True Entropy Chapter IV

                As I am heading back to class, I spot a pale, black-haired boy with an intriguing amulet around his slender neck staring deep into the eyes of an enchanted girl with his slender crimson orbs as he places a tender kiss upon her outstretched hand. And I just when I thought fairytale idiocracies were fading into obscurity as well… Disgusting.

                Noticing my fascination with the couple as he walks up, Kohaku exclaims with a chuckle, "Looks like Yamigari-kun has already found someone on his first day… Quite amazing, isn't he, Yumechi-san?"

                I reply curiously as I raise my eyebrow in intrigue, "You know him, Kohaku-kun?"

                Kohaku nods as he exclaims in an authoritative tone, "Fumei Yamigari. 1st-year. Supposedly, he was transferred because of a controversy behind a bunch of students which he had some relation to being targeted by some demon of sorts, many of which either perished or are under intensive care currently."

                I chuckle with amusement as I reply with a sly tone, "That will have to be looked into eventually. After all…if my suspicion is correct, we will still have time before the 'demon' makes an attempt at its next target. Once I get rid of that freaking Edgefeather…I can focus my energy on finding the truth behind this tragedy…hopefully before too many more lives are claimed."

                Suddenly, Yamigari notices the two of us and exclaims with a respectful bow and a wide smile, "Hajimemashite…sempai-san. Douzo yoroshiku. Onamae wa…?"

                I reply with an amused smirk, "Hajimemashite… I am Yuuki Kagemura. Surely, someone has informed you of who I am…"

                Yamigari nods and exclaims with a chuckle as he extends his hand, "I have… You seem to have quite the reputation, Yuuki-san. It would be an honor if we could possibly become friends…that is, if that is okay with you…"

                I reply with an amused smirk as I take his hand, which was strangely frigid, albeit quite soft to the touch, "I would like that, Yamigari-kun… I just hope that 'demon' doesn't try to devour me as retaliation for your gesture."

                Yamigari chuckles again as he replies with a shake of his head, "I doubt that you will need to worry…unless you provoke it, that is. Although, I doubt you would want to do something that foolish anyways."

                I reply with a smirk as I seductively lock eyes with Yamigari, "Do not underestimate the extent of my zeal… I could very well cross paths with that predator soon enough, being a hunter of the stuff of nightmares and all."

                Yamigari raises his eyebrow with intrigue as he exclaims before taking his leave, "I just hope you do not blame me for whatever may happen to you as a consequence, Yuuki-kun… However, for now, we should probably go to class before our instructors chew us out… It was nice meeting you, and I hope to have much fun in the future at your side."

                Yamigari-kun… Thinking such a mask of friendship will save you from my judgment is a foolish misstep…unless this is less of a warning under the guise of friendship as it is a hidden beckoning laced in contrasting lies. So, you have a demon within you? No. That too is a lie. YOU are the demon obviously…or rather a variant that has intrigued me and my kin for many millennia. But, I think that is enough foreshadowing for the time-being…

You are not a threat for now, as you strike me as the type who prefers to…enhance the flavor of your prey before satisfying your hunger. Unfortunately, that means that I should probably finish off my current mark TODAY. How annoying… But, if you are as witty as I, you will try to claim your primary victim as soon as possible almost like a test of how many you can claim before I intervene.

That poor, innocent girl… She probably has no idea what is in store for her, following him while being oblivious to his eventual deception. Too bad she is a necessary key to initiating the imminent showdown between the two envoys of the night. However…I plan to avenge her fated demise, for as I mentioned before…these students are MY property, and I don't take lightly to predators hunting from my flock of little lambs.

Now, to finish off what I already have set in motion…

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                As I walk back into the classroom, I notice that it is oddly empty except for Mr. Matsumura, who was sitting at his desk with a dissatisfied frown on his face as he exclaims with an annoyed tone, "You know what… I am sick and tired of this fear you have infected me with, Yuuki-kun. How about we settle this score once and for all so that I can get this irritation off of my chest..."

                I reply with a chuckle as my true pupils manifest themselves, "…And the others? What happened to them?"

                Matsumura replies with a shrug, "What do you think? I gave the rest of them the day off… Also, I wrote a letter of resignation should you reign victorious, as well as a referral should I win. Now then…shall we begin?"

                Before I can react, I am pulled into what could be Edgefeather's domain, which seems to be a shadow-drenched aviary with many bird-cages hanging from above…one of which I find myself trapped within as soon as I come to my senses. However, I quickly cleave through it with my bladed sleeves and throw a few pens to grip upon the remaining cages as the one that had contained me shatters on the rigid ground below.

                I then proceed to weave together a pseudo-spider-web as I exclaim with a gleeful tone, "Such a rude invitation, Edgefeather. Couldn't we begin ON the cages, rather than with me IN one of them?"

                Edgefeather scoffs as she replies with slight amazement, "Well, it looks like it didn't give you TOO much trouble anyways…"

                I exclaim with a sigh as I complete the web and take a steady stance upon its precarious surface, "Can we just finish this up as soon as possible? I am on a time limit for my next mark, after all."

                Edgefeather's face becomes crimson with rage as she hisses while the daydream begins to shake violently due to her unstable mental state, "How DARE you! Who do you think you are, dismissing a powerful dream demon such as myself as petty garbage?!"

                I reply with a chuckle as I swiftly leap behind her and wrap some of the excess wire around her slender neck, "So naïve for someone who claims to be powerful… My true name shall be one of the last words that you ever hear as is appropriate for a vain fool such as yourself. I am of course the notorious Yumechi Darkwing, Executioner of Nightmares… Pleased to meet you, Tori Edgefeather."

                Edgefeather replies weakly with her final breaths as her sanguine fluid begins to flow from her neck and jagged maw, "You…bas…tard."

                Matsumura's eyes grow wide with disbelief as he exclaims with shock, "It is…over?! Just like that…"

                I reply with a smirk as I feed upon the remnants of Edgefeather's existence before the daydream at last dissipates, "You should be grateful… I will spare your hopes and dreams, but I shall wipe all memory regarding to Edgefeather…including my true name. However, should you EVER do this again, I might not be so merciful. Sayoonara, Matsumura-sensei…"

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                With the tedious deed at last complete, I escape into the bustling hall only to find Yamigari waiting for me there, trying to hide a smirk on his lips as he waves at me and begins to make his way over to my location.

                I inquire as I cross my arms and narrow my eyes, "Why are you here? Don't you have class right now?"

                Yamigari replies with a chuckle as he too crosses his arms in a mocking way, "I should ask you the same thing… But then again, I already heard that your teacher decided to be kind and cancel the afternoon lessons, almost like he had to prepare for something more important… We heard a scream down the hall, and I volunteered to check it out. However, it looks like my intervention is not needed after all."

                I reply with a bow as I fake a friendly smile to keep up the façade, "It was nothing… He just was being troubled by nightmares that seemed to make him delusional. Thankfully, I was able to help him before anything bad happened… By the way, would you be interested in Kohaku and I showing you around town this evening? There is much to take note of…"

                Yamigari shakes his head as he exclaims with a sigh, "Wish I could… I already promised Kimiko-chan a date tonight in the garden just outside of campus. She was intrigued when I talked about the legendary sapphire rose field that is said to grow at the heart of that glistening forest."

                I reply with slight worry showing on my face, "It is more of a forest than a garden…and one that is quite perilous at night, as I am sure you know. One can be led astray quite quickly if they are not careful and attentive… Are you confident that you know the way, Yamigari-kun?"

                He lets out an amused chuckle as he slyly replies with a casual smile on his lips, "Have faith in me. I can navigate dark passages with ease after all, so I think we both will be fine. As for that tour…I would be honored if we could do it tomorrow night."

                I exclaim with a nod as I take my leave, "That is fine… Have fun tonight, Yamigari-kun…and hopefully that 'demon' doesn't ruin things… As for me...I am going home. If Kohaku-kun is curious, tell him that I have business that I need to attend to."

                Yamigari replies with a wide smile as he gives me an unnecessarily exuberant salute before going back to class, "Will do! Good luck and safe travels, Yuuki-kun~!"

                Thankfully, he did not see right through that lie… Rather than go home like a normal, albeit extremely naïve bakkun would consider doing, I shall be hiding out in the heart of the garden, waiting for Yamigari to reveal his true colors at last. Then again, by doing such, I am probably playing RIGHT into his hands. But, most likely, he underestimates my stamina and expects me to have to recover my power from the previous fight. Such a mistake allows me to catch him off-guard when the moment arises for me to strike. And once I do…I will deliver him to the gates of damnation myself.

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                Just as the clock strikes a measly eight times, Yamigari once again comes into view with his 'star-crossed lover' clinging onto his arm affectionately. Even if some of that affection has been fabricated by his influence, there is still genuine affection emanating from her. How tragic… She follows his every move without knowing of the reckoning that lies ahead for her.

                However, the greatest oddity is that Yamigari hasn't suspected me yet… Unless he just doesn't care if I follow him, that is. Honestly, for one as confident as he is, I don't think he would waver so easily.

                Nevertheless, I call a few pens to hand as Yamigari and his victim sit on the bench and begin to display the façade of their affection with their lips… Or rather, the façade on Yamigari's part, seeing as the girl seems to be totally under his spell.

                Once their makeout session concludes, Yamigari whispers with an extremely plastic smile into her tender ear, "Have I fulfilled your fantasies, milady?"

                The girl nods eagerly as her face becomes tender and pink with the slightest blush…which causes him to chuckle…almost as though he too knew that the feast was at last cooked to perfection.

                Yamigari replies with a maddened look on his face as the garden twists into a wicked daydream that resembles a forest-turned-graveyard, "Then…shall I reap that which I have sown, my precious one?"

                As soon as she sees the scenery, her eyes widen for a moment before she simply faints from overwhelming shock. Of course, Yamigari uses this moment to sink his impeccable fangs into her supple neck as his pupils twist into the shape of a flawless skull.

                Right before he drains her dry, I exclaim with a chuckle as I throw a warning pen next to him, "So…my assumption was correct, Yamigari-kun…"

                He chuckles with amusement and drops the girl as he replies, "As was mine…Yuuki-kun."

                I jump from the tree that had previously shrouded me from his view and exclaim gleefully as I lick the tips of a few pens, "Oh, don't act like you aren't in the know, Yamigari-san. Yuuki Kagemura is only my cover… Ore no honmyou wa Yumechi Darkwing da yo!"

                Yamigari replies with an intrigued look as he summons many spikes made out of pure white bone which he promptly hurls my way, "Omoshiroi. I have heard of your exploits, Yumechi-san… Now, let me see if you are half as powerful as you say you are!"

                I quickly hook one of my pens to a nearby tree and exclaim with a frown as I evade the oncoming assault, "If you are planning to turn me into a kebob, you will have to do better than that, Yamigari-san…"

                Yamigari replies with a chuckle as he smears some of the 'blood' still lingering on his fangs in his fingers, causing them to flare up in a bright crimson hue, "We will see… Kurenai no Ken!"

                As his words echo throughout the daydream, I feel a mysterious force suddenly slice deep into my arm, causing my entire ravaged limb to be soaked in my poor sanguine fluid. Kuso…He is strong enough to spill my blood with a single curse?! Not good…

                Nevertheless, I still have enough control to summon a multitude of shadowy vines around Yamigari-san, entangling him while my wound begins to slowly mend itself to nothingness.

                By the time Yamigari finally breaks free of his pseudo-prison, I have both of my bladed sleeves at the ready as an aura of pure nightmares begins to steadily corrode the daydream around me.

                Yamigari chuckles as he summons a glistening scythe to his hands, which causes him to be cloaked in a rancid aura of his own, and exclaims with glee as he stands his ground against my advancing form, "You think you have the advantage, Yumechi-san… Well, we will just see about that!"

                At last, our blades and auras collide, and everything is suddenly consumed by the endless darkness…