Chapter 92

Some distance away from Gabriela, Yukina puts down Yuji on the ground, sitting behind the trees.

"are you ok? You had a direct hit with her whip, didn't you?"

Yuji took deep breaths, "I did, though only with my right arm," raising his arm, "but for some reason, all the pain that I've been feeling earlier… suddenly left my body…"

"what?"

Swinging his right arm, he thought, "Alicia, did you do this?"

"No, apparently it just disappeared when Yukina brought you at a certain distance away from Gaby,"

"I see…."

Yukina pulled her face closer, "Yuji… then does that mean you're ok now?"

Yuji nodded.

"That's good and all… but we don't know when she could activate it again,"

Yuji stood up, "more importantly, what are you still doing here?"

"what do you mean?"

"I told you to get her sisters, right?"

"You don't understand… Yuji,"

"huh?"

"it might be personal for Gaby… but I think I should tell you,"

Meanwhile in Gabriela's perspective.

Destruction, hearing the noise of the whips ravaging the area around her, she encloses herself within two massive luminous lights in the form of hands, hugging her knees with a blank expression and disrupted emotions.

"I… did it again. I can't control my power, not even my current emotions… all I can do is suppress myself,"

As she drowns in deep thought, flashes of her memories began playing in her mind.

"That's right… all I can do when this happens is suppress myself… I can't go try and do anything else, that would just make things worse… like last time…"

Destructive images appeared in her head, half-destroyed buildings, kids crying, people stunned with fear from a distance. Reminding herself of her regret, she further buries her head into her knees, gripping her hair with frustration.

"If my sisters hadn't arrived by then… I would have…"

Suddenly, another flash of memory played, giving her shivers down her spine as her eyes showed fear, "sister… last time this happened…"

Flashes of blurry images played in her mind, a wide and empty room filled with nothing but the color gray, sturdy-looking walls, heavily guarded metal doors, blurry images of uninviting food, and two heavy metal chains placed on both of her hands.

As the memory continues, her sister stood in front of her.

"Sis Uriel!" Gabriela said with joy, "I'm so sorry about this, but…"

"This is your fault…" Uriel said in a cold tone.

"Sis…?" Gabriela's expression drastically changed as she locked eyes with her sister's cold stare.

"engaging a street fight with a civilian and getting your power out of control like that, what do you think you were doing?"

"but sister, they were insulting…"

"SHUT UP! No excuses!"

Gabriela shivered, feeling fear all over her body as cold sweat begins to come out of her forehead.

Uriel walked closer, making Gabriela shiver with every step, "listen, Gaby…"

She stops in front of her, locking eyes closely with one another, "we… are symbols of hope, we are a lot more powerful than anyone in this city, maybe even the world… but having power without proper responsibilities is just like an Akuma…. And tell me, Gaby," pulling her face closer, "what do we do to Akumas?"

Feeling as if her stare was an immense threat, tears fell out of Gabriela's eyes as she further shivers with fear.

"what's this? Tears?" wiping off the tears under Gabriela's eyes, "that's a sign of weakness, we can't have that… don't worry, you are my precious little sister, I know you're strong and will learn a lot from this… you'll have more chances. But remember, people who don't follow their responsibilities are just like Akumas… and we…" standing straight forward, pulling her face away from Gabriela, "KILL Akumas… even if they're human, degenerates who act similar should be punished all the same… lowly people who easily get blinded by power or any sort of greed, should all be punished. Remember this, my cute little sister. It's ok to be violent… just keep it under control, and make sure the one you want to hurt doesn't get away,"

With dead eyes and an emotionless expression, she turned around.

"S…sister?" raising her cuffed hands.

"you'll be staying here for another whole week, learn to control your emotions by then... You're smart, I know you can do it," as she walked away, she stopped and glanced back at Gabriela, "oh, and remember…. Don't show any weaknesses… I'm already having my hands full with Alicia's death, so don't go bothering me unless it's absolutely necessary,"

Gabriela's whole body went light, kneeling on the floor, feeling as if her sisters' last stare was a threat. She began showing signs of relief as Uriel left the area.

End of flashback.

Meanwhile.

Yuji gripped his hands, feeling frustrated.

Yukina let out a sigh, feeling a heavy weight within her chest, "after getting out that prison-like place, I noticed she was trying so hard to look happy, always smiling and laughing easily, she also avoids any topic regarding her stay in there…. It took some time, but she began to act normally after a while and seemed like she wasn't acting anymore… but I'm scared… I'm scared to know if did she actually recover? Or had she just gotten so good at acting that I didn't notice…." Gripping her hands tightly.

Yuji stood up, looking the other way, hiding his face from Yukina, "I see… that's why we can't call her sisters,"

"Yuji? What are you doing?"

"she's right Yuji…" Alicia said in a trembling voice, "what you're feeling right now is my emotions… please notice,"

"I know…." He replied in his thoughts, "knowing that now, I still just can't leave her alone here!"

"But you're thinking of something reckless! You can't just go back in there and you know it! The moment she detects you she'll definitely activate her power and you won't be able to move in pain!"

"then let's sync…"

"Yuji…"

"When we sync, you can take away anything I feel physically right? We just have to be careful of our limits and…"

"Yuji… You don't have to do this,"

"What do you mean?"

"What's happening is because of my existence, you don't directly have anything to do with this… this is your life, you don't have to put yourself at risk for my issues,"

Yukina stood up, "Yuji… let's go, I don't think she can move from her current state, we can get some resources and think of a plan, and in the worst-case scenario… I'll call her sisters,"

Yuji turned around, looking past the trees in Gabriela's direction, "that won't be necessary,"

"huh!?"

"Yuji!? Didn't you hear what I said?" Alicia shouted.

"I did… loud and clear,"

"THEN…"

"But I don't understand… I can feel your anger, and I'd be lying if I said it's not affecting me. Right now, you're being unstable, maybe that's why…"

"what are you talking about?"

Yuji scowled, looking past the trees, leaving Yukina confused.

"Alicia… You said this is all happening because of your existence, and your right, this is all happening because you are here…"

"then why…?"

"I was able to survive because you were there… now I'm here because of your advice and guidance, it's also because of you that I can be stronger and have a chance of finding the truth behind what happened in the past. Other than thinking it's your fault, isn't it much more suitable to say it's thanks to you?"

"Yuji…"

"Also… aside your feelings and will to fix your family, I think it's much more important to focus on something we both have in common right now, isn't it?"

Yuji smiled as his eyes began to shine bright.

In sync with Yuji, Alicia took a deep breath, "you're right… right now let's focus on what we both want the most right now,"

Memories of Alicia and Yuji's moments with Gabriela flashed through his mind, remembering her smile, leaving a mark in his head, "these memories, I see you really care for your sister,"

"what about you? Did you get the hots for my sister all of the sudden? To remind you, you only knew each other for a little while, not that I'm against it though, but she's still a kid!"

"please stop… you know it's not like that,"

"Hehe! Though, thanks… for caring about my sister,"

Yuji took a step back, smiling with serious eyes.

Yukina looked concerned, "Yuji? What are you thinking? You were just spacing out a while ago and…"

She shivered, seeing Yuji's face and posture, emitting an aura quite familiar to her, "this feeling… it's as if…"

"Alright!" Alicia shouted, filled with energy, "Let's talk about all the complicated stuff late! For now…"

"Let's save Gabriela!" Yuji shouted, dashing through the forest with incredible speed.