**VERSE III**
A sudden whoop sliced through the air, sending Kato crashing out of his home. The crumbled hallway wall gave way, splintering wood and shattering bricks as he careened through the wreckage, propelled by the force of a devastating punch.
It was a blow that reverberated throughout the house, reducing the bathroom to a rain of tiles and porcelain.
Yonikaharu stood amidst the chaos, a sinister grin stretching across his face as he observed his pet devil, Modeseus, fixated on Kato's ejection. With the grace of a dancer, he reached down, stroking the two-headed creature—a serpentine aberration that boasted four curling horns. It flared its serpentine wings, ready to spring into action.
"Don't worry," he murmured conspiratorially into one of its ears, "we aren't done yet… After him!"
A colossal gust of wind ripped through the space, snapping Yonikaharu's head back as the force swept past him like a hurricane.
It was a momentary blip in time before the sonic boom erupted, an explosive crescendo that crumpled the walls further, reducing what had once been a sturdy home to a mere shell.
Dust and debris swirled around him, and the sound cocooned him in chaos—a symphony of destruction.
But just as he prepared to pursue Kato and his defiant spirit, something peculiar caught his eye. Emerging from a room that defied the pandemonium around her was a girl, her black hair cascading around her shoulders like midnight.
She rubbed sleep from her brilliant blue eyes, the softness of her gaze instantly dissipating the haze of his anger.
"Kato?" she called, her voice a melody amid the rubble.
As she stepped forward, Yonikaharu couldn't help but drink in her beauty.
Clad in a crisp white polo and purple-striped pajama trousers, she exuded an elegance that seemed almost regal, a striking resemblance to Kato that nearly made him falter.
"Who are you?" The reprimand in her tone was palpable, laced with an undertone of suspicion, as she instinctively took a step back, as if poised to flee at any moment.
"A friend of your brother!" Yonikaharu responded, striding closer, curiosity piqued. She looked to be Kato's age—how could Kato have kept such a stunning twin a secret?
"Did you do all this?" she asked, her voice steady, revealing a courage that was uncommon in someone her age. What a bold girl indeed.
He smirked, manipulating the tension that hung thickly in the air like a fog.
"If I'm correct, Kato is nine years old," he mused, glancing down at his hands as if they could provide the answers. "Since you are his twin, you naturally share his age."
But before he could close the distance, she found him teleporting, the distance between them collapsing in an instant.
She gasped, reeling back as he materialized before her, a devious smile dancing on his lips—an expression that sent alarm bells ringing in her mind.
A wave of nausea rolled through her, bile clawing at her throat as she fought to suppress it. She had learned to identify lust and sinister intent in the eyes of others, and he was no stranger to that enticing darkness, his silver eyes sparkling with something volatile. Based on the devastation he had wrought, she discerned he was a significant threat.
Her brother often praised her beauty, speaking of its allure as if it were her only weapon.
Yet here stood a boy who was nothing like the supernaturals she had learned to fear. His silver hair cascaded down like moonlight, and the speed he exhibited gave her pause. He was a force of nature, and the utter destruction around them was a testament to his power.
"Don't worry," he declared, misreading the tremor in her stance as something other than fear. "I'm eleven, not some pedophile." But his assertion only deepened her anxiety, as he seemed much older, as if he defied the very laws of time.
"I never knew Kato had a such beauty as a sister," he said, his tone a mixture of intrigue and condescension.
"I never knew Kato had a friend like you," she shot back, annoyance lacing her voice.
His smile stretched wider, revealing an audacity that made her pulse quicken. "Your brother never told you about a friend of his that 'sparred' with him?" The revelation hung heavy between them, and her heart thundered in response.
"You— You're Yonikaharu?" Her voice trembled, a fragile mix of revulsion and dread lacing her words.
The warmth of sunlight streamed through the debris, framing her in golden light, enhancing the striking complexity of her features. The depth of her blue irises shimmered with determination, yet they flickered with something akin to fear—a dance that captivated Yonikaharu further.
"Yes, I am." His smug affirmation settled like a dark cloud over her heart. Suddenly, she recalled the whispers of her uncle—stories of the Okimura family and the savage brutality of the boy standing before her. She had been warned, but now that knowledge felt like an anchor, binding her where she stood.
Dread seeped into her bones as she realized this was no mere confrontation;
The Okimura family held dominion over a significant stretch of the elite district in Section 2, their influence stealthily weaving through the very fabric of local governance. They operated with a chilling ruthlessness that paralyzed even the bravest of souls. Yet, amidst this oppressive power, there was Yonikaharu, casually engaging Kato's sister in a mock duel—an absurd distraction while her desperate attempts to save her brother unraveled hopelessly.
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice smooth and polite, as he leaned closer, an unsettling glint in his eyes.
Yonikaharu's question lingered, pressing down like a weight in the air. In a heartbeat, urgency overwhelmed her caution. With a sudden, jarring smash, he struck the wall beside her head, cracking the plaster in a chaotic web.
"Musaru Yuki!" she blurted, her pulse racing like a bird frantically beating against its cage.
A sinister smile unfurled across his lips, a predator savoring its catch. "I like you; you don't even resist." His fingers grazed her cheek, an unwelcome caress that sent shivers down her spine.
Forced to meet his gaze, she felt exposed, vulnerable. His hand brushed her lips, and instinct surged within her like a flood. She bit down hard, breaking free from his grasp. His sharp groan dissolved into a roar of fury, and in that moment, panic ignited.
Yuki dashed through the remnants of their devastated home, the lush valleys beyond her only glimmer of hope. Her heart raced as dread clawed at her insides. They were the sole middle-class family in a sea of opulence and power, isolated and vulnerable. The air shimmered with tension, as palpable as the threat of violence.
Suddenly, her foot snagged on a hidden stone, sending her tumbling down the slope. Twigs clawed at her skin, and sharp stones bit into her as she fought for balance. With a jarring impact, she collided with a tree trunk, pain radiating through her back, eliciting an involuntary scream.
Struggling to regain her bearings, her eyes widened in horror. Before she could brace herself, Yonikaharu yanked her face-first into the tree, splintering wood flying in all directions as she was flung further down the valley.
Meanwhile, Kato awoke ensnared in the grasp of a monstrous beast, a manifestation of his darkest nightmares. It moved with sinuous grace, four powerful legs propelling a body cloaked in thick black fur, menacing curled horns jutting from its head. It held him firmly between two gaping mouths, completely unfazed by the chaos around them.
A frantic scream pierced the air, pulling him from his stupor. Heart racing, he blinked at the scene unfolding just as Yuki crashed beside him, her clothes stained crimson, each labored breath a testament to her pain.
"What…what happened?" Kato's mind raced, focusing on Yuki's battered form, the horrifying sight sending fresh waves of adrenaline coursing through him. Then he turned towards Yonikaharu, who descended with a crushing force that cracked the earth beneath him, dust swirling like a tempest.
"Look what your sister did to me," Yonikaharu taunted, exposing his bloodied hand where fingers were grotesquely mangled.
Yonikaharu picked up Yuki by her neck, despite her restraints.
Kato's attention remained fixed on Yuki, struggling futilely against Yonikaharu's iron grip. A seething fury ignited within him as the beast approached, its gaze predatory.
"Let her go!" Kato roared, sheer adrenaline pushing him beyond the limits of his pain. But Yonikaharu merely sneered, tightening his grasp around Yuki's neck, a dark satisfaction dancing in his eyes.
"What a pity. Would you allow me to keep her?" he taunted, his gaze lingering on Yuki's battered face, fresh welts crisscrossing her skin like a canvas of suffering.
Rage surged through Kato until he could no longer contain it. Summoning every ounce of strength, he wrenched himself free from the creature's maw. Blood trickled from his wounds as he stumbled forward, each agonizing step a feat of desperation.
In a cruel twist, Yonikaharu tossed Yuki aside like refuse, and Kato propelled himself toward him. The impact was visceral; Yonikaharu caught him mid-air and slammed him against the ground, a violent shockwave radiating through him.
Pain engulfed Kato, the debris beneath him tearing into his flesh. "No need to kill you," Yonikaharu taunted, looming over him, his shadow swallowing the light.
Lying there amidst the chaos, Kato clung to consciousness, his body a fragile vessel filled with torment. All that remained was a defiant body, atop the blood stained grass.
" No need to kill you." Yonikaharu's voice dripped with cold detachment as he leaned over Kato, blocking the sunlight that sought to pierce through this dark moment. Kato, gasping for breath, struggled to focus on the shadowy figure above him. The man before him appeared to be a monster devoid of empathy, yet in just a few short years, this very being would be heralded as a hero in the battle against demons, all while harboring the true essence of a devil within.
"I would run late if I don't go back, so let me give you a parting present." As those words left Yonikaharu's lips, Kato's eyes widened in terror. Sparks of flame sparked to life in Yonikaharu's left hand, and instinctively, Kato began to writhe, desperate to escape, but his body felt heavy, immobile against the rough, unyielding ground beneath him. Terror surged through him as his breath quickened; he could feel his heart pounding like a drum in his chest.
Kato's lips trembled as he blinked rapidly, fighting against the encroaching darkness.
"I like people with purpose, and you look like you don't have it—" Before Kato could formulate a response, a searing pain pierced through his stomach as Yonikaharu thrust his hand deep into his flesh, a grotesque invasion that pushed against the very core of his being.
Tears streamed down Kato's face as howls of agony escaped his lips, a tribute to the suffering he endured. The birds, startled by the raw intensity of his cries, took flight in frantic disarray, their wings flapping violently against the serene background of the valley.
Kato could scarcely comprehend the torment he felt; it was as if his insides were being devoured by flames while the golden fire consumed his skin, turning it to ashes.
"—I'll give you one." With a cruel grin, Yonikaharu withdrew his hand, leaving a grotesque opening in Kato's abdomen. He then gripped Kato's face, forcing him to meet his gaze as he pierced through Kato's left cheek, flames licking away at his flesh, merging pain with despair.
As the unbearable heat scorched his throat, Kato's cries faltered, his voice fading into silent desperation. The world around him blurred, and he struggled to keep his consciousness as Yonikaharu released him, a disdainful look etched into his features before he summoned his devil and vanished into the distant city, abandoning Kato and his sister to their fate.
In a cruel twist of fate, Yuki awoke to the sun glaring down upon her, its brightness a harsh reminder of the torment she had just witnessed. The moment she attempted to lift her hands, searing pain ignited in her wrists, forcing her back into the clutches of agony. She cried out instinctively, each whimper a testament to her suffering, as her body protested against even the smallest movements.
Memories flooded her mind—blurry, disjointed images of what had transpired, but the most vivid was the haunting thought of her brother. With a surge of determination, she slammed her wrist against the blood-soaked grass, hearing a sickening crack echo through the stillness. She bit down on her lip to stifle a scream, but the tears flowing down her cheeks betrayed her anguish.
Looking around, she glimpsed the trees bordering the valley, green and lush, swaying gently in the breeze. In that brief moment of clarity, despite the torment coursing through her, there was beauty. It was fleeting, like a whisper of hope brushing against her heart. She could almost hear her brother's playful voice cautioning her: "These winds could get someone a cold."
As she knelt on the soft ground, crawling forward with her elbows and knees, her heart raced with anxiety. Each movement brought her closer to the top of the gentle slope, but dread gnawed at her insides as she prayed silently to Goddess Benzaitan, seeking mercy for her brother.
Then, she spotted him—Kato lay sprawled across the grass, a tragic canvas of red marred against the vibrant green, his body a cocktail of beauty and horror, the smoky atmosphere enveloping him like a shroud.
With every ounce of strength, Yuki crawled closer, her elbows and knees scraping against unforgiving stones hidden beneath the grass. Breathless and panic-stricken, she reached him, collapsing beside her brother, forearms pressed against her mouth to stifle the sounds of her despair.
"Kato!" Her voice trembled, laced with anguish and fear as she scanned his broken form. There he was, unconscious and brutally ravaged—an open wound gaping at his left abdomen, exposing the grass beneath him, his left cheek a charred reminder of his battle with death.
The harrowing thought of losing him engulfed her; she touched his skin gently, but her sobs turned into desperate hiccups, the emotional weight suffocating her. It felt wrong to cry in such sorrow; the anguish twisted within her tightly, rendering her incapable of a coherent wail.
Pushing her arms beneath Kato's back, she felt the strain of her twisted wrists but bore the pain with fierce determination. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry—" she choked out through her tears, the salty drops falling onto his bruised skin as if bathing him in her despair.
She examined his face, marred by fire and darkness, a visage she could hardly recognize. In that moment, flashes of the conversations they'd shared about the gods filled her mind. Kato had always held a skeptical view of the supreme deities, his voice tinged with frustration over their perceived indifference, lamenting their failure to wipe all evil from the world.
Suddenly, the earth beneath her trembled violently, a soundless warning echoing through the valley that rendered her momentarily dumbfounded. Panic surged through her veins as she resumed crawling towards their home, his lifeless form weighing heavily on her heart. The distance felt insurmountable, yet the wreckage stood defiantly, unyielding despite the destruction around it.
The tremors intensified, signaling an impending peril that gripped her with dread.
She grit her teeth, a low groan escaping her lips as the ache in her twisted wrists and ankles surged like a living thing. The sharp stones hidden among the soft grass scraped against her skin, each grit a cruel reminder of her perilous predicament. Panting and heaving, she pushed onward, determination igniting every movement.
Then, a cry shattered the tense stillness—an otherworldly wail that pierced through her mind like a dagger. Panic surged within her, clawing at her throat, but there was no time to falter now. Not when the crumbling house loomed ahead, a fractured promise of safety in a world turned savage.
She wrestled with her racing thoughts, recalling her brother's wise words echoing in her mind—that power often arises from a tempest of emotions. He had been unnervingly perceptive for his age, but those lessons felt like ghosts now, distant shadows in the chaos. All that mattered was the silence she longed for; she forced back the painful cries that threatened to emerge.
"Oh, Goddess Benzaitan, please look upon your humble maid and lend your strength," she whispered, her voice trembling yet resolute. Each word of her fervent prayer became a thread of hope, binding her closer to the battered house. Her lips moved relentlessly, fueled by the desire for healing for herself and protection for her brother, who was perilously absent but ever in her thoughts.
The revered Goddess Benzaitan, known for her love and guidance, had always been a source of solace. But in that moment, Yuki craved something far more intense—a miracle to shift the very fabric of fate itself.
A sudden thud resonated in the air, slicing through her desperate prayers. A shadow loomed overhead, cold and suffocating, as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Fear, primal and age-old, settled deep in her bones. Everyone knew the wisdom of facing a devil with a mask of fearlessness, yet her heart thudded loudly, threatening to betray her courage.
With trepidation, she dared to glance up, and regret drenched her soul. This was no ordinary foe; it was a high-class demon, its aura radiating malevolence, sleek and twisted—a figure with a serpentine body and no horns, its head crowned by flames that flickered like dark stars against the turbulent sky.
Terror seized her heart, an icy grip that promised her doom. Without divine intervention, there would be no escape—none at all. Nada, Zero!