So before you go any further, I just want to let you know that this chapter is technically a short but important interlude building up to "bad brother". It was originally going to be in that aforementioned chapter mainly through kamui's perspective. However the length of that chapter was getting way too long again, so I had to cut several scenes and put them here instead. I know some of you don't mind the huge word count, but I really don't want to upload behemoth-length chapters because I don't want to jerk the story's pace around. I also want to try and update consistently, and I feel like I can achieve that by writing shorter chapters. I'm putting myself on a word budget!
This is also because I know some of you guys hate scrolling endlessly. I'm really sorry to those who were looking forward to certain scenes! To make up for this, there will be another sneak peek at the end!
Detailed trigger warnings: psychological assault via mind violation, characters dealing with trauma, eating disorder, depression, nonconsensual imprinting, mentions of suicidal attempts and self-harming behavior, discrimination/racism towards aliens, predator/prey dynamics, male possessive behavior bordering on dominance, bullying, cursing, inhumane experimentation, kidnapping/imprisonment, graphic violence, incest context, imprisonment, talk of dysphoria, body image, and appearance.
Bold- language, dactylology, Yato speech
Italic- Thoughts, flashbacks, places
III. it's you and me
"Ugh… uff… aahhh…"
There was no rest against this pain, not even during sleep. She hurt all over, but especially around her head and shoulders. Moving her body was like dragging her body through tar. A burning sensation pricked the nape of her neck where there was a red triangle inked into her skin. Below it was a tiny inscription that read #ab1239. Rouge. She unconsciously touched it and relived the anger and terror she felt when it was burned into her skin for the first time. The pain was no longer there, but to her, it was alive - reminding her that she was also still very much alive and held captive against her will.
White covers were drenched with sweat as the feverish girl tossed and turned in her sleep. Time couldn't be measured in her mind anymore than she could perceive what was around her. Sometimes familiar scenes would flicker through her mind, memories or dreams - she couldn't be sure. Maybe she was still dreaming in that dreary water tank.
Within the recesses of her mind, she saw a memory within a dream…
"You again? We told you that you're not allowed to play with us anymore. That's what our moms said."
Atop a muddy path overlooking countless rice paddies, a little bun-haired girl in a yellow raincoat blinked back tears hearing these hurtful words directed at her from a trio of boys. They were slightly older than her. They were from the slums she lived in, and she saw them from time to time. Her tiny, trembling hands clasped the blue hoop and stick meant for a game of hoop trundling.
"B-But I wanna be in the game, too!" She protested. At times like these, she tried to sound older than she really was. "You said I could play with you whenever I want…"
"That was before you stopped giving us presents." The leader of the trio retorted. He had shaggy brown hair and dark eyes. "We felt sorry for you, so we let you tag along. Do you have anything today?"
"N…No…" She couldn't tell them that she already gave them the last of her candies and toys. They told her she could play with them as long as she gave them nice things.
"Because that's what friends do," They once told her. Being naive and trusting, Kagura believed them and happily gave them whatever they asked for. Whenever Mummy or Kamui asked about her missing belongings, she would innocently say she was sharing them with her friends.
"My sweet girl. Always so willing to share… but make sure they remember to give your things back." Mummy would say with a troubled smile. Kagura would agree even though she knew she probably wouldn't get her toys back. Kamui would always look off to the side with a scowl. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. But she hadn't minded. After all, she just wanted her friends to be happy.
But lately Mummy would say that they were having money troubles, so they wouldn't be able to buy presents for a while. She didn't really understand, but the woman's face was so sad she didn't have the heart to ask why even though it was disappointing. So she asked her brother because he knew everything. But she couldn't understand his sullen silence as he glared at their father's picture on the counter.
"Give us that then." The chubby one pointed at her pretty blue hoop - the one that reminded her of the blue planet Mummy always talked about.
"N-Not this! Anything but this…" She shook her head in refusal and cradled it against her chest in a protective gesture. Unlike her, they had wooden hoops that would splinter and break easily. She couldn't help feeling a little sorry for them. It was bad, but she felt a twinge of pride that they looked at her hoop with admiration and envy.
After all, it used to be her brother's. He gave it to her not too long ago. His reason was that he no longer needed it, but Kagura knew he did it to stop her from crying when their father left to go on another trip. She didn't miss the slight disappointment that flickered in his eyes when he gave it away, but he didn't complain. It made her so unbelievably happy. Because even though this hoop was his favorite, he gave it to her because he wanted her to smile.
Yes. To Kagura, this hoop was her most precious possession.
"Why? You didn't have a problem giving us your other stuff."
"I can't…! Because this is Kagura's ring from Kamui!" Kagura didn't notice how the boys flinched when she mentioned her brother. They looked nervous all of a sudden.
"...W-Whatever." The leader clicked his tongue in distaste. "Come on, guys. Let's go."
"W-wait! Don't go, aru!" Kagura could only watch helplessly as they turned their backs to leave. She ran after them and blocked their path. "W-Why are you so mean all of a sudden? Friends are supposed to be nice to each other! You guys are being weird!"
"Friends with someone like you? You talk weird, you cry easily, and you eat way too much for a girl!" The leader scoffed. He glanced back at his sneering friends who looked at her with open contempt. She no longer recognized the once kind boys who invited her to play. "Dad told me that you and your family are from that race of killer rabbits. She said your kind is full of barbarians who went crazy killing each other and destroying your own planet."
"You're monsters!" The chubby one crowed. "That's why everyone here can't stand you!"
"That's not true, aru!" Kagura cried.
"Yes, it is!" The third boy insisted. "You guys hunt people at night and then gobble them up! Your kind smells like blood, and your white skin burns under the sun!"
"You're wrong!"
Deep down, she was afraid they were right. It would certainly explain why the adults in their neighborhood always looked angry with her and her brother every time they went out. It got bad enough that one time, a man threw a rock at her. She would've been badly hurt if Kamui hadn't caught it in time. She still remembered his broad back and his gentle hand pushing her behind him when he asked if she was okay.
Then there was that time in the alley when she tried to protect him from those men who tried to hurt him. But he hadn't been the same since then. It made Kagura sad since he didn't play with her as much anymore, and he was always going out without saying where. She wondered if she did something wrong…
She was so lost in her thoughts she hadn't noticed them circling her like a pack of wolves until it was too late. Two of them grabbed her by the arms, restraining her so their leader could snatch her hoop.
"That's mine! Let Kagura go!" She shrieked. "Give it back, aru!"
"Face it. Nobody wants to be friends with a Yato like you." The brunet boy sneered as he held up the hoop in front of her. "That's why nobody ever invites your family out to festivals. That's why none of the kids wanna play with you. You guys are just a bunch of animals."
"No!" Kagura refused to listen. "You're wrong! Kagura's family isn't like that!" Even though she was small, she was still strong. The sweaty boys strained to hold her with all their might. She managed to drag them across the dirt as she got in the leader's surprised face. "Papi is a knight-in-shining armor who's always saving the day! Mummy is beautiful and loves flowers. And Kamui…" She faltered for a moment but continued. "Kamui is Kagura's hero just like Papi is to Mummy!"
"Hah! Your hero?" He and his friends guffawed. "Kamui is always picking fights with that old pirate guy and his goons! And he loses every time!" He told her. "That guy's gonna go bald like your idiot dad! He's no hero- he's a bad guy! He's mean to everyone but you!"
Pirates? Kamui, her gentle and kind protector, going around and starting fights with those mean men in black cloaks?
They were lying. She would've known if he was doing such bad things, because he was her best friend. They promised to always tell each other everything.
"Papi is not an idiot!" Her voice was indignant as she stomped her foot. "And Kamui is the nicest, coolest, strongest hero ever! And when Kagura grows up, she's gonna marry him! Even if he goes bald, he'll always be much prettier than you!" She declared with her chest puffed out with pride. "You're not invited to our wedding because you're all mean!"
If anything, this made them laugh harder.
"Huhhh?! You wanna marry your brother? You really are a weirdo!"
"She's got a crush on her brother! Brother-lover! Brother-lover!"
"Stop laughing at me!" Feeling ashamed for some reason, Kagura fought back tears that rose up in her throat. Her ears went hot when they kept howling. She was hurt and confused as to why they were looking at her like she was a gross bug. "W-What's wrong with liking Kamui? He's the best!"
"Siblings can't get married! That's weird!"
"Oh, look! She's turning red! Forget night rabbit - she's a boiled crab!"
"Haha! We'll call her that from now on! A boiled crab who likes her loser brother!"
"A loser brother who's a bad guy pretending to be good! He's just a rabid beast - a disgrace even to your kind!"
Hearing this upset her more than being called a crab. Shaking, she glared at them through hot tears.
"Take back what you said!" She ordered the chubby boy who was currently badmouthing her and her brother. He only gave her a vicious grin, appearing delighted at how angry she was.
"No way!"
"TAKE IT BACK!" Kagura screeched at the top of her lungs, momentarily shocking the boys. Nervous but unwilling to back down against a little girl, the boy sneered in her face.
"Never!"
Her anger morphed into terror when she saw the brunette boy bending and twisting her hoop.
"W-What are you doing?! Stop! You'll break it!"
"That's exactly why I'm doing it." He seemed to enjoy her distress as a malicious smirk appeared. "Because animals like you don't deserve to have nice things!" With that, he split the hoop in half.
Kagura stared at the broken hoop at her feet, feeling very cold all of a sudden. All she could hear was malicious laughter ringing in her ears. Then, like a volcano, she erupted.
"RAGGH!" With a heartbroken shriek, she butted her head against the chubby boy's face. He cried and let go of her, holding his bleeding nose. Stomping on the other boy's foot, she broke free and grabbed him by the shirt collar. The look on his face was of comical surprise and fear as she lifted him off the ground despite her size. With a tearful cry, she spun him round and round until she released him with a hammer throw. The screaming boy sailed a considerable distance through the air before landing in a nearby bush.
"It's wrong to hurt people," That was something Papi always told her. Yet the red-haired girl couldn't stop the anger boiling in her veins. Seeing the one who broke her hoop making an attempt to flee, she went after him like a predator chasing prey.
"Get back here!"
She caught him in a flying tackle. Unfortunately, their combined weight caused them to topple and roll down the slippery hill until they landed in one of the paddies. They were immediately soaked to the bone with their clothes stained with mud. When their eyes met, he let out an frightened yelp as he tried to escape her wrath. It proved to be for naught as the water was too high and thick with mud for him to traverse. He tripped and fell with a very angry four-year-old on top of him. Sitting on his back, she proceeded to smack his head over and over.
"You broke it! The pretty engagement ring Kamui gave me…!" She broke off with a hiccup before remembering her anger and began pulling the boy's hair, causing him to scream. "You're the ones who are animals! Take back all the mean things you said right now, or Kagura will make you bald!"
"Waah! M-Mommy!" The boy wailed.
"Say you're sorry right now!" She demanded. "Keep calling me a crab, and I'll pinch your butt like one, aru!" As though to demonstrate how serious she was, she began to pull at his cheeks as hard as she could. This only made the boy sob harder as he couldn't get up or defend himself against the little girl who was much stronger than he was.
"Stop! Get off him right now! KAGURA!"
Although she heard an angry voice calling out to her, Kagura was too upset to care. She kept up her assault until someone grabbed her wrist and yanked her off the bully. A flash of indigo fabric and a fluttered braid made her pause. Startled, she realized that it was none other than her beloved brother. He was glaring at her with a look so cold and livid that she felt her rage wither to dread. Kagura immediately felt like curling into a ball and rolling away.
Uh-oh…
After forcing her to say sorry even though she didn't mean it, Kamui proceeded to all but drag her back to the house. They shared his umbrella as they splashed through the mud. Kagura was still holding onto the broken hoop as she tried to keep up with Kamui, who was walking too fast.
"N-Nii-chan… my hand." She whimpered, wary of his foul mood. "Y-You're squeezing too hard. It hurts." Something in her voice made him pause. He didn't let go, but his fingers slackened somewhat. She was about to sigh in relief when he suddenly tightened his grip once more. Not wanting to irritate him more than she already had, she tried not to groan in discomfort.
"When we get home, you're going straight to timeout. And no dessert for you." He told her in a quiet voice as he started walking again. She wanted to wail hearing she wouldn't get any sweets. "I know I keep forgetting to play with you like I promised, but that doesn't mean you can go behind my back like that. Onii-chan even told you before that you shouldn't hang around those guys. They take advantage of you because you're too nice." His harsh scolding made her wilt. "Why can't you just listen to me?"
"I… I didn't mean to." Kagura sniffled. She wanted to tell him she only went out because she felt lonely without him. But she knew if she did, he would chide her for being selfish.
"You promised that you wouldn't go outside without me, but then you sneak out to play while mom was sleeping? You didn't even bother to bring your umbrella." He sounded bitter. "Do you have any idea how worried she was? You better apologize to her."
"O…Okay." Kagura felt a pang of guilt. She imagined their mother's terrified face when she realized she wasn't in the house when she woke up. She hated making her sad.
"And then you got into a fight. Over what? Some stupid toy?" His azure eyes that were once bright and brimming with life were now dull and murky as they weighed on her. "You know we're not supposed to use our strength that way." He didn't even look angry anymore, rather he looked like he was tired of dealing with her. Kagura didn't like being yelled at, but even that was preferable to the way he was looking at her now. Like she was a pest.
"I-It's not stupid," Kagura whispered. "Nii-chan gave this to me… it's special. And they broke it because I told them they couldn't have it. They told me I was weird that I liked you!" She sniffled. "They said that siblings can't marry even though I want to be Kamui's bride! I promised to, after all!" Kamui glanced down at his sister as her voice trembled. He didn't appear to take pity on her plight as his expression didn't change.
"Never make promises you can't keep." Came his quiet reply. "Besides, there's no excusing what you did. Broken things can be fixed but not kids like them. Don't ever do that again." Hearing this made her face fall.
"What about Kamui?" Feeling strangely indignant, Kagura couldn't help blurting out her thoughts. This evoked a different reaction from him as he stopped and let go of her. Kagura felt like she was standing on pins and needles as he became fixated on her. The end of his braid tickled her forehead as he bent to look down at her. She would've been happy to receive his full attention if not for his searing gaze. It felt like she was being burned inside out.
"...What are you talking about?"
"They called you a rabbit beast, aru!" Unable to keep quiet anymore, she released the dam of emotions she held back. "They said that you were a bad guy because you're mean to everyone! That you pick fights with pirates! But I told them you weren't like that! That's why… that's why I…"
Kamui stared at her, nonplussed.
"Kagura…" She heard his breath catch in his throat as he swallowed, and something flickered in his eyes as his expression began to clear up. Kagura felt a tremendous hope grow inside her chest as she watched him.
Both children stood in the rain as silence consumed them. Kagura felt cold even under the umbrella. It was Kamui who was allowing himself to get wet so the rain wouldn't touch her. Her heart swelled with adoration and sadness as she blinked up at him with teary eyes. She couldn't believe people would say such terrible things about her wonderful future husband.
"If being a Night Rabbit is bad… if it makes everyone hate us, then can we be something else?"
"Don't ask for the moon, Kagura." A mirthless chuckle escaped Kamui as he looked down at his fists. "We were born as Yato. That will never change. People will always find a reason to hate others no matter who they are." Like rain clouds chasing away the sun, a shadow fell over his face once again. "If you keep getting worked up every time someone says something stupid, you'll never grow up. Worry about helping mom instead." He turned away from her, his voice becoming strained. "I don't need you to keep sticking up for me."
"But-"
"Don't forget what happened last time you did that. If that pirate guy hadn't stopped that guy who hurt you, there's no telling what could've gone wrong." His harsh reminder zapped her with unease. He seemed frustrated but not at her. Sensing his pain, she felt her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach.
"Besides, what they said is true… about me fighting those pirates. A bad guy, huh… maybe they're right."
"N-No, aru. Kamui, you're always helping me and Mummy. You're a hero." She didn't know why he looked so sad, but she tried shaking him as best as she could to snap him out of it. "So don't do any more of those bad things. Okay?"
"But I have to." Kamui gave her a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Because I have to become stronger than anyone else. So that you and mom won't ever get hurt again. That Baldy is useless, so Onii-chan has to do whatever it takes. Even if it means becoming a bad person that everyone hates."
His words sounded terribly lonely. Kagura wanted to tell him to stop saying such sad things about himself, but she didn't know how to make him feel better. It wasn't fair.
"Ahh… why doesn't he ever do more? Everything keeps changing, and he expects me to keep up." Resentment began to build in his voice. "I'm really sick of this. What's with him telling me to get stronger without telling me what that means? So damn stupid…! And mom… she…"
Kagura wasn't stupid. She knew her brother had been fighting with their father since his last visit. He wouldn't tell her why, but she had a feeling that it was about Mummy. She felt like she couldn't ask because it brought them pain. So instead she touched his shaking hand that held their umbrella. His trembling stopped. He looked at her in surprise before his gaze softened. He gently took the broken hoop from her and clasped her little fingers in his.
"...You really did everything you could for this thing." A chuckle left his lips as he stroked the hoop's curve. A little light returned to his eyes somewhat, resembling the lively boy he was once before. She wanted to leap for joy now that she finally managed to make her brother smile after so long. "Beating those guys up even though you're half their size. What you did was dumb, but even I have to admit it was funny." He admitted, sounding impressed. "You didn't even need my help. It was them who needed mine." This unexpected praise made her blush - a tingling warmth traveled all the way down to her toes.
"Nii-chan…"
"Those guys were wrong about one thing. There's nothing bad about you at all. That's why Kagura should just stay the same." He told her in a soft voice identical to the way he used to speak to her. His cold fingers brushed hair out of her eyes, making her shiver. He sounded sad for some reason. "Don't become like me or that Baldy."
Kagura was certain that she knew her brother more than anyone else in the world. Right now, looking into his empty eyes made her feel as though she was with a ghost. Even though he was right in front of her, he never felt farther away.
"Are you cold? It'll be bad if you catch a fever out here." Kamui seemed to notice something was wrong as he lifted her onto his warm back. "I'm going to run, so be sure to hang on." He hoisted her legs higher so she could wrap her arms around his neck. "You're shaking like a leaf. Geez. That's what you get for not bringing your umbrella."
That wasn't it. But she didn't say that out loud. Because it wasn't often he allowed her to be this close anymore. The heat emanating from his body made her feel happy, and she snuggled close to him. As he ran down the muddy path, all she could do was cling to him as tight as she could and bury her face in his back. He grumbled about her choking him but didn't really seem to mind.
If Nii-chan wanted her to stay the same, she would. If it would make Mummy and Papi happy, she would. If it meant having this warmth beside her for the rest of her life, then she would do anything. If she ever lost it… the pain would be too great that she would wish she never had it to begin with.
Times like these were when she was happiest.
"Aah…!" Shocked, she shot up from the bed with a start. Now that she was awake, she was confused and already starting to forget her dream. When she tried to grasp that fleeting memory, images of her past emerged.
A rainy planet. A modest home. A beautiful lady with a soothing voice. A man who visited from time to time. Umbrellas and flowers and the sound of children's laughter surrounded her. Then came memories of a braided boy with his face crossed out. She didn't know him but instinctively knew that he was special. She tried reaching for him. His blue gaze, his warm hands, and his gentle voice calling out to her…
"Kagura…"
As soon as she began to remember him, a searing pain erupted in her chest. Those eyes became hard and his voice became cold.
"Get lost. I have no use for weaklings."
"NO!" Her former self - that crybaby girl - screamed inside her head. "Don't make me remember!"
"Aagh!" Confused and betrayed, she clawed at her chest in an effort to smother the horrible pain. It was an indescribable loss that gnawed her insides as she returned to the twisted reality only she knew about.
Bleeding red seeped from the plated walls save for the glass that reflected her body scrambling under the bed to hide from the numerous black eyes peering at her from the ceiling. From anyone else's perspective, she was just a young girl hiding from a make-believe monster. Her seemingly mundane room appeared as a horrific distortion through her skewed perception of reality. Countless eyes followed wherever she moved, watching her. The food tray on the gray table was still fresh and untouched - still steaming hot. But through her eyes the food they wanted her to eat was anything but appetizing. To her, the rice bowl was crawling with maggots, and the bone broth was an inky concoction where tentacles surfaced to reach out and grab her whenever she came close. Like now.
"Aahh…!" Shuddering with disgust, she kicked the table leg but it wouldn't budge as it was drilled to the ground. So she instead threw the metal tray against the wall. A loud clatter echoed as its disgusting contents decorated the bleeding wall. She shuffled away from it, retreating back under the bed where her collection of seaweed wrappers, trinkets, and other clutter awaited her. She got them from the golden brown monster rabbit with the throaty voice and restless hands. He always came to visit her though she didn't understand why. He always wanted her to mimic his strange motions in exchange for these objects- such interesting things. Such nice things she didn't know the names of.
At first she couldn't stand him. Well, it was more accurate to say that she still bore him a great deal of animosity. If he were to invade her room, she would no doubt attack him and most likely kill him. He was no different from the monster rabbits that kept her locked in this terrible place. She couldn't trust him or anyone. They were all horrible beasts who thirsted for chaos and death. They were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Once she let her guard down, they would surely torment her.
Still, the tawny monster rabbit proved persistent with his visits. Many times in the beginning she refused to play along with his odd hand games, he would leave her with nothing. He didn't force her or come into her room, which was surprising. She didn't care at first as she believed his gifts could have possibly been poisoned or worse. However, her curiosity grew each time he brought something new. Too many days of boredom and having nothing to do in this cell finally won over her grudging cooperation. And so, she tolerated him to a certain extent… for now.
Soon she grew used to seeing him on a frequent basis.
There were times she even anticipated his visits - wondering what he would bring her next and what kind of gesture she would learn today. Sometimes she would even leave her comfy den to wait for him by the glass. She would crouch on the floor, rocking back and forth on her heels with a thick blanket shielding her from the hundreds of eyes that pierced through her. She would do this until she perked up at the sound of his familiar footsteps.
There was one time when he didn't come for several days. She was convinced she would never see him again. She was confused by her disappointment and but mostly angry that he would dare forget her. That day was when her inner beast crawled out and poisoned her with swirling thoughts - stirring up her emotions.
Curled up in a ball on the floor, the girl sat in a pool of her hair as she faced the wall. The camera footage would show that she was facing the wall and doing nothing. In her mind, she was engaging with her Yato Blood*... or rather the darker faucet of her personality.
"What is this pain we feel? Of course he would trick us." Her other self, the pink rabbit, fed her resentment with stinging words. "This shouldn't come off as a surprise. And yet…" The animal's form shifted into a giggling reflection of her. Her stare, her eyes, and her hair looked just like hers. "Didn't we believe - if even for a moment - that we found him a welcome distraction from this suffocation we're forced to endure? Even though it's all their fault that we're here in the first place?" Her voice was playful but chastising. "Don't be deceived by their false kindness. They are monsters who only take what they want and then betray us. We should know that by now."
In response, she could only duck her head in shame and guilt. She agreed but was dismayed to feel that her disappointment didn't lessen. If anything, it made the hole in her chest bigger.
"We only have each other. We will never betray you. That is how it's always been." The other girl drifted closer until their noses nearly brushed. Her laughter was infectious, eliciting a soft giggle from her own lips. "Remember, it's our curse to never hold or love anyone… because we are weak. Because we are worthless."
Weak… worthless…
"It's better to be alone until the day we die."
Noise outside her holding cell made her aware that she had company.
The tawny rabbit monster was back. Only this time, he brought along an unpleasant surprise. It was the red monster rabbit who beat her within an inch of her life and dragged her into this place. When she remembered what that brute did, every muscle in her body tensed. Alarms went off in her head when he imposed his presence on her to intimidate her. She felt his disdain and contempt rolling off him in waves. It was enough to make her sick as a horrible headache came alive.
Why was he here?! He did this to her! He brought her here to suffer! He needed to be eliminated! His voice dripped with sweet venom as he addressed her, making her head pound in anger as she dug her nails into her palms hard enough to leave crescent shaped marks.
Painful… so painful. Her memories were betrayed by the rain of someone's rainstorm eyes and coldhearted words: "Get lost. I have no use for weaklings."
Shut up. Shut up! SHUT UP!
The sight of him was enough to provoke her into a vindictive rage, but her other self had intervened before she could attack.
"Don't." Icy claws had dug into her shoulders as a fluffy weight plopped on her shoulders. Her other self was back to being a pink rabbit. She whispered a warning in her ear. " We are still weak from the last fight. We will come for him. Later." The revelation was like cold water as it had snapped her out of her trance. With much reluctance, she diverted her attention to the tawny rabbit monster who wanted to continue their strange game. She found her temper flaring up again. First he abandoned her to boredom and insanity, then he brought that infuriating red beast here to mock her, and now he wanted her to mimic his senseless actions as though he had done nothing wrong.
On the other hand, he brought along that salty green paper again. Perhaps to win her back over after knowing he kept her waiting for so long. He must have known that it was one of her favorites. She had found herself appalled that he had thought it was enough to contend for his mistakes. However, the tasty paper hadn't done anything wrong. As long as this tawny rabbit monster continued to bring her tribute and stayed on the other side of the glass, she could pretend to cooperate until it was time to strike back.
Her hands fell on her favorite item: the red bracelet grooved with pink crystals. For a moment, she thought it was a blue hoop. However, she came to her senses and held it to her chest as a precious memory returned to her. A vague memory of her first sister clone.
A white playroom locked from the outside consisted of two girls wearing red frocks. They could be called "twins" when in reality, one of them was a clone. They were being monitored on camera as their current task was to "play", or rather race their hoops on the track like they were supposed to. The older of the two had a different idea in mind.
"Subject Rouge, why are you giving me this?"
The six year old girl pouted when her lookalike asked her this in a soft voice. Unlike the lively girl, there was no light reaching her eyes and possessed a red tattoo on the nape of her neck that read #d2042d. The color code for cherry.
"That's not my name, aru! And you're supposed to call me 'Onee-chan'. Remember, Kyoko*?"
"O-Oh, right…" Realizing her mistake, the younger "sister" blinked as she brought the red hoop to her face. "You painted it even though they said not to. So why is Onee-chan giving it to me instead of keeping it?" Kyoko was not her real name, but she insisted on calling her that instead of her serial number.
"It's a hoop!"
"I know that, but why?"
"Because you're family." The bun-haired girl replied as though it were obvious. Kyoko looked at her with confusion. Sensing this through their shared psionic network, Onee-chan gave her a reassuring beam.
Family…?
"Kagura used to have a blue hoop, but it broke. It was her favorite because it was a wedding ring, but it's okay. Kamui can get me a new one!" She giggled, turning pink. "Anyway, the day she got it was when her family promised to take Mummy to the blue planet together." Her smile dimmed as she looked down at her lap. "But Mummy became a star, and Kagura doesn't know where Papi or Kamui are. Those scary people destroyed my home." She whispered, starting to tremble. "I hope they come for us soon… Kagura doesn't know how much more scariness she can handle."
The mean people here kept making her do scary things. They called them experiments. She hated doing them because it caused her a lot of pain, but if she didn't do whatever they wanted then they would threaten to hurt her sister instead. She couldn't lose anymore family.
They said it was because they wanted her to "study" her since she was a Night Rabbit. To unlock her Yato Blood*.
But she didn't know how. And they were getting impatient with her. Her heart contracted painfully as she bit her lower lip.
"It's all for the sake of Project Prism," That six-eyed, jellylike scientist lady had told her. "You, along with many amanto children will undergo a selection to see which seven will be the strongest among your kind. Tendoshuu desires this of you. All so you can murder a certain man. Or rather, a god." She had said. "An immortal."
But she didn't understand.
"Onee-chan…"
Remembering that big sisters were supposed to be strong and never cry in front of little sisters, she immediately wiped her eyes and forced herself to become cheerful.
"B-But Kagura is a big sister now, so that means she has to take care of you! That means we'll need to find a new home. So, Kagura will make you a promise."
"What is a 'promise?"
"Never mind that! You ask too many questions, aru!" The girl huffed, crossing her arms to hide the fact she didn't know how to explain it. "Kagura promises to take you to the moon! There's lots of rabbits and a pretty goddess living there!" She clasped Kyoko's hands in hers. "When Papi and Kamui come save us, you'll finally meet! Then we can finally be a family again and live on the moon!"
Again that word. Family.
"I'm your copy. That's what the others said." Kyoko told her, looking at her feet. "Family is something you're born into. I do not know this 'Mummy', 'Papi', or Kamui. So-"
"Never mind that, aru!" She shouted, grabbing her by the shoulders. "No more of this 'copy' or 'clone' stuff. Kagura doesn't get that stuff. But Kyoko is Kyoko- nobody else. You're Kagura's little sister, and that's final!"
Kyoko stared at her in disbelief until her eyes rested on the hoop once more. Warmth bubbled inside her upon hearing those words, even though she didn't understand it herself. However, she couldn't contain her happiness as she, for the first time, smiled at her older sister. The other girl stared wide-eyed and enchanted by the sight of her. A surge of pride warmed her inside out as she wondered if this was what it felt like to be a big sister.
"This is the first time I ever received something like this. I'll treasure it and remember that Onee-chan will someday take me to the moon."
Reality proved them both wrong. Because Kyoko died before she herself could fulfill her promise along with countless other little sisters she swore to protect. Every time she tried to protect them, she failed. Over and over and over. Due to their shared network, their minds were connected, and she was forced to feel everything they felt when they were cruelly disposed of. They all died because it was her fault.
A high-pitched ring screeched in her ears, and she immediately covered them. When she opened her eyes, she was terrified to find many of them under the bed with her. Their mouths fell open in silent screams, but their voices sliced layers in her head. Blood and organs spilled obscenely from their fatal wounds. Even now, their cold, clammy hands clung to her. They kept asking her why with such sad expressions - crying out to her.
"Why didn't Onee-chan help us?"
"Why did we have to die instead of you?
Their hands clawed for her hair, skin, eyes. She couldn't move.
"You couldn't keep any of the promises you made us."
"Onee-chan didn't love us, after all."
"Aaagh!" That wasn't true!
In response to her objection, their voices became angry and full of spite.
"We couldn't replace what you lost before. That's why you abandoned us."
"It's all your fault."
"Your fault, your fault!"
"Onee-chan never should've been born!"
"Nughh! Ugh!" Yanking at her hair to distract herself from the guilt and pain of their accusations, she pulled herself free. Heart thundering in her chest, she ran to the door and kept banging on the glass. She needed to get out of here! Countless little girls wearing her face surrounded her from all sides, their cold glares piercing into her terrified eyes as they followed her. When it became clear that there was no escape, the big sister sank to the floor in defeat. She could only tremble as they surrounded her in a predatory circle. Their shadows swallowed her up and proceeded to torment her to the next level. Looking into every one of their eyes, she could no longer escape as they forced her to relive the last moments of their deaths.
Burned alive. Decapitated. Eviscerated. Devoured. Murdered.
Murder. Murder! MURDERER!
"Nugggh!" Burying her face into the cold padding of the floor, she broke down and began to bawl.
Painful! It was so painful! Please no more!
"AAAAGGH!" Screaming at the top of her lungs did nothing to make it stop. Her head felt like it was about to explode. She wanted them to stop looking at her like that. She wanted them to forgive her. She would do anything…!
"Anything?" Her other self repeated with a wicked smile. " So what will we do to save them?"
Sobs leaked out of her mouth as she desperately tried to think of something. But she couldn't think. She couldn't breathe! She was scared…!
"Stop crying!" The harsh scolding was a slap to her face. "They do not want tears. Since we have already forgotten, they are reminding us of the important task that we must do." Feeling a cold pressure pressing down on her throat, she was forced to stop crying out. "Now answer us."
She would… she would take this ark to the heavens and…
A horrible color prism burned before her eyes - blending seven hues that surrounded the shadow of a certain man. The reason why they suffered all these years. Fear momentarily forgotten, a deep rage began to build inside her once more. Taking strength in her thirst for revenge, she began to rise. She clutched the red bracelet in her hand.
…Ah, she remembered now.
She would kill the gods who did this to her. Everyone who made her suffer would be destroyed. The ones responsible for taking everything from her would be annihilated. She would tear down heaven and make it rain blood. Hatred inside her spread like a wildfire, much to the delight of her inner beast.
Payback time was nearing. Their mournful howls, their dying gasps, and their blood at long last blanketing the eyes of her dead sisters. She would finally lay them to rest. That would be their lullaby. Finally, when it was all over, she would end this neverending nightmare by her own hands.
"That fish man is here. He is one of the people who hurt us - the one who profited most from our toil. We can sense his blood - his fear. He fears us." A giggle. " Why don't we start with him?"
Hungry. She was so hungry that her stomach kept roiling in pain. But her hunger wasn't something that could be filled by organic sustenance. It could only be sated by consuming the emotions of others. Fists shaking and eyes glowing a pernicious shade of pink, she eyed the holes that were starting to fill her room up with gas. Holding her breath, she adjusted the shape of her tendrils to become needle-like and clogged the ducts until they broke. It wasn't long until the guards came rushing in - ordering her to stop in that foreign language.
Her answer was to attach her tendrils to her knuckles, turning them into flexible, wiry claws. They rippled behind her like ribbons, following her every move. When she ripped open the ceiling and threw debris at them, they had no choice but to intervene. That was exactly what she was waiting for. Low on all fours, she darted around like an animal in a haphazard pattern. Tranquilizer rounds were fired but missed her by inches as it was difficult to predict her movements. They tried to stay back fifty meters as informed, but it was no use. She managed to dislodge her bed from the floor and flung it at them.
"Look out!" Distracted, they rolled to the other side of the room.
Before they could even think, she appeared right before their eyes and sliced their guns to ribbons with her razor-sharp tendrils. To their credit, the monster rabbits didn't panic but instead took out their umbrellas that would prove far more resilient against her psionic limbs. They finally caught her. Metal shrieked against her claws as they pinned her between them. Physically, they overpowered her.
But it didn't matter.
A growl rumbled in her throat as she locked eyes with them, hypnotizing them with the tomoe spinning in her pupils. She released a psionic pulse that left them momentarily stunned. She didn't hesitate to ensnare them. Fear. Bewilderment. Desperation. The intensity of their emotions affected her in a way that made her head pound. Because she needed to feed off the emotions of other living beings, she was forced to feel them as though they were her own. Sometimes they were overwhelming to the point where she felt she was the one being consumed. Doing so terrified her which was why she hesitated to partake on a daily basis.
But she hadn't eaten anything in years. Her starvation was no longer something she could ignore. She was so hungry she couldn't stand it…!
"Consume them." That was the last push she needed. "Make them puppets who will obey our every whim. Anyone who gets in the way will become fodder. Including that brute who brought us here."
They were trying to resist her from invading their minds, but it was no use.
Numb to their animalistic screams, she phased her tendrils through their brains and proceeded to drain them of their neuromodulators - leaving behind only rage. She ignored the pain she felt through them as she kept feeding. At last she felt strength returning to her body.
By the time their screams died, they were already driven out of their minds. But she wanted more. More . When she finally released them, they were no more than mindless beasts who were enslaved to their primal instinct to hunt and kill. They were consumed by their Yato Blood. They could not think for themselves. Their furious eyes took a pink sheen as she took control of their minds - or what was left of it, anyway.
Because she would require every ounce of energy in order to take over this gruesome ark, she would have to concentrate on nothing else but generating a deep hypnosis that would pit these monster rabbits against each other. Turning to one of the guards, she silently imposed her will on him.
"Grrr…" Growling in submission, he picked her up princess-style and carried her out the door. The other followed. Gunfire and blood curdling screams echoed as widespread panic took over the Hunter's Herd.
A mutiny in the 7th division had begun.
A/N: Once again, please leave a kudo and subscribe! If possible, let me know what you think in the comment section below. I always love hearing what you guys think of mad kagura or sexy kamui or other things!
*Kyoko - The first clone created from Kagura. The latter named her 'Kyoko' which means "mirror".
*Yato Blood: All Yato possess a dark, predatory side only concerned with fulfilling base desires such as killing and devouring. Sorachi calls this the "Yato Blood". Due to the near annihilation of their race, modern Yato today have learned to reign in their impulses with a higher level of logical reasoning unless their survival is threatened. However, Kagura's case is different. After being driven insane, her dark unconscious can emerge and communicate with her.
Next time on chapter 4: bad brother (but it's for real this time)
"After compiling years of research on the Yato makeup, I can say with confidence that there's a specific trigger for a Yato to awaken their berserker state." That hated woman's voice could be heard from the recording device. Kamui narrowed his eyes as he continued to listen. "It's different for every Night Rabbit, but the most common trigger appears to be trauma. For male Yato, their berserker state is activated when they're close to death. Usually from physical trauma. For females, however..." There was movement in the background. "Research indicates that emotional trauma is what sets them off. Such as the case with Subject Rouge and the other female Yato specimen - Subject Aurum."
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"If you do not activate your Yato Blood, then your precious Kyoko will be eaten alive by that alien." Nugo's cold voice created a chill in the air as both Kamui and Abuto continued to listen to the playback. Across from them, Nuru could only tremble in fear. "You said you lost your mother, your father, and your brother. Are you going to sit by and do nothing again? Are you going to let someone ravage your dear little sister because you couldn't protect her?"
"I-I'M TRYING! I'M TRYING!" Kagura's hysterical pleas could be heard over the roaring of the otherworldly beasts, along with another girl's screams. Her sobbing intensified as she kept begging the chief scientist. "Please don't kill her! I don't wanna lose my family anymore! PLEASE JUST LET ME TAKE HER PLACE!"
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"For Subject Rouge, her trigger is grief - or rather bereavement. The pain of losing her first sister, accompanied by the frustrated rage of being unable to protect the family she loved is what triggered her Yato Blood. But... the results were worse than we feared... though I will say that while my encounter with her other self didn't inflict physical injuries, the things she forced me to see - to feel... I wish she would've just killed me instead." The fishy director sobbed on the floor. Kamui's disgust turned to mild surprise when he suddenly reached out and grabbed his leg. "Please! Whatever you do, don't awaken her Yato Blood!" The young man blinked seeing the raw terror in his eyes. "If it happens again, just kill me! If you're smart, then you better do the same! It's better to die than have your mind eaten alive by that monstrosity!"
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"Is this how Kamui felt after losing to Papi? Because he couldn't save Mummy like he said...?"
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"Let me win already, stupid sister. Or rather... my violent Delilah." Kamui rumbled in a dark purr as he held the thrashing girl down by the wrists. "You've already succumbed to madness. Give me a taste of it, too." When she tried to use her tendrils, he only pressed down on her throat harder - cutting off her oxygen. "Kagura. Onii-chan is talking to you. Listen when I'm talking to you."
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"...Oh, it's on." A feral growl left his throat as he touched the wound she left behind when she kissed him. Then his smile became shadowed with viciousness, licking his chops. "That's cheating, little sister!" He called after her with a thin, furious smile. "Ka~gu~ra~!" He flung rubble at her, which she managed to dodge. "You shouldn't tease your elders like that! Onii-chan will get the wrong idea." He cocked his head, cracking his knuckles. "If you're serious about enticing me, at least put on a cute act instead of looking like you want to eviscerate me!" Despite his blitheness, he was beyond pissed that she managed to get the best of him using one of the oldest tricks in the books. If it were any other woman, he wouldn't have fumbled the way he did as honey trap tactics never worked on him. He was a hard man to seduce, after all. Rather, it was because it was her that he didn't expect such an attack, and therefore - his mind couldn't process how to handle her in that moment. And she exploited him.
No one got the best of him. Not even her.
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"Captain, watch out!" Abuto warned him a second too late. True to his moniker, the captain's reflexes were faster than lightning. He was caught off guard when Kagura took him by surprise. He moved his head out of the way just as she clawed at him with diamond sharp nails. His hair wasn't as lucky.
That scarlet braid came undone as a fine portion of his hair was chopped off and left floating in scarlet wisps. It was uneven and half the length compared to its previous state - barely past his shoulders. The men present gawked in horror at their commander's underwhelming reaction - or lack of one thereof.
Kagura, meanwhile, appeared dissatisfied at failing to behead him, though Abuto caught a flicker of smugness across her face.
"Sneak attacks are cowardly, Kagura." Kamui stated without an ounce of cheer, ignoring the blood dribbling down from the fresh wound on his cheek. Uh oh. He was dead serious - which meant he was completely and utterly pissed . "You probably don't remember, but the only reason I kept my hair that long was in memory of our dear mother. Since you destroyed that last connection I had with her, it's only natural that I return the favor!"
.
"That rainy night you left, when you said you had no use for weaklings…" Red hair drifted around her like a fox's mane, the girl's voice dropped a pitch as she cupped her chin in both hands. "Who was it you were really talking to? The crybaby sister who begged you not to go? Or your former self who tried to be a hero but died at his father's feet in a pool of his own blood?"
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"Those who died at your hands will submerge you in a red lake of your piled up sins. Now die drowning in the blood you love so much." Her words were cruel, but the smile she gave him was heartbreakingly sweet and pure - just like when she was a child. "But don't worry. Mummy will surely be there to greet you with open arms. That way, you won't be lonely." She whispered. "We adore you. We despise you… the boy who was once our hero… our… my beloved Nii-chan."
"Ka…gu…" The pirate gasped, his throat mottled with the effort to breathe. For one time in his life, a twinge of fear flashed across his eyes as all power and control was wrenched away from him. Survival instinct kicked in as he violently resisted his fate, even going so far as to dig his nails into the white skin of her exposed back. But this time, the little sister wouldn't let him go even as he made her bleed.