Sunset Ghost

A Wish That Cannot Be Fulfilled

サンセットゴースト

Sunset Ghost

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第20章

叶わない願い

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"St-stay back," Hinata stammered, taking an unsteady step back as Hyde grinned maliciously at him. Kageyama's brain screamed at him to get up, but he could barely move, unable to help. As the Ikiryō walked closer, Hinata retreated farther away, back striking the counter. His legs were shaking so much he had to hold himself up, and Kageyama could tell he was struggling not to tear up.

Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit. How could he let this happen? He'd had everything handled a moment ago, and suddenly it was all spinning out of control, everything gone to hell in a split second. But what was he supposed to do? Yachi was still unconscious, Hinata's powers were drained, and he couldn't move. And now he knew Hyde had Onmyōji powers, which only made things a million times worse. How could he compete with something that strong?

"Why are you doing this?" Hinata asked, trembling like a leaf in the wind as his tears leaked down his cheeks. "We didn't do anything to you."

Hyde hesitated for a moment before letting out a slight, disbelieving laugh. "You really don't how valuable you are, do you?"

"V-valuable?" he stammered in confusion. "I— I'm not—"

"You don't get it, do you?" the Ikiryō interrupted, shaking his head bemusedly. "It's rare to find such a pure spirit. Ushinawareta are one of the rarest entities you can find—in fact, most spiritualists don't even know they exist. If everyone knew about them, I'd imagine they'd become extinct." He chuckled, unaffected by Hinata's obvious terror at those words. "A spirit with an unfulfilled wish. That's the whole reason you remain here, or didn't you know that?"

The redhead jolted, staring at him in shock. Even Kageyama was surprised. He remembered back to the attack on the wayline, when one of the IBPA agents had called him that very same name. But how did Hyde know all this?

"Yes; it's true," he confirmed. "Your unfulfilled desire from life keeps you grounded in the mortal world—makes it easier for you to access your spiritual power and to interact with humans. You have a unique set of abilities: an ability to bring happiness and luck. Unfortunately for you, I've ruined most of that now, but you're still worth the same." He flexed his fist and blue energy sparked along his skin, sending Hinata skittering farther back, behind the counter. "One like you should be relieved to give up their afterlife after lingering so long in the mortal world."

Kageyama's brain screamed at him like a fire alarm, Get up, get up, get up! but all he managed was a slight twitch of the fingers.

"So y-you're... going to kill me?" Hinata whimpered weakly.

"I'm going to liberate you," Hyde corrected, smiling cruelly. "When I consume your soul, I'll gain an immense power boost from your wish. Your life—or, rather, death—will go to a good cause." His mouth turned downwards in a threatening glower. "So be a good boy and give up quietly. I've already beaten your friends: there's no reason to keep resisting."

"Don't... don't l-listen to him, Hinata..."

Kageyama's eyes widened. Yachi! As he watched, she pushed herself up weakly and pulled herself up on shaking arms. Her face was pale and blood was streaming from a cut on her forehead, crusting her blonde hair on the left side. Her amber eyes were struggling to focus and Kageyama could see her wobbling back and forth slightly like a top about to fall, but she somehow remained standing.