The Sacrifice Web felt heavier today.
The air buzzed with an unseen static, threads humming like warning bells strung through the atmosphere. Yuki could sense it in her bones—every ghoul in the web could. Something was wrong. Something was coming.
But she kept walking.
Yuyu moved beside her with her usual quiet grace, hands folded behind her back in a way that looked completely harmless… if Yuki hadn't felt the sharp blade of her aura shimmering underneath.
"Your steps are tense," Yuyu murmured.
"I'm fine," Yuki replied.
"You're lying."
Yuki rolled her eyes. "You don't know everything."
"Oh, but I do," Yuyu said gently. "Especially when it concerns you."
Yuki flushed faintly but didn't argue. She didn't have the energy today. Not after last night's nightmare. Not after waking up drenched in sweat, terrified by a memory she couldn't shake—Sakura's last smile before she vanished into the Sky Web.
Yuyu glanced toward her from beneath dark lashes.
"You miss her today."
Yuki stiffened. "Why would you say that?"
"Because your aura folded inward like it used to when Sakura quieted you."
Yuki bristled. "Don't compare yourself to her."
Something flickered in Yuyu's gaze—something ancient, something old, something sharp.
"I would never," she whispered.
But Yuki wasn't sure if she believed her.
---
THE WARNING GONG
A deep gong sounded across the Web, vibrating the ground under Yuki's feet.
Every ghoul in the courtyard went still.
Sacrifice ghouls turned their heads toward the central chamber—the Hall of Threads—where only the highest-level gatherings were called.
Yuki swallowed. "Another meeting…?"
Yuyu's expression didn't change, but her aura tightened around her like armor.
"Stay close."
"I don't need protection."
"No," Yuyu said softly. "You don't. But I need you close for what comes next."
That made Yuki's heart stutter.
But before she could question it, Leaf came sprinting toward them, breathless and grinning.
"Yuki! Yuyu! You heard the gong, right? They found a pure ghoul spy!"
Yuki blinked. "A spy… here?"
"In the Sacrifice Web? Yeah!" Leaf laughed breathlessly. "Leader Vespera said it's gonna be a public expose. Brutal stuff. You don't wanna miss it."
Yuki's stomach twisted.
Pure ghoul. Disguised as sacrifice ghoul. Among them.
She glanced at Yuyu, who stood completely still.
No reaction.
No fear.
No surprise.
Almost… boredom.
"Let's go," Yuyu said softly.
---
THE EXPOSURE
The Sacrifice Hall was packed—rows of ghouls, aura-lit torches, symbols vibrating across the silver walls.
At the center stood a trembling ghoul named Lium—quiet, pale, always kept to himself. Someone Yuki had barely spoken to.
Vespera stepped forward.
"This one has worn false skin. False aura. False oath."
The room buzzed with fury.
Lium shook violently. "P—please, you don't understand—"
Riven raised his hand, and two enforcers seized Lium by the arms.
Yuki flinched.
Yuyu did not.
"Begin," Vespera commanded.
One enforcer ignited their palm—a pure white flame known only to Sacrifice leaders.
They pressed it against Lium's chest.
Lium screamed.
His skin sizzled, peeled—then melted away like wax.
The room gasped.
Underneath the disguise was unmistakable:
Pure ghoul skin—shimmering silver with star-thread veins.
A pure ghoul.
Inside the Sacrifice Web.
Disguised.
Hiding.
Watching.
The enforcers dragged him forward.
Vespera raised her voice.
"State your mission."
Lium—no, the pure ghoul—spat blood.
"My mission…"
His gaze flicked across the crowd…
…then snapped directly to Yuyu.
"You."
Yuki's breath caught.
"You traitor," the pure ghoul hissed. "You pure-born wretch. You hide among them—dressed in human lies—"
"Enough," Yuyu said softly.
The entire hall froze.
The pure ghoul gasped, eyes bulging with hatred.
"You—traitor to your kind—how long do you think you can hide? The Web knows. The Web SEES—"
Yuyu's aura pulsed.
Cold. Deadly. Ancient.
"Burn him," she whispered.
The enforcer obeyed instantly.
Lium screamed once more as the purifying flame engulfed him, burning bright white until nothing was left but ash.
The hall fell silent.
Except for Yuki—whose heart was pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
Slowly… she turned toward Yuyu.
"Why did he call you a traitor?"
Yuyu smiled.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
"Because dying creatures like to speak nonsense."
Yuki swallowed hard.
Nonsense?
Or truth?
She didn't know anymore.
---
ZERO'S ARRIVAL — AND YUYU'S GAZE
After the assembly, Yuki stepped outside for air. The night was thick with drifting fog, and she pressed a hand to her chest to steady her racing heart.
That's when someone called softly:
"Yuki?"
She spun—
Zero.
Smiling.
Normal.
Harmless.
Just like always.
"You're out late," he said, tone casual, hands in his pockets.
"Zero?" Yuki blinked. "What are you doing near the Web district?"
"Ah—delivery job," he lied smoothly. "I had to drop off some files at the south ward. Figured I'd check on you while I was close."
Yuki exhaled. "You really shouldn't come here. It's dangerous."
"For me? C'mon." Zero grinned. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Yuki laughed despite herself.
But behind them—
A shadow stepped forward.
Yuyu.
Her crimson eyes fixed on Zero with surgical precision.
Slow, calculating…
…like she was dissecting him with her gaze.
Zero stiffened—only for a split second—but it was enough.
Yuyu saw it. Yuyu noticed it. Yuyu filed it away.
Then she stepped beside Yuki, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
"Yuki," she said smoothly, "who is this?"
Zero flashed a friendly smile. "Just her best friend. Nothing special."
"Everyone is special," Yuyu said sweetly.
But the warmth never reached her eyes.
Zero swallowed—barely noticeable—so small no normal ghoul would catch it.
But Yuyu wasn't normal.
Her aura flared a hair's width.
Amusement? Recognition? Danger?
Yuki didn't notice anything.
She just smiled. "Don't worry about him, Yuyu. Zero's clueless."
Yuyu tilted her head.
"Oh, is he?"
Zero didn't breathe for a moment.
Then he laughed, casual and light. "Totally clueless! I barely know how bus schedules work."
Yuyu finally looked away.
But the tension in the air didn't fade.
If anything…it thickened.
---
PURE GHOUL ATTACK
Later that night, Yuki decided to walk home alone. She needed space. Time. Breathing room.
But she didn't get it.
She sensed the ambush before she heard it—a shimmer of wrongness crawling across her skin.
A shadow darted between alley walls.
Fast.
Predatory.
Not human.
Not Sacrifice.
Pure.
Yuki's heart leapt. "Oh no—not here—"
A scream tore through the air.
A human man stumbled backward, bleeding, face pale with terror.
The pure ghoul lunged toward him.
Yuki leapt forward without thinking.
"HEY!"
Her aura erupted in a burst of blue flame, slamming into the pure ghoul and sending it crashing against the wall.
The human collapsed, trembling. "W-what—what was THAT—?!"
Yuki ignored him, eyes locked on the creature rising slowly from the rubble.
Silver skin.
Blackened threads.
Star-blood dripping from its mouth.
"You shouldn't be here," Yuki warned.
The ghoul hissed.
"You smell like the traitor."
Yuki stiffened. "Who?"
"HER."
Yuki's heart froze.
Yuyu.
Before she could process it, the ghoul lunged again.
Yuki blocked the claws with her forearm, pain ripping through her skin. She swung, slammed, dodged, burned her aura hotter.
The fight was brutal. Fast. Ugly.
Finally, Yuki drove her fist into its chest, aura cracking bone.
The pure ghoul crumpled.
Dead.
The alley fell silent.
Yuki staggered, breath shaking.
She turned to the human man. "Are you okay?"
He stared at her like he was seeing a monster.
Like Zero once had.
She breathed slowly. "You're safe now. Go."
He ran.
Yuki wiped her mouth, exhausted.
A soft voice drifted above her.
"Beautifully done."
Yuki spun.
Yuyu stood on the rooftop above, crimson eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
"How long were you watching?" Yuki demanded.
"Long enough," Yuyu said softly. "Long enough to see how you protect humans."
She tilted her head.
"Especially certain humans."
A chill raced down Yuki's spine.
"Yuyu…" she whispered. "Zero has nothing to do with this."
"Doesn't he?" Yuyu murmured.
"Because I think…"
Her smile sharpened.
"…he knows far more than he pretends."
Yuki shook her head. "No. Zero is clueless. He—"
"Oh, Yuki," Yuyu whispered, stepping down from the roof like descending mist.
"You never saw what I saw."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Fear. Recognition. Memory."
She leaned close, lips nearly brushing Yuki's ear.
"He's seen you transform."
Yuki froze.
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
"How…?" she whispered.
"I can smell secrets," Yuyu breathed. "Especially ones that threaten what's mine."
Yuki staggered back, breath caught in her throat.
"Yuyu… Zero isn't yours."
"No," Yuyu said calmly. "You are."
The night air cracked between them.