1st Pov Kyouka Uzen:
I watched as Xicor sank into the abyss of shadows beneath his feet, Yachiho Azuma slung over his shoulder like stolen baggage.
The moment that suffocating pressure that held us down vanished, Yuuki and I lunged forward on instinct.
It was pointless, as by the time our feet left the ground, he was already gone.
A desperate attempt and a futile one at that.
My grip tightened around the hilt of my katana until my knuckles turned white. Beside me, Yuuki's fists clenched so hard that blood trickled down between his fingers.
We were nothing more than toys in front of him. Defeated by a force so overwhelming, even now it felt unreal, and only one other person could leave that kind of impression on me.
Ren Yamashiro, the Chief Commander of the Demon Defence Force and the Unit 10's Chief.
As the atmosphere slowly relaxed, the cavern began to shake.
A violent tremor ripped through the chamber as chunks of stone broke free from the ceiling and crashed into the ground.
The cave was collapsing. Yuuki reacted and instantly leapt toward his sister, carefully lifting her in his slave form arms. I steadied Tenka as another shockwave ran through the cavern floor beneath us.
Shushu carefully supported Himari's exhausted and trembling body. Their clothes had rips around the as cuts and bruises covered their exposed skin as some animal attacked them.
Tenka's eyes remained fixed on the massive crater Aoba's beam had created. The place where Sahara had fallen. As expected, there was nothing left, no body nor even a sign that it was even there.
Whether she had been obliterated by the blast or buried beneath thousands of tons of rocks, I didn't know, and that uncertainty somehow felt even worse.
Tenka's lips trembled, but no words came out. I could tell she wanted to search for her body, but there wasn't time, as the tremors intensified, walls cracking apart and tunnels collapsing inward.
Tenka raised her shaking hands, with me supporting her weight against me as a portal bloomed into existence before us.
Shushu stumbled through, with Himari leaning heavily against her shoulder. Aoba and Yuuki followed shortly after, as Aoba held her injured shoulder.
I guided Tenka through the last as the tremors grew even more violent behind us and the whole ceiling began to fall down.
The world blurred, and moments later, we emerged on a rocky hillside overlooking the 7th unit's dormitory. Far enough away to avoid surveillance and close enough to reach safety.
The cool air hit my face as we basked in the moment of safety. Nobody spoke as our bodies screamed for rest and our wounds demanded treatment like a whining child.
But there were more pressing matters than our own pain.
"Aoba" My voice broke the silence as I lowered Tenka onto a nearby boulder. Tenka mechanically sat down as she stared off into the distance, lost in her own thoughts and guilty of allowing her members to be killed and kidnapped.
"What do you plan to do now?" Truthfully, I expected her answer to be full of resentment, as it normally doesn't simply disappear.
I knew that better than most, as the hatred I carried toward Unihorn had proven that.
Aoba stared toward the distant horizon where her former base stood beyond our sight. For a second, she remained silent before she sighed.
"I can't start another revolt" Her voice was quiet but enough for us to hear, "The Shuuki we gathered are dead...or they ran when things got difficult"
A bitter smile crossed her face. "And besides...Those so-called Gods took Yuno and Koko" Her eyes hardened with determination, "I'll focus on them instead"
She looked back toward Tenka and me. "I'll leave the Agency in your hands...For now," Her words lingered in the air as Yuuki looked between his sister and us, before staring down, his brow furrowing in frustration.
I slowly sheathed my sword. "Thank you", my voice was firm despite my exhaustion.
"We won't let the Agency come after you or the others", I said, hoping my words would reassure her safety and hopefully convince her not to attack the Agency.
Aoba shook her head and let out a small, tired sigh. "I trust you, but I don't trust your organisation"
She was right. No matter how sincere my promise was, there was no guarantee I could keep it. Hope would do nothing for her situation.
"...I understand", I said, slightly defeated.
Aoba nodded at me. For a moment, it looked as though she was about to leave, but her attention shifted to her brother, Yuuki.
Her features softened at him. Yuuki stood silently, staring into space, remembering the experience in that cavern, about what happened to Sahara, about death being just around the corner, waiting patiently.
"Yuuki" Her voice was gentle, and it immediately pulled him from his thoughts.
He looked up as Aoba stepped forward and took his large hand before placing something small in the centre of his palm.
A damaged bunny pin that had its paint chipped, and one of its ears was bent forward in a curve.
Yuuki blinked before looking between it and Aoba. Aoba raised her hand to his canine-like cheek. Her nails gently tickled his cheek as she smiled faintly.
"Fix it for me, little brother"
For a second, neither of them moved. Then Aoba leapt away. The force of her departure scattered dust and loose rock into the air.
Within moments, she was gone like a ghost. Yuuki remained standing there as silence once again consumed us.
Shushu struggled to keep her eyes open as she leaned back against a rock wall with Himari, finally unconscious, leaning against her shoulder.
Tenka remained staring into the distance, with no response coming from her other than the movement of her chest responding to her breathing and the unconscious blink of her eyes.
And for me, my whole body aches and protests with each movement. My breathing was calmer and steadier.
In Yuuki's palm rests the damaged bunny pin, the only memory and link to his sister, as a long sigh escapes his transformed jaws.
"I will find a way to turn you back, big sister", he muttered with determination as he clenched his fist that contained the pin, though not enough to damage it.
Slowly, I walked over and placed a hand on his arm as he flinched upon contact, not out of fear but because his mind was still somewhere.
And judging by the look in his eyes, I could tell what it was, and it left a much deeper impression on him.
I'm not worried about him doing anything reckless without me knowing.
For now, let's just head back and rest.
It didn't take us long to get back. At the door to the dormitory was Nei, with her hands clasped together and her brow knitted together in worry.
But that transformed into an expression of joy and relief, not noticing our battered forms. She ran into Yuuki's leg and wrapped her arms around him, tightly, almost afraid that he would disappear.
Shushu carried Himari inside into the infirmary to allow our on board medic have a look at them. Tenka gently pushed herself off me as she limped away.
"I'll head to my unit's dorm to have myself looked at and file a report", she said. Her sweetness had transformed into defeat.
Yuuki opened his mouth to say something, but shook his head. After a moment of hesitation, he tried again as Nei let go before he kneeled.
"Miss Tenka", he called out, his voice gentle and quiet "...Thank you for coming to my rescue, and I'm sorry that it took..."
He didn't get to finish as Tenka placed a finger on his lips. She tried to put on the sweetest smile, but she ended up having a tired and strained smile.
"...I know...I just need a bit of time to recover, and I'll come back for my reward," She said, before limping her way through the portal as it shrank away into existence.
Yuuki remained silent. His mind always drifted away to that cavern.
"Yuuki, let's go", I said.
As much as it pains me to interrupt his thoughts of that experience. We can't do anything now since it's all in the past.
All we can do is endure and improve.
1st Pov Naruhime:
I allowed a prideful smile to spread across my face as arcs of electricity danced around my glowing horns, crackling in response to my sweet mood.
Jaku'un, Fukuma, and I sat around a circular table carved from white stone with detailed markings decorating its surface, each of us holding cups filled with a rich purple liquid.
Mine remained mostly untouched as I gave Jaku'un my full attention, listening intently as she recounted her journey alongside my consort on his task to capture Shuuki and Unique ones.
Across from us, Fukuma lounged comfortably in her seat, one leg crossed over the other and her arms folded beneath her chest. Every so often, she would take a measured sip from her drink, her eyes never leaving Jaku'un as she followed the story with quiet interest.
The atmosphere was calm and relaxed, a large change from the chaos that often accompanied our lives in Mato against the humans.
The soft glow of the room's light reflected off our cups and table while Jaku'un spoke, her growing enthusiasm becoming more apparent with part of the tale she shared and the way her cheeks flushed as time went on.
"...He overwhelmed the Unique Shuuki like it was nothing, even when that Shuuki fired a large beam at him, he still overpowered it with grace and trapped it in the cards" Jaku'un said, spreading her arms in theatrical gestures.
Seems my consort charm is quite dangerous on gods~
I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin in pride, "I'd expect nothing else from my consort!" I declared.
Fukuma rolled her eyes as she brought her cup to her lips, and the liquid flowed down her throat. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the taste on her glans as a satisfied sigh escaped her lips.
"It always surprises me the various feats he has achieved, from surviving here like a rat scavenging on the streets to possessing multiple abilities, a feat only achieved by another of his species and being able to go in the black pool", she listed off each feat finger by finger.
Her smile grew as she circled the cup's edges with a finger, "A very interesting human"
"I doubt he would acknowledge that he's human anymore", Jaku'un commented.
I raised a brow at her, "How so"
Jaku'un took a sip of her drink before she replied with a question, "Would you look at your own species if they've robbed you of your family?"
I looked down at the table as my imagination ran the scenario of a Shuuki, somehow, killing all of my siblings.
While denying who I am is still debatable, the anger towards those born from the seeds of our power and influence is utter scum and should be erased with a doubt.
In Xicor's case, I could only imagine its deep-rooted resentment towards humans. I have seen him spare humans when he could easily kill them.
Was some part of his mind still hoping that someone out there among his kind would agree to his ways?
A selfish endeavour.
Though I guess it's useless now that he has us to find comfort in.
"It's difficult to say, but I would agree to anything my consort believes" I said firmly.
Both Jaku'un and Fukuma raised a brow and glanced at me, "Because you love him?" They both said simultaneously.
My cheeks flushed in embarrassment, "...Not only that, but he has spoken nothing but truth to us, which speaks volumes of his certainty to stand with us"
Jaku'un thought for a moment before nodding as a small smile graced her lips, "Indeed, no one likes being hidden behind lies"
An amused smile touched Fukuma's face, "What about those who are soft and can't take it"
I rolled my eyes, "Then they should just mature already and face it; if they can't, then they'll never grow"
"I agree. Without facing the reality of life, then no one will learn how to survive; otherwise, they'll die" Jaku'un nodded in agreement.
Fukuma finished her drink before she stretched her limbs and exited her seat.
"Well, this has been an enjoyable conversation, but I must get back to work; otherwise, big sister Taikyoku would scold us", she said as she shivered, remembering the scolding or rather, the harsh punishment, as I would call it.
As soon as Fukuma was out of sight, Jaku'un stood up and donned her armour, cloak and helmet. "I will be in my laboratory doing my own work; see ya around, big sister Naruhime"
I waved at Jaku'un as she too left the room, leaving only me. I gulped down the last remnants of my drink and stood up, stretching my stiff limbs.
It's been a while since I've seen Xicor. Maybe I should secretly visit him.
I wouldn't be surprised if big sister Shikoku took his first time, that lustful woman.
But if Jouryuu or Kuusetsu had their way with him, I would be left far behind. After all, I am the second to confess my feelings to him, and it is right for me to have his second time with me.
With fierce determination, I bolted out of our home and flashed through Mato towards my consort.