Despair

Kaguya stood behind Mikado as he threw off a nameless zombie and gripped his sword with both hands.

"Are you ready, milady?" He asked.

"On your mark." Kaguya replied as she deftly twirled Calcify in her hands.

Mikado nodded and charged at the horde of zombies, slicing through the waves with concentrated strength and speed, cutting a way through the crowd at remarkable speeds. Takeko scowled and moved to utilize the grimoire once more but paused. In that moment, Mikado pushed aside the last zombie and Kaguya shot forward through to Takeko. Takeko reacted and jumped backwards but Kaguya's leg shot out faster, knocking the grimoire far away from Takeko.

"Can't do your magic now." Kaguya smiled, "It's fine. I won't have Mikado helping me out any further than this. Our fight will be between us and only us. A fair fight."

"A fair fight you say?" Takeko scoffed as she drew a dagger from her robes, "You say that when you wield Calcify, one of the most deadly venomous weapons in the world."

"Calcify operates by taking the poison sac from a dead Usude Fuchi and chambering it into this dagger." Kaguya tapped on an open slot on the back of the dagger, "The venom is then extracted and directed to the edges of the blade where they 'calcify' into a solid edge. Without any poison to fuel it, Calcify is just a regular dagger, albeit a somewhat blunt dagger."

"And you plan on killing me with that dagger?" Takeko scoffed.

"I hope I won't have to." Kaguya stated, "We don't have to do this, Take."

"I said, stop using my nickname!" Takeko cried, "We're no longer friends! Not after you killed my parents."

"I know. I knew this day might come when I went to kill your parents." Kaguya looked pained, "But you are...were genuinely my friend. Even if you say we're no longer friends, I don't want to kill you. We can go our separate ways without having to kill each other."

"Say that to all the people you killed!" Takeko spat, "Tell that to my parents!"

"The situation's different now." Kaguya closed her eyes, "I didn't have the power to change my country before but now I do. I don't have to kill anyone anymore and I don't want to."

"So you think you can just assume the throne with all that blood on your ledger?! You think a psychopathic queen who killed her way to the throne is the right person to lead our country?"

"Like I said. This was never about my country or the people. It was for my friends."

"Your friends?!"

"Yes. I couldn't bear to go through losing my life a third time. So I carved my way to a life that won't risk the loss of any more lives."

"Were you thinking of me, your friend, when you killed my parents?!"

Kaguya bit her lip, unable to respond to Takeko's accusations. Takeko lunged forward, ready to drive her dagger into Kaguya's body. Calcify slid up and deflected Takeko's attempt, Kaguya side stepping her former friend's attack. From that one exchange, it was clear who had more experience. Kaguya may not be a knight but she knew enough of combat to move and act effectively. Takeko on the other hand had lunged like a wild animal trying to end the life of her target. No strategy, no follow up for when she missed, stumbling herself to a stop before she could fall when her attack failed. Takeko had seen not a shred of combat before. It was clear who would win. And yet…

"You monster." Takeko growled, "Do you not feel shame or guilt for what you did?"

"An overwhelming amount." Kaguya replied sadly, "There is no death that doesn't haunt me. There are nights where I despise what I've become so much more than you ever will."

"Then why won't you just die?!" Takeko cried, swinging wildly at Kaguya again.

"I can't. Dying after killing so many people would make their deaths meaningless." Kaguya replied, struggling to accept her own words, "If I can't change Hatsuyuki, I would just be a murderer."

"You're already a murderer." Takeko scoffed, "You can try to pretend to be anybody else but you're never going to be anything more. You can sit on the throne but the only think you deserve is a guillotine!"

Kaguya bit her lip, Takeko's words distracting her long enough for Takeko to make a strike that Kaguya barely managed to block in time.

"Why are you trying?!" Takeko cried, "What is it that you even want to do?! You don't even know! How many more people will die before you finally decide to do something?! How long will our country have to wait before a good leader comes to guide us?! When that day comes will you still be murdering to keep a position you don't know anything about?!"

Each of Takeko's words struck Kaguya deeply, each thought that they incurred draining strength from Kaguya's body as Takeko's dagger inched closer and closer.

"How long are you planning on just waiting for someone to come solve everything for you?"

"Huh?" Kaguya and Takeko turned their head as Roko spoke up.

"How long has this country seen people claiming to be the solution to everything only to be stymied by more and more people who claim the same things they do? How many of these 'good leaders' will kill and ruin the lives of those people to try and touch that throne? How can you trust anybody who says something like that time after time again?"

"Wh...I-" Takeko stuttered, stunned not just by Roko's rebuttal but by his intrusion.

"I ask again. How long are you planning on waiting for the right person? What's wrong with Kaguya? Why shouldn't someone try to be the change that they want to see instead of waiting for a perfect someone?"

"R-Roko." Kaguya smiled as the two girls withdrew their weapons from each other, "I-It's fine. You don't need to speak for me."

"I won't if you can actually defend yourself." Roko scoffed, "You talk about how you can't die here for the sake of the people you've killed but here you are losing without even putting up a fight. Make up your mind. Do you want to move forward or do you want to atone for what you've done?"

"..." Kaguya took a deep breath and steadied her body once again, "I got it. Thanks, Roko."

"Don't mind me, just losing blood out here." Roko grumbled.

Takeko turned to a newly revived Kaguya and roared as she swung her dagger at her. Kaguya parried each attack with more ease than before, keeping Takeko from her with a calm and assured smile.

"What? What are you smiling about?" Takeko scowled, "What are you so cheery about?!"

"No, it's just..." Kaguya giggled, "It all seems a bit silly now. My panic."

"What's silly?! You act like you've got it all figured out."

"I don't. But that's why I have others to help me."

"Others?"

"Yes. Nobody rules alone and I have no desire to have an absolute rule over everything. I've never intended to kill anybody whose ideas were beneficial to the country and her people. If one of such of these people were to succeed the throne, I would have no problem with it. But people aren't that simple. Ruling a country isn't that simple. I can't do it alone. That's why I need help. And I would love to have your help as well, T-"

"Don't you dare!" Takeko roared as she swung wildly at Kaguya who deftly dodged her attacks, "Don't you dare claim you want to work with other people when you've killed everyone in your way thus far! And now you want to work together?!"

"I do. I've killed to get as far as I have but I'm not stupid enough to think that will always be the solution. Killing won't make the world any better. I've been selfishly killing people for my own benefit, I won't run from that. But the responsibility I now have, not just as their killer but as the future ruler is one I take seriously. All I ask is for a chance, Take."

"A chance?!" Takeko cried, "After everything you've done you want a chance?! You, who has never even seen justice for all your actions? After lying to me about my parents you want to pretend to be my friend again?! Are you even aware of what you've done?! You!" Takeko swing her head around to glare at Roko, "Do you even know why my parents were killed?"

"No." Roko raised an eyebrow.

"They wanted to move the capital."

"...Oh?"

"They wanted to leave Fuyuki for another town." Takeko growled, "Establish a new capital away from all this chaos. But you prevented that. You killed them!"

Takeko turned back to Kaguya who looked away in guilt, "I...Fuyuki is my home, I..."

"Are you going to tell me you still love your hometown? After losing your life twice to this town's people and nobles? Or is it that you didn't want to have to chase the throne across two towns?! That everyone who actually ever wronged you is here and going to another place would mean you have no justification for your murders?! Did you believe that you couldn't become the queen if you couldn't murder your way to it?!"

"I..." Kaguya bit her lip, "I didn't..."

"And thanks to you, I'm stuck here!" Takeko roared, "Even if I wanted to leave everything behind, I would have nothing! I have nothing here and no way to leave for a better life! All because of your stupid ambition! Was that worth it?! Was ruining my life worth your happiness?!"

"..."

"You took everything from me. And you still me to be your friend?"

"I do." Kaguya stated, "I really do. And I understand that you don't want anything to do with me but please at least let me offer you this. Not as your friend, not as the person that killed your parents but as a stranger. Let me help."

"You dare?!" Takeko snarled.

"There's nothing that I can do about the past!" Kaguya cried, "I killed your parents, yes. I really wish it could have gone differently but there's nothing I can do now. The only thing you and I can do is move forward. You can hate me all you want but no matter how many truths you spew, you can only move forward through actions. So please, let me help-"

"Stop it!" Takeko shouted, her anger abating for a brief instant in her tone to expose a hint of sadness and guilt, "I don't want anything to do with a killer like you! With the killer of my parents!"

"..."

"No more." Takeko said tiredly, "Just...just die!"

Takeko charged again, swinging her knife weakly which Kaguya guarded with a pained look on her face. Kaguya closed her eyes and shot her leg up, kicking Takeko in the stomach and sending her reeling back in pain.

"I understand you feelings." Kaguya sighed, "But if you don't want my help, there isn't anything I can do. But I can't fall here. I have to finish what I started. For the sake of the people I've killed and for the sake of the people I've killed for."

Takeko flared up at Kaguya, a flicker of fear crossing her face before being buried under mindless hate.

"You...I can't...die here..." Takeko stumbled back, "I...I need to bring...justice..upon you."

Takeko retreated backwards, her eyes seeming to grow crazed. Kaguya stepped forward, her expression cold though her own agony could be seen flickering underneath her eyes.

"I...need to take revenge..."

Kaguya's eyes widened as Takeko reached out behind her and grabbed onto the grimoire on the ground.

"No!" Kaguya ran forward to stop Takeko, but it was too late as an otherworldly magic burst out from around Takeko and the dead began to rise around her.

"I...I must...stop..." Takeko gasped as she held onto the book, black light pouring from between the pages as Takeko heaved ragged breaths, eyes seemingly empty of light as power swirled around her protectively.

Mikado stepped forward to assist Kaguya but his princess held out her hand, bidding him to stop. Kaguya looked forward at the mass of zombie and readied her knife. As the zombies moaned and shambled forward, Kaguya charged and began to cut away at the horde. Any arms that came close to her was immediately sliced off by Calcify though the blade never went for the heads of any zombies. Instead, Kaguya used her remaining arm and even her legs to rip, tear and knock apart the heads of the decaying corpses, defending herself with her weapon as she used the rest of her body to tear through the crowd. Steadily, Kaguya made her way through the sea of dead towards Takeko. Her former friend watched Kaguya's uninhibited slaughter of her dead men, the sight striking a sense of fear in the poor girl. Takeko stepped back again and again as Kaguya mercilessly made her way to her, Takeko gripping the dagger close to her body in fear.

"Why?" Takeko cried, "Why are you so obsessed with becoming the ruler of this godforsaken country?! You've twice lost everything in this country! Why would you want to stay here?! Why would you go so far for this damned throne?!"

"Because there are people I still care about here."

"People?! You mean the people who rose up and slaughtered your family after a few treacherous promises?! The people who then turned around and helped you out of pity?! You want to help these people?!"

"..."

"Did they even tell you?! Did they even tell you who attacked your parents?! Who killed your family and why?!"

"I knew." Kaguya replied softly, "I knew without them telling me. They could have pitied me. Hypocritically saving the same person they orphaned. But in the end, they also saved me. Without their help, I wouldn't even have anything to lose again. I wouldn't be alive. That doesn't mean I forgive them for what they did but there's no meaning in persecuting them."

"What, are you trying to act like a saint?" Takeko gritted her teeth in frustration, "Do you think that means you'll be forgiven? Why do you have to be like this? Why are you trying so hard to stay alive?! Only moments ago, you were all ready to die by Roko's hands! Why are you fighting back?! Why won't you just die?!"

"Because it's you." Kaguya said as she kicked a zombie's head so hard that it spun around completely, snapping it's neck, "If it was Roko, he would only kill me for my sake. And even if you are no longer my friend, Take, I would be willing to die by your hand as well in the right circumstances. But as it stands, I have something important to do left."

"What? Becoming queen?"

"Stopping you." Kaguya replied as she knocked the chin of a zombie up with her palm, "That power is dangerous. It's unnatural. I can't let something as hazardous as that go free."

"...I took this power to take revenge on you. If I needed to give this up after I kill you, I would do so willingly."

"Really? That's a relief." Kaguya said, "But it's not quite that simple."

"What do you mean?"

"It's already been corrupting your DNA, making it unrecognizable."

"What?" Takeko cried, shocked.

"This power is evil. The longer you hold onto it, who knows what will happen to you?"

Takeko looked down at her book, its pure black cover now unsettling her. She looked at it thoughtfully until Kaguya finally burst through the last zombie and pounced on her old friend. Takeko cried out and raised her knife in defense but the tip of Kaguya's knife came down and clashed against the side of Takeko's, pinning the weapon against her chest as she reached out with her other hand and grabbed onto the grimoire, suppressing the light and stalling the zombies from spawning and approaching her.

"How's that?" Kaguya smiled, "Think you can still win?"

"Gh...grrr..." Takeko scowled but fear had softened her hate and scorn as Calcify ground the side of her weapon against her body, right over her heart.

"Then, as the winner, I'll have you do whatever I want." Kaguya giggled, "You don't get to complain. You don't get to refuse. Understand?"

"...Tch." Takeko turned her head, unable to respond with her usual fervor.

"Then, I'm going to have you exiled from this country."

"What?" Takeko looked up at a smiling Kaguya.

"Of course, we'll set you up in a normal home and you will be given a small fund to establish yourself. I'm sure your parents left you some money as well." Kaguya said, "I'm sure we'll never see each other again after this."

Takeko slumped over, stunned into silence as she looked down at the ground, unable to say anything.

Kaguya stood up with the grimoire in hand and released a long, exhausted sigh.

"It's over then?" Roko said as he stood up as well.

"You fought splendidly, Lady Kaguya." Mikado bowed as he walked up to his princess.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this." Kaguya bit her lip, "I really wanted to be friends with you."

"…Friends..." Takeko muttered, her eyes glazed over and blank, her expression eerily hollow.

"What do we do with this?" Kaguya asked as she held up the grimoire.

"The right idea might just be to burn or destroy it." Roko held out his hand for the book, "But Zadkiel probably has her own plans for it."

Kaguya gave the grimoire to Roko who opened the pages and looked at the alien characters scrawled within. The page radiated no power anymore and there was nothing that Roko recognized as a character from any language that could possibly even be conceived. No matter how much Roko tried to force some sort of reaction from the book, the book didn't respond. But in the back of his head, a sort of whispering began to echo about. The more Roko focused on it, the clearer it became, though it wasn't saying anything that Roko could recognize. It didn't seem directed to him either, the sounds seemingly carrying past him and towards…

Takeko was kneeling on the ground, defeated but she had begun muttering something that could barely be heard.

"Friends...no...that's not...that's not what I want." Takeko's muttering grew a touch louder, "That's not what I want. That's not what I want!"

Takeko suddenly jumped forward and grabbed onto the grimoire, trying to wrench the book from Roko's hands.

"Take?!" Kaguya cried.

Roko tried to keep his grip on the book but his shoulder wound and all his fatigue lost against Takeko's sudden inhuman strength as she tore the grimoire from him and stumbled back, hugging the book to her chest.

"That's not what I want." Takeko gasped, "I don't want to leave. I don't want your pity. I don't want your money! I just...want you dead!"

Takeko opened the book again and the pages began to glow once more. Takeko's body shuddered and spasmed, her body contorting into monstrous proportions as her flesh began to expand and her face began to warp into that of a monster. The aberration lunged toward Kaguya, grabbing her by the neck as it tried to push her to the ground.

"Kaguya!" Roko and Mikado cried as Mikado drew his sword.

Kaguya tried to pull the monster's arm away from her, but to no avail. As the grip on her throat tightened, making her unable to even say anything, Kaguya had no choice but to plunge her dagger, Calcify, into the monster's chest.

Almost at once, the monster's struggles ceased and the mutations to Takeko's body seemed to return to normal as Takeko's hands let go of Kaguya. Calcify had struck directly into her chest, landing a lethal wound. As Takeko began to slowly die, she reached up with one unsteady hand and gripped the horrified Kaguya's arm, looking up at her former friend one last time with spite and hate.

"I'll never forgive you." Takeko croaked as she pulled herself away from Kaguya, off of her weapon and fell to the ground, dead.