Kyouma's lungs burned as he followed the figure.
His voice was traveling through the narrowing streets.
"Keisuke! Stop!"
The figure ahead didn't answer and his white coat flared behind him.
He didn't react, almost as if the voice didn't reach him.
Finally, the man halted.
Slowly, he turned.
His glasses were glowing in the moonlight.
"…It's been a while, Kyouma, don't you think."
Kyouma froze mid-step his breath was unsteady.
His voice cracked when he finally spoke. "I… I thought you were dead."
A faint smile tugged at Keisuke's lips. "I am dead, but someone brought me back to life."
He took a pistol out of his pocket.
His glasses were still shining as he raised the weapon.
"Why are you pointing a gun at me?" Kyouma asked, still shocked.
Keisuke pulled the trigger—
Bang!
It wasn't on purpose, but Kyouma's body reflexively activated his Blessing.
Kyouma's perception slowed.
The bullet almost stood still.
He walked forward slowly and cut the bullet in half.
Then, he walked towards Keisuke and reaches his hand onto his pistol.
But—
—the pistol was already angled at him.
Bang!
The bullet grazed Kyouma's thigh and ripped his cloth and flesh.
His perception went back to normal and Keisuke pointed the pistol at his head instantly.
Bang!
Kyouma could barely dodge, but he didn't get hit.
He staggered back, his thigh finally starting to bleed.
Keisuke's voice cut through the ringing in his ears. "I know your ability, remember? You told me, back then. You slow your perception of time. But your body can't keep up."
His yellow eyes were sharp, almost piercing through Kyouma.
"So you force your body to move faster, with Kyoukai."
Keisuke added, "I know your limits—"
Kyouma interrupted, "Why?" as he panted, "Why do you fight me, aren't we friends?"
"Why?" he answered confused, "I don't know why."
"But right now," he added, "I feel so good," and fired again.
Bang! Bang!
Kyouma darted sideways, forcing his limbs to move with Kyoukai, causing his bleeding to get stronger.
Every move left cracks of pain in its wake, his lungs fighting for breath.
"This isn't you, I know it, Keisuke!" Kyouma shouted, "What happened to your goal."
"You always told me, that it's our job as hunters to help the weak," he added as he attacked Keisuke with his knife.
"I already told you," as Keisuke blocked the strike, "Something inside me, wants to fight you."
Kyouma used his Blessing and his perception slowed down.
He moved behind Keisuke, but right when he wanted to attack, a bullet hit him in the arm.
His perception went back to normal.
"Didn't I tell you," Keisuke said, his head tilted behind, looking at Kyouma, "Your ability doesn't work on me."
"You don't slow time, you just slow your perception and if you don't force your body to move faster, you are just as slow as me, not that it would matter."
He continued to explain, "I can see the future Kyouma, your ability is useless against me."
He squeezed the trigger again, effortlessly.
"I already know how this ends."
Bang!
The bullet struck Kyouma's leg, making him collapse onto his knee.
Blood pooled out of his leg, his breathing even heavier than before.
He's right, without me forcefully manipulating my limbs to move, this ability is useless.
But my limb manipulating isn't just useful for the ability.
Keisuke's pointed the pistol to Kyouma's head, "You can't beat me. These glasses show me the most probable future, the paths where I win. Against that, your speed is just… useless."
Now I see it, this guy really is Keisuke.
But he's not the Keisuke I became friend with.
Kyouma's leg trembled, more blood pooling out.
His vision swam with pain, but still, he raised his head. "You're right…"
"It's over," as Keisuke pulled the trigger.
Bang!
But the bullet hit the ground, as Kyouma dodged.
"You may know all my flaws, but just as much as you know mine, I know yours."
"What," Keisuke asked in confusion as he looked at Kyouma.
Aura was gathered at Kyouma's limbs, it looked almost like threads tied to a puppet.
Keisuke raised his pistol, calm, sure of the future—
—but Kyouma's limbs moved as if they weren't damaged.
His perception slowed down and he ran towards Keisuke.
He swings his knife at Keisuke's leg.
Bang!
The bullet directly hit Kyouma's shoulder.
But—
He also lunged with his left hand, at Keisuke's face, punching his glasses off his face.
Time felt normal again.
Keisuke staggered back as his glasses shattered, one lens falling to the ground in shards.
"See, I told you," Kyouma shouted at him, "You only ever look where I punch to counter, but you didn't look far enough to see my fist."
"I know you better than any—", as Kyouma gets interrupted.
"Do you think that's it?" Keisuke asked and brushed his hair back.
His eyes, turned from yellow to almost white.
It was as if looking directly into the sky.
"I used the glasses as a vow, to concentrate on one future at a time," Keisuke explained, "now that they are broken, I can see every future."
"You can't beat me anymore."
"Kyouma."
Kyouma was shocked, as his aura reached it's limit.
Shit, I overdid it.
Keisuke pointed his pistol at Kyouma's head, "I'll see you on the other side."
"My friend."
Bang!