Chapter Text
They are real.
Panic horror, fear and regret. Everything that could go wrong, did. Because staring down at Yuichiro, was not a human. Not at all. Muichiro had already got up, standing at the kitchen, paralysed with fear that came in cold waves over his body creating a sickly feeling due to hot air in the atmosphere. Yuichiros mouth was agape, still in disbelief, but now wasn’t the time for doubt, not while the ‘demon’ is here, not while it makes eye contact with Muichiro, not while Muichiro stands there and does nothing. No. The demon is there, and its going to kill his brother. But what could he do? Hes only 10, his axe was outside and-
The demon takes a slash at muichiro.
Its as if time had slowed down for Yui. Before the demon could land his strike he was already infornt of Muichiro, a mistake. A bad one, he only meant to push muichiro out the way, not to become the next direct target. But before another star could shine, Yuichiro saw red, then white, then it was as if the pain of the world came through his left arm. A guttural scream left his throat. Before he knew it, he was getting dragged off to the corner off the room by who he could only hope was Muichiro. Everything is going so wrong. So so horribly wrong. Hot tears fell from his eyes accompanying his cries like a twisted form of art. Muichiro is gonna get hurt, but Yuichiro couldn’t help. Everything hurts. Yui glances up at muichiro, eyes widening in horror as he and the demon stand face to face. Yuichiro wanted to scream out, pull Mui to safety but all the odds were against him. Blood pooled at his knees, eyes going hazy due to lack of oxygen. And his arm, gosh his arm hurt immensely. But he couldn’t bring himself to look down and check. He used the last few ounces of strength he had that weren’t wasted on his cries to look up one last time and call Muichiro.
The name dies in his throat.
Muichiro stood there, two claws impaling his stomach and a disgustingly deep gash on his arm. This was really it. It isn’t fair. Why did everything have to go wrong for them. They were only 10. Not Muichiro please. Muichiro can’t die. Please. Yui collapsed onto his stomach, breath too shallow, heart to fast. He’s barely clinging on to life.
The last conversation the twins had, was an argument, Yuichiro said some not so nice things and its not fair he dies without apologising. Muichiros gonna die thinking he hates him. A fresh load of tears pricks and overflows his eyes. ‘It’s not fair. We’re only 10’ was the last coherent thought of Yuichiro Tokito Aged 10.
Limbs torn from one another, it was pinned to the ground with the same logs they used for fire. But it’s still alive. Is this the true power of a demon? He’s just suffering. Everytime Muichiro saw a glimpse of regeneration, he’d dismember the part but this did nothing to soothe his blazing fury. Thoughts that came to his mind disappeared instantly, Muichiro could barely comprehend what is happening, just going of instinct and pure immanent anger. His grasp on time had completely disappeared, so it was a small shock when he looked up and the sun started to rise, the soft golden hue grazing over the earth. As he looked back down at the demon he was filled with mild satisfaction as it had finally started to disintegrate.
Fatigue weighed on him. Hard. So tired. Muichiro was so tired. He just wanted to- Yuichiro! How could he forget? Be so careless? Muichiro was always careless and Yuichiro never failed to remind him. Tears welled in the boys eyes despite having no energy to cry, he slowly turned around and stumbled up the mountain. He was going to die. He was going to die and he knew it. The tears wouldn’t stop and he was shaking intensely. He’s lost so much blood, his vision was hazy and his head felt heavily light. He couldn’t stop his shaking legs, he couldn’t control his breathing. Please oh please, Muichiro silently begged ‘If im going to die please let me be with my brother’ Streaks of pain shot through him, for a second he thought, why he wanted to go back to his brother so bad? Yui hated him. Muichiro didn’t want Yui’s last moments to be looking at his own face plastered onto the person he hates most. Because Muichiro was sure there was nothing in the world his brother hated more than him. But he pushed on. If he was going to be selfish for once in his life, it will be now. He’s going to be with his brother when he dies, he has to.
Dots started entering his vision, as the stench of blood and wood flooded his nose as the cabin came into view. He could only think about Yuichiro. It was a painful few steps to the door that had already been ripped off. Tears stung his eyes as he saw Yuichiro sprawled over his futon, his blood dyeing it a deep red. He stumbled to the futon, before finally doubling over and collapsing onto his stomach. His breaths were no longer heavy. Just shallow and light. He reached out to Yuichiro’s outstretched arm, and held his hand as tight as he could. As if death couldn’t come any closer, muichiro started hallucinating. Or thats what he thought because there’s no way Yuichiro could be speaking right now. Yuichiro’s words stung his soul. “Mu in Muichiro.. is for.. infinity..” He felt Yuichiro’s hand go limp in his and he panicked, only for a second before the adrenaline left as soon as it came, tears fell silently as the suns rays shone on the blood splatters, as if it were mocking them. He doesn’t want to die. He’s scared. His eyes close for a final time. If anything, he is with his brother, and his brother would never leave him.
How long had it been? How long have they been like this? Amane stared in horror at the gruesome scene of the two boys that seemed so lively only two weeks ago. She brought her daughters this time in hope that she would appear more friendly and convincing, but would’ve never guessed that they would walk straight into absolute horror.
“Kunata, boil some water!” She knelt beside them and looked at her other daughter who was trying to get her attention.
“I dont know if this one is breathing. He is still warm but I can’t find a pulse!” The girl shouted.
Amane rushed to his side, searching desperately for any sign of life. Sorrow and guilt filled her mind.
‘If only I had got here sooner’ She whispered silently. But unlike her child, Amane found a faint pulse, her eyes widened in slight shock. The maggots, green skin, blood crystalising st the end of the wound, its a miracle this boy is alive, if she can even call it life at how faint the beat was.
She said a silent prayer before separating the intertwined hands of the twins, helping her daughters disinfect Muichiro’s wounds before turning her attention to the crow outside.
“Tell Kocho to prepare a room for two in critical condition at the butterfly estate, call for two Kakushi for transportation here!” She commands, her tone calm and strong. As much as Amane wanted to help, she isn’t a medical professional, her face contorted in guilt. She could only cover the wounds and disinfect them, but she couldn’t replace the massive amounts of blood lost, couldn’t administer medication or even stitch the wounds with proper equipment.
Her daughters sat on her sides, one to the left and one to the right since all they could do now was wait which was, by far, the most painful thing to do.
Hearing footsteps from outside, Amane looked up and saw the kakushi entering into the shack. Quickly and gracefully, Amane stood up and her daughters followed.
“We need to take these two to the butterfly estate, i’ll help them onto your backs. You need to be careful, any rough jerk and their insides could rupture.” She knew the Kakushi were trained for this but an extra warning would suffice. Slowly and carefully, Amane and her daughters help the injured twins onto the backs of the kakushi.
“This one..” Amane gestures to Yuichiro, “He’s barely alive so careful.” She says as she rests a hand on the Kakushi’s head. “There should be a room prepared at the butterfly estate so go right there, the crow will guide you two.” She says, nodding off the two Kakushi.
‘W-what?’
Confusion swirled in the boys mind. His mouth tasted of hard iron and everything felt so heavy he couldn’t move. He heard people talking, some sounding younger than himself. What was going on?
Why can’t he open his eyes?
Panic. That was the first thing Yuichiro did. Energy surged through his body as his eyes that were once too heavy to open, peeled apart. He heard a squeal and looked over to his right, his eyes burned every second they were open and every time he moved them, felt like a punishment.
He found himself face to face with a girl in white and blue, some sort if hospital uniform… she couldn’t be older than 9. Then he looked down. At his arm, or what was left of it atleast. His face twisted into terror as he stared, disgusted with his own body. What the hell could’ve happened?! Why can’t he remember anything-
And as if that were a switch, all the memories came flooding back. Too much, too fast. Yuichiro’s body scorched in pain as he gagged, his body heaving against his will. Then he vomited over the poor girl. Energy sapped from his body so quickly blood blurred his vision.