Hey, I remember why Senri's ability seemed so familiar to me. Yeah, it was this guy, I saw him use it before. You know, like he's using on me right now.
Rido's laughs echoed in the night as I ran through the forest, trying to figure out which way to go to get back to where someone could help me out. The red whips grew closer and closer and I was just grateful that I was in jeans instead of my school uniform. It didn't take too long to feel one blood whip coil around my ankle and pull me over so I faceplanted into the grass. I didn't have time to get up when a boot slammed down on my back. He laughed more, crushing his heel into my back as I tried to push myself up so there wasn't grass up my nose.
"Is this it?" he taunted and lifted then slammed his foot into my back "The precious little princess that my dear nephew cherishes?"
Ow! Fuck, you could break my spine if you keep stamping on me like that!
"How disappointing."
His boot slammed higher into my back and my breasts were shoved into the hard ground. Ow, fuck! Seriously! Ow!
"Pathetic!"
He spat on me and I tried to think straight as he slammed his boot into me again and I headbutted the ground next. His boot lifted and I rolled over to avoid the next stamp. I jumped up to my feet and raised my fists, having enough of getting booted. He laughed at this then raised his fists too, as if mocking my stance.
"Come on then," he taunted "what are you going to do?"
It kind of happened out of instinct if anything. My thumbnail sliced open four of my fingers and four blood whips shot out at him. He raised his arm in a defensive stance and my blood whips wrapped around it. I pulled, curling my fingers like I was holding Pearl Beauty's handle and strained against him, glaring at his smirk.
"Very good, Mana," he grinned "Very good indeed."
He then snapped his fingers and I lost my grip on my blood whips when his lashed out and struck me, pushing me over.
"But you need more…bite."
I scrambled back and jumped to my feet, holding my hand out to prepare to slice my fingers again for attack.
"Mana, you're untrained, unprepared."
His voice fell into a soft croon as he beckoned me closer.
"I'd hate to take advantage of such a promising young lady," he cooed "So much potential…so much unhidden talent…I want to bring that out in you."
Nope, no bribing me, I am not going to fall down such an obvious spiral of trickery! I sliced my fingertips and attacked again. He blocked the whips without so much as a blink and I already felt a bit fatigued. He was moving closer, I was losing my vision already and I found myself pressed up against one of the trees. He reached out for me.
"I want to…make you perfect."
Something in the back of my mind prickled and before I registered what my body as doing, I had jumped up and grabbed a branch. A gunshot rang out and Rido roared, holding his chest and stumbling back. I dropped down as Zero came into view. I glanced up at him as he gave me the once over before aiming Bloody Rose at Rido. He dodged the next bullet and it was then I noticed Zero was covered in thorns and vines, at least the arm that wielded Bloody Rose was. The vines seemed to power Bloody Rose and Rido was being scared further and further away.
"Mana, get back to the school!" Zero pressed a hand to my front and pushed me back "It's not safe!"
I managed to shove Zero out of the way first before my arm got snared in Rido's blood whips. I pulled against him as he snarled at me, rushing for me with claws and fangs at the ready. I didn't feel afraid like last time, I didn't even blink an eye. Because I felt safe with Zero who raised his gun and shot. Rido disappeared and I hadn't fully registered it until Zero grabbed my shoulder to shake it.
"Mana?"
I rubbed my arm and backed off to look up at him, my heart pounding as everything that had happened just ran around my head. I could hear my breathing as Zero looked down at me, looking concerned. He did have beautiful eyes. I could stare up at them for all eternity. He still looked like a mess though, I probably looked worse. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up, I felt happy. Zero was here, I felt happy, I felt safe. I don't know how long I stood there, feeling blissful and on top of the world. But the silence felt deafening. I parted my lips.
"Z…"
"Zero!"
We both heard Yuki's voice and Zero seemed to blink out of something as he stepped away. I felt my heart leap as my voice jarred and I closed my mouth. Then my heart broke as Yuki ran and threw her arms around Zero. I felt like something inside me had flown out, leaving me an empty shell. I felt…lost as Zero looked down at Yuki as if she was his world. They smiled to each other as something nasty and painful twisted inside me. My throat trembled and my lips wobbled. My eyes burned. I don't know how long it was that I stood there, wallowing in my pain until Hell's Gates opened wider to suck me deeper in.
"Mana."
What was left of my heart stopped. A cold hand rested itself on my shoulder and squeezed.
"Let's go."
No, don't make me. Kuran pulled me back and turned me round. He pressed his hand to my back and pushed me along. My legs moved as he gripped me tighter.
"We should at least get you some shoes."
I had forgotten that I had just ran out barefoot. It was only now that I could feel the cold grass against the soles of my feet. I struggled when suddenly Kuran scooped me off my feet and carried me for the rest of the way to the Moon Dormitories. Seiren was waiting with some socks and shoes for me. I reached out for them but she put them on for me as Kuran angled in a way that my feet faced her. He then placed me down and pressed his lips to my forehead.
"I love you."
It made me feel sick when he said that, especially as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"It's time to go home."
No! This is my home! Don't make me leave!
Kuran pressed his hand on my back as he began walking off campus, with me trying to resist him. Seiren followed behind and my legs moved despite my mind screaming no. I didn't want to leave here. Kuran's hand against my back was strong, unrelenting and cold. I could see the sky turning as dawn approached and I looked back, watching the school growing smaller and smaller in the distance. Seiren looked at me, her expression stoic as always. But something about her didn't seem cold as usual. She seemed…compassionate which felt odd.
"Mana."
There was something commanding in Kuran's voice as suddenly we stopped and I turned to see a car, ready for us to leave. Something clutched at my heart, I don't want to leave.
"Let's go."
I dug my heels in as Seiren got into the passenger seat and Kuran opened the back door, gripping my hand as he tried to pull me in.
"Come."
No, don't make me. I looked over my shoulder, wishing to see Zero one last time. Please come for me, Zero. Don't let him take me away.
"Mana, now."
Zero!
