a shortcut would involve most of it in the company of people and an alley that would leave them a block or two from home.
_Okay, let's go Todomatsu _he smiled at the minor who hit his shoulder, rubbed himself with a grimace of pain and asked for an explanation with his eyes. The younger snorted in annoyance.
_ You think too much Karamatsu-niisan. Standing in the middle of the street you looked like some idiot! _he complained with an adorable expression without wanting it.
Karamatsu smiled slightly to be able to continue between the people, the lighting of the shops was blinding enough, there was no occasion when they went through those places more late at night due to the rules of Matsuyo and Matsuzo, Karamatsu was sure that he would receive some punishment when arriving at home so late taking her little brother with her.
Their parents were the only ones who went out to those places, according to them they related that they lived as children in Tokyo, that was enough to say that they lived in a hell full of ghouls. Luckily they left and were able to move there, taking precautions as they did in that city without ever ignoring those monsters that haunt the nights.
_Karamatsu-niisan! _Todomatsu ended up shaking the older with greater force to get his attention, he finally reacted.
_What's up Todomatsu?
_ What is wrong with me? That I must ask you!
_Ah? Because?
_Listen, Karamatsu-niisan, you were too distracted since we had breakfast. And now you're worse, what do you think so much about?
_No, it's nothing Everything--
_Shut up, something's wrong with you! I know you, and the clear proof is that you forgot the pair of glasses that you began to carry and act in front of the mirror _ pointed accusingly where he always saw it.
Karamatsu immediately placed his hand on his chest without finding the question, and smiled nervously.
_I am sorry.
_Do not apologize, at least not in that. Pff, anyway when I get home I will have to take it out one way or another.
Karamatsu's skin crawled at the threat.
_You win, I'll tell you but only if we forget that later.
"Good," somehow he smiled triumphantly.
Karamatsu sighed, Todomatsu acted quite well in front of the whole family and the institute, like a child who must be protected from everything. However, for a few months he behaved quite differently with him.
Like Karamatsu he started to present himself as a cool boy trying to forget his shyness just by showing it to Todomatsu.
Unconscious or not, they still maintained their trust for being the company of siblings in their childhood.
When he looked up, he noticed the place, remembering the aforementioned shortcut, there would be a few meters to go; He noticed that they never dared to go through that place as children due to its narrowness and the deep darkness that tormented and gave impulse to tests of courage when they were grown up, although he thought that Ichimatsu -who was beginning to find him in alleys like that with felines- must have of having gone through this without caring more.
They stopped at the entrance and he noticed Todomatsu's sneaky embrace falling silent. Somehow a chill ran through the second son's body that almost made him recoil. What happened? He wasn't afraid of the dark like the youngest and he shouldn't feel that way about something so simple.
And less being watched by Todomatsu.
She steeled herself but felt a slight tug from their company.
_ What happens Todomatsu? _turn to see him and internally thanked him for not betraying his fear in his words.
_Ah, no, it's nothing Karamatsu-niisan.
Karamatsu watched him, he could swear he felt those bad feelings too. Finally they entered the alley.
The footsteps sounded louder as they listened to the tumult of people moving away like a tunnel, and the silence became deeper and even terrifying. A single jump from a stray cat made them both jump and almost scream, then giggle.
_But what happens in this place? _mumbled the minor once they slowed down to recover from the fright, the feline only bristled and ran between the garbage bags and the stairs of the alley, losing sight of it easily.
_ We should hurry, I'm sure the punishment increases every minute lost _deviating the issue taking Todo and pushing him without hearing his slight protests to his surprise. He did not tell them but felt that they were being examined in detail.
Eyes hidden in the night, the whole atmosphere calm, the breeze stopped flowing and the sounds were suddenly chased away by things to come, if this sensation was reality then they would be lost unless they find a Dove, however, this city lacked I would hardly see any of them pass in so many years. That calmed the city a bit as there would be no Ghouls nearby.
But now he was beginning to panic, the sensation did not go away, so much detail when remembering the Ghoul just that day brought him to the sight of one.
_Waiting! Kara, ay! That I fall!
It wasn't possible, was it? So many years ago they were being exterminated and what was known should not be in Akatsuka. Two decades ago there were no signs in this city or in many others in Japan, there were only a few left in Tokyo who, due to their border measures, made it impossible for them to leave.
_Karamatsu-niisan!
All the news said it, didn't they? Why would they lie? If there are indeed Ghouls in Akatsuka this must be informed to the public to avoid going out at night. It was not clear!
Unless…
Was the government part of this?
He stopped and turned to Todomatsu, the youngest barely reaching him received the blow of his forehead against his brother, he was ready to yell at him but fell silent.
Karamatsu looked behind when he felt it, and terror was drawn on his face.
A few meters from where they passed, a pair of dark red eyes was watching them, just fell from the roof where it followed them as fragile as a feline when hearing nothing. There were scars on his face and the darkness took a large part of his entire body, around his eyes were the long and characteristic breaks giving away his Kagune, a blue one with its impressive hues in the shape of a fox tail dancing lightly at his side. Apparently about to assassinate them.
The Ghoul stopped when he was discovered, for a moment he seemed to see his surprise until it changed to a smile.
He felt the clenched fists in his arms and realized that Todomatsu followed his gaze, immediately hugging him tightly feeling the fear betrayed by his trembling.
_Go my, you discovered me too soon _ I raise my eyes to the Ghoul amused by their expressions_. It is not common to meet humans like this, they are usually a headache if they turn into Doves.
Karamatsu carried his minor behind his back, and noticed the missing depth to get out of the alley, they were too far from the people but on the other side about four meters.
Too close and at the same time too far.
Anyone seeing a Ghoul and in that situation should accept their fate.
There are no Doves by any means, an unprotected and served city at the disposal of any Ghoul. They are so fast that escaping would be useless.
Everything pointed to his death.
A look of resignation on her face brought a smile to the Ghoul who could identify as a woman with collected black hair, a somewhat tanned skin, with that gesture of mockery, showing her teeth prepared to destroy her flesh.
_ It seems that you are more aware than other idiots _ she said regardless of receiving an answer when she began to approach without hurry, suddenly another queue came out, widening her smile and seeing with joy how the insignificant humans did not move because of that useless fear_. However, that only challenges your nature to escape.
Karamatsu finally reacted, backing away, pushing the younger one away.
_Todomatsu, run.
_K-Karamat ...
"Run, please, I'll distract him but run," I murmur, without taking his eyes off the advancing Ghoul. Attentive to their movements.
Restless, knowing that the speed of these beings was far superior and even if he wanted to give the minor time it would be useless, with a claw of his tail he would kill them both.
He shook his head, he should try, he didn't mind being eaten if he could save the child.
_Y-you only need a body to feed you for a month, right? _dared to speak, loud and clear. The tremor in his voice weakened.
_Ah? What's that about? _The Ghoul stopped.
The minor noticed that slip of the subject.
_Y-you don't need my brother to feed you. I-I will not escape I-nor will I fight! _ I raise my hands covering the child and offering himself to the missed Ghoul_. So, p-please… Let my brother go.
_Now that I notice they look quite alike _reflexiono the woman adrift. Before I had the slightest hope for him to run, he spoke again. But one is not enough _Smile at their expressions and attacked.
The tailed kagune easily closed the distance, Karamatsu watched in slow movements listening to his heart beat at his death.
Blood spilled down the alley, the ugly walls full of dirt and its contamination washed with the liquid and the intestines emptied from the cut.
One body was cleanly split in two and the other brother screamed in pain and terror showering him with the same liquid before his eyes.
The fox-like tail returned to its bearer and she licked the blood that dripped from its hunting and fighting limb.
The one who remained fell to his knees, hugging the cut of his stomach a little, without removing his blue eyes with his face deformed in panic and horror seeing his little brother.
What was left of him.
His trembling free hand touched the bloody uniform receiving the last breath of his little brother.
_ NO NO NO, PLEASE NO!! TODOMATSU! STAY WITH ME! PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO ME!
His screams were not heard by anyone.
By anyone who cares.
He tore his throat calling for a lifeless body, he did not see the moment when the minor intervened in the attack, he knew that this would be his death, he knew it from that feeling of detachment from reality, for offering himself at those hours of the afternoon to continue and never come home again. His family was broken enough for someone to mourn him.
But that shouldn't be your little brother's fate too. He must not die for someone so cowardly. He had to protect him and he failed miserably.
He was a shitty older brother.
Between his sobs, he did not notice the proximity of the Ghoul, the woman came to his side at a leisurely pace, raising the kagune above the human's neck. He thought to have fun for a while but could not allow himself to make them wait any longer, the memory of having his sisters was reflected in this pair of insignificant humans.
But before nailing the rest, she stayed still.
An idea, just as he saw in some programs that one of the minors saw on television.
_ At last he will learn to hunt _sentencio.
Karamatsu stopped her crying and turned, recovering her fear when she saw her a meter away, with both tails held high. But that didn't matter, nothing mattered anymore.
_Brothers ... forgive me.
New explosion of blood spreading around.
House of the Matsuno was silent.
Not a movement, not a voice. At that time the remaining siblings were staying at home while they waited for their parents to return when they went to look for the two missing ones, knowing full well that their punishments would be horrible, so they decided to wait for their return.
However, a stab of pain bothered them at first, but they decided to ignore it and share it with the others, each one on their own, ignoring the hole of concern that was beginning to be quite deep.
They ended up in a single room, reunited but without further words they shared the silence.
Osomatsu would start with a word about it but suddenly, the pain of the loss increased to the degree of knocking them down.
They breathed heavily, some dropping books or plates.
They all looked at each other, hardly caring about the cold outside, they ran to the exit, stopping only to get their shoes on and run in different directions.
Searching.
They couldn't wish for a worse breakup thrill when they felt the hole in their hearts from the loss of two brothers.