Grasping Back

Agony. That was all he felt. It shot through Itsuki as the stake pierced him, dispersing to every bit of his body.

It wasn't just physical though. No. It was something more, like his very essence was being torn apart within his chest—forced into form and molded to another's whim.

"AAAAGH!"

"Kisaragi!" Sayaka yelled, eyes wide in horror. She tried to reach out to help him, but a blast knocked her back against the ward, slamming her with a resounding thud.

"Don't interrupt, dear~" Reathe stated, hand still twisting with wind. "And stay down if you know what's good for you."

They directed their attention back to Itsuki more serious than before, grasping the spectral chain.

"You know, I absolutely loathe using this artifact—hardly seems fitting for our ultimate purpose. However, it's a necessity in order for the devilpigs to get their due."

They abruptly jerked it toward them to punctuate things, forcing Itsuki to the ground in another scream.

"Now then, it's time to go. You'll wipe all taint from this world with your power and allow freedom once again!"

"!" The command traveled through the chain, forcing its way into Itsuki's heart. A strange device imaged into mind that pulsed a heavenly glow—a decahedron of sorts that only they could use.

"T-the hell are you talking about?!" He grit his teeth, glow flickering as he pushed off against the stone. "I refuse to—"

'Submit.'

Suffering intensified to cut him off, wisping metal taking a life of its own. The chain itself spoke to him—probed his defenses—its spectral voice slipping into his mind.

Thousands of memories flashed through his head, magic scanning for cracks in his will. It seared his brain, sorted his being, tearing through everything to search for a weakness.

Childhood, growing up, finding himself. They came and went like a rickety projector, each moment narrowing as it judged his existence.

The chain laughed.

'How quaint to find such a pretender of a man. Doing good? Treasuring others? You're nothing but a hypocrite behind a mask!'

He tried to speak back to defend himself, but it crushed his chest within its hold. Guilt dragged him down to the street as it laughed further, hooking further into his will.

'You don't get to speak. Not after squandering her.'

Kaede suddenly flashed into Itsuki's mind, sitting across from each other on their couch. She was smiling like the time they first met, looking up from a manuscript.

Beautiful, creative, and loving, she was always there in his life, regardless of mood. She was his everything: his anchor, his savior. She'd given him so much, brought light into his world, even when her own burdens weighed her down.

Yet now, beyond her death?

Sayaka flickered in her place.

'You moved on so quick, Kisaragi—finding joy in another after you failed her. Just half a month with someone else was all it took to break? You never deserved her.'

"Stop this! Now!"

Clarity briefly returned to him as Sayaka hurled a fireball at Reathe, soaring like a meteorite. They could barely blink before heat washed over the street in a shockwave, shaking the barrier around the cathedral and staggering the people behind it.

"Kisaragi!"

She held out her hand as she rushed over, desperate to dispel the magic. Light pulsed from her palm, and a glow rattled the bond. Yet the chain didn't budge. It merely flickered, sending jolts down its length in protest.

Itsuki screamed as the suffering and voice returned, dragging him down again and bidding him to follow.

'And here she is: Kaede's replacement. What would she think if she knew your past? How much you'd hurt your former lover?'

Another flash. This time tears. Kaede lay broken on their home's floor now, rejected dreams in her arms for the dozenth time. His hands were hovering over her, unsure of what to do or how to help. And yet instead of something useful—something to pick her up and guide her forward—what did he offer her?

'Half-assurances, disguised platitudes, and empty cynicism. All you did was make things worse. That was all you ever did for her. What makes you think that will change?'

"That was never my intention," he barely choked out. "I-I tried my best. I gave all that I could."

'You tried your best? Please.'

The stake sunk further into his heart as the scene shifted slightly, less and less of his body becoming his own. The room was gone now, this new world and their arrival taking its place. Sayaka laid curled in the grass as she yelled for him to leave.

'Tried your best for her, perhaps. After it was too late.'

"K-Kisaragi?! Are you okay?!" Sayaka stuttered over him as reality returned. "I-I'm so sorry, I swear that I'll fix this. Just let me try again."

"I wouldn’t do that," Reathe interrupted as the cloud of smoke faded. Their form reincorporated slowly in irritation.

"It's useless to try dispelling that unless you want to kill him. It binds to one's soul and becomes more effective the more they feel. Which is why I've no idea why in the hells it's not working!"

Another fireball soared at the cultist in response, larger than previous. This time though, Reathe intercepted it, detonating the attack to ignite the air.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you care about this twink so much?"

"Release him!" Sayaka yelled ignoring them, trembling as the world shook. She launched attack after attack, never letting up in her barrage.

The sky soon became an inferno as fire rained upward in a flurry. However, even with its intensity, Reathe tsked as they braced through it all.

"Are you brainless?! I'm giving you an out here, worldwalker. All I need is one of you unless you’ve forgotten. I'll even return him later if you like him so much—after our plan has been done."

They tugged the chain again, this time as hard as they could, and pure torture ignited his veins. The chain's voice became louder than sound in his head, nearly cracking his soul beneath its weight.

'Look at that. Congratulations, You've fooled that woman into believing that you care for her. But we both know that's a lie. You're just trying to chase away Kaede's shadow.'

"Y-you're wrong! I do care, it's just—"

One last flash overtook him, cutting him off.

He was back at his house again on the day everything went wrong, the day that'd seemed fine to his stupid self. No tears or frowns were in sight. Just warm grey eyes gazing at him, shimmering as he held her hand by the entrance.

He was worried for her, sure; another dream had come and gone in rejection. Yet she shook her head, everything was fine, it was just like all the other times.

She gave a kiss—one that he still missed—and lingered against him for warmth. She just needed a moment to herself, to see the sunset by the coast. Then she would be back, see him again tomorrow and every day after.

His hand kept clasped over hers before she walked out, doubt clear on his face. Yet when she smiled, he let go, and she withdrew without a word.

Why hadn't he seen her emptiness? Why hadn't he seen the signs? Why did he ever think it was okay to let her go?

He tried grasping back before she vanished, hoping to see that smile one last time. Yet when Kaede turned back, she wasn't her at all.

Itsuki trembled as a new pair of grey eyes stared back.

'You say you loved her. You say you needed her. Yet what have you done now? When your failure has become too much, your loneliness too great, and your good deeds not enough?'

The chain wrenched in his heart as Sayaka smiled at him instead.

'You don't deserve any of this. Not Kaede. Not her. Nothing but life in penance-bound chains. So let go. Give up. Your guilt can never be undone.'

Tears streamed down his face as his world shattered, shame drowning every part.

It was right.

"Finally!" Reathe screamed as magic seared the misted chains. "You had me worried there sneaky twink—could've died had you not seen reason. Now let's go. Much awaits."

Time slowed to a crawl as he became undone. Vitality, willpower, soul. They were ripped and torn, disintegrating into the ether. Even pain began to unravel as his sense of self began to shatter.

A desire to help? He could do so under thrall. A way to protect? He'd already failed to. No, there was a better place where he belonged: among the damned. That's all he deserved.

"!"

Before his last thread could become undone though, wordless warmth wrapped his hand.

"U-Usami?"

His pain suddenly melted as she squeezed, refusing to let go. It was pleasant, but firm, as her pulse hammered against his.

"You annoying little—Fine, I understand!" Reathe's voice shook the sky as they saw her, storm clouds churning around in a vortex. "Do you really want to join him that much?! Then be my guest! We could always use a backup!"

They launched the other chainstake, surging with authority. Yet despite that, she didn't budge. Instead she tightened her hold and outstretched her other hand.

Sayaka's power rose to meet the ethereal stake, energy crackling to push back the attack. Then, connections and golden glow flared in a burst as threads tried bridging between them.

"Usami, w-why? Just let me go. Get to safety and save yourself."

"Idiot. Then what do I do? Wait for the world to end or whatever else they have in mind?"

"…" He couldn't answer.

She smirked briefly before gasping, straining with all her might against the force.

"Kisaragi, ever since we've arrived, you've kept being annoying, cheering me up, and trying to convince me that I was worth something, all while running around to help others. And you know what? It's been working. I don't feel as much as a failure as before."

She swallowed hard, her eyes glowing as the aura grew stronger and rattled the chains within his chest.

"Even with everything I did: failing my sister, dragging you with me, trying to run from this all, you still offered your hand to me; you made me feel like I deserved another chance!"

Wetness built in her gaze—radiance brightening—shifting dusk into dawn.

"So I refuse to let them take you. Not like this—not when we're just getting started. I'm thankful that you're here and thankful that you saved me. So don't give up! It's not your style!"

She smiled, but not a forced one. It was beautiful, even in tears.

"Please, Kisaragi. I don't want to be left alone anymore."

His heart clenched.

Gold grew as heat spread, straining the bonds that were stuck through his chest. He grimaced as he was pieced back together, held in place by a warm grasp and grey eyes.

Then the chains shattered.

Powers exploded once it did, light engulfing the town in a pulse. It was brief but undeniable, glow fading like a second sun.

Then the two worldwalkers collapsed against one another. Itsuki deflated as they hit the street, bleeding out and completely exhausted.

"…Are you jesting me?" Reathe laughed after a pause, edge cutting the air. "After all I've been through—after all we've sacrificed?! You just shrug it off for that?! No. I refuse this. I'll just bring you in the old-fashioned way."

The cultist burst forth furious as black creeped in around his vision.

Itsuki tried raising his arm to do something, but it didn't respond. He could barely breathe let alone move now, and it seemed the same was for Sayaka.

They gazed at each other in the dusk.

Was this it? After what just happened? They would be captured anyway?

He weakly chuckled despite the situation.

However, instead of another chain or wind to snatch them away, two constructs appeared: a shield of light and an arrow of ice, alongside two people rushing to their aid.

"…Huh?"

It was hard to see where they'd come from as things faded, though he got a fraction of a glimpse. The closest next to them was the young man from earlier with blue hair and spectacles, while the farthest rushing toward them had white hair short in a pixie cut and a sparrow hairclip.

Sounds were growing muted, and it was impossible to keep focus. So he just hoped for the best, cautiously squeezing the warmth still entwined in his hand.

"…" He felt a squeeze back as their eyes fell shut and he blacked out, seeing her framed against the sky.