Chapter 17

Divergence

/dʌɪˈvəːdʒ(ə)ns/

1. the process of state of diverging (to split out and move in different directions from a single point; to be or become different)

In the emptiness all was dark. It was there yet it was not, non-existent yet present. The dreamscape of the legendary Beholders awaited obediently for its masters to arrive.

And sure enough a faint outline of a golden thread began to thrum into existence, faint at first but then boldening into life. At one end of the thread a cascade of a thousand stars fell from above; on the other end, a swirl of fluid blackness rose up from the ground. As each end formed into a human body, the two pairs of eyes met at the same and they smiled.

"We both arrived at the same time!" Yuu laughed and wasted no time capturing Mika's hand within his own. "Hey Mika."

"Hey yourself," Mika said with a sliver of his own smile. His eyes flickered down to Yuu's hand for a brief moment before he asked, "Should I, or…?"

"No way, it's my turn this time," Yuu insisted and then shut his eyes. He breathed in once, his face smooth and even, before exhaling and spreading his arm in a calmly confident sweeping gesture. Even as his eyes were opening Yuu could already feel a salty breeze gently caressing his face. Tugging at Mika's hand, Yuu led him across the creamy white sand to two deck chairs that faced an endless expanse of silver-indigo waters.

"The ocean," Mika murmured, standing still in quiet enrapturment.

"I've always wanted to see the ocean," Yuu explained softly. They sat down in unison, two figures silhouetted in the silence of the night. Yuu watched the tide ebb and flow, catching on pearl hued shells that shone under the stars. "You've never seen it either, right?"

"I haven't ever had the chance. So you can create things here if you haven't seem them, as long as you can imagine it," Mika deduced and Yuu nodded. There was a lull in the conversation in which Yuu began to fidget.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Admit it, my dreamscaping skills are awesome."

"They're okay," Mika said nonchalantly and then chuckled at Yuu's indignant sound. "Fine fine, they're awesome you huge show off. Remember how bad they used to be though?"

"Aaah," Yuu cut in loudly, putting his fingers in his ears. "I can't hear you, nope, not at all."

"Geez, grow up!" Mika jabbed Yuu in the stomach, unrepentant at Yuu doubling over with a yelp. "You're too childish sometimes, honestly."

"And you're too serious, lighten up!" Yuu began to pull at Mika's cheeks, forcing them upwards. "Come on Mikaaa, smile! You used to be so annoyingly smiley, come on, come on!"

Instead of retaliating, Mika reached out to grasp a lock of Yuu's hair. Yuu dropped his hands red hot fast and accused, "What are you doing!?"

"It's gotten longer," Mika mused. "Your face is changing too."

"Yeah, well, it's been like four years, that's what happens when you get older. Your hair is getting way longer too…Come on, can you let go now?"

"Wait a minute. I thought I noticed something earlier…"

"What? What is it?"

"What's wrong with your end of the soul bond?" They both looked down to the ever-present floating golden thread between them, shining bright albeit slightly subdued near Mika. Yet as it travelled to Yuu left hand, it gradually darkened like black ink diffusing into pure water. As Yuu lifted his hand closer, he could see small specks of black rust beginning to form where the thread met flesh.

Mika took Yuu's hand without a word and bought it closer, inspecting it at every possible angle. When their gazes met again, Yuu could see the worry glimmering in Mika's blue eyes like a dam of wild waters.

Yuu drew back his hand and said slightly uneasily, "I don't know."

It was a strange world where Yuu could talk to the ghost of Mika in his dreams about everything that happened in his life. About being sent to school, about the escaped vampire attack, about meeting new classmates who had barged into his life and didn't seem inclined to barge out anytime soon.

A few dream meetings ago Mika had put his hands on Yuu's shoulders, looked him in the eye and said that Yuu was always talking about these new comrades but what did Yuu really think of them?

Yuu had fallen silent but in his own dream, with just him and Mika and no one else, he had slowly began to say what he would have never told anyone else. That Shinoa was weird but not that bad actually (because she had been the first person his age to talk to him), and he worried over Yoichi being too weak for the army and getting himself killed, and that he secretly found Kimizuki's will to protect his sister admirable and he hated it because he was also a total jerk and they got along like oil and water.

Afterwards Mika had been pensively quiet for a while before saying, "You're scared of calling them your friends, because you feel like you'll be betraying our dead family."

Yuu didn't say anything.

"But Yuu," Mika had carried on. "Maybe…it would be an advantage to have some allies in that place for when things go bad."

Jaw dropping, Yuu had exclaimed, "Seriously?! You've been hating on everyone in the army ever since we first met here and now you're telling me to make friends with them?"

Mika had crossed his arms and said, "Allies, Yuu. And I still don't trust them, don't get me wrong. But from what you've been telling me for all these weeks, they seem just as stupidly manipulated as you by the army-"

"-hey!-"

"-so tactically speaking, you could band together and they can protect you until I can- well, you'll see. You have my permission, Yuu."

"Who the hell needs your permission?" Yuu had quipped but he couldn't help feeling lighter, like an unknown weight had been lifted from his chest.

The memory of the conversation bought a small smile to Yuu's face as he walked with his hands in his pockets. Guren walked in front of the small group as he led them to wherever the try-out was for the Black Demon weapon series. He ignored the sudden light in Shinoa's eyes as she caught his smile and moved closer to him.

"So Yuu, you're a bit different from what I expected when I heard there was an unruly rule breaking delinquent that needed supervising. Actually you are pretty much an unruly rule breaking delinquent," Shinoa laughed lightly.

"What's your point?" Yuu said uninterestedly, not rising to the bait.

"You're a bit less moody than I expected. Could it be…" she trailed off dramatically and Yuu already had a bad feeling from the coy grin on her face. "…you have a secret lover to put that smile on your face? Oh ho, not such a cherry boy after all are you?"

Yuu choked on thin air and then tried not to laugh because the only secret person he had been meeting was Mika's ghost and the thought of Mika in a pink frilly dress was too precious. He turned his head away and snorted, "No way."

"Is that a besotted smile I see?"

"I said no way, I'm not dating anyone."

"Quiet down with the chatter!" Guren snapped with his back still turned and they both jumped a little, unaware that he had been listening. "Yuu, you're not allowed to have sex without my permission, got it? Actually just don't date anyone at all with your teenage hormones. You better just dump whoever you're seeing right now."

"What the hell Guren?!" Yuu spluttered, not seeing Shinoa, Yoichi and Kimizuki share a look, but Guren was already striding ahead to press a button. Two metal doors slid open with a creaking groan, showing the inside of a bare battered looking lift. Guren walked inside first and ordered, "Get in brats, and prepare yourself for the weapon ceremony."

They entered a massive chamber, grotesque stone faces lining the walls with their eyes pinned on the newcomers. As Guren answered his questions and explained where they were, Yuu found his fists clenching as if they could contain his rising excitement. His back was straight and confident as he walked up to the weapon in front of him and drew it unhesitatingly.

This was finally his chance to act out his revenge, to get the power to kill all the vampires on the face of the earth. This was for his family.

This was for Mika.

The runic circle began to glow an eerie green beneath his feet and he crumpled to the floor. Even as Yoichi and Kimizuki fell down in their own lit up circles, Guren's eyes remained fixed on Yuu's unconscious figure.

Mika was standing on the beach waiting for him. He turned to Yuu and smiled. "You're back quick, Yuu. Are you taking a nap in the daytime?"

"What?" Yuu mumbled, rubbing his head. "Mika? What are you doing here?"

"Are you feeling alright, Yuu?" Mika frowned and laid his hand across his head. "You don't feel warm…well, I don't know how well this works in dreams."

"So I'm dreaming right now?"

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, I guess," Yuu said, brows lowering as he tried to remember something just out of his grasp, like trying to catch dancing dust when the sun shines through a window. His thoughts were interrupted as Mika took his hand and began to lead him forwards.

"What are you doing?" Yuu asked.

"It's nice weather for going into the water, isn't it?" Mika replied and walked a few steps into the shore with Yuu. The water felt cool and pleasant against his bare feet, washing back and forth gently. Yuu wiggled his toes a little and revelled in the feeling of the current massaging his legs.

He startled as a pair of arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders from behind. "Mika…?"

"Actually Yuu…there's something I wanted to tell you," Mika began hesitantly. "I didn't want to tell you and I've been keeping it quiet for so long, but it's too difficult watching you not know."

He lowered his lips to Yuu's ear and whispered sadly, "I don't exist. I'm just a figment of your imagination."

Yuu felt his heart stutter as if it were about to stop altogether. He could barely croak out, "What?"

"You know ghosts don't really exist. Your mind has become so messed up after all you've been through and you made me up to try and cope with it all."

"No," Yuu shook his head, breaking free of Mika's hold. "No, it's not true!"

He spun around to face Mika but all the fire died out in his chest at the unbearably pitying look on Mika's face. "Don't look at me like that…don't look at me with that face. Why are you lying to me? This isn't a funny joke."

His voice broke off at the last word and Mika's silence was the final confirmation for all his fears. With a choked cry, he covered his face with his hands and began to shake, even as Mika drew him in with a hug.

"I'm so sorry Yuu…I'm so sorry," Mika was saying but everything felt vague and fuzzy like it was happening from far away. He felt Mika guiding his body further into the ocean until the water was lapping up at his neck. Yuu's body felt like lead, heavy and numb.

Mika rested his forehead against Yuu's and murmured, "Maybe this is for the best. Maybe you can still see me for real, be together with me."

"How do I do that?"

"You know what you have to do." Mika pressed himself against Yuu in one more hug, a stream of reassuring whispers flowing into his ear as he lowered Yuu into the ocean like a body being laid to rest in a coffin. His hands were pushing Yuu down and it would be so easy to let the water engulf him, to close his eyes and see Mika for real where the dead went to peacefully rest…

Glazed behind the watery depths, Yuu could see the sun shining in the crystal blue sky above him like a beacon light from heaven above.

Pockets of air bubbled from his mouth as he suddenly began to thrash wildly. He struggled against Mika's iron strong grip, muffled screams trapped behind his lips until his vision was swimming and blacking out at the edges, with a ringing noise pounding at his ears.

His hand groped wildly in the thick as mud water until out of nowhere, he found something long and hard in his hand. He grasped it tight and with all his remaining might thrust it up to the surface. It broke free and just barely missed Mika's shoulder, yet the hands pushing down at Yuu pulled back in the blink of an eye.

Yuu broke to the surface of the ocean with a gasp and for a few moments it took all he had just to catch his breath in wild pants.

His hand was still clenching at the object. He looked down and his eyes widened at the sword he was holding. It was pitch black and the most intricate ornament Yuu had ever seen, with swirls and engravings and gemstones that shone a dazzling bright like stars. Yet there was no doubt this was a weapon made to kill with the fine blade edge that looked like it could effortlessly slice through a mountain.

But even as he noticed the sword a black rust was beginning to coat over the metal, dulling the star gems until the blade itself was crumbling and Yuu was left with handfuls of scattering dust. He looked at his hand a bit helplessly before looking back at Mika.

No, not Mika. The figure before him was morphing before his very eyes, blonde curls snapping into wild long purple locks and blue eyes darkening into a red until it was a complete stranger who was in front of him.

Those demonic eyes were flared wide with horror as the intruder backed away from Yuu as if he were the devil himself. The beach around them was falling apart to pieces like a broken charade until they were both standing under a stretch of cloudy skies.

"That sword…" the intruder said in shock. They dropped at Yuu's feet and lowered their neck like a criminal at the executioner's block. "O I beg for your forgiveness for my actions, please have mercy!"

"Woah woah," Yuu took a few steps. "First of all, who are you? Why did you try to wear Mika's face and drown me?"

"I am the demon Asuramaru. Your Grace drew the weapon I possessed and I trialled you, unknowing of your identity."

"And pretending to be Mika?"

"Please forgive my transgression," Asuramaru begged, his head still bent low. "I can see into the hearts of those who wish to use me, and attack their worst fears and weaknesses."

Yuu clamped his mouth shut and wrapped one arm around himself. That had been his worst fear…it had always been there, he realised. He just hadn't wanted to think about it before, hadn't wanted to admit it to himself.

"Are you going to kill me?" Asuramaru interrupted his unwilling thoughts. He was trembling violently, not even able to look at Yuu.

"I passed the trial right?" Yuu asked instead.

"That is correct."

"Then make me your user. Give me your power so I can get my revenge!"

Asuramaru's head snapped up at Yuu's words, surprise written all over his face. He said hesitantly, "Is your power not more than sufficient for you, My Lord?"

"Why are you calling me that? And how am I supposed to get stronger without a demon weapon?" Yuu answered with no small amount of confusion.

"You do not know," Asuramaru said slowly and Yuu's confusion heighted like a growing mountain.

"What are you on about? Look, just give me your power and make a contract with me!" Yuu offered his hand demandingly and Asuramaru took it immediately, as if he could not even dare of disobeying.

As soon as their hands met there was a blinding black shadow that fell over everything like a curtain of darkness. An agonised scream ripped through the air and the next second Asuramaru was on his knees with the outlines of his body bleeding out demonic shadows. His face was twisted into a contortion of pain.

"What just happened- are you alright?!" Yuu gasped, reaching out to Asuramaru who flinched away from his touch.

"No!" Asuramaru yelled and then looked like he wanted to kick himself. "I'm sorry, please forgive my insolent tone-"

"What happened?" Yuu urged again although he drew his hand back.

"There…there is…you are not fully human. And….that inhuman part would not be happy with sharing a host."

Yuu's lips felt dry and cracked despite his recent near drowining as he forced himself to ask, "What are you saying?"

"I cannot possess you, My Lord."

"He's waking up!"

"Get your weapons ready."

"What are you saying, sir?!"

"You saw the black cloud from the weapon go into Yuu. You already know what happens to those who are possessed."

He was lying down on the stone cold floor. Yuu's eyes opened to the intent gazes of four other people. Well, three actually as Yoichi was draped unconscious over Kimizuki's back.

Shinoa almost seemed to unstiffen and smiled. "Well, will you look at that. He's not possessed after all."

She saw Yuu looking at Yoichi and explained, "Oh, Yoichi here got possessed by his demon but Kimizuki snapped him out of it by giving him a hug. It was a truly moving moment."

Kimizuki concentrated on shifting Yoichi on his back with his ears tipped red. Guren's face remained impassive as he demanded, "What happened?"

Yuu saw the blade lying next to him, the sheath somehow shut tight again before he looked down at his hands, almost as if he could not believe what was happening.

"I…failed."

Author's notes: FINALLY reached the canon plot! I think we're halfway through the fic by now but either way things are gonna speed up from here on so get ready for the wild ride

Please kindly leave a review