Kiyo Konose was going somewhere in the forest. Her movements were instinctive, as if she already knew the destination.
Then a house came into her sight. It wasn't too big, but it was well built. She stopped, adjusted her scarf, and then moved to the gates, pushing them open. Then she turned, closing the gates behind her.
The courtyard was too small and not cleaned. Leaves from trees had fallen in the courtyard, with just one chair standing in the middle of the courtyard.
She stepped inside, heading to her room, unwrapped her red scarf from her neck, and placed it on the bed. The bruises weren't old, it was as if they had been caused again without her healing the wounds. She rubbed her right hand's palm on her neck. The sensation was both satisfying and painful, though it was more satisfying.
She was feeling the urge to keep rubbing her neck. It felt relaxing, but she couldn't. She wasn't alone in this house.
She changed her clothes, replacing the academy's coded outfit with a simple long dress that had leaves design on it.
She moved outside the room without putting the scarf on her neck, went to the courtyard, cleaned it, then moved to the kitchen and made something to eat. However, she didn't eat it.
Then she went to a room. Standing before the door, her fingers felt fatigued before she knocked.
The room was completely simple, nothing expensive. There was a man sitting on the bed, her husband and Kashime's father.
Nough Konose. The Divine Scar with Cosmic outline was constantly glowing on his neck. He was unaware of her presence.
Kiyo's body tensed, though her eyes softened. Her mind didn't know what response was accurate.
"Did you enjoy staying alone?" She said as if saying to a child.
As soon as her voice went into Nough's ears, he turned to her.
"Did you heal them?" His eyes landed on her bruises. He didn't sound like a child, nor did his behaviour seem like a child's.
"No." She answered, rubbing her bruises for a moment before she let her hand slip off.
A memory of Nough pressing her neck with his hands while she begged for air flashed before Kiyo's eyes. The softness in her eyes vanished, replaced by hurt. She hated when her mind replayed memories. It was the part she never loved about herself.
"You are a burden, you know." She said. Her voice came out harsh, and it was intended to be harsh. "Your mind doesn't even work properly."
"I can't even kill you." She stared at both of her palms. "I also don't want you to die." She formed fists, clutching them tightly. "I hate that I can't."
Even so, Nough didn't seem to react to her words. He just stared at her.
"Are you hungry?" She asked.
"Yes." He answered.
"Of course you are." She said sarcastically. "I made something. If you want to eat, you can."
"But I don't know how to eat." Now his voice came almost like a toddler's.
"Your personality swaps. Why can't you stay in one personality? Decide what you want to be." She slammed the door shut. Her hand came to press on her forehead instinctively.
"Now, should I go to the Sold Area?" She said before realisation hit her. "But I denied Kashi coming to me. So would she be the one to take the wages or not? It's confusing."
Should I go? Or shouldn't I?
"She already knows I take the wages. She won't come. Simple. I am going." Though there was still a part of her that doubted the decision, she didn't give attention to it. She didn't want to.
She stepped into her room, wrapped the scarf around her neck, but before she could exit,
Nough, who was waiting outside for her, tried to stab her. The knife was so close. So close to hitting her, but she dodged it at the last moment and pushed Nough away.
"How dare you challenge me?" Nough's voice was dripping with pure unadulterated coldness.
"What? I didn't challenge you. You psycho." She sprinted to the courtyard. Nough wasn't staying behind. He followed her, landing a brutal kick on her waist.
He slammed her into the wall. Blood poured out of her mouth. The well-polished wall was no longer polished.
She stood.
"You wanna have a fight."
Though instead of tightening her fists, she loosened them.
"You will regret challenging me." He repeated, his grip tightening on the knife's handle as he moved the sharp side toward her.
"Stop creating imaginary memories." She sprinted, aiming for his neck.
He teleported behind her with the help of his Divine Scar.
He aimed to stab her back, though the knife stabbed the air.
She had thrown herself away.
"Why aren't you switching your personality now?" She rushed.
Her hands reached for his throat. She slammed him into the wall.
Her grip was surprisingly intense.
"I am gonna kill you."
She pressed harder.
Nough's lungs were choking for air. He raised his hand, aiming the knife at Kiyo's shoulder.
"Wait."
She lurched back. The realisation that she was actually going to kill him hit her. She didn't mean it. She didn't want it.
"What are we playing?" Nough asked innocently, as if nothing had happened. The knife fell from his grip. To him there was no pain around his throat, or his brain was ignoring the pain.
"Oh, nothing. Go inside and eat something." She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Okay." He said happily, moving inside.
"I will go crazy someday if this keeps going." She pressed her forehead once again before stepping outside the house.
She moved toward her destination, known as the Sold Area.
After a while she reached there. She lifted her gaze toward the massively large, bucket-shaped structure with no extra designs. It was packed like a box, with many Lightrozers standing on top of it guarding the area.
She stepped forward. There were three entrances. All of them had large rows of Lights standing to take their wages.
As Kiyo was about to head forward, her eyes landed on Kashime. Flint wasn't with her. She was also there. Her body paused. Kashime glanced at her and instinctively turned away before once again looking back at her as the realisation that her mother was here sank in.
"Sis?" She whispered.