Dark Feelings (Sakuya/Battle)

[Sakuya Kyoudou]

Sakuya clashed with the girl, who seemed to believe that all humans were inherently good. Idealistic trash like that made her laugh. Humans weren't weak? Most of them certainly were. The capability to face their own shadows? Sakuya could not say the same for the girl whom she took over. Sakuya realized that after her attack, she still stood, though she was struggling to stay still, regardless, she was able to release her attack. Wordlessly, Sakuya ended up tanking it straight to the face. She watched as the girl also found herself enveloped by it. She, and I... share the same resistances. Yet, she had the ability to break through others who had the same. I see. I underestimated her. Sakuya silently felt the darkness tear through her every being, the gravity crushing against her, even her snake hissed in abject pain.

Wincing and, unwillingly, a single black tear fell down her cheek, against her will; her consciousness could not bear the excruciating pain anymore. Was this what it felt like to be on the receiving end of the bargain? Sakuya didn't care. As the gravity well began to dissipate, Sakuya found herself kneeling on the ground, her skin adorned with black cuts, her pet snake's eyes were closed as it looked limp, draped around Sakuya's now pathetically abused body. However, she still stood. Barely. Her essence was dripping from an open cut on her leg. You fool... Sakuya coughed as she saw the girl also spew blood.

Are you going to kill yourself just to get rid of me? Get real... I'm not the real enemy here. Fight for the city? Don't be... Sakuya coughed and struggled to stand, her legs would barely move. As she did stand, she was shivering profusely, weakly caressing her snake. Don't be ridiculous. Why don't you find out what's behind the... the barrier. Before you decide I'm worth killing.

[Luka Kurokawa]

Luka's vision was getting hazy. She had a hard time simply keeping herself from falling over, but she knew that she couldn't else she may as well turn her back and wait for the shadow to finish her. Finally, the girl looked over at the shadow she was fighting. It would seem that the attack had done a number on her as well. They were both in a considerably bad state right now. When she spoke, Luka simply looked up with tired eyes. Blood dripped down her own mouth as she focused her gaze. She had a splitting headache that seemed to pulse every second.

This shadow seemed to be trying to make her point. She wasn't the enemy. She wasn't. . . the enemy? Thinking over it a moment, Luka remembered that she didn't know the full story yet. She did not agree with this shadow. Not at all. But she felt no right to kill it. Why was that?

Slowly, Luka managed to bring herself to her feet. . . .I'm done. Her face was hidden by her bangs as she spoke in a pained voice. I. . . don't feel that it is right to kill you. You may be a shadow, but to me, you're a living thing. She gazed at the woman once more with a ragged, yet powerful expression. Until I know the truth, I see no reason to kill you outrig-. Luka clenched her stomach in pain as she nearly fell over.

Stabilizing, she brought herself up to a standing position. She needed medical attention right away. Yet, before she could do anything of the sort, she felt the need tosay something to this shadow. Hey. Even when I found my own life to be worthless, I still believed humanity to be inherently good. Even after facing years of hate and solitude, I still felt the same. That's why. . . though I disagree with you, I have no right to kill you. You can still change your way. With a turn, Luka began to walk away slowly. Its funny, really. Me from about a month ago wouldn't have hesitated to kill you at the expense of her life. But, I realized that I have a life worth living. Though humanity can be cruel at times, we can still live for the beauty. . . That's all I wanted to say. With those parting words, Luka half consciously walked away from the battle.

Unfortunately, she wouldn't last all that long. She would later collapse in a nearby field where she would lay for a few hours, undisturbed. Her life signs were faint, keeping her mostly safe from shadows. After a while, she would awaken, recovered enough to bring herself home.

[Sakuya Kyoudou]

Sakuya saw how the girl who attacked her had overexerted herself so much she couldn't handle the stress of unleashing such a powerful, devastating attack, especially with how she withstood three strikes from her serpentine blade. She sighed wistfully as she hobbled backwards. The girl monologued, stating how... A month ago, she wouldn't have hesitated. But something happened... She changed. Change, huh? Sakuya wordlessly listened and watched her walk away. Sakuya would never know that the girl ended up collapsing for a while, only getting up several hours later when she would feel somewhat better and retreat to her home. In response, Sakuya simply hobbled away to her own villa. She had no words for this wench. She was self-righteous and there was no way she was going to get on good terms with someone who had such ideals, even if she was cute.

Entering her villa, she tended to her wounds after enveloping her home in darkness by putting out the candles. Pfft. I simply asked her questioned her motive behind killing weaklings. And then she took it as a threat. She thought I was going to intentionally hurt her? She does not know how to discriminate properly between 'good' and 'evil.' Sakuya sighed to herself as she muttered the words to a healing spell, restoring her wounds before retreating to her bedroom. Humanity is cruel. Altruism and cruelty cannot exist on their own. They must coexist to maintain balance. Such is the law of the world.