This one seems a bit shorter, I know. But everything is going to get even more eerie~
The chains from the swing creaked as Gia pushed to and fro, her bangs in her eyes. The sudden burst of raw anger she directed at Kurama was finally beginning to wane, as a sharp clarity began to wash over her.
It wasn't Kurama's fault that Hikari confided in him within the last moments of her life. If anything, he was entirely blameless in the situation. Hikari chose not to confide in her or Zeri, as she had normally done; she hadn't even confided in anyone about her older sister or even the fact that her entire bloodline was cursed. Even though Hikari didn't tell the redheaded demon fox about her family in the last months of her life, she chose to confide in someone she probably felt wouldn't judge her or try to pry information out of her. That was how Gia saw it, at least.
Her chest tightened at the thought of Hikari, tears loading into her eyes as though on cue. Hikari was the youngest of all of them, the baby. They all should have been able to protect her or should have been in tune to her emotions much better than they were. Then maybe, just maybe, Hikari would be alive and they would know what this entity was.
As soon as the thought passed her mind, Gia felt her breath catching at the thought. It wasn't just the demons that killed her, it was whatever the evil was that haunted Hikari for six years. It bided its time, patiently, until Hikari was isolated enough and struck. Shuddering, Gia closed her eyes. Chika had said the Tsukiyomi family was cursed for generations. What didn't add up were the ages of the, as far as she knew, last two of the Tsukiyomi. Chika died when Hikari was ten years old, and no more than six years have passed since the younger Tsukiyomi sister met the same fate: being murdered by demons. However, Chika had stated that the girls were always able to see shadows, entities, among the humans in the Ningenkai—which had to have meant that Hikari must have known what was coming for her.
Of course, this was all speculation. The only one who could answer was Chika, about her own murder and experience with the strange gift the Tsukiyomi family had. Either that, or track down the only two living Tsukiyomi members left: Hikari's parents, whom were in no condition to speak to anyone. The two had lost their minds, Chika said, after living beyond expected when the curse was supposed to claim them. So why was this…thing…in such a hurry to claim two sisters?
Breathing heavily, Gia stood up, pushing her hair away from her face. She had a very bad feeling and usually they were on target. It would be better for her to return back to Yusuke's apartment, as she was already quite out of the way as it was and Yusuke, and Kuwabara were still convinced she and Zeri were in danger. She wasn't going to even tread that type of danger. Inhaling and exhaling to control herself, Gia began her trek back to Yusuke and Keiko's place.
A chill raced up her spine as she heard the bushes rustle, her senses on high alert for danger. Her breaths began to leave her in shallow bursts, choking her, throat tightening. Her eyes darted back and forth. Her instincts screamed for her to run, but Gia wasn't sure if this was a threat or a friend. Rationality booted her in the face—if it were any of her friends, they'd make themselves known by now. "Who's there?" she snarled, trying her best to sound intimidating, yet her heart thundered wildly in her chest.
Only crickets chirping in the night answered her and Gia felt her body relax before the bushes rustled again and her muscles snapped to attention. This time, Gia sensed an ominous aura leaking into the air, permeating, sinking into her pores. It was an aura dripping with evil, with cunning, with violent bloodlust. It made her blood run cold, ice flooding into her lungs, her throat tightening to the point of pain. What's happening?
"All alone, little girl. Tut, tut…most unwise…" The voice that drifted into Gia's mind was the same voice that spoke before they all heard Hikari screaming in agony. Tears pricked at Gia's eyes. This was the entity that haunted Hikari's family, taking the lives of the Tsukiyomi sisters and the sanity of their parents. Her breath hitching, Gia whispered, "What do you want?"
"What do I want? I want what is rightfully mine. I've only obtained one piece to reach that goal."
One piece? Hikari? No sooner had Gia thought of her friend, a chillingly, mirthless laughter rang through her mind, turning her blood into ice shards. "That's right; you are a smart human. The Tsukiyomi girl was indeed a very vital piece."
"Why was she a vital piece?" Gia asked, dimly aware that she could seem insane for speaking to a voice in her mind aloud—but at the moment, she didn't care. This entity found her, was saying how Hikari was an important piece. It only revived the embers of Gia's anger at how neither she, Zeri, nor any of the former spirit detectives knew anything. Hikari had utterly kept them in the dark, not even letting them peek into her pain. All she did was smile that damningly calm smile around them.
"Yes…you are quite angry, aren't you?" The tone was almost pleased. The sick son of a…
Gia gasped as the ice in her veins travelled to her throat, gripping it in a vice. Sweat beaded onto her temple, dripping down her face, as the voice became more menacing and the ice began to spread into her heart.
"Let that darkness feed inside of your heart. It merely makes it more delicious for when we finally devour you humans."
A numbing sensation seeped through Gia, her breath slowing down as her vision clouded. The entity was laughing in her ears as through the haze, Gia could see flashes of a memory…
It was like being an animal in a cage. Her wrists were strapped down by something heavy, cold, her bare body feeling the same cold that gripped her. Her eyes were fixed on steel-plated ceiling. Her breaths escaped her lips in slow, deliberate breaths. She knew what she was, but her purpose was unknown. That much she could deduce.
She struggled, feeling her muscles straining against her bonds. She vaguely heard the sound of snapping bones and ripping muscles before the faint ping of metal breaking apart. She pushed herself upright and groped about, finding a cloth and wrapping it tightly about her body, knotting the cloth above the swell of her breasts. She rushed to the door, wrenching the locked door open. Mildly surprised at her strength, she moved like liquid darkness through the unguarded halls. The sound of maniacal laughter bounced off the walls, accompanied by the cacophony of tinkering noises. Attention wasn't paid to her as she tiptoed to her destination—the exit.
Gia's mind flashed to another memory, a happier memory…
She had been in the outside world for thirty days, zero hours, zero minutes, and eight seconds. She clung tightly to her meager cloth that hid her bare body, but the chills of the night air would affect her eventually. She stumbled into an empty park, sinking to her knees the moment she took refuge beneath a formidable tree, its leaves blocking the sky. She closed her eyes, breathing inaudibly. She was outside of that stifling prison, a free animal. She only hoped it lasted forever.
"This is a weird place to sleep." A soft voice whispered to her and her eyes snapped open.
Kneeling beside her was a young girl, with long, dark hair, pale skin, and the most unusual ember eyes. She took in the strange girl's appearance, wondering why her scans hadn't indicated the heat signature beside her. The girl tilted her head, her soft pink lips turned downwards as her brows furrowed delicately over her eyes. She was like a tiny doll, like the ones she had observed in the books occasionally shown to her in the cage. The dolls that had those wide eyes, pink lips, pink cheeks, and skin like glass. The ones that look so breakable that even the slightest touch would cause her to turn into dust.
The doll moved and sat at her side, looking up at the sky through the breaks of leaves. "Why are you by yourself?" she asked softly, her voice as soft as a whisper, drifting in the air like a ghost. She hadn't responded, wasn't sure how to even do so. She had read the few books she'd seen, but only understood a few words. The words spoken to her held no real meaning, no inflection. When she looked at the girl with the strange eyes, she made gestures, hoping that got her point across of her lack of words.
The fire-eyed girl watched her gestures intently before her lips turned upward faintly. A smile, her mind supplied. "I see," she murmured. "You haven't learned speech, have you?"
She shook her head and the girl stood up and held out a small hand. "I'll help you."
She detected no lie so she took that small hand and was pulled to her feet and, unknowingly, into her new life.
Hikari had found her in that park and, with that gentle smile and outstretched hand, pulled her into a normal life. Gia knew that her origins were a secret she would carry to her grave and yet Hikari had glimpsed her the moment she was free. The tears that were pricking at her eyes broke free, trailing down her face as a weakness overcame her, her heart's pounding becoming slower and slower…
The ice left her body as quickly as her heavy body arched back toward the ground. Her eyes felt just as heavy as her body, as though every bit of her was filled with lead. Wisps of her hair graced her vision before her eyes closed…
She was aware of strong arms catching her, easing her to the ground. There was a buzzing in her ears, intense, as though someone was yelling and the haze in her mind cleared enough that she was aware of a voice shouting, "Gia!"
She forced her heavy eyes to open and could see faces swimming into her blurry view, but as soon as the haze cleared more, she was aware of who was yelling her name. Yusuke was looking down at her, his brown eyes frantic, with Kuwabara at his side. Kuwabara was looking around and Gia felt he was sensing the effects that hideous entity left in its wake.
Gia forced herself to be upright and she felt Yusuke's arm move to her shoulders in support. "What the hell happened, Gia?" he asked, frowning at her. "We came to find you and you almost crack your head on the ground!"
"I just…I…" Gia frowned and pressed her hand to her head before what Yusuke told her sank in. "Why did you come find me? You know I'm tougher than you think."
Kuwabara was the one who answered. "We just…had a feeling that you needed help," he said. "So we looked everywhere for you."
Gia sensed that they weren't being utterly honest with her—and Kuwabara had this code of honor and Yusuke was a brashly honest person to start with. When she narrowed her eyes and saw them flinch, her suspicions were confirmed but Yusuke immediately countered with a wry grin. "Look, let's get you home. I left Keiko and Botan with Zeri and I know Zeri needs your sunny disposition!"
At the mention of Zeri, Gia shot to her feet, suspicion forgotten for the time being. "Then what am I still doing here with you idiots? Let's go!" she exclaimed. When Yusuke got to his feet, Gia took off in the direction of the apartment, the two males behind her. She was out of appropriate earshot and Kuwabara asked under his breath, "Shouldn't we tell her? I mean, how else would we find her?"
Yusuke shot the orange-haired male a look and shook his head. It wouldn't have sat well with Gia if they told her right now, especially when Zeri needed Gia. Both girls knew Hikari for the longest time and Yusuke could remember when they first met her.
The concentration of demonic aura was centered in one corner of the city, into the woods. Yusuke and Kuwabara had sensed it during school and as soon as school let out, they had rushed to find the source. The source was getting stronger as they got closer to the woods when distorted chortles reached them.
Three large demons surrounded a small girl who held a black book to her chest. There was a thin laceration on the curve of her cheek. Her expression was stoic, but there was defiance in her eyes. The middle demon grabbed her roughly by the front of her shirt, its other hand closing around her neck. Even with the demons chuckling, lusting for her blood, she still remained defiant, that black notebook clutched so tightly to her chest.
The two students of Sarayashiki Junior High sensed familiar demonic energies coming toward them before Yusuke shouted, "Hey! Ugly, Uglier, and Ugliest!"
The three turned to face them, the girl still in the clutches of the middle demon, her hair hanging in her eyes. Yusuke and Kuwabara charged, throwing punches at the demons. They swiped their clawed hands at the detectives in retaliation. They avoided the swipes, but were unsure of how to proceed without harming the girl who hung so loosely like a ragdoll.
Relief came when a familiar sight of a whip wrapped around the arm of the demon that had her, bound tight to keep it from moving. Kuwabara activated his Reiki sword, rushing to slice one of the demons to pieces. The other was cleaved in two and Yusuke sensed Hiei's energy. So the detective took matters into his own hands with the final demon and fired his Reigun at the final demon. When its grip went slack, the girl fell to the ground as the demon's body crashed to the ground in a crumpled heap.
The four friends had converged around the girl, who pushed herself upright. She had crawled to what they realized was a slightly ripped bag, muttering absentmindedly to herself. She set the notebook on the ground beside her as she checked the contents of her bag.
"Are you okay?" asked Yusuke, raising an eyebrow at how utterly calm she was. When she didn't answer, he saw from the corner of his eye that Kurama had picked up the girl's notebook and there was a name written upon it—Tsukiyomi.
"Miss," Kurama spoke to her carefully, trying not to startle her, and she turned to look at the redhead. When her eyes darted to the notebook in his hand, she quickly snatched it from his hand and held it to her chest as her eyes flickered from him, to Yusuke, to Kuwabara, and to Hiei.
It felt like it lasted for hours until she finally said, "Thank you."
She got to her feet, holding the strap of her bag, her hair cascading past her waist. When she pushed it from her face, she tilted her head. "Thank you," she repeated.
"No problem." Yusuke grinned, hoping the girl would at least crack a damn smile.
"Were those things creatures of humanity?" she asked.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Kuwabara, raising an eyebrow.
As if she was aware of what she had just said, the girl's eyes widened slightly. "Nothing. Nothing. Thank you," she said before palming her forehead. "Oh, goodness, I said that already, didn't I?"
"Hn." Hiei was exuding an aura of irritation at saving an obviously disturbed human girl and he ignored the pointed look that Kurama sent him.
The girl, however, had sharp senses and her eyes caught the fire apparition's. Something flickered in her eyes for a moment—here and then gone-before Kurama spoke to her. "You've had quite an ordeal, miss. It would do you some good to rest."
She regarded Kurama with a look of confusion before nodding. "Yeah…today was weird. But, I do want some answers—like what were those things that attacked me."
"We'll tell you on the way," Yusuke said before snapping his fingers. "Oh, by the way, I'm Yusuke. That idiot-" He jerked his head toward Kuwabara "—is Kuwabara."
"Hey-" Kuwabara began to interject angrily, but Yusuke continued as if he hadn't spoke and gestured toward the two demons of the group. "That's Kurama and Hiei."
She nodded and bowed. "My name is Hikari."
Even then, Hikari had such a strange aura about her. Yusuke couldn't even believe it took this long for him to notice it. Hikari had always been strange, saying weird things at times, even when smiling with Gia and Zeri. They had all just chalked it up to it just being a quirk, so it never raised any flags. Now, with everything that was going on, they should have noticed the major red flag: her behavior.
She was surprised a breath could even leave her lips even though she was dead.
Even now, every breath was wracked with pain, sliding past the stitches in an excruciating second.
The Shadow—that's what she had taken to calling the monster that snared her as soon as she was ripped to shreds—had chained her to it, tethered her to its home: some dark, abyssal realm where it reeked of blood and agony, where the air was shredded by screams.
Alive, she thought Hell included fire and brimstone; she thought wrong.
The Shadow sat on its throne while she remained chained on its right-hand side, her unruly power of the Sense at his disposal now that she could no longer fight the Shadow.
She had long lost hope that escaping while in the Ningenkai would signify to her friends of her plight. She couldn't even tell them the Shadow's plan.
The long, curved claw traced the contour of her ripped cheek as her eyes rose to gaze at the altar set off to the side of the room. Upon it was a body that the lessor, formless entities were focusing on healing the wounds scattered among it.
"Are you enthused, my pet?" purred the Shadow, its distorted voice mocking. She didn't respond; she never could anyway.
"Soon, your powers will be unleashed to their potential."
She wished she could close her eyes, to block this nightmare. She wished she couldn't see the entities plaguing humanity.
She was a Tsukiyomi with the strongest of the powers that plagued her family. Her mind had already begun to deteriorate.
Soon, everything else will.