Almost a Yandere

Braith groaned as his eyes fluttered open. A dull ache throbbed in his stomach, a soft weight pressed against his chest, and something firm lay beneath him. He identified them instantly - his injury, Yumie, and a bed.

A hospital bed, he realized as the sterile ceiling sharpened into focus.

The girl sprawled across his chest gasped the second he stirred.

“Braithbraithbraith, thinkabouthealingrightnow!”

He blinked, tried to sit up, and failed.

“Wha-?”

“Healing! Healing! Healing!”

He groaned again, squinting as the words finally registered. Forcing his mind to focus, he filled his thoughts with the desire to not be in pain. Heat surged through his veins, green light flickering in his eyes. The pain vanished in an instant.

He exhaled shakily.

“Th… thank you.”

Yumie pushed herself up from where she’d been lying half on the bed, half on him. A chair sat under her, but she hadn't let go of him even once - not even while she slept.

“I didn’t do anything,” she murmured.

He chuckled weakly.

“Pretty sure your… persistence is the only reason I could even focus.”

She smiled shyly.

“I guess.”

Before he could continue, the door swung open. Sunata strode in, his expression tight and thin-lipped.

“Braith. Good to see you awake.”

Braith managed to sit up, rubbing his head.

“How long was I out?”

Sunata’s frown deepened.

“About thirty-six hours.”

“A day and a half…”

Sunata folded his arms.

“It would've been less, but your Mahotona growled at anyone who tried to heal you. She only let the doctors stitch you up. She can explain the rest.”

Braith turned to Yumie, baffled. She shrank a little.

“I… I wanted to heal you… only I can heal you…”

He stared. The gears turned. Yumie - his Mahotona, his girlfriend - was possessive. Possessive enough to refuse outside healing even when his life was on the line.

Before he could respond, she suddenly slumped forward onto his lap.

“I’m sorry…”

He froze, unsure what he was supposed to do. Sunata, however, was far from finished.

“Also, we're making your Mahotona wear magically enchanted gloves until we find a better solution.”

Braith followed his gaze. Yumie wore delicate white silk gloves - far too fancy to match the oversized sweater that still served as her only clothing. He opened his mouth, but Sunata pressed on.

“Well, since you're healed, you should be able to walk. We need to move.”

His expression darkened.

“We’re being watched.”

Braith blinked.

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been here too long. Word’s out that there’s a humanoid Mahotona in this hospital. We tried to play it off as a cosplayer, but you can’t hide Mahotonas from other Mahotonas.”

Braith felt his heartbeat climb.

“W-what do they want?”

Sunata clicked his tongue.

“Three possibilities.”

He counted them off on his fingers.

“They could want Yumie for themselves, either for power or for sex-”

Braith nearly choked.

“Wait, do they actually-?”

Sunata nodded grimly.

“Yep. There are desperate people in this world, kid. People who would do anything to ‘get busy’ with a humanoid who has animal ears and a tail.”

Braith gulped as Yumie tightened her hold on him. Sunata continued.

“We call those guys the collectors. They’re the second-least violent of the four.”

“F-four?” Braith stammered.

Sunata nodded, raising his hand to count again.

“Runners, collectors, and two branches of purists. They have official names, but these ones are easier. You’ve already met runners.”

Braith nodded.

“That’s correct-”

“Good. Now, the purists come in two opposite flavors. First, the anti-purists, who want to spread magic worldwide instead of keeping it confined to Japan. Second, the true purists, who want to eradicate magic entirely.”

He sighed.

“Of the four, the anti-purists are the least dangerous. They need you alive. The rest?”

He shook his head. Braith’s stomach tightened. He was in something far bigger than he’d realized.

“So… which one is watching us?”

“Collectors,” Sunata said instantly. “But I have a feeling some others are here too, not because of you, but if we don’t get out soon we might get caught up in a hostage situation.”

As if summoned, a gunshot thundered somewhere in the massive building, followed by screams.

Sunata’s jaw clenched.

“Curses. Alright. This is your first mission.”

Braith’s eyes shot wide.

“Mission? I don’t remember signing up for that!”

Sunata's gaze sharpened.

“Would you rather be left alone to get jumped in the middle of the night for your Mahotona? Didn’t think so.”

Braith looked at Yumie. She looked back helplessly.

“Are we going to fight again?” she whispered.

He gently laid a hand on her head.

“I’m sorry.”

Sadness flickered across her face, but she swallowed it.

“It’s okay.”

It wasn’t. But there was no choice.

One thing still nagged at him.

“Is there anything in it for us? Besides protection?”

Sunata groaned.

“Most people would be happy with just the protection… but yes. There is.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Once we declare the country stable, you’ll be given a Mahotona travel permit.”

Braith’s mind exploded. A Mahotona travel permit - authorization to travel outside Japan with a Mahotona. Rare. Heavily regulated. Rumored to barely exist.

“That’s a very big claim,” Braith muttered.

Sunata sighed.

“I’ve had to convince three other people of this already.”

He pulled his handgun from its holster and twirled it casually.

“We’re government funded. We get what we ask for. And if you want anything, ask. But-”

His eyes glinted.

“If you want any of that, you follow orders. Otherwise, no permit. Your choice. Nobody’s forcing you… but you won’t get a better deal.”

He grinned.

“So, will you stay and fight? Or do your own thing?”

It felt like choosing between mousetraps and a snake pit. Braith steeled himself, taking Yumie’s hand.

“We’ll fight.”

Sunata’s grin widened.

“Good. Because I am almost one hundred percent sure we have a hostage situation downstairs, and we’re the closest to it.”

Screams below grew clearer. Yumie squeezed Braith’s hand and smiled faintly.

“It’s okay. I can kill some more people.”

She said it almost guiltily… but with certainty.

If killing a few more bad people was what it took to earn freedom-
then she would.

She hoped.
She begged.