Finally I get to update this fanfic~ Here it is the 3rd book!! When I re-read it again, I just realized how angst it is...so Mayuyu fans! Don't kill me~! >.< The 4th and the 5th book should bring up some happy ending (SHOULD!) So~ please enjoy reading it! I'm not that confident with this, so I hope this book doesn't disappoint you guys!
POSTER CREDITS: To Sherin-san! Book III:
[The Shadow of Despair and Jealousy]
“Did you see that child beside the princess Jurina?”
One of the royal witches in the banquet muttered to the person beside her. Obviously…I could hear them so clearly. I had good ears ever since I’m little and I heard everything that everyone said…including the voice of that people’s heart too. One might think it's a gift, but personally for me it’s a curse.
“Mayu.”
Jurina-oneesama grabbed my hand and held it tightly. I could see her sweet smile comforting me and it made my heart rest at ease…I guess it’s because we’re royal blood witches, I couldn’t hear voice from the empress and Jurina-oneesama at all. It’s because we’re blood related? I wonder… But I don’t care…to me, as long as I have Jurina-oneesama, I can go through this cursed life with a smile. She’s the only person that looked at me as another being…not as her substitute like how others see me…~XXX~
“Mayuyu~”
I snapped as I turned to this raven girl beside me. She was staring at me with those beautiful dark orbs of hers. She’s a human. Yes, and yet she’s not afraid of Jurina-oneesama or me at all…despite we’re royal blood witches.
“Mayuyu, what are you thinking?”
She asked me and I just gave her a shrug. I didn’t bother to tell her that I was thinking about my own cursed life in the royal family. I’m merely nothing, but a substitute of Jurina-oneesama…my existence as Mayu meant nothing to this world.
“You’re lying. I can tell that!”
She giggled and pinched my cheek… O-Ow that HURTS! I pushed her hand away and it made her laugh. She sat down beside me and leaned against my shoulder. She’s the only human being that treated me like a friend…she’s indeed the first friend I ever made in my life…it’s this human, who would only call me Mayuyu…it would only be Yukirin. She would always see through my lies, she knew what I was thinking or felt. The voice of her heart…was the most beautiful voice I ever heard in my entire life. It’s just so pure and lovely. The voice of her heart totally captured my very soul.
“You got me Yukirin…I was thinking about my own cursed life as oneesama’s substitute.”
“Mou…”
She looked upset and then suddenly threw her arms around me. She pulled my head in to rest on her chest and I could hear her heart clearly. “Please don’t say something so sad like that…you’re no substitute! You’ll always be Mayuyu, my best friend!”
“Thank you Yukirin…you’re my first best friend too.”
“Hehe~” Her smile was just so angelic. It was a blessing smile that would always bring happiness to everyone around her. To both oneesama and me…we were saved by that lovely smile of Yukirin’s. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up on my feet. “So~ what should we do today?”
“Jurina-oneesama will come catch up with us at the usual spot. So we can do anything while we’re waiting…”
“How about we go walk around together! We rarely have times it’s just the only two of us hm?” Yukirin questioned and she was right.
Usually it would be the three of us, always together wherever we go. However there would only be few times that Jurina couldn’t make it out due to her status as the royal princess. Some days…it would only just be Yukirin and me. We walked into the forest and we would always come to hangout at the grassy hill that has very beautiful scenery. You could see the human village from that place. Yukirin and I would always go there together when Jurina-oneesama is late…and here we are.
“Neh Mayuyu! I learned how to do massages from one aunt at the village! Let me try test on you.”
“Hm? Okay sure.”
I accepted it and Yuki forced her to sit down on the grass. She kneeled down from behind and begun giving massages to me. Obviously it felt really good and it was the first time I received a massage. She couldn’t explain this pleasure sensation and but then suddenly, I felt a weigh against her back and it was Yukirin leaning on her back. She seemed to enjoy what she was doing and then she hugged me tightly in her arms.
“Y-Yukirin?”
“I love being with you so much~ I just felt so relaxed every time I’m with you…it’s because Mayuyu is special neh!”
~BADUMP~
I swore that I felt my face was heated up slightly. This uneasiness in my chest…what is this feeling? My mind felt like screaming out with happiness as my senses became so sensitive with Yukirin’s touch… no one ever gave me this much importance as her already. Without realizing it…tears streamed down my cheeks silently and Yukirin could definitely see that. She didn’t speak a word and just have her arms wrapped around me.
“You’re special Mayu…believe me, you are.”
“N-Nn…” I nodded in reply and that whole day… I was lying in Yukirin’s arms.
She told me that she don’t mind the day we wouldn’t be talking, since she always enjoyed being around Jurina-oneesama and me. Our presence comforted each other…As time passed by I eventually realized what’s this disturbing feeling in my chest. It’s love…I’ve fallen in love with Yuki.
But…it’s impossible for me to embrace her because…
“Sorry I’m late~!”
I looked as Jurina had finally come to catch up with us at the grassy hill and obviously I heard the change in Yuki’s heart. Her heart was pounding faster as her eyes stared at oneesama. This sound echoing from her heart…despite being human or non-human, every single being will compose this sound whenever…they’re in love. I knew from the very beginning that Yuki was secretly in love with my sister…even I couldn’t hear oneesama’s voice, I lived with her long enough to tell apart that she treated Yuki different from any being so far. Yuki is special to her…they do share mutual feelings for another.
I guess that’s why sometimes I really hate oneesama…if I’ve been born a little earlier, I wouldn’t need to have a life being called a substitute. Even for Yuki…I couldn’t match up with oneesama at all. I’m only a mere shadow of the princess. My life meant nothing if no one gave importance to it.
~XXX~
Some days…I would walk in the castle alone in the middle of the night. No one would really care of me even though I’m walking. I somehow started to have this weird pain in chest nowadays, as I mean actual pain, like, an injury. I wondered what’s wrong with me…so I often take night walks these days to relief the pain from my chest. However, I came across this one room that the lights were on. It was from one of the servant’s room but…I heard the Empress’s voice inside there.
“How is she doing now?”
The empress asked and I could hear it as clearly as if it was right beside me since I have really good hearing. “Is the seal alright?”
“Yes…so far. I believe it’s because of Haruna-sama’s seal on her. However…she started to take more night walks.”
The female servant replied and I didn’t expected to heard that name again…Haruna-sama was the name of oneesama and my aunt. She actually passed away few years after I’m born so I don’t know much about her…but I often saw a her pictures in the hallway. She’s the younger sister of our mother, who was the current Witch Empress.
“I see…please do look after Mayu. I leave her in your care, Akane.”
“Yes…your majesty.”
What are they talking about? Its about me…? Then suddenly, I felt a strong surge of pain fluctuated up from my stomach. I couldn’t hold back the cry and obviously they would catch me red-handed. I was squirming on the floor and whimpered with suffocation. I couldn’t even breathe properly, tears rolled down my eyes and then I could see Akane and empress dragged me into the room and put me on the bed. Then unbuttoned my clothes and then Akane put this black crystal on top of my chest and I could feel all the pain relieved away instantly.
“Mayu-sama…you’re not wearing the obsidian necklace today.” Akane spoke up as she put a blanket on top of me. She went to get a cold towel for me as I’m breaking into sweat.
I saw the empress standing there looking at me with that sympathy in her eyes. I looked back at her, at my mother and gathered enough strength to utter a word out. “Empress…what’s…wrong with…me?”
“…I’m sorry Mayu. If I have a choice, I didn’t want you carry this burden just like Haruna.” The empress apologized to her daughter and sat down beside her.
“Do you still want to learn the truth?”
“…Yes.”
“Your majesty…is it alright to tell Mayu-sama now?”
Akane questioned with worries as she personally thought that it’s not the time to tell the younger witch about her cursed life. “I believe it’s too early.”
“Sooner or later, Mayu will learn the truth about herself…the tragic truth.”
That was the longest night of my life. In that room, only mother and Akane were there beside me while she told me the whole tragic secret of the Royal Witches…through each generation, it’s a rule that the empress must bore at least two children, for two purposes. Usually the eldest child would be the succeeding empress. Another child, which was the most suitable one to carry huge magic capacity would be chosen to become a vessel of Leviathan…the demon that serves the Royal Witches for centuries. From the last generation, Haruna was the vessel of Leviathan, while mother, Mariko, had become the current empress. Since Jurina-oneesama is the next empress then that means…!
“As you could tell, Mayu…you bear the Leviathan within you. You do feel pain occasionally at night times don’t you?”
“…” I didn’t reply but the empress knew what I was thinking.
“But it seemed, the seal had became unstable.” She put her hand on top of my chest where I felt the pain from…then she looked back up at me. “What did you do that I didn’t know yet?”
“…!?”
“I see, so there is.”
Mother read me thoroughly like she was reading a book. “I’m familiar you're your ability very well. Haruna have the same power as you…the ability to hear voice of the heart, it’s all because of the Leviathan inside you.”
“…” So my cursed life was actually from the Leviathan inside me? Since when? I couldn’t recall any of it at all. How did this happen to me when I don’t remember anything?
“Do you know the reason why vessels of Leviathan weren’t given love aside from their sibling who’s the succeeding empress?”
She asked me and it directly went straight to the point for me. I cursed my whole life for being born as Jurina-oneesama’s substitute. But hearing like this from the empress…everything was all planned to begin with, both oneesama and my life. It’s all planned out. Vessels of leviathan would only be taught to have only one dedicated feeling for succeeding empress, which would be their own sibling. Other feelings than eternal loyalty to empress would make the Leviathan seal unstable, especially a feeling of love that I had for Yukirin. Now that the empress had discovered I had done something that was out of her knowledge, I was ready to embrace the punishment from her but then…I only felt the warm hug from her.
“E-Empress…?”
“I couldn’t give you a normal life, I’m sorry…Mayu.”
She apologized to her daughter and that was the first time that her mother ever hugged her. Bound by the rule that the empress wasn’t able to express her love for her child that became a vessel of Leviathan, I started to understand how mother felt so far…I had not need for any of my ability to hear voices of one’s heart. I could feel the empress’s love via her touch; it reached me, and comforted my wounded soul…
I finally had told her that I met with this one human by accident when I sneaked out from the castle with Jurina. I met with this human girl, Yuki, and I eventually realized…that I’m in love with her. Even though the empress learned how I was in love with a human…she was utterly calm enough that it crept me out. The empress…I mean, mother just simply smiled softly while listening to me talking. She did not show any anger towards me despite me disobeying her by sneaking out from the castle.
“I’m…sorry.” I apologized but then she just simply stroked my head softly.
“Things happen, I won’t stop you from loving someone Mayu…I understand.”
The empress comforted me and continued where she left off. She told me the story about aunt Haruna, whom was the preceding Leviathan vessel like me. She was in love with another young wolf boy name Yuko, however when grandmother discovered that…aunt Haruna’s lover was brutally assassinated. Obviously aunt Haruna didn’t know about this merciless scheme…only mother knew about it. It was just for the sake of strengthened the bond between aunt Haruna and mother even more by using Yuko-san’s death. I couldn’t believe how serious were the witch clan about this matter…deep down, I thanked how mother wasn’t as extreme and…brutal as grandmother.
“I won’t repeat the same tragedy like what the preceding empress did…even this would lead to chaos.”
“H-Huh?”
“Listen carefully Mayu…according to the law, it’s essential for me to kill Yuki in order to protect the seal of Leviathan on you.”
I swore my face went pale that instant I heard the word ‘kill’ together with ‘Yuki’. I immediately grabbed onto mother. I couldn’t let that happen. I begged for her to not kill Yuki. She’s everything to me. If she disappeared… Jurina-oneesama will… I’ll worth nothing to this world anymore.
“N-No…! Please! Don’t kill Yukirin!”
“…As I told you, I would not repeat the same tragedy again but there’s something you have to trade for it.”
“I’ll do anything! Please!! Spare Yuki…she’s…everything to me!”
I pleaded with tears. I begged her with everything I’ve got and I could feel the warm pat on the head from my mother. She had whispered into my ears and then I couldn’t hold back my shocking expression. But after I knew what I had to trade in order to spare Yuki’s life…I’m willingly to do it. Even with my own life on the line, I’ll give it to Yukirin…I’ll give it to her. Even though she wouldn’t love me the way I had for her and she would only look at Jurina…I’ll give it to her. All my love, my life…and everything I’ve got, just to let Yuki be safe…
~XXX~
“Mayu…? Why do you look sad?”
She asked me, as I’m extremely ill, but I can’t tell Yukirin about it. I just lied to her and told her I’m fine. But as usual…she could see through my lies and kept nagging me.
“Tell me! Mayu…please.”
I hate it when she begged me, because I couldn’t refuse those lovely eyes of hers. I could feel my heart pounding every second I made an eye contact with her…but it also came with the pain inside my chest…deep down, into the core of my body…! U-Ugh!!
“M-Mayu!!”
Yukirin embraced me as I collapsed onto the ground. Thank god that Jurina-oneesama isn’t here…because she’s the one that I didn’t want to see me like this. Glad that she had this princess work to do with mother today so it’s only Yukirin and I again… Now I felt slightly guilty as I could see sadness in Yuki’s face. She wrapped her arm under my armpit and leaded me to this small cottage in the forest. This is the place we would usually meet so none of the humans and non-humans would find us here… she left me rested on the cold grassy floor while she went to bring water up to me.
“Please drink it…it will make you feel better.”
“Thank you…I’m sorry…”
“Baka, why are you apologizing?” She asked me with a soft chuckle. “Mayu…can you tell me what’s wrong with you?”
“…”
Part of me, wanted to tell her what I’m going through… but at the same time, it’s not something that I could share it with Yukirin. But from her eyes and the voice of her heart…I could feel she’s sincerely worried about me. “Yukirin…”
“Yes?” She replied quickly with eager to hear a word from me.
“Can I rest in your arms for a little while?”
“…Sure, do you even have to ask?”
That angelic smile of hers brought warmth to my soul. I rested my head on her chest and felt the radiant embrace from her. Her heart’s voice…it was just so melodious that it’s calming the chaos in my body. Even though empress told me that ‘love’ would make the Leviathan seal unstable, but it’s because of Yukirin, I understood the meaning of my life even more. I realized how much her voice always protected and comforted me ever since I met her. She’s my angel…my life…and everything to me.
“Give me time…and I’ll tell you about it.” I replied and then it seemed to make her hyped up somehow.
“Really? Promise? It’s a promise okay?”
I couldn’t help but to laugh at her enthusiastic and nodded silently, even though it was a big fat lie. “I promise…”
“Okay~ Then I’ll wait for you to tell me patiently.”
I just smiled silently. I’m really sorry Yukirin. I wouldn’t be able to tell you and that day probably wouldn’t come…
~XXX~
After my day with Yukirin in the forest, I made sure she returned to the human village safely. Back in my own dark cold room, I coughed so badly that blood came out together with this black rock…it’s the obsidian stone the had special powers to enhance the seal on Leviathan inside me. But it’s dreadfully painful…the seal of Leviathan slowly got weaker and weaker as my heart started to open even more to Yukirin. I forced myself to swallow the obsidian stone into my body once again and obviously…it’s painful as if I’m going to die. I made a promise with mother…that was the last time I would see Yuki in exchanged of her safety from all witches from my clan.
A week later, an unfortunate happen and excessive number of witches and other non-humans died by the human soldiers. It was that bloodshed holocaust and thus the empress had declared war against the human race. I don’t blame mother for that at all…we suffered so much…but what made me felt sad even more is that Yukirin is the princess of the human clan… that meant that we’d become sworn enemies.
I secretly meet up with Akane and empress to check the status of my seal. As it’s obvious…it’s gradually getting weaker and weaker. They had a believe that that my love for Yukirin will gradually dim away after I’m separated from her but it didn’t…it made things worse as my love for her seemed to grow even more.
“Your highness…” Akane turned to my mother and she nodded softly.
“I know, would you leave us for a minute?”
“Yes.” Akane left and it’s only empress and I in the room.
She sat down beside me and then seemed to have a heavy expression on her face. She seemed to be making up her mind with something before she’s going to tell me something…that didn’t seem to be pleasant at all.
“Mayu, do you remember the only choice you can pick if you want me to spare Yuki’s life?”
“…Yes.”
“Are you still certain with that choice you make? You still can change your mind.”
“No. I won’t.”
“…I see. Your time is running out.” She sounded even more serious and I nodded back silently as my reply.
“Yes…how long do I have?”
“Two years at max, and your very last day shall be the day that the witches open war against humans.” She muttered softly and I wondered why she picked that day. I asked her about her reason and then she just patted my head softly.
“…I believe it’s a proper place to die honorably, do anything you wish to do…but know it well Mayu…you’ll…have to die, together with Leviathan.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
I smiled back to her, knowing my own faith. I could see from her eyes that mother wasn’t happy with my decision, yet she decided to respect my choice. My decision would bring so much change to the witch clan, as Leviathan served under the witch clan for centuries…this time, it would die together with me. However, I have faith that Jurina-oneesama will definitely bring prosperity to the clan. This would put the end to countless tragedies of Leviathan vessels like me…and like aunt Haruna. Obviously mother knew that this would be a huge change for the witch clan but she’s prepared to embrace that as well…
Each day, I went through with pain from the obsidian stone trying to seal Leviathan inside me. Each day, I count down to the day that death awaited for me… I had no regrets with my own decision. I chose to die… instead of having Yukirin die… this is the path I chose.
~XXX~
Few days before the war, I got to meet with Yukirin once again at the castle and she had grown up so much…comparing to me, I hadn’t change as much as her. She became an elegant princess with such strong a strong aura. I warned her about the upcoming war in few days…
“I’ll protect you Yuki…on the day of war, I’ll come here, and I’ll protect you.”
“H-Huh?”
“I’m the 2nd child, the one that lives in onee-sama’s shadow, even I’m participating in this war, no one will recognize me…I’ll use that chance to come to you, and protect you.”
“But that’s--”
“I won’t let you die.”
I interrupted her with a strong tone and it made her back away slightly. “Your eyes clouded with death just now is makes me pissed. Don’t make that kind of eye again…it doesn't suit you at all.”
“…Thank you, Mayuyu.”
She let out a sigh to calm herself down. The voice of her heart changed from giving up hope to fill with hope instantly. I’m glad that she didn’t lose her voice yet. I love it when she called that nickname she gave me…
“Don’t worry about me, I won’t die.”
“…I’m glad to hear that. Also, I have to leave now…” I looked up into the sky as I decided I should leave before I would get caught. She agreed with me and it’s about time that I needed to go before the guards might find us.
“Good bye Yukirin…”
“Mayu, please tell Jurina something for me…”
“…Yes?” I asked with a warm smile that comforted her.
“Please tell her that I…always love her until now, and I still remember our promise we made.”
“…Will do.”
I nodded before I transformed into a mouse and disappeared into the darkness. Those words pained me much but it’s alright. I already knew that well that Yukirin would never see me more than just a friend… I had chosen my death and I’m proud of it. I will protect Yukirin’s life with my own life. Even though all my limbs were cut off…until my heart is stabbed through, I will guarantee that Yukirin will be safe no matter what…that will be my death.
~XXX~
This is the day of the war…I sneaked into the castle without getting caught as I made use of this good hearing I had. I managed to avoid all unnecessary fighting. As I reached the stairs, I met with this suspicious water spirit that had a very unusual voice comparing to other non-humans…it looked very suspicious.
“You’re not getting away!!”
I finally caught up with the water spirit within the human castle as it seemed to be trying to reach the highest floor, that’s where the throne hall is. The leviathan seal was getting weak now and its powers were leaking through my blood. I bid my hand to bleed myself and make use of Leviathan’s power inside me. The dark aura gushed through my wound and then I struck my fist onto the demon as we entered the throne hall.
~THUD!~
“Mayu!!”
I heard that beautiful voice calling my name. That’s Yuki. I could smell the scent of non-human in here strongly. I knew it…this smell is from the water spirits, they’re trying to kill Yuki…they’re my enemy.
“You’re too suspicious…I’ll kill you here once and for all.”
I tightened her fist as the water demon dissolved away and appeared right beside the man who seemed to be the boss. I rushed to Yuki’s side and I gave her a cheeky smile so that she would feel safe.
“I’ve come as I promise…I’ll protect you.”
“Mayu…!”
“Hmph…I hadn’t expected you to see this future…your highness.” The man giggled maliciously before he looked back up at Yuki. “I was deeply aware of your premonition. I guess everything went according to my prediction.”
I don’t really understand what he meant by the premonition but I won’t spare his life. Anyone who tried to threaten Yukirin’s life shall die by my hands.
-
~THUD~THUD~THUD~THUD~
The battle continued and I’m starting to lose my mind. The leviathan’s powers were too strong for me to just use it recklessly. My mind felt like shattering every second right now. I tried to catch my breath but then I totally underestimated the powers of that half-demon…Then suddenly, I felt a painful stroke in my chest and caused me to stumble.
[Release me…RELEASE ME!](Mayu: U-Ugh…! Not now!!)“I guess I’ll have to kill you useless tool!!”
He threw a water pole towards me, and I successfully blocked it, but then again, it exploded, and it was much far worse than the last time and it caused me to flinch back.
[Let me go…LET ME GO!](Mayu: Shut up…SHUT UP!!!)“Die…and withered into the shadows of your sister.”
My body lost its control and it could see that pole arm heading towards me. I guess…this is my death? I told Yukirin to run…and Akane is heading here as I ordered her to protect Yuki…This will be a proper death for me, to die together with Leviathan, once and for all…for Yukirin’s sake.
~STAB~
I did close my eyes ready to embrace the pain, but I felt nothing. I slowly looked up and I could see Yuki’s body in front of me, being pierced by that bloody water pole arm…I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. For all these years I’ve waited for my death…she took it away from me…and she…Yuki…!
“YUKI!!!!!!”
I caught her in my arms before she would collapse onto the floor. I held onto her body and the voice from her heart slowly dimmed away…I couldn’t hold back my tears and cried heavily…For all these years, everything I’ve waited was all in vain. What’s even the point of me waiting this long if I couldn’t even protect Yukirin at all?
“W-Why do you have to do something STUPID like that! IDIOT!”
I yelled at her and cried even harder. “Please…you can’t die…! How am I suppose to face Jurina now!?”
“Mayu…it’s…okay…”
“No it’s not! I haven’t told you my feelings…!” My voice was wobbly and trembling. She reached out to me and caressed my cheek softly.
“Yuki…you can't die like this…I love you!”
“I know…for so long…”
She smiled back to her as she tried to brush those tears from her watery eyes softly. “Thank you…Mayu.”
[Kill…]The man giggled as he really enjoyed watching the current scene right now. “How pitiful…it’s so sad to be a mortal, isn’t it your highness?” He mocked Yuki and that just hit on the bull’s eye for me. My heart…it’s now burning with hatred. It’s now synchronizing with the powers of Leviathan inside me.
[Release me…and let us KILL…]“Ma…yu…” She tried to call me, and I just hugged her closely to my chest.
[Kill…Kill…Let us KILL everyone that took Yuki away from you…]My vision started to be painted in blood red. I could feel the dark demonic aura of Leviathan surged through out from my skin…
[Let us kill…my vessel, release me, and I shall granted your wish]My tears wouldn’t stop and it had turned into blood tears…every beings around me…humans and non-humans…they were all slashed down instantly by the black aura of Leviathan from my body.
[Release your anger…and KILL…revenge for your lover]
[Kill anyone that took Yuki away from you!]“Ahh…AAAAHHHH!!!!!”A huge wing appeared from my back, I released all my anger and then I realized again…I was in front of that beast that killed Yukirin before my eyes and I grabbed onto his limb, pulled it apart and buried my fangs onto his very neck…
~MUNCH~MUNCH~MUNCH~I lost control of my body. I knew what I’m doing…but I don’t have any control anymore. I was eating that man like a beast, like a demon. It’s just so painful…it hurts so much…I…Its my fault that Yukirin got killed. I killed her…I’m the one that killed her…!
“AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!” I screamed to the top of her lungs and the dark aura engulfed my entire body…. that’s when I couldn’t remember anything anymore... I’m now enveloped into eternal darkness…
-
~XXX~
-
I slowly opened my eyes…I seemed to have a very long dream…
About Yukirin…Jurina-oneesama…Leviathan…and everything…
It seemed like a dream…is it a dream? I couldn't remember anything at all… where am I? What am I doing right now?
[Sleep for eternity… It’s all a dream.]A dream? I see…it’s all a dream… I’m so tired…
[Go back to sleep…]I guess I should…go to sleep again…
“---yu…”
I heard a voice…what’s that voice?
“Mayu…Mayu…Mayu…Mayu…!!”
It’s so familiar…who’s voice is that? It’s…calling for me.
“MAYU!”
That instant, I grasped my senses back and I could see Jurina-oneesama in front of me…she was wounded all over. She kept calling for my name but then I don’t have control of my body. Both of us were fighting in midair…It wasn’t that surprising to see her flying in the sky without wings…we’re witches after all but…I don’t know what’s going on right now but I could see that…the whole wasteland was annihilated.
[It is for your sake… to be gone into eternal slumber]“H-Huh?” I turned around and then I saw this dark floating aura in front of me. This presence was truly familiar to me…its Leviathan.
[Your hatred, anger, and pain…released me from the seal; I shall put the end of this world for you…]“That’s not my wish! I never ask to put the end of this world!”[You did…didn’t you remember? Isn’t that your innermost wish to destroy this world that killed your lover?]I froze as for some reason; I couldn't deny what Leviathan said to me. Maybe I really did desire to destroy this whole world that took Yukirin away from me. For all these past years I’ve done…it went in vain.
[I’m merely…granting your wish; didn’t you deeply despise your sister?]“N-No…I don’t hate my sister!”[You may lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to me]
[She stole your beloved away from you]It struck right at the bull’s eye. What could I possibly do now? I couldn’t deny that I despise Jurina-oneesama…for my whole life I lived under her shadow and only Yuki would look at her…why couldn’t it be me? Why does it have to be like this? Why? Why…!?
[Yes…let that anger drive you, let it go…and KILL…]“Mayu!!! I know you can hear me! It’s me Jurina!”
I jerked back up again and I could see Jurina-oneesama, she’s not losing hope even though she’s fighting against Leviathan…but seeing her like that just made my guts felt uneasy…the hatred I hidden for so long had started to seep out from the deepest part of my heart.
[That’s it…the only way to satisfy your anger is to kill her…]I couldn’t deny any further…it seemed Leviathan knew all my feelings better than I do. I hate Jurina-oneesama…I hate her for taking everything away from me, I hate her for taking Yuki away from me…
~THUDDD!!!~
My body that turned into a huge beast had responded to my darkest feelings and attacked Jurina-oneesama without any mercy. I could see her jerked away and managed to dodge it right on time.
“M-Mayu! Can you hear me!?”
[Even until now she still played her role as your beloved older sister very well…what will you do? Princess Mayu]“Shut up…!” I yelled back as my eyes were glowing brightly in bloody red color. However it seemed Leviathan was satisfied to see me engulfed by my own anger. All the hatred and pain I had towards Jurina-oneesama for my whole life had started to release out…it’s consuming my conscious…
“Mayu!!”
“SHUT UP!!!!”I yelled back against oneesama and delivered another blow towards her. With me consumed by anger…it seemed I grasped the control of my body once again. My hatred, sadness, pain, and anger were the fuel to control Leviathan. The only thing I could think is to kill oneesama…because I hate her…I hate her to the deepest guts of mine.
“Shut up…Shut up!!”“Calm down Mayu! I’ll save you! Just please wait…!”
“…I hate you. I hate you…oneesama.”I glared back at her through Leviathan’s eyes and released my black aura out. I didn’t hold back at the slightest. Every second I made a move was intending to kill oneesama no matter what. I saw she dodging my attacks but at the same time, the black flames from Leviathan’s black aura wounded her gradually as the battle kept extending.
“Mayu don’t let anger take over you!”
“If you don't exist to begin with…my life wouldn’t be cursed like this!”I breathed black flames out and it poured down onto the bloodshed wasteland. I could hear screams and cries of those being burned alive by Leviathan’s flame. However, those voices didn’t disturbed me anymore…
[Kill… Yes, destroy this world that kill your beloved]“Stop this! You know Yuki didn’t want this either!!”
“What do you know about me!? No one understands me aside from Yuki! The world without her…is meaningless to me!!”I managed to reach Jurina with my claws and slammed her down like a bug. However, her chains protected her but it wasn’t enough to completely prevent the black flames from reaching her.
“I’ll destroy everything…this world…and you…”“Do you think Yuki would want this!? Didn't you love her!?”
“Shut up Jurina!” I dropped off the honorifics and then I summoned countless flame spheres into the sky. I could feel all the powers of Leviathan flowing through my veins and my nerves. It’s becoming one with me…I’ve finally had full control on it’s powers…I can control it freely with my own will.
“I told you…the world without Yuki meant nothing to me! I love her, she’s everything to me yet you took her away from me!”“…!”
All the flame spheres rampaged towards Jurina mercilessly. However she managed to repel it away and absorbed my energy through her chains. Her powers were truly annoying…just like how her presence is tormenting me every single second I’m alive.
“Yes…I admit it I took her away from you!” Jurina yelled back at me and rushed in towards with her fist covered with black flames. She was using Leviathan’s powers back against me.
~THUD~
She struck her fist right across my face and caused me to flinch back slightly. But before I could counterattack her, she dodged my attack by flying up above my head.
“It’s all because I love her! I take the risk…because she’s the one that I wanted to be with! What about you? What did you do for all this time!?”
She dove down and used her right heel to strike onto my head. It was powerful enough to cause my humongous body to move…but it’s just making me angrier, and made my body synchronizing with Leviathan’s powers even more.
“SHUT UP!!!! You’ll never understand my position! Never!”“Why wouldn’t I not understand you?!”
Jurina decided to catch my flame this time and dispersed it with brute force. That’s the typical Jurina…the reckless princess. But before I realized again, she leaped in towards me and gave another blow on my body using the powers she absorbed from my black flames…
“You’re angry right!? That I took Yuki from you…if it’s me I would be as well!!”
“What do you know about me…! If you’re not alive Yuki will…!”“Just frigging snap out of it already Mayu!!!”
Her eyes glowed brightly and then I could feel immense energy was gathering around her fist. I don’t feel secure at all and then I felt this huge pain running through my nerves as her fist made a contact with my chest. Obviously she was over exhausting herself by doing that…I could see her coughing blood after she landed that powerful blow on me. However…Leviathan’s body, my body, was now covered with impenetrable skin. Even she managed to wound me by that strike…but it was far from killing me.
[Insolent mortal…what will you gain from fighting me, the mighty Leviathan?]“After I kill you…I’ll destroy this whole world…so there will be no pain anymore…DIE…”I summoned a huge black flame ball in front of me…this would be my final strike, once and for all; this will kill Jurina for certain. I no longer hesitate anymore, I lost all my sympathy for any living creatures and I will destroy this whole world with Leviathan’s power…
“…Arrrrghhhh!!!!!!!”
Jurina roared with anger…I could tell from her face. She was truly angry. She forcefully summoned more chains through her hands while charging in towards me, towards me attack.
“Have you lost your mind already? I’ll make sure you die as you wanted!”“You’re the one that has to shut up!”
I released my final move and a black flamethrower roamed towards her. There’s no way she could withstand Leviathan’s deadly black flames. The moment her whole body was engulfed by the flames…I believed that she’s dead already. It’s truly impossible for a mortal to survive through that…
[Impossible…]I couldn’t believe me eyes as I saw Jurina dashed through my power with brute force. She was alive but she had countless burned injuries all over her body. Before I could’ve respond to her…she was utterly close to me already. She a powerful kick right into chest and caused me to groan in pain…I don’t understand it, why is she fighting this hard? Why isn’t she giving up now knowing that it’s futile?
“Why are you fighting this hard despite it’s useless?”“Because I’m angry and you’re my only younger sister!!!”
She bashed me with another punch and I could hear her bone fractured against my skin. But it didn’t stop her, she used the energy she absorbed from me and coated around her fist to give me another clean strike in the same spot she kicked me. It sent more painful shocks through my nervous system…
“We love the same woman and I hate to admit it…that my love for Yuki can’t matched up with yours at all.”
Another strike hit on the same spot and this time it made me cried in pain. I had to jerk back but Jurina didn’t open any chance for me to escape at all.
“The person who love Yuki the most…is you!”
“Onee…sama…”“That’s why I’m really angry right now! My love for Yuki will not lose to you…I won’t lose to you, Mayu.”
An image of Yuki ran through my head, her smile, her embrace, and her voice…everything about her. That happiness I had decided to discard had been revived once again and it’s slowly comforting my heart once again…I slowly remembered my feelings and my love towards Yuki.
“I made a promise with her…even with you being my love rival… I will definitely save you no matter what!”
I could see from Jurina’s eyes, she wasn’t lying to me at all. At that moment, my whole heart believed what she was saying to me. She poured down her energy into this strike and it seemed its purpose was to damage me but…I could feel…Jurina’s feelings through that fist. I felt her anger and jealousy she had towards me…she saw me as her love rival, she hate to admit that her love for Yuki couldn’t rivaled against my feelings for Yuki…I never knew that oneesama felt that way towards me at all…I never knew that I could become a worthy rival for her at all…we both love the same woman, we both fall in love with Yuki…
“No…Yuki…A-Agh…!”[How pitiful…I shall take over the control…]“A-Aaahhhhh….!”“Mayu!?”
My body was taken over by Leviathan once again and then it started rampaging on Jurina. Like a hunger beast…it mercilessly slashed Jurina down with it’s sharp claws. I couldn’t do anything but watching Jurina dying.
“No…please stop…!”[Didn’t you hate her?]“Yes I do!” I admitted it but then, even I hated her so much…a part of me didn’t want this to happen. In the end, I couldn’t manage to get rid of this feeling. I hate her, but at the same time, I love her too. She’s the only person aside from Yuki that cared for me and protected me for all this time.
“I hate her, I really do…but she’s my sister! I love her as much as I hate her!”[How pitiful…mortal witch…]“Just wait…I’ll save you, Mayu.”
She used her chains and it pierced through all my limbs to completely immobilize me. Oneesama touched the center of my chest and then I suddenly felt something strange happening inside my head. I didn’t know what she was doing but I could feel that I’m channeling with her…the heavy pain inside my chest started to dim away as…Leviathan’s powers slowly diminished from my body.
“O-Oneesama…!?”“I told you…I will save you no matter what.” She declared once again and used all her leftover powers to channel with Leviathan inside me, I could feel her draining my power and I started to grasp the control over my demonic body once again. But I know that Leviathan’s power was just too fatal for oneesama to take it all alone…
[Very wise princess…you knew that if you take me in, your body wouldn’t be able to handle it and I’ll die together with you…]“It’s too late now, you’ll die together with me instead…Leviathan.”
“Stop it! You can’t do like this!”“Shut up Mayu! You have to live you got that!? You have to live…for Yuki and my sake okay?”
“No… please don’t say like that!”[I would not allow you to do that…]Leviathan fought back and Jurina was struggling as her mind was fighting against the demon’s soul. She coughed another blob of blood; her body was about to break apart from Leviathan’s power as she was already weakened badly from the prolonged battle with me. Obviously she’s not a chosen vessel like me…Leviathan will kill her before she could even manage to separate this demon out from my body…
[I acknowledge you as my honorable opponent…now, die.]“A-Aaaaaghhh…!!” She screamed with pain as her white eyes started to become tainted with blood. Crimson tears streamed down her cheek and she’s suffocating from the blood inside her lungs. “Guaah…gaah…aagh…”
“N-No…! You have to stop this oneesama!!”“Shut up…and…listen to your sister for once Mayu…”
Jurina argued back as she could hear my voice from inside my body. The only thing I could see and felt was her warm smile that she had for me despite she’s at the verge of death. “You’ll live…trust me, I’ll save you okay?”
I have to do something…or else she will die! What can I do…what can I do to save Jurina…Then suddenly... One idea flashed into my mind and I knew that this is the only bet I could make. If I’m right, oneesama and this world will be saved. Leviathan is a part of me, and I’m a part of Leviathan…if I die, he will die with me.
“…Jurina.”I called her name for one last time and gave her my last smile.
“Be the empress, you can create a world where no war will happen…you brought back my sanity, you saved me already…so please, LIVE.”“M-Mayu…?”
[Don’t tell me you…You…!!]“…It’s time to die, Leviathan.” I smirked and I stabbed myself with own hand, pierced through my heart without any second of hesitation. Obviously it’s painful but I didn’t know death could be peaceful like this… there’s no fear or sadness waiting for me…just only eternal slumber. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be at all. I felt rather...relieved and it felt quicker than falling asleep... As my soul slowly died off… I could hear Leviathan screeching in pain as it's slowly dying together with me. It’s just as mother told me, if I die…Leviathan will die as well.
“Mayu…! MAYU!!!!!”
I could hear Jurina screamed for me. At the very last moment of my life…the demonic form of mine deteriorate back into my original form. How that Leviathan’s soul had died off, it’s powers did flowed into Jurina’s body healed her instantly. There’s nothing to stop oneesama from taking that immense blob of energy that belonged to no one… I'm glad to see her saved...Again, I could feel oneesama’s arms around my body, I couldn’t respond to any words of hers…I couldn’t hear nor speak. My vision slowly faded into darkness and the only thing I could feel from her was those warm tears dropped onto my face. I never had seen oneesama cried before…now that I know she’s alive, I can at least sleep peacefully…
I guess if next life do exist…I want to be together with Yuki and oneesama again…the three of us…. together…. again…
Book III: [The Shadow of Despair and Jealousy]
~BOOK CLOSED~