Chapter 15
Petrushka
"A human's body is weak, don't you agree?" rough, wistful voice gave a sigh. A strangled gasp accompanied him as he clicked the well-used revolver's safety off. As the unfortunate soul beneath his feet heard the resounding click, the horrified scream and pleading his victim gave them were most magnificent, indeed.
BANG!
Like a flicker of a dying torch snuffed out in cold revenge.
Protruding ribs jutted out uncomfortably from a thin, malnourished body as Takaya knelt down on the filthy ground, on level with the screaming teen who clutched his shredded upper left arm, tortured as per their client's wish.
The pain humans can inflict to their own kind was only equal to the complexity of emotions behind it.
Weak creatures far below them who had surpassed humanity.
"N-no! Stay away! Get away from me!"
Pure, raw fear.
Instinct to survive kicked in as the teen grasped his useless arm. His trembling legs scooted away inch by inch from them, uncoordinated as they were in their attempt to whisk their master to safety.
The pitiful effort made the sheer euphoria unbearable.
Unnatural yellow eyes stared to the one soul waiting for salvation.
Takaya rested his revolver in line with bony hips as a serene smile made its way to his face, "Truth be told, us dwellers of this hidden hour has exceeded humanity itself. You are chosen to bear witness of the existence of its greatness, why must you fear this world?" he took a step forward, his shoes submerged in the pooling blood as coffins surrounded them.
His victim curled up within himself next to the dumpster.
"...But witnesses, most unfortunately, have to be eliminated, don't they?"
Point blank proximity.
Dead end.
The satisfying chunks of grey matter spilled in the dirty charcoal.
"...It's too messy," contrasting the murky background, a red shade of feminine figure draped in white approached the killer.
Takaya glanced at the corpse boredly, "Relax, he's not here so it's not a problem"
His companion stared at him listlessly and walked away from the scene, scarless wrists barely seen from the long sleeves.
Her white Mary Jane echoed softly as she turned around, "Oh? I'm sure he'll point it out when he choke you," she said with enough venom to coat the words.
A laugh erupted from Takaya's mouth, "Are you worried about me, Chidori?" he cooed mockingly, he didn't even looked sideway as a gloved hand pocketed a camera. The same hand adjusted a frameless glasses as another teen sighed.
"We could've held up the end of our bargain when you shot first." Clad in a green bomber jacket, a black-haired teen gave the camera to Takaya, showing high-resolution pictures of their deal as the proof they'd send to the client.
"Now he's going to complain to me for not keeping the beast in check..."
"It doesn't matter. Tomorrow this will be another news of a random crime."
It was early morning when the murder made it to breaknews.
Mitsuru massaged her temple, the horrified expression on Takeba's face showed that she felt the same.
The newscaster had moved on to another topic, but the brutal murder left a persistent image in their minds. The city becomes more dangerous each day. The rising crime rate pushed the citizen into worry, away from their comfort zone.
The pixelated image didn't even deny the disclosure that the deed was done in cold blood.
"A male teen (17) was found murdered behind Iwatodai Port, shot twice in his head and upper left arm. Considering the time of the crime, the lack of witness has since became the concern of the police force. The case will be put on hold until they find the witness of this crime. Next on, with the current number of the police force..."
Takeba browsed her phone, her face grim. "..It... must've been true, then." She muttered quietly.
Mitsuru, who had returned to her usual composure, asked, "What is it? It could've been related." She puts her hands on her lap firmly, waiting.
"Have you ever heard of a revenge request website?"
A fine eyebrow arched, "No, I'm afraid I've never heard of it,"
"It started out as a rumor, but with more news like this, recently people has been talking about its guaranteed success and its complete anonymity. You just have to write the name of the person you want to get revenge on. I think that news is related to this website." Yukari said as she stood up and got ready to leave for school.
"Takeba,"
Yukari paused as she left the front door opened. The girl who would one day inherit the throne of the same monster that had destroyed her family stood facing her, the muted television behind them.
"..Have you ever think about revenge?"
Revenge. Let them experience the same suffering of being the daughter of the man blamed by the entire country for an incident she had no knowledge of. Destroy her family like how they destroyed hers.
Let them plummet to the ground and mocked by the world.
Her eyes watered, but she won't show such weak front to someone who was a part of the name that destroyed them.
Yukari stared back, emotions swirled within her eyes.
She left the silent heiress without another word.
"Man, you saw Yukari's eyes? I swear she's glaring at everyone." Junpei whispered behind him as the final bell rang, Yukari didn't even glance at them and she left without saying anything.
Minato gave him a thoughtful look.
"She might be getting her period," Junpei said as he threw him a grin which Minato didn't have any trouble to ignore.
He yawned and leaned his body forward to settle his upper body on the desk.
Junpei poked his arm, as if aggravating a potentially dangerous animal.
"Why do you always so tired? Hey, now that I remember, Yuka-tan once said that you fainted when there was a Shadow attacking the dorm."
"It was my awakening," he replied in short, clipped tone. There was something Minato didn't tell him. He wondered what.
"Huh, really? I didn't faint back then... But I did got temporary memory loss. Acting like a shitty crybaby, actually," Junpei grimaced at the memory and he couldn't hold back the retort.
"That suits you just fine,"
"W-what?! Hey, you're the one who was totally uncool." The other teen seethed. Face aflame in embarrassment, or anger. Probably both.
"Right. And I can always verify to Akihiko-senpai how cool your awakening was."
Junpei gaped in a faux shock at him. He grumbled under his breath, flopping his full weight on the desk beside Minato.
He let out a low, whining groan.
" Weeeellll, you're the cool hero because you fainted after saving a damsel in distress while I pissed my underwear in front of a guy who shot himself in the head and summoned a big, bulky monster. I think I do myself better in humiliation." Junpei said, playing with his cap.
"You don't have to. You've been humiliated enough. How many times have I rescued you from the Shadows like the dashing hero I am?" he deadpanned.
His unimpressed expression didn't last long, however.
Junpei thought he saw a faint quirk of his mouth but it was gone and Minato hid his head under his arm, a breathy gasp reached Junpei's ear.
Too late.
"You're laughing at this poor sod, Minato? Really?"
Minato lifted his head up, "No." His face carefully blank and Junpei narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"I get the point. Here's your best tanker pitying himself and I see that my heartful cry is to your amusement. I should've taped your laughing moment and sell them to the girls..." Hermes' vessel pouted and Minato placated him, dragging his friend out of the school with a promise of free takoyaki.
They walked near the shrine when Minato felt something off. He halted his steps when Junpei looked at him as he wiped the takoyaki sauce.
"Something wrong?"
Minato shook his head, trying to reach out into his mind, feeling a sad, painful tingle surged from one of his links.
The Hanged Man rotated slowly, flashing red once before the sensation was gone.
Minato questioned the sudden powerlessness that enveloped him. It rattled his very core.
The first emotion that bothered him was the worry he felt.
He shouldn't- It shouldn't have-
But then he was running, telling Junpei a quick 'see you at the dorm' and headed to the temple.
Maiko was crying when he found her by the swinging set, burying her face in the crook of her folded arms. Miki raised her head, acknowledging his company with a soft nod and returned to caressing Maiko's hair.
Maiko's tiny shoulder quivered with each sobs, fat tears cascaded recklessly. He felt his throat tighten as he knelt to Maiko's eye level. His hands, usually tucked away in the safety of his pockets, reached up and wiped a stray tear away without his command. The girl (child, he reminded himself) finally realized his presence and looked up.
The tear tracks on her cheeks shimmered with the sundown's light, colouring the handprint mark red.
(He closed his eyes. Crying children, locked out from the world. Everything's wrong, everything's twisted and nothing can save them)
Since when...?
"I'm... sorry I didn't visit much," he managed quietly. But his words didn't ease anyone. Maiko widened her unfocused eyes, stubborn tears fell freely at the sight of her savior.
Minato was envious of Maiko, if he dared to admit. Of how the descending bodily fluid went unbidden onto her trembling figure. Crystalline drops transformed into pathways of a river while he only understood how to mask his facade into the calm harbour that accepted everything.
He tilted his head to the right and allowed Maiko to settle on his torso. Minato delivered a quiet sigh, placing his hand awkwardly atop Maiko's brunette crown.
"D-Dad, he—" Maiko sobbed, wiping her snot on his blazer as she calmed down.
"... Mom said since I was so useless, that it was my fault." Miki looked surprised, then sad as she tried to comfort Maiko but no sound came out from her throat. She looked anxious.
"Am I useless?" Maiko asked in a small voice.
Minato quickly shook his head, then pull her up. His calm voice lowered into a fading sigh.
"Of course not, she said that because their relationship is in a knot." Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly smiled.
"I know a trick, let's go to that booth." Maiko looked more like herself slowly and followed Minato who walked ahead.
Miki sighed exasperatedly and tidied the bags that littered around the swinging set. She walked up to them.
Minato brought them to a small, sturdy wooden booth that was filled with papers in various shelves. Because Maiko was smaller, he held Maiko up to a hidden stool she didn't see before and instructed her to join her hands.
"Now, imagine your parents' faces and pray that they make up," he said as he corrected Maiko's hands.
Maiko's face scrunched up in concentration and they could tell she was trying her best, in her own way.
In a way only a child can.
"Done!" she yelled at the top of her lungs and hopped from the stool, grinning brightly.
She looked vibrant, the cloud disappeared from her eyes. The way Minato's eyes soften into relief made her smile wider.
"Well, I have to go now. Let's play later!" she took her bag from Miki's hands and bowed to them.
Miki stopped her with a tug to Maiko's sleeve and she returned her attention to them. Miki searched something from her bag and retrieved a can of drink.
She looked at Maiko's eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Mad Bull? Wow, great!" Maiko thanked her profusely and waved at them even as she ran to the stairs.
Miki left after her, writing something about being late to her part-time job.
It didn't bother Minato. On the contrary, he was glad that she left.
Minato didn't understand. Wasn't it enough that she got such adoration from her family?
Why would she bother with anyone else? Just what is it about her that has everyone liking her so easily? He wondered.
He was sure that Miki met Maiko on coincidence and Maiko already thanked her profusely.
His thoughts darkened. He realized the ugly emotion for what it was.
Envy.
"Two house specials!" the served yelled to an older man near the pot and the man made their orders silently, acknowledging the usual customers with a nod.
Shinjiro returned it and Akihiko led them to the empty stools near the server.
"Do you two have a tough men contest or something?" Akihiko looked at them funnily and cracked a boiled chicken egg, eating it with a big bite.
"Shut up," The Hierophant fixed him with an ineffectual glare and removed his beanie.
Unkempt brown hair messed up, Akihiko stared at the slowly thinning hair.
Their conversation was cut short with the server bringing two bowls, the mist brought out the flavourful aroma.
"...You still haven't made up your mind?" he said as he separated the bamboo chopsticks.
A sigh from Shinjiro. "We've been over this, Aki. I ain't quitting."
"It's taking the toll on you," Akihiko said between bites, keeping his tone light.
Shinjiro sneered at him, "Stop talking as if I'm dying. What's done is done."
"...Make sure you drink your medication on time. Miki said that she'd barge your door on the prescribed days" Akihiko conceded after slurping the broth dry.
He stood up to pay their meal and they exited the well-lit shop together. "Miki's worried. Me too,"
"Hmph, you should talk." Shinjiro said as he put on the beanie again, even if it was too hot on summer nights.
"What?" Akihiko looked at him, confused.
"I have two big fucking idiots who are probably too stuck on the past. I can't leave them."
At Akihiko's unusual silence since he always picked fight, Shinjiro rolled his eyes.
"C'mon, Miki's cafe closed at 9. Let's pick her up and get out from this fucking night. I'm cold on this thick coat."
Akihiko laughed at Shinjiro's obvious sarcasm.
