The dagger's cold metal pressed against Yasushi's palm, its weight lowering his entire arm downward.

  Etsuyo's final words ruminated through his mind as tears streamed down his cheeks, mixing with the grime and sweat coating his face. His vision dimmed from the tsunami of memories drowning him. Heaving his chest with strained breaths, grief twisted into anger. He curled the blade into his fist, gritting his teeth deliberating his next move.

  Kaname stepped forward and positioned herself between him and the site of Etsuyo's pending death. Zei's sharp attention caught her graceful movements, forcing him to pause his indulgence in Yasushi's turmoil.

  She stood still, staring at Etsuyo's mutilated body. Her expression drained all warmth from her beauty, completely detached from the barbarity.

  Zei's eyes narrowed, assessing the unnatural composure dictating experiences beyond her years and witnessed horrors surpassing the moment.

  "No... No! I can't... I can't," Yasushi stammered, frantically shaking his head. “I can't do it. I can't kill her!”

  Zei's expression darkened, the cruel amusement in his eyes becoming minacious.

  "Don't you care about that woman? Do you enjoy seeing her scared…in pain… bleeding to death… alone in a room full of strangers?"

  He trembled, raising his head to look at Etsuyo. His view, partially blocked by Kaname's small frame shielding against the grim sight.

  Pressing further, Zei lowered his voice into a deceptively gentle tone.

  "I'm giving you the rare gift of compassion. It's the only gift available to release that woman from her suffering." He placed his hand against Yasushi's back, nudging him forward. "…Or would you prefer to be the object of another man's affection? In her current condition, I'm sure she'll live long enough to give you company…"

  The threat occupied his mind, manipulating itself into a feeling of obligation, warring with innate morals. Wiping the tears from his cheeks, his legs followed the momentum as the weight of the dagger became heavier.

  Nearing Kaname, his emotions churned within him, looking to her for comfort. As he approached, her stare remained riveted on Etsuyo, her eyes colder than a dead fish. She turned her head toward him in passing, studying his paralyzed expression before offering a slight nod. The coldness radiating from her forced Yasushi to look away, splashing into a bloody puddle.

  A frowsty air circulated through the now grotesque arena, carrying the stench of despondency and decay. The crowd restlessly shifted inward like vultures circling carrion. Their bodies swayed, craving depravity while excited murmurs created the discordant backdrop to a tragedy.

  At its center, lay Etsuyo slightly shivering in the expanding pool of her blood. Broken teeth embedded into limestone where her face connected with the floor. Her ribcage collapsed inward like crushed parchment, sharp bone fragments visible through torn flesh and fabric. Her left arm twisted behind her back while her right leg bent sideways at the knee joint. Deep gashes crisscrossed her torso and wept freely onto the cavern floor, forming macabre patterns around her. Each breath stirred a wet, gurgling sound as her punctured lungs fought to function, frothing pink foam at the corners of her mouth.

  Her eyes remained half-open and unfocused, pupils pulsating in tune with the slowing beat of her heart.

  Reluctantly, he stood directly above, taking in the full extent of her devastating injuries. The sight of her sent his mind into a spiral, stifling his throat with uncontrollable whimpers.

  Etsuyo's eyes shifted to the sound of his sobs, her meek gaze quickly finding the dagger clutched in his trembling hand. Blood bubbled from her lips, choking her words.

  Yasushi squeezed his eyelids shut, digging within the depths of his soul for courage.

  I GOTTA DO THIS! I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! IF I DON'T, HE'LL HURT ME! ETSUYO…I…PLEASE… FORGIVE ME!! PLEASE!! I'M SO SORRY! I'M SO SORRY!!

  Lifting the dagger above his head, chants from Zei's subordinates vibrated into a tumultuous chorus; its clamor of voices drowning the last of his coherent thoughts.

  "COME ON KID! YOU CAN DO IT!"

  “BE MAN!”

  “WHATCHA WAITIN’ FOR!”

  “FINISH WHAT WE STARTED!!!”

  “YEAHHH!!!!”

  "DO IT!"

  "DO IT!"

  "DO IT!"

  "DO IT!"

  Reaching a feverish peak, the hunger for violence turned murmurs into growls of impatience. Zei grinded his teeth, grabbing the glass cup from his minion's tray and hurling it against the cavern's wall.

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  "BOY!!! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?! KILL HER NOW!"

  Complete silence crashed over the crowd as an anguished scream tore from Yasushi throat, plunging the blade downwards

  "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

  The steel struck limestone beside Etsuyo's head, the impact sparking embers. His eyes squinted open and fingers released their grip, dropping the blade as he collapsed to the ground. His voice cracked with hysteria while tears mixed with Etsuyo's splattered blood on his face.

  "I CAN'T! AAAAHHHH! I CAN'T DO THIS! ETSUYO! I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY! FORGIVE ME! PLEASE, FORGIVE ME!"

  Zei's expression darkened, rising from his seat. Disgust twisted his features watching Yasushi's somber cries.

  "How dare you reject my gift, you filthy royal,” he uttered, eyes maliciously wide. “Lei! Take this coward to the playroom... It's time I teach this piece of shit some manners!"

  Before Lei could acknowledge the command, Kaname calmly glided towards Yasushi, retrieving the fallen dagger. She straddled herself over Etsuyo, gently applying her body weight onto her stomach.

  Yasushi's hysteria dissolved into shuddering breaths, speechless by her stealth. The entire chamber held its collective breath, standing motionless. Zei raised his hand to halt Lei's progression, eager to see her next move.

  Feeling a familiar pressure on her stomach, Etsuyo's fleeting senses outlined Kaname's figure as blood gushed from her scalp and blurred her vision. A serene smile touched her lips, mouthing the words ‘Thank You.’

  Kaname then dipped her head and drove the blade into Etsuyo's chest, piercing her heart. The light faded from her eyes watching Kaname expressionlessly stare back.

  She stood up, pulling the blade out of Etsuyo's and flinging it on the ground. The weapon clattered as she crouched down in front of Yasushi, commanding his gaze.

  He looked up through teary vision, helplessly peering into her placidly cold eyes. Abruptly, her arms encircled his shivering shoulders, pulling him into her small frame.

  The warmth of her embrace granted sanctuary from the horror surrounding them. He buried his face against her shoulder as quiet sobs continued to rattle his body.

  The entire cavern submerged into a shocked silence. Zei and his followers remained motionless, their minds struggling to process the spectacle. Approaching the embracing children, his slow applause shattered the stillness, giving his subordinates cue to raise their voices in a rousing ovation.

  "Little one! That was… exhilarating! Who woulda thought you of all people could be so fierce!"

  He extended one hand toward Kaname, his laughter rang hollow through the cavern.

  "Now, come. You're in need of a bath. You're covered in filth."

  Tightening her embrace around Yasushi, she held her position. Her eyes followed Zei's, blatantly disregarding his command.

  His amusement curdled into visible annoyance. "Tsk... Lei, bring the girl to me."

  Yasushi pressed himself deeper into Kaname's protective embrace, desperate for a few more moments of comfort.

  "It's okay Yasu... I promise... Everything will be alright,” she whispered into his ear.

  Slowly, she unwrapped herself around him while raising to her feet and began walking toward Zei.

  “I'm going now."

  Overwhelmed by the loss of her warmth, his fingers shot out, clutching the hem of her bloodstained dress.

  She silently halted, mid-step.

  The weight of their unspoken goodbye hung between them like a shroud as Lei's heavy footsteps approached from behind. Yasushi gripped the fabric tighter until his knuckles went white, then gradually releasing it upon Lei's arrival.

  His hands grasped Kaname's shoulders, shoving her forward. At that moment's touch, a hostile sensation corroded his veins. She cut her eyes towards him, forcing him to instinctively recoil.

  Too unnerved to maintain contact, he removed his hands from her shoulders, looking to Zei for instructions.

  Observing the peculiar exchange, Zei noted Lei's discomfort and watched the faint tendrils of malevolent energy emitting from her. Unease crossed his face, keeping his hand extended outward as he emanated a menacing aura matching hers.

  Kaname shifted her attention away from Lei and continued walking toward Zei, unbothered by the oppressive energy filling the space between them.

  "Good girl," he purred as her fingers slipped into his palm.

  "Lei, take the boy back to his cage, and get rid of that eyesore."

  Lei agreed, turning back to face Yasushi, still kneeling in Etsuyo's blood.

  "Oi! Dumbasses!” he barked at the encircled crowd. “Ya heard the Boss! Get rid of the bitch!"

  His arms then roughly hoisted Yasushi over his shoulder. Offering no resistance departing the hall, Yasushi swallowed the emerging fresh wave of tears catching glimpses of Zei's men converging on Etsuyo's lifeless body.

  Hauling him through the underground passages, they returned back to his housed prison. Lei unceremoniously dumped Yasushi onto the ground, shoving him through the cage door. As he turned to leave, he hesitated nearing the threshold.

  "Kid…" he gruffed, his voice carrying an edge of sincere disquietness. "Just what is that girl?"

  Yasushi sat on the cage's floor and fixed his gaze downward, leaving the question to linger in the stale air between them without acknowledgement.

  Lei slammed his foot against the cage, rattling its bars.

  "Nothing huh?...” he spat, storming towards the exit. “Whatever, in a few hours you and that little bitch will be gone anyways!"

  The door slammed behind him, rattling debris from the walls. Yasushi crawled to the darkest corner of the cage and bent his knees into his chest, intensely staring at the locked door.

  Waiting patiently, he confirmed his solitude and carefully worked his fingers inside his shirt. Loosening the fabric, a small piece of paper slipped free and unfolded, revealing intricate markings matching the symbols carved into ground and bars.

  Recalling his training with Captain Haru, he took a deep breath, steadying his breathing.

  "Release!"

  The markings on the parchment blazed to life, its glow spreading to synchronize with the cage’s. The confinement infused with a gossamer luminescence as the two sets of markings pulsed in unison.

  The paper dissolved into nothingness, sending cracks through the seal.

  A sigh of relief relaxed his shoulders, closing his eyes to center himself. Briefly replaying Kaname stealthily slipping the paper into his shirt during their embrace, he visualized the journey through the underground cavern. Each corridor and pathway crystallized in his memory as a blue aura flowed around him.

  His eyes snapped open, feeling his energy build up.

  Kaname... I'm coming for you!