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Part #3 [Destroy From The Inside]

Three days had passed since Mika had any contact with the Bara-gumi. She waited patiently for instruction, keeping her eyes fixed on the basement door. Her mind was filled with immense resolve to eliminate Ninagawa Charlotte, and she ached physically for revenge. Occasionally, when Mika would fall asleep, a member of the Bara-gumi would place fresh food and water by the basement doorstep- just enough to keep her alive and nourished.

On the third night of her return, the basement door slowly creaked open. Mika blinked her eyes as she rose from her kennel, watching the shadowy figure approach through the blinding light of the hallway. It was Kazuya, slinging a heavy, lifeless corpse onto the floor in front of Mika. The man's face was utterly unrecognizable, much like the various other corpses rotting in the basement near Mika's cage.

Kazuya reached into his suit pocket and brought a lit match to the cigarette in his mouth.
"It's been a while, puppy. How are you holding up?"

Mika watched as Kazuya squatted before her, staring with empty eyes.
"Bring me Charlotte... Let me fight her."

"No can do, kid. I have strict orders to keep you away from her until you can extinguish that fire in your soul."
He handed her a black suit, along with a silk necktie with a rose shaped clip on the midsection.

"So, if I just sit around and behave like a good girl, you'll let me see her? My friend died because of her!"
Mika jolted to her feet, staring at Kazuya with unforgiving eyes.

"I'm aware of Hidaka Nozomi's death... and I'm sorry. If I had just taken the job that night, as I was assigned, Nozomi would still be alive."
Kazuya didn't shy away from his mistake, ensuring Mika had a full view of his hardened expression. His face was stoic and handsome, unwavering at the intense glare Mika was boring into his soul.

"So, I should just blame you for her death?! That's a load of bullshit! Why don't you cut your finger off for your mistake?!"
Mika brought her fist down on Kazuya's unmoving shoulder.

Kazuya nodded, taking his tanto blade from the waistband of his pants. He unsheathed the shiny blade, lining the edge against the pinky finger of his dominant hand. With a swift movement, his severed phalange landed on the floor below, soon accompanied by the sounds of flowing blood.

Mika's eyes widened at his bold action. She quickly let out a bitter laugh, flickering her nervous gaze between Kazuya and the floor.
"You actually did it? Jesus, Kazuya... Do you think a finger is worth Nozomi-chan's life?!"

"What else can I do to repent? Another finger? My arm? My life?"
Kazuya's voice remained firm, seemingly ready to give his very life to make amends for Mika's loss.

Mika's eyes filled with tears. She sniffled loudly, pointing to Kazuya's ring finger with a shaky hand.
"Another finger..."

Without hesitation, Kazuya severed his ring finger; his wedding band created a metallic echo throughout the basement as it landed in a pool of his own blood.
"Anything else... Umeda Mika?"

"Let me see Harumi!"
Mika clutched her beating heart in her chest. She shouted directly at Kazuya, begging for the comfort of the one person who truly cared for her. Her tears spilled down her cheeks, mixing with Kazuya's crimson blood on the cold floor below.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. You won't be seeing Harumi for a very long time."
Kazuya's head hung low. He hadn't shown any signs of it on his face, but the pain of losing his fingers began to eat at his mind.

"Then, what if I play along?! You know, going back to being Charlotte's soldier?! I need to get close to her! I need to kill her!"
Mika's breath caught in her throat. Trudging down the steps of the basement, Ninagawa Charlotte had appeared, just in time to hear Mika's ploy. The black smoke from Charlotte's pipe swirled around her like a demonic aura.

"You wish to resume your training, do you? I have no qualms about letting you do my dirty work, loser dog. I have but one question: are you willing to sacrifice as many as it takes to avenge one girl?"
Charlotte bent her posture forward to close the gap created by their height differences. The two females stared at each other with gruesome hatred. Mika jabbed her thumb against her own chest, standing firm on her resolve.

"For Nozomi-chan... I'll kill as many people as it takes, if it means you'll be the last. Do you remember my words, Master? I'm going to devour your beating heart, straight out of your chest!"
Mika ended her sentence with a disturbing grin. Her cheek muscles strained as she smiled, and her overgrown fangs solidified her appearance as nothing but a dog in Charlotte's eyes.

"I can't wait for the day you kill me, puppy. I'll be there with front row seats to witness my own execution."
Charlotte exited the basement with a beautiful flutter of her kimono.