Persona - Mask of Origins

"Don't you dare say that. Zain is the only family I have, I'll do anything I can to save him."

 

Daieko nervously glanced around at the other people as they watched the two of them suspiciously, "And I understand that. I'm only saying, if I don't make it in time, you may have to kill him and say your goodbyes. As a human infected as a child, he will live quite a long time as a shadow, but his humanity will flee him like an elephant flees a mouse. Though the infection is small compared to his humanity, I'm afraid it will not hold up for long. I just wanted you to know instead of finding out when this is happening."

 

Yuki sighed.

"I understand."

 

Daieko sighed, relieved. "Good. Now, I'm terribly sorry to have taken your time." Walking out, he smiled to himself. Convincing Yuki that her brother would die was difficult but still done. With the only cure in his possesion, Daieko would take his place back in the city with his father.

 

Yuki went home. She wouldn't give up on Zain until she was convinced that nothing could be done.

 

Zain drifted in and out of listening to the tv as he strummed slowly on his guitar. His foot kept a time that didn't exist for the song against the floor. Turning to see Yuki, he stroked a fresh red line across his face, "Ah, welcome back."

 

"Hi, Zain." Yuki said before she started putting everything she bought up.

 

He stood, setting aside his guitar, "Here, lemme do that. I'll have to go to the music store tomorrow anyway. I must've worn out my strings." he touched the red line on his cheek and winced again, "She's like a vicious ex." he laughed lightly and took over putting everything away.

 

Yuki laughed and smiled.

 

Zain took her laugh that she was feeling better about him and sheepishly smiled, "Ah, tomorrow I'll have to pay Daieko a visit. He said I could drop by whenever to check on the cure."

 

"I ran into him at the store. That trip was certainly the most interesting I've had in a while."

 

"You...ran into him? What do you mean Yuki? He didn't hurt you did he. That creep's always lurking around." Zain's mood darkened at the thought of Daieko.

 

"I just ran into him at the store, that's all.

 

Recoiling from his sudden reaction, Zain frowned, "At the store? Then what was so interesting about shopping with him?"

 

"You haven't seen the news, have you?" Yuki said as she changed the channel to the news. It was showing the attempted robbery and Yuki nearly being taken hostage.

 

Zain grew increasinly pale as he watched. "I should've been there. What the hell is Daieko doing? Why didn't he help you?!" Zain's anger spurred the growth of his fangs and claws again. Growling at the tv, he could barely see though the red haze over his vision.

 

"He didn't have enough time to react."

 

Snarling Zain turned to face her, "Don't let him fool you with that. I've seen him move faster than...well, anything. Daieko is more than capable of handling a robbery. He deals with shadows Yuki, there isn't anything this guy can't get his hands on. A weapon, maybe not in a store, but he's got powers."

 

"Quit snarling, Zain. You're not a wild beast."

 

His face relaxed and dropped his eyes to the floor, "Sorry, but that guy just...he boils my blood."