An ear-piercing scream reverberated throughout the empty warehouse. Rozu plugged his ears with his fingers, grimacing from the sound.

"K-Kurofiru-sama…" He gulped nervously upon regarding the horrific scene in front of him. Kurofiru had his hands suspended over Hinamori, her body glowing in green light emitted from his palms. The woman was all but unconscious, tears dripping down her cheeks, her body stripped of all clothing as she laid on the cushions of the downtrodden couch in the center of the warehouse. The blood had finally dried over the past few days, staining the fabric and concrete floor, but the severed stump of what remained of her arm was now pulpy and yellow with puss. Sweat dripped down his brow but the man refused to budge. The infection is getting worse, I need to focus. His eyes flickered to the teen. "Rozu, not one more word. I need to concentrate." The dark-haired man muttered, pouring more cursed energy into his palms.

"My apologies, if only I got here sooner, maybe we would've been able to sanitize the wound before-" He cringed as another scream tore from her lips. Every motion made by Kurofiru's hands resulted in the release of a blood-curdling cry.

"Rozu, it's fine. Leave me." He replied, trying to focus on healing the girl. Plant-like tendrils began to peek out from the socket of her severed arm. He shook his head vehemently, snapping his head towards the spirit behind him. "I can't do it, she needs antibiotics. Now."

Honshoji had been inspecting his nails offhandedly, bored and apathetic of what was happening around him, before he tilted his chin up to face the man. "Hm? Oh, hush Ku-chan… you're so close! I can feel it!"

"I told you, I can't use whatever stupid backwards cursed technique you keep telling me to do." Kurofiru growled, emitting more power to his palms.

"It's 'Reverse Cursed Technique', for your information." The spirit chirped, waggling his finger in front of him. "You have to try harder- all you're doing is using your cursed technique to force plants to grow and feed off the infection, but it's not going to save her in time."

"Well then why don't you do it then, since you know so much about it." He spat, struggling to emit the white light. However, the glowing in his palms remained green.

Honshoji rolled his eyes before he grinned. "Because it's more fun watching you humans struggle with it, duh!"

"Liar." Honshoji blinked, his lips faltering, as he glanced at the Rozu, who glowered at him while jabbing his finger accusingly. "It's because you can't, isn't it?"

Suddenly, the spirit snapped his fingers and the boy's gut burst open, blood splattering out and covering the floor. With a strangled gargle, he fell to the floor.

Kurofiru whirled around in shock, but Honshoji raised another finger and in an instant, the teen was back to his original standing position, his stomach unblemished as if nothing had ever happened. The teen then gasped and collapsed on all fours, breathing heavily as cold sweat dripped down his brow.

He raised his head, his eyes wild as he gazed at the spirit. "W-What just-"

"Oh, honey. It's not that I can't- I just don't need to. See? You're good as new, as if nothing had happened." Honshoji smiled innocently as he tilted his head. "Anyways, next time don't interrupt me, m'kay?"

He turned back to the dark-haired man, who shook his head, his eyes warning his subordinate to stand down. "Anyways, like I was saying. Ku-chan, it's so easy, all you have to do is just use two forms of cursed energy to produce positive energy."

Kurofiru furrowed his brow in annoyance. "Right, and where do I find another form of cursed energy besides my own?"

The cursed spirit smirked. "Did you already forget? You may have always had cursed energy, but that night… something manifested in you. Use it."

He opened his eyes with a gasp, pushing himself to a seated position on a dilapidated couch as he whirled his head wildly to inspect his surroundings. He was no longer in his house. He was now in an abandoned warehouse, the walls deteriorating and rubble scattered around the vicinity.

He glanced at his unblemished wrists: they were now healed… ? He recalled the sanguine massacre he had left behind… his parents… all the blood…

He choked as he felt a strong energy burst from his chest. He fell back on his side, curling up in pain as he grappled with the stained fabric. Visions of murder, carnage, and destruction danced in his eyes and he shut them tightly. However, in the darkness, a monstrous being appeared in his mind, its crimson-red eyes locked onto his as it snarled, pawing at the ground while plant-like tendrils began to crawl towards him-

"Ah, you're finally awake." He snapped his eyes open and turned his head to the right to see a pale… human (?), who was literally iridescent, with gold chains hanging on on his limbs, his eyes eerily pale in color.

When he raised a hand to give a friendly wave, he grimly noted six fingers on the appendage. 'No… not human.'

"Who are you? Where am I?" He murmured cautiously.

"Name's Honshoji, I'm a cursed spirit. And you're alive, thanks to me." His pale eyes were twinkling with amusement.

'Cursed spirit…? What the fuck?' He gritted his teeth, feeling the being inside bristling with anticipation. "What did you do to me?"

"Hm? Oh, that wasn't me- that curse is all you." The spirit shrugged. "You REALLY hated your life, huh?"

He furrowed his brow, cold sweat dripping down his neck. "Curse? What the hell are you talking about?"

Honshoji gave him a shrewd smile. "Oh, my friend… there is so much you have to learn."

Kurofiru gritted his teeth before shutting his eyes and taking another deep breath, tapping into his core. A dangerous growl bellowed from the center of his body. In the dark crevices of his mind, he could see the being lift its eyelids sluggishly to reveal crimson-red irises, opening its jaws slowly as it licked its teeth in anticipation.

After the man exhaled, he opened his eyes and narrowed his gaze, beginning to channel its power. The glowing in his palms flickered white. The being's eyes snapped open and it roared, rearing its head back. Kurofiru choked as a surge of unknown energy began to flood his system… his consciousness began to grow hazy as bloodlust filled his mind. Once again, the visions returned: bodies split open, cries of despair, screams of mercy…

He gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain emitting the two forms of cursed energy. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he couldn't bear it anymore, choosing to divert his focus to calming the being; however, by doing so, the light in his palms returned to green.

He finally doubled over in exhaustion, breathing heavily as the being inside stood down, gradually returning dormant.

"This is ridiculous. Rozu, go get some antibiotics." He ran a hand over his face. "We're running out of time."

Rozu immediately scrambled to his feet. "S-Sir, what kind-?"

"As many as you can find. Go." Without another word, the teen disappeared.

Kurofiru began to stand; however, suddenly he felt the wind get knocked out of him as his body was rooted in place. His limbs were immobilized; his lungs were unable to expand or compress… he couldn't breathe.

"This is so disappointing." Honshoji sighed, kneeling in front of him, his pale eyes dimmed with sorrow. "Last time I heard someone was possessed, they were able to utilize the curse so easily. I'm pretty sure he's now a special grade sorcerer." He clicked his tongue in disapproval. " And look at you, you suppress it within yourself like some caged bird. Are you that scared?"

"I… don't…" He could barely speak, every word choking out of his frozen lips. "... take…. orders… from…. you."

"But you owe me, do you not?" Honshoji grinned maniacally. "That night I found you… you would've died without me."

"I…" The spirit raised a finger and the man felt his lungs release. He gulped in air, breathing heavily as he glowered at the spirit. "I was dead."

"Yes, and I brought you back, so you should be grateful." He moved closer and placed his lips next to his ear. "Otherwise, you'd be with your precious mommy and daddy."

White, hot anger washed over him and he emitted a blast of cursed energy, breaking free from his frozen state. He lunged at the spirit, who lithely dodged to the right. "Fuck you!"

"Oooh, mommy AND daddy issues still, huh?" Honshoji goaded, swiftly evading his blows. "Man, you'd think after all this time- logically you'd just get over it at this point. You humans hold such grudges."

The man saw red, raising his arm to form a serrated edge of leaves as he sliced at the spirit. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Memories of their cold faces invaded his mind: the sneer from his father as he beat his head into the floor for accidentally missing a spot when he cleaned the plates, or missing a few points on an exam, the look of disgust from his mother as he begged for her help…

"Yet, even as you laid there next to your butchered parents… with your dying breath, you looked up at me." Honshoji flipped backwards, landing and hovering in the air above them and he closed his eyes, as though recalling a fond memory. "Your eyes spoke to me. You wanted to live and make things right, that's what you told me, and that's why I erased any remainder of your previous life."

"Except you didn't, because SHE is still alive!" Kurofiru roared, clasping his palms together to summon a wall of tendrils that burst from the ground.

"E-Excuse me, onii-san? Are you alright?"

He paused his swinging and turned his head to the right to see a little girl with braids approaching him on the swingset. Her eyes were owlishly wide underneath a pair of thick glasses. She wore a pink tie, crisp white blouse and pleated blue skirt, silky red ribbons in her hair. Judging by her uniform, she had to be at least a year or two younger than him.

He pulled his hoodie over his bruised face, pushing himself off the saddle as he began to walk away.

"W-Wait, onii-san!" He felt a small tug on his clothes and he panicked, throwing his arm out to slap her grasp away, unwittingly falling flat on his butt in the grass.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!" She immediately knelt in front of him, reaching into her backpack to pull out a first aid kit.

"I just live down the street there." She pointed at a burgundy-roofed townhouse before she opened the kit. "I see you here a lot when I come home from school, do you live around here?"

He hesitated before nodding his head. She let out a bright smile as she took out some cotton and a bottle of disinfecting alcohol.

"T-That's great! My name's Qian, let's be friends!"

The spirit flew into the air and the man followed closely behind, snarling as he threw a wall of leaves forward.

"Now, now, let's just calm down a bit. How was I supposed to know she would survive? And if anything, this is a sign of fate." Honshoji grinned, maneuvering away from the onslaught. "Now you have a chance to kill her yourself- truly embrace the experience of fully erasing your past… Then, you'll truly have overcome your past and metamorphosize into someone new, worthy of fulfilling your goal."

The man roared as he drew close for direct hand-to-hand combat to throw another kick, and the spirit dodged once more. He remained evasive to his blows.

"Come on, why are you so angry with me?" He hung upside down in the air, placing his hands behind his head as his gold chains dangled. "You know how I am by now."

"My life isn't a game!" He shot out a barrage of leaves. "All of this, the nature of man… Humanity… it's not a fucking game!"

"But it is! Don't you see?" Honshoji stopped the attack midair with a flick of his wrist. "This is all a game! A game that we're just about to win!"

"Sir!" They turned to see Rozu reappear, with bags of antibiotic bottles in his arms. Kurofiru, with one last glare, immediately shot down to land beside him, peering into the bags to inspect each bottle.

Honshoji sighed, floating down to the ground. "The attachment you humans form with others, it's almost endearing… if not just pathetic."

The man ignored him and took a syringe to begin injecting the medication into the woman. Honshoji shook his head. "Alright, alright… fine. How about this, as my gift to you, how about I bring her to you myself- instead of having you and your cronies fail over and over again? Hm? How does that sound?"

Kurofiru refused to look at him. After a moment, he took a breath. "Stay the fuck out of my way."

The spirit shrugged, a knowing look passing over his face. "Suit yourself."

—-

Qian slowly walked up the steps of her house, standing at the front door. With everything that happened, and with Shoko's urging, she ultimately decided to take a few days off.

She sighed dejectedly before shaking her head vigorously to brush away her despondent thoughts.

"N-Nii-san, I'm home!" She called as she opened the door, peering into the hallway.

However, there was no response. She glanced up the stairs. He must be in his office working late.

She hopped up the steps, strolling to his room. She raised her hand to knock before she suddenly heard an unknown voice.

"Any updates?"

"None since last we spoke." She recognized her brother's voice. "She's been out of the lab recently, so her notebook has no new findings."

"Unfortunate. You must periodically check it for any new information. It's critical to our goal."

Must be about a new client. She felt bad eavesdropping on her brother's conversation, so she rapped her knuckles against the wood.

Suddenly, the talking abruptly stopped and there was a soft rustling sound. Moments later, her brother swung the door open with a worried smile. His hazel eyes seemed exhausted as he scrutinized her from head to toe.

"Qian!" Zeng threw his meaty arms around her small frame. "Where were you?! Your school called and said you had to go on an emergency trip somewhere?"

She gave a nervous chuckle, pushing herself onto her tiptoes to return his embrace and patted his back heartily. "Sorry, Nii-san- they needed my help with setting up a new lab so I had to go away for a few days. I-I'm okay though!"

"Well that's good." He pulled back and grasped her shoulders, giving her a glance over. "Are you okay? You look tired."

"Y-You do as well." She forced a smile on her face. "B-but I'm fine. They're letting me take some time off so I'll be home for a while."

"Really?! Aw man, that's great!" Zeng hugged her tightly once more. "It's great timing too, you'll never guess who's flying back tomorrow!"

—-

"Your parents are coming back?!"

A couple days later, Qian and Miyano were sitting in a small bubble tea shop. The dark-haired girl nodded. "T-They want to celebrate their 20th anniversary and they're throwing a huge party since all their friends are here."

"Ooooh that's so fun!" Miyano gushed. "And lemme guess, knowing Chase and Yi-lang, they're inviting EVERYONE and forcing you to as well."

Qian giggled softly, playing with the napkin laid in front of her. "Y-Yes, exactly. So…"

"Not another word- I'm in." Miyano slurped her passion fruit tea. "Are you gonna invite anyone from your school?"

Qian bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Y-Yep, they've all been good to me so I'm going to ask them all if they'd like to come."

Miyano furrowed her brow, narrowing her blue eyes at her friend. "...all of them?"

Qian's smile faltered, but she nodded once more. The blonde sighed, propping her chin on top of her left hand. "You know, you really don't need to invite him."

"What do you mean? Of course I do!" Her voice came out more high-pitched than normal and she cleared her throat, taking a sip of her brown sugar milk tea, hoping in vain that the girl didn't notice.

She did, and she frowned as she interlaced her fingers, placing them down on the wooden surface of the table. She leaned forward, her eyes softening in sympathy. "Qiqi, you don't need to do anything. He completely broke your heart."

"N-No, he didn't! I always knew I didn't stand a chance- I never expected anything!" The bespectacled girl protested, waving her hands wildly in front of her. "B-Besides, he was very gentle with his answer and isn't forcing me to leave, so I couldn't ask for more."

Miyano chewed on her straw pensively. "I still think it'll be awkward, but it is your decision. If he hurts you again though- I will give him a signature Miyano-knuckle-sandwich."

Qian chuckled appreciatively. "T-Thank you Miyano-chan, but I'll be okay, really!"

They fell into momentary silence, before Miyano's head perked up. "Oh! That reminds me, will that gray-haired guy be there? The one who's uniform had a high collar."

"I-Inumaki-san?" Qian tilted her head quizzically. "I-I mean, I was planning on inviting him for sure, but-"

"Okay awesome, he's cute!" She grinned coyly. "He has this weird mysterious quiet thing going on, it kinda does it for me."

"R-Really?" Qian raised her brows as she tilted her head in confusion. "I always thought you went for- um-"

"Jocky muscle-heads? So did I! But you know how those always turn out." Miyano waved her hand dismissively. "I wanna try someone new."

"I-I think that's a good idea! He's very nice!" She agreed adamantly, recalling their few silent, but amicable interactions.

"Ehhh…if he's too nice, I'll get bored." Miyano swallowed some of the lychee jelly in her drink. Qian shook her head with a soft smile. She had constantly reprimanded her friend for turning down perfectly chivalrous men, but the blonde was always difficult in the romance field. "Anyways, so when do you go back? It's been a few days right?"

Qian pulled out her phone to open the calendar app. "I'll probably go back early next week. Ieiri-sensei told me to take off longer but… I think I'm close to figuring out something with my research and want to try it out."

Miyano raised a skeptical brow as she swallowed her drink. "You sure? I mean, if they're okay with you taking off longer, I think you should. I feel like it's a bit soon to run into that guy, don't you think?"

"N-Nah, don't worry, I'll be fine!" Qian held her hands up in tight fists. "I-I'm stronger than I look, I got this!"