A/N: As you may notice, this chapter is written with an unusual timeline. This was indeed intentional as an effort to show the true mental distress that the character experiences. Thank you again for sticking with us and enjoy.
Yukina walked forward, her gaze completely fixed on the cupcake in her arms. She ended up bumping into another distracted pedestrian. "Hey, watch…" The business woman lowered the scroll she had been talking on until now. As her eyes met Yukina's her scowl turned into an almost sad smile, "I'm sorry, but you should pay more attention to your surroundings, little girl." Yukina looked back down and saw some of the frosting smeared onto her sweater and she began to tremble. "Hey, are you alright?" She carefully crouched down in her pencil skirt and noticed the damaged treat. "Oh… Here, let me," The woman took a kerchief out and reached towards the sweater.
Yukina instinctively jumped away from her hand, "No! I-I can take care of it."
"If you're certain," She said with a sigh and stood back up. "Though if you're trying to save that, then you should go back to the bakery and ask for a little box." The woman carried on her way and apologized to whoever was on the other end of her call.
"Save it…" Yukina repeated quietly and looked around to try and figure out how to get back to the bakery.
Yukina's hand lingered on the door before turning and walking farther into the lavish hotel room mumbling to herself, "He was nice…"
"Why would Humanity try to hurt someone like him?"
"He could be a liar."
"He could be working with them."
"This could be a trap"
"N-no he's good…"
"How do you know?"
"You thought Eve was good too."
"But she abandoned you!"
"Left you for dead!"
"No… She was going to come back…"
"She knew what would happen!"
"You can't trust anyone."
"You can't trust him."
"He thinks you're disgusting."
"Why would he not?"
"At best he's calling the police right now."
"You're a murderer after all."
"Crazy."
"Lunatic."
"Monster."
"Right…"
Yukina paced around the large room, stopping at the windows and looking out into the quickly approaching night. She saw Xanthic wave goodbye to the doorman and then break into a run. "I knew it… He's scared…"
"Of course he is."
"He shouldn't involve himself any more."
"It's too dangerous for someone like him."
"Unless it's an act."
"No…"
"He could be lying."
"Just like she was."
"I want to trust him…"
"You trusted her."
"You trusted them!"
"They all betrayed your trust!"
"They made you a monster."
"They did this to me…"
"It's not my fault…"
"They're to blame…"
"All of them…"
Yukina looked out the window again, but Xanthic was already gone, "Good… Beacon is safe…" She took the paper he had given her out of her pocket and looked at it before setting it on the carved wooden nightstand. Casually making her way through the building Yukina listened to the peaceful music that played inside the elevator. There was a shift as it halted and allowed a middle aged couple to board. The blonde woman had on a pastel blue wrap with with cream colored embroidery and greeted her with a smile. Looking at her and the man wearing a brown vest and red tie over his white dress shirt, she meekly smiled back at them, these were Xanthic's parents. Despite only having met them for an instant Yukina already understood how realistic Xanthic's fear was. Mr. Picto was completely enamored with his wife, a feeling Yukina understood well, he barely even moved his eyes off of her to acknowledge Yukina's presence. He gave the warning that she should remain silent, to not take any attention that wasn't necessary. She wondered if the anger Xanthic imagined was really imagined at all. Then the image of his fierce eyes twisted in agony flashed into her mind and she felt a tinge of excitement rush over her body. Yukina forced her eyes shut and cursed her own imagination. Distraction, distraction… She thought about the woman and how she was objectively beautiful, her short goldenrod hair had the perfect amount of volume and looked like it was as soft as silk. By comparison, Yukina touched the edges of her own hair, her's was both brittle and greasy and it'd be impossible to move even a single finger through all the knots. She should take this rare opportunity to shower tonight.
Yukina was somewhat relieved that when the elevator reached the first floor the couple went away from the lobby. She walked outside and was stopped by the doorman, "Excuse me, I just wanted to apologise again miss. I had no idea you were a friend of the Picto family."
Yukina pondered his this with a somber smile, "Friend? I wish that was possible…" She walked away, leaving the man slightly confused and somewhat worried.
Yukina made her way to the office building that she had been at earlier. Most of the lights were turned off and she continued walking, now at a faster pace. The only people on the streets were businessmen and women heading home and to bars, they all paid no mind to what seemed like a young beggar girl. As she quickly continued down the street, rounding the occasional corner, she spotted the man she was looking for enter a convenience store. She crossed the mostly quiet street and waited at the far end of the building, just barely concealing herself in the small gap between it and the apartment complex next door. Time passed, but she was stubborn, she waited to hear the little jingle of the door opening. Steady footsteps came closer to her. Steady. Wait. Steady. His black dress shoes stepped into her view and adrenaline overcame her. Yukina trusted her blades into his arm and yanked him down into the narrow alley. He grunted and groaned with pain. "Wh-who the hell- What do you want!?"
Yukina smirked and stared into his eyes as she felt his panic of being trapped, surrounded by monsters. Knowing there's nothing he can do to save himself, he wasn't a huntsman, he was weak. "What do you know?"
Yukina ended her semblance so the man could focus on her. "I-I don't have the files anymore."
Yukina was kneeling on top of him and pressed the dull edge of her weapon against his neck. "What was in them?"
Yukina's weight, though she was fairly small, made it difficult for the man to breath. "I'll tell you everything, just pl-please ha-have mercy…" There was no response to his plea. "Th-they were a record of the councils' meetings, but some diplomats from Atlas won't be attending the n-next one. We- they, um, they want to figure out where they are."
Yukina moved her face down, closer to his. "Where? When? How many?"
Yuikina's stare chilled his being, "I-I don't know. I-in a few days I- I think. I don't- I don't know anymore. Please… please don't- don't kill me…"
Yukina chuckled darkly, "That's funny, I didn't know members of Humanity even knew what mercy was." She flipped her blades and pushed down. Another surge of joy covered her body.
Yukina wiped her hands on her sweater once she was finished and returned to the hotel. This time nobody stopped her and all the other guests were presumably asleep. Inside her room, she took off the sweater and did her best to clean it in the stained-glass sink. After deciding it was as good as it was going to get, she fiddled with the knobs to turn on the shower. She undressed and let her hair down as she allowed herself to accept the comfort of the hot water, though her weapons remained in their place on her arms.
Yukina limped in the dim light. The blood that covered her grimey hoodie could also be seen on her face. Her lips moved rapidly as she muttered to herself. The world around her blurred slightly as she slumped against a wall. With a whimper, she clutched her forehead, willing for the pain to disappear.
"They're all dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Slaughtered. Murdered. I-I-" She shook, eyes wide from shock. Silence. Then there was the soft plip of a raindrop. She looked up wearily, taking her hand away.
Beyond the walls of the alleyway, she could see the small slit of grey sky and the ominous clouds that began to form. Plip. Plip. Plip. Dazed, the girl held her hand out. A single drop fell onto her finger. She looked at it. Red began to swirl inside the iridescent droplet from the blood that caked her hand like a glove. It trickled down her skin before falling to the ground. Rain began to fall continuously from the sky, becoming a gentle shower. The aftermath of the massacre began to appear in her mind, as clear as day. The rain fell harder. Her breathing became heavy. She remembered the bodies piled up on one another, their appendages scattered around aimlessly. Puddles of crimson on the ground, as if it had just rained blood. Faces filled with terror. Yukina's fingernails dug into her arms as she shook more.
"S-Stop it…" She whispered. Guts strewn around like the insides of a pinata. The emptiness. The abandoned tents, the shredded drapery that floated in the wind, caked with blood. The howling wind that echoed in her ears. The shadows that stretched past the piles of bodies. The carnage. And the most disturbing thing was, she hadn't been disgusted at any of it. She had enjoyed killing them. She had enjoyed every second of it. And she would probably do it again if she had the chance. The pleasure she had received from slicing them apart was something she yearned for, even now.
Something inside Yukina shriveled and she shuddered convulsively, the fumes of the garbage becoming unbearable. She collapsed on the ground, vomiting. The rain thundered on her head as she continued to throw up. So much death, so much blood. Why didn't she feel disgusted? Her hands began to tremble. Something was wrong with her, surely. Then she began to sob.
The sky was now completely covered by storm clouds—ominous grey wisps that blocked out all the light—making the alleyway become darker and darker. Smoke snaked upwards from the machines and exhaust pipes which were barely audible in the downpour. Yukina's fingernails dug into the pavement as she sobbed louder. Every time she closed her eyes she could see them, the bodies, endless in number, pitless eyes open, all staring at her. She screamed and clutched her head.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" She cried. "I did nothing wrong! You all kept me there! You're the ones who tortured me! Who put me in so much pain!" Yukina stood up shakily, eyes filled with hysteria. She grabbed a trash can and hurled it against the wall. It clanged loudly, falling onto the ground, the trash cascading out like a waterfall. The rain fell harder. "I did nothing wrong! You-You all got what you deserved!" She kicked the trash can again, and again, and again, until there was a dent so large that it didn't even look like one anymore. "I did nothing wrong!" She screamed again. "I did-"
"What the hell is wrong with her?" There were snickers. Yukina's head slowly turned to her right, and at the end of the alleyway was a small group of teenagers who observed her with snarky expressions, their lips curved upwards in amusement.
"Probably a druggie," A girl added.
"Crazy bitch," Hissed a teen as he strolled further into the alleyway. "Hey, sweetheart, this is our turf, get out." He swung his bat over his shoulder and observed her with lowered eyelids that were almost completely hidden by the black baseball cap on his head. Smoke rose up from a white cigarette as he slowly took it out and let out a large puff. The end of it blazed brightly in the darkness of the alleyway, illuminating his face in an eerie amber glow before he was dark once more.
"Leave me alone," Yukina whispered shakily. The teens exchanged looks and then cackled loudly. Yukina shivered in the dampness of the rain, as the blood and carnage flashed in her mind and she had a sudden urge to slice them into pieces.
"If you won't leave then I'll beat you up so bad you'll never be able to come here again," The boy smirked, and the group of teens began to slowly walk forward with grins on their faces.
"G-Get away..." Yukina said shakily, taking a few steps backwards. Looking towards where her weapons were hidden in her sleeves, she almost smiled at the thoughts that came to her mind.
"No! Stop it!"
Yukina groaned and clutched her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn't even hear the sounds of the city anymore, it was just the voices in her head and the rain that splattered against the ground.
"Do it."
"Slaughter them."
"You know you enjoy it."
"Stop it…" She whispered softly. "I-I don't."
"Rip them up into little pieces."
"Just like the rest of them."
"They deserve it."
"She's probably drunk." A teen hissed. Dazed, she looked up at them, her vision blurring briefly. The ember end of the cigar from the teen flared once more. Smoke drifted up from his lips that were curved into a cruel smile. They were only a few feet away from her now. One grabbed her hoodie and yanked her towards him.
"Ugh, she reeks." The teens cackled and slowly began to surround her in the darkness, unable to see that she was drenched in blood. Yukina's head was buzzing with voices.
"Kill them."
"Kill them all."
"No!"
"Don't hurt anyone else!"
"You enjoy it."
"I don't!"
He shoved her to the ground where she fell into a puddle with a splash. Her soaking hair fell into her eyes.
"Don't hurt them!"
"Slaughter them, you could do it in a blink of an eye"
Yukina curled up on herself, shaking, muttering softly, "I don't enjoy it. I don't. I won't do it again. They deserved it. It wasn't my fault, it wasn't."
The boy with the cigarette stood over her his bright amber eyes narrowed in disgust, "Freak." A teen beside him before forcefully grabbed her hair and held her up. She opened her eyes slowly. They loomed over her, sinister sneers on her faces. Something in her seemed to click into place, the voices in her head seemed to turn to one, and with the crowd closing in on her a smile crossed Yukina's face.
The clear sky hosted the songs of small colorful birds that seemed to be dancing with each other in their flight. A warm breeze lifted the late summer blossoms into the air, they swirled and flutted to the ground. Yukina moved herself forward and smiled as the warm sunlight brushed against her skin. Evelyn chuckled from her place under a large shade tree. "What is it?" Yukina questioned with her cheeks growing a rosy pink.
"Nothing really," Eve mused. "I just thought it was kinda funny how you're still wearing that hoodie."
Yukina hid her face behind her hands that were covered in the sleeves of the white hoodie that was just a bit too big for her. "W-well of course. You were the one that gave it to me after all," She muttered.
"I wouldn't have if I knew you'd just get it dirty like that." Eve's tone didn't change from her peaceful one before.
"What do you mean?" Yukina looked over herself in a panic to see if she had stained it somewhere with the grass. "I-I'll clean it, I promise. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get it dirty."
"But you still did… You still are." She got up and began to walk down the hill.
"N-no I didn't!" Yukina ran after her, but despite Evelyn only walking, she couldn't catch up. "Where are you going!?"
"Isn't it obvious? I want to live my life free of Humanity."
"Let me come with you!" She stretched her arm out. Eve looked so close, but she was just out of reach. "Please! Don't leave me!"
"Why would I want a monster like you sticking around?" Eve spat her words out. "You're crazy. I would never be able to sleep out of fear that you'd-" Evelyn was silenced suddenly. An evil smile crossed her face, "Exactly my point, monster."
Yukina looked down at the blood seeping from Eve's stomach, down her blades, over her hands, and into the sweater, turning it a deep red. "I… I'm not a monster… It's not my fault… Eve… Eve? EVE!" Yukina cried as her friend's eyes glazed over and her body went limp. Suddenly Yukina's body jolted forward. She turned and the sky grew dark as storm clouds stole the sun and the once warm breeze became a savage wind. All she felt was pain. Her hand felt scorched, her legs ached, and her heart broken. Lightning crashed across the sky and rain poured down, staining the sweater a deeper and deeper red.
Waking in a cold sweat, Yukina curled into herself. She ignored the itch of the damp grass as she slowly rocked herself.
Yukina sat on the edge of a camp waiting. She had arrived for two people who it had taken her years to find, Jade and Vincent. Vincent had been in charge of them when she was with Humanity.
"When you were lied to."
As far as she could tell he was still in charge.
"He is responsible."
Jade on the other hand Yukina knew nothing about, except that she never left his side. There had been plenty of rumors about her, but no one knew if they were true.
"Lies upon Lies."
Before anything else could be said, Yukina saw movement on the edge of the camp. Jade and Vincent had arrived. "Reports are still coming in, but it seems Yukina has been busy."
"We need to find her," Jade replied in a tone that Yukina could just barely hear.
"Oh I think she'll make her way to us," As he spoke Vincent turned in the direction of Yukina's hiding spot, "Wouldn't you agree Yukina?" Not knowing what else to do in the moment, Yukina stood up and walked out of her hiding place. "You've made quite a mess you know, I must admit it's slightly impressive." Seeing that Yukina was not going to reply he sighed, "Then I take it there is no talking you down… shame." With that Jade drew her sword and starting walking towards Yukina.
"It is time."
…
Yukina spat on the ground, watching her blood mix with the soil. She was no match for Jade, who did not seem to even be breaking a sweat. Yukina on the other hand was barely standing with her aura beginning to fail.
"Still too weak."
Vincent had not even joined the fight and was simply watching from the side. As Yukina looked at him he called out, "Is that really all you have? This is what took out so many of our people?" He talked with a tone of mocking disbelief as he walked forward, "I'm honestly disappointed."
"He's right."
Yukina charged at Jade again, and was quickly knocked to the side landing near Vincent. He looked down at her and spoke quietly, "It's a shame, you really could have been something great in Humanity." He then turned and walked away calling back to Jade as he did so, "Finish this so we can leave."
Yukina slowly stood up and to face Jade again. Jade allowed her to fully stand up before getting in a stance, "It's over, you can stop this madness now and it will be painless." Yukina made no response and did not even look in her direction. Jade frowned, "Have it your way then." Pausing for a few more seconds she charged. Yukina seemed dazed as Jade approached and made no effort to defend as the blade aimed towards her chest, "This should finish off her Aura, and then one more will do it." Jade thought as the Blade made contact. But the contact was not the hard shell of aura she was expecting, but the soft impact of flesh as Yukina slightly deflected the blade to her side letting the blade move through her and brining Jade close.
"We are not through."
After the attack there was silence. Vincent turned to let Jade know what to do with the body but froze before he could speak wide eyed. The blade had pierced Yukina's side and was visible, sticking through the back of her clothes, a heavy wound but certainly not a fatal one. One of Yukina's hands was to the side clearly having pushed the blade away and the other was placed near Jade's neck, where her claws were extended piercing the flesh and bone of her skull. Yukina backed away letting the corpse drop to the ground and turned to Vincent. As she did she pulled out the blade in her side and threw it to the ground before slowly and clearly in great pain walking towards Vincent. Vincent looked between Jade's body and Yukina multiple times before drawing his weapon and moving towards the girl.
"Fool."
With the last of her aura Yukina activated her semblance, and in his distracted state it took hold of Vincent for a brief moment. That brief moment was all Yukina needed to shove both of her weapons deep into Vincent's chest, slicing through bone and organ alike on its way through. The pain tore Vincent out of his hallucination, only for it to spike as Yukina tore the weapons out through his sides letting him drop to the ground and begin to bleed out. Yukina's breaths were ragged and heavy as she started down at Vincent. After a moment of silence he slowly began to speak, "Well… I guess we did train you well." Yukina offered no reply, only pointing one of her weapons down in preparation for a finishing blow.
"Finish it."
"Kill him."
"He's responsible for this."
"Make him pay."
Yukina's thoughts were abruptly silenced as Vincent spoke again, "Tell me something, Was it worth it?"
"What do you mean?" Yukina replied after a pause
"Killing your comrades. Those you trained with, those you lived with?" Even through the pain Vincent managed to smile which unnerved Yukina, "How about all the innocents who did nothing but be associated with Humanity? Were all those lives worth it? Have you actually gotten what you wanted?"
"Silence him."
"He doesn't understand."
"It's almost over."
"I… I don't-" Yukina fumbled for an answer but found that one would not come to mind.
"Of course you haven't." Vincent replied as he tried and failed to sit up, "You are just content with continuing to be the monster you have become. You have just convinced yourself that this is what you want… That this will be the end of it."
"You don't know anything about me," Yukina stated adamantly as she slowly moved away from him.
"I know everything, I know the look in your eye. I know the lust for blood that you cannot sate no matter how hard you try… I know that even if you finish with Humanity you will never be able to stop." Vincent finally managed to sit up and pull a scroll out of his pocket, "And is that what you really want?" Vincent threw the scroll towards Yukina who caught it. "Tell Orelon I'll see him in hell."
"Orelon?"
"Orelon."
"Orelon!"
The voices in her head shouted the name of their next target as Yukina watched Vincent slowly crawl towards Jade's still form before falling still himself, his arm outstretched in a last attempt at taking her hand. As the voices bayed command, want, and need the area fell into absolute silence as Yukina walked away into the night.
