Behind a smile

Part 25~Broken Song

~Sora POV~

Everything seemed normal, Tsu made good company, better than I expected, and she didn't get scared easily. Like I said, everything seemed normal, until, that is, Mandalay's telepath, that told us that there were villains in the forest. It might just put a bit of a downer on your day.

Now we were running away back to the camp when a loud crash brought our attention to the side. Shearing a quick look with Tsu, we ran off to see what was going on.

The trees were torn up and the ground was a mess, a dark purple monster stood in the centre, screaming and roaring in victory. That was Tokoyami!

Violently, I felt myself being pushed to the left as Dar Shadow came ripping through the forest. Shoji held both Tsu and I in his arms, hiding us behind a tree.

"Shoji! What's going on?" I kept my voice low as not to attract the violent shadow to our whereabouts. "What happened to your arm?"

Shoji let Tsu and I jump onto the floor before he crouched down, motioning for us to do the same. "After Mandaly's telepath about the villain attack telling us not to engage, we went on the alert immediately. Right after that, we were attacked by a villain. I covered Tokoyami, hiding in the foliage as my arm got cut off."

I let off a small gulp, looking around me to see if I could see anything useful for Shoji, plants were highly useful when someone was bleeding.

"Even though it's not a shallow cut, it's not like I've lost it forever. My Dupli-Arms can even duplicate my duplicated organs, and what was cut off was a duplicate." Shoji gave us a thumbs up but I rolled my eyes a little. I took off my jumper and ripped off the sleeve, wrapping it around the bloody arm. He gave me a confused look at which I only smiled.

"You can't be a member of my family without knowing how to deal with a cut," I explained, sweetly. I ripped off the other sleeve and pocketed it before putting the jumper back on. "Continue, please."

"Right. I guess even though it's just a duplicated arm, he couldn't stand for that. The Quirk he had been holding back started getting out of control..."

"I knew Tokyami struggled to control Dark Shadow in the darkness, but I never thought it would be this bad," I added, looking at Dark Shadow who was roaring loudly.

"It was probably his emotions like righteous indignation and regret that made it even more wild. He kept tryin to hold it back, but..." Shoji took a step back, accidentally snapping a twig that was on the floor.

Tsu jumped up, wrapping her tongue around Shoji and throwing him to the side.I jumped sideways as Dark shadow destroyed the space that we had been standing in.

"It reacted to any movement or sound, turning into a monster that was just lashing out with attacks indiscriminately," Shoji explained while Tsu lowered him to the ground.

"Forget... about me..." Tokoyami was calling out to us, begging us to leave. "Find the others... and help them! Calm down, Dark Shadow!"

"Dark Shadow's weakness is light, ribbit," Tsu stated, putting her finger on her chin. "Maybe Sora-kun could create some light with one of his songs."

"I-I could try. But it would bring others to us, you could be in dang-" before I could finish, we had to jump to the side once again, Dark Shadow destroyed everything in his path.

"I know, but no matter the circumstance, I don't want to become a person who leaves a suffering friend behind. I can draw Dark Shadow's attention away for a few seconds, give you time to build up some light," Shoji suggested.

"No-" I tried to defend but Tsu gently touched my shoulder.

"We want to help Tokoyami, ribbit. This is the best plan," she said before getting up and hopping away.

Shoji gave me a thumbs up before running off to the side. "Just be ready."

Taking in a deep breath, I held my hand close to my chest. How could they believe in me? I was the weakest of my siblings, even Chi was stronger than me. I was always the first to return, I was always the weakest. No! This is not the time to doubt myself. I can do that later, now I need to help Tokoyami and get back to camp.

I heard Shoji call Dark Shadow to him, dodging over the angry paw that came crashing to the ground in a powerful swipe. Tsu used her tongue to hit Dark Shadow and bring him to her. Dark Shadow couldn't attack both and switch between targets.

Slowly stepping forward, I hummed an old song that I used to sing for Izu when he was upset. "Loving and fighting. Accusing, denying. I can't imagine a world with you gone. The joy and the chaos, the demons we're made of. I'd be so lost if you left me alone. You locked yourself in the bathroom. Lying on the floor when I break though. I pull in to feel your heartbeat. Can you hear me screaming, 'please don't leave me'?"

My hand started glowing, gathering power the shone across the forest. The wind picked up and swirled around me. Dark Shadow noticed me and came to attack but Tsu and Shoji stopped him.

"Hold on, I still want you. Come back, I still need you. Let me take your hand, I'll make it right. I swear to love you all my life. Hold on, I still need you."

Dark Shadow started to falter, Tokoyami did his best to force Dark Shadow back under control but it still wasn't enough.

"A Long endless highway, you're silent beside me. Drivin' a nightmare I can't escape from. Helplessly praying, the light isn't fadin'. Hiding the shock and the chill in my bones. They took you away on a table. I pace back and forth as you lay still. They pull you in to feel your heartbeat. Can you hear me screaming, 'please don't leave me'?"

Dark Shadow let off a loud roar as he used every bit of his power to hit Shoji and Tsu into the nearby trees and charge at me.

"Hold on, I still want you! Come back, I still need you! Let me take your hand, I'll make it right! I swear to love you all my life! hold on, I still need you! I don't wanna let go! I know I'm not that strong! I just wanna hear you! Saying brother, let's go home! Let's go home! Yeah I just wanna take you home!"

Dark Shadow let out a pained roar as he was forced back into Tokoyami's control.

"Hold on, I still want you... Come back... I still need you..." I let out a shaky breath, my throat wasn't too pleased but I had done it. The light had left, no longer powered by my song.

Tsu and Shoji came to Tokoyami's side but I couldn't hear them, pain took me faster than ever before. I couldn't think. Everything hurt. I guess I am the weakest after all...