Chapter 43
Yui was sitting in her aunt's apartment, waiting for her return. They had a way to contact Vesemir... so they should pass his phone number on to UA....
She and Nejire agreed almost immediately that this would happen... but a second, longer discussion was held to choose the person to whom they would pass the information.
Nezu? He's the school principal and supposedly means well for Vesemir....
Aizawa? He's his father, but they didn't know where to find him.
Hound Dog? A wise choice. He's the school psychologist, after all.
But Yui managed to convince Nejire to choose someone else.
Midnight. Yui trusted her aunt. She was sure she cared about Vesemir... and at the same time, she would try to take care of her and Nejire's... business.
Nejire decided to leave UA for the day, heading to the city to decompress. Yui decided to stay. She texted her aunt that they needed to talk, but Midnight replied that she couldn't right now because she had a very important meeting that might take a few hours.
They arranged to talk that evening.
So Yui... waited. She used her phone to browse the internet... she was unaware of the leaked information about the people involved in the kidnappings.
She began browsing memes and other contemporary 'cultural works'.
One showed a French guillotine. Another was a painting by a local artist of Vesemir hanging people from a list from streetlamps.
Another meme depicted death with Vesemir's face walking door to door, with the names of politicians written on the doors.
Yet another had Vesemir's voice in it.
"Fear will keep them in check"
Immediately after these words, slow, frightening music began to play. In this video clip, Vesemir was shown in multiple frames, fighting a Wraith. How the endregas kills... how he calmly stares into the camera lens with yellow, glowing eyes...
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Nejire walked through the city, anxiously observing what was happening around her.
People took to the streets. Banners with hanging politicians and policemen clearly showed the discontent of the people.
There was no theft... no robbery... but people were walking towards police stations, the apartments of people involved in kidnappings...
Several young men carried banners with Vesemir's image. She looked at the screen showing the news. The words appeared on the news ticker.
"Protests across the city after the names of those involved in a corruption scandal were leaked. The police chief called in riot police from other prefectures. The home of the orphanage's administrator was destroyed in flames when information leaked that she received an average of $3,000 for each 'adopted' girl."
People in large numbers began chanting a chant, which is being created on the fly.
"When the system fails and trust derails,
the white wolf comes and justice prevails."
The Pro Heroes present at the scene can do nothing, as the people haven't broken any laws. At least not in this area. A large screen showed a group of masked teenagers throwing stones, bottles and whatever else they had at hand at a police van. A formed riot police unit rushed towards them, banging their batons against their transparent shields.
She decided to return to UA while she still could.
.
.
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Midnight finally entered her apartment, meeting Yui. She rubbed her eyes and said.
"Hi, Auntie..."
"Yui... are you okay?"
Nemuri asked, sensing that something was wrong with her niece.
Yui looked down for a moment.
"We don't know how...but me and Nejire..."
Yui shook her head.
"Nejire found a piece of paper with Vesemir's number in her sweatshirt."
Midnight sat down next to Yui and gently took her hand.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes...we...called last night..."
Midnight frowned.
"Is he okay? What did he tell you?"
"He... was sleeping. He was probably unconscious... but some blonde girl... Himiko answered the phone. She claimed to be taking care of him... I think she's the same girl he went through the portal with."
"Yui, dear... why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"I'm sorry, Auntie... Nejire and I... were very... angry."
"Why?"
Yui didn't answer. She simply handed the note to Midnight.
"Yui... what happened? Please... answer me."
"She... she... kissed him... and... and slept with him... and... and touched him..."
Midnight hugged her niece, rocking her gently in her arms.
"Shhh...calm down, Yui...maybe that girl had nowhere else to go...and stayed with Vesemir to tend to him...and since he's unconscious, he couldn't have pushed her away..."
Yui nodded...she wasn't crying...she believed Vesemir couldn't have done anything...she just needed to hear it from someone.
An hour later, Nejire returned to UA, and Yui went to her room...
Midnight decided to call. She needed to see Vesemir's condition with her own eyes... maybe she could reach an understanding with Himiko... maybe she would tell her where they were... and this chaos would finally end.
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Vesemir spent the day resting. Himiko made sure to give him his medication at the right time.
They talked throughout the day. Himiko didn't tell him how she had been captured, but she did tell him how her family treated her. On the other hand, Vesemir told her a little about himself... that he was from another world... that he had come here through a magic portal... who witchers were. He told her about the beautiful Corvo Bianco estate. He didn't tell her about battles, killings, or other such things.
They also watched television. They saw what was happening in the city.
Vesemir managed to wash himself without irritating the wounds, and with Himiko's help, he applied new bandages where they were still needed. Just yesterday, Himiko had been pressing on the wound on his chest to keep him from bleeding out. Today, he was finally able to move slowly.
When the phone rang, he was dressed in sweatpants and a white T-shirt.
Midnight stared at the screen.... Vesemir.... injured, but conscious....
"Vesemir..."
"Good evening, Lady Midnight."
Midnight's voice trembled slightly.
"Vesemir... thank God you're alive. How are you feeling? Are you safe?"
Vesemir smiled faintly. Midnight could see the exhaustion on his face.
"I'm fine."
Midnight nodded....
"Vesemir, please... stop now... stop hunting now... it's over... we already know who's responsible... now... you don't have to kill people anymore."
"Monsters."
"Excuse me?"
"I kill monsters."
Midnight leaned closer to the camera, her voice pleading.
"I know you believe it's right, but this isn't the way. I want to help you, Vesemir. Please, let me. We can find another way to protect the innocent, without blood on our hands. You're a good boy..."
Vesemir sighed softly.
"Lady Midnight... I would like to apologize profusely... for my earlier behavior towards you... I was offended when we last saw each other..."
Midnight felt some relief, but her worry for the boy persisted.
"You don't have to apologize. I know you're lost, but what you're doing... it's not and never will be worth your life."
Vesemir leaned forward slightly, closing his eyes. He weighed her words in his mind.
"This isn't about my life... I don't like killing... but sometimes there's no way out..."
"No, Vesemir... there's always a way out. Please, surrender. We really want you to return to UA. We'll do everything to make it happen."
"I can't..."
"You can, Vesemir... you can do this."
The door to Yui's room opened. Yui entered the living room, dressed in her pajamas.
"Vesemir?"
The young witcher closed his eyes... and sighed heavily.
"Yui..."
Yui moved closer and sat down next to her aunt... she looked at Vesemir.
"Go home."
"Yui..."
"You have to go home as soon as possible. Otherwise, Nejire and I will drag you to UA."
Vesemir opened his eyes and looked at Yui.
"Yui... no."
Yui shook her head firmly, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"We need you here. I need you..."
Yui quickly texted Nejire, saying, "Come, Vesemir, talk." The nervous blue-haired girl appeared at the door of Midnight's apartment in 30 seconds.
Vesemir noticed Nejire appear in the frame... she looked very... very displeased.
"Vesemir! What do you think you're doing!? Where's that empty-headed blonde!?"
"Heyooooo!"
Himiko sat down next to Vesemir.
Nejire narrowed her eyes, her face flushing with anger.
"YOU! GET OUT!"
Vesemir glared at Nejire.
"Nejire. Don't you dare raise your voice at her. It's all my fault. I left UA of my own free will."
"That's not the point! She slept with you! We saw her yesterday!"
"Excuse me?"
Yui took over the conversation.
"We called you yesterday... you were unconscious, but Himiko answered the call... didn't she mention it to you?"
Vesemir looked at Himiko questioningly.
"Ah, eto... bleh!"
Vesemir narrowed his eyes.
"Himiko?"
"Yes, Vesemir?"
"What were you talking about with Yui and Nejire?"
"Ah...you know....just something....about taking care of you..."
Yui chimed in.
"She said she's fulfilling all your whims and even kissed you on the cheek while you were sleeping."
"Hmmm...I wonder...why am I just now finding out about this, Himiko?"
"Oh, because you were unconscious, and you're supposed to be resting!"
Nejire shouted, pointing at the screen.
"See already!? She's using you!"
Himiko stuck out her tongue, making a silly face at Nejire.
Vesemir sighed deeply.
"Calm down. Nejire, Yui... Himiko saved my life. Without her, I would have bled to death. Nothing happened between us."
Himiko stepped in.
"Not yet! Nothing happened yet, but I'm well on my way to seducing Vesemir!"
Nejire clenched her fists, her face turning even redder.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Himiko giggled.
"She's so easily angered!"
"Enough!"
Vesemir said firmly.
"I've had enough of this childish bickering. Himiko. Apologize to the girls."
"But..."
Vesemir looked at her firmly.
"Well...well...hey...girls? Sorry for teasing you..."
Nejire smiled triumphantly...until she heard Vesemir's voice.
"Nejire. You have to apologize too."
"Excuse me? I have to apologize? For what?"
"For insulting her in a fit of anger."
Nejire sighed deeply, crossing her arms.
"Well... I'm sorry, Himiko..."
"What are you apologizing to her for, Nejire?"
The blue-haired girl looked askance at Vesemir for a moment... but then added.
"For insulting you... I'm sorry, Himiko, for insulting you."
Midnight finally took over the conversation, feeling the tension ease.
"Vesemir... Who healed you? You were shot, after all."
"I'm quite good at healing wounds. Plus, the right potions speed up the healing process."
"Vesemir, I'm not joking."
"I'm not kidding either. I've been in the war. I know how to heal wounds. I've pulled arrowheads and bolts from my comrades' wounds more than once."
Midnight narrowed her eyes.
"Himiko. If you tell me where you are right now, I'll let you and Vesemir share a room at UA!"
"OKAY!"
"Then tell me!"
Himiko took a deep breath and exclaimed with joy.
"I HAVE NO IDEA!"
Midnight blinked in shock.
"What do you mean, you have no idea?"
"It's simple! I didn't go outside! I simply teleported here with Vesemir!"
Midnight covered her face with her hands in helplessness.
"My god..."
A moment of silence passed... Midnight regained her composure.
"Vesemir... is Letho helping you?"
Vesemir paused before answering... he had sworn an oath to her that he would never lie to her... but that didn't mean he had to tell the truth.
Midnight knew perfectly well what that meant... the problem was, she had no proof.
"Okay... okay.... In that case... Vesemir, can we arrange a meeting? I would like to see you."
"I'm sorry, Lady Midnight, but at this moment, that's not possible. I would require your word of honor that I will not be deprived of my freedom... and we both know you can't make such a promise... and I don't want you to dishonor your name with a broken promise."
Midnight sighed deeply, her voice trembling slightly with barely concealed frustration.
"Vesemir... I understand your concerns, but please, trust me. This can't end well for you... the best thing you can do is surrender."
"I entered this path knowing the danger, Lady Midnight. I have no intention of abandoning it just because it has become inconvenient. And now I must apologize. I need to rest."
"Vesemir, no!"
Vesemir hung up and silenced his phone.
End of Chapter 43