202 There is no light

When she wakes up, she finds the Arata person making a camp fire with some random pieces of wood. Arata looked over at her. "Oh, you're awake."

Sumire blinked and looked at him cautiously. She looked down at her clothes for a moment and a relieved sigh escaped her lips.

Arata rolled his eyes. "Relax, I'm not interested in women."

"So you swing the other way?" Sumire trailed off. "Ah, could it be you attacked me because your jealous of my relationship with Toh-"

"Like hell."Arata cursed. "I knew there was something off about your fighting. If you're not well, you shouldn't be doing a dangerous job like this."

"Well, originally I didn't think it would be this dangerous. How was I supposed to know they'd have such a creepy tunnel hidden?"

"Do you think this tunnel is normal? I think you figured it out by now, but on the way here you must have smelled the blood, seen the torture devices."

"You must be the first person I know who would speak about torture so casually." Sumire looked at him. "Mister, why didn't you attack me when I was defenceless? You could have made it so I never woke up again."

If they are similar, he seems to be the type of person who would fight to the death with her.

Arata sighed deeply. "I didn't come here to fight, like I said to you I got a request to rob the people that were being kept here. Damn it," he cursed. "Before I knew it, I was trapped down here."

"Trapped?" Sumire questioned.

"Yeah, you can't get out. I've been here for three days already."

Sumire blinked. He could be tricking her and yet, for some reason she felt as though she could trust him.

"I see, I suppose we have no choice but to investigate. A temporary truce?" Sumire extended her hand out.

"Now who is the one acting casually." Arata accepted her hand. "Alright. I will tell you what I have learned."

As Arata explained the situation, she turned her attention towards the dead body of the third person. Even in his disfigured state, there was something familiar about him. Where has she seen him before?

"But you know you, should probably stay put. That wasn't a good sound just now."

"Sound?"

Arata pointed at her heart. "The sound of your heart beat was unusual. You should get that checked out if you don't know."

Getting it checked out, that means going to the hospital. She could just go to the Holy knight s medic center. But, if she does that then Aki-san will find out. If there truly is something wrong with her, he won't assign any jobs to her and give it to her friends.

"How do you know Toh?" Sumire asked, shifting the topic.

"He used to be part of the same group as me abroad."

"A group?" Sumire repeated.

"I'm a terrorist." Arata admitted.

At those words her eyes widened. Huh? Huh? She thought he was going to say that Toh was a former yankee and belonged to an underworld group like her. It seems he was part of a group, but as a international terrorist? Toh?

"Why do you look so surprised? I am sure you have seen the signs already."

No, no she didn't- Sumire thought back to when Toh beat up Sano in the hospital. Since that time she realised there was a hidden side of him that she didn't know, a darkness that may rival even her own. Ever since then, she has been seeing small signs of that darkness. Like when those girls bad mouthed her.

So Toh was also…? She was having a hard time believing it. But, if this is person is like her then he has no reason to lie.

"Toh is a lot calmer and he is even an expert psychologist."

"Ha right, I heard about that. But it makes sense don't you think? He has met all sorts of people while he was a terrorist. Of course he can understand the minds of criminals better because he was in the same situation before."

"He has regular clients though." Sumire pointed out.

"That's even scarier, he is analysing the minds of others so he can manipulate them."

But would Toh really do that? He has shown her nothing but kindness since they met. If he was manipulating her, she would have noticed right?

"People like you, me and Toh all live in the darkness. There is no light, no matter how much we attempt to live a normal life."

"Then, are you saying we shouldn't even try?"

Arata looked her up and down. "Toh aside, your reeking from darkness from head to toe. Your a student and some popular singer?"

"Well I suppose."

"Those two things will eventually weigh you down. Eventually you will realise how hard it will be to maintain that life style."

Sumire sighed deeply. This person is very blunt, but he makes a point. Recently she has found it very difficult to maintain everything going on in her life. She feels very suffocated. If she continues staying as a member of the underworld, her normal life will be affected. Everything she worked hard for her will be destroyed in an instance.

But, how can she leave the underworld now? Her hands have been stained by blood so many times already. No matter what she does, violence and darkness will always follow her. She has made far too enemies. Even if she quits now, she won't be able to live a regular life style.

In fact if she quits, the last layer of protection she has will vanish and she may be openly targeted at school. The only reason why those who hold grudges against her don't attack her in school is because of Aki's protection, because of the pact regarding yankee fights. If she were to quit, then she is no longer part of that deal.

It's already too late for her.

"Sometimes I don't understand what is going on." Sumire mumbled. "I'm supposed to be a normal high schooler, and live with my family. But my family aren't around even though they should. They died in an accident, I saw them get killed. They are not around anymore. Sometimes when my mind goes blank, I don't understand what that means. I don't know what is right or what is wrong." She laughed weakly. "You're right, I can't live a normal life. But, at this rate. I may end up surrendering to that deep darkness inside me and destroy everything."

She may end up giving up, and destroying her hard work and even those she loves with her own hands.

But, if that is the sacrifice she has to make for peace then she will gladly do so.

*Unedited*