What's going on? Satsuki swiped the air. Slashes of her cursed blood flew for the retreating executor who was able to avoid them swiftly. Why did Junpei stop fighting?
The two girls dashed down the hallway that was a familiar setting between them, only instead of warm greetings, it was an altercation. Even as Satsuki bared with the onslaught of black keys, careful to avoid coming into direct contacts with Ciel's rites, she could still hear Junpei's heart beating sorrowfully from afar, his will to fight completely gone. There was the scent of someone's blood, but it wasn't Junpei's, it was-
An immensely strong odor attacked her senses, and shook her system. Satsuki ceased her assault on Ciel and kicked off into the nearest classroom, bursting through the doors.
Ciel was surprised by Satsuki's abrupt action. She suspected a possible surprise attack, but noticed a change within the vampire. As if something else caught her attention. She didn't even feel Satsuki was actively focused on her anymore. Uncertain by what this change could mean, Ciel telekinetically sends her black keys for the fleeting vampire.
Something happened to her. I can feel this surge of raw energy inside her. It's unstable. Yumizuka-chan's body is going to erupt!
Ciel wanted to know what could have done that. She could only reason that Satsuki's body was unable to keep up with the girl's innate ability anymore, but such a change was too unusual and abrupt. What could have happened between the timeframe of Ciel's last battle with Satsuki, and the incident that occurred at Junpei's home? There was some sort of missing element here, but Ciel had no time to debate on this.
The blood that was smeared on Satsuki's mouth, whosever blood she took, it was able to keep the girl's form together for a little longer. Ciel has heard of vampires' innate curse erupting upon reaching the maximum limit of their blood thirst, and knew that that was exactly what was happening with Satsuki right now. It was like a nuke was about to go off. Unless Ciel ends Satsuki here and now, this could potentially become a crisis that which multiple lives are at stake.
If she plans to escape into the neighborhood or go after Yuuji-kun, I must do everything I can to prevent that!
However, that wasn't at all what Satsuki had in mind. Inside the classroom and hiding behind the side of the teacher's desk, Satsuki clutched over her mouth and nose. She felt her mouth salivating and her stomach turning. The beast inside her wanting out while her body burns with hunger.
That blood... That scent. I know it. I know it-!
Her heightened senses confirmed it. It was human blood, but it was also cursed. The same sort of scent she smelled from that cursed finger this morning. The image of the pink-haired boy came to mind, and it suddenly clicked for her, instilling her thundering, beating heart with horror.
Yuuji, and the inexplicable unease she felt within him. She knew there was something faintly familiar with that cursed finger's scent. That sorcerer... someway or somehow... that boy and that cursed finger were related. She didn't understand how, but...
She looked up to see the black keys carving the ceilings, and she lunged out of the way before they would entrap her with a barrier. She broke through the classroom windows and landed onto the grass, sticking to the side of the school building as she sprinted away.
Itadori. He's here. He was fighting Junpei!
That must be why Junpei decided to stop fighting. Maybe Yuuji talked him down. In that case, it should have been a good thing. But now still laid the problem of Ciel, and an even bigger problem, the curse that had been hiding in Yuuji all this time.
Don't tell me he-!
Could Yuuji have left that cursed finger at the house? But why? Or was it that curse inside him that did it? Why would either of them do such a thing anyway? Why Junpei?
I don't understand. I don't understand!
Was Yuuji an enemy after all? But Satsuki was sure he had been a good guy. It didn't erase the fact that he was hiding an evil curse this whole time, though. And he admitted to have killed people too. She remembered overhearing Yuuji telling so to Junpei. How the sorcerer had lost control. Was it something like that? Did he involuntarily left that cursed object and came back to apologize? His heartbeat sounded so kind now, and yet the unease she felt from him still remained. It wasn't simply her nervous nature, it was her survival instincts warning her.
I have to get Junpei away from him!
Satsuki could sense the black keys chasing after her and jumped back into the school. Crashing through the windows again, she found herself in a dark and empty cafeteria. The black keys fired at her back, but Satsuki swung her leg and kicked a table for the keys, breaking their metal by the force her powerful kick was able to deliver.
Junpei's blood managed to give her enough strength and energy to keep herself moving, but it's only a matter of time before this energy runs out. When that happens, she'll collapse again. She won't have any strength left to protect Junpei. Not from Ciel, not from Yuuji...
It was sad to think about it, but she can't let Junpei be anywhere near that sorcerer anymore. Neither of them could. The stench of Yuuji's blood. This tantalizing sensation in her throat that both frightened and enticed her.
Dangerous. Merciless. Evil. Power. Power. Power. No wonder so many curses had been drawn to that cursed finger at Junpei's house.
"Gngh-!" She clamed over her mouth and nose again. No Satsuki-! Don't fall for that lure either! She wanted to become a better vampire. Not someone who was a slave to her instincts. She never wanted to go back to that state again. But...
Junpei's blood wasn't enough. She needed more. More. More. Or else her body would burst from the inside and fall apart. She needed more blood-!
More black keys entered the cafeteria and Satsuki proceeded to launch tables at them in defense. It was far more useful to do so then to risk her flesh with those blades again. Where can Satsuki get more blood? The students in the gym? That might be her best and only shot. Wait, but didn't Satsuki wanted Junpei not to do that-?
Who cares? You need it more than they do.
But... But what if she kills them? What if they were one of Junpei's school friends'-?
He was going to bring them to you anyway. He was willing to take them all hostage. None of them mattered. None of them should anyway.
This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Satsuki was beginning to lose herself.
Remember how much it hurt the first time you didn't want to drink any blood? Remember how horrible it was? Remember how scary it was? Like you were going to disappear. Remember how good it felt to drink? How exciting it was. Like you were the most powerful being in the entire world.
Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Remember? Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink
"Stop. Stop! STOP! I don't want to go back to that anymore-! I don't want to! I don't! I don't! I don't!" Satsuki hands clamped over her ears and shook her head, her stomping feet pulverizing the floor she was standing on, but the voices kept coming. The monster inside her refused to be silenced. Her throat felt so dry, like she had the sun stuck inside her throat.
"Someone... Help me..."
Someone save me. Someone save me. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Satsuki slumped to the floor, curling up into a ball as she held her head. Everything hurt. Everything hurt so much. Why? Why did someone turn her into this? Why did she end up like this? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Shiki... Junpei... Mom... Dad...
She called out the names she held dearly to her heart. She called to God. She called to Yuuji. She called to everyone she could. For someone to make this pain go away.
"Ciel... Senpai..."
The black keys stopped coming, and Satsuki could hear footsteps calmly approach her.
"...I really do want to help you, Yumizuka-chan." Ciel's voice full of pity carried across the cafeteria. Destroyed tables, seats, and black keys scattered everywhere. "I know I've deceived you and everyone else in school. Despite that, though, I do genuinely care about all of you. That part wasn't a lie."
Satsuki couldn't respond as she was trying her best to fight off the bloodlust.
"The sins you carry does not change this, and your soul is not beyond saving either. However, your body has reached its limit. It's only a matter of time before you end up doing what you fear."
Ciel's eyes held no emotion, but her words were gentle, holding no hatred for the vampire who had harmed her before. "I regret not finding you sooner. It's possible that... all of this would have been avoided."
But even if Ciel could find and kill the vampire who have turned Satsuki as a last-ditch effort, the blood Satsuki consumed had transformed her beyond any hope of her humanity returning, even if the human heart of Satsuki Yumizuka still faintly beats.
"The best I can offer is to make this as painless as possible. Your family won't know what's happened to you, but you have my word that they will be looked after by my company."
Satsuki felt relieved to hear that. Even if Ciel was a liar, she felt that Ciel meant it, and was thankful to hear it regardless. She could feel Ciel's warding around her mind and heart have lowered, and from there, Satsuki was able to read Ciel's heart to its fullest. Her honest intentions.
In another world, Satsuki would have liked to have been real friends with Ciel.
"...That's... good..." Satsuki smiled bitterly, breathing stagnantly, "I wouldn't want them to know... what I did. I'd like it if... everyone could only have... nice memories of me..."
She would hate it for them to feel so sorrowful or horrified if they were to look at Satsuki now, and she would hate it even more to think how badly she would want to sunk her teeth into their necks. No... She would rather accept this fate than hurt anyone she loved. For so long as she still had her sanity.
Satsuki's voice held resignation as she held herself even closer now. Ciel took this as a sign of acceptance and held out one black key.
The executor regarded the girl for one last time, her mind emptied of any thought that could shake her focus. Not the memory she held at the back of her head, of the times they spent talking in the classroom. Of her lunchtimes with Satsuki, along with Shiki and Inui, in a cafeteria very much like this one. She wouldn't let herself be troubled by such thoughts, otherwise, she will risk detering her role as executor.
And yet, despite knowing this, one thought managed to slip past her guard, and held back her hand that held the handle of her black key.
You try to do good, and that makes you a good person - I would want to learn from someone strong like you.
Yuuji's words echoed in her mind, and it was his voice alone that made the executor hesitate.
It was the first time she was on the fence over this. In all her years as a vampire hunter, she never once backed down from doing what needed to be done. Whatever empathy she would have for the victims of vampirism, she would kill it so to grant them a merciful death. Nagi Yoshino was amongst said victims, and so is Satsuki Yumizuka. This vampire has caused a lot of grief, prioritizing her own survival that which Ciel cannot blame Satsuki for. The tragedy of Satsuki's situation was not lost on her, but there was nothing that could be done. This girl's bloodlust will consume herself, and many lives will be lost as a result. So why was Ciel hesitating now?
...Back then, at Junpei's house, when I told Yuuji the truth about Satsuki Yumizuka... Ciel recalled, her eyes betraying the faintest of her emotions, as if pained by the memory. The way he reacted... It looked like I told him that one of his best friends just died.
To have spent so little time with others, yet instantly adopt them from his mind as someone precious and close, he really is a gem that shone so brilliantly in this world full of evil and depravity. Ciel tried to keep herself level-headed, but no matter how much she hid her own feelings, she almost couldn't bear to imagine how Yuuji would react after this. Satsuki is a murderer, and Ciel herself is a self-admitted murderer. Two wrongs don't make a right, but it is necessary. One way or another, Satsuki needed to be stopped.
But if Ciel could help it, she never would want Yuuji to show that level of sadness again. It was sentimentalities at work, she knew this, but it was tougher to shake off than she thought. Good heavens, that boy's energy truly is infectious, to have sink into Ciel's well-guarded, stone-cold heart even when she tried to cut all emotional ties from him this afternoon.
...There's no hope of turning Yumizuka-chan back into a human again, Ciel thought to herself, her eyes narrowed. But... at the very least, I should extract all that built-up energy inside her first-
Ciel was surprised when Satsuki suddenly pulled back, her hand held around her throat, and her red eyes suddenly widened. That expression again. What does she...?
There was a sound that came out of Satsuki's blood-tasted lips, a soft-sounding noise that was uttered incredulously. "...Jun-kun...?"
Junpei had finished his recount of this morning's disaster. How someone placed a cursed object in his house, drawing terrible curses in. His mother's death, and in an act of desperation, he contacted Satsuki in an effort to bring his mom back to life. But he pushed her into doing something drastic, and it nearly killed her. All Junpei had been trying to do was to save Satsuki by giving her blood, but he can't do it anymore. He can't kill anyone or let anyone die at his current state. He lost his nerve completely. He truly wasn't as apathetic as he believed himself to be.
Yuuji listened with a sorrowful expression, finally getting a better grasp at what happened this morning. She really didn't attack them...
He remembered Satsuki putting a cover over the drunk-sleeping Nagi's shoulders to keep her warm. She was just trying to help...
"She's not a bad person..." Junpei said, rubbing his eyes of all the tears, having calmed down enough. "She really didn't want to kill all those people. She even told me that she wanted to start drinking blood less, so that no one else would have to die anymore..."
Hearing this, Yuuji was further aggrieved, and his jaw clenched. Satsuki Yumizuka had been a normal girl just like him and Junpei. A familiar classmate of Ciel. Someone who must have a family and friends who cared and loved her. To be ripped away from that peaceful life, forced into becoming a killer for her own survival, there was anger in Yuuji's heart at the perpetrator who made her into a monster in the first place.
He decided to put away his feelings regarding Satsuki's actions as a vampire. He still hadn't forgiven her for having hurt Ciel, but he understood that she wasn't just some monster either. This should have never happened to someone like Satsuki. Someone who had been kind, gentle. A nervous person but cheerful around friends. She'd been a good person at one point, and some bastard came in and ruined that, robbing her of her humanity.
"I know you're a sorcerer, and I know she's killed several people already, but she doesn't want to anymore! She wants to do good!" Junpei said firmly. "Please-!"
Junpei paused when he saw the look of determination in Yuuji's eyes.
"I understand," Yuuji said. "A lot of bad things happened with her... but someone put her in that situation. It really wasn't her fault."
Someone who gets scared so easily at horror movies. Chuckled at Yuuji's humorous side. And expressed fondness over her friend Junpei, caring for his wellbeing.
Yuuji secured his hold of Junpei's hand, his fingers locked onto them as he declared earnestly, "Come with me! There's a lot of strong people at my school we can rely on. Everyone you can be friends with. They can help us figure out how we can help Sacchin."
He then added with resolve, "We'll also look for the people who cursed your mom and punish them. You. Me. Sacchin. Everyone. Let's fight together-!"
His speech full of promises and a brighter future was interrupted when he spotted a strange-looking figure walking down the stairs. Yuuji looked in surprised at the sight of the patchy-faced figure, and that off-putting smile of his.
Junpei blinked at Yuuji's changed expression, and looked over his shoulder, his eyes widening in recognition of Mahito.
"Who are you?" Yuuji questioned. He saw the man as a human, but not quite. There was something incredibly off about the man of stiches before him, he felt it somewhere at the back of his head.
Mahito merely smiled as he held over his arm. "It's nice to finally meet you... Sukuna's Vessel."
The curse's arm immediately mutated, transforming into a larger mass of his own body.
Yuuji stood up in alarm, but he was distracted by Junpei when the other boy called out to the man. "Wait Mahito!"
His plea went unheard. Mahito's enlarged arm outstretched and pushed Yuuji against the windows, slamming him against the frames and trapping his whole body there save for his head and limbs. "Gngh-!"
Yuuji cursed himself for his stupidity. The curse user who can manipulate bodies, the one who murdered those teens at the movie theater. It was this guy. This was the human-like curse Nanami fought!
"M-Mahito-!" Junpei tried again, his heart wanting to explain, believing that Mahito was here to protect him from Yuuji, though he had no fathom as to why he referred to Yuuji with a different title just now.
"Junpei! Run!" Yuuji struggled against Mahito's enlarged hold. His strength overpowered by the mutated hand. "This guy-! I don't know how you know him, but don't trust him! He's not like Sacchin! You have to run!"
Junpei looked back at the teen, his hands raised reassuringly, "No. Hold on. You don't need to worry! Mahito-san isn't a bad person-"
His words were instantly conflicted when memories of Mahito's experiments came to mind. All the thoughtless, inhumane treatment Mahito had done to other humans. Turning them into either massive dead-brained zombies, or small, crusty pieces of humans - the same size as the cursed finger he saw in his home in fact. "Ah..."
What Yuuji just said, it actually clicked something in Junpei. With Sacchin, she admitted her guilt of killing others. With Mahito on the other hand...
Mahito never needed to kill people to survive. He just did it... because he wanted to. And not once did he ever expressed guilt over killing others. Can someone who thought so little about other people's lives really be considered a good person?
But... it's fine with Sacchin and me. Right? Junpei was frozen as he tried to justify his thought process, not noticing the hand placed over his shoulder. But... Sacchin and Mahito are different, in a way that...
In a way that they see life differently, people with hearts verses people without them.
"You know, Junpei. You're a pretty smart kid. But you tend to overthink things when you should act, it puts you in some pretty bad spots." Mahito's grip over Junpei's shoulders felt cold. "This is the perfect example!"
Junpei was petrified. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe. He was completely blank of all thoughts, not understanding why Mahito would say such a thing. Because it's not like he'd ever cared about you in the first place.
Ah. Right. Mahito did mention once how no one's life mattered. Nothing in life mattered, including other people's perspectives of each other, their regard for one another.
"The truth is, Junpei..."
"What are you-?! Stop! Stay away from him!"
"All those people you thought were stupid..." Mahito whispered close to Junpei's ear. "You're just as stupid as they are."
Junpei's mind flashed back to the last bit of happiness in his life. His mom's laughter, his movie talk with Yuuji, and Satsuki's bright and warm smile. The girl he promised he'd get back to, and wanted to see the sunrise together with.
"Idle Transfiguration."
"Wait-!" Ciel quickly ran after the fleeting vampire. It was out of nowhere. The vampire had suddenly gained a second, or perhaps a third wind, and bolted out of the cafeteria. Satsuki no longer paid the girl anymore heed, instead sprinting as if someone's life depended on it.
Something's wrong-! Something's wrong with Junpei-! Satsuki could hear the rapid change of his heartbeat. It was morphed. Unnatural. Like something shaped it into something that no human should ever carry. She also smelled the scent of a familiar curse, standing right by Junpei and the cursed sorcerer. Mahito-?! He was here?!
Several black keys flew up ahead and embedded themselves in Satsuki's way, but the vampire didn't care about any of them. She angrily swatted them away, using up all her energy to do so. Even as Rites were used to burn, paralyze, and etc., Satsuki did not stop. Junpei! Junpei! I'm coming!
She didn't care about the pain. She didn't care about the executor chasing behind her. She didn't care about anything at all. All she cared about was to get to Junpei.
"AHH-!" Satsuki reached her limit when the second wave of black keys came her way, and a barrier was activated from them. Several black keys had past over her head and embedded themselves into the floor. Within an instant, they unleashed a magical energy. She could instantly tell what was about to happen, and so she opted to jump out of the hallway through the windows.
"Tower Ring: Tower of Imprisonment."
"-?!"
A pink light blocked Satsuki's view of the windows, and she found herself unable to proceed. It was like gravity took hold of her. Keeping her completely still. "W-what is this?"
It was the same barrier used against Sukuna at the detention center, only this time, Ciel made it far efficient, and no cursed finger will be breaking the trapped individual out of this one. Ciel held her hand out, focusing her energy into the keys. "I don't know what made you ran like that, but I can't let you proceed."
She's reached a critical state. She's going to explode!
The emotional state of Satsuki had been the instigation. It was a countdown at this point, and the vampire was radiating heat. Ciel brought out both arms and held them out for the trapped vampire. Killing her quickly could trigger the explosion. I'll have to exorcise all of that energy first!
The urgency to do so, or else the entire school will be destroyed, Ciel had to perform an exorcism-type of rite to kill all the excessive energy inside of Satsuki. I'm sorry, Yumizuka. This is going to hurt a lot.
The executor began to perform her Baptismal Rite. An electrical current surrounds the intensifying barrier. Satsuki shrieked. It was an invasion of holy sacraments, coursing into her body like ice and venom, the souls she had consumed this morning leaving her in cries. She couldn't fight it off.
Why? Why was Ciel doing this to her? She'd thought the executor could make it quick, but this is torture! Was this punishment? Was this for all the people and souls she's killed and eaten? This wasn't fair! None of this was her fault! She never wanted any of this to happen!
She never wanted to kill people. She just wanted to live. She just wanted to be with the person she loved. She just-! She just wanted everything to STOP hurting!
"J-Ju-!...Jun...!"
"Whoa. What's going on over there?" Mahito nonchalantly wondered as he ignored the struggle in front of him, looking down the hallway where he's fairly certain Satsuki and that executor is. "Huh. Maybe I should have killed Satsuki-chan after all... Meh. I'm sure it'll be fine."
Yuuji was slammed back against the window frame, clutching the figure that was once human. "-Junpei! Get it together!"
There was no intelligible response, there was only sounds of agony and distortion. Junpei rammed himself against Yuuji in mindless violence. His body completely morphed into a platypus-like curse. There was no reasoning. No thought. Only feelings, and his feelings were incomprehensible.
Yuuji tried to hold him. To get through to Junpei, but he could see just how deeply twisted Junpei's mind was. There was no getting through to the boy. There was no way to help him, not with his power alone. It's only a matter of time before Junpei would die from shock, and Yuuji can't have that. He can't let it happen. He can't. He can't!
"...SUKUNA!"
He was going to help Junpei, no matter what it takes.
The curse appeared from Yuuji's cheek, grinning in sadistic pleasure at being called to desperately. "What do you want, brat?"
"Help Junpei! Heal him! Like what you did with my heart!" Yuuji shouted for the curse to hear. The plea in his voice clear. "I'll let you do whatever you want! Take over my body whenever you want! Just save Junpei!"
The curse's eyes narrowed. It certainly sounded like an enticing offer. To have freedom whenever he liked. It'd especially be compelling to take it so to spread mayhem amongst all his friends, the innocents, and have a more intimate time with Ciel, who he could feel is in the school. He was actually tempted to accept it, however...
"I refuse!" He absolutely loved seeing that look of hope be crushed in Yuuji's expression. It was also a confirmation that Yuuji really didn't remember the binding bow they have already made. Therefore, why should he take over now? When he has so much more planned later on.
"W-why?!" Yuuji didn't understand. He thought Sukuna would take it. Didn't the curse said wanted his freedom?! So why?! Why?!
"How wonderful..." Unable to help himself, Sukuna laughed at the plight of Yuuji. "You're completely helpless! You don't have any power over this! You're mine! Your future! Your belongings! Everything you desire and possess is MINE! You're completely useless! You pathetic brat!"
Mahito was surprised by Sukuna's refusal. He didn't get why the cursed king would turn down such a deal, especially since that was exactly what Geto wanted to happen. It was completely unexpected.
He said no? But it's not like it's impossible to turn Junpei back. Maybe not completely but I wouldn't think that'd be a problem for the King of Curses. Does Sukuna not have that ability?
Or was it that Sukuna found it even more enjoyable to see Yuuji struggle. To be crawled for on his hands and knees, only to cruelly reject his plea for the enjoyment of his disparity.
Then... Mahito looked back down at Junpei's cursed state. I just killed this kid... for nothing.
...Ha.
Ha ha ha.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Laughter of cursed beings filled the halls of this school. There was no merit, only malice. Only the pleasure over the misfortune of others.
Yuuji froze in the middle of the hall. His face completely shell-shocked. He no longer registered the attacks from Junpei whose hits were getting weaker and weaker.
Ah... I almost forgot...
"Sssaaaaaccchhhhiiiiinnnnn...!"
These two... They're curses.
They will always, and will be, curses.
"Saaaa... chiiiiinnn...!" The rasp voice of Junpei uttered as he weakly gripped onto the bottom of Yuuji's shirt. "Yyyuuujiii... Whhhyyy...?"
Yuuji had no answer. The eyes of Sukuna merely looked down on the sorry-state of the human. Eventually, Junpei lost his grip, and slumped to the floor.
And not another air left the unfortunate human's mouth.
"-Ahaha! Oh? He died already?" Mahito wiped off a tear from his eye for laughing so much. "I guess I went a little overboard. Oh well-"
A sucker punch was delivered straight into the curse's face, a double-impact attack of Yuuji's curse ability, and it sends Mahito straight up the stairs.
"What an interesting attack." Mahito easily landed back on his feet. "Too bad that won't work on me. I can maintain the shape of my soul-"
Blood spurted from Mahito's nose. The curse was startled, looking down at the dripping contents of his own essence that fell onto his hands.
What?
Mahito held over his mouth that was coated by his own blood. He injured me? He was able to hit my soul?
Ah. Of course. Mahito soon understood what happened. Yuuji is the vessel of Sukuna. Another soul dwells in his body. And as a result of that...
"-you've learned how to perceive your own soul!" Mahito smiled widely at the face of Yuuji and his curse-fueled body that expressed his pure, unrestrained, and merciless rage.
From this point, everything Yuuji had ever believed in - his own moral code, he completely abandoned it, and he declared it to the curse he sees has no value in life at all. "I'm going to kill you!"
Mahito laughed, his tongue licking off the blood underneath his nose. "Don't you mean exorcise, Jujutsu Sorcerer?!"
-Babumpbabumpbabumpbabump!
Ba bump. Ba bump… ba…bump…
Ba…
….
The tears stopped flowing as soon as Satsuki's stopped hearing Junpei's heartbeat. The agony in her body from the holy sacraments felt numb as she realized. "…Junpei?"
There was one less heartbeat she hears. One familiar heartbeat that was no longer evident. It could only mean one thing.
"…Oh."
Everything suddenly felt cold. She didn't think it was because of Ciel's barrier, or the weight of the souls she's ate all in one sitting this morning. No. She was certain that wasn't it.
"…I see…"
She whispered out while her body was slumped to the floor. Junpei… he was dead. Someone killed him. Someone made him suffer first, and then he died as a result. His scent changed too, like he was morphed into… a curse.
Her senses caught presence of another curse there. A curse who didn't have a 'heart' but she had heard his laughter.
Mahito. There can be no other explanation.
I should have taken Junpei away sooner.
But there was nothing that can be done about it now. Junpei was gone. Her friend… was gone.
...There's no one left for her now. No one to share her loneliness.
No one… to help her.
…Maybe Mahito was right.
"?" Ciel looked in confusion at the sudden change in Satsuki's behavior. She felt it wasn't due to her extracting the encumbered energy within the vampire. Before she could examine it further, she felt a sudden, violent surge of cursed energy from the other side of the school. An unrepentant sense of rage that made Ciel shivered, enough to make her look towards its direction.
"Is this… Yuuji-kun…?"
As the executor was distracted, Satsuki was slowly pushing herself up from the floor, an act that should be impossible for the barrier that surrounded her.
Maybe… Satsuki thought, ignoring all the pain as she felt the weight of the souls be slowly wretched from her body. I should stop caring about anything…
cursed energy fueled Satsuki's arms, its color had turned from blue to red. The magical light of the barrier began to weaken at the cursed energy's presence. Like a failing lightbulb, the barrier started to flicker. Feeling this sudden change, Ciel quickly turned back to Satsuki. What-?
As the executor realized too late what Satsuki was doing, the helpless girl on the floor came to a decision. Maybe… I should stop trying to be human anymore.
The barrier weakened upon the use of Satsuki's depletion ability, and she slammed her fist into the ground. The floor and barrier shattered upon the impact. Ciel quickly retreated. "Impossible… she depleted the barrier?!"
All while Ciel was draining Satsuki's power. Had Satsuki eaten so much that she was able to brute-force her way out at the last possible second? Not even a Dead Apostle Ancestor could have freed themselves from this barrier!
Not only that, but there was an aftereffect under Satsuki's punch. The floor had turned to dust, gray-color sands as if the tiles had been grinded for years. Ciel's survival instincts shrieked, enough for the executor's breath to hitch.
The girl on the floor rested on her knees, her sharp fingers dug into the sand, clutching a handful.
"…It's not fair that you still have someone there for you, Senpai," Satsuki began, raising her head to meet with the discomforted and slightly worried executor.
"I don't blame you for liking him though. Just now, I heard your heartbeat when you looked where he was. You care about him a lot, huh?" Her blood-red cold gaze regards the classmate with a chilling smile. "There's someone I like too. I think he deserves a friend like Yuuji. Don't you agree?"
Her sanity gone. All that's left is hunger.
Satsuki's hand dug further into the sand, and she tossed it for the executor. A cloud of dirt impeded Ciel's vision, but she was ready as the vampire dashed through. She raised her black keys in time and blocked the strike for her heart.
The moment Ciel did so, however, her mana-based black keys instantly shattered under Satsuki's depletion technique, glowing red cursed energy from her claws.
Ciel's eyes widened and had to act fast, crossing her arms just in time before another blow was delivered, and the executor was forced back.
"Tch-!" Ciel winced at the puncture in her arm, feeing her magical powers drained. Blood spilled through her sleeve as she managed to stop herself at the end of the hallway.
"It's too bad I can't drink your blood, and it's obvious by now that you don't die that easily," Satsuki said, her voice carrying no empathy whatsoever as she flicked Ciel's blood off from her fingers, letting it splatter onto the floor like tossing away garbage. No longer seeing Ciel as the beloved Senpai she once looked up to at school. "But that's alright. The magical power in your arm will be enough, and while my energy and blood tries to eat yours away..."
Ciel clutched her wounded arm, feeling the infestation of Satsuki's technique begin already.
"-I can sit back and watch until you eventually turn into a mummy. But I don't want to wait around. I know you won't make it that easy, and besides, there's somebody else I need to see."
She smiled cheerfully at the executor, "Someone I want to kill more than you, Senpai."
A stolen portion of Ciel's magical power swarmed Satsuki's foot, and she kicked the ground. The force completely shook the entire hall, a meteor-like impact against the floor, and Satsuki leapt through the ceiling. Debris rained down as the vampire sought for a better vantage point for her target in mind.
"Yumizuka-!" Ciel gave chase, ripping off her sleeve and quickly tied it tightly around her upper arm, not letting herself be impeded even as the curse-infested ability started to travel through her veins. Not good-! I managed to stabilize her form, but now-!
By extracting all that unstable energy inside Satsuki, Ciel had essentially removed the weighted chains of a ravenous monster, free to move without the risk of being overloaded. And now that there's room in the vampire's stomach, her blood lust has taken over completely. No doubt, the first move Satsuki intended to do was to feed. Satsuki had been aware of Yuuji's presence, and likely have noticed that surge of cursed energy as well. If anyone were to make a good first course, it'd be-
Yuuji-!
Yuuji burst out from the school and landed onto the courtyard. Mahito, through the sliced opening he made, shapeshifted his arm into a drill. With a maniacal grin, he fired his drill-arm for Yuuji, a rope of his flesh at the end of it, connecting to the rest of the curse's body.
Yuuji was unfazed by the attack, side-stepping and allowed the drill to pass under his arm. He caught the rope flesh of the curse, finally having his hands on Mahito.
Spikes protrude from the rope and puncture through Yuuji's hand. Yuuji was surprised, but did not relent to the pain. He clutched his two hands and pulled the curse out of the building, swinging him over the courtyard and hurtling him across the building.
"You really are crazy..." Mahito grinned. Sane men would have let go of that rope, but Mahito had come to learn that no Jujutsu Sorcerer are truly sane.
Yuuji gave no response, and dashed for the curse to beat the living hell out of him. Mahito stood up, but failed to counter Yuuji's fake-out, and was punched in his stomach. The air and blood went up his throat, but Mahito only grinned at the pain, and at the opportunity.
Spikes protrude from his body, and it pierces through Yuuji's. All vital areas were avoided, since it wouldn't be good if the vessel died again. Yuuji coughed out blood, his body stuck by the spikes. Mahito's enjoyment was brief, and he huffed at the easy defeated sorcerer.
"You can't beat me. If I was being serious, you'd be dead already," the curse then reached out his hand for Yuuji's chest, "Now, hurry up and switch out with Sukuna."
Mahito placed his hand against Yuuji's heart and-
BA-DUM.
Was welcomed with the sight of hellish winery of blood and bones.
"You dare touch my soul?"
Mahito found himself standing in a lake of blood, looking up at the King of Curses sitting upon his throne of bones. He was the spitting image of the vessel, apart from his hair style, and the tattoos that would normally be unseen by both curses and humans. The soul of this domain revealed everything to Mahito, and he was there at the foot of someone truly malicious. The likes of which even Mahito can't compare.
"Since you and I shared a laugh at that brat's expense, I'll forgive you just this once," the king declared. "There won't be a second time."
Ah... Mahito realized as he stared at the apathetic expression of Sukuna. There's no way a guy like this will just follow anyone...
"You should also pay more attention to that vampire," with that warning, Sukuna finished his bored addressing of the curse. "Know your place, fool."
Vampire-?
Mahito was suddenly ripped away from Sukuna's world. A danger-sense ringing its bells that forced the curse to back out, retracting his spikes from Yuuji, and narrowly avoided a direct attack from a second party.
"Oh-!" Mahito's eyes widened at the surprise intervention, who was glaring death at him. "You're still alive-"
Cursed blood slashed for the shapeshifting curse by the swing of her claws. Mahito's arm instantly grew wings and flew away, barely avoiding the dangerous technique. She's not overloaded anymore. That executor must have done something.
As he hovered above, the curse couldn't help but grin at the girl's expression. Looks like she knows about Junpei already.
Yuuji ignored his wounds and recovered from the surprise attack towards Mahito. He spotted the familiar back of Satsuki who was racing after the flying curse. "-! Sacchin!"
He had every intention to sprint after her, until Satsuki whipped her head around. An animalistic glare that startled Yuuji and had him stop in his tracks. The glow of her red eyes made it seem like he was staring into a red garden full of horrors, underneath the guise of delicacy. The level of danger was immense, like looking into the jaws of a ferocious tiger.
"Wait there."
The command in her voice and the compelling influence of her eyes. The once sweet girl Yuuji had met last night was no more. The vampire girl quickly returned her focus to the curse, and launched herself for Mahito, jumping into the sky.
"Finally letting yourself run wild," Mahito said, flapping his wings to dodge the vampire, watching her leap over him. "That's the one thing Junpei could never do."
Satsuki coldly regarded the curse and his taunt as her arms fueled with cursed energy. The sight of its color surprised Mahito. That's new.
Yuuji snapped out of his stupor, a brief headache he decided to ignore. He had planned to run after the vampire and curse when black keys suddenly zipped past over his head and he paused. The swords embedded themselves in front of him, blocking his way of Mahito and Satsuki. Ciel skidded across the dirt until she was in front of Yuuji. "Ciel-!"
"Yuuji-kun!" Ciel shouted, raising her hands as her black keys glowed, "Get down!"
Satsuki swung her arms down as soon as she landed on the rooftop of the school and slammed her fists against the surface. The roof instantly shattered, the wing section of the building along with its windows cracked, and the infrastructure crumbled apart. A barrier was set up by Ciel's black keys, protecting herself and Yuuji from the spilling cloud of debris.
Mahito slow whistled at the destruction. "You've gotten stronger, Sacchin!"
Several curse-coated boulders were tossed for the flying curse. "Don't call me that. Only Jun-kun could."
"Ciel-!" Yuuji rushed over to the executor's side and saw her injured state. The fabric of Ciel's dark blue sleeve was torn off and tied around her upper arm. He was shocked to see the glowing veins as her flesh struggled to stay intact, a mix between being mummified and being refilled with life, her blood returning to the stab wound there on her lower arm. Satsuki attacked her.
"Yuuji-kun! You need to leave!" Ciel said. She was struggling to keep the barrier up, shielding themselves from Satsuki's onslaught against the curse that was spreading rubble everywhere. "Yumizuka-! She's no longer just a fledgling. She's evolved into a Dead Apostle!"
Mahito broke through the windows of the school, resuming his flight in clear enjoyment of the chase as Satsuki rushed after him, racing down the halls and wildly clawing for the curse. The walls and floors being turned to dust the moment she carved into them, missing the elusive curse constantly, but she didn't care about the destruction she caused.
"-Her bloodlust has taken over her mind. She'll kill anyone who stands in her way!" Ciel resumed, her mind racing with ideas. Her magical power was being slowly depleted, if she didn't act soon, she won't have any energy to fight. However, she needed to get Yuuji out of here first. If she can make sure neither the vampire or the curse notices his leave, she can buy him time to escape and warn the others.
Yuuji was taken aback by Ciel's reveal, his eyes flickered to the fight and back to Ciel as he gently held her scarred arm. His heart frantic over what to do. Kill Mahito. Stop Satsuki. Help Ciel. Protect everyone in the gym. He decided to set his mind on Ciel first, forgoing his rage in favor of somehow helping her deal with this curse-infested technique.
"You need to retreat and-" Ciel ordered as she grasped over Yuuji's bleeding hand. The sensation of it took her by surprise and she turned to look at the sorcerer fully. She saw the wounds in Yuuji's hands and blood in his torso. The holes in his shirt showed that he'd been pierced through.
"Wait. You're hurt-!" Ciel left the barrier to stand and immediately took hold of Yuuji's hands. "What happened to you?! Hold on! I'll heal you right away!"
She at once performed Reverse Cursed Technique on Yuuji's hand and began to heal Yuuji's wounds. Yuuji watched as the flesh and bones of his hands closed up. The efficiency of it never ceasing Yuuji's wonder. "I'm fine. Just got a bunch of holes in me."
"This isn't 'fine' at all! If you weren't a half-curse, this could have been serious! Fatal even!" Ciel scolded Yuuji's nonchalance over his injury.
Yuuji could see Ciel's tensed expression. Her face sweating with pain and it hurt him to see it. "You look worse than I do, though. Did Sacchin...?"
Ciel held a bitter look before nodding. "Yes. I would have reached you sooner, but-"
There was another burst of destruction that came from the school, but Ciel kept her focus on healing Yuuji. It was a painstaking effort to do so. Despite Ciel's extraordinary magic circuits, even stopping blood circulation so that the infestation wouldn't get to the rest of her body, Satsuki had robbed her a substantial amount of magical power from just that one simple and small blow, the cursed blood already exhausting the executor and making her arm go numb, but her immortality was fighting it off. Allowing her at least this chance to heal Yuuji with her other arm, regardless of how much she'll have to spend and push to do so.
"...I need you to listen, Yuuji-kun. I'm going to fight Yumizuka and the curse and keep them from leaving the curtain. You have to run and look for Nanami-san."
"What?! But-!"
Ciel paid no heed to Yuuji's reaction as she then moved to heal the rest of his body, pressing her hand against his abdomen and feeling the warm bloody wounds that any other human would have passed out from. "It's too dangerous for you to stay here. Yumizuka's ability has grown too strong. Her technique can now disintegrate her surroundings, not just living things. If you're caught up in that, not even your body can withstand it. I will buy you time to escape, but you need to go and warn Nanami-san of what's happening here."
Yuuji watched as Ciel's eyes moved for each and every wound Yuuji had endured from his fight against the patch-face curse. He could see the guilt, the worry, and the panic in her upon seeing him like this. Her wounded arm trembled slightly. Satsuki's technique was taking a toll on her magical power and nervous system.
No. It wasn't just that. Ciel was agitated. She was afraid for him. She was afraid at what's happening. Or what she fears will happen, but is willing to stay and fight if it meant saving lives. The situation had gone out of control, she knew it, and Ciel didn't want Yuuji or anyone else to get caught up in it, even if it meant having to fight two dangerous enemies alone.
Yuuji was well aware of how much of a hypocrite he was. After all, this was the same plea he made to Megumi when they were up against the cursed womb at the detention center. But he didn't care. Yuuji wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
"I'm not leaving you."
"This isn't a discussion-!" Ciel stopped when Yuuji grasped her upper arms. Still holding pressure against his closing wounds, she saw the unwavering resolve in Yuuji's eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.
"I won't leave you. I'm never letting you go again."
"...Huh." As Mahito flew back and away from the slowly disintegrating hallway ahead of him, he looked out the window where the vessel and the executor sat on the courtyard, hiding behind the see-through barrier. "They sure look chummy together."
He was pretty sure they were planning something, but they also looked pretty close. Did the vessel have a girlfriend? Who would have thought! And a monster hunter of all people. He's surprised Geto never mentioned this, or did the man not know either?
An evil smile was worn by the curse. "Well, if using Junpei didn't work... maybe that girl will."
Mahito had in mind to use all the innocent lives unconscious in the school's gym, to push Yuuji even further, but after getting a personal scope of Sukuna's soul, it became clear to the curse that no amount of lives would ever move the King of Curses, not even if Yuuji were to give him the whole world. It was still worth a shot, though. To see if maybe the vessel could come up with something that could eventually change the cursed king's mind. On the other hand, if that still didn't work, well...
Mahito would at least get another fantastic show of the vessel's hopeless expression. Something that is sure to be even greater than before. To see someone he loved be so horribly disfigured and die right before his eyes. It was starting to become addicting for the curse.
Yosh! It's settled then! I'm going to kill that girl next! He cheerfully declared. Now then, how to deal with this troublesome opponent.
Satsuki was relentless in her pursuit. Not only that, but Mahito could tell she was growing stronger and stronger by the second. Had getting rid of her blood lust held her back? He wasn't entirely sure. What he was sure was that if he let himself get caught by her cursed technique even once, it'll all be over unless he can kill Satsuki in time. But getting close to her was too risky with her ability. He'd thought she'd croak by now, but it looked like she got a new batch of energy from somewhere. She was quite the survivor, a special and rare kind of talent that even Junpei couldn't compare. If anything, her potential reminded Mahito of himself.
In all honesty, he'd hope they can keep playing like this, but he knew he was on a time crunch before the vessel and the executor would come up with a plan. They can't afford to leave behind all the innocents. Their only option was to stay and fight, but not go in so blindly between a pair of deadly and dangerous monster.
What to do. What to do...
Well, if this vampire was just hungry, then he might as well feed her until she popped.
"You got that? I'm staying. No matter what happens, I won't let you fight them by yourself," Yuuji said assertively. "We'll fight them together."
Ciel was stunned by his proclamation, unable to help herself feel moved by his words, before eventually snapping back to her senses. "W-what are you saying?! This isn't the time to be like this!"
Getting ahold of herself and burying away the warm feeling in her chest, Ciel stated firmly, pressing her hand as if to push him, "You can't fight either of them. Nanami-san should have already told you."
"And I already told you why I can't just run away," Yuuji said, his voice sounding hollow as an angry vein popped out from the side of his temple. "Not from this. Not especially from this. Not until..."
Not until that curse was dead. Not exorcised. Dead.
Ciel grasped Yuuji's face. He widely blinked at her abrupt action, reminding him of their earlier outing together.
"...Something happened. Didn't it?" Ciel asked, peering into Yuuji's eyes. She had noticed that intensity in Yuuji's gaze. "Earlier, it felt like you were fighting with someone else. And just a moment ago..."
The immense rage that shook Ciel to her core, separate from the curse and Satsuki. With no other presence close by, it was a process of elimination, leaving only Yuuji to have been the source of that emotion. What could have occurred for someone as happy and optimistic as Yuuji to turn him to hatred?
Ciel saw Yuuji's gaze wavering, his mouth tightening as if he was holding back a cry. Distraught. Sorrow. She could read everything in his expression no matter how much he tried to hide it. Unafraid of Sukuna popping out just to take a spiteful bite of her fingers, her thumbs gently caressed Yuuji's cheeks, wiping away the blood from the corner of his lips, and Yuuji's expression nearly crumbled.
Ciel's eye softened, her brows furrowed with worry. "What happened before I arrived?"
"I'd very much like to know as well."
The teens were startled at another voice entering the courtyard and they turned to the new arrival. "Nanami-san!"
The adult arrived at the scene, looking at the damage all around them as he stopped behind Ciel's barrier. "I've left Ino-san to deal with the rest of the transfigured humans after we've killed the giant curse. He'll catch up once he's done."
Ignoring Yuuji's perturbed reaction at the mention of a 'giant curse', Nanami adjusted his specs before turning to look at the teens. "I'll scold you later for ignoring orders, Itadori-kun. And Ciel-san, we will continue our discussion from the house after this. Tell me the situation here."
Ciel was the first to report, removing her hands from Yuuji's face. "Yumizuka-san and the curse have turned against each other. I'm not sure what caused it, but Yumizuka's powers have reached a point where she can deplete anything to dust, life and non-living materials. She's become a full-fledged vampire and is now on a rampage."
Ciel cleared her throat, "I tried to contain her, but... I may have only hastened her evolution. I assure you, though, it was a lot better than letting the entire school get blown up."
"EH?! Blown up?!" Yuuji wanted to know just what the hell happened between Ciel and Satsuki.
"I see," Nanami only answered, taking the information in stride. "Anything else?"
Hearing that, Yuuji calmed down and answered after Ciel. His eyes turning somber, "...I couldn't save Junpei."
Ciel's eyes widened and looked back at Yuuji. He kept a calm face as he added, "There's a bunch of students and teachers knocked out inside the gym. If Satsuki and the bastard she's fighting are going all out-"
Please. Help Sacchin.
Yuuji's heart clenched before he continued, "We have to keep those guys from getting any closer to the gym."
Nanami regarded Yuuji, noting his somewhat damaged uniform. "And you?"
"I'm better now. Ciel healed me, but she's hurt badly."
The executor flinched. The adult turned his attention to her. Her eyes narrowed at both the sorcerers' stare, "Don't be concerned with me-"
"How bad is it?" Nanami immediately said.
Yuuji, without warning, took hold of Ciel's arm before the executor could react, and showed the arm that Satsuki had stabbed into. The blood had fully retreated into Ciel's wound, but the limb itself was not in a good shape. Looking as if it was trying to compete in appearance with Sukuna's cursed finger. "Yumizuka got her. I'm sorry, I wasn't there to help Ciel."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, and I can still fight," Ciel argued, pulling back her arm regardless of how much it strained her to do so, ignoring Yuuji's glare at her stubbornness. "I've managed to stall the depletion effects for now. I've healed Yuuji-kun's wounds, but I suggest taking him back to Ieiri-san anyway."
"I'm not leaving here," Yuuji said.
"Yes, you are," Ciel countered.
"Enough," Nanami raised his hand, an unspoken threat that he will slap both the sorcerer and the executor if they kept up with their behavior. These two are always thinking of others instead of themselves. At least it shows that they've made up.
"Itadori-kun is staying," Nanami declared.
Yuuji fist pumped the air in triumph. Ciel was not pleased. "I object."
"It's not your decision. At least this way, we can keep an eye on him, since he'll just throw himself into danger regardless."
Nanami's point was proven when Yuuji nodded eagerly, thumbs up from both his hands as if to proclaim 'Yup! I'd totally do that!'.
Ciel was even more aggravated. "That doesn't mean-!"
A minor quake of the earth abruptly put their conversation to an end, and the side of the school was blown out.
"-Mmrrgh! Stop moving around so much!" Satsuki angrily slashed through another wall as she failed to catch the slippery, shapeshifting curse yet again. The curse had changed from flying to merely running away with antelope legs to give him speed. Her claws crushed through the desks of an empty classroom, the material turning to ash instantly.
He's avoiding fighting me directly, but he can't stretch himself out forever.
But neither can Satsuki chase the curse forever. Her stomach growled while her throat was dry. While draining Ciel's magical powers had been a boost, her instincts craved for blood, and demand she sink her teeth into the next 'prey' as soon as possible. Yuuji would have been the perfect target, but she wanted to face Mahito first. Besides, with what she wanted to do after killing the curse, she would have killed Yuuji without meaning to.
If his body worked the same way as the cursed finger found in Junpei's house, Satsuki's certain that she won't be able to hold herself back until she drank every last drop of Yuuji's blood that carried a powerful curse. There was also Mahito, but her stomach turned at the thought of tasting this curse's blood. For as hungry as she was, the only thing she wanted to do was kill him. She wanted to make him disappear. Have him suffer just as she felt Junpei suffer.
However, she wasn't completely lost to her blood lust. She knew that if she let her guard down even once, Mahito could instant kill her with just a touch, just as Satsuki could. It's a fight without contact, a challenge to see who can deliver the first and decisive blow.
"-!"
Satsuki was caught off guard when she witnessed Mahito puke out a handful of transfigured souls. The same ones he'd been feeding her with. Gah-! Don't tell me I've been eating those! Gross-!
Mahito grinned as he held out the cursed humans, "Kill her."
The cursed souls grew into baby-size. They fell from Mahito's hands and sprung for the vampire.
The vampire merely stopped at the sight of them. The cursed humans latched onto her, but she was unmoved as she caught one in her hand. Holding the infant-like curse in her grasp.
"Let's play-! Let's play-!"
Satsuki clenched her bloody claws into the neck of the cursed infant. She grabbed its head and ripped it off from its little body. Blood spurts out from the neck, a splatter of it landing on Satsuki's face. She then swiftly carved her claws into the other small looking curses, and killed the once humans without a second thought.
"Really Mahito? That's the best you could throw? They didn't even hurt at all."
She dragged her thumb across her cheek to her lips, tasting the cursed humans' blood. "I hope you didn't think I'd hesitate. Don't forget that I am a vampire."
"I know!" Mahito said gleefully, a sinister glint in his eyes. "I was hoping you'd kill them. Those are the souls I've been feeding you, after all."
Satsuki's instincts shrieked and she looked down at the cursed corpses, their bodies suddenly mutating and expanding in size, rather than disintegrating as they should have. "Huh-?"
"You're strong Sacchin." Mahito held out his hands, ready to brace the impact. "But you also don't think too much."
Falling out from the side of the school building, a few giant, slug-like curses crawled. Birthed unintentionally by the blood injection of Satsuki.
Ciel, Yuuji, and Nanami quickly retreated and avoid the beasts. Their size and weight shattering through Ciel's half barrier. One of the curses slipped past and Nanami stopped. He utilized his cursed technique and swung his hatchet, cutting across the curse.
"-?!"
From the wound of the curse, multiple, small cursed humans bled out. Like cells struggling to escape its confinement. A disturbing scene to say the least. Nanami backed away as Ciel's black keys flew into the wound and burst into cremation flames. Incinerating all the crying souls as Yuuji watched in stunned horror behind Ciel. Nanami stood in front of the teens, carefully examining the state of the supposedly dead cursed behemoth and its passengers inside.
That curse had been collecting humans. To feed Yumizuka? Or for his own pleasure? Nanami thought to himself. If it is true that he'd been feeding her, then just how many humans has she been eating?
Just how many people have that curse and that vampire killed? Men. Women. Elderly. Perhaps even children. All of them shrilling their echoes of agony, if they really were dead.
Some people...
One of the burning cursed humans managed to escape, rushing towards him to attack. The first grade sorcerer sliced down on its head, ending its misery.
...really are just rotten.
Mahito flew back out of the school with his arms of feathers again, smiling down at the vampire whose body was buried under the other hugely grown cursed humans, pressed by her own indulgence.
"-You don't try to think what you're doing, because then you'd realize just how much of a monster you are. A real killer wouldn't care about that."
Satsuki quickly carved her way out of the cursed humans' large bodies. Her figure covered in blood, feeding into her blood lust and granting her more energy.
"You felt bad for killing, but you went along with it anyway. You even stayed with me, all while you could have saved Junpei anytime. You couldn't risk losing your easy meal ticket."
Satsuki leapt out of the disintegrating corpses and for the curse hanging in the air.
"Face it. In reality..."
The massive curse below lunged up and opened its gaping mouth for Satsuki. The vampire realized too late her mistake and over-eagerness.
"You're just a coward."
"Sacchin!" "Yumizuka!"
The vampire heard her name shouted by Ciel and Yuuji. She turned her head and caught a glimpse of the sorcerer and executor, before the mouth of the giant curse closed over her completely.
Satsuki felt the wet, cold flesh of the mutated curse's mouth, dragging her deeper to reach its stomach. She clawed and gripped the flesh to stop her forceful descent, her cursed energy eating it away, and she could instantly tell the large number of souls inside this beast. She realized then what Mahito's plan was, to have her eat as much as she want, and eventually suffer another overload.
"Gngh! Blood Transfusion: Reduction!"
She decided to risk it, and dug her claws deeper into the inside throat of the behemoth curse. If she can just get enough power boost and stop herself from consuming too much, she might be able to free herself!
Energy pours into her body. But she immediately felt something was wrong. The souls were all twisted. Like oil and water trying to mix together, only to fall apart. Or trying to add gun powder to fire. These aren't souls she should eat! Mahito had tricked her! He must have planned for this in case Satsuki ever decided to betray him! She needed to get rid of it somehow!
"I-Insertion!"
She tried to give away some of her blood, but it's no use. It's too late. Her entire body is compromised. Unless she's willing to give every drop of blood inside her, she can't get rid of Mahito's twisted souls. What else is she supposed to do now?! If she doesn't do something! She'll-! She'll...
I'm going to disappear...
The vampire quietly laments as she was forced to acknowledge her position.
Ah... I really do don't think.
But that's fine, isn't it? You were always someone who followed your heart.
Maybe. But if Satsuki hadn't decided to wander that night, after hearing rumors of a supposedly familiar boy stalking the streets. If she hadn't decided to investigate it, to see if that mysterious boy was in fact Shiki, then maybe she wouldn't have become like this. To be in this awful state.
It's not that I don't realize it. I know I've been a coward all this time. I always listened to what other people say, because I never had the courage to speak up. I just agree with everyone around me.
Why else would it take Satsuki so long to talk to that boy at school. That boy she had been admiring from afar. Why else would she be so nervous to see him again, to show him what she's become. That she was just like him, and now neither of them had to be alone anymore.
Because I didn't want to hurt him.
And yet she was more than willing to hurt everyone else. Except him.
I'm... really a coward.
It's no wonder she couldn't save Junpei. But... there might be some hope left.
Hungry.
She failed to bring back Junpei's mom, but...
I'm Hungry.
Junpei did say he wanted to be a vampire. It didn't matter so long as he and Satsuki were together, because she knew how much he hated his life.
Everything feels so cold. My body hurts.
She failed to protect him, but she'll take proper care of him now.
My throat is on fire. The cursed humans' blood was impure. I need something more.
She'll revive Junpei. Then she'll find Shiki. And they can all hang out together.
I need to drink first.
She needed blood first. Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
The heartbeats of hundreds of students, and those in the courtyard, rang Satsuki's ears. Her hands enclosed together in front of her mouth, and her mind craved for one thing.
Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood.
Oh. Satsuki suddenly remembered.
Mahito once mentioned something that Jujutsu Sorcerers can do. A supposedly one-sure hit technique. One that could take quite a bit of cursed energy to utilize, something she'll need to get rid of all this nasty feeling energy inside her.
She's tired of tasting power. She wanted to taste life.
Even if she'll leave nothing behind.
"Domain Expansion: Depletion Garden."