Chapter Text
For the record, it should be made clear that you were *aware* that you weren't a regular human. It took a while, the stares and looks of your friends and family burnt into your mind like a brand before you noticed that they didn't see what you could see. You hid it for a long time. And for a long time, it was really easy to hide. Growing up in a small town, there were as many curses around as the fingers on your hand in the eighteen years before you moved. That being said, you had noticed the shift when you turned seventeen. A strange warble that dropped from the air and coated the earth, seeping into it but not quite being absorbed. Like an oil spill that nobody saw, the shimmering black tainting the earth as it tried to coexist. But it wasn't meant to be there.
You had seen curses all your life, but they were nothing like this. When you moved to Shibuya from your small town, you weren't sure what you expected. You knew you were different but you didn't know what curses were or how they worked. It was more of a learned understanding that if you skirted their gaze, or ignored their mumbling, they would leave you alone. But these ones today were different. Today was different.
-
“Hey! Where is your costume!?”
“Huh? This *is* my costume.” You scoffed as your friends' green eyes drift up and down to inspect you.
“Okaaay… And, what is it, exactly?” You looked down and shrugged.
“It was supposed to be from this viral video that's been going around lately…” Sheepishly, you rubbed the back of your neck. Your friend's snicker filled your cheeks with blood and dusted them pink as the two of you walked.
“That makes sense for you. Sorry I don't recognize that kinda stuff.” Her hand found yours as the streets began to get more crowded and squeezed. You returned the squeeze and began winding between the surplus of bodies suddenly around you before a chill ran up your spine. It was slow, like sinking into a puddle of honey. Every hair on your body stood on end and goosebumps cascaded across your skin as the sky above you darkened.
“Can you see that?” Choking out the words was hard. Like your tongue had turned into molasses and honey coated your throat, struggling to find purchase in the cold air. You knew she couldn't see it. She could, however, see the fear in your eyes and the panic that distorted your face as you watched the black screen cascade to the ground.
“See… what? Hey, are you okay? Hey. Hey?” You opened your mouth to answer, but you couldn't get the words out. Your throat constricted as you watched curses ooze out of the building walls and the ground as soon as the black blanket covered the area. There were so many, like someone had poured water into an anthill. Fire ignited in your veins as the air beside the two of you warbled, and hands started pulling. More hands than two, scratching and clawing at the air as it tore into existence beside you guys.
“Please trust me! We need to run!” Her mouth opened to question, but your feet had already left the ground, your grip on her hand tightening to a vice as you pulled her away. There were very few people panicking around you guys, and pushing through the crowd was harder than you hoped. Frantically scanning as your feet thundered on the pavement you found the edge of the black veil. People were converging at the edge, poking and pushing against the inky substance to no avail. The panic and confusion in everyone echoed in the voices that filled the air. What is this? Why can't we move? What's going on? This doesn't make sense. It didn't help your nerves that nobody seemed to be able to see this like you. But you reached out anyway, your hand trembling as it reached for the shimmering darkness before you. But, to your surprise, your hand passed through. “Ah?”
“What's going on? Why is everyone being so weird?” Nicole's voice wavered as she spoke, tinted with panic at the edges of confusion. But you couldn't answer. Your mind was too busy racing. Why couldn't these people get through if your hand passed by? Would Nicole be able to go? Was it because you could see it? It couldn't be that simple. Right?
“Can you see this?”
“See what? I just see people acting like there's a wall-” Another warble in the air spiked your heart rate. You cut her off by pulling her hand forward and pushing through the veil. “OW! What the fuck!”
“Shit.” Her hand couldn't go. Yours passed through, squishing her fingers as she hissed. “We have to go again.” Another warble, your stomach churning as a smell accompanied this one. This was nothing like home. These curses were different. Why were you trapped? This time however, she didn't argue. Her eyes desperately scanned the wall she couldn't see before flicking to yours and nodding. The relief you had at her confused cooperation was brief as you both took off through the gathering crowd to be met with a chorus of high pitched screams.
“What is that?!” Nicole's voice was dripping with fear, and you saw her try to turn to the sound.
“I don't know, but we can't stay here!” Yanking her hand, you pulled her face back to yours before continuing through. Where was the safest place? Inside a building seemed like you'd just get trapped, but out here was no better with the crowds of people suffocating the space. More screams erupted from nearby.
“Als, what is happening? Please, what is going on?” Her voice trembled as she pleaded with you and watched your eyes flicker wildly around the area.
“I don't know. But we're not safe. Can you see the black thing in the sky?”
“Black thing?”
“It's like someone draped a blanket over the area. I don't know what it is.”
“A… Blanket? I don't see that.”
“That's okay. Please, just trust me. There's things around us, too.”
“Things?” Another scream, this time the other way. “Why are there screams?”
“There's these weird… monsters. I've always been able to see them.” Another warble. Pulling her arm, she followed suit and took off with you down another street. “Nobody else seems to be able to. Not that I've met. Even now, I can't see anyone who's reacting like me.”
“Monsters? So the screams are people seeing these things with you?”
“I don't know. These ones seem different. It's just… dangerous.” Your eyes scanned the area again and someone with grey hair caught your eye. He didn't look at you but the blood in your veins turned to ice, your heart frozen in your chest and tears pricked behind your wide eyes.
“Als? Hey, Alex?”
“Can you see him?” Barely above a whisper the words dripped out, as if any louder and he would notice you. She followed your gaze.
“The weird guy with the patchwork zombie-like costume?” Her voice was hushed too, but you weren't sure if it was the same panic or if it was in response to you.
“You can see him??” You repeated as you watched him approach a group of people. He had the biggest smile on his face that made you want to weep with terror. Slowly, his hands touched the people beside him. His lips moved as if he spoke to them, and then he wandered off into the crowd.
“Yeah? It's just a dude.” Nicole's voice was still filled with fear as she said it, her eyes trained on the spot he disappeared as well. “Weird vibe though.”
“Yeah, he's -” Whatever you were going to say was cut off by the piercing scream from Nicole beside your ears, and the one that was pulled from your own throat without you noticing as you both watched in horror. The people that man had touched began to warp and tremor, their bodies pulsing in ways that weren't normal as they swelled up and mutated before your eyes. Grotesque creatures that were human a second ago wailed into the night as if they were crying.
“WhErE iS tHe PaRtY?” A voice shattered the air as it tumbled from the creature's maw, an eerie, inhuman tinge to it as it repeated itself over and over. The people beside didn't seem to notice, until suddenly it lunged and tore into the flesh beside it. It's eerie question repeating over and over as you both watched in horror as it devoured the human beside it. Could they still not see?? Did they only see a human inexplicably be torn to shreds beside them?
“CAN YOU SEE THAT?” You sobbed before turning on your feet and bolting, her hand gripping yours so hard you felt the blood not reaching your fingertips.
“YES!” Her voice cracked, and you briefly looked back to see tears streaming down her face. They matched yours, the air cold against the wet streaks marking your cheeks. There were too many. More and more popped up everywhere. Scanning the area, you couldn't find anywhere else to flee too. Pulling Nicole closer you grasped desperately at her clothes as if pulling her into a tight hug could possibly save her. “They're everywhere, Als.” She sobbed, her green eyes darting in a panic back and forth erratically. Letting go of her hand and sweater you pulled your hands to her face and locked her gaze with yours.
“Hey. Look at me. We're going to figure it out.”
“Has this been your life?” Tears poured from her eyes and your heart hurt as you watched.
“No. This is different. They usually just ignore you if you ignore them. And they're not that grotesque, usually…” The hair on the back of your neck suddenly stood up as you watched Nicole's eyes lock onto something behind you.
“Als.” She didn't have to say more. You noticed. Too late, but you noticed. You didn't think there was time to run, or to turn around, and just as you resigned yourself and prepared to shove her as far from you as you could, movement above her shoulder caught your eye. A person dressed all in dark navy blue, with white shoes and a megaphone. His stark platinum blonde hair erratic around him as he moved, faster than you had ever seen someone move. You watched as he pulled a large scarf from around his face down, strange tattoos curling around his cheeks as he brought the megaphone to his lips.
“*Don't move!*” His deep voice crackled as it came through, a sharp intake from the megaphone screeched and you wondered what the fuck that could possibly do. But then a confused gasp from Nicole had you turn to look. The creature's arms were raised and trembling, as if fighting an unknown force that wasn't allowing it to continue down on your heads. “*Run!*” His voice rang out again and your body suddenly wasn't your own. Your feet were in full sprint before you could even register what was happening, Nicole right behind you as you both exploded from the spot towards him. They became your own again once you were in arms length of him, and your eyes met his amethyst ones. They were so calm compared to Nicole's, and it somehow made you more scared. His eyes quickly went up and down you both before looking back to the creature. Or, should you say, creatures. A group of about five stood behind where you used to be, frozen in a pile of blood and limbs. You felt bile sting your throat at the sight but you somehow fought it off.
“Tha-”
“*Get crushed.*” He spoke at the same time as you, and you felt the air around you shake as he spoke, a soundwave aura exploding across the air. A strange feeling in your stomach churned when he spoke, as if your blood was draining, or the heat was being sapped. Your knees wavered as you gripped Nicole, your knees giving slightly. You heard them explode before you saw them. A disgusting noise of bones and flesh snapping and turning as if a metal press was dropped on them, squishing them into the ground before they popped. The boy's eyes widened and shot over to you, and he opened his mouth as if to speak but instead a cough came out, followed by a trickle of blood down his pointed chin.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” His pale hands came to wipe the blood as he nodded, the smeared crimson staining the back of his hand as he threw a thumbs up. His eyes had returned to you, inspecting. It was uncomfortable. “Um, thank you.”
“Shake.” He responded, his eyes leaving yours to scan the area before reaching into his pocket to retrieve a phone. What?
“What's going on? What was that?” Nicole whispered and you squeezed her hand again in reply. You had no fucking idea. But this boy did. His fingers tapped rapidly across the phone, his eyes scouting the area quickly every so often before he turns it to face you.
-Can you see them?
“Yeah. Do you know what's going on?”
-Sorry, no time. Can you help?
“Help? How the fuck could I possibly help.” His eyebrows furrowed at your response, his fingers typing wildly. He looked equally confused and annoyed.
-Like you just did.
“Just did? What did I do?” A large sigh escaped his lips, and you found yourself staring at the marks on his cheeks. He could speak, that much was clear. So why was he typing? And why did he cough up blood? Could he actually help you guys?
“Mentaiko.” He spat the word, and you felt your own brows furrow this time. His phone flashed to you again.
-Do you know anything about cursed energy or curses?
“I can just see them. I'm sorry, I don't know anything about them.” His gaze softened as he took in your demeanour, followed by another sigh. Softer this time.
-Sorry. Can you guys stick with me? Even if you can't control it, I could use your help.
“Control…it?”
“Please! Yes, please, take us with you.” Nicole interjected, her voice tinged with fear. “I couldn't see them till now, but if I can help too please let me.” His eyes met hers and softened again. His stature, that you had originally thought was calm, melted away to reveal that he was definitely not calm. He was stressed.
-No time to explain but I can't talk to you guys. Just stick as close as possible.
“Alright.”
-I'm Toge Inumaki
“I'm Alexandra. This is Nicole.” Another warble through the air snaps your attention, and you notice Inumaki's gaze also shoots to the left. Nicole's gaze slowly follows, but you can tell it's in reaction to you and not something she can feel ripping through the air. Inumaki's hand reaches back to grab your wrist and he pulls as he takes off, his feet almost faster than you two can keep up with, and you can tell that you're slowing him down. Why would he choose to have you guys tag along if you slowed him down? You watch as his feet seem to stutter while he runs, as if going much faster is second nature, and he's struggling to drag you along, his firm grip on your wrist the only tether to his speed. You approach another clearing, an expanse of people clamouring and screaming in the void of buildings as you come out of a side street. The only person that isn't panicking catches your eye, a tall boy with pink hair staring in horror at the things unfolding before him. His eyes dart back and forth as if unsure if he should help people or go do something, until they fall to rest on the rapidly approaching group led by Inumaki.
“Inumaki!” The pink haired boy's eyes light up, and Toge drops your wrist to flash a peace sign as he jumps over a railing, as if showing off his megaphone in the process. You blink slowly at the change in demeanour, a borderline cute interaction in the midst of horror and terror.
“Shake!”
“A megaphone?”
“Tuna.”
“Got it. I'll leave it to you.” The other boy's eyes rest on the two of you briefly, and you can see questions behind his eyes that he chooses to ignore as he takes off with a small wave. It's something you almost don't notice as you try and process the beyond bizarre conversation that just happened, and the even more bizarre fact that the other boy seemed to understand. Before you can ask though, Inumaki is pulling down his scarf again, eyes flashing briefly to you before looking back. He seems to be contemplating, his eyebrows furrowing before he looks into the crowd. The square was crawling with curses, and weird half curse half humans. The humans left were scrambling, fleeing in terror from stuff they couldn't see or understand.
“*Don't move!*” The sound of his voice, distorted with power, floats across the square as all the curses freeze in place. He coughs slightly before looking at you, and you feel your face twist in confusion. He returns the look, albeit tinted with frustration, and opens his mouth again. “*Run away.*” He commands the people this time, watching as their eyes glaze over and they begin to sprint. You watch in amazement though when you notice the sprint is calculated. They aren't crashing or fighting, as if every single person is of the same mind. Run away, to this one spot. Inumaki sputters again, blood returning to his mouth as he digs into his pocket and takes a swig of a bottle. Was that cough medicine? He looks at you again, his mouth pulled into a deep frown.
“Tuna.” He says, with so much force that you feel like it means something important. Was he telling you to focus? To help? But how? You didn't know how. You feel dread pool in your gut as he stares at you with expectant eyes. Nicole squeezes your hand and you realise you were gripping her so hard her fingers were going numb.
“I'm sorry, I don't know what I'm supposed to do.” You feel tears behind your eyes as you confess, and he fidgets in his spot, but his gaze doesn't soften. Instead, he extends a hand to you. Did he want you to grab his hand? Nicole let's go before you do, and you grip Inumaki's hand faster than you'd have liked, as if having nothing to hold onto would cause you to spiral. He squeezes gently before bringing the megaphone to his mouth again.
“*Explode.*” This time you feel the dread deep in your gut again. You feel it spiral and seep out of you, pooling out as if you were being melted. Your knees buckle and give out, Inumaki's arm snaking around you as you crumple forward. You notice him falter too, especially as you hear him start to cough again, way too much blood seeping from his mouth as it spills onto the ground beside you. You're more focused on that than the tons of explosions sounding in the area, disgusting and grotesque popping sounds littering the area one after another. After another. How many did this guy kill?
“Are you okay?” Other explosions sounded further off. Not the same though. This was buildings, and fire. Something you felt was vastly more dangerous. Something was coming, that much you could tell. But you had no idea how to get out without losing Nicole. Inumaki nodded, but you weren't convinced. Blood still dropped from his throat onto the pavement and you felt him sink to the ground with you, his arm leaving you to support himself from collapsing now, his other hand reaching for more cough medicine.
“Ikura…” He mumbled. It came out scratched and gruff, the damage inside his throat apparent from the sound.
“Is that normal? The blood?” He nods, wiping his face and spitting out some more as if he's trying to clear his mouth out.
“If you can do that, what do you need us for?” Nicole breathed the sentence in awe, her body visibly trembling at the ocean of blood and gore in the square. Some of the curses would evaporate. But some wouldn't. They remained, limbs and flesh scattered around in a truly revolting sight. She finally pried her eyes to look at him. He waited until she did to shake his head again. Taking another swig, he grabs his phone and types quickly.
-I can't do that alone. A group that big would usually end up being too much, or I'd need to do multiple groups.
“Alone? You mean I helped?” He nodded before getting to his feet again with a grunt. His breath was ragged, short puffs of air pulling a wince onto his face with every exhale. His throat must be so sore. You glanced at the puddle of blood again. Trying to follow his lead, you stagger and collapse again. Where did all your energy go? A hand extends in front of you and you grab it.
“Takana?” You stare at his face, taking in the expectant look he gives as he patiently waits for you to answer. But you didn't know what he was asking. He has worry written on his face, so you try and flash a small smile.
“I'm alright, I think, if that's what you're wondering.” He nods before looking at Nicole.
“Takana?” She points to herself, and when he nods, she responds with a nod too.
“I'm okay too.”
“I have a bad feeling though…” You mutter to yourself as you look into the distance. The explosions are getting louder, and you can see an orange haze as if there's a blazing fire somewhere not far off.
“Shake.” He seems to agree as he glances at the sky as well. The explosions were getting louder and closer, and you felt like you could almost see people moving in the sky. You turned to Inumaki to ask if it was normal for people to fly when terror twisted his features and the blood seemed to drain from his face. “*RUN!*” He commanded you two to run with him, your bodies straining against the force to run faster than you were able to, your joints and limbs screaming as they were pushed to the limit, the three of you darting across the streets as he led you to the edge of the veil. Your lungs screamed at you as you forced words out, seeing where he was going.
“Wait, Nicole can't get through the veil!”
“Okaka!” He yells back as you guys reach the edge. Part of you picks up that the amount of gore seems to lessen as you approach the veil, as if there was maybe another veil on top of the other one. But as you approach and you feel his control fade, you still continue to run. “Okaka!!” He barks again before reaching out and snagging your arm. You yelp at the pain of being yanked to a stop, and he holds up a hand as if to reiterate he needs you to stop. He reaches out his hand and touches the veil, a ripple of resistance erupting from where he touches. You follow suit, your hand coming to a stop as if you were touching a brick wall.
“But… I could leave the other one.”
“Shake.” He nods, and pulls his phone. He fumbles as if he's in a rush, glancing behind us at the growing orange light as he does.
-There's more than one. Nicole can leave this one if she has no cursed energy.
“I'm not leaving you.” Nicole glances at you, a deep frown pulling at her mouth. She pulls her hands away from you in defence.
“If you can leave, you need to! I'll find a way.” You stop and glance at Inumaki. “Does this veil stop those explosions?” He seems to shrug, then waves his hand in a “so so” motion before looking at the sky again. He points to what you assume is people flying through the sky causing the explosions and shakes his head as if to say ‘not against them’.
“I can't leave you here, Als.” Nicole sobs. Gently grabbing her hand you give a little squeeze. You see Inumaki fidget beside you guys, but you can feel it too. The air is tingling with energy, something is coming, and you guys need to get away.
“Just stay on the other side of the veil. I'll be out as soon as I can, okay?” Locking your pinky with hers, you force a smile. The hairs across your body stand up as you grab her wrist and pull. Not hard enough to force her, but thankfully she cooperates, her form dissipating through the inky black of the veil with a ripple, your hand releasing hers as it's the last thing seen.
“Takana?” Toge's voice is gentle but it's steeped with panic. Glancing over you see his eyes locked on the battle as it seems to grow closer towards you and you swallow past a lump in your throat. You still weren't sure what he was saying, but you nodded anyway.
“What about us…?” Your voice is quiet, yet he still frowns in response. His gaze finally rips from the fight to look at his phone. He types something, then erases and rewrites.
-I can try something, but no promises.
“What did you erase?” His frown deepens. He looks at his phone. He sighs deep before typing.
-It's just dangerous. For me. I should be able to get you out.
“I don't want to just abandon you after you did all this for us.” You argue, but you sense that there isn't really time. Inumaki shakes his head as he types something with one hand and offers his other hand to you again.
-Don't worry about me. I need your help though. Think you can handle it?
“I don't know what to think, Inumaki. I'll try my best, but…” Trailing off as you grab his hand, you watch as he places his other hand on the veil. It stops his hand with a shimmer and he takes a big inhale. You feel the familiar dread in your gut, the words it's dangerous for me flashing in your head over and over as he focuses on the veil in front of him. Would he be okay? Even if you got out you don't know how you'd live with the guilt if he died in the process. This guy knew how to fight these things, knew what was going on. At least to an extent. You had no idea about anything. It didn't seem like a fair exchange. His purple eyes on you pulled you out of your thoughts as he tilted his head towards the veil. The heat of the explosions had started to reach you, licking at your feet as the dread you felt threatened to make you scream. You nod, giving his hand a small squeeze.
“*Let us through.*” His voice cracks on the last word, blood exploding out of his throat as he clutches at it, his face draining of colour while he tries to cry out but no sound escapes. In tandem with his reaction your vision blurs and fades. Black edges tinting your sight, every ounce of energy sapped from your body as he spoke.
“Inumaki!” His eyes meet yours but he doesn't, or can't, reply. A sudden rumble around you shakes the ground as you seem to feel the words around you, an unfamiliar voice cutting through the chaos.
“Dismantle.”
Toge is quick, releasing his grip on you as he pushes you forcefully through the shimmering barrier, pure terror written into his features. He's stronger than he looks, but you grasp desperately at him as he tosses you across. Finding purchase on his scarf you clutch as hard as your failing body can, pulling him with you as the ground around you crumbles. Buildings, streetlights, anything and everything torn to shreds around you by the very air it exists in. You fall through, opening your eyes to meet the horrified gaze of Toge Inumaki as he opens his mouth in a gurgled scream. His throat isn't the only place pouring blood now, you notice. His left arm just above the elbow hadn't made it through the barrier in time. And try as you might, you can't find any more energy to help him. The world began to blur more, even breathing becoming difficult as you clutched limply to his scarf.
“Inu… Maki…” You vaguely heard Nicole screaming your name as you fell into the abyss of unconsciousness.