awkward-jouno:

‘Tecchou!’ Teruko calls out from the other side of the inner room as the swordsman’s attack on the witch gets deflected.

‘Leave it to me.’, you assure them. You sense that by doing so, you have directed its attention to you. As if staged, you dodge its attack and speak once again. 'You okay?'

'I’ll live.’, Tecchou says with ragged breathing. 'Dammit, I can taste blood in my throat.’

'Ignore it.’, you reply almost immediately. 'Like you said, you’ll live. Let me handle this.’

'You really wanna do this without a plan?’, Teruko has placed herself in a high position in the barrier, leaning itself well for a bird’s eye view. 'You’re not going to hold it off until Tachihara and Fukuchi are done clearing the familiars?’

'Nah.’ You hold up your hand.

'Jouno, don’t be stupid.’ Tecchou sighs.

'They can wait. Let them take their time. Tecchou, I’ll taunt and direct it towards you. You’ll finish it off, then.’

'Got it.’, Tecchou reluctantly agrees with your 'plan’ for as far as he can call it a 'plan’. 'Also, pay attention to your Soul Gem.’ he says as a final warning.

'What do you mean?’, you ask, but feel at the same time that it’s had better days. 'Never mind…’ You jump away and face the witch directly.

That surprises Teruko. 'Jouno, what are you…?’

But you don’t pay attention to her. 'Hey, you.’, you speak in a low voice. 'Don’t you go and underestimate me just because I so happen to be blind. I’ll cut you down! Oh, what’s that?’, You move away from another attack and choose position again. You can hear the worried screams and cries of Teruko and Tecchou and feel Tachihara and Fukuchi nearing the place, but you go on nonetheless. 'I know exactly what is bothering you. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. You can’t send your familiars anymore, huh? That’s right; my friends just killed them all!’

Suddenly, Tecchou jumps in front of you and attacks the witch in your place. 'Enough!’, He sends you an angry glare. 'Jouno, this time, you went too far!’

His words echo in your mind as you start to feel lightheaded. A high peep rings in your ears. 'Tecchou…’ you whisper, before losing your consciousness and falling.

—-

A few seconds later, you wake up.

'Ugh…’ You grab your head as your awareness returns to you. But…

'Tecchou…? Teruko…? Where am I? Where are you?’ You don’t feel their presence anymore, but you also don’t detect the witch.

’There you are.’

'Ah!’

Someone enters your perception.

'You…you are…?’

At first, this person seems like a stranger, but you soon feel who they are.

’…me?’

The magic trail seems to be your very own, and the voice as well comes close to yours, if a bit robotic sounding.

’You’re quick as always, huh.’, the copy of you laughs. ’That was a great performance of you back there, don’t you agree?’

'You mean…’, You think you know what it’s talking about. 'My taunting of the witch?’

’Exactly.’, Unlike with all other people you’ve met, you can’t seem to detect the state of their heart at all. ’That’s where your true self shines. Which is me, by the way. And I just love it when you do things like that!’

'What…what do you mean?’ You start to get confused now.

’You revel in it, don’t you? The way their heart beats faster when you do another threat and the sound of their ragged breathing as you tell them you will kill them here and now…’

'What the hell are you getting at?’ You become a bit tired at its vagueness. It laughs again before answering you.

’Oh, come on, don’t act as if you don’t know! Don’t say you like to…well, I can also say it directly if you’re like this. You’re a sadistic manchild.’

'That’s what they all say.’, You hold up your hands. It is far from the first time you’ve heard this. 'It’s not all me, though. Gotta say it’s also a result of all the tests I’ve had.’

’Oh, that’s a lie.’, The copy moves around a bit. ’The sadism has always been yours. Don’t lie. I know when you’re lying, so don’t even try.’ You sigh at that. ’Don’t you sigh at me like that.’ It continues to talk to you on a condescending tone. But currently, you lack any arguments to turn the tide. ’You honestly baffle me at times. You like threatening and killing others so much. Why not do that to everyone, if it sparks so much joy in you?’

You can’t tell if it’s serious. 'I have no idea if you’re serious, but I can say that you’re partially correct.’, You speak up. 'However, I won’t kill my friends. I wouldn’t be able to handle four against one.’

’Why not?’, It asks in a playful manner. ’You might die, but I’m sure it’d be worth it.’

'Dishonoring myself is worth it?’ You think you can feel where it’s getting at.

’Screw that perspective.’, It draws out that first word. ’Think of the rush it’d give! Come on, you know them better than anyone! All of their weaknesses and bad habits. And you know you like it…’ The copy of you is bursting with excitement when talking about it.

You snap. 'I understand the point you’re making. Don’t worry, you won’t need to repeat yourself. But this, this is where I draw the line in the sand. I’ll never threaten or hurt my friends!’

It pauses for a second, then speaks up again. ’You’re more pathetic than I thought. I’m part of you, so you still have this idea deep inside.’

You realize that one and one makes two - the sole fact that this proposal is made by this part of you, directly implies that the idea is still somewhere in your heart.

’…you have a point.’

’Good.’, is the sole thing it reacts with initially. ’It’s about time that you become aware of my existence. You don’t need to act on me…although it’d be more fun if you did, haha.’

You draw the logical conclusion that to change its behavior or even make it disappear, you’ll have to change yourself.

'I’ll get you out.’ you say with confidence.

’I’d love to see you try.’, And there it is, the same condescending tone as before. ’I’ll always be a part of you. Whether you like it or not.’ You don’t know what to think of this comment. ’So, consider my offer. I’ll be there. For now…’

—-

Teiresias

Doppel of enjoyment. Its form is corporal punishment. The master of this emotion is not happy with it lingering in his heart, and would rather see it gone. It subjects anything in its surroundings, no matter friend or foe, to torture that fits the sins of the victim. This is purposefully not enough to kill, so it often toys around with them, each punishment more cruel than the last. An enormous sense of relief will fall on its master once it disappears again. It is one out of five representations of punishment goals, this one representing satisfaction.

—-

’…Jouno?’

Teruko’s voice brings you back to reality.

'I’m…’ You regain sweet, sweet consciousness and find yourself at the place you found the barrier. Which must mean…

'You defeated the witch.’, Fukuchi states. 'You blacked out there for a few seconds or so.’

'Really?’, You frown. 'It felt longer. Like five minutes, at least.’

'It wasn’t nearly that long.’, Tecchou emphasizes the word 'nearly’. 'But it was sudden, though. Not long after, you changed into this giant thing…’ He slows down his explanation.

'What do you mean exactly?’ You stand up and tilt your head.

'Well…’, You can hear at his way of speaking that Tecchou hesitates to tell you. 'It was surrounding you. I don’t know how to describe it. It was a horrifying sight, with ropes and blades and…lots of blood everywhere…’

Teruko suddenly shouts. 'Yeah, it was so awesome!’

A shiver runs down your spine. 'Ugh. Let’s forget it for the time being.’ You want to ask for the Grief Seed, but realize your Soul Gem is clean now.

'Good idea.’, Tecchou agrees. 'Let’s get back to base. My soy sauce latte is waiting for me.’

'You never change, do you.’ You smile at another of his strange decisions.

And neither will you.