Chapter 10: A season to die

Everything went downhill and yet there was such a natural flow to it was surreal. It took me and Dorian the rest of the day in the library, reading Principes de la Philosophie with help from a dictionary of course. Lucky for me, the man learnt how to read French rather quickly, soon he could read the book fluently. Both of us wasn't sure of the accent and tone but that didn't really matter anyway.

In the end, asides from some interesting historical titbits, nothing was really useful. The phrase used in that notebook was just by itself. Maybe the meaning was what the author concluded herself, just like I did earlier.

We decided to return before it turned dark only for Dorian to pick up on a disturbance. No, it was more than that, it was the rot spreading itself. Exposing it ugly self to the world. This being had hidden itself for so long, what made it suddenly flexing its influence so overtly like this. Such an uncharacteristically vulgar display of power.

Then the answer came to us immediately just as sudden as a window shattered. Then out come a last glimpse of a struggle to live. A life moment before its demise. For a moment, I was frozen. I wanted to see it, that last shine before the end. Of course, my common sense kicked in and I rushed in.

It wasn't enough to save Hitomi who crashed into the hard ground.

It was a messy death for such a girl. Her head smashed against the hard surface, cracked open. Its content which wasn't just blood leaked onto the floor. You surely didn't deserve such cruelty but I couldn't help but shaken by what I saw. It was… unusual to see you like this, dirtied and defiled.

Yet, I felt like I could see your body twitching, trying to summon any strength left. Was it just a flourish before death, or was it your final effort against the void? Knowing you, I can confidently believe it to be the later.

Such a disgustingly alluring sight.

Now here she is in front me, still clinging onto life. Don't worry, you are truly a sight to behold, truly beautiful.

I slowly put down Hitomi dying arm and let her lie there on the sofa. On her face is a pained smile, one she seems determined to keep for now. Don't worry, I will get you out of here alive.

"Dorian, can you still here me?" I called out and was replied by a weakened voice.

"Yes, President" He sounded as if he is also going to die soon.

It's all because of the rot, it knows that Hitomi was revived. If it tries to kill her again, the girl would just be brought back again. Dorian now is powerful enough to do that several times even. So, it decided to trap us in this twisted domain. As long as Hitomi is still here, she will keep on dying. No matter how hard the man tries, it is impossible to revert the effect. The rot is simply stronger than him and by making her wound itself an apparition like this, it can exert direct power over it.

Dorian is now all drained once again, now even worse than ever. He can barely keep Hitomi alive at this point. Plenty of his power has to also be used to maintain his aura to ward of the rot. Thanks to that, we can still see the school as it is, not some decayed monstrosities.

But he is approaching the breaking point.

"Can you hide her presence, just a while?"

"I… I will try my best, President"

Good, then I don't have to worry about Hitomi's safety for now. But from the sound of his voice, I won't have much time left. I left Hitomi's knife on the table and get a move on.

What's my plan, you may ask. Oh the answer is simple, I will kill this rot right here right now. Of course, it all depends on whether that thing can even be killed conventionally or not. But then, Hitomi told me it could bleed. Guess that I will gamble everything on this.

Besides, it's not like I have any other plan. With its power, the rot could just easily win in a war of attrition.

I look around the club room for possibly one last time. It took us a great deal of effort just to get hear. Lucky that Dorian could detect the rot to a certain degree. Thanks to that we could sneak hear for this equipment.

I open the floor to reveal an old World War II cache. This island was never truly embroiled in the conflicted. Even so, the place was still dotted all over with barracks and the old school building itself was a military base once. Maybe that could explain this secret compartment full of weapons in here.

In front of me are several empty Nambu types pistols, four type 99 rifles, several type 44 carbines. Surprisingly, there are two type 100 submachine guns, rare for this area. Finally is one type 99 light machine gun alongside tons of ammo boxes organised neatly. Rather abundant for a stash in what seems used to be an officer room.

I stumbled upon this cache one day while waiting for the rest of the members. If I remember correctly, I didn't tell this to anybody. There was no need for these weapons after all, it was best that they remained forgotten. I did do a few research about them of course.

Too bad I can't handle any of this aside from the pistol which I take two.

Next I open a big box in the compartment and is greeted with four type 94 shin guntō. I pick one up and try to familiarise myself with its weight. The sword is lighter than I had expected but to swing it around will still be quite an exercise. Two or three precise slash would be all that I could muster. But then, if my plan succeed then there is no need for that.

I exit the room blade ready to be greeted by the most desolate of landscape. It is still the library and to my surprise, there is simply no sign of decay. No violating taste, no disgusting smell, no revolting sight, no dissonant noise, no skin-crawling touch, nothing at all.

There is nothing here but an environment devoid of life.

I bask myself in the emptiness, now this is new. When we passed this place it wasn't like this at all. But then we were carrying a frail Aoi, because of that, Dorian must have used his power to influence both our perception. To a girl clinging to life, the infinite void wasn't what she needed to experience right then.

There isn't much time for me to experience this lifeless library, however, seeing that my senses all pick up on a disturbance at once. It feels like an arrow, filled with twisted life, piercing through the oblivion and strikes right at me. In that moment, the entire place is engulfed by a sickly influence.

Ah, I almost miss this. The crumbling mouldy walls, the termites infested wood, the decayed book. It was only three days ago that I first truly encountered this phenomenon. Afterward I indulged excessively with my own fantasy world. But then that empty library came, even just for a short while it had cleansed my palate for what to come.

This rotten world in all of its festering glory!

Ah, this fetid smell is sure to make your stomach turns inside out. The sight is one so strikingly disgusting that it burns into the back of your eyes. My tongue can feel a familiar taste of flesh and blood. Huh, just a few days ago it was the only thing I could feel, how things escalated. Now, even the air makes my skin itches in extreme disgust.

To top it off, I am confronted by the one behind it all, the rot. It is a humanoid figure whom I can't seem to make out any details. On one hand is another shin guntō like mine, the other is a rifle ready to fire.

This is not quite what I expected. For a creature with seemingly infinite power, seeing it with weapons is most unreal. Although to be honest, the rot's sense of mystique was ruined slightly when I learnt of its vulnerability. The figure is so tame that it actually stands out among this chaotic background. The shrouded is more like a product of restraint rather than any effort at concealment.

Despite that, my hands are still shaken by fear. It is born not of my own fragile mortality though but of the implication behind the thing's unimpressive entrance. My heart sinks even lower as it drops the well-oiled rifle on the ground and clutches its sword.

The rot adopts a stance that I am familiar with. Uncle Nathaniel showed it to me once.

"The best among Japanese master swordsmen. People do mimic this but you can tell the difference between them and me right" He said, clutching an unchigatana "Imprint this in your memory. If you ever face someone whose stance deviates mine 1% percent or less, just run"

Now I am faced with one like that. The way it shifts weight, its form and placement are almost identical if accounted for the difference in body size. To be honest, I have no idea why this stance is good, I simply trust in uncle Nathaniel's judgment. But even as a complete amateur, I can still feel danger radiating. Was it the completely still posture or just how focused it seemed even under all the shrouded details.

I take in a deep breath and immediately draw out my gun. I empty the magazine of its six bullets at the thing while gritting my teeth.

The rot effortlessly dodge the first five clumsy shots with minimal movements. Three projectiles slide past its surface while two just miss completely. I fired them consecutively and the recoil was harsh even for such a small gun. The final shot is difference though, I waited just long enough to stabilise my aim before firing.

I expected the rot to dodge this one as well but no. With a swift slash, I can see a slight spark as the lead bullet is sliced in half.

An absurd feat, no doubt to crush my spirit if only I… didn't see it before.

Now, that display inflict no effect on me at all whatsoever. But even so, I shiver even more out of fear. This isn't because of death or the unknown, in fact it is the opposite of the latter even. I want to turn around and run away but I can't. The rot won't be kind on Dorian or Aoi, their execution will be brutal and swift.

I scream out loud and charge straight at the being. One hand gripping the sword while the other fires rapidly.

Four of my bullets miss the mark completely, one is dodged while the final is slashed in half again. I don't really care seeing that I only needed the sound to drown out my inner voice, telling me to turn the other way. It was more than adequate, my ears are out of commission.

In the heat of the moment, my mind involuntary blink. It is just for a millisecond but as I open my eyes, the tip of a blade is already halfway to me.

At this very moment, I can see images flashes in front of my eyes. There is voice deep within me. It is of me talking to someone else.

…

…

…

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Ah… no… nothing at all" It's my Yuuko, trying to hide something behind her back.

"Oh ok" I replied nonchalantly and turned away. As the girl was letting out a sigh, however, I immediately lunged back and saw… a half-knitted scarf.

"P…President you meanie!" Yuuko blushed and immediately pushed me away.

She used too much force, however, and do the scrawny me fell first into the ground.

"Oh, no" The girl immediately rushed to my side "Are you alright, can you hear me President" She was worried sick for me. Luckily, there was no injury at all, only a mild concussion. Yuuko, despite already said sorry, was still feeling guilty and so offer me a lap pillow.

"So, what was that all about?" Settling down comfortably, I asked her.

"It's a scarf… I am making it for you, for when it turns cold" The girl admitted, her ears bright red.

I hadn't expected that, there was a reason for that though "It's rather complete… the later part looks rushed though" We had just become a couple yesterday and yet this thing was already near its completion…

"It's because… I already started way before… just for you" Yuuko put her hand over to cover her face. This was something I would soon get used to. For some reason, just the image of her trying to hide a flushed expression was just too precious. But I didn't really care about that back then, what caught my attention was her answer. My girlfriend, being sharp as usual, noticed it. She stuttered in consideration but decided to answer anyway, out of guilt perhaps?

"I already like you for quite a while now…" Yuuko admitted and I could feel my heart flutter with each word "I intended to confess after finishing this and got quite… impatient…"

If she had gone on like that, the scarf would be finish about today. Just a day after my own confession. Now that wasn't the same time or anytime but I was touched by our wavelength anyway.

After that, we both just stayed like that in silent. It was the most peaceful time of my life and our first couple-like interaction after going out. I was happy.

My mind is flooded by our many events together at well. There was the time when she Yuuko skipped class to take care of a sick me. When she made sweets for me, eating them I couldn't believe it was her first time making the thing, the amount of preparation must have been gruelling. Then I had to go and try to repaid her with my own attempt at baking a cake. I copied from the best and practiced as much as possible… only for my class to eat it all them jerks. I even tried to be more manly to be able to carry her, after breaking my back at the local gym every day I gained absolutely nothing…

But then of course the final memory must be that time. It was in an empty library on the most beautiful day I could ever remember. I brought a big hand-picked bouquet and kneeled in front of her.

"I… I have like you for the longest time now. Vice-president Yuuko, would you go out with me!"

In hindsight that was too cheesy even for me, it even looked more like a marriage proposals even. I could see a hint of tear on her face. The girl tried to keep calm, put on a poker face but she couldn't. Yuuko then gave me her brightest of smile.

"Of course, I would be glad to go out with you, President!"

Ah, I could feel tears starting to stream out of my eyes as all of these came back all at once. In this life and death moment, all is on my mind is just Yuuko and it remains that way as my mind goes blank.

…

…

…

In the darkness there is an image, clear as day. It is of uncle Nathaniel, his movement swift and precise. I have always looked up to him, I wanted to be strong. Alas, it didn't happen due to this figure of mine. Nevertheless, I was dedicated, I had imprinted his posture, his actions, his movements into my brain. Now they will finally be of use.

My arms and legs feel like bursting from the sudden movements. I throw myself against the blade. The pain that follow is excruciating as the blade runs through my shoulder. In return, I plunge my shin guntō between the rot's ribs. I can feel the sword going through its beating heart.

Judging from its movement, dodging my assault would be trivial. That was why I acted so clumsily with the guns. That is what I am trying to tell myself but the truth is far more painful.

There was the sound of whisper but I block it out, a final sign of denial.

The rot could just stab me there and then, straight through the throat. But I expected differently and I was right, the blade was redirected at the end, a sign of panic which heralded the rot's end.

I won but for reasons most damning, because she never intended to kill me.

My hands shake uncontrollably as now the truth is in the light now. I could no longer be in denial any longer. The shroud that I imposed fades away. As the rot takes its last breath the scenery around return to one I am too familiar of. I let the body slide along me and catch it before the ground could.

Then I cry, cry like never before clutching Yuuko's lifeless body as the sun set painted the old library in a light most romantic.