Itazura’s gaze flickered to the space behind Haikyo’s doorframe. She’d felt the blade’s pulse when she entered—its dark hunger humming in the air.
“You brought this here,” she whispered, her claws extending. “You’ve always been this.”
Haikyo’s breath hitched. Too late, she realized Itazura’s intent.
“Don’t—!”
But Itazura lunged, her tails snaking toward the sheath hidden behind the door. Haikyo’s reflexes were faster. Her paw shot out, gripping the hilt of Kurotsurugi.
“Let go!” Itazura snarled.
The sisters struggled, their knees buckling as they fought for control.
There was a stumble.
A pull.
The metal screamed.
The blade emerged in a flash of void-like light, its edge glinting between them. For a heartbeat, their eyes locked—sisters, rivals, lovers of a love that had curdled into poison.
Then, with a motion so swift it blurred, the air went still.
Itazura’s body arched backward, her throat a crimson bloom. Blood sprayed across the floorboards, a macabre flower. She stared at Haikyo, her violet eyes wide and uncomprehending.
“Ha… Hai…” Her voice dissolved into a gurgle. Her arm extended, reaching for her.
Haikyo’s scream tore from her throat as she lunged to catch her sister. Itazura’s body crumpled, her three tails splayed like broken wings. Blood pooled beneath her, spreading like a curse.
“No!” Haikyo’s claws clutched at the wound, but the blade’s poison was already seeping into the air. “Look at me, imōto! Look at me!”
Itazura’s paw reached up, trembling. Her claws brushed Haikyo’s cheek—a final, desperate touch.
“Y-you… please… don’t hate me…” she whispered, her voice fraying.
“I loved you!” Haikyo’s tears mixed with the blood on her face. “I loved you and it consumed me!”
There was a smile, but then Itazura’s body went still.
The room fell silent except for Haikyo’s ragged breaths. The blade slipped from her grip, its void-like surface now stained with the blood of its first divine victim.
She cradled her sister’s head, her claws digging into her own flesh. Itazura’s eyes were open, forever fixed on the ceiling—a silent accusation.
“Itazura,” Haikyo whispered, her voice breaking. “Itazura!” Her scream was primal and filled with a pain that no word could properly express. Her choked sobs filled her chamber. “Forgive me, imōto.”
The moonlight dimmed.
Somewhere in the distance, a crow called.
The moon hung low, a pallid eye watching over the carnage. Haikyo knelt in the blood, her claws buried in Itazura’s still-warm fur. She rocked back and forth, chanting her sister’s name like a prayer.
“Wake up,” she pleaded, her voice raw. “This is a dream. You’ll laugh—say I’ve gone mad again—”
But Itazura’s eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, their violet hue fading to the gray of stone. She gazed through foggy vision, her muzzle dipping to kiss her sister’s lips.
“Please… let this be a nightmare… I didn’t…”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Scene from one of my recent stories "Mutual Ruin" which you can find here: https://inkbunny.net/s/3656713
Which features the origins of my kitsune sisters, Haikyo and Itazura Yugure and how they became what they currently are. Probably in my top three of the story set!
And it was on that night the cherry blossoms in their divine court began to whither, much like the love that had festered beneath untreated wounds.
Absolutely love drawing emotional pieces like this, so spent more time on it!
~Characters, art and story are mine
~Background is stock I altered and stuck in the back",
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