/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45850418
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The twisting chains made of trains pulled the squirming dragon to the cave wall, hitting the waterfall and sending a deluge towards the 'skies', but I ignored it all, my eyes never leaving Koutei, a cloud of dust rising where he had hit. I need to move now! To check on him… B-But my legs are glued to the water surface, thick tears burning my face as if molten lava—

A hysterical laugh shook my entire being. Seiga was laughing. She was laughing. “Oh, Yukarin~I think I have fallen in love with you! To see a dragon being tamed is quite the experience of a lifetime.” Her eyes shone with wonder, and I saw a deep well of pity in Ran's eyes that stood by Yukari's side, who stared at me with an expectant glare.

She wants to see what I'll do.

I want to kill her.

I want to kill this woman.

A shadow of unmitigated rage begged me to do it, to march forward and make her into a bloodstain… I am marching forward; my eyes are wide with choler and my face contorted in fuming rage from deep within—

For all the torment she has caused me and those I love…

I will kill her.

—Two low sounds to my side stopped me in my tracks.

Yukari's seemed surprised.

I looked down. My hair buns had fallen…

… But I didn't pay attention to that, staring at my reflection, the crystal-clearness not only showing the dead lying on the bottom but also the until-now thought-dead Ibaradouji and her proud, pointy horns…

I screamed.

I screamed; tears were welling and shaking hands lifted. No! Not this! Not like this! Not the entire of a millennium of sacrifice, of attempting to become someone better, of trying and failing and—Reimu's smile, our fierce battle; Anon's calm and kind smile; Hana's childish marvel; Satorin and her bashfulness, drinking with Yuugi and Suika—

NOT LIKE THIS!!

A shivering effort, a bloodcurdling cry…

… And the two horns filled with Douji’s lust were plucked out with loud cracks and a rain of blood, feeding the lake beneath. I crushed them into dust and, without an ounce of elegance, flew desperately towards Koutei, heartbroken; mind fragmented. The pain is too much, the sins are too much, the rage, the lust, the nightmares, the death—it's so, so much IT'S UNBEARABLE!!

Sobbing, I crash onto Koutei's face, hugging it and seeking refuge from this awful world. The dragon chained to the wall whimpers, making me aware he's still conscious. “Koutei, I-I'm s-so very sorry—p-please, forgive me! I didn't want you to end chained down and lose your freedom; please forgive me, I beg you—” The blood cascading from the top of my head, warm and rich, made me feel faint.

Koutei's voice was weak. “I am chained down, Kasen…” I searched his face, meeting the feeble gaze of one of the most powerful creatures to have ever existed. “…But you are the one without freedom, Kasen—from her… from yourself. It kills me, the others, and I know it's killing you too…” Tears fell down the dragon's visible eye, the chains rustling loudly with movement. “Free yourself, please…” Blessed tears crashed onto the lake below as if meteors.

I couldn't say anything; my throat was lumpy.

Why hasn't the Sun set? Why am I still here, lost in this dark night? I was given hope, only to have it swiftly taken from me. Twice. My heart shattered twice, and the sharp glass shards are becoming too tiny to cause harm…

It's tiring. I'm tired. I want the Sun to set…

“His effectiveness range will be of the entire lake and two hundred meters around it. That should be enough to chase and destroy whoever might seem like a threat to our sword, Kasen~” Yukari's voice came from behind, setting my heart on fire and freezing it at the same time. I turned to her, seeing her on top of Koutei's nose, smiling as if everything was okay. “I've already manipulated Onikirimaru to return to its pristine look; sent Seiga and Ran back to the HSE too… And now, Koutei-san here will be the warden of our sword~” She approached me, the heavy bleeding sapping on my well of strength to the point where it was hard to move. “Kasen… Why do you still have delusions of my defeat?”

She stopped in front of me, kneeling so we could stare into each other's eyes. Rage fueled my next words: “… You're going to die in the Solstice, Yukari…”

“No, I'm not.” That confidence was still there, as if wholly sure of her words. I frowned, ready to speak— “I'm pregnant.” It was as if being hit by a tsunami wave, my words evaporating. I stared at her, completely thrown off at seeing her tenderly caress her belly. “I will be a mother in a couple of months… It was very hard to do it—a lot stood in my way and doubts were plentiful. But it happened. I am pregnant.” She giggled, moving her hand to my face, Gaps closing my wounds. “It happening so close to the ending is a signal: this baby will survive, which means I'll win against Okina. I have no doubts anymore.” With my consciousness slipping, she held my face and whispered, “I have already won.”

Darkness surrounded me…

… And nightmares welcomed me.