Akane’s POV
“What on Earth happened to you?” Akiro asked me. “Tsugumi, too… became like that.”
“The Dark Mage made us drink her blood. Once it entered our system, it completely changed our DNA and turned us into monsters.”
“That’s crazy...”
“When I was under her control… I felt so… So powerful...”
“It didn’t last for long, did it?”
I shook my head, “It ended up really painful. I’m thankful she came for me...”
“She?”
“I heard someone calling to me. She saved me from the darkness.”
“Well, I’m thankful to them. They saved my partner~”
“Eto… Akane-san, Akiro-san….”
“Eh? Nani, Mayu?”
“Tsugumi.. She’s awake.”
We both looked over. Tsugumi was sitting up, holding her head.
“W-What’s happening? W-Who are you people?”
“Tsuu-chan.. Do you at least remember me?” I saw Akiro walk up to her.
“Akiro…? Is that you?”
“Un. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
The two hugged. I was happy that they were reunited. I knew the two of them had a special relationship before me and Akiro.
“I’m happy if you guys are happy. Well, I’ll best be off.”
Miyuki grabbed my hand forcefully, making me give my full attention to her, “Where are you going?”
“I… have something important to do. Now, if you could let go of me, Miyuki.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“I can’t. Now, please.” I tried to make her let go, which ultimately didn’t work, “Miyuki, I know you might be worried about me but I have to do this alone.”
She looked at me with serious eyes, then sighed.
“Okay… Good luck, then.”
She let go and turned the other way.
“Goodbye, Miyuki.”
As I left, I started to remember… Those times with dad...
Flashback
“Akane, you realise that you have a lot of responsibility when I pass my leadership to you, right?”
“Otou-san… I know.”
“I don’t want to pressure you into any---”
“If you can’t tell, otou-san, I do feel quite pressured and I just can’t take it anymore!”
“I’m sorry, Akane. Please just--”
Before he could finish, I rushed out of his office. I felt tears streaming down my face, he knew I didn’t want to replace him but what could I do?
*Bang*
“Ow...” I looked up and saw a familiar face.
“Oh, Akane, I’m sorry. Are you alright?” Sae held out his hand to me.
“Sae-kun… I’m totally fine~ I’m the one who should be sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was looking.”
“What happened? You’re crying.”
“E-Eh? Nothing, really. It’s fine.”
“Akane,” he looked at me with a strong gaze. “I can tell when something’s wrong. C’mon, you can tell me.”
“I… I just don’t think I can lead the Night Walkers as well as my father...”
“Ah, that.”
“Un...”
“No matter what, I believe in you. I know you can do well.”
He hugged me tightly, making me cry in his shoulders.
Flashback End.
My thoughts were instantly disturbed when I heard a desperate cry for help.
“Oi~~~! Hey, you~”
“Hai?” I turned and saw someone walking this way.
“Can you help me? I’m travelling up from New Leaf City, I just need a place to stay for the night.”
“Oh, you can come with me. I’m going to Ellinia, to speak with a friend of mine.”
“Thank you!!!”
“No problem. What’s your name?”
“Tani Marika, yours?”
“Takayanagi Akane, pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too~”
As we started walking again, I listened to her as she babbled on about different things.
I kept silent. I was thinking too much about the past, wondering what happened to Sae and otou-san…
We were about halfway there, until...
“Nee, Akane-san...”
“Hm?”
*Slash*
“Eh…?” I felt a searing pain on my side, looked over and saw a gaping wound, “Ah..!”
“You never realised anything suspicious, did you?”
The pain was unreal. I knelt down in front of her, as if I was possessed again but this time, it was to the pain.
“Now that you’re in a vulnerable state, I’ll take my leave.”
-------------------------
The next morning…
Akiro’s POV
The next morning, we all packed our things again and started heading out. I looked everywhere for Akane but she was nowhere to be seen.
I wonder where she is… Hopefully it won’t be like last time…
“Stop worrying, Akiro,” Miyuki said reassuringly. “She said she had business to do. She’s probably there already.”
“Yeah, but...”
“Excuse me~” A voice called out.
“Eh?”
“Hey, can you all help me~?” A strange girl approached us. “Can you lead me to Ellinia?”
“Uh… Sure...”
“Thanks!!! I’m Tani Marika, btw!” She chirped as we started walking. “So, where are you all headed?”
“Henesys.”
“Ah~ Thanks for helping me out~”
“No problem...”
“What are your names?”
“Furukawa Akiro.”
“Watanabe Miyuki and that’s my sister Mayu.”
“Matsui Jun.”
“Matsui Rena...”
This girl seems really suspicious…
“So… Tani-san.”
“Hai? What?”
“Do you know where Takayanagi Akane is?”
“Hm? Who?”
“Takayanagi Akane. She’s with us. Well, she was, but she left to go somewhere.”
“Hmm~ Don’t know her~”
“Umm…”
She’s leading us into some sort of trap.. I feel it…
“What does she look like?”
“W-Well, she has a pretty circular facial structure… and she’s pretty short.”
“Hee~ she sounds cute. Is she your girlfriend or something?”
I blushed immediately.
“OMG she IS!!! I knew it!”
This girl is truly the most annoying person on Earth…
“Tani-san.” Miyuki suddenly raised her voice.
“Hai?”
“Are you…actually human?”
“Miyuki, what are you saying?!”
She came closer and whispered in my ear, “I have a faint feeling she’s being controlled by the Dark Mage...”
“Miyuki, stop just randomly accusing--”
“No,” Mayu stopped Jun from continuing. “I feel it...”
“Eh?”
“What?”
“There’s an evil aura surrounding her...” she pointed at Tani, making us all move away from her. “She’s just like what Tsugumi and Akane were… She’s one of them!”
After some silence, Tani gave an evil grin.
“Eh~ It seems that I’ve been found out… No big deal, I’ll kill you all like how I’ve kill your little friend.”
I stepped forward, raising my sword. “What did you do to her?!”
“Eh? Nothing much, just used, this.” She showed us a golden sword with a diamond hilt and a handle made out of the finest leather.
“How did you get that? It’s my family heirloom!”
“No reason, just maybe stole it~ And I also got this, I guess it’s the Takayanagi heirloom~”
“Wait.. What?!”
She held up a large throwing star, with diamond embezzled tips.
“Takayanagi, was it? This is in her family bloodline. It belonged to her great, great grandad, Atara, the Hero.”
“The Hero?!”
“Wait, that Hero?”
“Isn’t he one of the ones who helped seal her away in the first place?”
“Well, he didn’t work with me, I just forcefully took his son’s life~”
“No… Akane’s dad...”
“We need to get it back for you...”
“....” I clutched my sword tighter, wanting to kill her desperately, “I’ll never… forgive you..!”
“Eh~ Now you’re on~” She rushed towards me, trying to slash me with the sword that is rightfully owned by me.
I dodged and slashed behind me, causing me to hear the air slicing in half.
“Where are you?!”
“Behind you~” She slashed the sword across my right arm, causing a wound to form right down it. It made me wince in pain, with blood pouring down it like a waterfall, “Look before you speak.”
“H-How…?!”
“Never comment on my Mistress’ ways~” She slashed at me again, this time at my right leg, I collapsed on the floor, pain consuming my right side.
“Argh!”
“Akiro!”
“Ugh.. I’ll be okay...”
“Akiro, you can’t do this alone!”
Jun withdrew his sword. “I’ll fight with you.”
“I will too!” Miyuki took an arrow from her quiver, “I can’t let you die!”
“Akiro-kun, I’ll join too!” Rena took her staff out. I can’t believe everyone’s willing to help me...
“T-Thanks guys… Ah, itai….!”
“Just rest for now. We’ll take care of Tani.”
Tani giggled. “Try if you can~.”
“Ya! You bet we will!” It was the last thing I heard someone say before I lost consciousness.
Topic: The Legend (Various Pairs, Maplestory based Fanfic 30/1/15) (Read 14527 times)