Standing before the abyss of doom, all souls often cower before the inexorable reality of the inevitable. The more you try to flee from your past, the harder it will haunt you like rapacious wolves driven by the primal instinct of hunger.
Face to face, with their gazes fixed on each other, without giving a single centimeter to the movement and with their breathing ragged by surprise. Yukino has before her the man responsible for her destruction a few years ago, smiling, devoid of any hint of guilt or remorse.
The wobbly flame of the lighter drew dark expressions on the complexion of his face, in his eyes the brightness of the spark of fire that was given off with the impulse of the wind, framing that moment with the cold that began to whistle between the leaves of the trees. Like howls of lost souls trying to escape the devil.
"Long time no see and you won't even say hello? It seems that being away from the Yamaguchi clan made your manners get lost in this damn rural environment "- Taking delicately one of his strands of hair while he ran it through his nose sniffing it, Hiro took out a gun from the side of his jacket pointing the barrel of the gun below Yukino's sternum.
The cold metal had seeped into the buttonhole hem of his blouse, making a shiver run through her chest making his heart beat harder than he already was. Swallowing the saliva as if they were razors tearing at her throat, Yukino's voice barely left her lips asking why he had sought her out.
Grimacing as he lowered his gaze a little, the young clan heir chuckled, putting his hand to his face in disapproval.
"I ask the questions here, you damn bitch, if you want the bastards at the funeral home to come out on their own feet, come with me to my truck for a moment. Or maybe we should ask the manager for a wholesale discount? " - The young woman's eyes widened at that cold statement. It was a fact that Hiro was not a man to be tempted into her volatile temper, knowing how capable he was of committing such atrocities with only his own whim through her.
He could transform into his spirit form at that moment and tear him apart in one fell swoop, sweeping away all the escorts he came with. Without a doubt, everything would be easier if he let the anger out of him, but the emotional scars that accompanied the remaining essence of Yukino's body prevented Adam's consciousness from taking absolute control of the situation.
Without the ability to control his power due to emotional imbalance, the synchronization of the souls would break down and they would again be two beings sharing the same body. All the effort Vargas trained for and she would disappear without leaving any trace of her. And without the channeling gem, it would just be a futile attempt.
Leaving behind the main path that leads to the entrance of the funeral home, they walked through the grass to a secluded clearing where the truck was with two escorts waiting for their master. Seeing his faces, Yukino remembered the fatal events of that night on the beach where he was left dying at the hands of Hiro.
The two men in suits were none other than the henchmen who were always by the young heir's side. Looking at one sideways, Yukino's body was paralyzed for a few moments with the expression of terror marked on his face. That subject was the one who was the most fierce in that beating, taking advantage of the fact that she was lying on the sand, breaking her legs with a club.
"I see that you can walk without a cane, it seems that you are a tough nut to crack, or should I say break" - Hiro and his men laughed cynically at the face of the young woman, who clenched her fists at the sides of her body while gnashing her teeth helpless with rage.
Inside the truck the heater was on, marking a difference between the temperature of the cabin and the cold outside. Taking the opportunity, Hiro removed his jacket throwing it to the side of the seat where Yukino was, who could see that the revolver was still inside the inside pocket.
"I must give you all the damn credit, during these years I really thought you had died. If it weren't for Akane telling me, you could have followed your peaceful little town life in this secluded place of civilization. Did you change the electronic hospital records? Or was it Hanabi who bribed the funeral home workers? Well, none of that matters anymore because you like it or not, we are family and the family stays together. as he removed the patch from her face exposing the bitter reminder of the night of his fall.
Light threads of blood flowed from her earlobe to the delicate neck of the young woman, who, on the verge of exploding from her accumulated negative emotions, noticed a detail that he had overlooked. Hidden under the lapel of her shirt collar, a tattoo with the Roman numeral twelve was seen stamped on Hiro's skin.
"Tarot!" - When pronouncing that word, Hiro strongly held Yukino's face by her cheeks, pressing to the point of marking her fingertips, pulling the revolver out of his jacket to insert the barrel into the young woman's eye socket. The girl's screams of pain echoed inside the truck as she kicked frantically, holding Hiro's hand by the wrist.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME? WHO TOLD YOU DAMN GOLFA? ANSWER RIGHT NOW OR I WILL GIVE THE ORDER TO MASSACH EVERYONE AT THE FUCKING FUNERAL "- Losing his temper completely, Hiro's voice boomed in a deafening echo that reached a few feet outside the truck. The expression on her face had changed from a faux-friendly look to a genuine unbridled anger.
Finding herself overwhelmed by the situation, Yukino gave up completely betting her life on a single lucky move, even if it meant throwing everything away.
Projecting her spiritual armor onto her body, Yukino sliced through the notch in her helmet the barrel that was housed inside her head, causing Hiro to pull the trigger due to the surprise that the situation caused him. .
- "BOSS, ARE YOU OKAY?"
- "CLOSE THE DAMN DOOR IMBECILES AND WITHDRAW, I WILL CALL YOU"
The bodyguards did as their master ordered and slowly withdrew, looking back suspiciously. They were oblivious to the secret kept by their lord, the one who bore the mark of the hanged man. Hiro was the Tarot member behind the theft of spiritual attributes from the guardians, that was a favorable twist of fate for Yukino, or so she thought.
"You are a disobedient bitch" - Nabim's voice drilled hard into Yukino's head followed by a slight buzz that increased in intensity. Unable to help it, her spiritual transformation dissolved into the air as a slight trickle of blood from her nose alerted her to what was to come.
An immense pain shook the young woman, who lay her head against her thighs screaming as she put her hands to her ears. Tears of suffering flowed from her eyes as her mouth twitched from the gnashing of teeth.
On his side, Hiro stared in astonishment as a mere silent witness to that spectacle without believing what he saw. The veins in the temples of the young guardian popped out so visibly that the pounding of her heart was noticeable in them. After that ordeal of hers, Yukino fell exhausted on the back seat completely unconscious at the mercy of her enemy.
"I don't know what the hell just happened to you but you make things a lot easier for me now Yukino." - Opening the glove compartment of the truck, Hiro took a small metal box that inside contained a kind of necklace. At first glance its consistency seemed malleable as if it were a rope, but as soon as it touched the skin, it clung tightly to the point of becoming as solid as diamond.
Meanwhile in the funeral parlor, Ofelia was waiting for Yukino's return. It had been several minutes since the young woman had stepped out onto the porch and due to the moment it seemed not to be strange. But as if it were a premonition, the priestess felt a chill down her spine that made her rush out in search of her.
Running through the pasture that connected to the hillside where the truck was located, Vargas was intercepted by Hiro's bodyguards. Who did not hesitate to draw their weapons and open fire on the guardian. Who sensing her imminent danger extended her right hand drawing a barrier in front of her while answering her aggression by disabling her attackers.
The fact that these men were trying to stop her meant that her student was in danger, making her heart pound frantically as fleeting memories of Hanabi floated into her mind.
"I will not allow it, not on my damn guard" - The frenzied guardian thought within herself as she released her spiritual armor covering her body to dress the truck. When she was only a few feet from making contact with the car body, a strong gust of wind shook the grass and treetops, followed by an incredible silence that left her perplexed. When she looked at the truck's flashing lights that until recently blinked, they were now static just like the grass under her feet. The birds that flew from the branches of the treetops, seemed suspended in the sky as if it were a painting.
"This is great, I have a double prize" - Right behind Ofelia's back, Hiro stood firmly as he struck the back of her neck with the edge of his hand. The force with which he delivered that attack made the priestess stagger, who felt her head spin in a daze from the impact.
"Iron Maiden, come to me!" - A cage of energy emerged from the ground beneath Ofelia's feet, from which sprouted sharp spikes that pierced her spiritual armor as if it were a sheet of paper. Causing a strong electrical discharge to flood her body, to the point that her field of vision was closing until the current flow stopped.
As he freed himself from the technique, his body fell to the ground, smoking as if all his organs had been cooked inside. His heartbeat was so weak, it could be felt like that of a small rodent dying in a mousetrap.
"Right now I could kill you if I wanted to. But the fact that you come here tells me that Yukino is an important part of your life. And I need a leash so that my pet doesn't leave home again "- Taking out another necklace similar to the one she put on Yukino, Ofelia was imprisoned by the enchantment, losing her transformation on the spot.
The guards who until recently tried to recover from Vargas' attacks came to meet her master, bowing their heads offering their apologies for neglecting her mission. The young heir barely glanced at them over his shoulder, gesturing in the direction of the priestess's body. Who was taken by her arms and dragged to be thrown into the trunk of the truck.
"Go to the funeral home and take care of her body. I don't want any loose ends. Do you understand, right? " - Nodding reverently to his boss, the bodyguard turned in the direction of two of his companions. Those who went to the funeral home to fulfill the mandate of their master.
Pulling a decanter from his jacket pocket, Hiro sipped his drink as he climbed into the passenger seat giving the order to depart. When the vehicle started to go to Tokyo, from the rear view mirror of the truck it was seen how the dark night sky now had a light crimson halo that flickered on its crown reflecting in the clouds.
"It's not Christmas yet, but you can feel the warmth of the dates" - With a macabre smile on her face, Hiro stared at her on the road in front of him leaving a trail of destruction as a reminder of her visit. her to Hokkaido.
"The first damn thing I tell them and it's the first they do. I am disappointed in you, especially in you Yukino "- Upon regaining his consciousness, Yukino's soul was confined together with Ophelia's in Nabim's room. Who sat on her desk with folded arms, looked with contempt at the two guards who were kneeling on the floor.
"That boy is a key piece to unravel the skein of yarn from the whole damn problem I'm in and you two idiots were about to kill him. If it weren't for reducing her spiritual powers, right now I would find myself at a standstill again. "- Playing a small gem between his fingers, Nabim walked in Yukino's direction, squatting in front of her while pressing with the tip of his index finger on his forehead.
Now that Hiro had suppressed his spiritual powers with the help of the necklaces, the two guards were incapable of a counteroffensive against their adversaries. Which caught Nabim's attention, since previously the hanged man had suppressed the powers of his victims, ripping the spiritual essence from her without leaving a trace of it on their bodies. Instead she this time she had only limited them with that artifact.
"This insect has something on its hands that is beyond my expectations. It is not like the other Tarot members that I have obtained information from so far. I need you to be my ears and eyes with him, my dear Yukino. It is unnecessary to remind you that you are one of my toys, but I am a good girl and I like to share with my friends for more fun "- Plunging his fingertips into the socket where his left eye was missing, Nabim introduced the precious gem that until a few seconds ago he held in his hand.
That gem had the ability to release the spirit power of its bearer beyond its natural limits. Causing in just a few moments a great power to emanate from within him at the cost of his physical resistance. If he received an attack, his body would not be able to recover from the injuries inflicted. His healing factor would be down for at least five hours.
"Consider this as life insurance, but of course, I will decide when you can use it" - Smiling showing his teeth like a cat that plays with its prey, Nabim patted Yukino's cheek who could barely bear the displeasure that being in contact caused him with her.
"The people who were at the funeral home, what happened to them?" - Ofelia pronounced those words thanks to the fact that on a spiritual level telepathic communication allowed her to do so. With an expression of genuine concern on her face, the priestess questioned the astral guide. Who kept a brief silence for a few seconds while a grim countenance was observed on her face.
"That is something I will have to talk about in my report with Freyja. They just need to know that "- Yukino lowered her face when she heard those words. Thinking of the end that both Rector Ishikawa and her friend Kang had. They had attended the funeral to pay their respects, not knowing that tonight would be their inevitable end.
"When we are done with Tarot, rest assured that the next one will be you Nabim" - With anger in her eyes, Yukino challenged him without caring about the consequences of her daring. Only receiving total indifference from Nabim, who barely turned around sent the souls of the guardians back to their respective bodies.
Sitting in her backseat, the thump of the truck's suspension shaking her body made him wake up from her trance. Still under the influence of the paralysis caused by her necklace, Yukino watched with blurry eyes the silhouettes of two men in the front of the vehicle. Feeling on his wrists the cold sensation of the metal of the handcuffs with which they had held his arms behind his back.
As if they were murmurs, the voices of Hiro and his assistant gave the impression of being in the middle of a heated discussion. Who was this guy who was driving the truck, who was capable of raising his voice to the young heir without fearing for his life?
Passing without slowing down over a pothole, the rear of the truck jerked violently, throwing Yukino's body in the direction of the dash. Her being held in her flight by Hiro, who was watching her sideways as if she was holding an elusive cat.
"I see you finally wake up, go back to the fucking seat and don't try something crazy again." - Thinking that the incident a few seconds ago was Yukino's ruse to escape, Hiro forcefully pushed her against the back of the seat, dislocating his shoulders in the process.
Yukino's groans of pain with each vibration of the vehicle were drowned out by loud radio music. There was no mercy or consideration, she was nothing more than a prisoner at the mercy of her captor.
Her bitter feeling reminded him of the punishment she was subjected to two years ago, when the Yamaguchi clan dishonored and tortured her. Leaving her to her fate lying on the beach that rainy night.
At least twelve hours passed between stops to refuel, the road trip seemed endless even though the vehicle maintained a speed above the allowed limits. For Hiro the traffic regulations were nothing more than a hindrance to her wishes, neglecting safety as if she staked her life on every move she made.
She was insane, it was the only clear thing for Yukino who clung to her consciousness in the midst of pain, waiting to know the fate that awaited them.
"We have arrived sir" - The chauffeur's voice was rough, as if her throat was parched due to the change of weather. Getting out of the vehicle to open the door for her master, awaiting instructions.
"Bring those two annoyances inside Isamu. We don't have all day and the old man must already be pissed off about my getaway "- Taking the first steps when getting out of the truck, Yukino felt like his legs were overcome by cramps due to maintaining the same posture throughout the trip.
When Isamu was about to lean in to shake her hand so she could get up, Hiro's fist violently slammed into her jaw causing her sunglasses to fall to the ground. The iris of her eyes was a red hue similar to that of rabbits, she barely received a bit of the light from the building in front of them, she instinctively moved her hands to cover herself as she searched for her glasses.
"Do you feel like a knight in shining armor looking after a damsel? This bitch is nothing more than an object, a luggage with something valuable inside, but the luggage is dragged "- Pulling furiously at Yukino's hair, Hiro dragged the young woman's body that felt like the friction of the loose gravel hurt him the skin even through the fabric of the pants.
The expression on the bodyguard's face didn't hide his displeasure at Hiro's misogynistic behavior. He knew he could beat her in a fair fight, with her muscular body showing in the tight sleeves of her jacket, there was no doubt that this was possible. But there was nothing fair between the two of them, marking the abysmal difference by the power residing in the body of the young mobster and the fact that he was the heir to one of the most powerful clans.
"You know Yukino, after you died I took this place and remodeled it little by little. Almost as if it were a manual job to relieve me of stress in the face of the old man's demands; Take a good look at it, it may bring you some memories "- Looking closely at the walls of the place, little by little memories that had been buried in the subconscious emerged.
That safe house on the outskirts of Tokyo was the last refuge the two lovers knew during the short week before their hopes and dreams were taken away from them. Tears rolled down Yukino's cheeks as his lip trembled, closing his eyes without saying a word under his face feeling his breath shake.
Throwing her onto a mat on the floor, Hiro unbuttoned the cuffs of her shirt sleeves and rolled them diligently until her forearms were visible. Various tattoos were engraved on her skin that shaped dragon heads, with shades of bright colors that made it seem that at any moment they would come out of her skin as if they had a life of their own.
Taking a remote control from a piece of furniture in the room, he pointed at a sensor nailed to the wall causing a metal curtain to go up, exposing what was apparently a mirror.
"You know, even though it might seem like I'm a minimalist when it comes to decorating. I can assure you that this house has all the necessary amenities for the average Japanese. Air conditioning, internet and the famous pay-per-view service could not be missing "- Pressing another button on the control, the lights in the room where they were were dimmed and revealed the true nature of the glass: A false view mirror, which revealed the other side when making lighting changes.
Inside the adjoining room, the silhouette of a body suspended from the ceiling, firmly tied by the wrists, slowly swayed like a clock pendulum.
The posture in which his arms were behind his back, left his hands slightly separated from the hips.
With her ears and eyes veiled, Ofelia was confined in a room with the walls padded with a system that absorbed the sounds of the interior. Leaving only what was happening visible to the viewer without giving the opportunity to hear what was happening.
"I want you to contemplate well, do not lose detail of what your eyes are seeing at this moment. Record every second in your memory because I want only one thing to be clear to you. For me at this moment you are a simple canary, a small bird that I have captured to my satisfaction. And your friend in there, she will not suffer as long as she is willing to sing for me "- Giving a signal to one of her men, two subjects with their faces covered by a black cloth entered the torture room. Holding Ofelia firmly by the ankles, one of them pulled with all his strength the weight of the young woman towards the ground.
Her arms practically dislocated, tearing her ligaments and tearing her muscles, revealing the extreme agony she was going through on the priestess's face.
Hiro knew that no matter how much she physically tortured or hurt Yukino, her temper would not break despite taking damage that brought her to the brink of death. Instead, the young woman's mind was more vulnerable whenever a loved one was hurt or in danger.
"How did you get those powers? Who do you work for? SPEAKS!" - Going from subtle to angry tone in her speech, Hiro rebuked the young woman while he held her chin tightly while she pulled her eyelids in order to prevent her from closing her eyes.
Yukino's lips seemed sealed as if they had been sewn with steel, trying to peel them off before an overwhelming force that prevented it.
The executioners continued their work on the other side of the glass, unleashing the most sinister ideas that the young heir's mind could have imagined in his most twisted dreams. One by one, her toes were broken with metal pliers that dislocated his phalanges. While his fingernails were slowly pulled out one by one in order to prolong the sensation of pain.
Vargas's body shook as he threw his head back and forth frantically, drowning out his screams on the walls of the soundproof room.
Yukino wanted to talk, wanted the torment to end. She struggled to reveal everything as she owed nothing to Freyja or Nabim. But the astral guide had control over hers, her body, had deprived her of her freedom, turning her into a defenseless puppet.
At Hiro's mercy, subject to Nabim's whims, the young woman she watched as her mentor was tortured over and over again over the span of two hours. Time in which the soulless subject released a moment's control over the priestess's necklace, so that she could recover slightly from her injuries.
Finally, at the end of four hours of continuous torment, Yukino's mind had completely broken due to the helplessness of seeing such savage punishment. Ofelia's frail humanity seemed like a throbbing mass of flesh over most of her body. The bruises and blood that spilled on the white floor of the room, seemed the very essence of a slaughterhouse.
"It seems that I will get absolutely nothing from you for now. I think we better go straight to the mansion. I think I'm not a person to your liking, but maybe you can speak more freely if you are in front of the old man. " - Taking a handkerchief to her mouth to wipe the sweat that had run down her cheeks, Hiro got up leaving Yukino on the floor, who had her completely lost gaze staring into space.
Waving her hand in the doorway, Hiro ordered her men to take the two young women back into the truck.
When they untied the ropes that held Vargas, his almost dying body fell to the ground, hitting his head with force. She could barely breathe, trying to keep consciousness of her while she worried about what had happened to her friend.
On the other side, Isamu lifted Yukino in his arms in a delicate way. Without Hiro present, that man showed compassion for the young woman who dropped her head suspended in the air, leaning it against her chest so that she could find a brief moment of rest before arriving at the Yamaguchi clan mansion. .
Standing at the entrance of the safe house was the young mobster talking on the phone with his father, puffing on a cigarette while he responded with an exasperated tone.
"You should not fear, I promise that I will protect you even if this costs me my life Yuu-chan" - Speaking with whispers in the ear of the stunned Yukino, Isamu rested his forehead against the head of the young woman in a discreet way without being seen by no one else.
The silhouette of the burly bodyguard escorting the young lady faded until he reached the truck and started off.