"Yuki?"
Looking at a person covered in crystals all over their body, in a lotus position, Argos's eyes lit up.
"Yuki! I knew you wouldn't die!" Despite being amidst the flames, Argos didn't care. He looked at Yuki, who was now in a lotus position, with joy. He felt extremely satisfied knowing that his idol hadn't died. However, he couldn't help but furrow his brow; Yuki's body was covered in crystals from the Apocalypse Virus.
"Argos?"
Opening his eyes slowly, Yuki looked at the spiky-haired boy.
"Yuki... You."
"Hm? Don't worry; it's just a side effect."
Watching Yuki wave his hand, Argos remembered the first time he met him. Back then, Yuki was also covered in crystals, but this time, the quantity was too much.
"No... Let me help you."
Approaching Yuki, Argos placed a hand on his shoulder. However, Yuki just shook his head, supporting his small body and not rejecting the help.
He felt like crap, after all.
"All right, let's go; everyone's worried about you."
With a bitter smile on his face, Yuki just sighed. He didn't know what was happening at the Undertaker headquarters, but he could guess.
"Yuki?"
It didn't take long before they encountered Gai, Kyo, and the few survivors. Gai looked at Yuki's current body state and shook his head.
He knew how painful it was to have your body crystallized, yet Yuki remained conscious.
"This mission is a failure; we're going to abort." The Leukocyte's attack took them by surprise, and looking at Yuki's current state, Gai knew the mission had failed. However...
"No, this is the perfect time... We initiate the operation."
There was a dangerous gleam when Yuki spoke those words, sending a chilling shiver down Gai and the other survivors' spines.
Even Mark felt all the hairs on his body stand on end.
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[We found Yuki; the mission continues]
"Yay!"
They didn't know who shouted first, but this news made everyone jump with joy. After all, Yuki was a powerful ally.
"Yukin!"
Tsugumi's tears stopped as she jumped from Ayase's arms with joy, grabbing the communicator at the same time.
"Yukin? Are you okay?! What happened?! Are you hurt?!"
[I'm fine... Don't worry.]
Tsugumi was like a mother hen; she was very concerned about Yuki.
On the other hand, Inori just pressed her hands against her chest. She was also happy, even though she knew Yuki was alive, she couldn't help but worry.
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"Yuki..."
"Inori."
Looking at each other, Inori felt pain. She looked at Yuki's current state with sadness.
Although her emotions were in turmoil a few days ago, she watched Yuki enter with Argos's help, and all the other members opened their mouths in surprise.
"Yukin!!"
Unlike Inori, Tsugumi took action. Quickly touching Yuki's body with her hands.
"Yukin..." With tears welling up in her eyes, Tsugumi looked at Yuki, who responded by patting her head.
"I'm fine; don't worry. It's just a little discomfort. I'll be fine with some medicine."
With a gentle smile on his face, Yuki wiped away the tears accumulating in Tsugumi's eyes.
Although Yuki would like to continue showing affection in public, he knew he couldn't do it in this situation. He looked at Inori and the other members who were watching him with pity.
So Yuki tilted his head and whispered a few words to Tsugumi, who only nodded in agreement.
"Inori... Can you help me?"
Moving away from Yuki, Tsugumi looked at Inori for a moment before smiling and nodding.
Inori didn't know what this meant, but she wasn't going to reject Yuki's request.
"Yes..."
Seeing that Inori didn't refuse, Yuki leaned his body against hers. Despite being in this state, Yuki really wanted to ask Inori something, but he knew he couldn't do it in public. That's why he wanted to do it now.
Looking at the couple leave the room, Gai sighed. He looked at Tsugumi, who was also watching the couple leave, and shook his head.
"Is everyone here? I'll explain the plan!"
Although they lost half of their reinforcements, Gai wasn't going to give up on taking down the Leukocyte. After all, it was a terrifying weapon.
However, as Gai explained his plan, Mark observed the display of affection between Yuki, Inori, and Tsugumi.
(So, that's your weakness.) With a smile on his face, Mark now knew what to do.
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Walking slowly, Yuki supported his body with Inori.
He closed his eyes as he enjoyed this. Inori, however, was silent, but internally, she was in deep conflict.
She didn't know what to think.
"Here is good, Inori." Arriving at an isolated room, Yuki urged Inori to stop.
"And the medicine?"
Inori was confused; she thought he would take him to the infirmary. So, she tilted her head slightly, showing her confusion on her expressionless face.
"Inori, you know very well that the medicine in this world isn't effective on my body." Shaking his head, Yuki had previously tried the vaccine and medicines that usually treated a patient infected with the Apocalypse Virus, but the result was negative. His issue was more related to chakra than his body itself, not to mention that the virus in his body was a mutated version of the same.
Understanding what Yuki meant, Inori had forgotten this point; she was so worried that she had forgotten the medicine wasn't effective on Yuki.
"Then..."
"Inori, you've been crying."
Looking at her red eyes, Yuki touched her cheeks.
"Is it my fault?"
Inori didn't know what to say. She was new to this whole romance and love thing. She couldn't understand her own feelings, nor could she comprehend why they arose in the first place.
Taking off his Anbu mask, Yuki continued, "I felt it before, I felt... You called me, Inori."
Gently touching his chest, Yuki smiled tenderly.
"Inori, your heart is getting stronger every day. I'm sorry; you've been growing... and something more."
There was something; Yuki didn't know how to describe it, but there was a connection between Inori and him.
It was like a long red thread that bound them. Yuki didn't know why, but he could see it. The Sharingan could see this connection very clearly.
Since then, there were many emotions Yuki received through this red thread. Yuki could see that this red thread was another form of the Apocalypse virus.
Inori, however, couldn't see this connection, but she could feel it. She could call Yuki through it and even locate his position.
Yuki was curious about this; Inori had called him a few moments ago. That's why Yuki wanted to try something else.
Remembering a small song, Yuki smiled while also singing.
"I'll always be by your side, so I don't want to see
Your clear red eyes from crying so much
This makes your heart sink into darkness...
I'll protect you
Embracing all of you and your heart
So we become much stronger than yesterday
Let's forcefully unite everything we feel...
Forever together x2"
Ending the song with a smile, Yuki now understood what Yuu was trying to say. Inori's mind had been in chaos lately. Although he was the catalyst, he, in himself, wasn't the cause.
"Do you understand now? Don't think too much about it because, no matter what, we're in this together now. So, it doesn't matter what the other 'You' says. The one living in this moment is you, Inori Yuzuriha."
"I..."
Inori's gaze trembled when Yuki mentioned the other 'You.' Unpleasant memories and emotions rushed through her body at the mere mention of that girl.
However, soon her emotions calmed down as she felt a gentle touch on her lips.
Kissing her lips, Yuki thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea to continue Yuu's plan. However, his plans had to be modified.
With various thoughts in mind, Yuki could already see the end of all this, and hopefully, he would take Inori out of this world.
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TN : Damn well as promised here the chapter
For next one more 15 stones for instant release :))
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