5: Secrets Part 2

SANJI

One foot... In front of the foot. Then the next foot...in front of the other foot...

Walking in the nothingness. White everywhere. Why was there no sound..? Ah yes, there was sound. Loud sounds. Children??? Yes children. Children talking abundantly and the sounds of metal on wood. Scraping sounds, banging sounds, lots and lot of walking sounds.

And smell. Smell returned. Lots of smells, lots of sounds. Food and freshness. Warmth. Perspiration. Crowdedness. The feel of solid smooth floor beneath sneakers. And the vision too, was returning. He was not in a phantom zone. There was a high ceiling with gigantic fans oscillating around, counters with servers behind. Rows and rows of benches and the swinging cafeteria doors swinging shut behind him.

Sanji stopped where he was. The world returned before his very eyes. He was awake, his senses rushing back and flooding him as he stumbled into the cafeteria hallway. The clock high above on the wall read 12:22. He couldn't remember the last several minutes or when he'd entered the cafeteria. 

He looked down and saw that his classmates Yoshida and Nabiko were on the lunch bench ahead of him. Yoshi was on his side and Nabiko on the other. He might have instinctively walked toward them without realizing it when they spotted him. Yoshi turned her face toward him and smiled.

"Hi Sanji-friend...  What took you so long?" She asked inquisitively. "did you eat yet?? Come sit with us," she patted the lunch seat beside her. Sanji obeyed mutely. He walked over and put both hands on the picnic-like bench, crossing his legs over to sit next to the girl. Nabiko looked at him with his constant wash of scrutiny as he toyed with the leftovers on his plate. Then he drew his attention away out of boredom.

"Sanji what did you eat? We didn't see you at all."

Sanji didn't answer. He stared at his hands on the table. It was a simple question, they were all simple questions. But he was feeling sick. Not physically- he was feeling overwhelmed and out of sorts. The white tablecloth filled his vision. The voice talking beside him; nonsense words, directed at him. Making him feel even more overwhelmed. Rising his anxiety.

"Mm, what's that smell though. You smell nice," Yoshi sniffed the air next to Sanji pondering to herself. "I know," she ducked her head in front of his face, "you smell like lavender. Did you just bathe or something?"

Sanji's eyes widened. Her face invaded his view and he was forced to focus on her. She was smiling gently, his lips parted. He could smell it too, he could smell himself smelling foreign. His heartbeat started pumping in his chest and up into his eardrums. He felt the oxygen in the room  depleting rapidly and tried to take in more as he stared at the face, becoming pallid and out of breath.

No no what was she talking about?? What was she saying to him? Why??? Why was he panicking? Why can't I breathe???

Sanji dropped his head onto his hands on the table suddenly, even the students on the other side of him looked across. Nabiko looked up, Yoshi jumped back in alarm. He breathed in raggedly and squeezed his eyes shut and clutched his chest. Before anyone could react, he bolted upright and fumbled back over the bench, away from Yoshi who cowered instinctively and Nabiko... and all the neighboring students who were starting to stare in confusion.

He almost fell over the bench in his rush but he didn't care. He had to move, he had to go someplace for air. He bumped into incoming students who yelled at him as he ran on his way through the cafeteria doors. 

Not even thinking where to go, Sanji was an uncoordinated lookingly drunk mess as he staggered down the halls. The few students backed off as he passed them. He had one hand on his heart, his head bowed, and his other hand held out in front to guide him.

His hand landed on a solid surface and he found himself crashing into the boys bathroom. No one was in and he was grateful for the privacy. He didn't know what he would do. He stumbled to the mirror and looked at the person reflected there, breathing haggardly. There were tears streaming down his reflection's face. The area around his eyes were gray and sunken, his cheeks were puffy and red and his hair was disheveled, falling into his face. He did not realize he had started to cry.

His breathing started to slow down but his emotions were not letting up at all. Why why what's wrong with me? Why do I feel like this? Why am I such a mess??? Sanji cried and lowered his head onto the sink's sill. I can't take it anymore. I can't do it, I'm so tired of being me. How do I get away from me? I can't stand it! I hate living! I hate me!

A strong new rupture of tears surged from within Sanji's chest and he cried out, forcing his face into his palms. He staggered back into the stall behind him blindly. The door swung open and welcomed him in. He sat back onto the covered seat and brought his legs up to cry. The hem of his black pants caught beneath his heels in minor comfort and he cried into his lap.

Make it stop, make it stop...To feel this, and have no idea why. To have no idea of his past, to be missing chunks from his present. What was the point? What was the point of enduring it only to be bullied, to be viewed with disdain. For people to call you freak everyday, to feel like fainting for no reason. Not having energy to wake up everyday although he slept all the time. Unable to focus on anything. Those weird dreams, his missing past...

"..." 

Sanji hugged his elbows tight. "Maybe I am a bad person after all." Maybe I deserve this. His fingers dug into the tender flesh of his forearms. They're right, I'm a filthy demon and I should be punished. I can't just run from it. I deserve this. I can't simply die... He dug into his yielding skin harder... I have to suffer, I have to pay. I deserve to be hurt. I'm disgusting.

Measuredly, Sanji raked his fingernails slowly but forcefully down his arms as the epidermis gave way beneath his pain. The white lines tore open and followed his nail's steady descent along his arms and down to his wrists. He brought his hands up to his elbows again, this time with more decision and  deliberation and impaled his fingers into his flesh. He brought it down his arms, working into a steady clawing motion. 

The long streaks of exposed white flesh began to colour over with red blood and trickled down his limbs to drip onto the floor below. He scratched himself over and over, exalting at the temporary pain before it became numb to him. He was doing something atleast, doing something to distract himself from his thoughts and his emotions, doing something to make him forget. Hurting himself like he deserved.

He wanted to show what he felt like on the inside, it was easier to see and manage when it was outside of him. His pale arms were now tattered shreds and lines of red and pink; where the cuts were not too deep, and white where he'd gone through to the flesh below. The blood was burning, his whole arm felt like a furnace of fire but it was not too bad. His tears and blood mixed together. He finally could breathe again. He couldn't count the number of lines of damage he'd done to his arms.

"..." With silent tears, Sanji looked at his arms. It seemed a minor victory in some way... and a part of him now. But he had to get rid of it. He couldn't allow anyone to see what madness he had done- they wouldn't understand. He'd be labeled more a weirdo than he already was. Still, with blood stains on the helm of his shirt and pouring over the base of the toilet, Sanji hovered his palms over the opposing wrist and closed his eyes.

Green lights of healing...

He tried to picture it in his mind. He felt a slight trickle of electricity from his fingertips and relaxed. It'd be over soon, he could return to his normal day. It was all good now. He was healing.

After a wholesome minute, he opened his eyes. He felt tense still but slightly relaxed. He looked down at his arms.

"What?" They were still torn into grizzly shreds. They hadn't healed even a little. Sanji stared in confusion and then down at his spread open palms. Why isn't it working?? He called upon the ethereal light again and it flowed over his hands completely. Quietly, he brought his right hand to hover over his left forearm and his brows knotted together.

The ethereal light grew and grew and touched his arm, but... nothing else happened. There was no substance in the glow, no warmth pulsating through it. Sanji kept his hand over his arm for a long time not wanting to deal with what this meant. He did not panic. Fate seemed to always be out of his favour somehow. Now his arms were marred and he didn't have anyway to explain it.

Without a sound, he put down his hands and stared down vacantly. Ok... well... He was going to have to wear a jacket from now on. If he could find one... Or maybe some arm warmers. And then... He would be able to heal himself eventually... Wouldn't he? This was temporary, probably due to stress. He couldn't imagine what the other students would think, what the teachers would say. It was, of all things, embarrassing and shameful. He hadn't thought it through.

But he also didn't regret it.

It had quelled his pain. Something no one else could do for him. And he didn't have many options short of knocking himself out completely. This was ok.

The bell ending lunch break sounded and Sanji waited in the bathroom cubicle in quiet. Ten minutes later, he decided that everyone would probably in class by then and stepped out of the stall, holding his arms awkwardly.

Calmly, he walked up to the sink with quiet steps. Should he wash his arms off? Well yes, but he had no disinfectant. He could only manage to rinse off the blood and he winced at the stinging pain of the water, recognising shower times were now going to be a painful ordeal. He wiped himself off with the napkins provided and hugged his arms to himself; all the better to hide them as best as he could. The claw like trenches wound all the way around his elbows however, so it would be impossible not to notice.

Carefully, he walked up to the bathroom door and pushed it open a few inches. He stepped out slowly. No one was around. He closed the bathroom door shut behind him and walked the echoing halls carefully, as though in a post apocalyptic movie, hugging his arms to his body.

Upon reaching his dorm, it was obvious that Sanji's dormmate had decided to drop in at the ending of the school day. There were clean clothes laid out on the other's bed and a pile of clothes crumpled in front the doorway, wet and stained with something smelling like urine. Sanji couldn't begin to imagine why that was. He stepped over the pile of clothes without scrutiny and walked over to his side of the room.

His closet; there were several racks lying on his closet floor. He swiped through the clothes hanging up rapidly with one hand. He couldn't find his single jacket though. Recognition dawned on Sanji. He stopped swiping. He bowed his head and lowered his arm.

The clothes at the door. Titan had used Sanji's clothes to mop up whatever mess he had made and left it there. "..." Sanji glanced at the pile and debated.

No. He wasn't going to wear a smelly damp jacket- unless he was forced to. Which is something his dorm mate might do to him depending on his mood.

Sanji turned back around and picked up a random jersey to hold over his hands whilst he waited to try healing again. He wasn't going to stay in the dorm to see what his dorm mate had in store for him today. In defeat, Sanji headed out the room, stepping over the pile of his clothes on the floor and gently closed the door shut behind him. There was only one place he could think of to go where no one would find him.

Back in front the medieval style wooden door. The door to the tower loomed above Sanji as he stared levelly back, one hand crocked in an imaginary sling, the right at his side. The new sliver padlock was still locked. Sanji raised his hand toward the door...

As light as a feather, his fingertips touched the wooden surface, and, slid through the great oak. His fingers, his hand, he stepped forward and closed his eyes for a second as he passed through the solid barrier.

Sanji stepped through on the other side and opened his eyes. He walked up the few blackened steps of the doorway, onto the landing above.

It was peaceful and quiet on the roof. The area was round and spacious; white unpainted stone dotted with black moss, green tufts, and flowering vines curling along the corners of the shoulder high railings. And...

Some of the animals in the cages looked up as Sanji walked pass them. There were about twelve cages of random sizes scattered along the back side of the tower. Most of them were eagles, hawks, and owls, but there was also a weasel, two foxes, and a baby ocelot there. Sanji could tell that they were all injured in some way as they were bandaged up, but he paid no heed as he walked past them to the opposite end. They, in turn, ignored him and continued sleeping. They actually seemed quite comfortable where they were.

The wind tugged at the shrouding shirt on Sanji's arms as he sat down against the baluster. He hugged it close to him and closed his eyes. No one could disturb him here. The day was starting to get better.

Clatter, clatter, clatter clatter! The sound of metallic locks jangling descended upon the airlight breeze. Is, someone trying to come onto the tower roof? Sanji didnt open his eyes however. But they can't, he felt at ease. It's locked and no one else can pass through walls.

The sounds continued for a few seconds then stopped, lulling Sanji more deeply into his falsified sense of security, breathing in nomadic flowing air. Then, the door opened.

Sanji's eyes sprang wide and he stared. Titan didn't notice him as he entered, shielding his eyes from the light of the sun and glancing down at his side where something small was darting in and out between his feet. The bigger boy walked up the three steps onto the landing casually without noticing Sanji there. Sanji was safe until Titan looked up and starting looking around at his surroundings. 

Sanji didnt move. Titan's eyes swept across the cages, seeming pleased with himself. Then his eyes swung onto Sanji and he almost jumped. "What the-" his face crumpled into confusion before changing into hostility when he recognised who it was. "You freak; what the hell are you doing here???" The little fox darting in between Titan's legs stopped as it heard the anger in the elder's voice. Its large ears puckered back and forth as it looked between the swearing boy and the stranger sitting almost thirty feet away.

Sanji's blood froze in his veins. He was so alarmed that he couldn't even move. What was his dorm mate doing there? Why did he have the keys to the tower?? Sanji gulped and opened his mouth wordlessly. Titan! Of all people Titan was the one who had found him! "I.." Sanji opened his mouth stupefied, "I..."

SICO

Mmmm... what was this? So soft...mmm comfortable. Was this the ample buttocks of a fat little sheepy? Was this clouds?  Hm. Wait, was this heaven??? No!!! Sico tossed his head back and forth on the feather stuffed pillow where he laid, causing the damp cloth on his forehead to slip down. NO! I. CAN. NOT. DIE!  

"Mmrgh... no..." Sico tossed his head to the side again and the cloth slid down onto his face. Something is... attacking me. "I'll... kill you." A shadow passed in front of his face. Sico sprang up and grasped the arm, the person and they tumbled off the bed.

He rolled over and asserted dominance over the intruder; their hand was captured in his in the air, his hand was at their neck and he straddled their supine form.

"..." Sico stared down at the passive face rigidly. Ayaka made no motion to move. Sico's stern expression allayed to surprise. "Wait, you???" he stuttered,  "what are you doing here???"

The oriental girl stared up into Sico's eyes. She looked as peaceful and beautiful as he remembered her. "I have been living in this inn for a while... Master Sico. I am the only one here."

"Huh," Sico made a small sound in his throat and surveyed the situation. Ayaka was wearing a floral patterned kimono parting slightly at her chest. Her long black hair was spread upon the wooden floor and in her hand was the damp cloth that had fallen from his forehead. He looked down at her chest once more and quickly blushed, stepping up off her body. He stumbled back till he was far enough that she could get up on her own.

"What are you, following me or something?" he accused her as mildly as he could to avoid addressing the awkward situation. She didn't appear bothered. She slowly got to her feet and folded the cloth in her palms. 

"No Master Sico. I am here on business," she said. "You are ill, please sit."

"..." Sico eyed the bed and then looked back at his caretaker. She seemed so submissive and was very pliant toward him, and yet, he found himself willing to obey her. Why did he trust her so readily? When he was seated, she turned and made her way to the stove in the opposite corner that was bubbling over with a pleasant aroma. Sico's stomach started to cheer and he suddenly remembered he hadn't eaten for a long time. 

Sico looked around the square of a room. It was an open design; the bed was in one corner and his sword was leaning against a tall closed closet on the right. The stove was opposite them with a counter and there was a round table in the last corner. Everything was bare but for the docile sunflower curtains shut over two rectangular windows, framing the door. It was small, humble and private. He looked back at the familiar stranger again. She was so modest and kind.

She reminded him of his mother. The room was cozily silent. The aroma of the soup was filling the tiny space and Sico cleared his throat. This was not his type of life anymore.

"This is a perfect day for Migurigum hunting," he said casually. Ayaka didnt react to his words. She scooped out a single bowl of soup for her guest, resting it on a bed tray and made her way over to him. She rested the tray next to him and stood still till he reached for the soup. He took a scoop and gratefully downed the contents.

"You shouldn't go out young master," Ayaka finally interjected when he was comfortably feasting. "It's going to storm soon."

Sico tssked. "It's very sunny."

Ayaka drew the sunflower curtain back. Black clouds donned the sky.

"I consider that very sunny," Sico huffed. "Atleast compared to my anger. Now..." he drew eyes with the lady and began speaking in an even earnest tone. The last thing he remembered was fighting against Axishi or maybe a different Migurigum in the alley that night. Both the bandit and the Migurigum were still fighting when he went down so one of them should have finished him off. "Why am I not dead? Where did you find me- or did you save me? Did the police arrive and where's the Migurigum from that alley- don't try to pretend there wasn't one."

"I found you in the alley young Sico," Ayaka replied. "I saw none else."

"That's it??? So why would the Migurigum leave me alive?"

"Why do you expect to be killed?"

"Because they're demons!" Sico breathed hard. Did he really have to explain this? "They're evil and they want to get rid of all humanity. They don't belong on this earth anymore, this earth is for God's creations."

"So... who is their creator?"

"I do not know. But I will happily send them to meet him."

Ayaka looked at him sincerely as he spoke. "Are you going to kill all of them?" She asked quietly.

"If one crosses my path I will kill it," he said. "But first I will start off with those five who betrayed my family. Konohimae and Axishi... Then I will find Fugo and Kira. And I will find the Boy." The one who mercilessly slaughtered and carved up my father.

"Young master do you plan to forgive any?"

"How is that possible?" Sico became irritated. "Do you think I'm wrong to want to kill these things?" Sico stomped up off the bed. He snatched up his soup bowl with angry gratitude and carried it to the opposite side of the room. The passive girl kept her eyes on him the entire time.

"I think you should get away while you can." she said softly, "They might be waiting for you young Sico. You don't know what they may have in store for you. You would only feel worse. I know how...." she looked down and closed her eyes. "I feel how you feel."

"You can't possibly feel how I feel. I don't even feel I feel." He was so angry she'd suggest that. He snarled and turned around to face her determinedly. "I just have to keep going. I think I need to start up the mountain now."

Ayaka's body grew taut for a second. "The mountain?"

"My teacher told me long ago that Migurigum prefer to stay in high places. They need to get away from the energies of the earth when they use power."

A very fleeting look of sadness it seemed to Sico, passed over Ayaka's face. Sico crossed her and went to his sword. He hoisted it onto his back and turned to face her at the door. She kept her eyes lowered so he took this upon himself as an invitation for departure. He put his hand on the doorknob next to Ayaka. 

"Don't go. If you stop now I will protect you," she trailed off when she realized what she was saying.

Sico shook his head and a peculiar bitter, vengeful smile came onto his. "Do you want me to go home??? I don't have a home anymore." He opened the door slightly. "And how do you plan on doing that? How do you plan to win against those demons."

"I grew up in a dojo. I've lived in the shadows for years."

Sico frowned. That was a strange answer and he could not believe it. He looked at the girl's soft eyes which was level with his. It was nice to have human company again. But it wouldn't help him on the journey he was taking. He had to harden his heart, but he felt forever indebted to her. His heart beat hard as he looked at her and her eyes. He put a frown on his face to secure his emotions and headed out. He walked off the dock that was belonging to the inn.

"Would you kill me too, if I was a Migurigum." Ayaka came out behind him and he turned around one more time. She stood there with an unreadable face and still beautiful eyes.

"You could never be a Migurigum miss Ayaka." He wondered what her story was and when he'd see her again. "Those monsters have no kindness, no compassion and you are the exact opposite of this. Besides, I will never hurt you." 

And then he headed toward the north of the town, leaving his thoughts behind.

Sico's chivalrous bravado died down when he started the long journey up the mountains. Stupid philosophical Migurigum garbage. It was one hour later and he was concentrating on his task when Ayaka's words eventually made it to his mind in a new irritating manner. She affected my mood quite a lot. Still, he'd eaten and managed to rest and he was feeling fairly better. The sky was still dark but it was sunnier up on the mountainside, making for precarious ground.

He took a deep breath as be made it to the top of the pinnacle and felt oddly calm. He came to a stop. There was no abodes or hut on the mountain top, he wondered how long it would take to actually find Axishi. It was seeming like such a simple day.

He felt something curl around his foot and kicked it off absentmindedly. Then he tripped. Slightly annoyed, Sico turned over onto his back to see the obtrusion. "What the-" a shadowy clawed hand was jutting out of the ground and pulling him down. What kind of madness is this??? "Raaawr!!!" The earlier tranquility was lost. He pulled out his sword and quickly brought it down on the irregular limb, snapping it in two.

"!!!" He jumped up as another large arm burst through the earth and snatched at air. As he landed, another arm caught his foot successfully and it shot upward, pulling him with it.

"AHH!" Sico held onto his sword as the endless arm shook him about, tightening his grip. He slashed out- the arm bent away like elastic. It started a wild shaking with Sico hanging upside down with it. The sword jerked out of his hand and spun toward the ground. It stuck upright as it fell, planted into the earth, metres away from Sico. Damn.

Almost as if pleased, the shadowy claws suddenly stopped shaking. Sico dangled, feeling like a helpless cat wriggling to be put down. He gave up trying after a while and sighed just a shadow fell across the blade.

"Hm?" Upside down, Sico's eyes followed the boot up, up the long black cloak, up to a face he squinted to see against the blazing sun behind them. It was futile however, whoever the person was was blocking out the sunlight and they weren't trying to help Sico's vision.

"Put me down this instant, whoever the hell you are." Sico growled out.

"Hmm.... Master Sico. You are not the master of anyone anymore." That cold voice. That emotionless voice that somehow still seemed chilling could only belong to one person. It was the family Renji's former house guard; Axishi. There was enough seeping light for Sico to see half of the Migurigum's non existent smile on his face even though the words themself sounded sneakily snide. Sico twisted around angrily in the air, his heart leapt into an uproar.

"Axishi!!!"

"You're evidently useless without your sword, aren't you. but I admire your over confidence nonetheless."

"Put me down on the ground and we'll see about that, Axishi."

Axishi. Axishi really was different from Konohimae. Unlike the calm indifference regarding murder, Axishi seemed pleased for it. So dark, his black long hair was thicker than Konohimae's, hanging down affront his shoulders and although it was in its custom neutral state, Axishi's lips were curled slightly at the ends into a smirk.

Sico tried to still his heart so that he could think clearly. He closed his eyes as began to speak as clear and calmly as he could. "You Axishi," he said, "you organised the annihilation of my family. Apologize and redeem yourself now. I just might forgive you."

Axishi's lips parted slightly after hearing the words "...You are quite interesting Master Sico. You may prove useful to me after all."

The demonic arm holding Sico let go suddenly and Sico dropped, managing to land on his feet. Axishi had already faded away and Sico swirled as he got up to face him in the opposite direction. He laid his hand faithfully on his sword beside him.

"I've decided Sico-"

Sico brought the sword in front of him.

"-if you manage to get even an inch close to me..."

Sico set his feet in.

"You will join me on my journey."

A shadowy demon arm struck up at the same time in the distance between them. Sico dived to the side. Another arm struck up from the netherworld- Sico dodged again and started running toward Axishi.

A volley of hands shot up in a wall way ahead of Sico and shot out across the mountain. Sico kept up his batting and slicing at the nearest hands, slash after slash. Nearing on Axishi, Sico jumped up to avoid them all but they snapped sharply to follow him up. A few caught his legs and he sliced them off. One held onto his arm and he twisted awkwardly to cut it off. But still, many many more kept appearing and reaching for him. Whether they were actual demons being summoned or an odd power, Sico did not care.

"Stupid stupid hands!"

His forehead throbbed once and his sword blasted into gold light. It swung down with the sword's true power and shattered the remaining arms before they could even begin moving. Then Sico's feet landed back to the earth, running toward Axishi.

"Hm, such nice power."

"Shut up!!!"

Sico cinched down with a downward blow that was deflected by a new rounds of callused hands encircling the Migurigum like a protective cage.

"Urgh!"

The boy slashed sideways and the hands all circled Axishi, splattering, regenerating. "Stupid..."

The hands stopped swirling and immediately spun the opposite direction, striking out at Sico repeatedly. Sico flew back and stabbed his sword down into the ground to stop flying. He rolled neatly onto his feet. Then he was off again- and repelled again. So he ran off again.. and was slapped back so hard that he let go of his weapon. He regripped his sword. Axishi was unmoving inside the cage of hands. "Stupid hands!! ARGH!!!"

Thud thud thud.

Sico flew upward this time, and the sword went down. The hands would normally come in the way for him to break through and he'd be too slow to attack before Axishi brought up another wave of hands. This time, as the arms stretched outwards, Sico flew on and met the limbs headfirst, mouth open- and he bit into it like a savage animal. Bone crunched and Sico held on. He pulled his head upward, ripping the thing apart, blood flying everywhere about and onto his face. Lifting this sword, he spun and broke through the defense, nearing shield-less Axishi.

The sharp edge of the blade was such a shiny gold, and the tip such a pointy end... Axishi's fingers slender and beautiful like all Migurigum but his nails were pointed. Axishi's eyes went to where Sico was and he raised his hand confidently. The soft underside of his fingers was reflected on the surface of the sword connecting with them. It was as if in slow motion...

The gold blade kissed the fingers and commenced a millimetre, maybe one more and then...

SLLLLLL!!!!

Sliced clean down the arm. Red spewed. Sico's eyes widened. Axishi looked at his ruined arm. He snapped his head forward to Sico's grinning face and his other arm shut out like a snake.

"Uh!"

His hand was curled around Sico's neck in a flash. Sico was still in the air before he realized what was happening. He choked. "You are," Axishi enunciated, "a pain."

Splash. The blood fell to the ground, the extended second of change gone. Now, Axishi had Sico by the neck in the air, holding his other destroyed arm out as though it did not hurt at all. The two of them faced off finally, all of the demonic arms, gone.

Rain pattered. Axishi looked into Sico's wide surprised eyes and squeezed his neck tighter. The sword fell out of Sico's hand as blood rushed up to his face. He grabbed at his neck. He couldn't breathe.

His hands clawed, pulling at the Migurigum's restraining arm but it was as if made of feelingless lead. Still he had to continue prying at the fingers on his neck. It was.. of course, no use. Am I going to die here..?

"You're not quite so confident or useful without the sword, aren't you Master Sico."

No. I can't die, Sico thought. I have to avenge my family. I cant leave these Migurigum on the earth! But his face was already blanching and his eyes drifting close.

He scraped Axishi's hands one more time but the Migurigum definitely was desensitized in this aspect as well. Sico held onto Axishi's hand for a minute again, even though he barely had any strength to keep his eyes open. His oxygen was running out. Then... slowly... one by one, his hands slipped down and laid placidly at his sides.