Chapter Seventy-Three

No! Not Before the Wedding!

 

 

Nekohiko jerked back, fear pulsing in his throat.

His family's Spiritual Tree... something was wrong with it!

The Tree everyone saw from afar was still rising high over the roof of the Palace, but that was only a very potent glamor spell. One that, of course, wouldn't fool anyone who came too close to the spell's area, which was why Abihiko had forbidden anyone to so much as look at the tree, either from the ground or from the skies.

But beneath all that mirage, the real Tree was only a human-tall stump, its upper end uneven as though snapped off or eaten by some parasitic wood-devouring Spirits. Nekohiko could tilt his head and easily see to the real Tree beyond the glamor.

But what he saw there was so vile, he backed away involuntarily.

The Tree stump looked... ill.

It looked wrong in an almost existential sense rather than physical. Angles and lines were where they weren't supposed to be -- mind-bending, twisted geometry as though splitting the trunk into facets that could not correspond with one another.

And out of all these facets as though from within deep cracks in the Tree trunk, slowly seeped almost a kind of a liquid -- rotten, and sticky, most resembling black, thick, strand-like clusters of milk oozing onto the garden grass from inside the tortured Tree.

Who... would do such a hideous thing to one of the most important and ancient Spirits of the Empire?

Who would dare such a sacrilege?

Nauseated, Nekohiko recoiled, clamping his hand over his mouth in disgust.

He'd wanted to approach the Tree and check its life essence with his touch earlier. But now, even without him knowing what had happened to this Tree and why... every single part of him screamed at him to not come closer toward that thing. Not a single step closer.

He had to be as far from this aberration as possible!

His thoughts swerved in a panicked frenzy. What had happened to his family's beautiful Spirit Tree? How had it become so corrupt with Demonic energy that corruption not only manifested in the real world but also physically destroyed the Tree? How was it still alive after suffering damage like this?

And above all -- had his log actually come from this very Tree? Then how had been his log not corrupted by the same foul aura?

"Holy hells," he whispered, slowly stepping around the perimeter to see the corruption from all the sides.

Nekohiko knew physical places could get corrupted through the Spiritside if too many awful things happened around that spot. Like child murders, injustices, massacres, torture. With time, the imprint of such gruesome dark deeds would spill out of the Spiritside and begin tainting the real world. He had seen it happen with all Demonically-infested places he'd been to on his Wayfaring missions. Exorcising the evil Spirits and purifying the places was the main job of the Wayfarers in the land.

But if this was the case, then the entire Palace would have been corrupt, or at least this whole garden the Tree was in. Nekohiko half-wondered if such a great source of negativity here could have come from his murder at Abihiko's hand? But it was clear the place was not actually corrupted. The nearby grass and flowers were still healthy, the even the rare birds fluttered and sang in the bushes some feet away from the rotting Tree.

Outside this small garden, nobody could even feel the lingering aura of evil emanating from the Tree. And this discreetness was the sole reason why the state the Tree was in hadn't been found out yet!

So... no. The place itself was not corrupt. This corruption had obviously not come from the Spiritside as the result of misdeeds or otherworldly grudges.

Then what?

Careful, Nekohiko moved around the horrid Tree, his eyes taking in the sight -- luckily, through the visor of the Imperial bodyguard helmet. At least it filtered out some of the more repulsive imagery of the tortured Tree. But the more he watched, the more he saw that the Tree Spirit itself was... pure. Beneath all the physical manifestations of evil, the Imperial Spirit was alive and well and even... healthy, so to speak.

Yes, he had seen it from afar that first day when Kasuga brought him and Abihiko back from Nagare. All the way from the Spiritway Shrine to which Kasuga had transported them, Nekohiko had glimpsed his family's divine Spirit on the horizon, as beautiful and ethereal and grand as it had always been.

And if he looked past the destroyed husk of the Tree itself, he saw that the Spirit was still that. Beautiful, grand. Uncorrupted.

But... how? It was as though the Tree was split into two halves. The physical one that bore all the signs of the Demonic rot and corruption. And the Spiritual which was lucid and pure, keeping the essence of Nekohiko's family line and powers intact no matter what.

Such a clear, almost perfect split. 

Nekohiko had no idea how it had come to this. And why.

Or the fact that Abihiko wasted so much of his energy to maintain the facade of the Emerald Fir Tree being fine. He'd needed to hide its actual form behind so many walls and locked doors and spell barriers, too.

At last, Nekohiko realized the reason why Abihiko's body was permanently so emaciated and Spiritually-exhausted.

That man was single-handedly fueling so many complex spells to trick the others with! And he did all of them as background spells all the damn time -- unable to stop spending his powers on maintaining them, or risk everyone finding out what he was hiding in here.

Had he been doing all this for the last five years?

No wonder his life here was so depressing and filled with misery and frustration. What life even was that?

Nekohiko didn't dare to go near the rotting Tree as though afraid to get some of the decay on his own body. After all, both he and the Tree were the same wood, and he couldn't risk this body being destroyed by making such a dumb mistake so early.

He took note of as many small details and qualities of the Tree as he could, then turned around and ran to the metallic fence surrounding the Tree. His plans would not change just because he was shocked with this new information. He still had to get away from the Palace in time. Getting freaked out and having a meltdown at the state his Spirit Tree was in -- could wait for later, when he had time for such frivolities.

But not yet.

He climbed the fence, quick as a ferret, and was already mounting its top to hop down when he heard voices nearby.

Abihiko's was one of them.

Damn! Nekohiko scanned his surroundings and any possible way out of this garden or the adjacent ones. When had Abihiko come back so soon? Or had Nekohiko spent too much time spacing out beside the Emerald Fir?

Not to forget that Nekohiko was carrying an entire wooden sculpture of himself on his back as well. That thing was heavy, so running fast or jumping too far was off-limits.

The many voices clashed in echoes, drawing near.

"...had he come out after he brought in the dummy?" Abihiko was asking the bodyguards inside his private rooms, his voice carrying very well into the inner gardens.

Nekohiko slowly slid down the fence and darted toward the bigger cluster of plum trees nearby. So Abihiko had been told about one of his guards going inside his rooms but never coming out?

Well, shit.

That path out was likely closed for Nekohiko now. He crept past the bushes, his eyes trained on the fences of the neighboring inner gardens, one of which was bound to be far less guarded than this one. He couldn't even be picky now. Whichever way he came across first, he would use.

"Mikawa, come get me back at the gazebo in the park," he whispered out of the woodchip in Mikawa's hands far away, then shifted back to his body to scale up the fence of a very small, cute-looking garden full of willows surrounding a glowing pond.

He cursed when he realized that this place was also well-guarded. Just not in a specific way that was imminently dangerous. It was filled with young women, chatting.

No doubt at least one of them would notice him, and then, the rumor of one of the Imperial bodyguards running around the Palace wildly would reach Morokata's ears sooner or later. He almost wanted to turn back and try another nearby garden through which to flee, but --

"Your Majesty! Stay back, we will search the garden shortly," one of the bodyguards announced only a single fence away from Nekohiko.

The guard's voice was quickly cut off by Abihiko himself.

"At ease. Please leave. I can handle the intruder myself."

"But Your Majesty's security is of utmost--"

"I said, leave." Abihiko's voice came up much closer than Nekohiko would wish it to be. He had to already be inside the garden, snooping around!

And with his stupid Imperial brand guiding him, little wonder! He was probably tipped off by that thing that Nekohiko was very, very close.

Nekohiko clenched the edges of the metallic fence with his fingers.

No choice but forward, huh? For him, it was this garden through which to flee or no chance of escape at all.

So he jumped in.

And right in front of the several pairs of very amused eyes as the young Hisome women snapped their heads toward him the moment he landed in their garden.

He'd done it very quietly, but these girls had the hearing of bats, apparently.

And yes, since this was a full-blown Hisome girl gathering, Nekohiko didn't find it at all surprising that Sakami was there in the middle, just as stunned as everyone else that some random man in Imperial bodyguard armor just dropped down into their garden from the sky.

"...hey, what the hell is that?" Kiyoko, the aggressive Hisome bodyguard of Sakami's snarled, rising to her feet from the grass.

She and the other Hisome girls had been busy lounging on the small meadow, sipping tea and checking out Sakami's wedding gown that she was showing off to them. Of course Nekohiko's sudden arrival was a very rude interruption.

Kiyoko's eyes narrowed down while her hands rushed to make up an attacking spell formation. Herself, Sakami only stood in the center of the garden, in her gorgeously-luminous white dress covered by a translucent, spidersilk red gown on top. 

Nekohiko couldn't help but gawk at the lovely craftsmanship of this garment.

He would have to wear it the very next day? And try not to fall over or suffocate himself in all these myriads of layers?

Oooooooph.

"How dare you peek in on Her Future Majesty Sakami?!" Kiyoko cried along with a few other girls who jumped to their feet to shield Sakami from Nekohiko's eyesight. "You will pay for that, perverted scum!"

Nekohiko put his finger to his mouth in a "sshhhhhhh" sign. "Routine check-up for breaches in the Palace's security," he told them and turned aside to walk away. His movements were rigid even though he tried for the most laidback attitude he could summon. "Good night, ladies. Take safe."

...

Argh! He'd just wanted to say "take care" or "be safe" but ended up with a nonsensical combination of the two?! Gods, he sure hoped nobody noticed or that anyone who did, would be so confused they'd blank out and let him be.

Whatever, just walk on. Be casual.

Be smooth, Nekohiko.

"Is that a wooden doll on his back?" one of the other Hisome girls asked, baffled.

"As I said, pervert," another hissed at her.

He marched away under the heavy gazes of the Hisome girls and almost reached the exit out of their garden and toward the hallways of the Palace, when, behind him--

--from over the same spot in the grass, came the sound of someone's boots dashing against it as though having jumped from the full height of the fence.

"Aaaaah!" the girls squealed. "Supreme Divine Majesty!"

"You cannot be here, My Lord!" Kiyoko echoed them. "You cannot see the bride's face a full day before the wedding!"

Nekohiko abandoned all pretenses and ran through Sakami's quarters as fast as his feet could go.

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

Abihiko was already here?!

Nekohiko didn't stay to hear Abihiko's response to the girls. Madly, he dashed through the rooms, slid down the polished tiles, and rammed into the closed door of Sakami's quarters, banging it open. Good thing he wore the Imperial guard uniform because that gave the servants enough of a pause to let him run away before they could react.

But he still spooked the Hisome guards who stood behind the doors. No doubt all of this would reach Morokata's ears by tonight's morning. No alternative there, however much it pained Nekohiko.

The least he could do was run away and not get caught red-handed!

Especially because behind him, in Sakami's rooms, hastened footsteps came pounding the floor as they approached.

Nekohiko shoved past the Hisome guards on his way down the hall. His nerves sang frenetically, his eyes flitted over the many side halls he passed as he ran. Servants and dummies strolled out of them, intrigued by the noise coming from this wing -- and Nekohiko used that to his advantage, trying to dissolve amidst the curious crowd.

He pushed and shoved people and dummies to create even greater confusion here. Trays with food flew to the floor, clanging, the fallen fruit and bread buns tripped him as he ran.

But he could not stop even for a second.

Because, behind him, he felt the surges of Abihiko's magic.

"Out of my way," Abihiko roared at the people who failed to move aside quickly enough. To further his point, he flung his spells to repel everyone from around him.

Which only whipped Nekohiko to run that much faster.

Down the side corridor that took him out into the night air -- and off the balcony! The drop from the above was steep, and he heard a crack in one of his ankles when he launched into a clumsy roll-over into the grass to cushion his fall. The wooden sculpture of himself cracked even harder because he'd almost forgot it was there!

Stupid thing! he cursed at it, pulling it back over his shoulders when it tried to fall off. Blood rushing to his temples in a manic beat, he sprang back to his feet and bolted past the hedges and toward the gazebo in the park.

Behind him -- utter chaos erupted, judging by the noise and flashing Bound lights. People cried and fretted, and their agitation passed on to him.

Spirits, they made it sound as though this was the end of the world!

"The assassin was sent to the Emperor!"

"WHAT?! Someone protect the Emperor! Ah, the Emperor is too close to him!"

"I heard it was the Emperor's Bride -- the murderer wanted to dispose of her before the wedding!"

"Protect the Emperor, for Spirits' sake!"

"The assassin even tried to force himself on Lady Sakami while he was at it!"

From the sides, several flashing lines of guard dummies Bound to trap and ambush any aggressors, zoomed toward Nekohiko to intercept him even before he would reach the gazebo. With the last of his wits spinning inside his head, Nekohiko realized he had to expose his own Binder's aura. Just to stop them.

And maybe push Abihiko back, too...

He didn't want to use it so early, but his hands already swept to cast a spell. Yet then--

From behind him, a powerful zap of electricity field spread out in spidery trails of charges. A huge, growing circle that phased through the guard dummies, immediately disabling them.

Like one, dozens of these insect-like dummies dropped to the ground, dead.

Abihiko's spell?

Nekohiko halted, unable to believe what he was seeing. Abihiko had stopped his own dummies right before his eyes?

Why?

He was letting Nekohiko go?

He rounded to look the bastard in the eye and ask him, "what the hell are you doing?" just in case, but Abihiko had already cast his next spell.

To Nekohiko's stunned eyes, it looked like a lash of a blinding-red whip flying at his face. But it was a mere rope made of magic energy, coiled like a lasso to catch him. To trap him.

So... nope. Abihiko was definitely not "letting him go" yet.

Huh?!

Nekohiko balked, lurching out of its way.

So him disabling his stupid dummies was only a diversion tactic? But of course. How could Nekohiko believe that Abihiko would be kind and noble to him? Abihiko would never stop being himself: a treacherous, lying piece of trash. Right?

Nekohiko rolled to the ground to escape capture from the rope but realized late that the rope had also been a trick. It was blazing so brightly and so distractingly, Nekohiko completely missed Abihiko's figure lunging to the side and into the shadows behind it.

And with him wearing those black, stealthy robes, he was as good as invisible...

His focus scattering, Nekohiko almost didn't see it when Abihiko sprang at him from the side, reaching for Nekohiko as though to grab.

Nekohiko slid from him backward, his teeth gritted.

Gods, how angry he was at this bastard. At this bastard's lowlife tricks and cheats!

Grimly quiet, Abihiko jerked the rope to himself, trying to tangle Nekohiko in it and catch him after all. But Nekohiko was on guard. He sprang aside and slipped low to avoid capture, then swung his leg to kick Abihiko's feet from under him.

Abihiko barely dodged. But the very next moment, Nekohiko was at him, flinging punches and kicks at him just because.

He could run now since Mikawa was hovering just above the gazebo several feet away.

But no. Nekohiko really wanted to make a point first.

He directed another strike at Abihiko which Abihiko avoided only marginally. "Your Majesty, next time you want to catch me, do not disable your dummies in bulk," he spat. "Compared to them, you quite clearly suck."

Another strike he flung at Abihiko's stupid smug face.

Another delayed evasion from Abihiko.

No matter. Nekohiko had gotten his share of fun for tonight. It was time to leave. He swept one last kick at Abihiko's torso for a distraction, then rushed toward the gazebo.

The moment his hand connected with Mikawa's, Abihiko's voice reached them.

The calm and cool reservedness of that voice struck Nekohiko.

"First of all, they are not my dummies. They're Morokata's."

Yet Nekohiko didn't care to hear the rest. He clutched Mikawa with his arms and legs and begged, "Fly me away as fast as you can!"

"Mn!"

The boy trembled in his arms from the added weight of Nekohiko and the wooden sculpture both, but he shot to the sky nonetheless. He only wavered a little when he and Nekohiko sliced the low-hanging clouds, his face paling as he looked down in some vague dread.

Nekohiko had wanted to let out a relieved breath just now but Mikawa's frightened expression chilled him.

"What," he asked Mikawa, deadened.

Mikawa's eyes swept over Nekohiko's body. "I... don't know. But with my Winds, I heard what he just said and..."

Nekohiko could feel something wrong happening. Something Bound and twisted clinging to him and Mikawa. And pulling them downward -- like a heavy, stifling anchor.

"He said, 'And second of all, you don't want to be my foe, Mikawa'," the boy whispered into Nekohiko's face, shaken. His eyelashes fluttered. "What... what did he mean by that? Nekohiko?"

...

Nekohiko seethed.

Of course Abihiko would say something like that. The monster and liar he was would say anything, including threatening literal children, to get what he wanted!

Nekohiko shook his head. "I won't let anything bad happen to you, trust me!"

His words didn't leave his lips when both he and Mikawa felt a harsh lurch stop them in the air. Like a smack right in the middle of the sky.

A powerful tug yanked them from their height, jerking back to earth like the meanest rebound of a leash. The force of it punched all air out of Mikawa's and Nekohiko's mouths -- and the two tumbled in the air.

Then came crashing to the ground below.

 

 

---

***

 

 

The leash! Nekohiko thought when the flickers of the glowing city flashed before his eyes as he plummeted. This was what it was!

A master's leash Bound to a rightful possession! That was what Abihiko's rope from earlier had been. Not a rope to catch, but rather the smallest thread from that rope latching onto Nekohiko to prevent him from being stolen. The Leash spell was more of a thief and burglar alarm that would notify everyone that the act of stealing had occurred, but if its caster was strong enough, he could tag his stolen object right out of the hands of the thief. And back into his arms.

Which was exactly why they were plummeting right now!

And, frankly, that only sparked Nekohiko's resentment more.

So he was not only his possession but also one that Abihiko could simply yank back whenever he wanted?

Unforgivable.

Nekohiko let go of the wooden sculpture on his back to make his fall a bit smoother. The thing twirled in the air, crashing to the garden of one of the mansions they passed. Nekohiko remembered the spot, then cursed at himself in anger. There were still much too close to the Palace grounds!

Mikawa and he hadn't managed to fly too far away this time. The main city street burned caramel-orange and green of the festival lights down below, and the sounds of music assaulted Nekohiko the moment he dropped too close to the city roofs. The wind slapped and caught him since his body was a bit lighter than any normal human's -- and had it not been for Mikawa trying to guide his fall with his wind powers -- Nekohiko would probably be tossed aside by a strong gust and would collide with one of the building walls.

Mikawa cushioned his fall onto one of the tall entertainment house roofs-- but he didn't need to.

There was someone waiting on that roof who was ready to catch Nekohiko regardless.

Abihiko cast a shield of hot air where Nekohiko would fall down to. But Nekohiko could only scoff at that. Like hell he'd be caught by this person!

With his leg, he kicked himself off the tall rafter beam and collapsed onto the roof instead, shattering shingles with his body. He rolled over more successfully this time, managing not to break any of his limbs. But even if he had broken something -- he would prefer it than to rely on Abihiko's stupid magic tricks!

Plus, the Imperial bodyguard uniform protected him from most damage, for which he was grateful.

Just as much as he was grateful for his helmet mask covering up his face so that Abihiko could not see it.

And Abihiko wanted to; that was obvious.

He stood on the top of the roof, his black robes splashing in the gusts, his hood thrown off back, letting his long hair loose and wild in the wind. His eyes burned ember-like, the reflected red glow of the Leash he was holding wrapped around his wrist.

The thin red thread ran from his hand to Nekohiko's ankle. It was so thin, it was little wonder Nekohiko hadn't noticed it back in the Palace park. Which only proved how sneaky this villain was, to do something like that to him!

"Let go," Nekohiko growled, slowly standing up.

"No." Abihiko flashed him a smile and spun another coil of the Leash on his wrist, tightening the remaining thread between him and Nekohiko.

A needy tug pulled at Nekohiko's ankle, drawing him toward Abihiko.

"If I let go, you'll just run away again. And I can't have that, can I?" For a moment, Abihiko held Nekohiko's covered gaze but then turned aside, talking to someone behind him. "Mikawa, you may leave. None of this concerns you."

Poor loyal Mikawa.

He had sneaked up behind Abihiko amidst the roof turrets, ready to aid Nekohiko if his help was needed. And his help was absolutely needed!

Nekohiko didn't want to fight Abihiko one on one.

"But... he's my friend. And he doesn't want to go with you," Mikawa replied shakenly. His voice, though, grew stronger despite all the quavers in its undertone. "You are holding him on a leash and he asked you to let go. I think... maybe you should do as he asks." Much, much lower, he added, "He's not a dog, to be put on a leash."

Endless tenderness filled Nekohiko's heart to the brim.

Mikawa... you pure, kind heart...

"Well, are you his dog instead, to be ordered and dragged all around Nara just because he wants you to?" Abihiko retorted. "Do not tell me you want to be here. After all, are you sure you want to commit another crime against the Emperor? Your elder sister is already going to be put to trial for one. You should not add another and increase her burdens."

Mikawa drew back behind the turret, gasping. "C-crime?!"

"Yes. Thievery."

Mikawa, keep talking.

Nekohiko's faint whisper could not be heard by Abihiko, but doubtlessly could he caught by Mikawa.

Nonetheless, Nekohiko felt guilty he was forcing Mikawa to go against one of the most powerful and murderous Binders in the world, so he used a moment to switch his consciousness back to one of the woodchips Kataji was carrying.

This was pathetic, he knew. But he had no choice if Abihiko was so bent on capturing him tonight!

"Morokata!" he cried from the woodchip, hoping that the Mist King would be able to hear anything that went inside his mansion even if he weren't next to Kataji at the moment. "Help!"

Not checking if his guess had been correct, Nekohiko snapped back to his doll form. All he needed to do here now was to stall and protect Mikawa from Abihiko.

The boy panted behind the turret, still hiding, but did not lose his head even though Nekohiko could imagine how scared he was to argue with the Emperor himself.

"Still!" Mikawa cried, slurring. "He is a person and he can choose with whom to go. Forcing him is... not right!"

"To go?" Abihiko cocked his head to the side. "Who says anything about that? First, I only wished to talk, but he keeps ignoring me, so--"

You don't like being ignored?

Nekohiko's foot flew under Abihiko's knees from a low, roundhouse kick. While Mikawa had been distracting him, Nekohiko crept closer and closer until he had the slightest advantage.

A cheating one, but who cared? He was fighting against a cheater, so it was rather fair!

Abihiko stumbled backward yet Nekohiko did not lose his chance. He jumped on top of him, one hand going to Abihiko's throat while the other tried to seize the leash and rip it out of Abihiko's fingers.

Because unless he got rid of this vile thing, he and Mikawa wouldn't have the chance to flee.

Then again, perhaps they wouldn't anyway. Abihiko was strong and he was right here. Right against Nekohiko.

From so close up, even the idea of escape seemed flimsy.

Abihiko rolled aside and wrapped his legs around Nekohiko's torso, pressing him to himself. With his hands, he blocked most of Nekohiko's attempts to tackle him while his leg hold screamed loud and clear: no matter what, Nekohiko would not leave here. He would hold him down whatever it took.

"You... pervert!" Nekohiko blurted, remembering Morokata's earlier insults to Abihiko's face. Time to lean into them. "Stop pursuing me, Your Majesty! This is indecent!"

"More indecent than you barging into my bedroom and stealing my clothes you wear right now?" Abihiko hissed, a savage smile splitting his lips. "What were you doing there? Have I no right to question that?"

"Me? What made you think so? I am just one of many guards sent by His Majesty Morokata, to make sure your wedding preparations go smoothly! You do remember you are getting married... tomorrow, I think?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Grrrr, why do you argue such minutiae with me?!

"It's already midnight," Nekohiko growled at him low. "So, tomorrow, My Lord."

"Technicalities," Abihiko breathed back.

Damn it, their locked-in hold was hard to break because Nekohiko was not willing to let go of the leash while Abihiko was so obsessed with wrestling Nekohiko down while they were close.

Nekohiko heaved, trying to subdue Abihiko beneath him. The easiest maneuver he could execute at the moment was to wrap his arm around Abihiko's head and hold him like this... in a headlock. Like Abihiko had done to him on countless occasions when they were kids.

Then again, that would free Abihiko's hands and he would try to cast magic then!

Nekohiko threw all caution to the wind and went for it. Let him cast. But he would prove that he could overpower him with brute force if nothing else!

The two of them heaved, struggling, but Abihiko seemed almost childishly happy as he did all this. As though he didn't even take Nekohiko's threat seriously.

How dare he.

A rough tackle -- and Nekohiko forced himself up against Abihiko, reaching around his shoulders. Abihiko tried to roll over and wrestle Nekohiko down, but Nekohiko didn't let him. The moment Abihiko rolled off his back to the side to gain a steadier stance, Nekohiko counter-attacked.

He pushed him down, arms going into the recognizable shape of a lock around Abihiko's throat.

He knew all of Abihiko's moves; he could predict them with his eyes closed.

In fact, if he did, it would feel as though all these last five years simply dissipated, leaving only the exhilarating sense of familiarity and comfort because he could finally focus on the scent of Abihiko's hair against his face.

Such a nostalgic scent, it made Nekohiko ache.

"Neko," Abihiko grunted when Nekohiko's inner side of the elbow tightened against Abihiko's windpipe and jerked his head up. "You asshole. That's my signature move!"

Nekohiko leaned in close, his cool cheek pressing against Abihiko's hot one. "Who?" Nekohiko asked. "You keep repeating that word when you talk to me. What does it mean, I wonder?"

Being on top and in the position to harm Abihiko gave Nekohiko a surge of glee he had not felt in ages. He could do it. He could snap this traitor's neck now if he wanted. Right?

Maybe... he should...

But then he realized that Abihiko's hands were still free to do anything and cast any of the simplest yet destructive spells Abihiko was so proficient with. And had been free to cast moments ago as well, even before Nekohiko had wrestled him down.

So... why hadn't he?

Why hadn't Abihiko used an opportunity to cast?

Abihiko lurched, trying to turn his head and look at Nekohiko askew. He rasped, "Take off your helmet. Let me see your face."

Before the wedding?

Nu-huh. You wish.

Nekohiko almost laughed. "See, you called me that funny word again. You keep mistaking me for someone else. When will you learn?"

"I can get you off my back any moment," Abihiko whispered, groaning when Nekohiko tightened his hold on his throat just to tease him. "My hands are free to cast, forgot?"

"Yeah, then why don't you? Don't tell me you suddenly grew a consciousness after putting your brother's doll on a magic leash and bullying a child with your blackmail!"

"I don't cast spells against you because..." Abihiko hesitated, gulping hard against Nekohiko's grip. "I want you to leave with me. And come with me to a safe place just the two of us. Willingly."

Oh.

Oh sure.

"I don't want to force you to do it," Abihiko went on. "So I hope that you would agree to go without me subduing you with my magic."

You are already subduing me with your magic, moron! What else is the Leash for?

As though guessing Nekohiko's thoughts, Abihiko flexed his fingers, releasing the last bits of his Leash thread. "See? You're free to go if you want to."

Amused, Nekohiko pushed himself off Abihiko.

Huh. That was easy.

"Then I'd rather just go," Nekohiko told him and wanted to stand up.

But Abihiko slipped around, his hand grabbing the hem of Nekohiko's emerald-green cloak. "No, stay--"

"You said I can go if I want to. And I want to."

So Abihiko had been lying again, hadn't he? Of course he had never wanted Nekohiko to leave. Him saying he would allow him was merely a trick -- another of Abihiko's cheats to get what he needed.

His stricken, shocked face now was another manipulation, too. It made Nekohiko angry, uncontrollably so.

Confusion quickly faded from Abihiko's eyes. A shade of righteous indignation replaced it. "You would rather hang out with the likes of Morokata and Hibiki and Dark Sisters -- but not come anywhere with me to help you?" His tone wafted of cold. "I thought you would want answers, but it seems you only want to torment me instead?"

Torment?

Gods, please. Tell me more about torment after five years spent inside a wooden log!

"I don't mind it, Neko. Punish me all you want. But please come with me somewhere safe so that you and I can have an actual conversation one on one."

Almost none of that could reach Nekohiko's mind, for some reason. The anger that seeing Abihiko's old tricks had evoked in him could not abate easily.

Which, at the back of his mind, Nekohiko found odd.

He was not an emotional kind of person. He had always been able to think clearly and thoroughly about things. What Abihiko was saying now... made sense to him.

And yet, this terrible dizziness that came crushing over him just at the mere sight of Abihiko rising to his feet! Like a vortex of resentment slowly yet irrevocably opening up from within him. Nekohiko blinked, drawing back, then shook his head because his vision kept pulsing with a painful beat in his temples.

How could he not be angry at this person?

How could he not hate him with all his being?

How could he listen to anything he was saying?

Abihiko extended his hand toward Nekohiko as though to offer his support in a dance. His eyes burned, and no longer with any reflected light.

"Neko," Abihiko told him. "Come on. I'll take you somewhere safe and we will counter all that Dark Sister shit Morokata had put inside you. You know the Dark Sisterhood's methods are not benevolent. We have to hurry before that kind of vile magic is inside you for too long, trust me!"

As though a tidal wave of bloodrush crested over Nekohiko's mind at that moment.

Did he just... say "trust me"?

He? This person?

Nekohiko had held the very knife Abihiko had murdered him with -- less than an hour ago! And this person -- out of all the people in the world -- dared to tell Nekohiko to "trust" him?

The balls on him to even fathom this would work...

Abihiko moved another step closer, his hand sliding to cup Nekohiko's elbow as though to guide him to go with him. But before he could take hold of him, Nekohiko lunged for Abihiko's hip. To the sword hilt that peeked from within his cloak.

The Maple Apple's harsh, chiming sound sliced the night apart when Nekohiko whipped the blade out of the scabbard. His hand lay so perfectly on the hilt, he even marveled at the ease with which he raised it to strike down.

"Neko, NO!"

Paling, Abihiko lurched away. Just in time to miss the sword that Nekohiko slashed at him with full abandon.

Not that it would matter.

Nekohiko snapped the sword to the side, holding it parallel to the ground, admiring the subtle fiery hue that ran along the blade. The gloved fingers of his other hand brushed the blade's edge, bringing the metallic whine out of it as he slid his hand to the sword's tip.

"What a marvelous sword you have," Nekohiko said. "Can I have it?"

Abihiko watched him warily from the edge of the roof as though ready to spring off any second. "Why? Do you want to thrust it inside me?" He sniffed, darkly. "Seems like you do. Or at least the ghoul puppet inside you wants to. Like I told you it would."

Puppet...?

Puppet?!

You, a person who had just tied me to yourself and wanted me to go with you wherever you took me -- dares call me a puppet when I refuse to come?

Nekohiko smiled the only way he knew how. Creepily, he guessed. "You know what they say about ghouls and puppets, My Lord. If one goes after you, he who revived this ghoul gets all the blame. Not the ghoul itself."

Even before finishing the sentence, Nekohiko's dark fury won over.

He struck.