Something Incredibly Stupid

Black appendages burst from Jiko's spine like someone had unzipped his back. Each one moved with a life of its own, whipping through the air before plunging into Ten's body. The sickening sound of flesh being pierced made my stomach turn.

This isn't happening. This can't be happening.

Jiko then leaned down, his hand closing on something Ten was clutching. A flower. Its blue petals caught the moonlight streaming through the hole in the wall, making it look like it was made of stars.

Then Jiko started laughing.

It started low, building into something that wasn't human anymore. The sound grated against my ears like metal on metal, that signature screech that every Rust made.

He closed hard around the flower. The crunch of petals mixed with his distorted laughter.

"Bastard-" Ten's voice was barely a whisper as she tried to wrench free. But those black appendages held firm, digging deeper with each movement.

The appendages then suddenly retracted, spraying blood across the table. Before Ten could even gasp, Jiko unleashed a barrage of strikes. Each hit punctuated by that twisted laugh.

"I LOVED HER FIRST! You'll never love Kanon like I do! Never, never, NEVER!"

"You..." Ten coughed blood but managed a bitter laugh. "The Rust didn't even have to try. You gave yourself away"

"SHUT UP!" Jiko's scream tore through the air. His fist connected with Ten's jaw in a sickening crunch. Her head snapped back and went limp, silver hair matted with blood.

My heart hammered against my ribs as Jiko turned those pitch-black eyes toward me. He stalked closer, movements jerky and wrong.

"You'll help me, right? You understand what it's like when no one sees you. When the person you love looks right through you."

"Fuck you. Ten didn't deserve that. No one deserves that!"

"So you're on her side, huh? YOU'RE ALL ON HER SIDE!"

He lunged at me with inhuman speed. Pure instinct took over and I rolled away, his appendages missing me by inches. In the corner where I landed, I spotted Peng still clutching that damn bowl of natto, face purple as ever.

I snatched up the penguin and dove left as Jiko attacked again. But this time I wasn't fast enough. His kick caught my legs and sent me face-first into the dirt.

I pushed against the ground, my arms trembling. Blood and dirt mixed beneath my palms.

"You know what pisses me off? This was the first time in forever I got to sit down for a real meal. For just one fucking moment, it felt like-"

The words caught in my throat. Like being back at that tiny table with Inorin.

Jiko's laugh cut through the air. "What, a family? Is that what you think this is? You do realize Ten planned this all along, don't you? She'll abandon everyone here, just like the others! She's using all of us. It's all just fuel for her Lobak. Once she's strong enough, she'll ascend to the next realm and leave us to rot!"

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about." I got one knee under me, glaring up at him. "But you want to know what I do know? Instead of running your mouth now, maybe you should've used it to tell Kanon how you felt, you dumbass!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Jiko launched himself at me, black appendages aimed straight for my heart. I threw my arms up, knowing it wouldn't be enough.

I can't die here. Not before I find Inorin. Not before I tell her how much those dinners meant to me.

The impact never came.

My eyes snapped open. Jiko hung suspended in mid-air, trapped in a web of... something brown and sticky?

"RAAAAGH" Jiko thrashed.

I stared at my hands. Wasn't I supposed to have some kind of punch-things-really-hard power? Where did this gooey shit come from?

"Peng."

At my feet, that penguin held up the bowl of natto, looking mighty pleased with itself despite its face still being purple.

A laugh bubbled up in my chest. Of course. Even now, Inorin was looking out for me.

Jiko's screech shattered the moment. Black liquid pooled in his hands, forming a bow. Arrows materialized from nowhere, raining down.

I didn't think, just moved. Natto strands shot from my hands, weaving a protective web. The arrows stuck in the sticky barrier.

Movement then caught my eye. Too late, Jiko had vanished, reappearing at my side. His black appendages whipped toward my throat.

I barely got my arms up, natto strands forming a shield. The impact drove me back, feet skidding in dirt.

I couldn't keep this up for long. Jiko's archery skills let him pin me down from a distance, while those freakish appendages could strike the moment I focused on defense.

Think, dammit. What was it Uncle Huang said about Lobak? It comes from your desires. Jiko's archery skills were unmatched because of his burning need to protect this village.

A crazy idea hit me. The kind Inorin would've called "peak Kuroha stupidity." But hey, when had that ever stopped me?

I needed help though. And there was only one other creature here that perfect for the job.

I scooped up Peng, who looked way too happy considering we were in a life-or-death situation.

"Ready to do something incredibly stupid?"

"Peng!"

Through the chaos, I spotted Ten's bamboo poles buried under the rubble. My natto strings shot out, wrapping around the stack.

Come on, come on...

The bamboo shifted, then burst free. I shuffled through them while dodging another of Jiko's attacks. There! The one with the thin slit down the side.

"Sorry about this." I snapped the bamboo over my knee. A ghostly form unfolded from within, smoke coalescing into a familiar shape.

I met those deep blue eyes and grinned.

"Ready to save the village, Wuwei?"