From the moment she was born, Natsumi was different. It was something beyond her control yet she was abandoned at birth for it. At first she didn't really understand how she was different but a few bullies made it clear as day.
She remembered it was a sunny day, she was watching some ants. There were definitely three bullies that approached her, but she couldn't remember their names or even their appearances and voices for whatever reason.
"Hey look, it's the freak," bully A said.
"What's it doing, eating ants?" Bully B asked.
"I'm not an it, I'm a girl," Natsumi growled.
"That's not what my parents said," bully A snickered. "They said you got a dick even though you look like a girl. You can't be both so you're neither!"
"I said I was a girl and I am," Natsumi growled louder.
"No you aren't!" Bully A shouted. "You only think you are, but you'll always be a disgusting freak!"
"Unless you chop it off," bully C chimed in.
"Hey that's a great idea!" Bully A said. "Let's get it and cut its dick off!"
Before Natsumi could run, the bullies tackled her and pinned her on the ground. She tried to shove them off or at least wriggle out from under them, but she was powerless against their combined might. Regardless she still tried to fight and even managed to bite one of the bullies and make them bleed.
"OW it bite me!" Bully B cried.
"Suck it up!" Bully C yelled at him.
"Uncle!" Natsumi screamed at the top of her lungs. "Unc-!"
"Shut up!" Bully A kicked her in the head. "You said you're a girl so this will actually make you one."
"Wait a minute what are we gonna chop it off with?" Bully B asked.
"Uh… I know, a rock," Bully A said.
"You can't cut with a rock," bully C said.
"I'll just use it to smash the dick into bloody bits," bully A smiled with a sadistic grin.
"How bout I smash in your face with a rock instead," a masculine voice shouted.
"Huh?" Bully A turned to the voice only to be hit by a rock directly into his face. "Aaaagh!"
"Oh shit it's the hermit!" Bully B said. "He's insane!"
"Run!" Bully C said, releasing Natsumi and running away as fast as they could.
Despite their visible retreat, the attacker continued to throw rocks at them. Some missed but most of them hit leaving the bullies bruised and bleeding all over. Natsumi watched with satisfaction until the bullies escaped back to the safety of the Aerie.
"You alive, girl?" The masculine voice asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Natsumi got up and wiped the grass and dirt off of her.
When she turned around she saw her uncle standing beside her. He was a tall man with short curly blonde hair and calm purple eyes. Despite his lovely golden locks he wasn't very well kept dressed in rags and with a lot of stubbles on his face. On his head was his fedora. His greatest pride and joy, second only to her.
"Thanks uncle Kizakura," Natsumi said.
"I told ya, if you're ever in trouble just shout and I'll be there," her uncle winked. "Now let's get you cleaned up, you look like shit."
Natsumi laughed at his swear and followed him into their shack. Though the seriousness of what just happened was still on her mind.
…
Back in the messy hut they called home, Kizakura sat her down at the table and cleaned her off with a washcloth.
"Those brats never learn," Kizakura growled. "They didn't get you anywhere else did they?"
"No," Natsumi said, her eyes becoming blurry with tears.
"If you need to cry, cry," Kizakura said.
"No! I'm not crying!" Natsumi snapped. "Crying is for weak little girls!"
"Well I agree you're not that weak, but you'll always be my little girl," Kizakura smiled. "Screw anyone that says otherwise."
"But my…," Natsumi looked down.
"Doesn't matter what's down there," Kizakura said before placing a fist on his chest. "Who you are is based on this right here, your heart. Or if you want to sound manlier, your soul. So based on that what do you feel like?"
"A girl," Natsumi said.
"Then you're a girl," Kizakura patted her head. "If anyone questions that they can eat shit."
"I wish I could beat the shit out of those bullies that attacked me," Natsumi said.
"Hmm in that case maybe I can teach you some fighting moves," Kizakura said.
"Really?!" Natsumi perked up.
"Really," Kizakura smiled. "But first I have something for you. Close your eyes."
"What is it?" Natsumi asked as she kept her eyes close.
"I was gonna wait to give you this on your birthday, but now feels like the best time," Kizakura said as he placed something on her head that smelled sweet. "Alright now open."
Natsumi opened her eyes to see her face reflected in a broken hand mirror Kizakura held up. On top of her head was a crown of beautiful white flowers she had never seen before.
"I found a bunch of these while I was out gathering food in the mountains," Kizakura said. "I figured they'd be perfect for my resilient little niece."
"Thanks… uncle," Natsumi smiled and hugged him. "You're the best."
"You too," Kizakura hugged her back.
…
From that day forward Kizakura taught Natsumi how to better defend herself. Admittedly he wasn't a professional fighter but he tried his best. She joined him to gather food from the mountains instead of leaving her at home. Her strength and skill improved with these two activities with each year that passed. Of course the Aerie's opinion of them hadn't changed so they were still living in the small canyon outside. Now that she was fully grown and capable of defending herself by any means, the Aerie had grown afraid of her. It didn't matter as long as she had her uncle.
One day as a token of her gratitude towards Kizakura, Natsumi decided to try and get some liquor for him. Although there was plenty of liquor in the Aerie they wouldn't share a single drop with him knowing he was still taking care of Natsumi. Therefore she'd have to resort to stealing, unless she wanted to risk her life crossing the shade infested meadow. Considering she had no respect for the people that hated her, it was an easy decision to make.
Using the moves Kizakura taught her, Natsumi managed to sneak into the Aerie and steal the bottle of liquor. Once she slinked out of danger, she grinned at the bottle she took. Then there was a loud crazy that shook the earth. Clenching onto the bottle, she recognized where the sound was coming from and ran straight home. She ran as fast as she could, turning the corner into the canyon only to find her home smashed under the weight of something massive.
"Uncle?!" Natsumi dropped the bottle and cried out.
There was no response from her uncle, but the thing standing over her wrecked house moved to face her. Then she realized that thing was a shade. It was bigger than any shade she had ever seen with two heads and three tails with blades on the end. Both pairs of piercing crimson eyes widened and focused on her. She looked up at them then down under the beast's paws where her home once stood.
"You… you…," Natsumi trembled before tightening her fist and charging directly at the monster. "You piece of shit!!!!"
The striped beast lowered its right head and sunk its fangs into her torso, immobilizing her. Blood squirted out from all the puncture wounds swiftly draining her. No amount of kicking or scream would make the beast loosen its grip. With her firmly caught within its fangs, the beast began to move away from the ruins of her home. Once it lifted one of its giant paws she saw her uncle's body that had been crushed by the beast into a horrific pile of shredded skin, broken bones, and splattered organs.
"No…," Natsumi cried. "No!"
The beast continued to carry her off into the mountain with no sign of remorse or even comprehension of what it had done. Natsumi gritted her teeth and summoned all her strength to punch the beast in the nose to no avail. The only thing she was able to accomplish was losing even more blood. Soon the blood loss took its toll, draining more of her energy till her vision went blurry followed by darkness and the unconsciousness.
…
"Well this sucks," an unfamiliar voice spoke to her in the darkness.
"What…?" Natsumi moaned. "Is the blood loss making me hear things?"
"Nope," the voice replied. "Believe it or not I've been here with you since you were born. I wasn't gonna say anything until you were on the brink of death like you are now."
"No, this still sounds crazy," Natsumi. "Whatever… I'm going to die but at least I'll be where uncle is."
"Geez that's so depressing," the voice said. "You're seriously okay with dying even if it means the bastard that killed you and your beloved uncle gets to keep living?"
"It's bullshit but pretty much everything in life is," Natsumi said. "Just a bunch of bullshit people sling around. It's exhausting."
"Dang you reall have given up on life," the voice said.
"Might as well since there's no way I'm going to survive this," Natsumi said, "and even if I did live I have nothing now that my uncle is dead."
"You're wrong on both counts," the voice said.
"Huh?" Natsumi asked.
"First, you can survive this as long as you do what I say," the voice said.
"Seriously, how?" Natsumi asked.
"Just trust me," the voice said. "Secondly you do have something to live for and that's killing the bastard that killed your uncle.
"How?" Natsumi asked.
"Same way you will survive," the voice said, "by making a pact with me and allowing me to give you incredible power beyond any human. Sounds nice right?"
"Yeah," Natsumi said.
"Then surrender your body to me and I will empower it beyond your wildest dreams!" The voice said. "Say my name name that's always been deep inside your mind and demand I give you life."
"What's your name?" Natsumi asked.
"Hmm I have many, most of them super grandiose," the voice bragged. "I guess I'll stick with my original name. Call me Junko."
"Junko give me life!" Natsumi yelled.
"Excellent," Junko said
…
Natsumi awoke to a searing pain in her left arm and leg like she was being branded.
"AGHHHHHH!" Natsumi screamed until her scream turned into a distorted roar.
Her heart raced, sending a fire through her veins that burned the cold and pain away. Invigorated, she raised her left hand to hit the beast only to realize it had morphed into a large shadowy paw. Claws extended out and scratched out the beast's right eye. The beast roared in pain, releasing her from it's fangs against its will. She fell from its mouth but somehow managed to land on all fours like a cat. Upon looking at the two headed beast, she raised both paws ready to scratch out its remaining eyes.
" Sis… sis…," a voice echoed on the wind. "Sister…,"
Natsumi's eyes widened, realizing who or rather what said that. She stared at the left head with her blood on its fangs.
"Sister," the left head spoke.
"No," Natsumi froze, then gritted her teeth. "No!"
She charged at the beast only to realize her shadow claws had vanished. Yet the beast was still afraid of her enough to run away.
"Hey! Get back here you fucking monster!" Natsumi yelled and tried to chase after the beast. "Gagh."
All the strength she had just a few moments ago vanished leaving her cold and tired. Despite her desire to chase down and torture the beast, her body gave out making her fall to the ground.
'Easy there tiger,' a familiar voice chimes in her head.
"What the fuck just happened?!" Natsumi growled.
'I just brought you back from the dead by giving you my power,' Junko said.
Natsumi raised her left arm to see crimson stripes burned into her flesh.
'That is just a sign of our completed pact,' Junko said. 'Isn't it cool?'
"Why th fuck are they stripes?" Natsumi growled
'Simple,' Junko said, 'It takes a tiger to kill another tiger.'
Natsumi dropped her arm to the ground in disbelief.
'I know, it's a lot to take in,' Junko said, 'but you're alive and with my help you'll kill that tiger shade ten times over.'
"Good," Natsumi sighed.
'But there is one other little thing I should mention about our pact,' Junko said. 'You're going to have to give up something in exchange for my power, but you don't really need your humanity now that your uncle is dead.'
"You want my humanity?" Natsumi asked.
'Yes,' Junko said. 'If you don't give it up I'll have to take it from you by force.'
"Fine, take it," Natsumi said.
'Huh, I didn't have to fight you for that at all,' Junko said. "Usually people are so stubborn about their humanity and not becoming animals even though that's what they are at their core."
"Pretty much," Natsumi said.
'This is going to be so much fun teaching you how to kill like the savage beast you are,' Junko said.
"Can't wait," Natsumi yawned.
…
Compared to her uncle's loose and gentle teaching, Junko was a much more forceful trainer. Everyday she made her summon her shadow claws over and over followed by summoning her shadow claws and shadow tails. Thinking of slaughtering the beast that killed her uncle always brought her shadow claws out. Once she mastered summoning, Junko instructed her on how to walk on all fours then how to run and leap on all fours. The next phase of training after that was hunting animals, not by tools but her own claws.
Her first target was a doe drinking some water from the mountain spring. She hunted before with her uncle, so killing an animal was no issue. Carefully Natsumi walked low to the ground on all four making sure to stay quiet and hidden among the foliage. Just before she was close enough a twig snapped under her paw. The doe lifted its head and rotated its ear towards the sound. Before it could prance off, Natsumi lunged out of the bushes and onto the doe forcing it to the ground. Her claws pierced and sank into the doe's skin causing it to kick and squirm.
'Go for the throat!' Junko yelled.
"My claws are stuck!" Natsumi yelled.
'Fine, I'll do it myself,' Junko growled.
"Wha-!" Natsumi asked before the shadows from her claws suddenly overtook her body. "Gahhh!"
The shadows completely consumed her body almost suffocating her. Her head shot forward on its own and forced her to bite into the doe's throat. Blood stained her teeth as she felt the doe's heartbeat slowly silence. Once it was dead, her body moved on its own again forcing her to consume the doe. She almost choked on the meat and blood until she swallowed it.
'Stop! Junko!' Natsumi screamed but no words left her mouth.
'Sorry tiger, but you were too slow,' Junko said.
'What the fuck did you do to me?!' Natsumi shouted.
'Same thing I did when you made our pact,' Junko said. 'I used my shadows to control your body. Think of it like a power boost.'
'I don't need it!' Natsumi yelled.
'But look how cool you look,' Junko said turning their body to the spring.
There in the water she saw her monstrous reflection. A fully formed tiger shade just like the one that killed her uncle.
'Change me the fuck back!' Natsumi yelled.
'Alright, alright,' Junko said.
The shadows dispersed allowing Natsumi to gasp for air. She looked human again, except for the crimson stripes burned into her arm and leg.
"Don't ever fucking do that again!" Natsumi yelled.
'Well as long as you keep your humanity at bay and your reflexes sharp then I won't,' Junko.
"No, I mean never again!" Natsumi yelled.
'Even if that tiger shade sinks its fangs into you and nearly kills you again?' Junko asked. '
"I…," Natsumi hesitated.
'It's a tiger eat tiger world, if you want to survive you have to become the biggest, fiercest, and merciless animal,' Junko said, 'otherwise you'll die a pathetic death just like all the other humans that shun their animal core even in the face of mighty predators like the shades.'
"I get it," Natsumi said.
'Alright, just reminding you,' Junko said. 'Remember you are an apex predator, not some frightened little girl.'
"Yeah," Natsumi said.
…
When she succeeded in killing enough animals, the shades in the meadow were next. For the first time in her life, even after her uncle had trained her, she felt so powerful. Powerful enough to take on the two headed beast.
While Natsumi trained under Junko's guidance, the Aerie somehow managed to hate and fear her even more. At least now their hate and fear were somewhat reasonable given her ability to summon limbs that looked like a shade's. Like before though she could live with it. Her only company now was the strange voice in her head, but she would do for as long as it took to kill the tiger shade. Then once it was dead, she'd join her uncle. That was the plan, until one stubborn idiot and snarky fox came along.
…
It was just about a year after her uncle had died. That day was like every other day, eating, shitting, killing, and tracking down the tiger shade. But when she returned home she found an unfamiliar man about to touch her most prized possession. They fought, then fought the tiger shade that decided to reveal its ugly faces, and then for whatever reason when she lost consciousness that man watched over her even giving her food.
'Well isn't that a nice hunk of man,' Junko's voice echoed in her head.
"Isn't love a sign of humanity?" Natsumi asked.
'Oh tiger love is but lust isn't,' Junko said.
"Gross," Natsumi gagged. "He was just another idiot human sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong."
'Sure, but I have a good feeling about this one,' Junko said. 'By that I mean he could be a useful ally for killing that tiger shade. Two heads are better than one. That's why the otherwise stupid tiger keeps escaping.'
"I don't need him!" Natsumi growled. "I'll kill that fucking asshole all on my own."
'Sure you will tiger,' Junko said
…
As much as Natsumi hated to admit it, Junko was right about Hajime. It surprised her how strong yet compassionate he was similar to her uncle. Together they were able to finally corner the beast that had taken everything from her. As she swiped at it, the beast continued to say the word 'sister' over and over as if it were begging for its life. While it surprised her in the past, it would never work again, not with her urge to destroy the beast being the only thing keeping her alive. But then she finally got what she wanted. The tiger shade was finally dead and it's blood was on her claws. Now she could die in peace.
'Aw it's over,' Junko whined. 'Are you sure there's nothing else you have to live for?'
'Nope,' Natsumi thought. 'Not a single thing.'
'I think tall, buff, and dreamy begs to differ,' Junko said.
"Natsumi, wake up! You can't die after you finally killed that thing! You're stronger than that!" Hajime's voice cried out.
Despite her resolve to lay down and die, the thick headed idiot said everything to get her to change her mind. He probably just wanted her power, but then his words sounded so sincere like her uncle. Perhaps, somehow, her uncle brought Hajime to her as a sign to keep living. Thinking of it that way she supposed she had no choice but to agree. At the very least she'd get away from the Aerie and continue to kill shades. So that day Natsumi decided to keep living.
…
Over time as the three traveled together more and killed more shades, Natsumi started to feel something in her chest. Perhaps it was because she only had her uncle and then Junko or maybe since Hajime gave her a new purpose, but she felt so comfortable fighting alongside him. She felt comfortable even when they weren't fighting shades. But then she remembered the thing inside her. As much as he said she was human, she wasn't, not while she had this animal inside her. Telling him about Junko would only drive him and the others away. Yet for some reason Junko never spoke against being with Hajime even though it was a clear sign she was regaining her humanity. Just in case this was a trick, Natsumi made sure to maintain her feral behavior and keep herself from getting too close afraid of what would happen if she broke Junko's pact. She even went as far as to tell Makoto to kill her if the shade in her body took over. Then the day the beast king attacked, Natsumi realized how weak she had become.
That day she fought like hell, but Junko wanted to fight even more. Her shadow claws weren't enough to kill the serpent shade for good, just holding it down in the basement. At the same time Hajime and Cain had to fight the abomination that was the beast king and its loyal pet Abel. Fortunately while she couldn't fight with her claws in that moment she could fight with her words. It seemed to reinvigorate Cain to fight, but then the two monsters retreated with Hajime's daughter.
'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!' Junko shouted in her head. 'I was so close! You idiot!'
'To what?' Natsumi thought, never hearing Junko speak in such a tone.
'To killing death itself! I was so close!' Junko growled. 'All because I let your humanity grow, well clearly I have to take care of this myself!'
'No, please no!' Natsumi begged internally as the shadows from her claws began to grow on her body. 'I can't let them see me like that!'
'You know the saying, if you want something done right, do it yourself,' Junko said. 'Once I take over your body I can hunt that bitch down myself.'
'No,' Natsumi thought. 'If we leave the shade will get out.'
'Don't care,' Junko snapped. 'Killing death is all that matters'
She had no choice, if Junko took over the others would be killed by the serpent shade. Thus she ordered Makoto to petrify her. She should have been happy since she wanted to die for so long, but knowing Hajime, Cain, and Makoto were suffering she didn't find much solace in this death like before.
…
As she was petrified Natsumi expected to never wake up again. Inside the stone she was completely unconscious until she suddenly heard a familiar voice. It definitely wasn't Junko so she assumed it was her uncle calling her to the other side. But then why was he telling her to live. Finally she managed to pry open her eyes and saw her companions. Aside from Cain, they had changed so much, especially Makoto. She could tell by his voice and process of elimination Makoto was the skeleton. Yet something about how he held himself made her recognize him as well. Realizing how much the years had changed them while she was away, she felt a sinking feeling in her chest until Hajime smiled at her. Then that sinking feeling was replaced with warmth.
…
Being back with her companions even after what felt like minutes to her in the stone, Natsumi felt more invigorated than she had been a while. It wasn't until the lion shade threatened Hajime's life that she realized her weakness. Funny how her second near death experience was yet again caused by the fangs of a big cat shade.
'Geez you're such a silly tiger,' Junko said, 'but don't worry, I got this.'
"No…," Natsumi struggled to speak.
'How else am I going to heal these wounds?' Junko asked.
Before Natsumi could yell at her, the shadows took over her entire body. Every movement she made next was solely by Junko's control. Trapped inside the body of shadows, she watched Junko use her to try and attack the others like a shade would.
'Junko, stop!' Natsumi screamed in her head. 'Stop!'
It wasn't until Makoto trapped them in the small force field that Junko decided to listen.
'Alright I've had my fun,' Junko sighed.
…
Their quest for the keys continued as they managed to get the second one. After which Natsumi was forced to change her bandages. She could not allow anyone to see her stripes, especially Hajime, so she changed her bandages by herself back in the cave. Fortunately she'd only miss going back to the Aerie.
'Do you have to cover up those lovely stripes?' Junko asked.
"Yes," Natsumi growled as she unwrapped the old bandages.
'But they already know your shade form is a tiger,' Junko said. 'Plus it's not like you have a skeleton arm.'
"Sorry if I don't want to fucking look like the bastard that killed my uncle!" Natsumi shouted.
'You were always so touchy about that,' Junko said. 'I told you the best way to kill a tiger is with a tiger.'
"You know I could have killed it with wolf claws," Natsumi said.
'No, you needed the grace and agility of a tiger to kill,' Junko said.
"Could you at least stop calling me tiger?" Natsumi asked.
'Aw but it's such a cute nickname,' Junko said, 'beside, that's what you are."
The last bandage slided off revealing the scarred and bruised skin underneath. Yet despite how deep and dark the scars were, the crimson stripes were still visible.
'Gosh, been a while since I've seen your arm and leg,' Junko said. 'You've really done a number on them."
"Shouldn't they have healed when you took control?" Natsumi asked.
'I could have healed it, but then you'd just make new scars again,' Junko said. 'It still doesn't matter how deep you try to claw into your skin, those stripes will never go away. That's just part of the deal.'
"Do all shades make deals like this?" Natsumi asked.
'Nope,' Junko said. 'They're all mindless beasts.'
"Then how come some of them like that lion and wolf can talk?" Natsumi asked.
'They're only mimicking human phrases to get you to lose focus,' Junko explained.
"Yeah," Natsumi sighed. "I just needed a reminder."
'Speaking of reminders,' Junko said. 'I should remind you to curve your humanity especially once we find the beast king.'
"Been a while since you told me that," Natsumi said.
'It's been a while since your heart's raced just by looking at someone,' Junko said.
"What?!" Natsumi asked.
'I'm just saying Hajime is your weakness and unless you want to get fatally wounded by yet another shade, you should keep your feelings for him in check,' Junko explained.
"Shut up!" Natsumi shouted. "I don't know what bullshit you're spouting but it isn't true. I'm a savage animal, not a love sick little bitch."
'Of course you won't admit it,' Junko sighed. 'Oh well, I tried.'
Of course Junko was right. Fortunately before Junko could say another word there was a loud sound from outside. Once she wrapped the final bandage, Natsumi leapt onto all fours, summoning her shadow claws, and running directly towards the sound.
'Looks like we're going home,' Junko said.
…
She never expected the raid on the beast king's lair to be easy, yet the hoard of four legged predator shades made it seem that way. As she sliced them to ribbons she could hear their voices mimicking humans.
"We won't let you hurt our wives and children!" One of the lion shades roared.
All of them sounded so determined to kill her and the others even though it was clear the shades were far weaker. Upon slashing off one tiger shade's head she heard it speak its final words.
"I don't want to die," the tiger said causing Natsumi to freeze.
'Snap out of it tiger, don't fall for its deception!' Junko said.
'Right,' Natsumi shook it off. 'They're all just monsters, every single one of them.'
'Good,' Junko said.
With that in mind, Natsumi continued to cut her way through the shades. But she realized now, it wasn't so much to satisfy her killing urge. Her goal had completely changed. From focusing on killing every shade in sight to creating a future with her companions. Where they could hunt together, eat together, and sleep under the stars together. Then Makoto and Kana could play in the meadow with Cain keeping an eye on them while Natsumi and Hajime hunted together. Just like a family.
That was the dream she had, but it would not be her reality.
…
Once the bomb went off, Natsumi knew Makoto was dead.
"No," Hajime gritted his teeth, tears forming in his eyes.
"Fuck!" Natsumi yelled.
"Makoto, Cain," Hajime said. "They're both… dead."
Of course they were dead. Everyone who ever loved her died. Her uncle, Kotoko, and now Makoto. They all died because she couldn't protect them. Ever since her uncle had died and she cried and cried throughout the days and nights only to be berated by Junko, she never cried again. All her tears were evaporated by the raging fire inside her. Fire so hot and rampant the only way to release it little by little was through cursing and violence. Hajime happened to be the closest person. Looking at him so absorbed by sadness, she hated it. She hated seeing him so weak from his emotions. It wasn't fair when he made her weak. Thinking all this, Natsumi growled as she stomped over to him. Rather than console him with words, she proceeded to kick him.
"Gah," Hajime groaned. "Nats-"
Natsumi grabbed him by the throat and pinned him into the nearest wall. She kept kicking him over and over. Then she looked up and stared directly into his soft eyes, their lips mere inches away from each other. Before he could realize how she truly felt, she slapped him.
"We're rescuing Kana no matter what," Natsumi growled. "So stop fucking crying like a girl and let's save her together."
"But Ma-," Hajime tried to speak.
"They knew death was a possibility and agreed to fight anyways, so don't pussy out of the cause they died to help you in," Natsumi growled. "Got it?!"
"Y… yes," Hajime said before regaining his composure. "We're going to kill the beast king and save Kana."
"No matter what!" Natsumi grinned.
It didn't matter that the shades were actually humans or that Cain and Makoto were dead. Even if she'd end up dying, she accepted it would be for Hajime's happiness. A happiness that was far more important and deserved than her own. Despite these revelations and feelings, Junko was oddly quiet.
…
As Hajime fought the beast king on his own, Natsumi watched over Kana. She remembered seeing a glimpse of her five years ago but she didn't realize how familiar the girl looked to her. The girl didn't appear to have inherited any of Hajime's features, yet she could have sworn she had seen her before a long long time ago. Before she could look closer, she heard Junko's voice laughing inside her head.
'Finally, I can kill death itself,' Junko laughed
"What?!" Natsumi said before her shadow claws moved on their own
'Oh, you thought the beast king was who I was referring to?' Junko laughed. 'Nope, turns out death itself is lying unconscious before you and once I kill her then no one will stand in my way!'
'No!' Natsumi tried to hold back the shadow claws with her hands. 'She's just a kid.'
'You're only saying that cause she's Hajime's,' Junko said. 'If she wasn't and looked like a shade you'd kill her in a heartbeat. So just pretend she's a tiger cub and claw out her throat.'
'I won't!' Natsumi gritted her teeth.
'Natsumi, your humanity is showing,' Junko said. 'I don't care for it.'
'Don't you fucking dare!' Natsumi yelled internally.
'But my dear vicious tiger this is why I made our pact in the first place, why I trained you to kill, why I let you get close to your dear Hajime and his band of misfits,' Junko explained. 'It was all for the chance to get close to this little dragon in sheep's clothing and kill her. Then the shades and humans can keep fighting for their lives against each other and I can watch it all in the comfort of my new body.'
'No… what… that…,' Natsumi tried to process it.
"Natsumi?!" Hajime shouted, snapping her back to reality. "What are you doing?!"
"Hajime…," Natsumi turned to him. "The shade inside me… it wants… to kill Kana."
'Aw you're spoiling the surprise,' Junko said.
After she said that, Natsumi forced herself away from the bed. The shadows from her claws grew and began to encase her body and extend into shadow appendages against her will.
"Natsumi!" Hajime ran to her side.
"Gahhhh," Natsumi screamed like she was being choked.
"Fight it!" Hajime said after placing a hand on Natsumi's shoulder.
"You… don't get it…," Natsumi huffed. "This thing… it's going to stop… at nothing… till Kana is... dead!"
"Why?!" Hajime asked.
The shadows kept growing, leaving only Natsumi's face.
"I don't…," Natsumi winced and closed her eyes. "Just… KILL ME!"
Natsumi yelled in complete agony as the shadows covered and morphed her face into the tiger. Then the rest of her scream became distorted as crimson stripes appeared all over her shadow body. She opened her eyes knowing they had turned a glowing red.
"Natsumi?" Hajime asked.
'Nope,' Junko laughed sadistically.
Against Natsumi's will her claws nearly scratched Hajime. Junko looked at him then towards the fainted Kana. Hajime took his spear and blocked the beast's path to Kana.
"Natsumi!" Hajime shouted. "Snap out of it!"
'Oh you sweet fool,' Junko grinned.
'Stop!' Natsumi kept screaming and fight for control to no avail.
Running on all fours, Junko lunged at him trying to claw out his throat. Hajime blocked her claws with his spear and kicked her away to the center of the chapel. She easily landed on all fours and growled at him. When he ran towards her, Junko leapt onto the wall. There she proceeded to launch herself off the wall and towards him. He blocked the attack with the handle of his spear, only for the cunning beast to launch off it towards another wall. From there Junko tried the same attack again, to no effect. Bitter, Junko whipped him with her long tail to get him to flinch, but he stayed firm and actually used one hand to grab it.
"Natsumi!" Hajime said as he yanked it. "You're stronger that this thing!"
'How pathetic,' Junko said. 'You were more attractive when you were mercilessly slaughtering the souls of children.'
'Shut up!' Natsumi yelled.
Junko tried to pull her tail from Hajime's grasp with a burst of speed. Hajime refused to let go, pulling the tail and her forward until he captured her in a tight embrace.
'Hajime,' Natsumi said trying even harder to take back control
'What a nuisance,' Junko snarled as she tried to scratch him with her back claws.
"Na…tsumi," Hajime gritted as he tried to contain the feral creature. "St… op!"
"K…," Natsumi managed to speak, "ki..ll me…"
Upon hearing those words, Hajime unconsciously loosened his grip, allowing Junko to escape. Junko ran around him before lunging at Hajime's back. Swiftly Hajime stood up and blocked her claws yet again, making the beast growl. Upon jumping back, the beast paced side to side, calculating her next attack.
'She sure did an excellent job making him a killing machine, but his empathy for you will be his death,' Junko said. 'I guess that's one benefit about not completely taking over you from the start.'
'You fucking two faced bitch,' Natsumi said.
'You're only upset because you thought after all this he'd accept you as his mate,' Natsumi said. 'Then the little monster would somehow accept your abominause existence and see you as her new mommy, haha it's so sappy and unrealistic for you.'
'I don't care,' Natsumi growled
"Natsumi, I can't kill you," Hajime said. "Not when I've seen you overcome this shade before! You're stronger than it!"
For a moment Junko froze to mock Hajime then grinned and tried to attack again. Now Junko ran circles around him. She moved so swiftly he could only see a blurred ring of black and crimson. Then she leapt out and scratched his left shoulder before returning to running in a circle. Again she leapt out this time scratching, his right ankle. Clearly she was trying to wear him down slowly but surely and there was nothing he could do but try to counter. An impossible task when he couldn't see or hear her. Several more times Junko leapt out to scratch him then returned to running. Her claws scratched his arms, legs, and back. The last one even scratched under his right eye. Junko has gotten cocky, so enthralled by inflicting pain, she had forgotten about Natsumi giving her the perfect chance to try and over power her. While Junko toyed with her prey, Natsumi repeated the one word she needed to say over and over.
"Erg," Hajime gritted his teeth, trying to stay strong and predict the beast's next move.
With all her might, Natsumi focused on the word she had repeated and screamed.
"Hajime!" Natsumi shouted out loud.
Hajime turned his head and managed to block the Junko's claws with his spear. Natsumi looked into his strong green eyes and fought like hell to regain control even if she knew it'd just be for a little bit. She forced her body to stay in place, digging her claws into the spear. As she continued to fight Junko for control her head began to jerk around.
'What are you doing?!' Junko demanded. 'Do you really want to die so badly?!'
'If it means he will live happily with his daughter then yes,' Natsumi said back to her. 'Now stay STILL!'
"Natsumi," Hajime breathed.
"Ca… can't fight… it," Natsumi pushed to speak through her distorted face. "Please… KILL ME!!!!"
Natsumi's screams echoed through the chapel. For a while Hajime looked at her with such confusion and sorrow. Clearly this would hurt him, but not as much as it would hurt her to kill him. Finally Hajime nodded solemnly before pulling back his spear and stabbing it directly through her chest. It felt just like the tiger shade's fangs. Against her will Natsumi let out a distorted roar, making Hajime twist the spear.
"I'm sorry… Natsumi," Hajime said before ripping out the spear.
Natsumi dropped to her side, a pool of blood quickly growing around her and being absorbed by the lunar tear vines. Through her blurred vision she could see Hajime standing over her but couldn't make out his expression. Despite the pain and the growing coldness of death, seeing him made her smile. As much as she wanted to comfort him with words, her body was too weak. Even then she knew she sucked at speaking.
'It's alright,' Natsumi thought as she looked up at Hajime. 'You'll survive without me.'
'You idiot! I was so close! So fucking close!' Junko yelled at her.
'You're so fucking noisy,' Natsumi said. 'Doesn't matter, I don't give a shit now.'
'Ughh you're so pathetic,' Junko groaned. 'But I guess since we've spent so much time together I'll miss you.'
Natsumi just ignored her and thought of the others she would soon be joining.
'Uncle, Kotoko, Cain, Makoto,' Natsumi thought. 'I'll be with you soon.'
