The Last Bargain

XLII: Breaking The Chains

Shin wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind racing as he dodged another wild swing from Raito. Every strike felt like a hammer blow, each one harder than the last, driven by the shadows that had wrapped themselves around Raito's body like chains. Zento was beside him, barely managing to deflect another punch, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"We can't keep this up," Zento muttered, his voice strained. "He's getting stronger... the shadows are making him faster."

Shin nodded, his eyes never leaving Raito. "We need to find a way to break their control," he replied, his voice filled with urgency. "But how?"

Raito moved again, his body a blur as he lunged at them, his fists glowing with the dark energy of the shadows. Shin jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blow, his heart pounding in his chest. Think, Shin... think... he told himself. There has to be a way.

Yomi watched from a short distance away, his arms crossed, a satisfied smile on his lips. "You are only prolonging the inevitable," he called out, his voice mocking. "Raito belongs to the shadows now. You cannot save him."

Shin glanced at Yomi, anger flaring in his chest. "We'll see about that," he muttered under his breath. He knew they couldn't keep fighting like this. Every second they delayed, the shadows seemed to tighten their grip around Raito, dragging him deeper into their control.

He tried to think back to everything he knew about Raito—his strengths, his weaknesses, his fears. Raito had always been the most logical of them, always the one to see through lies, to find the truth in any situation. But his ability had also made him cynical, prone to believing that everyone was hiding something, that the world was filled with deception. Shin realized now that Raito's greatest fear was not the lies of others, but the lies he told himself—the belief that he was destined to be alone, that no one could truly be trusted.

And the shadows were feeding on that fear, amplifying it, using it to control him.

Shin's mind raced, a plan beginning to form. "Zento," he called out, moving closer to his friend, "we need to make Raito hear us, to remind him of who he is. We have to break through the doubt the shadows are using against him."

Zento ducked under another punch from Raito, nodding quickly. "I'm with you," he replied. "But how do we do that?"

Shin took a deep breath, focusing on Raito's face, the pain and confusion etched across his features. "We need to overwhelm the shadows," he explained, his voice filled with urgency. "Force them to lose control, even for a second. If we can create that opening, maybe we can reach him."

Zento's eyes widened in understanding. "So, we need to hit them where it hurts..."

Shin nodded. "Exactly. We need to use Raito's own strength—his ability to see through deception—against the shadows themselves. We have to make him see that everything they're telling him is a lie."

Zento grinned despite the situation. "I like it. But that means we need to confuse the shadows, make them show their hand."

Shin smiled back, a determined gleam in his eyes. "Right. And I know just how to do it."

Yomi frowned slightly, sensing the shift in their resolve. "What are you whispering about?" he sneered, stepping forward. "Do you think you can trick me? Trick the shadows?"

Shin looked directly at Yomi, his smile widening. "We're not trying to trick you, Yomi," he replied confidently. "We're going to beat you."

Yomi's eyes narrowed. "You cannot defeat what you do not understand, boy. The shadows are eternal. They feed on fear, on doubt... and Raito is full of both."

Shin nodded. "Maybe so. But there's one thing you're forgetting, Yomi," he said, raising his voice so Raito could hear. "Raito has something more powerful than fear... something stronger than doubt."

Yomi's smile faltered slightly. "And what would that be?"

"His friends," Shin declared, stepping closer. "The people who believe in him, who trust him, no matter what. We are not leaving him behind!"

Raito's movements paused for a fraction of a second, a flicker of hesitation in his darkened eyes. The shadows around him seemed to ripple, uncertain, and Shin knew he had found the opening they needed.

"Raito!" Shin shouted, his voice filled with conviction. "Think about all the times you've seen through the lies, seen the truth. Think about all the times you've fought to protect us, to protect others. The shadows... they're lying to you now! Don't let them control you!"

Zento joined in, his voice strong and clear. "Raito, listen to him! You've always been the one to see the truth. You've always been the one to find the light in the darkest situations. Don't let the shadows take that from you!"

Raito's eyes flickered again, and this time, Shin saw it—a brief spark of recognition, a flash of the Raito they knew and cared for.

Yomi's face twisted in anger, his voice rising. "No! You will not break my hold on him!"

Shin ignored him, focusing all his energy on Raito. "Remember who you are, Raito!" he shouted. "Remember that you are stronger than any doubt, stronger than any fear! You are not alone—we're with you!"

The shadows hissed, their forms writhing around Raito, trying to tighten their grip, but Shin and Zento continued to shout, their voices ringing out like a battle cry.

"Fight it, Raito!" Zento yelled. "You're stronger than this! Don't let them win!"

Raito's body shuddered, his movements becoming more erratic, as if he were fighting against the strings that held him. Shin could see the shadows struggling, their forms twisting in confusion, and he knew they were getting closer.

Yomi growled, his voice filled with fury. "Enough of this!" He raised his hand, and the shadows seemed to surge forward, a dark wave rushing toward Shin and Zento.

But Shin stood his ground, his eyes never leaving Raito. "You hear that, Raito?" he shouted. "That's fear! The shadows are afraid of you—afraid of the truth you carry inside you! Don't let them silence you!"

Raito's eyes flickered once more, and this time, the light grew stronger, the shadows around him trembling as if they were weakening.

"No!" Yomi screamed, his face contorted with rage. "You will not break free!"

Shin could see it now, the struggle within Raito's eyes, the battle between the shadows and the light. He stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "Raito, take my hand!" he shouted. "You don't have to fight this alone!"

The shadows hissed louder, but Raito's hand twitched, slowly moving toward Shin's.

"Come on, Raito," Zento urged, his voice steady. "We're here. We've always been here."

For a moment, everything seemed to hang in the balance. The shadows swirled violently, but Shin could see the doubt in their movements, the hesitation. And in Raito's eyes, he saw something that gave him hope—a flicker of determination, a spark of resistance.

Yomi's face twisted with fury, his voice a roar. "NO!"

But Shin held his ground, his hand reaching out. "Take it, Raito," he whispered. "Take it, and come back to us."

And in that moment, Raito's hand shot forward, grabbing Shin's with a strength that surprised him. The shadows let out a deafening wail, their forms writhing in agony, and Shin felt a surge of energy coursing through him as Raito's grip tightened.

The light in Raito's eyes grew brighter, and the shadows began to shatter, their forms breaking apart like glass, pieces scattering into the air.

Yomi let out a furious scream, his form beginning to waver, his control slipping.

Shin grinned, his heart pounding with hope. "That's it, Raito," he said softly. "Come back to us."

The shadows continued to break, their whispers fading into nothingness, and for the first time, Shin saw Raito's face soften, the pain easing from his expression.

They were winning.