As the door closed, Rikai walked down the staircase to see Yami staring at the door.

“What’s up Yami? Where’s Jitsubutsu at?”

“He said he was going to fight Shippai,” Yami turned to face Rikai. He wore a bittersweet smile. “He said he’s probably going to die.”

“And you let him go?! He’s a Jinsei no Hogo! If she kills him, doesn’t she become stronger?!”

Yami shook his head.

“No, he wouldn’t do something like that. There are two things that make me think he isn’t the Jinsei no Hogo: One thing is that he has only used Phys. Mods..”

“...and the other?”

“I’m alive. There can only be one Jinsei no Hogo at a time, so he can’t possibly be one.”

“I see. Well, let’s hope he comes back and explains everything to us.”

Yami looked down at the palm of his right hand, then back at Rikai.

“Yeah.”

Rikai’s smile lit up.

“Let’s get you some food now, ‘kay?”

As her cheeks began to get hot from the sunshine slipping through her blinds, Rikai opened her eyes. He long hair covered half of her face, and and she sat up, she brushed it aside with her hand. She looked over to the left side of the bed, but no one was there.

“Where is he?”

Walking to the bathroom wearing only a long t-shirt, Rikai brushed her teeth and brushed her hair. As she opened the bathroom door once again, she heard the thumping of hammers. Walking down the stairs, she saw wood piled throughout the backyard.

“Yami?”

As she finally reached the bottom of her stairs, she saw Ai, who greeted her with a smile and a wave.

“Good morning, Ms. Ikko!”

As her face became redder than a ripe tomato, Rikai pulled her shirt down and ran back up the stairs. Yami peeked his head around the corner.

“Was that Rikai just now?”

“Yeah, I think she had to go do something.”

A few moments later, Rikai returned back down the stairs, this time wearing jeans and a better fitting shirt. As her eyes met Ai’s once again, she quickly became embarrassed again and looked away.

“Hey, Rikai!”

Rikai leaned outside and saw Yami cutting wood.

“Good morning. Who is he?”

“He’s my brother, Ai. I ran into him on my way to the park.”

“To the park?”

“Yeah, I went and cut down some trees. You don’t want a draft, do you?”

Rikai facepalmed.

“Why couldn’t you just go to the hardware store?”

“Well, this was free and it helped me train.”

Yami became more serious.

“Plus, you can’t forget that I’m still wanted by the police.”

With a heave, Yami carried an enormous amount of wood over to Ai and dropped it next to him.

“And that’s why I’ll be leaving after I fix this up.”

Rikai’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?! You just came back!”

“And look at what’s happened! I was asleep for one day, and you almost died! If I’m gonna be active, there’ll only be more attacks! Not to mention the police will be wondering why you were harboring a criminal for seemingly seven months. What’ll you do then?”

“But you haven’t been here for seven months!”

“Then where was I? Another world? Come on, Rikai, you’re too smart for this.”

With a frown, Rikai walked into the kitchen. Ai looked over at Yami.

“Yami, that was a little harsh, don’t you think?”

Yami bit his lip, then walked into the house.

“That’s the rest of the wood you should need. Can you finish up here, Ai?”

“Of course.”

“Alright. I’ll go grab the money.”

“Yami, you really don’t have to. We’re family. Besides, I have your insurance money.”

“If that’s fine with you then. I’m gonna go run some errands. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

“Be safe!”

Rocks flew threw the air as Shitto flung his shovel. In a hardhat and an orange vest, he dug a hole by the side of a road.

“Hey.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Shitto turned to see Yami with his hands in his pockets. Anger filled his face.

“You…”

Shitto gripped his shovel menacingly and approached Yami.

“Shitto, I’m not here to fight. I’m here to warn you.”

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOUR EXCUSES!”

Pulling the shovel over his head, Shitto swung at Yami. As it came down, Yami shattered the wooden handle with ease and pushed Shitto to the ground in one fluid motion.

“Shippai is the enemy. She’s planning something massive, and she’s specifically after the Jinsei no Hogo.”

“So what?”

“It seems as though she has another power that is very similar to mine. She can learn other Sirushi Inochi by killing their users. This means you’re at risk, too.”

Shitto lunged at Yami with a screwdriver in hand. Yami caught his hand.

“Why’re you telling me all of this?!”

“Because, you have to protect Rikai, too.”

“I knew it! You two have been fucking around behind my back! I’ll never protect someone you love, Yami Shinpai!”

Yami lightly gripped Shitto’s wrist, but Shitto felt a near bone crushing pressure. Yami looked into his eyes and smiled.

“If you don’t, I’ll kill you before she can. That’s a promise.”

Shitto spit on Yami.

“Fuck. You.”

“C’mon, pinky swear!”

Yami gripped Shitto’s pinky finger with his other hand and began to pull it towards the outside of his arm. Shitto began to scream in pain.

“Okay! Okay! I’ll do it! But know it’s because she’s my friend!”

Yami shoved Shitto back into the dirt.

“Don’t bother calling the cops either, Shitto. I’ll already be long gone.”

As Yami disappeared down the road, Shitto clenched his fists and pounded at the ground in agony.

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

Feeling his phone buzzing, Ai set down his hammer and reached into his pocket, withdrawing his phone.

“Hello?”

“It’s Reikoku. Where are you?”

“I’m at Ms. Ikko’s house right now.”

“Ikko? You mean Yami’s friend? Why?”

“Her house was damaged and I’m doing repairs.”

“How did you find out about this?”

“I ran into Yami on my jog.”

“I’m calling the police right now.”

“Don’t, he already left, and it’ll be harder on Ms. Ikko.”

“Whatever you say, Ai. I’m still going to call the-”

Windows shattered in the background.

“Reikoku?! Are you alright?!”

Reikoku let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“REIKOKU!!!”

Ai heard Reikoku’s phone drop onto the ground. Moments later, he heard her whimpering and pleading for her life, then a gurgling sound. The silence.

…

After 30 seconds, the phone was rustled. It was Shippai’s chilling voice.

“I’ll be over soon, Ai.”

As the dial tone was heard, Ai began to tremble. Rikai walked outside with a sandwich on a plate and a glass of water.

“Hey, I made you some lunch, so why don’t you take a brea- Ai? What’s wrong?”

Setting down the food, Rikai ran up to Ai.

“Hey, what happened?”

Trying to set her hand on his shoulder, she was swatted away by Ai.

“Ai?”

“Rikai, I’m so sorry. You need to get out of here, now!”

“What?”

“She coming! You need to go before she gets here!”

“Shippai?!”

“Yes! Go! Now!”

Before Rikai could turn to run, she felt a chill behind her. As she slowly turned around, she saw Shippai’s red hair, then the blade of a knife penetrate her abdomen. Looking down, she saw her shirt become darker around the wound. As she touched it, she felt the warm, wet sensation that was her blood. Looking up again, she saw Shippai’s bloodthirsty grin.

“You bastard!”

Ai swung his hammer at Shippai, but Shippai sidestepped, then drove another knife into the side of his neck. As Ai fell to the ground and clenched his neck, he silently cursed himself for not saving Rikai.

“Now all that’s left is Shitto. After that, everyone Yami loves will be dead.”

Trembling in pain and fear, Rikai put bother of her hands on the knife that stuck out of her. Falling to her knees, she began to pull it out.

“Oh, you’re still alive, Rikai?”

Tears ran down her face in anger and pain.

“You bitch… Yami loved you, too!”

Shippai looked at Rikai with disgust.

“Say, Rikai, you’re not a Pubiàn Fanxiang, are you?”

Rikai’s face contorted in anger.

“You know, when you become a Pubiàn Fanxiang, you become stronger. Who knows, you may even find the power to beat me! You know what, I’m feeling generous today. I’ll give you one shot to become a Pubiàn Fanxiang.”

Rikai completely withdrew the knife from herself, causing her to cough up blood.

“You know what you have to do, right?”

Tears mixing with her blood, Rikai took the knife and drove it towards herself.

“RIKAI!!!”