Minato sat down on the bench and wiped his eyes. "…" he felt like shit. Currently, Hamuko was being looked at by the doctors while the rest waited outside. The wait was driving him insane.
"What good am I if I can't even protect her?" Minato said to himself, holding onto his gut which was still being ravaged by the damn disease.
"Arisato," Mitsuru stood next to him and handed him a pill which Minato recognized. "Take it. You'll fee better."
Minato shakily took the pill and after a few more seconds, he threw it away. "N-No, if she's in pain and so am I…"
Mitsuru picked it up and presented it to Minato again.
"Get lost bitch," Minato spat.
"You need to be alive when she comes back," Mitsuru said.
"…" Minato took the pill and gulped it down. He leaned back and closed his eyes as the pain slowly started diminishing but the pain in his chest remained along with the dreadful anxiety.
"Minato, why are you taking those?" Yukari gulped.
"Because I'm sensitive at this time of the month," the blue haired male scowled. "I'm going to die you moron, haven't you heard it enough!?"
"…. Why didn't you tell us?" Akihiko looked at Mitsuru who quickly looked away.
"Who gives a shit about you?" Minato spat, since Hamuko wasn't there, Minato's rage was at an all-time high. "Remember my fucking words; if anything happens to her then you'll die along with me!"
An eerie silence prevailed. Normally, Junpei would have been the first one to snap back at Minato but this time, he was quiet. He couldn't wrap his head around the fact that Minato was going to die.
"Ugh," Minato clutched his head and cracked it against the wall, much to everyone's surprise. "That damn…." he really had no words for Takaya. That bastard caused it all. He was the one who put Hamuko in the hospital.
"I'm going to leave one of you alive so you can be my witness," Minato stared them down at the team shivered. "I'll burn his cords down and gouge his eyes out…." Minato said, gnawing his teeth.
"Calm down," Fuuka said weakly.
Minato nodded. "You better hope….." he said. "You better hope…"
"Minato?" Yukari shivered, the blood lust was evident in his eyes. He was like a crazed demon without Hamuko nearby.
Deep down, Minato's sanity was starting to crack again. It just wasn't him who was sad and distraught; something inside his soul was going crazy. He was barely able to control his temple and not bathe the hallway with everyone's blood.
The team stood away from Minato, a little wary of him….. except for Junpei who was still standing very close to him for some reason. Minato didn't bother talking to him, he was saving his strength for the massacre that he was going to give Junpei later on.
Soon enough, the doctor stepped out from the room which housed Hamuko. The older male shivered when he looked into Minato's eyes, sent a chill up his spine, Minato looked demented and hurt.
"How is she?" Mitsuru asked.
Minato gazed at the doctor again. "Better be some good news or else…."
"….. I will not lie," the doctor replied. "Her wounds are pretty severe…."
"Fuck you!" Minato made a mad dash and knocked the doctor to the ground. He held out his fist to knock his lights out but he was restrained soon enough by his seniors.
Minato growled and shoved them both away. "I warned you!" he whipped around and faced the team with a murderous glint in his eyes. "I fucking told you!"
"Calm down!" Mitsuru yelled at him but Minato screeched in return, clenching his fists.
"I told you to keep her away from the goddamn counterattack, you stupid bitch," Minato glared the most intense of glares at the senior redhead. "This is your entire damn fault!"
"…" Mitsuru gritted her teeth. Seemed like Minato was going crazy again….
Nobody made a move; they knew one step could set Minato off the edge. The blue haired psycho kept staring them down. He then turned around and kicked the downed doctor right in the gut, much to the surprise of everyone.
"Get your ass in there and do something!" Minato growled, literally kicking his ass which sent him a good distance away. "Get going! Your life depends on this."
"She doesn't want this," Yukari tried to calm him down but Minato snapped and soon enough, he was right next to her, holding her wrist in a tight grip.
"The fuck do you know!?" Minato yelled, refusing to let go as Akihiko and Shinjiro tried to pull him away. "HUH!?"
Yukari bit her lip, the pain in his eyes was clear, despite all the insanity and blood lust lurking about.
Minato finally had enough of the pulling and he turned around to shove the seniors away.
Mitsuru took another step forward and Minato pulled out his blade with another screech. "I'm going to kill all of you, you sons of bitches!"
The team started shaking as Minato twirled the knife around and widened his eyes.
"…"
"…"
"Fuck…" Minato whispered and threw the knife away before running away. He was already a mess in front of the team and didn't want to further embarrass himself by sobbing.
Fuuka heaved a sigh of relief.
Mitsuru shook her head. "He's ruthless and callous but for some reason….. I can't blame him this time."
"Poor Minato-kun," Yukari sighed.
Junpei walked forward and eyed Minato's retreating figure. "…"
"What are you planning?" Akihiko asked before shaking his head. "Don't do it. He'll most likely blame you for all this and attack you."
"I know," Junpei took off his cap. "But he took his beating without a word…. And so will I…" and he walked off, following Minato.
"Aigis," Mitsuru ordered. "Don't get too close but keep an eye on him. Minato is unstable right now."
"I understand," the mechanical maiden nodded.
…
Minato wiped his eyes clean but the tears just kept flowing. "Shit…" he cussed, wiping them away with his sleeve. Hamuko took the shots for him; she protected him and risked her life for him….. but despite that, Minato felt horrible.
He didn't know how long it would take for her to wake up but spending that time alone….. Minato had no idea on how to deal with that. He was going to kill SEES and Strega if Hamuko passed away but what would he do after that….?
Minato wiped his eyes again and searched for a hanky. "I feel so pathetic…" even when he was avoiding Hamuko back in the summer, Minato didn't feel this pathetic. Hamuko took the bullets…. What did that make him and what was he good for after this?
The footsteps approaching made Minato tense and angry. He glanced back and saw Junpei standing there.
"Go away," Minato ordered, his voice dangerous and low.
Junpei didn't falter and walked towards him.
"This is your damn fault," Minato spat. "You fucking weakling!"
"…"
"You caused all of this," Minato hissed, rubbing his eyes again.
"Yeah," Junpei agreed. "If I wasn't as weak….. Maybe this wouldn't have happened."
Minato snorted. "Pathetic."
"I always thought your streak towards Hamuko was nothing but a farce," Junpei admitted and Minato bit his lip. Junpei thought back to the event a few hours ago. Minato was vomiting out blood but was still yelling and shoving people to go help Hamuko instead of him.
"….If something does happen to her," Junpei said slowly and Minato started tearing up once again, clutching his head.
"I'll take my beating and punishment," Junpei continued, standing by his side.
Minato bit his lip.
"Just like you did…."
Minato's knees wobbled and he grabbed onto Junpei's shoulder for support. "Dammit…" the shorter male cried as Junpei supported him to stand, slowly patting him on the back.
"Damn it all," Minato sobbed again, hitting Junpei lightly on the shoulders but the capped teen didn't even feel them. They were so weak as Minato was thoroughly exhausted.
"I'm sorry Minato," Junpei apologized, still holding onto his leader.
SMASH!
Minato blinked through the tears.
Magician Link Rank 1.
…
Minato sat beside Hamuko and let out a sigh, the conversation with Junpei somehow helped him. The blue haired teen gazed hard at Hamuko who was still out.
"I'll remember this forever," Minato squeezed her hand. "And I'll make sure Takaya never forgets as well." Dark Hour and shadows be dammed, Minato had just one objective in mind, he was going to kill Takaya in the most brutal, most remorseless way possible.
"I goddamn swear," Minato promised. "I'm going to kill him and take him to hell with me."
Hamuko's heartbeat settled somewhat as Minato squeezed a little harder. "And over there, I'll hurt him the worst."
The days slowly passed. Minato spent most of his time in the hospital in the hospital, totally ignoring everyone and everything until he started getting more bouts of sadism and rage. Hamuko was slowly getting better and Minato was keen not to disappoint her when she would awake and so, he ended up going to school to keep his mind off stuff.
SEES also had captured, or more like, detained Chidori who was left behind by Strega. For some reason, despite all that she did, Junpei didn't end up hating her. Mitsuru and the other seniors routinely tried to force her to talk but she never did. All she did was yell and kick when they mentioned her evoker or took away her sketchbook.
"Where is he!?" Minato yelled at her but she didn't answer. His blood lust wasn't affecting her in the slightest.
Dozens of security guard were around the two since Mitsuru knew Minato could lose his temper at any second and kill her and she didn't want that to happen. They needed Chidori alive.
"Damn bitch!" Minato bulldozed his way through the guards and grabbed a hold of her collar. "Tell me or I'll give you a reason to be emo about!" and the guards restrained him, pulling him away from the mentally unstable female.
"Let me go!" Minato yelled and started kicking and punching whoever came into his range.
The door was smashed opened and Junpei stepped inside. "Dude, chill down!"
Minato glared at him.
"I'll try, I promise," he gave the blue haired teen a small smile. The only one who could actually talk normally with Chidori was Junpei and he had the best chance to get valuable information.
Minato kicked the last guard away and stomped his way out of the room as Junpei sat next to Chidori.
…
Minato scouted the entire damn island for the blasted leader of Strega. Every building and apartment in the back of Port Island, heck, Minato even broke into suspicious looking houses but he couldn't find Takaya or any of his cronies.
Despite being injured, Minato hoped he would run into Theo and Sho, they would give him a hell of a battle but at least he had the chance to get something out of them.
Minato's body started to pain again and he quickly gulped down a pill to control it. "Clock is ticking…." his time was extremely limited but he was hell bent on erasing Strega before his own death.
"Fucking bitches," Minato spat out. Hamuko collapsing onto him in a bloody heap almost made Minato take his knife out and maul the nearest coffins but he sighed and walked off.
…
Takaya played with his revolver with a smirk on his face. He didn't manage to hurt Minato but ended up hurting the next best thing. The damn girl he was so attached to and ever since then, he couldn't stop smiling.
"Bang, bang," Takaya grinned as he remembered her yell and Minato's sobs. It all pleased him. He finally one upped Minato but he wasn't done by a longshot.
"You seem happy," Tsukio said, leaning back on the chair.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Takaya smirked wider. "I can't forget that look of fear on Minato's fear. That was the first time I've seen that expression on his face. Such raw emotion, I could taste it and I want more of it."
"I loved it too but you better be cautious," Tsukio gritted her teeth. "You've got a blood thirsty psychopath out for your life. Minato is the most demented son of a bitch I've ever seen and he's probably going crazy right now…"
"I welcome the challenge," Takaya said. "This isn't over between us."
"Well, hope you kill his ass," Tsukio said. "Or else, he'll kill everyone one of us."
"We'll have to kill Hamuko first," Takaya said. "Is Theo completely healed?"
"Almost, he took an ungodly beating in the club. I'm surprised that he was able to fight again,"
"Excellent," Takaya smiled again. "First, his reason dies and then he dies."
"The disease won't take his life," Takaya shot the blub on the ceiling. "I will."
…
Minato paced around the room, his eyes fixated on the redhead who was slowly getting better. The bullets reached in deep but they were healing slowly. Minato exhausted himself everyday by healing her for the entire Dark Hour and it was slowly starting to show.
He hadn't eaten or slept properly in days and all the constant healing sessions were taking a toll on his mind and energy but he didn't care.
"Wake up, dammit," Minato sighed. "I want you to be there when I maul Takaya."
"Be there so he'll kiss your feet," Minato sat back on the seat and exhaled. "Please, Hamuko…"
…
Takaya panted, the procedure was always painful but the power he got in return was more than worth it.
"Are you okay?" Jin asked.
"Never better," Takaya smirked through a mouthful of blood. "One step closer to matching Minato."
"What if Sho finds out about the plumes?"
Takaya grinned and grabbed another one. "No worries. I don't think he can do anything now."
"Can you spare me one too?"
Takaya tossed it at Jin. "Yes you need it too. I don't need to take my medication ever since I started taking these. If Hamuko doesn't die by the final full moon, you'll be the one to kill her."
"You got it," Jin nodded. "What about Tsukio?" she was an artificial persona user just like them and she could use the plumes too.
"Send her for the hospital during the Dark Hour, the first assassination attempt commences tonight,"
"Minato is there," Jin informed. "And he's more crazed than ever before."
Takaya shrugged, giving the answer. Jin nodded.
….
Minato finally slipped to sleep and Tsukio entered the hospital after making sure that Minato was asleep.
"Zzz…" Minato was still holding onto Hamuko's hand.
Tsukio bit her lip, this was extremely dangerous and Takaya literally forced her to do this. She slipped into the darkness and slowly made her way towards the room.
"…" Minato opened his eyes slightly, he could feel someone coming. He looked at the side to see Pharos grinning at him, this was the first time ever that Pharos gave such a huge grin and it reeked off rage and blood lust.
"Someone is coming," Pharos widened his eyes, tugging on Minato's sleeve. "Rip her guts out and burn her body to ashes."
"Heh," Minato was starting to like the kid even more. He closed his eyes once again as the presence got closer and closer.
Tsukio slipped inside from underneath the door and still remained hidden. "Phew…" Minato was fast asleep and Hamuko was still knocked out. She carefully pulled out her knife and locked her gaze on the defenceless redhead.
Minato's lip twitched slightly.
Tsukio jumped out from the shadows, aiming to impale Hamuko's heart but Minato intercepted the attack, taking the knife right in his end.
"Shit!" Tsukio cussed as Minato tried to clench his fist but it didn't work since the knife shredded through his flesh and was stuck inside.
Despite that, Minato looked the raven haired female in the eye and gave out a haunting laugh, scaring the crap outta the female.
Tsukio backed away and bit her lip. Minato was shaking with an insane smirk on his face. He stood in front of Hamuko and slowly licked the blood on his hand.
"Thank you for coming here," Minato thanked, roughly running down his nails down his face, cutting himself up slightly. "HAHAHAHAHAH!"
Tsukio cursed under her breath.
"This will be the longest hour of your pathetic life," Minato said with another psycho smirk. "I have waited so damn long to maul and abuse someone. Thank you for coming here, bitch!"
"…"
"HAHAHAHA!" Tsukio also saw a blue eyed boy laughing right next to Minato and his appearance struck unimaginable terror that reached into her very soul. It was like she was staring at Death itself…..
"Kill her, mutilate her," Pharos ordered and melted into the darkness.
Minato cracked his knuckles and snickered. It was time to let loose the pent up hatred.
There you go. Expect more chaos and shit in the next chapter. Yes, Pharos is fucked up too, why wasn't he before? Simple, he had no memories and now he's gotten a lot back. He's finally remembering who he is and for that, he's prolly more deranged than Minato because he is Death.
Anyway, review as always. The next one might take a while since my co-author isn't that good at writing battles but still, it will be done.
Bye.