Chapter 19: The Hunt
Run.
The word pounded in Keiko's skull like a war drum.
Her lungs screamed. Her legs burned. Every wound on her body felt like fire searing into her flesh. But she ran.
Because behind her—
Mikuri was coming.
His voice was a wicked snarl, slithering through the darkness.
"You really think you can outrun me, little girl?"
The trees around her were ancient and gnarled, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. Shadows twisted in the moonlight, shifting, moving. The stench of rot clung to the air.
Keiko gasped for breath. Her vision swam. Her feet—bare, bloody—pounded against the jagged ground.
Keep running. Don't stop. DON'T STOP.
A monstrous howl echoed behind her, followed by the snapping of branches.
Too close.
He was too close.
Panic surged through her veins. Her heart slammed against her ribs, erratic, frantic.
She couldn't let him catch her.
She couldn't go back.
Not again.
Not ever.
Tears blurred her vision. She choked on a sob, pushing herself harder, faster—
Then—
Her foot caught on something.
A root.
Her body pitched forward.
She hit the ground.
Rocks tore into her flesh. The impact rattled her bones. Pain erupted across her body like an explosion.
No. No, no, no—
She clawed at the dirt, struggling to get up—
But a shadow loomed over her.
A cruel, amused chuckle.
"Game over."
Fingers twisted into her hair.
YANKED her up.
Keiko screamed.
Her scalp burned as Mikuri dragged her back, her feet barely scraping against the ground.
His grip was iron, unbreakable.
"You're really starting to piss me off," he growled.
Keiko thrashed, kicked, fought—
A fist slammed into her gut.
The world shattered.
A strangled gasp tore from her lips. White-hot agony burst through her ribs.
Her body convulsed.
Her knees buckled.
Mikuri didn't let her fall. His grip in her hair tightened as he pulled her close.
His breath was hot, rancid against her ear.
"You just don't learn, do you?"
Keiko's entire body trembled. Her breathing was shallow, ragged.
Mikuri sighed dramatically. "You know, I really hate when my toys break too soon."
Then—
He slammed her head against a tree.
CRACK.
White spots exploded behind her eyes.
The world tilted.
Her ears rang.
Something warm trickled down her forehead.
Blood.
Her knees gave out.
But Mikuri held her up.
"Not yet, sweetheart," he whispered, almost gentle. "We're just getting started."
Terror clawed up Keiko's throat, thick and suffocating.
Mikuri dragged her back through the woods. She barely registered the branches scraping her skin, the dirt beneath her feet.
Her nightmare had started all over again.
And this time—
There was no one coming for her.
The Dungeon
Stone. Cold and damp against her skin. The stench of mildew and death.
Keiko's eyes fluttered open.
Chains.
Again.
Again.
She wanted to scream.
Her body ached, throbbing from the beatings, the bruises, the sheer exhaustion threatening to pull her under.
But she couldn't rest.
Not here.
Not with him.
A voice—low, amused.
"Awake, are we?"
Mikuri.
Keiko's body locked.
Her breath shuddered.
Mikuri stood in front of her, arms crossed, watching. He twirled a dagger between his fingers, eyes gleaming.
"Thought you could get away from me?" He clicked his tongue. "I thought you were smart?"
Keiko squeezed her eyes shut. Please, please, please…
Mikuri crouched down. His fingers trailed along her arm.
Keiko flinched.
He grinned.
"Scared?"
She refused to answer.
Mikuri leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.
"You should be."
His free hand traced her collarbone. Down. Down.
Keiko's stomach churned.
His fingers ghosted over her waist.
Lower.
Lower.
She couldn't breathe.
Mikuri's smirk widened.
"You look so pretty when you're terrified."
Keiko squeezed her legs together. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her pulse deafening in her ears.
Mikuri exhaled, dragging his fingers down her thigh.
"Do you know what I want to do with you?" he murmured, his fingers brushing the fabric of her dress.
Keiko shook.
Mikuri licked his lips. "I want to taste you."
Keiko squeezed her eyes shut, biting back a sob.
No. No, please no—
"This is the finale I couldn't wait for," Mikuri whispered, his breath ghosting over her ear.
NO.
His nails traced the curve of her waist. Then—
A hard grip—too hard.
Mikuri grabbed the hem of her dress and ripped.
The fabric tore apart, baring her bruised skin.
Keiko jerked. She tried to scream—but the pressure on her throat was too much. A choked gasp was all that came out.
"That's right," Mikuri cooed. "Squirm for me, baby."
HELP.
SOMEBODY HELP ME.
Mikuri shoved her down, pinning her against the floor.
Keiko's vision blurred.
NO.
Mikuri pressed against her. His body was heavy, crushing.
"I'm going to make you beg," he whispered, fingers trailing lower. "I'm going to ruin you."
Keiko cracked.
"I'm going to make sure you'll scream my name as I f*ck the shit out of you, better than Urameshi can do!"
NO!
Tears spilled, shaking sobs wracking through her.
Her nightmare wasn't over.
It was only just beginning.
And then—
BOOM.
The door EXPLODED.
Mikuri's body hurtled across the room, slamming against the far wall.
A storm of energy filled the chamber.
Raw. Wild. Unforgiving.
Keiko's body trembled.
Through the dust, a silhouette stood in the doorway.
Not just anyone.
Him.
Yusuke.
His chest heaved.
His fists were coated in blood.
His aura burned.
His eyes—
Not brown.
Red.
His rage was suffocating.
Keiko's lips trembled.
"…Yusuke…?"
His gaze snapped to her.
And in an instant—
Everything stopped.
Yusuke's body locked up.
His eyes—wild, furious—suddenly froze.
Because he saw her.
Her torn dress.
Her bruised skin.
Her shaking body.
His aura ERUPTED.
The entire room shook.
Mikuri groaned, pushing himself up. His expression twisted into rage.
"How? How are you here?!"
Yusuke didn't answer.
He stepped forward. Slow. Deliberate.
Mikuri's face paled.
"…You look pissed."
Yusuke's knuckles cracked.
And then—
He grinned.
"Oh, buddy—"
His eyes flashed red.
"You have NO F*ING IDEA."**