Corpse Bride || Haitani Brothers/OC

31 - hotel stay (i.)

"are you sure you can do it?"

Mikey's gaze or tone wasn't anything condescending. Hikari gave him a small smile, mildly surprised he ever let his worrying show.

"it should be fine," she said, "if anything happens, I'm quite adept in fighting."

he nods, but doesn't remove his stare. he was still trying to decide.

"have you ever killed anyone?" he asked.

"no, not really."

"can you kill a person?"

"yes."

"you could use a gun?"

"he taught me."

again, he nods. she need not elaborate who exactly taught her, it was obvious it was Ran. Mikey was quite satisfied with that as he closes his eyes, trying to visualize their plan for tomorrow's auction. if Ran had been the one who taught her, she should be fine. but he still doubted Hikari—who like Hideo clung to goodness without even knowing it—could actually kill a person when push comes to shove.

he takes a look at Hikari. for the record, she was far more corrupted than Hideo. it wasn't her fault—none of it was. he thought maybe her trauma could've driven away what remaining goodness she had left.

for some reason he found her feigning to be alright unsettling. Hikari operated like a machine the past days. the executives and him had once been quite surprised to find that Hikari and Ran didn't come to work together anymore, nor did they go home together. Ran, ever elusive, somehow only stepped foot in the building when Hikari was out.

they were curious, although Mikey already knew. Rindou, Ran, Hikari—the three of them avoiding each other like repelling magnets.

"it will be a full on attack, Hikari, you could get caught in the crossfire," Mikey warns.

she was spaced out, staring at nothing in particular. he felt a tinge of guilt at her state. the girl looked like she barely slept anymore. each day she was beginning to be like them—like him. lifeless, empty, sick.

between the two, he thought Ran was doing much better—at least that's what he let on.

"Hikari," he gently says, touching her shoulder.

she flinched as she looked back at him. their eyes probably had no difference now, he thought to himself. again, he felt guilty.

"I don't think you should be with Red Flower when the battle comes."

"why? I should be."

"we can win even without you working from the inside during the chaos."

"it's not about helping you, or helping Bonten," she says, almost dryly. "I will kill them. it's their fucking fault Hideo had to work here anyway, it's their fault that..."

she didn't finish her sentence. her crestfallen face told Mikey he should drop it.

it's their fault Ran and Hideo crossed paths.

it was obvious what she was going to say.

"I see. I hope you don't get careless, Hikari."

"I'm not that blinded with revenge, I am cautious, it's why they don't suspect me."

"I'm not talking about revenge, I'm talking about Ran."

she almost scoffed. "and what of him?"

"do you have plans for the future Hikari?"

she stilled, her eyes widening. Mikey looked at her like he knew her more than she currently knew herself, and the scary part was that she thought it was likely. because she didn't know herself anymore, she doesn't recognize the woman that is her reflection. but Mikey seemed to know.