Double-edged sword

The beginning

Shu took a deep breath. Out of everything, he hadn't expected coming back to the Snake Pit to be so hard.

After the World League, Shu had gone back to Beigoma to heal. His shoulder had been in bad shape, and it still was, though he was mostly recovered. It could have been worse, was what Shu had told himself over and over again. Seeing how the Blading world had changed since his injury made him doubt that assessment, however.

The Snake Pit was full of Bladers now. Almost double in number from before. Shu didn't know how to feel about that. Also, one thing which had shocked Shu to the core: Valt was a Snake Pit Blader now. Shu wasn't sure how and why it had happened, had wondered and despaired over the question for two nights in a row, and had come to the conclusion that something must have happened. Must have happened while he was possessed by Spriggan Requiem.

Speaking of Requiem, Shu would never wield that Bey again. No matter what Ashram wanted of him, this prize was too high. Shu wouldn't do it, would not even consider it. Never again. It hadn't been worth it. Nothing in the world should be given in exchange for revenge. Shu had taken too long to learn this lesson.

Yet, Shu had nowhere else to go now. The Snake Pit was the only thing he had left, the only place he could call home where he wasn't constantly on his own. Shu still needed the Snake Pit. If not for the power, then for the strange sort of community it created. Shu hated himself for it.

"Red Eye," someone called him. Shu knew that voice too well. He didn't want to call that person by the Snake Pit name. He never wanted that person to follow him here.

"Brown Eye," Shu said, taking care to speak slowly and to not choke on his words. No weakness in the Snake Pit. Not even in front of someone who was supposed to be a friend. It was Shu's fault anyway.

Shu had watched the matches of the World League where he'd been completely possessed. He had watched himself destroy Bey after Bey, laughing manically. He had almost thrown up seeing himself that way. He had never been happier than that moment when he'd finally broken free of Requiem's hold. It couldn't control him any longer. It would never manage to again.

"Ashram wants to talk to you," Val- Brown Eye said. This wasn't Valt. He wasn't acting like himself anymore. He was a totally different person. All because Shu had failed his best friend. Because Shu had given up everything for revenge.

"Did he say why?" Shu asked. This was a little strange. Shu had just arrived and he was still injured. What would Ashram want from him right now?

"No," Brown Eye replied. With the mask on he was so difficult to read. Valt shouldn't be difficult to read. This wasn't his nature.

"Okay, I'm going."

Brown Eye didn't reply. Shu was strangely grateful. Every word he spoke with his former best friend led to a stabbing pain in his chest.

Shu brought his suitcase to his room, got changed into his uniform, and then immediately made his way to Ashram's office.

Shu hadn't been there too often. He knew that this was where Ashram had worked out Project Requiem and where he usually was when he wasn't overseeing some other project or training.

In front of the door, Shu stopped. His hand trembled. Why?

Shu took a deep breath and scolded himself. Not now. What are you afraid of anyway? There is nothing.

Right?

Shu knocked.

"Come in," Ashram called. Shu wordlessly opened the door and closed it behind him again. Ashram was sitting on a couch, in front of him was another one. Between the two a coffee table with three cups. Probably tea, though. There wasn't a strong scent of coffee around. Ashram motioned the couch in front of him. "Sit down."