Curse the fiends.

And their children too.

And their children forever true...

The waking world is a strange yet peaceful place.

That was the conclusion Hachiman came to after spending more than a year here. The therapy sessions were helping and he was beginning to feel comfortable in his "new" home with his younger sister.

Their relationship was strained at first, but it became better over time. Komachi is the first company he did not mind. Her presence became a comfort for Hachiman.

Something he only felt in the Hunter's Dream.

Companionship was not something he was familiar with, at least not by much. Besides the Doll, he had only felt such a thing with the Good Hunter considering they were both fellow new arrivals...and perhaps the last.

Yharnam demands humanity, and Hachiman offered.

So the only thing he felt at that moment was the obligation to hunt. Hunt the beasts, hunt the nightmare, persist. A killer like him was undeserving to feel something like companionship but regardless he did. But he couldn't get further than that, not after what happened with...the girl he accompanied.

The memories were getting distant, the visions didn't occur to him as much as it did before. He was...slowly healing. Painfully slow.

Getting accustomed to streets without beasts or blood took a while but now, he was able to walk without being paranoid. In Yharnam, paranoia is his saving grace. In the waking world, paranoia is an inconvenience.

Drastic difference, he'd say.

But one he was thankful for.

Yet, despite all that, there was still a lingering sense of dread. One that made him still think that there are things still lurking around, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Hachiman still needed to look out for anything that seemed unusual in the waking world.

Although that was on his mind, there was another one that occupies it.

"Hikigaya!" Kaori called as she caught up to him. "Good morning!"

"..." Hachiman kept his eyes forward, blinking as he couldn't be bothered to reply to her.

"Cold as always! Not that I'm not used to it." She smiled and walked beside him. "So, how's your morning?"

"Fine." Hachiman replied, still looking forward.

"Good to hear!" She grins before her face morphs into one of confusion. "By the way, what were you doing at night? I saw you walking around."

Halt.

"Convenience store?"

Hachiman halted his tracks, confusion can be seen lacing his expression. "You...saw me?"

Kaori blinks before smiling. "Yep! I wanted to greet you but you just went and disappeared! Poof!" She replied as she performed a gesture reminiscent of a magician's trick. "Kinda hilarious!"

"..." Hachiman was quiet for a few seconds before continuing his track. "I was buying some things in the convenience store."

Her smile widens, "Figures!"

Let none know.

"But didn't you see me?"

"No."

A killer once,

"Really?"

"Yes."

A killer forever.

"Hm, or were you avoiding me?"

"...no."

A hunter once,

"Ah, you hesitated!"

"..."

A hunter forever.

In Between Blood and Dreams

School goes as it usually does, he sits down and listens to the lectures which his peers seem to deem it mindless mumble.

But Hachiman finds it quite interesting as while Yharnam boasts strange technology, it was supported by the foundations of Arcane. If this world were to get their hands on such a thing, no doubt they would be able to use it more efficiently.

Hachiman continues to jot down his notes when his ears quickly pick up whispers. Unconsciously, his hands were beginning to shake as he lifted his head up to see his peers quickly averting their gazes and their whispers ceased. He blinked, and let out a sigh of relief. He thought those whispers were otherworldly. Fortunately, it wasn't.

Really, really fortunate.

After a few months since his debut into the school, Hachiman gradually learns not to carry Chikage around and finds himself...relaxed. Yet somehow, one way or another, his peers have ways that would make him uncomfortable.

Their whispers for starters were unpleasant. He did not mind the insults they threw at him, no. Just that, those whispers reminded him too much of the nightmare that still persists in his memory.

A memory remains buried.

He sighs once again, it is somewhat tiring seeing his peers look down on him. It's as if they have nothing in their lives besides belittling him. It is a very pathetic sight to see.

Hachiman continues to jot down on his notes, paying no mind to his peers' piercing gazes.

"Hikigaya!" Kaori called albeit through a harsh whisper.

Hachiman turned and looked at her blankly. "What?"

"This lecture is boring." Figures, he expected such a thing from her. "Let's chat a bit."

"Focus on the lecture instead, Orimoto." He dismissed her.

In response, she pouted. "You're no fun, Hikigaya."

The two acquaintances kept silent however with one actually listening to the lecture.

Once it was over, Kaori released a sigh of relief. Hachiman merely organizes the books and puts them in his bag before standing up.

Kaori who was currently slumping over her desk, looked up to him. "Where are you going, Hikigaya?"

"Eat." Short, concise and to the point.

"Then I'll join!" She exclaims.

This has been happening for quite a while now which was confusing considering he nearly choked her a few months ago. He'd figured, by now, she would leave him alone however he was proven otherwise as her curiosity persisted.

"...do what you want." Hachiman replied which earned him a grin.

"Yay!" Kaori takes out her lunchbox and follows after him.

As they walk across the hallways, Hachiman can feel the stares–no. More like glares, specifically from his male peers. He tried to understand them, and he found out that they're mostly glare out of envy. He knew by now that Kaori was popular, well-known and liked by girls and guys alike for her "kindness" and "friendliness".

Had it not been for the experiences he had in Yharnam, he wouldn't have been able to discern her mask.

Regardless, what she does and what others think are things he couldn't care less about. All they can do is mumble in distaste and judge his character based on appearance alone. The level of patheticness goes beyond the beggars of Yharnam.

Hachiman found his spot, a quiet place where he could witness the sun and feel the gentle breeze of the waking world. Even though he still felt tense in certain moments, he had come to enjoy the accompaniment of the sun which shines in the sky brightly unlike the moon.

He sits down followed by Kaori and opens his lunch box. For all the time they've spent together, Kaori knew Hachiman appreciates silence above all else. It was also a moment where she can take a breather from all the socializing she had to do. It's only been a few months but she did enjoy his company even if she argued otherwise.

Of course, this silence only reserves during lunch. Other than that, she'd bother him with her energetic personality.

"..." Kaori stares at Hachiman to her left, he was eating silently and paid no mind to her like she wasn't there.

At this point, she was used to his cold shoulder and his lack of attention to her. It might sound like she was his lover but their relationship hasn't gotten that far nor did she plan it to be. But she is...maybe a tiny bit interested in him. Yes, just a small bit...

He finishes up and places his lunchbox by his side, he was quick but she knew he wouldn't move from that spot until the bell rang.

A few minutes passed and silence.

Kaori was staring at the sky, trying to enjoy the silence when she was caught off guard by Hachiman landing his head on her shoulders. It managed to cause her to jump a little before heat rushes to her face.

"Hikigaya!?" Kaori stammered. "W-What are you..."

"..."

She blinks at the lack of response before turning her head to see a sleeping Hachiman. His breathing was steady and he had...a peaceful look on his face. She had only seen him sleeping like this back then, it was a...scary memory but one she remembers.

And Kaori still remembers how he looked during that time.

He was at peace...

"..." She kept quiet before her cheeks turned red once more as she scoots closer to make it comfortable for him. "What am I doing...?" Kaori asks herself as she sighs. "...people are going to lose their minds if they see this but..."

Thinking about it now, she knew that hanging out with him was basically a social suicide. He wasn't a particularly outstanding individual, far from it. He was mostly disliked and bullied in the past for...some of his admittedly creepy and loner behavior before the teachers warned the student body not to bother him. Now, he was left alone and became a very different person.

At first, she did befriend him out of pity, even giving her phone number just to be nice. Those few days were a nightmare, he constantly texted her until one day, he didn't. It was quite abrupt and it did leave her with a question but ultimately ignored it as him being bored of her or something. But it was not, he just...simply changed overnight. While he was still a loner, he wasn't as creepy as before.

He seems more cautious after that, and she did think he was entering his chuunibyou phase with all that sword strapped to his side which she still believes wasn't a toy. The teachers would've prevented him from bringing it in the first place had it been a real thing so she quickly put those thoughts aside.

After talking to him once, she found that...he wasn't infatuated with her like everyone else does. She was convinced her nice girl act would've gotten him but it didn't. Her interest grew from there as instead of pushing her away, he simply lets her accompany him. Or rather, he tolerates her. It all started with how he changed overnight.

As Kaori finishes her lunch, she sits still. Looking over to him, she observes his sleeping figure. Looking closely, disregarding his dead soulless fish eyes, he was above average. If he somehow manages to hide his eyes or wear contact lenses, some girls might be into that. He might look pretty good with glasses on-

'No, bad Kaori.' She scolds herself, feeling embarrassed for even thinking about it for a loser loner like him. 'Ugh, what's going on with me?'

She sighs. She stared again and noticed his current sleeping position. His neck bending like that for long periods of time will lead him with an uncomfortable neck ache once he wakes up.

Once again, Kaori finds herself with a red face. "...just this once."

She puts her lunchbox to the side, neatly folding it with a cloth and turning her attention to Hachiman. She scoots away a bit and guides his head onto her lap, essentially giving him a lap pillow. Otaku really gets crazy about this...

Kaori sighs yet again, "I can't believe I'm doing this...this is not hilarious at all." She looks at his sleeping face before smiling. "But I guess, you should be happy for this with how nice I am. Be grateful, Hikigaya."

With that, she lets Hachiman sleep peacefully uninterrupted...

Hachiman finds himself in a very familiar place. The towering stone pillars surrounding the land, the gravestones placed beside the pavements, those fences housing bushes and flowers, the beautiful sounds of violin serenading his ears, his grip on the two most trustful partners being Chikage and Ludwig's Rifle and the two figures over by an intricately-designed workshop...it was all coming back.

He slowly walks towards the two figures, just by looking at their silhouette he knew who they were. The Doll whose purpose was to serve hunters participating in the night of the hunt, giving him access to harness the Blood Echoes into strengthening him, and there's of course his savior and fellow hunter, the Good Hunter whose identity remains unknown but are capable of killing beasts like a professional.

The Good Hunter nods at the Doll before he walks past Hachiman giving him a nod of acknowledgement and leaving the dream by touching a tombstone. He was silent, just like himself.

"Lone Lantern." The Doll greeted, her face lacked emotions and life being the doll she is. "How may I help you today?"

"Doll." Hachiman greeted, his hunter garbs covering the expressions on his face. "Why am I here?"

The distinction between dreams and dreams is impossible to differ, he couldn't differentiate what's dream and the dream. Was he back in the Hunter's Dream or was he just dreaming about it?

"Lone Lantern. Your connection to this place has been servered but a part of you remains in this place and the other." The Doll replied, Hachiman stood there confused. "You are lost yet you are where you belong. Feel content in where you are, your only burden is to keep the secrets buried."

"Yharnam..." Hachiman recounted, it's been months since he arrived at the waking world. "Am I supposed to walk in the waking world with these memories...? Can't I find peace? Can't I be liberated?"

"The Good Hunter already cut you from this world, you are here by his desires."

More confusion, more questions. Hachiman wants to understand but he can't. In the grand scheme of things, he did not matter. All hunters are cursed to an endless cycle, one where fate itself fell to the twisted whims of the Great Ones.

"What are you...?" Just then, fires erupted from the workshop as it was set ablaze. "T-The workshop!"

"Do not worry, Lone Lantern." The Doll reassured. "The Good Hunter will ensure the night of the hunt never happens again."

Hachiman's eyes widened, what was the Good Hunter going to do?

The skies turned crimson, the sun was rising marking the end of another hunt. Was this what she meant? No, it couldn't be. She said he was going to an end to it. But how-

His body began to vibrate, light slowly covered his vision.

"Wait! I still have questions!" Hachiman said, trying to reach for the Doll but his hand only went through her.

"It's time, Lone Lantern. You do not belong here."

Hachiman shook his head, trying his might to stay within the Hunter's Dream but to no avail. He struggled before the sounds of a gate entered his ears. He looks to his side, seeing the sealed fields of haunting white flowers were opened.

"No, no!"

Hachiman grits his teeth, he needs answers desperately and the waking world didn't give him any. This was his last chance of getting any, the final time he got to see this place once more. If he can't get answers, he will remain haunted for the rest of his life.

"May you find peace and liberation you seek, Lone Lantern. As well your worth in the waking world."

"Please, no..." Hachiman begged.

For the first time, the Doll smiled. "Farewell."

"NOOOOOO!!!"

His last vision of the Hunter's Dream was the workshop in fire with the Doll standing before it.

Slowly, Hachiman opens his eyes, feeling tears streak down. His sight adjusted to see Kaori's bright eyes looking down in concern. He blinks, his lips quivered ever so slightly as even in the waking world, he still dreams of that place.

"Hikigaya? Are you...good?" The nice girl asked.

"I'm..." Hachiman slowly sits up, wiping away his tears. "I'm-" With ragged breath, he inhaled sharply before releasing it all together. "-fine. I'm fine..."

"O-Okay then."

Hachiman looks down, energy leaves his body as for the first time in the waking world, the realization that his questions and concerns remain unanswered for eternity dawns on him. What...what liberation was this? He wanted to escape from that nightmare, from those accursed memory, to remain burden-free yet...here he was, alive with his past weighing on him.

What was his purpose in the waking world?

He was a hunter, he hunts beasts.

But there are no beasts in this world to hunt.

He has no purpose.

No peace.

No liberation.

He was...alone.

"Hikigaya?" Kaori called, her voice laced with concern as she was getting even more worried. "Are you really fine? Want me to take you to the infirmary?"

"Orimoto." Hachiman called, causing her to blink. "I...I'm..." He couldn't even say it. "Let's just go back to class..."

"O-Oh, alright."

He grabbed his lunchbox before stopping midway. "Have you felt alone before?" He muttered.

"...did you say something?" Kaori asks, blinking in confusion.

"Nothing." With his usual attitude, he walks away.

"Ah, wait! Jeez, Hikigaya!"

As he walks alone, Kaori finds herself staring at his figure, following behind with concern in her mind. His question, she heard it...

'Yes.' Kaori stared at the ceiling. 'Yes, I do...'

In between blood and dreams, the Lone Lantern remains burdened.

So uhhhh...it's been a while. Yeah, I'm to blame here with my laziness. But here we are, chapter 2. Essentially, I wanted this to be a one-shot but ideas kept popping up so I'm continuing writing it.

I didn't know what to do with Hachiman, or rather I don't remember what I wanted to do with him. Reading it over again, I decided that I should continue on with his mental healing process with a few huge roadblocks that'll be important for his development.

It's obvious that the healing process includes his connections to others. And yes, that others also include Kaori. She will likely be OoC due to the changes, and she will have her own character development as well. Or maybe she already is OoC and my dumbass doesn't realize it yet being the below-average writer I am.

Anyway, I have something called "OC-Hikki Syndrome" (I made that up if that's not obvious). It's basically a phase where I integrated parts of Hachiman's personality into my OCs, It happens very often because I like Hachiman, he's my favorite rom-com protagonist of all time.

That being said, I'm slowly moving away from that so writing OoC Hachiman like Bloodborne Hachiman here is one of the steps.

I'm happy people are enjoying this thus far. Hope I don't disappoint you guys.

Anyway, here's a little bit of something for you guys as an apology for leaving this hanging for so long. Inspired by GAF01TW's Hachiman Hikigaya Can Level Up.

Enjoy.

Lone Lantern the Unawakened Hunter

The waking world is as hostile as he had expected it to be.

While not as hostile as Yharnam–far from it–it was still hostile enough to warrant his caution.

"Gates" as they called it.

Doorways into another world or realm more specifically teeming with monsters and beasts alike but it never harmed the waking world. Yes, it instead serves as a new frontier for humanity to achieve greater heights.

No soul in this world knows how they came to be, but they serve as a catalyst for humanity to retrieve resources that don't cost their world. Such a thing is humanity; greedy, ambitious, foolish...hopeful.

But none of that matters now, he was on a hospital bed after an "incident". He was both confused and intrigued, the former Hunter known as Crow Lantern had not once remembered getting into any incident prior to his arrival in Yharnam.

He didn't remember his time in the waking world.

All he remembers are...the blood, the beasts and the night of the hunt.

The maddening taint of the nightmare that still persists in his crumbling consciousness.

It was baffling, really. To know that he had a family of four; his father, his mother and finally his younger sister. A...younger sister that was too clingy for his taste. He never understood love or how affection works for that matter.

Fortunately, after he had woken up and...remembered the nightmare, his younger sister wasn't around so the only victim was a nurse who tried to tend to her job. That caused him to be tied to his bed and injected with sedative, a good measure he'd say since that usually calms him down from being subjected into frenzy.

After he calmed down, the supposed "doctor" explained to him his situation, a "miracle" he said. Hachiman was not one to trust doctors, Yharnam had warped his perception of those that claimed to "heal" and "relieve" their patients by...experimenting with them to become creatures of eldritch nature.

But so far, there weren't any malicious intent nor did he experiment on Hachiman.

However, what the doctor explained was honestly strange and foreign for one who had never seen the light of day besides the moon. He was Hikigaya Hachiman, a young man who had decided to save someone in an incident and had been asleep for a year. And he was one of the "Awakened".

What is "Awakened"?

It was further explained when two men claiming to be of "Hunters", a term he would not use to describe them, came in a day after his awakening. As far as he knows, Hunters only knew to hunt, not to talk to patients and analyze them.

Awakened, people who are gifted with powers to fight off monsters within gates and conquer them. As far as he knew, he wasn't an Awakened, he was a Hunter. He knew Arcane, yes but he does not know magic or whatever squabble these self-proclaimed "Hunters" are saying.

His powers came from his desperation to survive, it was not a gift.

Claiming so would spit on the time and effort he had on Yharnam.

They took some dubious amount of time to explain and even tried to convince him that magic is indeed real by showcasing their mastery over it, he was not impressed. However, what happens after was interesting.

They used some kind of device to analyze his ranking as one of the Awakened. But what they get is disappointing, at least to them. He was still considered to be one of the Awakened but his rank is E which is the lowest ranking possible. It wasn't too far off from normal humans and those of E rankings are always subjected to work as receptionists in guilds.

When they showed their disappointment, Lone Lantern or Hachiman, quickly deduced their intentions. They were looking for potential candidates for them to use as they see fit. After the night of the hunt, Hachiman knew those kinds of people. They were rotten. It is not too far-fetched to say they are no different than beasts.

And he hunts beasts, no matter what skin they wear.

A few days have passed and Hachiman was discharged from the hospital. What transpired after was baffling, he had never seen such a number of people before roaming around the streets without being frightened or cautious. It was a foreign sight for one who had witnessed the night of the hunt.

Curiously and cautiously, he traversed the foreign land with his family, finding the waking world to have possessed strange but advanced technology compared to Yharnam.

For a week, he was given medical leave as part of his rehabilitation. All he did was stay at home and inspect everything whilst most of his family were out for school or work.

It was Tuesday and he was watching TV, seeing news of gates opening in various places. Chiba also has them but they're protected by the International Guild. So his hopes of venturing into one was next to impossible.

So he simply stood in place. He stayed at his new home doing nothing.

That was until he entered his bedroom where he saw a gate forming.

"Is this...?" Hachiman blinks, looking at the imposing door in wonder and intrigue. "So this is the gate..."

He could feel a strange power emanating from it.

"...if only I had my weapons..."

The Lone Lantern stares at the gate, he was a hunter and the urge to hunt beasts was still present. He places his hand on the gate, unknowingly activating it.

His eyes widened as the gate opened and light covered his vision.

When he came to, he wasn't in his room anymore. Instead, he was in a desert isolated from any form of civilization. In the distance, he saw giant worms, sandworms. There were five of them and even at this distance, he could tell they were incredibly large.

He frowned before he could feel a familiar touch. Hachiman took a look at himself only to see he was garbed with his hunter's attire complete with all of his equipment he had in Yharnam.

He tapped to his left and he could feel his partner still there like she had never left.

With a smile, he drew Chikage from the scabbard and prepared himself to face the beast.

The world wasn't prepared for the arrival of a single survivor from the night of the hunt. A hunter who, even at the lowest rank of Hunters in the waking world, became the most dangerous out of all of them.

Tonight, the Lone Lantern joins the hunt.