Souls In Hiding

The Phantom Thief

Korekiyo, Himiko, Tenko and Kokichi were all wrapped in multiple blankets, scoffing down two meals each that Kirumi had prepared for the rescued prisoners. 

"So you're saying Monokuma wants our souls?" Kaito shouted after the three unknown prisoners had introduced themselves along with telling the group all the information they knew. Although something else was bothering Shuichi.

"Why did I not get almost murdered?" This question earned the vampire a few concerned expressions.

"What are you talking about?"

"In the dungeon. Everyone seemed to be almost killed in a way specific to their species, but all I had to do was crack an egg?" Shuichi explained, having already filled in the others with his story.

"A lot of vampires have been murdered, maybe he already has the soul he needs?" Kiibo suggested.

"I wonder how since they're 'so smart'." Kokichi grinned, earning a rude glare from most of the room.

"My entire kind has been hunted and murdered, just so Monokuma can get souls he doesn't need?!" Rantaro yelled, mad at himself and the world around him.

"What species would he be after right now? Maybe if we know it could help us stop him." Shuichi had his hand to his chin, trying to think of any plan possible to save his new friends.

"I believe flame fae are rare, I have encountered many fights where I am supposedly 'wanted alive'," Kirumi revealed.

"So is Tsumugi and Angie's species!" Angie sung, seeming to know a lot about the shapeshifter as they grew close since they met.

"Phantoms are hard to come by too," Maki mumbled, glancing at Kaito with a speck of worry shining behind her eyes.

"I can't think of any more, do you two know? You were both knights after all." Kaede aimed at Maki and Ryoma, who both shook their heads.

"Ah... that might become a problem for me and Kokichi." Kaito awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. Kokichi glared at the other phantom. "I may or may not have revealed our weakness in the dungeon."

"You WHAT?!" Kokichi jumped to his feet, the blankets around him falling in a heap at his feet. "Why the fuck did you think that was okay?! Our entire species has worked hard to keep everything about us a secret you fucking dumbass!" Maki stood between the two, silently daring Kokichi to continue his perfectly reasonable rant.

"Relax, King Monokuma's not looking for ordinary phantoms." Ryoma rolled his eyes as if it were general knowledge.

"Explain, tiny man," Miu ordered.

"King Monokuma is looking for the Phantom Thief, the strongest known phantom. I'm sure you're all familiar with the story."

"I'm not. Care to enlighten me?" Kokichi rolled his eyes, this time in a sarcastic fashion. A few faces around the cabin nodded in agreeance, no one realising that Kokichi was joking.

"They were experimented on by their parents to make them the strongest phantom in existence." Maki took over the storytelling. "It's said that they escaped when their parents were murdered by the king, they abandoned their family name and live amongst the town. Of course, it's just a stupid tale." 

Shuichi noticed Korekiyo, Tenko and Himiko glancing at Kokichi accusatorily. Monokuma probably interrogated him about the Phantom Thief, Shuichi brushed off the behaviour. "It's not just a stupid tale! The Phantom Thief exists you fucker!" Miu screamed.

"No way, anyone would die from that treatment!" Tsumugi argued.

"Agreed, and no such parents would treat their own blood offspring as an experiment, surely." Kirumi joined in the argument.

Without warning, Kokichi stumbled over the blankets at his feet whilst storming out of the cabin, mumbling an excuse about needing air. Only Shuichi seemed to notice though, the sudden debate occupied everyone else. Something's off... Shuichi thought, a force begging him to chase after the runaway phantom.

Shuichi stood from the group where he sat. "I'm going to spend some time outside before it's too late." He excused himself. It wasn't abnormal for Shuichi to leave during the night just to walk around without his cloak on, so nobody questioned the boy as he left the cabin. A cool night breeze hit him in the face as he searched around the cabin for his target. Noticing a swish of purple at the far treeline behind the cabin, he knew where next to go.

Not wanting to scare the younger male, Shuichi ran at a human pace towards the purple flash. He reached the tree line after about 30 seconds of a full sprint. Using his superhuman sight and night-vision, Shuichi followed the constantly flashing purple and white blob that raced through the trees far ahead of him. At this point, the two were so far away from the cabin that no one else would be able to hear even the loudest, highest-pitched scream.

They'd been running, weaving and ducking through the trees for ten minutes, accusations racing through Shuichi's mind. What if he's running back to Mors? Is Kokichi a traitor? Why hasn't he stopped yet? What caused him to run away? Shuichi couldn't understand why he cared so much for Kokichi, or why his chest felt weighed down by thousands of boulders.

A sound forced Shuichi's feet to root into the ground, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach as tears of worry filled his eyes. The loudest scream rang throughout the trees, disturbing the forest as it slowly faded away. That was Kokichi's voice. All other thoughts vanished from his mind as he broke his feet free from their invisible chains.

Breaking every branch and bush in his way, the vampire raced through woods towards the shrill shriek. Unable to use his speed abilities due to the dense fauna, Shuichi had to reduce to the mere mortal run speed.

It was then that he finally reached Kokichi.