A chilling darkness gathers behind me,
whose power I recognize with immediate dread.
What is she thinking?
I turn, fast and fluid—my left leg lashes out in a clean roundhouse kick towards the unseen threat.
My foot connects, but the impact is strangely…soft?
"What are you thinking, Onee-chan?" I ask her with an annoyed expression.
Touko blocked my foot with her arm—catching my kick with unnerving ease.
There's a faint black flame that disappears in the air after she blocks my strike.
"Mou, Kita, you can't just attack Onee-chan out of nowhere like that," Touko complains,
Her silver tail sways gently, not playfully this time, but with a quiet tension.
"I was just trying to get your attention," Touko pouts.
"Liar," I say with a serious expression.
"Why are you using demonic energy?" I ask, concern sharpening my voice.
"You're always in control—why push it now?"
Her playful facade drops, replaced by a look of unnerving intensity.
"…Because you weren't paying attention,"
"I'm always watching you, Kita," She continues, stepping closer, her tail stilled in a breathless pause.
"And I can feel it when you're drifting away."
I narrow my eyes, trying to decipher her meaning.
"Drifting away?" I repeat, confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Touko reaches out, gently but firmly gripping my chin with her index finger, tilting my face up to meet her gaze.
Her red and green eyes pierce through me.
"You're thinking about Mother again, aren't you?" Touko asks, a hint of sadness, but also a sharp edge of frustration, in her voice.
"You're dwelling on the past, letting it consume you when you need to be here, focused, sharp!" I flinch at her words, but I refuse to look away.
"It's none of your business what I think about," I snap, trying to pull away from her grip.
But Touko's finger tightens, holding my face firmly in place.
"It is my business, Kita," She says, her voice low and intense.
"Everything that concerns you, concerns me. I won't let you get lost in your memories, not when there's so much at stake."
"Let go of me," I growl, struggling against her hold.
"You're hurting me."
...
Touko's grip on my chin tightens, her nail digging just enough to sting.
Her eyes—one green, one red—burn into mine.
The air goes dead still.
I bare my teeth.
"Let. Go."
A flash of hesitation crosses her face, then vanishes. Her smirk returns, sharp as a blade.
"Make me," Touko replies, her voice a silken dare.
I place my left hand on her stomach and channel a burst of demonic energy through my palm.
Touko is blasted away from me, across the deck with a sharp gasp.
"Kita!" She shouts, but as she lands lightly on her feet, a mischievous giggle escapes her.
"You're so feisty,"
"I love it when you're like this."
I glare at her.
"I told you to let go," I say, my voice trembling with rage.
"And I told you to make me," Touko retorts, her silver tail swaying playfully.
"You're impossible," I growl.
"But you love me anyway," Touko replies, winking at me.
I take on a stance and flow demonic energy through my body.
"I'm going to make you regret saying that," I hiss.
"I suppose onee-chan will have to use force..." Touko replies.
The demon mark on Touko begins on her forehead and extends down her left cheek, bisecting her right eye, glowing red.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Kita," Touko replies, entering a stance.
We stare at each other for a moment, the tension building between us.
A silent agreement passes between us.
And,
In the next instant, we dash into action.
However, before we both collide, Lenah bursts through the door.
"What's going on here?!" Lenah shouts, her voice filled with anger.
Touko and I freeze, our stances faltering.
Touko pouts, and her demon mark fades.
"We were just... practicing," Touko says innocently, her silver tail swaying back and forth.
"Practicing? By using demonic energy and almost destroying the deck?" Lenah scoffs, unimpressed.
"We were being careful!" Touko protests, but her voice lacks conviction.
Lenah turns her gaze to me, her expression softening slightly.
"Horikita, what happened?" Lenah asks.
I avert my gaze, unable to meet her eyes.
"It's... nothing," I mumble, my face flushing slightly.
"Touko was just... bothering me."
Lenah sighs, rubbing her forehead.
"I swear, you two are always causing trouble," Lenah says, shaking her head.
"Can't you go five minutes without fighting?"
"It's not my fault," I retort, glaring at Touko.
"She started it."
"Mou, Kita, that's not fair!" Touko protests, her cheeks puffing out in mock indignation.
"I was just trying to help!"
"Help? By using demonic energy and attacking me?" I scoff.
"That's not helping, that's just being annoying."
"I was just trying to snap you out of it!"
"You were drowning in self-pity, and it wasn't doing you any good!"
I glare at her, my eyes blazing with anger.
"It's none of your business what I think about! Just because you're always watching me doesn't give you the right to interfere in my thoughts and feelings."
"It is my business!" Touko retorts, her voice rising.
"I'm your sister, and I care about you! I hate seeing you suffer, and I'm not going to stand by and watch you wallow in your own misery."
Lenah sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Enough!" Lenah's voice cuts through our argument like a blade.
"Both of you! I understand that you care about each other, but this is not the way to resolve your problems."
"We're supposed to be working together, preparing for what's to come, not fighting like children."