11 The Cursed

Korū was breaking down on the roof, with Hikari making sure he didn't jump off or something, though he wasn't depressed enough to do that. His thoughts were going wild in his mind. His tears flowed freely, something most people would never live to see, but he didn't have the energy to be pissed at himself for not controlling his emotions.

Hikari hugged him, and he didn't pull away as he normally did, but leaned into her embrace ever-so-slightly.

Easily tracking their scent, Alina and Linda found the twins and they settled down together on top of the building, which was, coincidentally, Duke and Bethany's house. It was empty at the moment, with Felicia being taken care of by the Alpha family.

Korū was silent by then, staring into space, eyes dull. Hikari leaned against him, quietly offering her support.

Somewhere downstairs, Aiki was hugging Kaito as the latter mourned for his siblings, torn between beating the living crap out of Akui and the fact that he was actually once a pretty good dad. To him.

How he treated Takara and Ryota was a different story.

Linda and Alina gazed downwards, watching the ongoings of the pack. People were worried and confused: they were not told of what the two Gammas were attempting to do. They only knew that they were now dead, along with two other dragons. They had four queer visitors, two of which were residing in the hospital, one of them severely injured. The other two were sitting on the roof of their deceased Gammas' house, mourning for their parents, while their new Female Gamma, who wasn't doing her duty, and the frisky tiny wolf accompanied them, where they creepily observed the pack.

Korū stood up, gripping the railing of the building as he gazed out across the land. Then he threw back his head and let out what sounded like a cross between a roar and a howl. In the ancient dragon-speak it meant something along the lines of "May the Moon God guide you". Hikari joined in, lending her cry to the mournful song that rang out across the land. Back in Japan, the whole of Bloodmoon offered their voices to the moon, bloodstained weapons laid down for the one night of peace amidst the grief that pierced the hearts of everyone who knew the two Zeta.

Alina and Linda listened as they watched pack members jump in fear from the suddenness of it all.

Korū went back to being depressed soon enough. He was probably going to get drunk again later on, especially with no one to ban him from drinking even if he doesn't clean up after.

Alina sighed as she lay back against the roof. "We'll be okay. Eventually."

"Heh." Korū's eyes were filled with bitterness. "You think? I honestly doubt it."

"You'll get there eventually. It always feels like that at the start." Alina answered, as Linda gave her a concerned sideway glance.

Alina took a deep breath. "I used to have a brother. He was four years older than us."

She sat back up, hugged her legs, and continued. "He always protected me, especially because of my size, which gives me a natural disadvantage. Six years ago, the 19th Gamma Tournament took place, and I insisted on coming. It seemed like fun and games for me. On the way to the pack that was hosting, we were attacked by a mixed band of rogues. He took a knife for me. More than just a knife." Her heart still twisted as she said this. It's been six years, but she was still weak. Pathetic. "So I guess I know what it's like to lose someone."

"Your parents are still alive," he said softly. "That's something to be grateful for. And it's like, we're cursed to die, y'know?"

"It doesn't work like that. They would have to die eventually. Hell, we will have to die eventually. The reason we are even trying so hard is because we want to make the most out of everything we are given, even if they are going to fade eventually." Alina said. "And my parents don't even care." She added. Muttering to herself.

"No one in my family has ever lived past forty, damn it," Korū hissed. "Except my asshole of a grandfather."

"Hey, Kaito is still alive. You are still alive. Prove yourself wrong, that you can live till a ripe old age. While you're still alive, you'll always still have the chance." Alina said. "And by the time you see them again, at least they'll be proud of you for living life to the fullest."

"Firstly, he's thirty-three. Secondly, it runs in my grandmother's blood, so he's not affected." Korū glared blankly at something unseen. "There was this witch a few generations back that apparently hated my family for whatever reason and cursed us all."

"And how do you know that it affects you? You haven't died yet. Anyway, you could find a witch or wizard to break the curse." Alina said.

"There's no point. If we take on the griffins or some shit we're bound to die anyway. And I don't really care."

Takara screamed internally, watching them from the other side of the roof, but she didn't say anything because they wouldn't hear her anyway.

"Really? You don't care? So if I were to challenge you to a duel right here, right now, you wouldn't try your best to win?" Alina asked.

"I fight to win and to protect people." His voice was void of any emotion. "I don't fight for my life."

"So does that mean that you don't care about Hikari? About Kaito? If I were to stomp my way into Kaito's room right now, to kill him, would you stop me?"

"If Korū dies, I'll kill whoever killed him and kill myself." Hikari said helpfully.

"Like I said, I'll fight to protect people. I will kill you if you lay a fucking finger on my family. If I live, fine, I see another day. If I die, so be it. Besides, Yonaga-san won't let anything hurt my uncle if he can do anything about it."

"You say that you'll fight, so why aren't you fighting now? Why are you letting this situation get to you? You realise that by not trying your best, right here, right now, you are putting your twin in danger!" Alina cried indignantly, jumping to her feet, and gesticulating aggressively,

"Look at yourself! What are you doing? Nothing! You're sitting around here doing nothing except mourning and wallowing in self pity. How are you to protect others when you can't even protect yourself?"

"Am I being ignored?" Hikari asked.

"I'm not gonna die right now, dumbass," Korū spat. "And I don't plan to do nothing. Fucking hell, is it wrong to mourn? Are you gonna just go right up to my uncle and be like ''Get the fuck up stop moping and get your shit together'?!"

"It's not wrong to mourn, but it's cowardly to give up. And don't tell me you're not giving up, you said, I quote, 'I don't really care.' Not giving a shit about whether you die or not is giving up. Fuck, if you die, who's gonna keep Hikari from committing suicide? Are you sure you trust anyone enough to take good care of her?" Alina huffed, getting riled up.

"Not giving a shit whether I die or not is my fucking business. And Hikari isn't being serious. Plus she doesn't need anyone to take care of her."

Alina scoffed. "Fine then. Korū, in the mood to let off some steam?"

"No."

"Doesn't matter. I challenge you to a duel to the death."

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