Sister

"Ahh, nee-chan," I sigh in relief, "I was just looking for you."

"Yuki."

My hair stands on end-- using my birth name, without even giving me time to dismiss it? What the hell? ...I have half a mind to make a joke and suggest I'd be called 'Yukiko' now, but her cold, almost robotic expression stops from even entertaining that thought. She only ever gets this way when she's on the job-- so why in the world is she showing that face to me?

...It only takes me a second to realize.

"We've lived together as siblings since birth," I glare. "Don't look at me like I've been keeping this from you the whole time."

"But you have, haven't you?" Her tone matches her expression. "Who was it, then? Mom? Dad? Which one is to blame for poisoning our bloodline?"

"What the fuck, Akiyo. Don't talk shit about our parents like that." I find myself uncontrollably raising my voice. How fucking dare she speak like that about mom and dad?

"Answer the question."

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" I throw up my hands. "I didn't even know I was a kitsune until today, when that damn tanuki poisoned me!"

"Tanuki?" She cocks an eyebrow. It's always unsettling when she does that in this mode-- given how little of her actually moves when she's in work mode.

"Yeah, they pretended to be a cop so they could poison me-- but I ended up waking up like this instead."

"...A likely story."

"Come on. I'd expect you to be on my side, at least. We're sisters! We're the only two people actually skilled at our jobs in this town!" I force a smile, trying to appeal to her laid-back side. "Y'know, Aki and Yuki? DAWN and DUSK? We picked our names together!"

She exhales sharply, expression faltering. I think it's working. I think I'm getting through to-

"If I had only known you were a filthy yokai, Yuki-- I would've made sure to strangle you in your sleep."

She charges up an energy blast. Shit.

Thinking quickly, I snap my fingers to cancel it out. I don't want to do this... but if anyone would blow my cover once I assume a new life, it's going to be her. I fire off a few shots, all of which go wide as she nimbly ducks out of the way.

Okay, what the hell do we do here? ...Grab her phone. If I get access to a GPS, then I'd be able to figure out a new hiding place for the time being. Where the hell is it, though?

Ah, the kitchen. Puts on videos while she makes food-- right. I make haste, rushing for the counters-

!!

...Only for her to tackle me to the ground.

I flick my tail at her face, causing her to recoil in disgust at the tickling sensation. Then, I rush over to the stove, grabbing the tea kettle and throwing it right at her.

"I don't want to do this, nee-chan...! C'mon-- g-get some sense back in you, already!"

She recoils from the boiling hot kettle flung at her face. "Don't call me that, yokai. Don't ever call me that." ...She's already dehumanizing me. Or, de- ...whatever.

I grab her phone, barely ducking out of the way as she fires an energy blast at me. "F-fucking watch where you're firing! If you hit a gas line, we're both dead!!"

"I'll die for my nation. For my people. Can you say the same?"

Of course I would. Even with them all turning on me, I would. But I get the feeling she won't believe me even if I said as such.

Resting the mask's strap onto my elbow (why am I still keeping this with me, again...?), I use my free hand to fire a few more shots at her-- only for her to duck away behind the countertop. Whatever, I've got what I need, I need to make my way out.

She'll probably try and trip me if I just run past, so that's out of the question. ...Hm, well, I'm probably not going to be able to live here anymore, so...

I throw myself over the counter, knocking various appliances off as I land beside her, making a sprint for the window once-more.

She gasps, expecting me to try and run by her. Good, I've got more distance on her than either of us expected. ...Shit, she's pulling out her radio.

"All units--"

I need to act quick. If I turn around to aim, then she might get time to catch up with me. But if I don't fire, then...

Suddenly, an idea manifests before me. Almost as if by intuition. Or perhaps... instinct.

I raise my tail up to my back, as if in an alert stance, channeling my mana directly into it. The tip of my tail begins glowing, just like my fingers whenever I charge up an energy shot. Just need to be precise, and...

"AAAAAAIIIIEEEEHHH!!!"

The beam of light ripples through the air, ripping straight through her hand and piercing the radio, causing it to explode in her palm. She shrieks in pain, recoiling in horror as the blood and plastic shrapnel sprays over her.

"Sorry... nee-chan." I whisper out, before throwing myself back into the fire escape.

A-alright... just gotta make my way to...

...

Uh.... um... uhhhhh......

S-shit... Where... where do I go? There's always... the uh... hmmm....

Maybe....? No, wait....

...

I've... got nowhere to turn to, huh? No one to take me in?

...

.....

...Is it raining? In the middle of winter...?

No, no it's not.

...I'm just crying. Crying... crying. Sobbing, even.

I'm all alone, aren't I? Not even my sister wants me. Abandoned by my own flesh and blood.

I sn-sniffle... wiping the tears from my eyes with my sleeves as I struggle to regain my composure. I-I can't cry now. I need to be able to see where I'm going so I don't get caught. ...I guess I can go to the hot springs for now. As much as I'd prefer not to, I've not exactly got any other options, do I?

......

...

Man.

Being a yokai fucking sucks.