Chapter 10: When souls are broken but not beaten
Satoshi had finally reached the double doors of the bridge, and went to open them. A crash of thunder and lightning from outside broke the skies as he swung them open, starting to run out but stopped short. The rain was now coming down in a huge downpour and the lightning and thunder was growing frequent. To the side, towards the forest, he sensed the air get heavier even with this weather. He could see faint transparent bodies… spirits. Among them was the anatomical model, standing off to… her.
"S-Sachiko?" He muttered out, coming to the rails. Another flash of lightning, a roar chorused with the thunder. It sounded from above, on the roof. Quickly jumping the fence, he went out to get a better look and saw a large dragon-like creature standing off to two humans. The creature was wounded, blood dripping from his face and shoulder. When another flash went across the skies, the creature lunged forward, claws ready to attack.
Yoshiki was ready for this thing to attack, swinging the sword out. However, the creature had grown quick. He was gaining energy while Yoshiki was losing it. The thing swung an arm out, talons out and within a flash, blood spurted out. A scream rang out, and Ayumi immediately let out a gasp. Yoshiki didn't feel pain; Ami did. The attack had hit her, her arm drenched in blood as three; deep talon marks were etched across her right arm. She huddled to her father closer, tears spilling out from the new pain. This only angered the blonde more; this thing had hurt his daughter. His first instinct was to lash out, but know that he knew this thing was starting to grow in strength while he was losing it; he needed to get Ami away from them. She would be caught in the fight, most likely ending her life. The mere thought of losing his daughter made his blood boil.
The scream caught Satoshi's attention; it sounded young, like a child. There was a child up there? Looking around, he searched for some sort of weapon, something to distract that thing so that the humans could get down.
The scream had also caught the spirits attention. Yuuya clenched his teeth, seething before turning back to Sachiko.
"They're going to die because of your selfishness! They gave you peace and you're going to let them die for their accomplishments!" He yelled at the ghost girl, but she stood silent, staring at the creature and the humans fighting him off. She wouldn't speak, she just stood motionless. This pissed him off more than anything did.
"If you won't fight for the school, then we will," He spoke before turning to the rooftop.
As the creature strode forward again, Yoshiki held the sword out. The rain wasn't helping him, he was clearly shivering. The creature saw this and grinned.
"Even if you have a weapon of great power, your own body cannot go against the elements," He replied, stepping closer again. Suddenly, out of nowhere, something sharp and small was throw at him, and it pierced his throat. The creature screeched out, rearing back. With the creature distracted, Yoshiki took this chance to get Ami away from them.
"Ami, you have to trust me on this," He looked down at her, and the girl gazed up at her father with watery eyes.
"You'll be fine, trust me," He spoke, another flash of lightning crossing the skies.
"Daddy… no…" She shook her head.
"You need to get to your mother. You'll be safer with her than me," He replied, but she stayed close. Finding the strength to do so, he grabbed his daughter's uninjured arm, and moved her to his other side, towards the incline of the roof.
"Daddy! No!" She pleaded, but he didn't listen.
"Let go sweetheart, she'll catch you," He spoke, but she shook her head again. He knew she would do that, so, he didn't give her the choice to stay. He released her hand.
The roof's surface was slippery due to the rain, and she couldn't hold on any longer. She slipped down the incline, and fell off. Ayumi brought her hands to her mouth in panic as she saw her daughter fall. Out of instinct, she ran from the tree line, towards her.
Ami was expecting to fall to the ground, waiting for more pain. But it never came, she felt someone grab her. When her eyes opened, she looked up to see a brun male looking down at her. She didn't recognize him, but he smiled with relief.
"You're okay now, little one. You're safe with me," He spoke, and she simply blinked. Ayumi had run up to the two of them, and Ami smiled, jumping out of the man's arms and going into her mother's.
"You're okay! Oh, thank god you're okay!" Ayumi tightly embraced her daughter, Ami doing the same. Another moment and Ayumi looked up to her daughter's savior.
"M-Mochida?" She stuttered, remembering that the other two were here as well.
"H-Hey…" He waved. Another crash of thunder and flash of lightning caught their attention as the creature withdrew the sharp object from his neck. It was a pocketknife… a familiar one. Growling, he turned his head and saw the remaining spirits of the school, and the anatomical model.
"You bastard…" He growled at the model, throwing the pocketknife away from him.
"Hey! You!" His attention was caught, looking back at the human. He was alone this time. In his moment of weakness, he had ridded the child from their fight, letting her escape.
"I see… so you let your little one escape," He spoke out.
"This is our fight, not hers," Yoshiki sneered, and the creature chuckled.
"Very well. If you want it to be that way. I'll kill the man that was supposed to die years ago," The creature stepped forward again, another crash of thunder and lightning going over the skies.
"What do you mean 'die'?" Yoshiki blinked, still holding the sword forward.
"You didn't know? The woman you married was supposed to keep her surname… and you were supposed to take hers. It was in the curse, it always would be. But something happened, in a moment of weakness, she caused the curse to fluctuate…" He explained.
"During that moment, it affected a powerful magic that was apart of the spell… in which all men that married into the family… would die after their child was born. Not only did she not keep her surname… but you didn't die…" He breathed, before lunging forward again. Yoshiki tried to attack, but it missed again. The creature landed on a tower behind him, and lunged. Swiping his talons, the sword was knocked right out of Yoshiki's hands. It landed down the incline of the roof, over the edge.
"Now, you're defenseless," He spoke, Yoshiki landed back, panting. He was losing, he couldn't fight any longer. The rain was making this fight impossible.
"Yoshiki! Get down from there now! He'll kill you!" He heard Satoshi… he could recognize that voice anywhere. He wouldn't give up though.
"N-No! This is my fight… I must fight until the end… At least… I knew I protected my family," He stood up with some struggle. The creature tilted his head.
"You foolish human. You dare to fight me until your last moments. I'll give you what you want," The creature spoke before turning sharply, his tail swinging back. Yoshiki didn't have time to dodge, and when the lightning and thunder crashed, he felt intense pain in his stomach. The creature's tail, tipped with sharp, long quills, punctured his stomach. He withdrew his tail, and blood spurted out from the wound. He fell to his knees, holding his stomach with his arms as he coughed up blood.
"Yoshiki!" Satoshi yelled at the blonde. Dammit! His stubbornness is killing him!
Ayumi only watched, her eyes widening as she saw him fall. She hid Ami from the scene, not wanting to freak her daughter out.
The spirits watched as well, and Yuuya turned back to Sachiko. Her eyes were wide as she saw the creature attack. The model turned back to the roof.
In that moment, the doors to the bridge broke open, and the rest of Satoshi's family ran out.
"Satoshi!" Naomi yelled for him, and the brun male looked over. He ran over to the rail, meeting with his family.
"Naomi, I need all of you to hide in the treeline of the forest… T-That creature… he's killing… Yoshiki… I don't want any of you getting hurt," He demanded, and Naomi and Yuka exchanged glances.
"Alright…" Naomi nodded. Giving Koji to him, she quickly hopped the railing. Satoshi helped Shigeru over next, the smaller boy too short to hop the rail on his own. Aya was next, Yuka couldn't go over the rail with her on her back. Once all of the family was over, they quickly made their way to the treeline.
Satoshi ran back over to Ayumi, still frozen with mental pain.
"Ayumi! I need you to go to the treeline with the others! It's for you and your daughter's safety!" He demanded, and she broke from her trance. She nodded, turning and running off with Ami close behind.
On the rooftop, Yoshiki refused to fall. Panting heavily, blood streaming from his mouth, he looked back up at the creature.
"Y-You… really… think… I've given up… yet?" He coughs out, and the creature turned at his voice. His green eyes narrowed, and walked back to the human.
"You stubborn son of a bitch… just die already!" The creature swung its claws out, hitting the blonde in the side. With little to no strength left, he slipped down the incline of the roof; he caught the edges, barely hanging on. The creature stepped down to him, his talons preventing him from slipping.
"You just don't give up, do you? You might not be of Shinozaki blood, but I give kudos to you for trying… but I don't give any mercy to my victims," He leaned down, murmuring to him. Then, he reached forward, placing his talons on the knuckles of Yoshiki's hands. Pressing down, the talons pierced the skin, and blood poured from the wounds. Yoshiki choked back a groan, then suddenly, the talons lifted up, and the blonde lost his grip, falling…
"Yoshiki!" Satoshi yelled, running after the male. He knew he wasn't fast enough though, the blonde would land on the ground hard.
"No… Yoshiki…" Ayumi gasped out, stepping forward.
The creature let out a chuckle, before turning around, heading for the abandoned sword.
Suddenly, the rain turned a different direction as the wind picked up, and with unknown forces, Yoshiki didn't fall hard onto the ground that could've easily snapped his neck. He landed gently, lying in the wet grass on his side as he panted. Through blurry vision, he could make out two faces looking down at him, both seemingly familiar.
Suzu…moto… Morshi…ge…
"Yoshiki!" Satoshi yelled out as he reached him. Instantly, the faces disappeared, and the wind had settled, the rain returning to its straightforward downpour.
Landing on his knees, the brun looked over the blonde. He looked worse up close than from afar. His right eye was shut, the deep, bloody scar running across it pooled with fresh blood. The one of his nose had ceased to stop bleeding, but it was deep. Even with it raining, the blood hadn't completely washed away. The wound in his stomach started to pool underneath, his shirt completely stained with the crimson.
Ayumi couldn't stand it anymore, she ran away from the treeline, against the older male's orders. Ami was about to follow, but was stopped when Naomi grabbed her.
"Mommy…" She muttered out.
Ayumi landed next to Satoshi, panting heavily as she looked over her husband's wounds. Sobbing, she turned Yoshiki to lie on his back, his head resting on her lap.
"Y-Yoshiki… please… don't leave me…" She pleaded softly, leaning forward and gently pressing her forehead to his. Tears were starting to stream down her face as she held the blonde.
"A-Ayumi… t-take care… of our daughter…" He croaked out, and her eyes widened, and she rose up, shaking her head.
"No! No! Yoshiki! We're going to get out of here! We're going to save you!" She cried, more tears spilling over.
"Y-You can't leave us… Ami needs her daddy… and I need my husband," She murmured, leaning down again as her sobs shook her body. Watching the whole scene unfold, Sachiko slowly looked back up at the rooftop where the creature was, walking over to the sword. Her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing.
The wind picked up again as she disappeared…
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