Chapter 492: "I Won’t Let That Happen..."
’And they said to her, "No, we will return with you to your people." But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me." -Ruth 1:10-18
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{Demon District}
SeiõrSnow continues to fall over the cul-de-sac containing several homes around the perimeter.
A single bonfire dances at the very center of the circular neighborhood, and the majority of Takamagahara (excluding Laban) is sitting around it, relaxing after their stressful day.
The sounds of forks scrapping against the inside of metal cans is nonstop and those watching the unintentional eating contest, do so in disgust.
Shelly and Taylor are cracking open, then devouring the can contents in ravenous form. Sitting next to each other, with a pile of empty soup, ravioli, and other types of previously canned foods rests beside each of them.
Dom: "Sh-Should we stop them?"
From across the flame, Below Sanpaku Saku stares at Above Sanpaku Katsu.
The two chosen Vessels for their respective contemporary forces communicate telepathically while the rest of their group uses verbal communication.
Katsu(telepathy): *You wouldn’t know this, but today’s outcome wasn’t decided by whether or not Shelly would survive...*
The leader of the group snaps out of his disturbed trance and chuckles off the gluttonous scene.
Daisuki: "Nah, because of Ms. Laban’s graciousness, we have plenty of food for our most powerful allies and those who seek shelter under our jurisdiction."
The comedic background gorging is continuously heard from the pair of powerhouses.
Katsu(telepathy): *There were multiple opportunities for me to be killed intentionally, or through accidentally asphyxiated by the enemy today.*
Saku swallows his spit and tries to absorb as much pain in the tone behind his frienemy’s inner voice.
Daisuki looks back at a two-floor home behind him. Sitting against the front door is Captain Whistler. His arms are crossed, eyes closed, bald head down in deep sleep. A single empty can of food with a plastic fork inside, beside his leg.
Scylia has mostly recovered from her recent dispute with Laban’s older sister. She sits in between Daisuki and her other lover, Zoram.
Scylia: "Are we sure it’s a good idea to let them roam around and recover their dead men in the morning?"
The mentioning of her unfortunate victims distracts Shelly enough to make the overpowered Ace slow down, swallow the mouthful of food she has, and wipe the pasta sauce off her face.
Katsu(telepathy): *...Because of this damn eye, I have to live, knowing exactly the repercussions to each of our failures.
The hopelessness from losing her.
The suffering caused by relentless pain.
The defeated feeling from my own death.
The realization of having to go through it all again, to succeed for her sake.*
Daisuki: "Of course.
It’s a sign of respect.
To make sure their partners who died don’t become food for the scavengers."
There is silence under the crackling fire, as the group of young adults try to contemplate their leader/mentor’s words.
Katsu(telepathy): *...
... Nobody could ever understand, the selflessness behind my ’selfishness’.*
No longer surprised by the Yang’s darker center, the Izanami captain narrows his gaze, but he is getting better at silencing his own inner monologue.
Shelly is try to remember exactly what happened between the time MamMon told her Katsu was in trouble, and that moment tied up Katsu’s voice snapped her out of rage.
To Shelly’s left, Zoram reads her translatable emotional body language.
Zoram: "Don’t feel guilty, young heroine.
You did what you had to, in order for your cherished friends to survive."
The 19 year old woman who single handedly wiped out 1,000+ armed soldiers, wipes golden hair out of her own face.
As she speaks, no one notices Katsu and Saku continuing to stare daggers at one another through the dancing flame.
Shelly: "When I try to recall what happened before saving Katsu, the flashes of moments I do remember, it was like an all red filter covered my vision.
I only saw the outlines to objects, and people, but I didn’t hear anything except a constant high pitched ringing, paired together with a low hum."
Katsu(telepathy): *Today won’t be the final instance in which I will have to knowingly walk into the pits of Hell, all for her.*
Shelly’s blue eyes focus on her clean palms. Both hands having repainted nails the same color as her passed down optics.
From her perspective only, blood covers them and the remorseful warrior chokes on her recent war regrets.
Shelly: "Heroes don’t lose composure and massacre an army of soldiers weaker then themselves.
I don’t want to be known as a killer, because now MamMon can paint us all more as terrorists...
But I can’t stand the thought of losing not just Katsu, but any of you guys."
Finally allowing his inner thoughts to be heard, Saku tries to explain to Katsu the miscalculations due to the fear of his foresight.
Saku(telepathy): *If that’s true, then how far are you willing to drag Shelly with you through Hell, Katsu?*
Katsu(telepathy): *Do you not understand what I’ve already been fucking telling you, numbnuts?
This. Existence. Is. Hell.
Shelly and I are working to build our future happiness, but unfortunately, the jealous shit birds of humanity, and your DæMon bitches won’t allow it.*
Shelly closes her fist and wipes her tears dry before any can fall.
She takes a slightly runny nosed inhale and exhale. Sniffling once, her guilt slowly fades and the all natural blaze reflects in the Valkyrie descendant’s heartbroken eyes.
Shelly: "I’m sorry for dragging you all into this unrequested infamy. If I had known my bloodline had such a past, I would never have befriended any of you.
To prevent this."
Saku(telepathy): *...And what if Shelly’s integrity breaks before you two achieve your vision of a utopia?*
Shelly: "Sooner than later, if I have to keep murdering droves of enemies who want us all dead, I might just become the exact monster they believe me to be already."
Saku(telepathy): *What if the true ending you desire, turns that woman you love into a monster you’ve yet had the opportunity to see?*
Katsu(telepathy): *Then I guess I’ll have the humility and be humble enough to say, ’she is just like me’, and by that time, the concept of integrity will mean nothing. Only the unbreakable trust between her and I will be all that remains.*
Itsuka: "I won’t let that happen..."
After hearing her best friend’s apology, Itsuka has stood up and looks down at the pitiful blonde.
Itsuka: "...’Don’t let the ones you cherish change for the worse, because sooner or later, you’ll see the one you once cherished, no different than how others have seen them all along’... remember?"
Shelly’s immaculate memory recalls the first night the two women talked together while Katsu was recovering from his gifted IceEye transfer.
Breaking their Anjell EyeEngagement the two surprised captains turn to look at the tall, gorgeous Izanami Vice-Captain.
Being awake during the girls ’private’ conversation, Saku too recounts the wholesome introductory discussion between the two.
He smiles at the woman who reflects his righteous spirituality.
Itsuka: "When we talked about my dead ferret PipPip, I confessed to letting my dead pet turn into a rotten form of what I once loved...
I’m going to learn from my own words, and I won’t let you become rotten from conflict.
It’s our fault for not taking more of the load of warfare off of you, Shelly."
Shelly: "Its...uka..."
Taking the chance to gain some respect, Dom also shoots to his feet and holds his flexing right bicep.
Dom: "Hell yea!
From now on, whenever you need backup, I won’t hesitate to let the beast out the cage!"
Smirking at the spontaneous tenacity exhibited by the Izanami Gunner, Sol tries to bring him back down to Earth.
Sol(scoffs): "Pfft!
I’d say you’re more of a penguin in a cage.
Even if we let you out, you probably ain’t going anywhere."
Jormungand admires his Division superior’s dedication to helping fight their opposition.
Small, soft fingers rests on top of his, and the purple haired younger brother turns to see the hand belongs to his smaller, but older sister, Drakania.
Flush pink, she avoids making eye contact with her sibling while she speaks low enough for only him to hear.
Drakania: "I’m really proud of you, Jormy, and I’m so sorry for what I said earlier."
The speechless, larger little brother doesn’t understand why she is randomly praising him, or why she is apologizing.
Drakania: "Even though I’m not that useful when it comes to fighting, I’ve always tried to be your guardian angel, and guide you to where I believed you should go, or the choices you should make.
But when you were clearly deciding to go help Itsuka, I realized my guidance could only take you so far.
I’ve already been reprimanded for holding you back, due to my own fear of losing you, but I still tried to threaten you by saying I’d hurt myself.
I’m a low-grade sister, and I’m sorry you’ve had to overcome me."
Making the undersized big sister *YIP!* and turn bright red in surprise, is the encumbering embrace from her only blood. Smiling and leaning in on her, Jormy cherishes the moment as a tear rolls down his cheek from a closed left human eye.
Jormy: "As I was leaving, I was so freaking scared of stepping into a warzone..."
The overprotective Drakania nestles into her adored brother, and she too treasures the moment.
Jormy: "...But when I thought of how I’d feel if the warzone managed to reach you, that fear disappeared, and I was able to assist in helping Big Sis Itsuka."
Suddenly, the Takamagahara members who are sensitive to their SeiõrSense turn in the same direction to the Northwest.
