Taachii

Yuna looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing dry clothes, the ones Hiroko gave her. But her sweater was wet. Her wet clothes were in the sink, and she was pressing into them, trying to strain all of the water out. Upon getting all the water out she threw them over a stall door, trying to air dry them. She sighed, and looked at her hands. She tried to see the Mabui, but nothing. She walked to the door and left the bathroom. Hesitantly she walked to her classroom, and finished school, trying not to let anything affect her. The school bells rang, and the end of the day came. Yuna sighed. “Remember, come see after your punishment is over. I’ll go fetch you clothes and get them dried.” Hiroko said, smiling at Yuna, before leaving. Miyagi glanced at Yuna, and Ramon, then left. Yuna instantly started to set the chairs on the desks. Ramon followed suit. “So punishment is to pick up chairs, neat.” Ramon said. “This isn’t the punishment.” Yuna said quietly. “Speak up, nobody can hear you.” Ramon said. “Sorry, this isn’t the punishment. Our punishment is to sweep the floor, wipe up all the desks and chalkboards. And to make sure everything is put where it belongs.” Yuna said, continuing to stack chairs on the desks. “Well. I’m not doing that.” Ramon said. “My name is Yuna by the way, just to let you know.” she said, watching as Ramon walked away. Ramon opened the door, but before he could leave the space where the door lead became black. Ramon turned around and glanced at Yuna. The windows turned black.

“Is this some sort of prank?” Yuna asked quietly, tensing up. “No it’s a Halimaw.” Ramon said. “What?” Yuna asked, her voice straining. From the blackness of the windows opened an eye, big, swallowing the darkness, red, and dripping with disdain. “Well that isn’t good.” Ramon said. “I’m not turning around, can you explain to me what’s going on?” Yuna asked, her eyes tearing up. “Can you do that water thing from earlier?” Ramon asked, taking a step back. “Answer me first, what is happening?” Yuna asked. “How do I explain to you that there is a giant red eye behind you?” Ramon asked. “What?!” Yuna screams, quickly turning around, and falling onto the floor. “So you gonna do that magic from earlier or not?” Ramon asked. “What magic?!” Yuna asked, alarmed. “The water thing.” Ramon said. “So that was magic. Good to know. How do you do it?!” Yuna asked, failing at containing her voice. “Stop being so loud.” Ramon said. “Maybe it’s nice.” Yuna said. After a second an arm pierced through the window. Pitch black, and surrounded by red Mabui. It was targeted at Yuna, but Ramon was able to interject. Picking up Yuna, and jumping out of the way before Yuna could perceive what happened. Yuna found herself being carried like a princess in his arms, and she pushed herself out of his hands, falling to the ground, as the black arm appeared in front of her, and hit her into the ceiling. The arm targeted Ramon, but he deflected it away, grabbed a chair, and threw it into the creature's eye, stunning it.

Yuna was barely able to perceive it, as she laid on her back, still comprehending what happened to her. “Are you ok?” Ramon asked. “Never been better.” Yuna said, rolling onto her stomach. She noticed the Mabui around her swarming her, glowing blue and green. “The Mana, it’s protecting you. Hurry, create that water thing again, and throw it at this monster.” Ramon said. “You do, I don’t know how.” Yuna said, getting onto her knees. “You do? You hit your head too hard. I can’t do it, I can't use magic.” Ramon said. “Oh but you can move fast enough I can’t perceive it.” Yuna said, finally getting up. Ramon turned his attention back to the creature as it came to. In an instant several arms, now resembling blades, pierced the glass, and went after both Ramon and Yuna. “Well learn how, it’s only vulnerable from magic, it doesn't matter which type.” Ramon said, parrying each attack from the monster. “Type, there are different types? Not important.” Yuna said, trying to grasp how to control the Mabui. A blade flew at her from the side, getting inches from her face, but Ramon kicked it away. “If I die now, then who will take my place for tomorrow's tour?” Yuna asked. “Is that what you are worried about?” Ramon asked, still holding off the creature's attacks. “Yes, I'm also concerned about myself. I’m not a big fan of dying either.” Yuna said. “Then use magic!” Ramon yelled at Yuna, stressed from the situation. “I’m trying, don’t you think I’m not?!!” Yuna asked, her voice running wild, and raw. A blade slashed upon Ramon’s cheek, cutting him. “Amamikyu, Utin, Ryuuguu, Jiichi, anyone. Please answer. Save me please, help me figure out what to do.” Yuna said, tearing up. “And now she’s crying, are we serious with this?” Ramon asked, grabbing several blades, before throwing them at the creature's eye. The blades stopped the creature's vision, before being absorbed into its body. When the blades appeared the creature noticed Ramon taking their place as Ramon kicked the monster in its eye, stunning it again.

Upon doing so, Ramon ran over to Yuna. “Ok you need to help me here.” Ramon said. “Wow, a broken record aren't you?” Yuna said, annoyed. “So you are shy and timid, except when you are alone with me, great, let’s use that. Stop hiding, embrace it.” Ramon said. “Care to tell me how?” Yuna asked. “You acted scared in class, like you were hiding from everyone. And now you are here yelling at me. Why?” Ramon asked. “Because now I’m about to die.” Yuna answered. “Not the answer I’m looking for.” Ramon said. “What do you want me to say?” Yuna asked. “Anything really. Just why, why aren't you scared now? I mean, yes you are scared but you are willing to talk now. Why?” Ramon asked. Yuna looked at the creature, as it opened its eye again. 

“Round three, here we come.” Ramon said, rushing off the stop the next waves of attack. No longer parrying, every thrown fist, and kick tore turned the blades to dust. “Why? Why? Come on, think of an answer.” Yuna said to herself. An image, something she has longed to forget, a woman laying on the floor, lifeless, as a younger Yuna stood over her. Yuna looked to Ramon as a blade pierced his gut, but Ramon still continued to fight. Why? The Mabui surrounding her grew brighter. She remembered earlier, before they met. When he was standing in the hall, she felt compelled. Like the Mabui wanted her to notice him. The Mabui. Is that why? “Can you see it? The Mabui, the red around his attacks, the blue and green around me?” Yuna asked. “Mana, and yes. I can see it.” Ramon said, out of breath. Yuna looked at her hands, remembering the woman, as she laid in the woman's lap. “Can you feel it, Yuna, our Mabui?” the woman asked. Yuna felt the warmth of the Mabui on her hand. Every small twitch of her hands caused the Mabui to move. She let the Mabui settle on her hands, taking a deep breath, and grabbing the Mabui. Feeling the warmth in it. She opened her eyes, seeing a ball of water in front of her. “Have you figured it out yet?” Ramon asked, on his knees, as another wave of blades went after him. “Not a clue. But I guess it’s easier with you.” Yuna said, unleashing the ball of water. The water shot out, and knocked through the blades hitting the creature in the eye. “That’s not an answer.” Ramon said, grabbing a blade, and charging at the creature. The creature recoiled from the attack, and the Mabui around it dissipated, allowing Ramon to dive the blade into the creature's eye. The creature bellowed then disappeared, and the duo found themselves back in the classroom.

“Oh thank you Kang.” Yuna said aloud, laying onto the ground. “What is half the things you say? Kang, Mabui, what were those names? Ama- something.” Ramon asked. “It’s difficult to explain. But Mabui, you called it Mana. My mother was a Noro, and she raised me to be a Noro, and that energy we called it Mabui.” Yuna said. “Noro? Go back to your mother, and ask her to fix her head.” Ramon joked. “I can’t do that.” Yuna said, quietly. “I know where this is going. How long ago was it?” Ramon asked. “Years. Cancer, a few months from 3 years. I was 15 at the time. Old enough to live on my own.” Yuna said. “Do you live alone?” Ramon asked. “Yes.” Yuna answered. She looked at Ramon. “So what was all of that?” Yuna asked. “I don’t know much about it. But those monsters hunt people who can wield magic. I’ve dealt with some before. I reckon to find the secret organization that keeps things in check and ask them.” Ramon said. “Secret organization. Are there more magic users?” Yuna asked. “Don’t ask me, I avoid all of that.” Ramon said. “But you know of it, how do I find it?” Yuna asked. “You don’t, they find you.” Ramon said. “That’s just great.” Yuna said. “So is the fact that the windows are broken and there is water on the floor.” Ramon said. Yuna looked, noticing the room disheveled. “How do we fix that?” Yuna asked. “From what I know recreation magic is a bit advanced for someone who can barely make a ball of water. So we should run.” Ramon said, walking away. Yuna followed after, and ran past Ramon. Ramon smiled, and started running. Catching up to Yuna. “Gotta run faster.” Ramon said.