Pacifist

POP—CRACK.

Kairi gritted her teeth, eyes narrowing as she grabbed her twisted wrist.

One sharp motion.

SNAP.

Her wrist popped back into place, a sickening sound echoing through the tense battlefield.

Her fingers twitched, testing movement. It still hurt like hell, but she could work with it.

Mariko smirked. "You just don't quit, do you?"

Kairi rolled her shoulder, exhaling. "I could say the same to you."

Mariko tilted her head. "I don't have to quit. I just have to kill you."

Kairi wiped a streak of blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, eyes burning with something feral.

"Then you should've done it back then."

Her foot slammed into the ground, and in an instant—

She was on her.

Kairi's elbow drove forward, aiming straight for Mariko's throat.

Mariko leaned back just in time, but—

That's exactly what Kairi wanted.

She followed up immediately, twisting on her heel and smashing her knee into Mariko's ribs.

A dull CRACK.

Mariko's body lurched, but she didn't fall.

Instead, she grabbed Kairi's leg—

And whipped her around like a ragdoll, slamming her into the pavement.

BOOM—!

The impact shook the ground.

Dust shot up.

Jin and the others flinched, muscles tensed—

But they didn't move.

They weren't allowed to.

Kairi lay there for a second, body screaming in pain, vision blurred from the impact—

But then—

She laughed.

A low, guttural, bloodstained chuckle.

Mariko blinked. "You really are insane."

Kairi's fingers dug into the pavement as she pushed herself up.

"You haven't even seen insane yet."

Her eyes flickered, an unholy mix of exhaustion, pain—

And pure, unrelenting defiance.

Then, she lunged again.

The storm of fists, elbows, and brutal footwork continued, both Kairi and Mariko clashing like two forces of nature.

Every hit landed harder.

Every dodge grew sharper.

Neither refused to fall.

For the first time ever—

They were equal.

Mariko wiped blood from her lip with the back of her gloved hand, her breathing steady but heavy. Kairi mirrored her, rolling out the tension in her shoulders, eyes sharp like a predator studying its prey.

Mariko smirked. "You're annoying."

Kairi grinned back, "Right back at you."

Their bodies lunged forward again, fists raised—

But suddenly—

—The past resurfaced.

Years Ago.

The rain wouldn't stop.

A young Mariko Sarmiento, barely eighteen, ran.

Her body ached.

Her clothes were torn.

The blood on her hands wasn't hers.

Her legs burned, but she couldn't stop.

Not after what she had done.

Not after they found out.

"MARIKO!"

A voice roared behind her.

She didn't look back. She didn't need to. She knew who it was.

Her master.

The one who had owned her since she was a child.

The one she had just killed.

Or at least, she thought she had.

Her heart pounded violently.

The streets of Manila were unforgiving.

A girl with no name, no papers, no home—a tool for violence, nothing more.

She had thought, for a moment, that maybe if she killed him—maybe she could be free.

But freedom was a fantasy for people who mattered.

And she didn't.

Not until he found her.

Not until Kayd Arakawa.

The First Meeting.

Mariko had been cornered, beaten nearly to death, ribs broken, left arm hanging uselessly.

And then, he arrived.

That bastard in a crisp white suit.

Kayd Arakawa.

He didn't even look at her at first.

He was too busy lighting a cigarette, eyeing her captors with disgust.

"Tsk. You're really making a mess of things."

The men who had beaten her froze.

They knew who he was.

And they knew what it meant that he was here.

Kayd stepped forward, exhaling a cloud of smoke. His sharp, wolfish eyes finally fell on her—

And for the first time in her life, Mariko saw someone look at her like she was useful.

Not trash.

Not a problem.

Useful.

"You fight?" he asked.

Mariko, bleeding, shaking, stared up at him—and nodded.

That was all he needed.

The next thing she knew, the men who had taken her were dead.

And Kayd held out a hand.

"Then fight for me."

And she did.

Ever since that day.

Ever since he gave her a purpose.

Ever since he made her belong.

Present Day.

CRACK—!

Mariko snapped back to reality just as Kairi's fist slammed into her jaw, sending her skidding back.

She caught herself, boots grinding against the pavement.

Kairi grinned, blood dripping from her brow.

"Your mind wandered. Bad idea."

Mariko wiped her mouth, tasting iron.

She laughed.

"I was just remembering why I can't lose to you."

Kairi cracked her knuckles. "Cute. I don't give a damn."

And then—

They lunged again.

Kairi's boots dug into the ground as she launched forward, fist cocked back—

This was it.

This hit would drop Mariko for good.

But—

SHHK!

A blade buried deep into her side.

Pain ripped through her.

Her breath hitched.

She staggered, her momentum dying instantly.

A sharp, cold sensation spread through her ribs—then the heat of blood.

"—GHHHK—"

Her body jerked forward, choking up blood.

A maid had been waiting.

Silent. Hidden. Calculating.

Until now.

Kairi's legs buckled.

Her vision blurred.

The world tilted.

She hit the ground hard.

Her breathing turned shallow.

The maid twisted the blade deeper before wrenching it out, stepping back with cold precision.

Blood gushed.

Kairi couldn't move.

Her mind screamed at her to get up—to fight back—

But her body refused.

Mariko stood over her, staring down with something unreadable in her eyes.

Then, she crouched, gripping Kairi's chin, forcing her to look up.

"Tch… how pathetic."

Kairi's teeth were stained red as she gave a weak, defiant grin.

"…Shut up… or kill me."

Mariko's grip tightened.

"No."

She leaned in, voice lowering.

"You don't get to die yet, Saigeru. Not until you understand why you already lost."

Kairi's vision darkened.

She felt the blood pooling beneath her.

And for the first time—

A bitter thought slipped into her mind.

Maybe I'm not making it out of this one.

Mariko exhaled sharply, still crouched over Kairi, her nails digging into her jaw.

Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes—those cold, burning eyes—were wild with something.

Rage. Disgust.

Or maybe something even darker.

She shook her head, clicking her tongue.

"Look at you."

Kairi's body twitched, but she could barely lift her head. Her limbs felt like lead.

"…Shut…up…"

Mariko yanked her face up harder, forcing her to stare into her unblinking, piercing gaze.

"No, you listen to me, Saigeru."

She bared her teeth, voice dropping to a sharp, cutting whisper.

"You act like you're untouchable. Like you're some force of nature."

Her grip tightened.

"But in the end? You're no different from me."

A pause.

Then—a cruel smirk.

"No. You're worse. Because at least I know exactly what I am."

She snapped her fingers, not even sparing a glance at the maid beside her.

"End her."

The maid moved instantly, raising her blade for the finishing strike—

Then a bullet ripped through her skull.

BANG!

Blood sprayed, and the maid collapsed lifelessly to the side.

Mariko's eyes snapped toward the source of the gunfire—

Jin.

His pistol smoked in his grip, his expression stone-cold.

"Yeah? Well, we know exactly what we are too."

A beat—

Then all hell broke loose.

Celeste moved first, her foot slamming into another maid's temple, sending her crashing through a nearby window.

Kasumi threw her knife, lodging it into the throat of one who barely had time to react before she yanked it back on a hidden wire, blood spraying in an arc.

Aiko tore through another, dual pistols barking as she danced through the chaos, bodies dropping around her.

Unknown brutalized one instantly, his foot caving in a ribcage before lifting the maid and using her as a human shield against another's attack.

Even Rin—still masked—moved with ruthless efficiency, her strikes cold and methodical, snapping bones with pinpoint precision.

Mariko barely dodged a slash from Celeste, flipping back with effortless grace.

She clicked her tongue in irritation.

"Fools."

She spun—her heel crashing into Kasumi's ribs, sending her skidding back.

Another kick knocked Aiko's gun away.

Her movements were too smooth, too practiced, too damn fast.

And she was grinning.

"So predictable. So weak."

Her eyes flicked to Kairi, still collapsed, still bleeding out.

And she laughed.

A slow, taunting, mocking laugh.

"You really think she'd do the same for you?"

That made Jin pause.

For half a second.

But half a second was all Mariko needed.

She vanished.

Then reappeared behind him.

Her knee smashed into his spine.

CRACK.

Jin let out a strangled sound, staggering forward.

Mariko grabbed his head—

But before she could snap his neck, a shadow loomed behind her.

Rin.

Her voice, low and cold.

"Try it. I dare you."

Rin's breath was heavy. Her fingers twitched.

But it wasn't from pain.

It was from something much older.

Something buried in the deepest, most rotting part of her memories.

The night Kairi saved her.

The night she lost Natsuki.

Years Ago—The Warehouse Inferno

The air was thick with smoke. Gunfire roared from every direction.

Natsuki—her sweet, innocent little sister—was gasping for breath in her arms, bleeding out.

Rulaze stood before her, his grin wide, his blade dripping red.

"What a waste of time," he mused, rolling his shoulders. "You were supposed to be useful. But instead? You're just… pitiful."

Behind him, the Harvester of Unity—that masked demon—stood silent, watching the scene unfold like it was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Rin tried to move, tried to scream, tried to fight.

But she couldn't.

She was trapped. Powerless. Helpless.

Then, like a blade carving through the dark—

She arrived.

Kairi Saigeru.

A storm of violence and rage.

She tore through Rulaze's men with inhuman brutality, a whirlwind of fists, steel, and fury.

CRACK.

BOOM.

SPLAT.

By the time the dust settled, Rulaze was clutching his side, coughing up blood, and the Harvester had taken a step back, finally showing something other than indifference.

Kairi turned her head, eyes locking onto Rin.

And despite the blood on her hands—despite the sheer carnage she had just unleashed—

She smiled.

A small, knowing, almost cruel smile.

"Get up."

Rin, barely holding herself together, stared at her in disbelief.

"I—Natsuki, she—"

Kairi didn't blink.

She just stepped forward, grabbed Rin by the wrist, and hauled her up.

"You wanna live? Then fight for it."

And that was it.

No sympathy. No comfort. No softness.

Just a challenge.

A test of will.

And in that moment—Rin made a choice.

She chose to survive.

Now—The Streets of Ichiban District

Rin's body moved before her mind caught up.

Her masked gaze swept across the battlefield—her so-called "allies" barely clinging to consciousness.

Kairi, barely breathing.

And Mariko, standing over them all, bloodied but still grinning, her body language so calm. So confident.

Rin's grip on her blade tightened.

"Tch."

Her stance lowered.

Then she sprinted forward.

Mariko saw it coming.

She didn't flinch. She didn't back away.

She just smirked.

"Oh? You still think you can fight?"

Rin's response was a blur of motion.

SHING!

Her blade whistled through the air.

Mariko ducked, barely avoiding the strike.

Then Rin's knee shot up—

SLAM!

It connected squarely with Mariko's jaw, staggering her for the first time.

Rin didn't hesitate.

She spun—her heel colliding with Mariko's ribs.

A sickening crack.

Mariko stumbled—but still didn't fall.

Instead, she wiped the blood from her lips, still grinning.

"That's more like it."

She lunged.

Rin narrowed her eyes.

And the real fight began.

Rin's blade flickered under the dim streetlights. Her breath was steady.

Focus.

Mariko's smirk never faded. "Oh? You're not just swinging wildly. That's cute."

Rin didn't reply. Words weren't necessary.

She moved.

SLASH.

Her katana blurred through the air, a perfect arc aimed for Mariko's throat.

But Mariko was already ducking.

Her body twisted, her knee driving toward Rin's ribs.

Rin anticipated it.

She turned her hip, absorbing the impact, then countered with a sharp elbow aimed for Mariko's face.

CRACK.

Mariko tilted her head just enough for the strike to graze her cheek—but Rin had already read the next move.

Mariko's leg. Sweeping. Fast. Precise.

Dodge.

Rin leaped, flipping over her with the elegance of a shadow, landing effortlessly behind her.

Mariko's grin widened.

"You're actually reading me."

Rin didn't respond.

She charged.

Her foot slammed into the pavement—launching her forward at full speed.

Mariko barely had time to react.

Rin's blade lashed out—faster than before. Sharper. Smarter.

Mariko twisted to the side—but the tip of Rin's sword grazed her arm, cutting through fabric and flesh.

Blood dripped.

Mariko stopped smiling.

For the first time.

Rin exhaled slowly. "You were sloppy on that one."

Mariko glanced at the wound, then back at Rin. Her expression darkened.

"Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you."

Then she lunged.

Faster.

Sharper.

Rin's eyes narrowed.

She was ready.

Rin exploded forward, her boots barely touching the cracked pavement as she sprinted straight for Mariko.

Mariko braced herself, eyes locked onto Rin's incoming fist—a straight jab aiming directly for her face.

Predictable.

She moved to counter— a sharp twist of her body, ready to trap Rin's wrist and snap it like a twig.

But Rin's fist stopped inches away.

A feint.

Mariko's eyes widened.

CRACK!

Rin's real attack—**a brutal uppercut—**drove into Mariko's stomach like a battering ram.

Mariko choked on air.

Her ribs caved inward. Her body lurched forward involuntarily.

Rin felt the shock travel up her arm—the impact was deep, solid. She could feel the shift in Mariko's breath—the sharp hitch, the microsecond of vulnerability.

She didn't hesitate.

Rin grabbed Mariko's collar and yanked her in, whispering against her ear:

"Still feeling superior?"

Mariko's fingers twitched, spasmed. She clenched her teeth, forcing out a ragged breath, eyes burning with fury.

"Not bad…" she rasped, swallowing down the pain. "But I'm not done."

Rin grinned. "Good. Neither am I."

Then she slammed her forehead into Mariko's face.

A brutal headbutt.

The fight was far from over.