Chapter Text
The two stood in the middle of the village, blood splattered everywhere, the girl wiped the blood that stained her face, she grimaced looking at the blood that stained her white hair, well at least the lower ends were black.
She looks around the village looking for any survivors. Then..
She looked down at the child. An innocent child pleading for their life, her hands trembled slightly before hesitantly finishing the job.
Blood gashed out splattering onto the ground, the child's lifeless eyes looking up at her with tears that didn't have time to fall.
Her jaw clenched as she remained with her back turned to the other, Her golden eyes looking down at the dead child.
She watched the blood drip down her sword, it was never clean. It would never be. The blood of many already stained it.
This wasn't the first, nor would it be the last time she had to kill someone innocent. Someone who didn't deserve death
She closed her eyes, taking a breath in as she could feel her injuries heal.
"It is done." She finally says after a while of silence, she turns around to look at him. Her golden eyes facing his reddish-purple ones.
He smiles at her, walking towards her with slow deliberate steps.
"Good job. I'm proud of you, Atsushi.."
He says, her name rolling off his tongue easily as he pats her shoulder.
Atsushi nods smiling slightly
"Thank you. Fyodor." She says her voice as calm as it could be, but Fyodor had known her long enough to sense that she was anything but.
"You seem uneasy, Atsushi. What's on your mind.?" He asked, giving a light squeeze to her shoulder.
".... It's nothing. I just… Why must I kill everyone here? Some are just innocent people or- or kids-" Atsushi sighs "... I am.. Sorry." She says her shoulders slumping.
She already knew the reason, why did she bother anyways? Fyodor asked her to kill and she'll do it. It's her life's purpose to serve Fyodor.
Fyodor gives a light pat. "You feel guilty." He states, and indeed Atsushi did feel guilty. "It's okay. Once we obtain the Book all guilt shall vanish. This is simply necessary to do."
Atsushi nods as she feels Fyodor lightly pull her; she follows as he pours lighter fluid on the building, lighting a match, watching as the village is set ablaze, their figures glow with orange as the fire lights up the sky.
Atsushi gulps pacing out of the village to avoid the flames, the fear of burning still stuck with her.
Fyodor kept up to her pace, staying back slightly, allowing her to make it back to their base first.
He smiled with an amused grin, seeing that fear of burning. It seemed that death affected her, burning at the stake would be scary, dying always is.
Well to some..
~~~~~~~~~
Atsushi entered, shaking slightly. She didn't like killing innocent people. She didn't like fire. And those two things just happened.
She gulps again, steadying herself and going to rinse off the blood that stained her. It's not like the lives she took could ever be cleaned off of her hands…
She looked into the mirror, the dried up blood on her hands and face. She stared at it.. Did she want this?.
….
No she did want this... She wants to help Fyodor make sure the world is at peace. Every death. Every murder… it would be worth it. Just a bit longer.
She shakes, holding the sink trying not to crack the mirror, she turns the faucet on and splashes water on herself rubbing her skin until the blood comes off.
It didn't feel like it was off, never had. So she kept rubbing till the skin was irritated, she would've continued if she hadn't heard Fyodor call out
"Atsushi. I will be outside for a while. Stay here. Okay?" He said voice echoing down the halls
".... Mmh." She responds, acknowledging his words, she throws her cloak off of herself, looking at the stains which were barely noticeable.
"... "
She glances at the door as she hears the door click signaling Fyodor's exit.
~~~~~~~~
Fyodor walked out the file he was able to obtain through the village close to his side.
He walked out under the night sky which had been darkening as the sun fell. His steps were calculated, perfect, each stride enriched with confidence.
Fyodor hummed as he pulled out the file. To think a random village would have something this.. crucial and important.
He opened it.
// Ouchi Fukuchi // The top part read. It included some information about him, it mostly had his info from the war. But more importantly, the past.
Fyodor looked through it, each piece of info giving Fyodor more time to plan out his moves.
Fyodor didn't need this for the info, it was for something bigger..
Fukuchi is a very skilled fighter, a war veteran who had influence. To have him as your enemy, you're as good as dead. But to have him as an alley… Oh you would be unstoppable.
Fyodor smiles to himself as he takes a turn and enters a small opening revealing Fukuchi already waiting inside.
The file allowed Fyodor to have a speaking with the man. Maybe as blackmail or something else.
"Took you long enough. Now speak." Fukuchi said, leaning on his sword and watching Fyodor's moves.
Fyodor dropped the file on the table Fuluchi was sitting across from
"I can tell you hate war. I wish it never existed. Well I plan to make that come true. I just need your help, and a little patience to see this dream be accomplished."
He says smiling as h take s in Fuluchi's expression
"... Go on."
He says crossing his arms, ears peaked in interest making Fyodor grin with satisfaction.
"Well you see-"
Fyodor went on and told his plan, the book, to make the world peaceful with the irradiation of all ability users. Fukuchi making arguments with Fyodo replying perfectly
He smiles to himself as he watches as Fukuchi becomes more convinced by the minute.
Fukuchi looked on ,his hands connecting as he leaned on them. His gaze solely on Fyodor. The candle being the only thing lighting the room. It lit his face casting shadows across
"I see… You and I have the same end goal. But how will you ever be able to find the **Book**?" He'd ask a voice laced with skepticism and something of amusement.
Fyodor smiled. "The guide is an ally of mine. We have yet to retrieve the book as of the rules of it. So we need you, we need the world to be set up in order to make sure the book will work as intended."
Fukuchi's eyes widened slightly. "The guide.. They are with you?"
"Indeed."
"... "
"Okay. But on one condition." He said crossing his arms looking into Fyodor's eyes
"What might it be.?" Fyodor asked raising an eyebrow
"Allow me to duel with an ally of yours. One of the best you have… And let me **kill** them."
"..." Fyodor's smile paused for a second before going back to normal
"Of course…" He agreed, already preparing. Atsushi would… No was the best option he had. She would be able to reincarnate after all.
She's never failed to return to him. Not in any of the four deaths has she left him. As loyal as could be.
He was confident in Atsushi's abilities in fighting as well, and as long as the book existed, Atsushi shall remain alive.
"Good… I'll make arrangements to allow time for me to take on this duel. You must listen closely for my message." Fukuchi stands adjusting his cloak beginning to walk away. But then he pauses
"You shall refer to me as 'Kamui' from now on." He said continuing to walk
"I shall.. Kamui.' Fyodor said in response as Fukuchi's figure disappeared into the night.
"..."
Fyodor stayed for a moment longer before going of himself
~~~~~~~
Atsushi stood her gaze outside the window as Fyodor explained behind her
"... So Fukuchi.. or Kamui is going to kill me.?" She questioned, she wasn't scared of dying, far from it. And if that was what Fyodor wished she would.
"Indeed. Kamui has requested the death of an ally of mine for his assistance." Fyodor confirms
Atsushi nods. She understood Fyodor's thinking, out of Fyodor's current allies, Atsushi was the reasonable choice.
Fyodor's best allies were needed, and he couldn't just sacrifice them, Atsushi on the other hand… She's been here the longest, been killed and reincarnated again and again.
"... Has he given out any information about this.. duel? "
"We will be expecting a message to arrive. So just be ready at all times… and for this reason, there will be no missions for you for now."
Atsushi nodded, hearing Fyodor's footsteps moving away.
She adjusted her sword hilt, she held it looking at her reflection, she is going to die and come back.
And in all honesty? Atsushi wished she'd stay dead. Guilt clawed at her everyday, to be slain by the hand of a man who was righteous.
Perhaps something will change?
Maybe she'll stay dead… but if she did Fyodor's goal would become harder to achieve. But she has given Fyodor the general area of where the book should be, and Fyodor was smart. He could do this without her.
She frowned looking at herself, this all felt wrong, but Fyodor had saved her when no one else would, she promised to be by his side till the end. She has given her life to him.
And maybe.. that was all the motivation she needed for now. She'll die when Fyodor's plan succeeds anyways. It is just a matter of time.
She held her sword out, the blade shining
"... Best if I'd start preparing."
~~~~~~~
The sky was still dim, the sun only starting to rise. Birds are chirping and most are still asleep. Fyodor smiled.
The Letter arrived.
…
Fyodor walked down a path, Atsushi close behind, her sword sheathed in her belt. The weight of the daggers doing nothing to weigh her down.
It looked familiar. The trees, the landscape, the… emptiness.
Oh. It's this place. Atsushi would think as they finally made it to the destination, a battleground, one Atsushi was familiar with. She had joined the war after all.
She took in the area, it had been cleared out, trees gone, the corpse, only their skulls remained.
Her gaze shifted to the figure standing to the opposite end of the battleground. Ouchi Fukuchi.
Atsushi's gaze hardens, a hint of respect in her eyes. She's seen him fight in the war, saw his leadership and skill, who wouldn't be impressed?
"You've arrived."
"Indeed we have Kamui, and as promised I've brought an alley for you to duel with."
Fukuchi looked towards Atsushi, giving her a nod which she returned. Atsushi took a step forward, moving closer. Fyodor took a step to the side, remaining as a bystander… Watching.
"I suppose you both are ready?" He asked, standing a comfortable distance away from the two.
They didn't reply, but their swords being unsheathed was all the only answer that was needed.
Atsushi moved closer, her stance guarded as she gripped the hilt of her sword, pointing it towards Fukuchi, taunting. Waiting. Circling around like predators.
Atsushi knew Fukuchi's capabilities, but he didn't know hers, so he watched, noticed how she carried and moved with such ease.
He tested the waters picking up a small rock and throwing it towards her, his ability doing the rest the throw was powerful, the air whooshing as Atsushi dodged watching as that small rock dented into the tree behind her.
Atsushi turned looking at Fukuchi finally deciding to strike as well, her sword narrowly hitting him, she lost her balance giving Fukuchi a moment to strike.
Slash!
Atsushi's foot came clean off l, blood rushing out as she stumbled around using her sword as a crutch still managing to dodge his attacks
I need to stall. She thought, Atsushi could keep dodging but it was hard, still her foot would regenerate any second. She just needed a distraction.
She moved quickly going low and knocking Fukuchi down with a dropkick, stunning him enough to feel her foot be regenerated.
They both quickly get their footing back and spars against each other. Their swords clash with each other.
Atsushi observes how her sword grows weaker and weaker from each blow, ah right Fukuchi's ability.
She grimaces, dodging and making herself further from Fukuchi as she looks over the sword, tossing it to the side looking at the damage.
Atsushi switched to the dagger she kept on her before charging into battle once more.
~~~
Fukuchi watched with interest as the white haired girl fought with him. He observed how she had more agility and strength than a regular person, plus she had regeneration.
Yes she was definitely an ability user, yet… She was unknown to him, he hadn't seen her in any files or records.
She must be a well kept secret, but with this strength. How has he not seen her even once? He'll ask Fyodor that later.. Maybe.
But this fight was getting too long. Time to end this…
Or that was what he was planning to do, this girl was too good at dodging, as if she already memorised his patterns.
Aim for the Brain. Aim for the heart.
That was Fukuchi's goal, he hoped that she couldn't regenerate her vital organs, or else this would last longer than he'd want.
It felt like an hour had already passed, maybe it had, and she still wasn't breaking a sweat, neither was he but still.
Atsushi could sense that the end of this battle was coming, she could feel Fukuchi wanting to end her already
And Atsushi? She'll gladly die for Fyodor, he did promise once she'd die Fukuchi would join them.
So she gave an opening, one straight to the heart. One. Two..
Shing.!
Fukuchi's sword pierced straight through her chest.
It was easier, she had to die anyways. It was okay..
She'll come back… But a sense of dread came forth.. What if she didn't get reincarnated?
No she would… she always did even if she didn't want
The sword that impaled her was removed, blood gushing everywhere. Her body fell to the ground, barely conscious, she could hear Fyodor come closer, crouching beside her.
Well at least she fulfilled her duty.
“Till death do us part… Atsushi.”
Everything went black.
~~~~~~~
….
"To have died so many times... Maybe it is time for a change..."