CHAPTER 22: SPITEFUL ENCOUNTER
Everyone is back home, Imma-Ite throws himself onto the sofa and lays Ashi beside him. Maya takes a seat on the floor, everyone else stays standing up.
Rinka: … It feels like we did something illegal.
Minaro: … We probably did.
Maya: … Destroying buildings is really illegal.
Rinka: … You guys think the guardians actually care about building damage?
Minaro: I feel like they do.
Rinka: … I also feel like they do. We're probably gonna get in trouble for all the damage!
Imma-Ite: … Man, who cares about that! I wanna know more about Bukkaru's badass form.
Minaro: … Badass form?
Two meows come from Bukkaru.
Doa: He said that he can activate it only when he's somewhat hurt. None of you are willing to hit him to see it, right?
Imma-Ite: I'll do it.
Another meow.
Doa: He said fuck off.
The gang laughs.
Minaro: … So what's the form?
Maya: He turns into a really buff dude.
Minaro: … Oh, that's odd. But cool?
Rinka: … Guys, what do we do with the kingpins?
Rinka looks at the 3 tied up unconscious guys they captured.
Doa: We can call Sumairu to come and take them to jail.
Rinka: Okay, let's do that.
Imma-Ite: … Well, I'll leave you to it. I'm going to sleep.
Rinka: … I think we should all rest too, and tomorrow we can talk about this more.
Maya: Sounds good!
Rinka: … Shit. I just remembered a Guardian was supposed to go over to the town to help us.
Doa: … Did they?
Rinka: I think they did… They're 100 percent gonna find out about the building damage!
Imma-Ite: … Damn, nothing we can do about that.
Rinka: … Yeah.
...
It's morning now, Rinka places a flower near a stone in front of the skill center, Imma-Ite is staring down at him.
Imma-Ite: Is this a grave for Iwo?
Rinka: Yeah, I thought it would be nice to remember him here.
Minaro walks out of the Skill center.
Minaro: Hey, I brought pizza, come get some.
Imma-Ite: Hell yeah! Is there sausages on it?
Minaro: I think so.
Imma-Ite rubs his hands together.
They all head inside, Sumairu comes out of the hallway.
Sumairu: Awesome news! The guardians thanked you guys for getting those guys arrested!
Rinka: That is awesome news!
…
Everyone's happily eating pizza in the kitchen, Maya and Imma-Ite start arm wrestling, Rinka, Doa, and Minaro are watching funny videos on her phone. Rinka and Doa are smiling, Minaro is watching calmly.
…
A few minutes go by.
…
Quick knocking can be heard, Rinka stands up to go open the door. It's Sumairu, he looks serious.
Sumairu: A Guardian's here, and they want to talk to all of you.
Rinka: Uh, okay.
…
Everyone walks into the main lobby of the Skill Center. They spot Rimin, he waves at them.
Sumairu: I brought them!
Rimin: Hello, my name is Rimin.
Rinka: Hello.
Doa: Hello.
Imma-Ite: Sup.
Maya: Hi.
Ashi hides behind Maya, Minaro stays silent.
Sumairu: So what did you want to talk to them about?
Rimin: The mission they went on yesterday.
Everyone is attentive.
Rimin quickly pulls his katana from its holder and strings rapidly shoot out of its tip that wrap around everyone.
Doa: Hey!
Imma-Ite: What the hell do you think you're doing!?
Ashi and Maya struggle, trying to wiggle out the string.
Minaro looks confused, Rinka looks worried.
Sumairu: Rimin, what are you doing?
Rimin: A big building in Cazuya was destroyed and several people were hurt. But that wasn't even the worst that happened!
Everyone except Minaro and Imma-Ite look worried.
Rimin: 20 people were found dead.
Rinka and Doa are surprised.
Rinka: 20!? That's impossible!
Doa: We made sure no one died!
Minaro looks even more confused.
Rimin: Well, clearly you didn't make sure enough, that's how many people were found dead.
Imma-Ite: It wasn't us then! We didn't kill anyone!
Sumairu: Do you really think these guys would go against the rules of the Guardians?
Rimin: They were working with Skillers, so I have my reasons to believe that they did.
Doa: We would never kill that many people! Or anyone innocent!
Rimin: As if I'm supposed to believe that. You're also working with one of the Skillers who's above Rank 7.
Rinka: Huh? No we're not.
Rimin: The girl with brown hair is a Skiller.
Everyone looks at Ashi, confused.
Rinka: What?
Maya: That's not true at all!
Rimin: She matches the description of the people who have seen Rank 9. Her eyes are the same, everything's the same!
Sumairu: Rank 9!?
Ashi looks very nervous.
Ashi: T-that's not true! I can't even use my Skills properly!
Rimin: Really now?
The strings around Ashi unwrap and mix into each other to make one string that impales her.
Rimin: Attack me with your full power.
The area is filled with strong amounts of wind, Rimin holds onto his katana tightly. The wind knocks everyone else to the floor, Ashi runs towards him.
She attempts to punch Rimin, he stares at her, and she's quickly pinned to the floor.
Sumairu: … Telekinesis. I forgot you have that Skill.
Rimin grabs Ashi by the hair. She is emotionless under his control.
Rimin: Tell everyone your role as a Skiller.
Ashi: I am Rank 9. My leader sen-
Rimin: Oh, leader? The Skillers have a leader? Tell us about the leader of the Skillers. What's his name and what does he look like?
Ashi: Our leader is known as Yutsu. He has white hair, his eyes are red and yellow. He loves dad clothes, and is really strong.
Imma-Ite: … Wait, you guys never knew about the Skillers having a leader?
Rimin: … Did you know?
Imma-Ite: No, but you could just assume they did.
Rinka: … I also just assumed the Guardians already knew.
Rimin: We didn't know, their leader has never been seen. This is gonna be amazing to tell everyone else!.. I guess that means that there's actually 15 active Skillers around.
Rimin lets Ashi go.
Rimin: So anyways, tell us about your role as a Skiller again.
Ashi: … I am Rank 9, my leader sent me as a spy, I have to monitor the ones with Black Blood.
Rinka, Doa and Maya look sad.
Maya: I refuse to believe this!
Rinka stares at the floor, worried.
Rimin: Refuse all you want, this is the truth.
Rimin stops her hypnosis, and she starts crying.
Ashi: I'm sorry for lying to you all! But even if I am a spy, I still care about all of you! You're my friends! I was even planning to ditch my boss and just be a normal girl! So I could stay with you!
Rinka's distraught.
Doa: … Let her go! She hasn't done anything wrong!
Rimin hypnotizes her again.
Rimin: How many people have you killed?
Ashi: I have killed around 39 people.
Rimin: Nothing wrong, huh?
Doa's hurt.
Rimin: Well, I think it's been a fun time, but I've got to get going.
Rinka: … Hold on, I- I want to ask her things while she's hypnotized… Ashi! Back then, when we saved you at Maligan, why did you let yourself get hurt if you were Rank 9?
Ashi: … I love pain, I love it when I'm hurt. At first It stings but then the feeling it gives me, I adore.
Rinka's absolutely appalled.
Rinka: … Do y- you really care about us, Ashi?
Ashi: … Not at all. Everything was an act.
Rinka makes eye contact with the ground again. Rimin laughs, and removes his hypnosis from Ashi. She just stares at the floor, crying.
Rimin then stabs her shoulder, she yelps.
Maya: Stop it!
Rimin: Stop it?
Rimin kicks her in the face, and she lies on the floor.
Rimin: Doesn't she like this?
He stabs her back and starts slashing it repeatedly, Ashi trembles. Next, he kicks her face multiple times.
Rinka: … Stop.
Maya: Stop! You're gonna kill her!
Rinka: Stop, please.
Rimin: You guys piss me off! She doesn't care about you at all and here you are trying to stand up for her.
Rinka: … Just stop hitting her!
Rimin notices Rinka trying to look away from conflict and pulls him towards it. He punches Rinka, Everyone's worried, surprised.
The strings around Rinka unwrap and form into one that impale him, he's now hypnotized.
Rimin: … Torture Rank 9.
Rinka grabs Ashi's fingers and breaks them one by one. She cries out each time, but after the last one, her face has a smile of warped happiness.
Minaro, Doa are extremely worried.
Minaro: … Stop the hypnosis! You piece of shit!
Doa: Please, stop it.
Minaro tries his best to break out of the strings but can't. The others are looking away from the mess. Rimin hands his katana to Rinka.
Rimin: Torture her more with this, then kill her.
Rinka slashes Ashi, her legs are cut open, and then her arms. A giant puddle of blood forms under her. Rinka then finally stabs her neck, ending the life.
Rimin stops the hypnosis. And Rinka's legs give in, he kneels on the floor, and drops the katana, tears run down his face.
He starts crying loudly, several memories of his dead family flash through his head. It's blinding.
Minaro's full of rage.
Minaro: … YOU PIECE OF FUCKING SHIT! I'LL KILL YOU!
Rimin: I was actually planning to kill you all right now, but I think instead I'm just gonna arrest you. I wanna make you guys suffer.
Rimin ties a traumatized Rinka up.
Rimin: We should get going, I'm gonna take you all to prison.
Rimin notices two piles of his strings just sprawled on the floor. And abruptly, Minaro appears beside him, holding a quasar, and tries to punch his stomach. He quickly dodges.
Doa emerges on the other side and manages to hit him.
Rimin: … You have a lot of nerve to attack me.
The two are instantly wrapped under strings and hypnotized.
Rimin: … I've had enough of this lot.
Rimin drags them to a limousine parked outside the Skill Center, and stuffs them inside. After, he goes back for the rest.
The last thing he does is return to Sumairu and allow the strings on him to unwrap. Sumairu stares in disbelief.
Sumairu: … Why would you do that to them?
Rimin: Killing 20 people is an extremely evil crime, is it not?
Sumairu: … Are you really sure they did it? I seriously don't believe they did.
Rimin: I am 100 percent sure they did. I'm going to take them away now, you can decide to defend them or not.
Sumairu's lost, he walks down the halls of the center.
…
A while has gone by, the limousine is driving around a city. Inside it, Imma-Ite is causing a ruckus trying to escape. Maya looks annoyed and bites Imma-Ite's arm to try and get him to stop.
Imma-Ite: Ow! What the hell!?
Maya: Stop moving around, you keep bumping into me!
Doa stares at Rimin, who glances at her.
Doa: … Can we at least go to court, or something? Can we defend ourselves!?
Rimin: Nope, straight to prison.
Doa: This is unjust! You don't even have the evidence to claim we did anything wrong!
Rimin: … I don't need evidence, who will they believe? Me? A strong Guardian that has helped stop several crimes or a bunch of lowly teens who are working with the Skillers?
Doa: We aren't working with them!
Concerned, Minaro is staring at Rinka, who is fixated on the floor, and soulless eyes.
…
Rinka is standing in a pitch Black, endless, empty place.
"Where am I?"
He looks around.
"What the hell?"
Then at his hands and body. His clothes and skin are the same color as if he were on earth during the day. The darkness doesn't affect the color in any way.
He starts running, his surroundings don't change.
It is just endless darkness.
He stops and pinches himself, but nothing changes.
"... I don't feel anything… Am I dead?"
An unknown voice speaks.
"I've finally found you."
Rinka quickly turns, a guy with dark pink hair resembling Rinka's, is standing near. His eyes are all black and a creepy smile is plastered across his face. He has a dark green long sleeve shirt on and dark red pants.
Rinka: … Who are you?
"I am Nunda, nice to meet you."
Rinka: Nunda? Do I know you?
Nunda: … We've met before, but you most likely don't remember me.
He starts laughing. Rinka looks confused. He walks to Rinka and places a hand on his shoulder.
Nunda: You killed your family, right?
He quickly sucker punches Rinka. Rinka hits the floor, and Nunda starts to repeatedly pummel him, another laugh comes out.
Nunda: You killed them, didn't you!? YOU KILLED YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY!
He pulls Rinka up by his neck, staring down at him with a maniacal grin. Rinka's tearing up.
Rinka: I didn't kill them! I don't know what happened! How do you even know about that!?
Nunda: … Because I killed them... I'M THE ONE WHO TOOK CONTROL OF YOUR BODY THAT DAY, I'M THE ONE WHO BEAT THEM AND STABBED THEM TO DEATH IN YOUR BODY!
Rinka looks distraught.
Nunda slams him into the floor.
Nunda: I would have killed more people in your body had I not been interrupted by another Void user.
Rinka is trembling.
Rinka: Why?
Rinka quickly stands up and tries to punch Nunda, his punch connects but Nunda looks unfazed.
Nunda smiles.
Nunda: … Seems like you still don't know how the Void works. I don't mind telling you, since I would love to have a fight with you that doesn't end in a minute.
Nunda grabs Rinka's arm and holds it tightly.
Nunda: Feel like you wanna hurt me, Imagine you wanna hurt me.
Rinka has a face of mixed anger and sadness. He punches Nunda and this time, Nunda is pushed back, he feels the punch.
Nunda: We are Void users! We manipulate the Void!
No response from Rinka.
Nunda: Void users are people born with the Skill to manipulate and use the Void. How do you not know this?
Rinka tries to punch Nunda again, Nunda dodges it and grabs Rinka's hair pulling him down towards his knee. Nunda slams his knee into Rinka's face, Rinka stumbles back.
Nunda: … This is the Void! This is where the souls of the dead go, they wander the endless darkness for eternity!
Rinka: ... So I'm dead?
Nunda: Currently yes, but that's because I managed to find your soul in the Void and I brought your consciousness to it. If you knew how, you would be able to take your consciousness back into your body on earth and ignore me. But you don't, so I'm gonna beat the shit out of you.
Rinka: … What?
Rinka and Nunda throw several punches at each other but only Nunda's connect while Rinka's keep being blocked.
Nunda: When people die, their souls come to the Void and so do their consciousness. Void users always have a soul here, only that their consciousness is not inside of it until they're actually dead or are forced into the Void. And since I am a Void user I was able to force your consciousness in here!
Rinka: … What the hell … If it's an endless place of darkness, how were you able to find my soul?
Nunda: All Void users are connected, I died in the real world after being executed. Once I was in the Void, I felt the energy of a soul of a different Void user who was currently alive. I was able to manipulate the Void to track your location and started heading over here. I even had to fight other Void users but they were no match for me. I'm the strongest Void user!
Nunda punches Rinka in the stomach, Rinka grabs Nunda, but Nunda reacts quickly and lifts Rinka over his back and slams him into the floor.
Nunda: You can't beat me!
Rinka: … If I'm a soul, how am I feeling pain!?
Nunda: I don't know why we can feel pain when we're souls, I just know that it's possible to make others feel it if you manipulate the Void.
Rinka stands up and tries to punch Nunda, Nunda quickly punches Rinka in the stomach.
Rinka: … Why did you even bring me here!? Was it just to tell me you made me kill my family and beat me up!?
Nunda: I only told you that so that I could laugh at you!.. I came here to steal your body again, I have unfinished business in the world… You seem to be the only Void user alive, and ever since the day I killed your family, I've been heading to the location where I tracked your soul. I ran in the Void for years and I've finally found you so I can't let this opportunity go to waste!
Rinka: … I won't let you control my body again!
Nunda: You say that as if you can stop me!
Rinka tries to punch Nunda multiple times, he dodges it and pummels Rinka multiple times. Rinka falls to the floor, Nunda looks down at him.
Nunda: It was nice talking to you, but I've gotta get going. I'm glad I was able to answer all your questions about the Void... So come and get me!
Rinka tries desperately to stop Nunda from moving forward, but Nunda kicks him and disappears.
Rinka lays on the floor crying, his eyes close.
…
Back in the limousine, Rinka stops staring at the floor and stares at the ceiling instead, Minaro notices his eyes are all black.
Rimin: Alright, we're here, Gybabay Prison.
The limousine stops in front of a somewhat massive prison, several guards are on duty.
Rimin takes everyone out of the car and starts walking them to the prison entrance.
And a couple of hours go by.
TO BE CONTINUED...