Chapter Text
“Wow, look at this apartment! I’ll bet this costs much! Does your dad ever hold back or what?!” The comment was from Grim, his wide electric blue eyes taking in as many details as they could whilst standing in the middle of the living room.
And he was talking about the gorgeous apartment he would be staying with Mary for a week during their stay in Tokyo. Their haven was located on a high floor of an expensive condominium residence—heck when they entered the lobby, it was bathed in gold, shimmers, and silver. A fantastic ambiance and atmosphere were brought by whoever managed the condo.
Mary just finished arranging their things in the apartment, she was tired and slightly sore from the travel but she was just as happy as Grim. “I did tell him it was too expensive but he didn’t care, he said we should only have the best and I could never say no to that” She already got used to Divus Crewel’s constant doting as her adoptive father never accepted a refusal from her.
“This is a time to have fun though so let’s make the most out of being far from anyone’s prying eyes” Grim added, he plopped down onto the sofa next to the redhead, the collar he had on was unique with strange markings compare to the striped ribbon. It was charmed with magic that would make his fire in control.
The redhead had a small smile playing on her lips, she reached out to pat Grim’s head. “Thanks for coming with me, Grim”
So how did they get in Tokyo and why were these two staying temporarily at a fancy condo?
It all happened two weeks ago as Mary began to fancy this idol band beyond Twisted Wonderland’s borders and had been fascinated by their music and videos since. She found out through social media that they would go on an indefinite hiatus hence the announcement of one final performance, it would be more grand to make the event memorable to the fans. Mary wanted to attend.
But lately, everyone was busy at Night Raven College albeit it was their semester break; Mary couldn’t pull anyone to come with her, and Leona even blatantly had an annoyed expression saying why would he waste his time in normies or something. She felt bad about not being busy like the rest and was ready to forget going to the concert when her dad went fairy godfather mode on his daughter again, and Grim got mad at her thoughts.
‘Do not feel awful! Seriously, I don’t get your head sometimes, Mary! If you want to go then you should, why didn’t you ask me?!’ The redhead recalled those were Grim’s exact words, fuming that she never thought of asking him to go. And when he knew the reason behind it was she didn’t want to disturb him, it only infuriated Grim more.
“The concert is still tomorrow, right? We have time to go out today and do whatever the heck you want, don’t forget my treats too” Grim declared, feeling relaxed on the sofa.
There was a mischievous glint in Mary’s emerald eyes as she leaned forward to where her companion lay, she poked his backside. “Are you completely warming up to me? You’re so cute right now, like a sleeping cat--”
“You have the nerve to see me as a pet, I will make you warm to the point of literal!” Grim shot up, took off the collar and made a show of showing his blue fire. “Come back here you crazy redhead!”
At this Mary laughed, a contagious laughter which always filled Grim and anyone around her with that seeping warmth and color overtaking whatever caused them blues. He hated how he too was affected, he wouldn’t say it loudly but Grim knew he was no exception to feeling endearment with his ward.
Mary got off the sofa, pretending to run. “No do not roast me!”
“Ha! No begging is going to save you!” Grim jumped and landed onto Mary’s shoulder, proceeding to tickle her until both of them were now trying to tickle each other. “Stop picturing me as a cat!”
It would surely be a fun week for them, this vacation away from school and on their own in another world without anyone to tell them what or what not to do...it was going to be exciting.
---
The day of the grand last concert arrived and it did not disappoint, Mary was still feeling the adrenaline rush from everything while sitting inside the train they took. She wore a huge salmon pink hoodie over a skirt and a pair of dark pink Chucks. Beside where she sat was a huge bag filled with concert giveaways and freebies for those who paid for VIP seating.
“They are so handsome up close, I can’t get off my head how my favorite band member looked in my direction.” Mary sighed to herself, leaning tiredly on the seat, and watched the evening view outside the moving train. “It’s so sad this is their final concert…” Both bittersweet and fantastic, Mary was sure every one of them in the venue had a blast, a truly memorable one.
Grim popped out of the paper bag subtly, unnoticed by the other passengers who were minding their own inside the train. “I thought my ears were going to shatter at the remix of the loud sounds and everyone screaming their larynx off but yeah it was fun, I wished I didn’t have to hide to watch them”
“I know let us suggest that the Light Music Club in our school do an open performance next semester so we can watch without needing to disguise, Lilia-senpai will agree to the idea” Mary stated, making a mental note to bring this suggestion to the Diasomnia vice dorm leader once they made their return after this week.
Mary felt a vibration and heard a notification ping, she pulled her phone out and saw the chat trails from everyone in the group chat she was part off—it was a GC for other people who were also fan of the band, they began saying their farewells and left one by one except Mary and...another.
That another with a strange flower as a profile picture chatted, “Hey, I guess we are the only ones left in this group chat, it feels so melancholic but it makes looking at the view of Tokyo outside more sentimental. I’m like in a music video LOL”
Huh? Mary’s gaze lifted up from the phone and then glanced at the window, she was also seeing the sparkling lights and the Tokyo tower. “Are you also on the train? I’m looking at the same view hahaha”
The other member chatted just as quickly. “What a coincidence! Do you mind if I come to you? I want to meet a fellow fan whom I can share my fangirl thoughts with about the band, at least before we arrive to our destinations”
A smile formed on Mary’s lips at the idea of making another friend and replied with an affirmation.
This did not go past Grim’s notice, “What are you smiling at, Mary? Did Riddle finally know about your crush on him?” He deadpanned.
“No! Never! I plan to bring that to my grave!” In seconds she was a blushing mess at the topic Grim brought up, the redhead had a crush on the Heartslabyul Dorm Leader which was a reason she never said no whenever Riddle invited them over for any exclusive dorm traditions.
Grim furrowed his eyebrows, “You are a freaking tragic awkward princess, if you really like him, try using that princess vibes to make him notice you” To think she was the Sleeping Beauty’s daughter but no one would believe if he told them with how airy her head and dense she was.
The surrounding turned crimson, in an eye blink, everyone in the train disappeared except Grim and Mary. It also stopped moving forward, the air was thick with ominous tension like a predator watching its prey, smiling maliciously and waiting for the perfect timing to pounce back.
The redhead frowned, standing up. “What’s going on? Are we still in the same train?”
“Tsk, do not tell me we are still to deal with overblots here?” Grim asked, annoyed. He climbed out of the paper bag to stand near Mary in a defensive stance, his collar was again taken off and left in the bag.
Mary shook her head, lips compressed into a thin line as she furrowed her eyebrows. “This does not feel like an overblot, Grim” It was too eerie inside the train, the vibes she was getting was different from the blot encounters they had with Riddle and Leona. This world was supposed to be a normal one per Headmaster himself, in the sense that it swam in mainstream without magic or strange creatures existing.
There was another notification from her phone, one after the other. And it came from the same person. “I cannot find you… but I will, I am almost there...I am not going to let us be separated. We are going to be together forever”
“Grim!” Mary called in fear and panic, she dropped her phone on the floor as the chats continued popping all with the same line of thought—being together forever.
Pawing the phone close to him, Grim scowled at the messages. “What the hell?! Tsk if this person is the one causing this then they are not a normal human! We must be careful!”
A hand clasped Mary’s shoulder from behind which made her go rigid and frozen then came heavy, ragged breathing thick with stench. A hideous form with huge flower head emerged from the dark part of the train. “Together forever, Mary…”
Mary couldn’t move and with wide frightened green eyes, she found herself near the creature from hell! A nightmarish form beyond what she’d seen so far! She thought she was going to faint! It was incredibly close with its huge flowery-like alien head and one single large eye in the middle staring back at her.
“Not on my watch you abominable freak!” Grim suddenly shot between them, claws out he scratched the damn thing and blew blue fire at its large eye.
The anomaly stepped back, shrieking in its distorted and possessed voice whilst trying to pry the blue flames off its face.
Mary stepped away from it as she regained her footing. “Attack it again, Grim!”
“Oh yeah!” Grim was smiling from ear to ear, producing more blue fire which quickly crawled up to the anomaly’s body.
The redhead then knelt on the ground, touching it with her hand, and concentrated. It glowed under her—green grasses, wildflowers, and roses bloomed from the ground, this made the anomaly howl louder in annoyance and also pain.
“You cannot defeat me! You are already mine the moment you turned your gaze on me! It will not change your fate!” The anomaly twisted its freaky head in Mary’s direction those melted and disfigured large eye staring at her.
What is this thing about?! I can’t be possible-- But Mary felt it, a pang of pain within her body, subtle for now yet it was there. The anomaly was in pain but there was also an underlying smugness, it knew that Mary knew she got something from its stare.
The ground beneath them already lost its bed of grasses and flowers. Grim went to the redhead with blue fire still ready. “Do not listen to that thing, it’s only trying to confuse you!”
There was a loud sound of shattering from their left and coming inside looking wild and crazy was a red-haired boy smiling manic. “Yoooo!!! Not missing this fun tonight!!!” He seemed oblivious to Mary and Grim’s presence as he grabbed a handful of shards from the floor and put them inside his machine gun like some cartridge. “The fuck is wrong with you, shit?! You burning?!” The boy let out rapid gunshots and some of the glass shards bounced off, hitting Mary’s ankle.
Mary winced in pain, sitting on the floor.
“The hell is wrong with your head?! Do you not know how to shoot?! Epel can do better than your ass!” Grim shouted in irritation as he saw the glass wounded the redhead.
The anomaly managed to escape despite all the damage it received, it jumped off the train window and the wild-looking boy cursed. “Damn! It escaped! And I wanted to bag that one real good tonight!” He then finally turned to where Grim and Mary were, but those eyes glinting danger stared long at Grim. “Wow, two anomalies in one night huh?”
Did this guy just call Grim an anomaly? What did he mean by that? Mary tried getting up the floor despite her wound, “No don’t misunderstand, Grim is not an anomaly, we did not know how we ended up here we’re just--”
“Shut the fuck up, girlie” The boy who had blood trickling down his forehead pointed his weapon at her without hesitation. “I do not care how or what but the fact that a civilian like you is associating with an anomaly is going to be crossed off my list”
Another boy came, this one was wearing the same uniform as the wild boy but more proper, he had green tousled hair and a pair of long red earrings. His eyes were a cross from hazel and amber. “Taiga do you not know the definition of chill? Seriously why do you always leave trails of mess behind you when you go on mission?”
“Grim, I think...I think my purification did not work on the creature earlier…” Mary whispered, worry laced in her tone.
Her companion knew and it was one of the main reasons for him being upset. Grim’s blue fire possessed the same purification element as Mary’s but while he did physical damage, the purification was supposed to create a bigger effect and put an end to it. “I know, the freaks in this world are immune to our magic, we gotta go”
“Okay,”
While the two unknown boys were conversing, Mary endured the pain in her ankle and darted in another direction hoping to get onto the other side of the train, Grim let out his blue fire to burn the metallic door and for both of them to enter in.
“Wait! Stop!” The boy with green hair and red earrings called out.
The boy named Taiga was laughing crazily, “You can’t run away you anomalies, you are going to be added to my list!”