What a horrible Night to have a Curse [open]

Some men have bad luck. But to describe Tohno SHIKI as someone with bad luck was an insult to the young man, really. For years now, he was trapped... trapped inside of his own mind and head. Unable to move, speak to anyone, or escape the unimagineable pain he was going through. But he was not just simply afflicted with some deadly disease, or injuries that kept him down, no. His body was still quite able to move around.
But inside of his mind, he was chained. By the being that had stolen everything from him. An ancient monster, known only as Roa - his full title given by the church was the Serpent of Akasha. A being able to reincarnate into the mind of it's victims, to live forever. And that being, wearing SHIKI's body like a glove, was hiding in the darkness of an abandonned building right now - clad in a blue kimono, splattered with the old imprints of blood. Cowering in a corner, waiting for the last daylight to fade. That was the only good thing - Roa could not control the blood that SHIKI had. His body was constantly breaking down through the constant usage of this heritage - SHIKI was, for all intents and purposes, a vampire - bloodsucking demon. So Roa had to spent most of his waking time during the night on feeding - reducing his possible kill count. But still, SHIKI fought him every day in his own mind - wrestling for control. To regain his old life, his body... An impossible task. But what else was there? Only to disappear forever.

"There are too many things... I need to set right."

A voice that had not been heard for years. SHIKI's voice. He was growing stronger every day - even gaining back his voice for short moments, even while Roa controlled the rest of his body. A violent spasm went through the body of the white-haired monster, as he threw himself onto the ground which was littered with tons of dust, small glass shards, and stones, cutting open his own arms, as Roa was fighting back the pesky little boy from reclaiming his own body.

"Why won't you realize? It's over. You're over! All mine, mine, MINE!"

The voice of Roa - almost the same as SHIKI's voice, just a whole lot more menacing and simply put, evil. Grasping his own head, blood of the vampire dripped onto the ground from the cuts on his arms now. His gasping for air and violently throwing himself around in this room - for sure, someone outside in Karakura would eventually hear him, and maybe even investigate. Neither Roa nor SHIKI had the clarity of mind at the moment to use their refined senses to check, so they just fought on - to control this body, and to be the actual Tohno SHIKI for this night...

"It... hurts..."

Darkness.

Crumbling remains of a building surrounded by darkness. No light passed through the inner windowless rooms since there was no power in here, nor has there been for a while. Only the cracked, broken windows on the outer rooms brought in light, but that wasn't enough. There was no light in the hallways between those rooms. It was only darkness. It was only solitude. Creaking of steel and wood were the only sounds around. There were no stray animals. There were no insects. It was like a horror movie. There were falling pieces of stone, broken walls, glass and trash scattered around, but one thing is missing—life. Or that's what was missing. Truth be told, someone was now in there.

Clad in a dark robe unfit for such an unholy place, it was strange for this person to be here. Or even to exist. This person should have died. This person should not be alive. This person did not want to be alive. This person wanted to die. But this person was too weak-willed to kill themself. Every time, the person did not have the courage to finish. There were scars all along the darkness-covered arms, scars above the collar-cloaked neck, and even more hidden beneath the robes on this person's cold, cruel heart. Every time, only minor blood was drawn. What a coward. the person thought every time.

The glass shards were crushed underneath the boots of this person. Sticks and small chunks of the withering stone crumbled underneath the coward's feet. The black-clad figure ascended the stairs. The elevator—or what was left of it—was somewhere in the basement, and it wouldn't work anyways since there was no power. Such things were dangerous. Something very bad could happen to you in it. Just like something bad could happen on one of the few remaining staircases. Some of the other staircases had collapsed, possibly due to age and possibly due to masses of people leaving. Truth be told, the reason this building was abandoned wasn't clear. It could have been part of a small-scale terrorist threat or due to the economy failing slightly. Re-zoning and even the owner passing away could have caused this building—whatever it used to be—to be nothing more than a husk of its former self.

Eventually, the person could not ascend more. There, sounds of something rolling around in glass echoed. It wasn't audible from the other floors. Just this one. Crunching and cracking. Voices. The person could not understand the voices... but wait, it was only one voice. The person, clutching their gut with one arm, supported their body against the wall with the other arm. The person walked forward. Maybe this new person could help the one holding their stomach. The clutched arm walked forward, towards the voices and the noises.

"It... hurts..."

The one inside of the room was still fighting the endless battle with himself. SHIKI didn't hear someone approaching, and neither did Roa, at first, as the two identities tried their best to enslave the other one. Never before had Roa felt such strong resistance against his own will - in fact, it was rare to encounter ANY resistance. It was thus understandable why the ancient being could no longer surpress SHIKI completely. The two only noticed something, when there was suddenly a voice other than theirs...

An odd smell. Another being - maybe human? Maybe the next meal, or maybe the final escape from this nightmare. The crouching dual-minded creature crawled back into the full shadow of this room, away from the moonlight shining into the broken windows, only leaving a few glittering, red drops of blood behind on the ground. For anyone entering the room, it would become obvious - the smell of blood and decay in this room was quite astonishingly awful. But there was no malice in the air, no actual threat seemed to be here - even though two glowing red eyes looked upon this weird new person from the shadows.
Who was lurking there right now - Roa, or SHIKI? The Serpent, or the vampire? It was impossible to tell simply by looking, the two looked exactly the same, after all. Slowly, the creature crawled forward again, not even noticing how it buried more of the glass shards into it's own hands now, apparently not feeling any pain, or simply ignoring it... Only one of the two could do that to this level, of course. But only the other would talk like this, right?
"You... shouldn't be here. Dangerous, very dangerous... Especially alone. You ARE alone, right?"
His voice was only a whisper this time, not like the shouting before when he had been arguing with the other voice. Still, the creature was down on the ground on all fours, as if it was either too weak to stand up, or unfamiliar even with how to stand - or as if to feign weakness before jumping up like a predatory animal. Every single breath of the vampire seemed to carry a duality in it that made any decyphering of who he was impossible even for those who KNEW what he was, the effect on a stranger was something nobody could really foresee. The only other sound was the dripping of blood, as it ran down the arms and hands of the vampire. The liquid almost seemed to sparkle in the moonlight filling the nearly completely empty room.

Danger.

The figured bathed in the shadow of moonlight understood there was danger. But... danger to the figure meant nothing. It could be a release from the pain. It could be a release from life. And that's why it took a step closer. Glass shards broke into tinier pieces as the boots fell hard upon them. Cracking and crushing, the figure lurched forward. Now it could be seen. Not the person walking, but how the person was walking. There was a limp. Their left leg dragged behind. Truth was, there was no injury. Or at least not one the person could feel. The muscles simply... weren't working right now.

The moonlight finally shone on the figure. Robes were the clothing of choice. In fact, it was almost like a nun's outfit. But men didn't wear those types of clothes unless they had... certain tastes. And this was not a man with those certain tastes. The hair of the figure danced. It extended to about where mid-back waist would be. And it was so neatly trimmed. And then the fact could be seen with another lurch forward. Amesthyst eyes sunk behind the shadows of dark violet hair could be seen. They were empty. They were showing the heart of someone who was broken. And they were the eyes of someone who existed in solitude.

"Alone..."

The figure, which was obviously a woman now, repeated that one word. Alone. Her mouth repeated it once, but her mind repeated it many times. Alone. Solitude is where she existed, so of course she was alone. Alone. If there were others around her, their lives would surely be ruined. Alone. It never worked out to be near others. Alone. Never has this woman's presence brought joy in the end. Alone. Happiness was nothing but a false reality for this woman. Alone. Always alone.

"...Yes... I am alone..."

She continued to lurch forward. The woman slowly approached the beast in front of her. Of course, she didn't really know who or even what this thing was, but it could speak to her. She was now only about five meters away from the beast. And even with the iron-esque smell of blood... she wanted to continue. But she realized... this thing couldn't help her with h er pain. A beast, no matter how humanoid, was a beast. A monster was always a monster... it wouldn't help her with the pain.

"But... I'm always alone... so it doesn't matter..."

No fear. Not a single bit of fear could be felt from the female figure infront of the monster, that was still writhing in it's own gigantic pain now. Not pain from the glass shards in the flesh, no - this pain came from deep within, from a soul that knew only torture. However, these squirms, this helpless expression... was the sign of one certain mind being in control. A young man who had lost everything, even his name, because of something as stupid as fate.
"You're... not scared."
This time, the voice of the monster was a lot softer, almost concerned in tone. The red eyes didn't glitter with bloodlust, but rather, with pain. Was it only the own pain this being was now feeling? In fact, was it really only feeling pain? In truth, the young man in the beasts body also felt relief. It hurt every last ounce of his being, but... He was in control. For the first time in years, he had wrestled control of his own body from the monster inside - and even though a mere second later, it could be gone, he cherished it. Even the pain in his body, and even the desire to drink human blood filling his mind now... Both were beautiful experiences. Much like a drowning man reaching out for a single piece of straw.
Now, the monster wearing the bloodstained kimono slowly stood up. Blood was still dripping down from his hands and arms - the wounds in his arms had clearly been done to him by the claws of his own hands, even though they were already beginning to heal. And as he stood there, not louching over or making hidden threats... This young man looked a lot less like a monster now.
"Being here... is a mistake. HE is dangerous." The words only came to SHIKI slowly - he was not used to talking anymore, it had been years since his last spoken word. He also didn't say the name of the thing torturing his mind, as if in fear of giving it more power. "But... you don't fear it. HIM. Or me. Why? You're alive. You should leave... monsters should be left alone..."
With a soft 'pling', a shard of glass hit the floor, pushed out of the wound it had caused in SHIKI's hand on it's own, as the wound began sealing itself. Another surge of pain ran through SHIKI's head, as the monster inside of him plunged it's claws deep within his soul again. The first soul that Roa had never been able to fully convert...

Afraid... what was there to be afraid of? Monsters being afraid of other monsters? How pathetic. Though the woman was pathetic and pitiful, she was not afraid of the beast. The beast was bleeding. Once a beast bleeds, it is not fearsome to even man. Once God bleeds, people lose faith for he is not an omnipotent being anymore. And the same goes for the monster or beast. Once he can be wounded, he can be killed. And once God—or the beast—is dead, it will be man against man. But for now, it was monster against monster.

"Scared... why should I be scared?" Her voice was soft. It was like a mother's. A mother whose child died at a young age. Despair was bolding every word that escaped from the soft lips. Anguish underlined the breaths. Yet, no fear could be sensed. She was not afraid of the beast. She was not afraid anyone but herself. She was a child of despair and bad luck. Everything happy about her life had turned to fires, burning away smiles. Distorting her into the monster she is now. A monster... a monster...
A monster.
"Why should one monster be afraid of another?" She took a step forward. The moonlight illuminated her dark violet hair. Her crimson eyes, whose tears drained everything but sadness from her, reflected right to the one before her. "Monsters can hate one another. Monsters can love one another. Monsters can kill one another. Yet, there is no need for them to fear one another..." She took another step. "Monsters... are all capable of doing terrible things... and it is of no use to compare them..."

A crumbling I-beam finally gave way. Whether it was luck or fate, it was as Kasumi stepped under it. However, it would not fall atop her. The beam twisted and crunched. The creaking of the metal was the only sound for a moment. The steel was bent as if it were an aluminum can. And yet, no hands touched it. No, it was something far more devious... and Kasumi's eyes proved it. The crimson now danced with green in her eyes. As they danced, the beam crumpled more and more. Eventually it was small enough for Kasumi to take a step ahead and not worry about it falling on her head.

She was a monster. And she faced a monster. She was not afraid... but was the other monster?

It was odd, so odd. The pain was unbearable for SHIKI, but his body seemed to recover, not crumble - every nerve in it felt as if someone had lit it ablaze with napalm, yet he could control it. Feel it. He was ecstatic, but also wanted the pain to stop. But it would never stop, not for as long as he was Roa. But no, he wasn't Roa. Roa was just inside of him, not truly him. He was SHIKI, the eldest son of the Tohno family line. He was NOT Roa! He was NOT a monster! HE was the monster. Yes, of course. But this woman didn't know that. But was she a woman, or a monster? Hard to tell, hard to tell. He was hard at work keeping himself in control right now - the last wounds on his hands were closing up. No more blood was falling down, but the drops on the ground were still fresh and glittering red, just like the eyes of both of these monsters here.

"Gyaha... Yes, yes... monsters are monsters... monsters don't know fear..." SHIKI laughed. It was a laugh without joy, for he had forgotten what joy even was. There was no joy in the mind of someone posessed by Roa, only pain and suffering. Sadness. Helplessness. But she also looked sad. Lost, maybe? It was so hard, so hard to read human faces after so long. Was this even how human faces looked? Maybe she was actually a giant, talking insect. To him, faces were as alien as that by now. But it was still good to see one again, up close. It made him realize that he wasn't trapped in hell - that there was a world out there. A world filled with monsters, but also one where HE and SHE were. His brother and sister. Would they still remember him? Would they still care? No, they would probably hate him... just like he hated himself. His mind was wandering, erratic, and didn't focus on this woman at all - he was like a madman, gaining lucidity for the first time in years, gasping for air and grasping for straws. Even if that straw was a suffering monster.

"But it's fine... it is all fine, isn't it. Monsters know no fear, we know only pain, at least I do. A lot of pain, really. Cravings, too. Terrible, existing like this. But I can talk tonight... That is good, very... good. He weakens... But for how long? Need to meet my brother... soon..." The red eyes of the vampire were hazy, not even completely focused any longer. Any moment breathing with his own body made adrenaline pump through his cold body, and made his thinking erratic, much like he was during his insane phases while under the mind control, but not quite as bad or destructive. He had to focus... right now. This other monster. No, this other WOMAN. The only monster here was Roa, and now SHIKI was the jailer! Forcefully, he pushed Roa away from his own mind, ripped away as much influence as he could. His nerves were now no longer burning, but now felt numb because of the pain before.

"No, he only knows those things. He is not me, but only within me. But... you're not like me... or like him. Are you really a monster, I wonder..." Was SHIKI afraid? No, because death wasn't a bad thing to him. It'd be a release. But he WANTED to die through the hand of his brother... not through someone else. If this monster wanted to kill him, then he'd use his power... The power of the Tohno blood. Was it the blood of monsters, gods, or humans? He didn't know, and didn't care. But he knew that it was HIS power, and not power taken from him.
"You are... human, in a way... More than he is."

"Hu...man..." Kasumi would have laughed at that. Even if she weren't a monster, she was far from human. She never was—and never would be—"human." "How I wish I were human... I would have not lived as long—and not have experienced nearly as much. I would not be a monster had I been human." Ah how a short life as a human would have been so much better for Kasumi. Nothing like her current life would have been able to happen. She would not have experienced as much, and never have met the people she hurt... and killed. That would have been so much better.

"If I am not a monster... then you would be considered a rabid house pet." Kasumi's line of thinking was that this thing was definitely a monster of higher caliber, but not that much higher. Kasumi was a monster of the mind while this thing was more of a physical monster. If this other thing was angered by her words—well, things might take a twist for the worst. "Pain... yes, it is all that monsters know." Her stomach began to twist and she winced slightly. She stopped moving forwards. "Existing itself... is terrible. There is no 'like this.' It's just a terrible punishment. Fate hates some people—I supposed to balance out its liking for most. So we are given the title of 'monster' as we made what we could out of what we were given... but even then... we still strive for something. And because of that, we are punished more... and thus we are always stuck as the monsters."

Kasumi never wanted to hurt anyone... well, that's not exactly true. There have been people she killed on purpose. But that was because of the cards she was dealt. And yet she was punished for it. She became a monster through no fault of her own. She became a fearsome myth in her homeland... "But sometimes all we can do is live as the monsters... everything might be better off if we did not exist... but then someone else would be the monster. In a world of two, one would be the monster." She leaned against the column to her side. "What do you call yourself, I wonder. People say monsters have fearsome names... yet that is not true. The worst monsters are those whose name blends in with a list..."

Well, this was odd. For the first time in years, SHIKI cracked a smile. Not a sadistic, 'I will eat your face' smile, or a belitteling one. A honest to god, amused smile, accompanied by a slightly cackling laugh, one that sounded like it had actual joy in itself, instead of just self-pity and hatred. With that facial expression, even the red-eyed, pale and bloodstained monster looked more like a human again.
"Rapid house-pet... I have to remember that one. Really, that was the best - and only - funny thing I've heard in YEARS! Thanks... Whoever you are, thanks." Still laughing a bit, SHIKI had a bit of a playful glint in his eyes, as he pulled out the last splinters of glass from his hands and arms with his fingers now. While his nerves in the whole body still seemed numb, he was slowly regaining some of his finer motor skills - not like he had to worry much if he cut himself more, considering his blood didn't flow freely. The only thing that was still figuratively 'on fire' was his brain, since Roa was roaring and tearing within his soul at this point.
"You see... If pain is what monsters know, then I don't know what he is... He's old, you know. Powerful. Older than either of us, I think... but it is hard to tell, if you're not human. He never exactly went out and told me how old he is... But he feels no pain, and doesn't suffer. He only makes others suffer, like me. Those he... enters..." SHIKI's eyes had lost any danger that had been glowing within them only a few moments ago. In fact, they looked kind - even if they had the color of fresh blood.

"You've been hurt a lot. Probably more than me, too. Geez... This world is terrible. I guess being born was my crime... You asked for my name, right? Tohno Shiki. Fits right into a telephone book... But really, I'm not too bad of a monster by myself. I should introduce him as well - Roa." If it was possible to spit out a word with disgust, then SHIKI just did it. There was so much hatred in that name, SHIKI looked like a fearsome monster for a small moment again as rage pulsated through his veins. It felt as if his blood started to boil for a moment, even...
"Want to hear something scary? Every Tohno is actually a monster. We're a bloodline of 'mixed bloods', and we all turn into monsters one day... without a way to turn back..." Looking at his hands with great interest once more, the bloodstained vampire continued cleaning his nails with faked interest. Really, he had not thought he'd be able to talk to anyone ever again... For all he cared, she could rip his arm right off now, he wouldn't be mad at her. Maybe because she just looked so... sad. And empty. Her eyes reminded him of the eyes of another girl... A girl that Roa and SHIKI's own father abused to the most extreme level... Without even noticing it, a single tear of blood ran down his face. "Not me, though. Not yet. Roa is the monster... God, he hates it so much when I speak his name. Normally, he destroys the mind of the person he enters, but not me. I guess my mixed blood is too strong for him? Not that it matters. He'll take over again, and kill again. But maybe you're right... If I had to chose between not existing, or even existing as someone not a monster... if in exchange my brother or sister became monsters, I'd rather be a monster. Someone has to be the 'bad guy', at all times." Looking up at the woman in front of himself fully again, he smiled - a kind, gentle smile. One unbecoming of a monster.
"Hey, mind if I ask you something? Do you find killing to be... fun? At all?"