Souls In Hiding

He's Lying... He Has To Be

"Boo!" Kokichi screamed jumping up in his bed, Shuichi shouted in response as he fell backwards from shock. "Haha, I got... you... good." The vampire's shriek attracted the attention of Kirumi, Kaito and Maki outside, who came rushing inside to his aid. Kirumi hurried to Kokichi's side and helped him lie back down as he groaned in pain.

"What's wrong with you? Why would you play a joke after what just happened?" Maki growled.

"Um, guys, could you give us some alone time? We need to talk... alone." Shuichi mumbled, feeling awkward about asking his friends to leave their own home.

"Sure Sidekick, come get us when you're done." Kaito grinned, leading the two girls out of the cabin. Shuichi dusted off his clothes as he stood up, slowly sitting on the edge of Kokichi's soft bed as the smaller struggled to make himself comfortable.

"I'm sorry," Shuichi mumbled.

"Really?" Kokichi laughed. "You smashed me into a tree and all you can say is sorry?" Shuichi would've thought the other boy was mad at him if it weren't for the excited grin spreading across his cheeks.

"I didn't know I was using my strength... Please forgive me, I promise I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll do anything to help you-"

"I understand Shuichi, apologies are so boring and sad so stop." Kokichi rolled his eyes, his personality switching. "It's not like I wouldn't do the same if my girlfriend died."

"Girlfriend?"

"What? You don't know who your own girlfriend is?"

"Kokichi, please don't joke about this now."

"I'm... not joking?" Kokichi seemed genuine for once in his life, confusing Shuichi.

"You think Kaede was my lover?"

"She... wasn't?" He seems pretty conflicted by this, almost as if he's disappointed in himself. "What about all the times you two were hanging out? Not to mention the fact I caught you two kissing. I don't appreciate being lied to Saihara."

"Oh, no, you've got it all wrong. Kaede has... had romantic feelings for me, but I didn't have those feelings for her." Shuichi explained to the bed-ridden boy. "After all, I fell in love with you." Brief silence enveloped the two as his words took effect.

"You... what?"

Fuck.

"Haha would you look at that, I have somewhere I need to be. Uh, goodbye." Shuichi awkwardly chuckled before racing out of the cabin, ignoring the shouts behind him as he bolted into the woods.

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Crickets chirped around him as the boy approached the gated entrance to Mors. "Halt. State your business." A guard announced.

"I wish for an audience with the king." 

"Take off your hood." Following orders to prevent any confrontations, the stranger removed their cloak entirely. "Shuichi Saihara, you are not welcome here."

"I understand that, all I'm asking is one small meeting. I'm more than happy to be accompanied by guards."

The guards strapped a pair of handcuffs to the vampire, the magickal charms prevented any use of supernatural powers as Shuichi was escorted to the castle. He reached the large double doors to the throne room with no trouble, unless you count the rough handling from the guards as he was shoved through the doors. Monokuma took one look at the child before him before speaking. "Give us some privacy."

"My Lord-"

"You dare question me? I told you to leave." Monokuma growled, causing the guards to run from the room with their tails between their legs. "Ah Shuichi, I'm surprised you've made it this far, especially considering the bounty on your head. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Kaede is dead. Murdered. What makes you think you have the right to murder her? I know it was you." Shuichi spat, his words pouring with pure and utter hatred. Monokuma had no need to worry though, as Shuichi had no power with his hands bound in front of him. "We've stayed out of your way as you asked."

"What makes you think you have the right to attack my town? Or have you already forgotten the invasion you attempted?"

"We didn't murder anyone that didn't try to kill us. You hunted us down after the fact and murdered Kaede."

"I understand grief has your mind clouded, but I was correct in my act. It was simply payback for your actions against me. It's also hard to believe that knight you murdered in the stairwell attempted to hurt you as their weapons had not been unsheathed." Monokuma suddenly laughed for no apparent reason as he made his way towards the table packed high with food. "How could I be so rude? My deepest apologies Shuichi, have some water."

Monokuma picked up a goblet supposedly filled with water. As he handed it to Shuichi, the vampire struggled to grip the goblet considering his hands were still tightly bound together. He watched in fear as the cup's contents spilled over the edge and onto Monokuma. "Your Highness, I'm so so sorry! The chains they-" Shuichi winced from the loud sizzling and cracking filling his ears as Monokuma shouted for guards. Multiple knights surrounded the two, pointing spears at Shuichi's head. 

"Stand down, the mistake was my fault. I need the court physician. Immediately! The rest of you are to return to your posts." Monokuma turned back to Shuichi, his pride never faltering. "Now you know my secret. How ironic, right? The king that outlaws supernatural beings is a robot himself."

"Why... You're one of us, why would you murder so many innocent people?" Shuichi didn't understand, this revelation brought on so many more questions than answers.

"You like to think you're so important, just like the main character in a story. If you're really that good, you'll figure out my motive." Mentally, Shuichi sighed from frustration, silently hoping things would be easy. "There is one thing I'll reveal to you, as it won't change much for me. Tell me, have you seen any robots lately?" Come to think of it, I'd never seen one before I met Kiibo. Monokuma seemed to pick up on Shuichi's exact thoughts. "Exactly, they're extremely rare. It would make sense for all robots to be related somehow, correct?"

"No... does that mean Kiibo is..."

"My son? Correct."

There's no way... Kiibo would never, right?