Ciel counted fourteen people in the area. Young men and women in their twenties, a few even younger than that. The faintest smell of vampirism amongst all, save for the students behind her. However, even from this distance in the dark, Ciel was able to tell that all of them weren't completely transformed. With the way they appeared cautious at the sight of her, they have yet to fully embrace themselves as hunters, otherwise, they would have all collectively agreed to attack her and Yuuji by now.
No sense of retaliation. Perhaps they were able to get wind of the differences in power. Although these were "dead apostles", they were still mainly alive. The effects of Japan's barrier must have slowed their evolution. These people still held onto their human sense: hesitation and reason.
Without a doubt, should Ciel take one of them down, the rest would scatter, reacting as any frightened individual would. Therefore...
"Let go of me!" Aika at last freed herself from Yuuji after she tried to claw his eyes out. Perturbed by her volatile reaction, Yuuji let her go along with her friend. The students separated themselves from the exorcists, stopping in front of the crowd.
"This has nothing to do with you. And you don't just tackle people like that! Pervert!"
"P-Pervert?!" Yuuji was hurt by the accusation. He was just trying to help...
Ciel immediately noted the behavior of the two students, overhearing the pained grunt of the vampire in the dark.
"The same can be said about you, and the people you have surround yourselves with." The executor's eyes narrowed. "You're standing very close to those who've entangled you and your friend into their affairs. What business do you have associating with their ilk?"
There were some faint mutterings from the crowd. A quiet debate amongst them, half of them contemplating on making a run for it.
"You got it backwards. I'm the one who brought them here, not the other way around," Aika retorted. The girl's eyes flickered to the man who had his arm singed by the black key, attended to by his compatriots.
"I see. Then you are aware of your actions," Ciel said. "You were about to draw blood. Your own blood. Were you planning on giving it to them?"
"I..." Aika didn't like the look on Ciel's face. Stubbornly, she refused to back down.
"You do realize it, don't you? The people here. They're not fully human."
There was the slightest shift of someone's footing.
Another black key was shot and embedded itself against the wall. The crowd jumped at the sound, and another man in the dark fell back. "-Fuck! Hey! I'm not with these guys! They just attacked me! I haven't even eaten anyone yet!"
Yuuji was on edge. Although he recognized the signs, the fact that they still appeared so human troubled him. However, while he was ready to fight if necessary, he was worried about the civilians getting caught up in the crossfire. What's especially bad was that the girls were more reserved towards the exorcists than they were towards the crowd around them. There was familiarity there. This wasn't some kind of hostage situation. Honestly, he didn't know what the best call for this was.
Despite the complicated situation, Ciel remained calm. After getting a close scope as to what sort of enemy they were up against, she already had her black keys stationed outside the perimeter to keep the vampires trapped. While they were not fully turned, she could not let them escape either.
The man in the cap gripped his arm, hissing under his breath. Even from just the faintest touch, having only cut through his sleeve, he felt the burn from the metal. "...Are you going to kill us?"
The question left a chilling silence in the air. Yuuji looked back at the man.
"We're just small fry. Bottom-tier monsters who would have starved if you just ignored us for a few days. Enforcers like you don't need to go out of their way to pick up trash like us. Not when there's bigger game to catch."
"-!" Yuuji was surprised to hear that. A starved vampire would mean eventually becoming weakened enough that they'd perish even without an executor to kill them. For this man to say so, had he and some of these people been actively avoiding hunting for blood?
If that's true, then... Maybe there's still a chance!
He didn't know if there was any way to turn these people back to normal, but if they were resisting their urges, than maybe... Yuuji and Ciel could-
'They're monsters that shouldn't exist.'
But would Ciel be willing to?
He looked back at Ciel, waiting on her response.
"...You're not entirely wrong," Ciel replied. "Normally, I would have overlooked dead apostles at your level. Mainly due to there being other more pressing matters to attend to. However, weak or strong, it makes no difference to me. I respond to any and every vampire activities, regardless if it would be considered tedious or even useless. Now, when it comes to the involvement of other humans, that is when my attention is drawn."
Ciel then looked back at the two students across from her. "You don't seem to be under any kind of spell. Am I to assume that you have been feeding them willingly?"
"Y...Yeah. So what?" Aika said, clutching at her arm. "They didn't kidnap us or anything, if that's what you're asking. We wanted to help them."
She shared a look with her friend before resuming. "It just sort of happened. They needed blood, so we donate ours. My mom is a nurse, and I picked up a few things from her. I know this isn't the most sanitary of all places, but we didn't have a choice. They were suffering!"
"And were you just going to give them two vials of your blood? How often have you been doing this?"
"Not often... It's really like one pack a week, with us taking turns. At least... that was the plan."
"And you think two packets are enough to feed fourteen people?"
"It wasn't... fourteen, when we started this..."
"You should know then that donating blood within that time frame is not only unrecommended, it's dangerous. You'd also be foolish to think that doing so externally prevents you from becoming a vampire yourself. When you've inevitably reached your limit, are you planning to herd in other people as your sheep to keep feeding yourselves?"
"N-No! That's not-!"
"Do you know how often a vampire needs to drink? It isn't bi-weekly, or even weekly. It's every day. Every night. Certainly, they could try to hold out. Deal with their hunger for a couple of days, but I highly doubt you'll be able to sustain them for that long without draining yourself completely dry."
Ciel was curt as she continued, "What do you plan to do if you happen to find more vampires? If you could no longer feed them, and they look to others for food? Incidentally creating more vampires? What you're doing here isn't simply reckless, it's stupid."
"Hey, Ciel," Yuuji spoke up, keeping in mind that a fight could break out any second, yet still finding the opportunity to speak. "Take it easy on them. They didn't know any better. I'm pretty sure no one meant for this to get so out of hand."
"R-Right! It's not like any of us asked for this!" A woman in the back spoke up, grasping at whatever dose of sympathy she could to hopefully spare herself of any punishment.
Ciel did not relent. "That isn't the only issue. By letting these people indulge on their impulses, they are led closer to de-evolution. It really would have been better to have starved than strung along, until they've become mindless drones. In other words..."
The girls flinched under Ciel's sharpened gaze.
"They're not helping them," the executor said. "They're just buying time, until they can no longer think for themselves."
"No way. Is that really... what's gonna happen to us?" A boy in a school uniform said, his voice slightly quivering.
Ciel instantly recognized that boy. Although she only had brief encounters with him, he was a student at Souya High. So Roa had been preying on male students as well. It's likely that he noticed Satsuki's death, and could have decided to change targets, or one of the other dead apostles might have turned these people.
Either way, for a student of Souya to become a victim, then Roa must certainly be in that district currently. She'll have to inform Mario and have the entire place quarantined with discretion. Much as she was aware of Mario's plans, with her restrictions now in place, his men and resources were needed.
It's still unknown just how far back these people became vampires. Something that she couldn't tell just by looking at them, especially with Tengen's Barrier - a name she was finally told of by Gojo - to consider. But seeing how the man in the cap's arm didn't fall off even after a tiny dose of her sacrament, then these people were indeed not fully vampires yet. And probably won't be for a long while.
It shouldn't matter in the end. A heretic is a heretic. Human or no. Judgment was to be bestowed onto them. That was the lesson imparted onto her. And what she believed.
"What should we do?"
She looked at the shaman beside her.
"If they haven't fully turned, and not all of them have hurt anyone yet..." Back to back with her, Yuuji glanced over his shoulder, looking at her expectantly.
Through all the torment and losses, he still carried that light in him. A light that held onto hope of helping as many people as he could. Yet, whatever Ciel chose to do, he would follow her lead. Just as he promised. He would rely on her judgment, the boy who would give his life the second she asks for it.
Faced with such an innocent look, Ciel sighed.
"There really isn't much we can do," she said after turning away. "Protocol states that they'd be executed for endangering the lives of others by simply existing."
A shocked gasp echoed throughout the area.
"It's a shame that I'm not even here right now."
"...Huh?"
A confused utterance from the group. Yuuji blinked at her.
"I'm not supposed to be here this far out, ever since recent orders condensed my patrol to another area. It'd be problematic if anyone were to find out," Ciel then shared another look with Yuuji. "On the other hand, I don't suppose a jujutsu sorcerer has such problems. I suppose you'll have to report this to your superiors and fill out the paperwork."
"Uh. I do?" While it made sense, Yuuji wasn't sure how that would work considering he's supposed to be dead- ah!
Ohhhh.
"Naturally, a sorcerer would have to make a thorough inspection to see if any of these citizens are in fact a threat," Ciel went on. "I don't suppose there's any specific instructions over what to do when confronting a vampire, as I'm sure you would agree, other than reporting it to the Church. Ah. But since executors aren't assigned this far out, else we may antagonize our 'hosts', this is quite a predicament..."
"Huh..." Yuuji scratched his head. "Well, I could call Sensei. He might know what to do."
Ciel smiled slightly. "I have a better idea."
"Fourteen of them? That'll more than make up for that spider ghoul I missed out on."
Ciel and Yuuji stood outside the construction site. Yuuji held out a cell phone with Ieiri at the other end of the call. They observed as Ijichi, in his partial sleep wear, directed the group of "not" dead apostles into a big van (Ijichi: "I'm sorry. It might be a little cramped in there.") A second cab was called in and will be arriving shortly to pick up those remaining, including the two girls who were emotionally recovering after being chewed out by Ciel.
"So you'll take them in, Ieiri-san?" Yuuji asked.
"Sure. I'd be happy to get them off your hands. We'll put them in quarantine and examine their conditions. If blood is all they need, that shouldn't be a problem for us. They'll be taken care of. Don't worry." There was reassurance in Ieiri's voice as she answered Yuuji's question, and Ciel saw him visibly relaxed. "I'll be sure to let Gojo-san know too. We'll keep this under wraps in the meantime."
After giving their thanks, they ended the call. At this time, the second cab finally arrived, ready to pick up the next half of the group.
"You sure you don't want us to call your parents?" Yuuji looked back at the students. "They're probably really worried about you."
"Not me," Aika answered. Although she tried to appear tough, the sight of the two vans made her a little nervous. Though she realized what little choice she had. "I've got my own reasons, and I'm not giving you her phone number anyway."
That statement alone was enough confirmation that she was in fact a runaway. It could be between a bad home or a teen rebelling against their parent. Whichever reason, she seemed intent not to return.
"...You know, I've known someone who didn't get to go back home," Ciel suddenly said. "After she was turned into a vampire."
Yuuji's eyes widened as Aika looked at Ciel grimly.
"She neither got the chance to say goodbye to her mother or father. Or any of her friends or family." Ciel looked towards the group, watching them climb into the vehicles one by one. The contemplation on each of their faces over the choice they were given. That faintest etch of hope in each of their expression. Of no longer having to endure the painful hunger, and fear over themselves, over what they are. It was the first Ciel had seen of it. It was a first for her to go to this length.
"She will never be able to now. A hunter had killed her. And her last words, as she faded into ashes, was for a loved one to be looked after. Even in death, even after she had killed many people, she thought of others in the end."
Aika looked away, the discomfort in her evident as she listened.
"You were lucky that that hunter decided not to show herself tonight," Ciel said. "If she had, none of you would have left that site alive. I'm not saying this just to scare you into going back home. If you don't wish to, then fine. Just be sure that the last moment you had there, is not something you'll come to regret later. Whatever that went unsaid, will remain that way, so long as you have that chance, that choice. You'll never know if it'll be for the last time."
Aika couldn't come up with a response as her friend patted her on the shoulder. Yuuji looked at Ciel thoughtfully, an understanding gaze.
When it was Aika's turn to get into the vehicle, the girl hesitated at first, and then eventually climbed in. As Aika was making room for herself, Yuuji walked up to the other girl.
"There's something I've been wondering about," Yuuji said, noting the girl's school uniform that was different from Aika's underneath her tattered coat. "It's not really important. I'm just curious. You two go to different schools, right? How'd you guys meet up?"
"Um. Well..." The older student, Hiromi, began. She considered before giving an answer. "I saw Aika-chan walking around by herself at night. I was staying out late to do some studying, and I noticed that she had someone following her. I knew I shouldn't have gotten myself involved. But..."
There was a guilty look on her. "...There was this boy at school. He'd been bullied relentlessly. He wasn't the only one, and a lot of us knew."
That was when it hit Yuuji. He recognized her uniform. It was the same one he saw at that school assembly. In the gym where all those students and staff were unconscious. Satozakura High.
"The teachers didn't do much, or they didn't think it was that bad." Hiromi grabbed her arm. "...I saw what he'd been going through. I saw what they did to him. It was bad, but... I didn't say anything."
That day she saw that boy getting his forehead burned by cigarette buds, and she kept walking. There were plenty of reasons why. She didn't want to get involved. She was afraid that the attention and bullying would be shifted onto her. That'd she be ostracized for going after the popular kids. That she'd lose friends over this. That nothing would have been done anyway because he was one of the lame kids.
She had her reasons, but she knew none of them were good excuses.
"He ended up transferring, and I couldn't stop thinking about him after that. I guess... I just didn't want to make the same mistake again." To overlook something that could have been avoided if she'd been brave enough to step up. "This did end up being more than what I could handle, but if I'd just walked away, I felt like I would have gone the rest of my life thinking that I could have done something. That maybe, if something bad had happened... things would have been different. I figured giving my blood... it's the least I could do. To make up for what I didn't do back then..."
"...There's no changing the past," Yuuji said, having an idea of who that boy she was referring to was. "You might end up carrying that guilt with you forever. But..."
Ciel turned her head as she and Hiromi listened.
"Working on fixing that mistake, so that the next person doesn't end up suffering the same way... I think you've got the right idea."
Yuuji gave a nod. "Keep at it. You'll be able to atone for what happened. I'd know. Someone told me the same thing, and I'm working on it as I go."
Ciel made no comment, though she did feel a little embarrassed to hear it.
Hiromi nodded, and then stepped into the vehicle. Ijichi closed the door after and then turned to the exorcists. "Do you need a ride as well, Itadori-kun? Ciel-san?"
"No. We'll be heading home on foot," Ciel said. Yuuji agreed, giving a thumbs up to Ijichi as he thanked the man for the offer.
"I see. We'll be leaving then. You have my word that we will keep their existence as discreet as Itadori-kun's," Ijichi promised, now certain of this after getting a better handle over his anxiety of being caught and fired (and perhaps killed).
Ciel turned on her heels. "You might want to put together the death certificates then, just to make their "disappearances" a little more convincing. You'd never know."
It was a morbid joke that prodded at the two shamans, thankful that the windows behind Ijichi were rolled up. Yuuji looked at Ciel in duck-faced bewilderment before following her as soon as she started to walk. They bid Ijichi a goodnight, leaving the people in his care.
"You won't get in trouble for this, right?" Yuuji asked. He and Ciel walked side by side across the long, dark road. Drifting further away from the construction site, and watched as the two vehicles carrying their "dead apostles" go by before leaving the street after turning a corner.
"It'll be alright. As long as those people are still mostly human, I've no actual grounds executing them," Ciel answered. "Some would disagree, but this wouldn't be the first time I overlooked certain targets."
Nothing that a little paperwork infringement wouldn't help.
"Oh yeah. You did mention sparing that curry-vampire guy," Yuuji recalled, looking up at the night sky. "You're really easygoing, you know that? It's nice how understanding you are."
"Hardly. Sparring a few bloodsuckers here and there, that's one thing, but an entire group of heretics? That would get me scorned to no end. Even I wouldn't call myself sane after that..."
Which, fittingly enough, is the exact trait one looks for in a jujutsu sorcerer.
"But that's simply the judgment I decided to impose. So long as they've never tried to kill another human being, I've no qualms against them."
"Isn't that just a roundabout way of saying you didn't want to hurt them?" Yuuji said incredulously.
"What seemed like me being merciful, is just me saying that they weren't worth the effort," Ciel answered evenly. No hesitation, but the absolute truth in her words. "And I really wasn't supposed to be patrolling that far out. I'd rather avoid any more complications with the higher ups. It just so happens that this will result in those people slipping through the cracks of our already encumbered work, which happens more often than not. Thankfully, we're able to contain them in time. That might just be the last batch of vampires we'll see in a while."
Yuuji was a little glad to hear that. His thoughts shifted to the faces of those 'dead apostles'. "...Do you think we can still save them?"
"...Possibly," Ciel answered. "But for that to happen, we will need to kill Roa, and all the other head vampires in this city. With their deaths, and Tengen's barrier putting a hold on most underlings transformation, then those people could turn fully human again. But I wouldn't be so certain."
"That's fine. That's all I needed to hear," Yuuji said as his hands clenched by his sides. "As long as there's still hope, I'll give it my all."
"I know you will. I'll be doing the same thing," Ciel said, determinedly so in a calm voice. "It might have gone differently had those people decided to attack us. And what I did doesn't necessarily mean that they're completely safe. We would still have to monitor them. But..."
She pulled her arms back and clasped her hands together. "I suppose I wouldn't have gone all out. Aside from there being humans around, I'd hate to show just how ruthless I can be in front of you. My cute-meter would have taken a serious hit."
Yuuji snorted. A little smile on his face. "Maybe. I can't imagine you any other way, though. You'll always be a curry-head to me."
"Y-Yuuji-kun! How dare you!"
He chuckled as Ciel repeatedly punched him at his arm. "Mmmmph! Honestly...!"
"And I knew you wouldn't have hurt those girls either," Yuuji then added, causing Ciel to stop. "That's just not who you are."
Ciel's face cooled at that. She adjusted her dress, fussing with the fabric to regain her composure. "You really shouldn't talk like that... My morals aren't exactly infallible."
She wasn't a good person. No matter what Yuuji, or anyone else, say about her.
"That's okay. If there comes a point where it looks like you're going too far, I'll be there to pull you back," Yuuji assured. "I know there'll be instances where you'll have to make tough choices. To protect people, and make it up to the victims that got hurt along the way. Bring them justice."
She really was like a super hero in that sense. "It's nice, though. Even when it comes to other vampires, or people who've done bad, you'd still be willing to help them."
From a victim of a vampire attack herself, that's an incredible level of kindness.
Ciel's sheepishness faded as she heard him. "...I don't do it all the time. I've just make exceptions in some cases."
"Yeah? Like me?"
"Of course. You are the exception," Ciel said unhesitant, giving a warm smile. "And that's not at all because I'm biased. If you're willing to bear with someone like me, then I'm free to act however I want around you. I like to trouble people that way. Be prepared for this nuisance to stick with you to the end. I might just make you grow sick of me yet."
Yuuji pressed his lips together into a thin smile. He ceased bumping shoulders with her and, instead, rested his head against hers, taking her by surprise, though Ciel quickly relaxed under it.
"...I like you," Yuuji said.
"...I like you too," Ciel reciprocated.
Their fingers intertwined, holding each other's hands as they wandered the rest of the night at the end of their patrol.
Author's Note:
Aaaand scene. Well, that's all folks. We've officially concluded the Two-Month Training Arc. Lot of content ideas I decided to cut out and maybe will transfer them over to Red Rainbow (if I decide to get around writing the third chapter, or updating the first chapter).
We are also in the End Game of JJK. Yuuji's big moment is here. It's time for him to finally shine (hopefully nothing bad happens!).
Thank you all for reading, and see you next time, in the next arc! Finally, we will be fast-forwarding in time and setting foot into the Goodwill Event this fic! Get ready for some fight scenes!
And now... Hiatus!
Take care ya'll. Love you!
EDIT: Okay soooooooo I've no idea how it happened. I don't know why PM was turned off. I... I really don't know. And now I feel like an idiot because I asked for PM, and it turns out that I don't even have PM on... I blame the mobile app. Anway, I'm really sorry.
PMs (Private Messages) is now OPEN! Flood me with your messages. I live off of them!