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The world was a daze as he slowly opened his eyes while the throbbing in his head was akin to being repeatedly being pounded by a sledgehammer. It was torture. And he wondered why the hell was he running instead of getting sent to a hospital.
Wait.
Why was he running?
Using all his ability to actually focus on whatever was happening, the vague images of Nene, Tsukasa, and Aoi slowly come to mind.
His amber eyes shot open in surprise. More so when he realized that Nene and Tsukasa were each holding one of his hands.
But the most surprising bit was...
Why were they all wearing floral kimonos? And why the hell was Tsukasa of all people wearing one too??!!!!
The shock of seeing Tsukasa wearing a bright pink kimono had managed Amane forget about the pain, as he looked around to hopefully have some understanding of what in the world was going on.
Surrounding them were old houses that resembled huts. The type you'd see at a village. He could see some plants, trees, the dirt path, and even an angry mob of villagers when he turned around.
"The kannagi's have escaped!!!"
"Capture the kannagi's!!!"
"Get them all!!!! Get them all!!!"
"Huh??!" he couldn't help but gasp. "Capture the..." wrinkles formed onto his face as he blinked in confusion. He looked forward again to face his friends and twin brother who unlike him, didn't even bother look back.
"What... What... What the hell is going on???!!!!" he screeched as the throbbing in his head made its comeback. The hybrid of pain and confusion made him stop in his tracks. Making the group halt.
"Amane-kun-" Nene tugged his right hand forward harshly, making the group move again "-what are you doing??!!! We have to run!!!"
"Yeah Amane!!! his brother agreed as did the same to his left hand. "We gotta run, we gotta run, or else they'll catch us!!!"
Never in his life has he ever heard Yashiro nor Tsukasa sound so serious in his life. Not even that one time where Nene threatened one of her ex-crushes or when Tsukasa defended him from bullies.
But as serious as they were, he couldn't help but notice how frightened they were as well.
At the front of their group was Aoi who wore a light blue and purple kimono who seemed to be their navigator.
Or at least someone on the lookout for any members of the angry mob.
"What the fuck is happening???!!!!" he asked again in hopes of an answer. "Why are they chasing us???!!! What did we do wrong??!!!"
Amane desperately hoped this was just a consequence of Tsukasa messing around again. That these villagers were just angry at Tsukasa for his usual antics. And that whatever the actual situation is is not as bad as he thinks it is.
"Don't you remember Amane-kun?" Nene answered without looking back. The fear was stuck onto her face like glue as she ran in the magenta kimono that matched her eyes. "They want to sacrifice us all!!!"
"S-s-sacrifice?!!!" he couldn't help but stutter the word. "What do you even mean by that??! I don't even remember why this is happening at all!!!" his face scrunched up when he finally realized the blood red kimono he himself was wearing. "Eek! And why am I wearing a kimono too??!!!!"
"Amane did hit his head pretty hard back there." Tsukasa reminded with a face with a small smile Amane knew wasn't actually happy. "Maybe Amane has memory loss?"
Amane didn't get his answer as he heard the screams of the mask wearing villagers. They were gaining on them fast. And the worst part was that they were running out of ground to run.
They were no longer in the village, but somewhere akin to a forest. With dead trees everywhere and a ground made of dust, their only path was getting narrower and narrower as the thickness of the dead flora took over.
A feeling of looming dread bloomed in Amane's stomach. He wondered why did he only feel it now.
"They're gaining on us Aoi!! Do you see anywhere else we could run?!!" Nene frantically asked her purple haired friend.
"There isn't really anywhere Nene-chan...." Aoi muttered quietly with dread as hopeless eyes searched the area.
The four stayed silent while the villagers screams only got louder.
"Ooh! Ooh! What about we hide in that cave?
Tsukasa cheerfully pointed his finger to a cave not so far away which Amane was sure wasn't there a moment ago. In an instant, a tiny light of hope lit up in the girls eyes.
"Great eye Tsukasa-kun!" Nene cheered as if Tsukasa had just solved world hunger. "Let's hide in there!"
"A cave?" despite not understanding the complete situation, Amane was still skeptical with his brother's suggestion. The cave his brother suggested was dark and dreadful to look at just from the outside. Amane couldn't imagine what it would be like inside.
"It's not like we have any other choice Amane-kun!" Nene defended. "Now let's go!" and pulled him along towards it while Tsukasa and Aoi followed.
...
The cave the four resided in was cold, wet and dark. Thank goodness there were high walls with holes that enabled bits of light so they weren't in complete darkness.
The four sat on random pieces of large rocks as seats, and avoided the puddles of water while taking their breaths as quietly as they could.
And in that cave, was a boy curious for answers.
"Can someone please finally tell me what in the world is going on?!!"
"Shh Amane!" Tsukasa covered Amane's mouth with his right hand while whispering into his ear. "We gotta be quiet. Or else they'll find us."
Knowing that his little brother wouldn't let go unless he complied, Amane whispered. "Who are 'they'?"
Tsukasa only smiled before looking expectedly at Nene and Aoi.
"Uh, well, you might not remember this Amane-kun, but..." Nene cleared her throat before continuing in a soft voice. "Should I explain it, or do you want to do it Aoi?"
"Nene-chan explaining is fine with me." her best friend replied with a smile.
"What about you Tsukasa-kun?"
Amane cut in before Tsukasa could answer.
"I'd rather have you explain Yashiro." he said seriously. "You know how Tsukasa explains things."
"Alright. But if I forgot anything, remind me okay you two?"
"Hai~"
"Well, we were on way back home from school with Kou-kun, Akane-kun, Mitsuba, oh and Yamabuki-kun too when we saw this 'cultural carnival'." Nene started off. "It looked fun so we all decided to go. I think someone there said it was about not forgetting about the past and letting us younger people experience what it was like to live back then."
Nene's eyebrows twitches before continuing.
"So yeah, we thought it was about reminiscing the past..." she twiddled her fingers and looked at Aoi for confirmation. Aoi nodded.
"We had a lot of fun too! The organizers really outdone themselves with making everything look like the real thing! It was like we were actually in the past!" Nene was excited now with that familiar shine in her eyes. "Though, it's not like I know what it was actually supposed to look it in the past, hehe. I was basing it of the flyers they handed out."
"Nene-chan's right! It was really fun spending the day around there together." Aoi laughed in glee. A very poor attempt at hiding her actual worries.
Amane looked suspiciously at Tsukasa when he didn't say a thing. His brother was being much too silent. Surely he had an opinion of his own about the day? And since Tsukasa was his brother, he found it even more suspicious when he hadn't spit out facts of what they did together today.
But alas, before Amane could ponder on that thought any longer, Nene had continued.
"Then there was this absolutely beautiful woman who approached us!" and Nene's eyes continued to shine. "She was a real beauty, and had such slender legs~"
Amane's brows furrowed hearing Nene compliment some random woman's legs again. When would she ever realize that she was beautiful just the way she was?!
"She asked if the four of us wanted to participate in another activity we haven't done yet. That our experience wouldn't be complete if we didn't. She said it wouldn't take long, and since Kou-kun and Mitsuba were busy with another activity while Yamabuki-kun accompanied Akane-kun to win a prize for Aoi, we agreed."
The sound of dripping water in the cave was calm, but Amane only felt the dread in his stomach manifest into a storm.
"She brought us to one of the village houses and were greeted by the 'villagers'. They were so nice, and dressed us up in these kimonos even after Amane-kun protested. They thought you were being ridiculous, since Tsukasa-kun was excited to try one on."
Nene, and Aoi giggled at the memory while Amane's cheeks burned.
"Oh don't be embarrassed Amane-kun." insisted Nene "I think you look just fine. Right, Aoi?"
"Yup."
If it was possible, steam would be leaving his ears at this very moment. But instead, the burn rised up onto his ears.
"I can't believe you let them put this on me!" Amane covered his face with his hands and the frilly kimono sleeves, wondering if one day, he'll ever get back his pride. "Tsukasa, we're boys. How could you let them do this??!?!!"
"Don't worry Amane. It's not like that many people saw us wear these."
Tsukasa's words were terrifying with what they implied. Unfortunately he didn't realize how somber Tsukasa's tone was.
"Please let there be not be that many people who saw us. Please let there not be that many people who saw us...."
Ignoring her friends chanting, Nene continued.
"You were so feisty that you ended up hitting your head on the wall really hard that it made you pass out." droplets of water dropped onto Nene's hand, but she quickly wiped those away. "You didn't wake up and we were worried that you had a concussion and we wanted to call you an ambulance or at least leave and bring you to a clinic."
He noticed how Nene's eyes drooped.
"We were really worried for you Amane-kun." and grabbed hold onto his hands and squeezed them lightly. "Especially, Tsukasa-kun. Knowing your medical history and all. And since they wouldn't let us leave, we ran, and pulled you along the best we could."
"We're not sure what happened for them to want to suddenly sacrifice us." she added trying to stay strong. "We didn't even do anything wrong." unfortunately, the tears escaped anyways. "We can't be sacrificed for whatever reason they have. We all want to live our lives and grow up and accomplish our dreams."
His heart sank hearing those words while shifting slightly with how tight Tsukasa was hugging him. Bitter memories from when he was 3 years old resurfaced against his will. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want anyone to think about it. But he didn't want his baby brother to think about it the most.
"All of you shouldn't have to worry about that..." he mumbled quietly, refusing to look at anyone as he did. Instead he let Aoi comfort Nene of her tears.
What was in the past, should stay buried in the past...
And that they will survive this. No matter what.
None of them were going to get sacrificed today.
It was horrible timing that a moment later, the adrenaline from the chase had ran off and the tortures throbbing in his head had returned.
"OW!!" he grabbed onto his head in pain. His scream echoed throughout the cave.
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"There they are!!!!!"
Heads spinning, the four turned around to see that the villagers had found them.
F***
"O h no!"
"They found us!"
"Everyone run!"
Amane had no idea who screamed what as they all ran for their lives deeper into the cave. Higher and higher they ran until....
They
had
reached
the
edge
of
a
pit.
And
there
was
no
where
else
to
run...
Cornered, they huddled up against each while facing the villagers.
"It is time for you to appease the gods!"
"And fulfill your duties as kannagi!"
"May your ends be happy!"
As they tipped to the edge, with Nene and Aoi being in front of him and Tsukasa.
Nene screamed.
"NOOOOOOO! Please don't! None of us want to be sacrificed!!!"
Ao-chan cried.
"We just want to live our lives!!! You can't do this!!!"
Even Tsukasa...
"Please don't sacrifice Amane!!! He wants to grow up and become an astronaut and go to the moon!!! If you want to sacrifice someone, just sacrifice me!!!!!"
He, Yugi Amane however, didn't say a thing.
For he was too busy falling off the cliff as he slowly lost consciousness.
He heard another scream of "AMANE!!!!!!" before closing his eyes and started to reminisce on the past.
Back to when he was 3 years old and had no hope of living.
He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep on living. He was afraid that he'd never be to play outside so carefree like Tsukasa. He was afraid that he'd never be able to grow up become an astronaut and go to the moon. He was afraid on missing out a life he could have.
But after miraculously surviving his illness, he wasn't afraid anymore.
He grew up into a teenager, made friends, study more about the moon, and got to live the life he thought he couldn't.
Now, he could do anything he wanted.
Correction, he thought he could do whatever he wanted.
But as he continues to fall into the bottom of this pit at the age of 13 together with his precious younger twin brother, the girl he loved, and her best friend all because of him...
(Tsukasa's crying as he hugs his older twin brother with an iron grip. Amane can hear him question and mutter things like 'Was it all a waste?' and 'I'm sorry I couldn't grant your wish.' or 'I'm such a useless brother.')
(Not so far away, Nene and Aoi are hugging each other as tears stain their faces. He can't hear what their saying, but he's sure he doesn't want to know.)
(If they went missing, how would the others find them? Would the four of them be stuck at the bottom of this pit forever?)
( Why is this happening??!!! Just right after he promised it wouldn't????!!!! WHYWHYWHYWHY-)
He wonders if this is the consequences for him living such a happy fate, instead of succumbing from the start.
(He couldn't even bask in the comfort of his younger brother tightly wrapping his arms around him for the last time before everything drifted away...)
(At least they'd be staying at the bottom there together. Better than being alone right?)