Pacifist

The room was dimly lit, suffocating in its silence.

Kayd Arakawa stood at the center, katana in hand.

He wasn't afraid.

He was ready.

His grip on the hilt was steady, his stance relaxed but coiled like a viper.

Blood stained his pristine suit, though none of it was his.

Kairi, Kasumi, Aika, and Rin stared him down.

No words at first.

Just hatred. Tension. The weight of everything.

Then—

Kayd chuckled. A low, arrogant sound.

"You've finally made it. I was starting to think you'd die crawling through my house like rats."

Kairi's fingers twitched. She wanted his head.

Kasumi, still reeling from Jin's sacrifice, gritted her teeth.

Aiko cracked her neck, calm but sharp.

Rin's fists clenched, her breathing slow and controlled.

Kayd lifted his katana, admiring the blade.

"You know…" he mused, eyes gleaming. "I've spent millions just to erase you. And yet, here you are. Standing."

He turned the blade, catching the dim light.

"I should feel furious. I should feel insulted."

His lips curled.

"But instead, I feel… excited."

Without warning—

Kayd lunged.

Steel sang.

Kairi dodged sideways, the katana missing her face by inches.

Kasumi sidestepped, drawing her knife.

Aiko twirled into position, fists tightening.

Rin moved last, shifting with deadly precision.

Kayd exhaled. "Let's end this."

And the fight began.

Kayd's katana arced through the air, aimed cleanly for Kairi's throat.

Too fast. Too sharp.

But—

"Move!"

Rin shoved Kairi out of the way.

Steel ripped through the air, missing its mark—barely.

Rin felt the wind of the blade graze her cheek, a sharp sting following as a thin line of red traced across her skin.

Kairi hit the ground hard, rolling onto her feet.

Her amber eyes snapped toward Rin—who had taken her place in Kayd's sights.

Kayd exhaled. "Tsk."

His grip on the katana shifted. "Brave. But foolish."

Without hesitation, he went for Rin next.

A downward slash.

Rin twisted, barely dodging, but the blade sliced through her sleeve, drawing blood from her forearm.

Kayd didn't let up.

Another swing—aimed for her midsection.

Rin parried with her dagger, sparks flying as metal clashed violently against metal.

Kasumi charged in from the side, aiming her knife at Kayd's ribs—

But he saw her.

In a single motion, he spun, kicking Kasumi square in the gut.

She gasped, stumbling back.

"Pathetic." Kayd sneered. "You're all just desperate dogs, chasing something you'll never reach."

Kairi's fists tightened. Something snapped inside her.

She lunged.

Fast. Too fast for Kayd to counter.

Her foot collided with his wrist—

Forcing him to drop his katana.

Kayd's eyes widened slightly.

But his smirk never wavered.

"Good."

His fist flew— smashing into Kairi's jaw.

She staggered, spitting blood.

Kayd cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders.

"Let's see if you fight as good as you kill, Kairi."

And then—

The real battle began.

Kayd's fingers locked onto Kasumi's and Aiko's skulls.

And with one brutal motion—

CRACK.

Their heads slammed together, the sickening sound of bone meeting bone echoing through the room.

Kasumi's body slumped instantly. Aiko let out a weak gasp before her knees buckled.

Kayd tossed them aside like broken dolls, their unconscious bodies hitting the floor with dull thuds.

Then, his eyes locked onto Kairi.

And he charged.

Kairi barely had time to react—

But Rin did.

She moved before she even thought.

Her body—her life—thrown in the path of a monster.

Kayd's arm was already mid-swing, aiming to crush Kairi where she stood.

But instead—

Rin took the hit.

A sickening impact.

Kayd's forearm smashed into Rin's ribs, folding her body like paper.

Her breath left her in a sharp, broken gasp.

Her feet lifted off the ground.

And then—

She hit the floor. Hard.

Blood spilled from her lips.

Kairi's world froze.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Her vision blurred with rage.

"RIN!"

Kayd exhaled, shaking his wrist. "Tsk. Another idiot throwing her life away."

Rin coughed, barely able to lift her head.

Yet—despite the agony, despite the blood staining her lips—

She grinned.

"Kairi…" Rin rasped. "You better kill this bastard."

Kairi's fists clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms.

Her breath turned shallow. Ragged.

A new darkness settled over her.

Kayd smirked. "What's wrong, Kairi? Feeling something for once?"

Kairi's head tilted—her amber eyes burning with something terrifying.

Something murderous.

Her voice dropped, dangerously low.

"You're dead."

And then—

She moved.