《CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR》
《WARNINGS: BLOOD, BLOOD, BLOOD, GORE, ANGST》
SUDDENLY, IT FELT LIKE time had stopped.
Gojo's eyes widened, hollow purple dying out in his palms. Leviathan vanished into a sliver of shadows, making Itadori wrap an arm around Gen as they both dropped to their feet on the ground below. Kugisaki lowered her weapon, her lips parting. Fushiguro stopped her from moving forward.
The fires surrounding them vanished. The heat in the air lowered, allowing the cool breeze to blow what was left of the weak flames out. Silence filled the air; not even the sound of the ocean could be heard. Everything went still.
Neoma turned her gaze downwards, her eyes going wide. Her gaze fell upon the body of her younger brother, her lips parting in shock. Her face twisted with pain, eyebrows lacing in distress.
Shota's eyes had glossed over, the milky film taking over the silver color. His lips were parted, stained red by his own blood, which left streaks from the corner of his mouth, down his jaw, and to pool under him. His left hand was over his stomach, tainted red. His hand slipped down, falling beside him, his palm facing up. His shirt was torn, and it was hard to distinguish between his blood and his body. From the wound, some of his internal organs were visible, and his white shirt was soaked red, and more blood pooled under him.
His left hand was over his throat, holding onto something there. Upon further inspection, Neoma could see a ball-chain necklace. She shakily dropped onto her knees, reaching for whatever he was holding onto. Her hands shook as she pulled the necklace from under his shirt. She placed the golden heart into her palm, slowly opening it.
With his last ounce of strength, Shota had reached for the necklace. The necklace held a heart-shaped locket. And in that locket, there were two photos. On the left side, she recognized the picture of Naomi, brightly smiling. On the other side, a picture of Gen resided.
Neoma slowly brought her hand back, flicking her gaze to his lifeless eyes. Her body trembled and she reached for his face. She lifted his body, her throat closing at the way his head lolled over her arm, his black hair hanging in the air.
"S-Shota..?" She whispered. "H-Hey now...I-I didn't mean it. C'mon. Use y-your reversal.."
Her words died in her throat as she pressed two fingers to his neck. His skin was beginning to feel cool. The panic set into her.
"Sh-Shota?! W-Wake up! This isn't funny! I didn't mean to hurt you! I was o-only trying to scare you! H-Hey! Shota! Shota?!"
She lifted her head, turning to Gojo. Desperation washed over her face. Her eyes welled with tears.
"I-I di-didn't mean to--!" She looked back down at him.
"D-Dad..?"
Neoma looked up. Gen was slowly walking towards them, his feet dragging along the concrete. Itadori was too shocked to grab him, and no one else dared to touch him.
His pace picked up. He walked faster. Then he jogged. Then he ran.
"Dad! Dad!?"
Gen fell onto the ground, his palms scraping against the concrete. He grabbed onto Shota, his hands shaking as he touched his face, then pressed over the wound on his stomach. Neoma watched, tears slipping from her cheeks. Gen was screaming, shaking the man by his shoulders, pleading for him to open his eyes. To move.
"D-Dad!" He screamed, his hands coated in Shota's blood as he grabbed his face. "Dad, wake up! Please! Dad!"
Her eyes widened.
"Dad!" Shota screamed, his voice laced in desperation. He was grabbed, held back by another, older male. He thrashed around, kicking his legs in the air. "Dad! Save her!"
Neoma stood in shock, her eyes wide. She felt the blood rolling from her palms, falling down her fingers and dripping onto the ground. The blood splattered on her cheek was hot, but she couldn't move to wipe it away.
The body of her younger sister lay at her feet. Her father relentlessly worked to heal her, looking up at Neoma with wide eyes.
"What did you do?!" He exclaimed, bringing the girl into his arms. He cradled her against his chest. "Neoma, what did you do to her?!"
"I-I was j-just p-playing," She whispered, her voice wavering. "W-We were just p-playing.."
Shota broke past the man's grip, running across the yard. He dropped in front of his father, taking the girl into his arms. He sobbed, holding her close to him, putting a hand on the back of her head as he rocked back and forth.
"She got mad!" Shota yelled. "She got mad at Y/n, Dad!"
"Neoma," He said darkly. "No more."
"Get away from him!" Gen screamed. Leviathan formed behind him and Neoma got to her feet, stumbling back. Gojo dropped onto his knees, placing his fingers on Shota's neck. A low hiss filled the air as two figures rose on either side of him. Kanna curled around them as Koruso bared his fangs at the woman.
But it was not Gojo's rage-filled eyes, Gen's shaking body, Leviathan's piercing eyes, Kanna's warning hiss, nor Koruso's large fangs that made her body overcome with fear. It wasn't how she was cornered. It wasn't how she knew she was outnumbered.
It was what loomed behind them.
The older woman stared at her, her lips pulled into a frown. Her hands were at her sides, her delicate hands over the two children's heads. Shota hid his face in the woman's side, his shoulders shaking as soft cries escaped his lips. The small girl on the opposite side held onto her mother's kimono, the black material bunched in her tiny hand. She held a flower in her hands, looking down at the figure on the ground.
Neoma felt her eyes go wide. All of them were dead. How was this possible? And they...they looked so young. What was going on?
Wait, what happened? This wasn't the road she was just standing on. This was different. Where was she? A..graveyard? How did she..?
"Mama," Y/n said, looking up at her mother. "What happened to Onee-san?"
The older woman stroked her daughter's hair. "She got hurt during a battle." She said softly.
"She isn't coming home, is she?" Y/n asked, looking back down.
"No."
Y/n let go of her mother's clothing, walking forward. She hopped onto the small stone platform. She rose onto her tippy-toes, placing the flower on top of the brown casket. She jumped back down, running back to her mother's side.
"How come she got hurt, Mama?" She asked, this time taking the woman's hand.
"She was foolish," She replied. "Your sister was reckless and power-thirsty."
"She's not our sister," Shota said, taking his head from the woman's side. Juno wiped the tears on his face away. He frowned deeply, anger sparking in his light-gray eyes.
"Shota, I know you are upset, but--"
"No," He said, his voice shaking as he cut his father off. "She was mean and hurtful! I don't like her, and I'm...I'm glad she's dead!"
"Nii-san, Mama says you shouldn't wish someone was dead!" Y/n said, peering around her mother at him.
"I'm glad she's dead! I never wanted to see her again! I don't feel bad because she's dead, and neither should you! None of you should! Neoma was horrible!" He shouted.
"Shota, have some respect!" His father snapped. "Your sister is dead! You should be mourning her!"
"To hell with that!" He yelled, his voice cracking. "To hell with all of it!"
"Come now, boy," Juno said, turning away. "You and Y/n do not need to be here now. Especially with these people."
Shota glared at the casket, his jaw trembling. He turned away, walking beside the woman as he furiously wiped at his eyes. Y/n ran to his side, taking his hand in hers. He relaxed a little, looking down at her. She smiled at him before looking over her shoulder.
"Do you not like Onee-san?" She asked.
"I hate her. And so should you."
Y/n nodded, making a sound of approval. "Onee-san makes Nii-san upset. I'll beat her up so you never have to worry about her again!"
Shota chuckled bitterly and airly, picking her up in his arms.
"You were already beat to that one, little bun."
《CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: END》
《IMAGE NOT MINE》