The Ultimate Price ((Closed))

[Iyashii Mitsuko]

Iyashii stood in the alley watching the doorknocker as if it were going to move. Somewhere overhead he heard a clap of thunder and suddenly, it started to pour. He turned his gaze up to the dark sky to watch the storm clouds circle above him. For a minute, he just stood there, his clothes soaked and his hair dripping wet. He smirked; it was certainly a perfect evening, wasn’t it. Reaching out a hand, he knocked on the door, waiting for one of them to show their face.

The porch light flicked on and the door opened, to reveal a very surprised Nekura Vega. She was in her pajamas; a black tank top and yellow pants. Her hair, recently dyed a purple-black was pulled into a tight ponytail and her blue eyes narrowed in both shock and surprise. “You could have called first.”

Iyashii scowled and pushed past her, “But that isn’t me.” Nekura rolled her eyes and shut the door behind him. The two made their way into the kitchen and Nekura put on a pot of tea. She sighed deeply, “Iyashii, it’s quarter til’ midnight. What are you doing here?”

“Nekura…what’s going on down here?” Shikyo Katana came into the kitchen, running a hand through his black hair. The six-foot-two man was two years older than Iyashii, but Iyashii was the one in charge of the trio. Shikyo had been living with Nekura for years now, since the two left their families…well…there really was no family to leave behind. Iyashii met them both in Sendai, where they introduced the Leader and his value of Dark Magic. Iyashii knew that both of his friends’ families were dead…and he knew how, too.

“Tell your friend, that next time he wants to risk our butts, to meet us somewhere else!” Nekura slammed a box of tea down and covered her face, “We can’t move again…Shikyo…we just can’t.”
Iyashii shot a look at her, “You’ll do as you’re told.”
Nekura sighed and pulled her wand out, pointing it to Iyashii’s chest, “Arefacio.”
“Arigatou*,” Iyashii muttered, tossing back his now dry hair.
Shikyo laughed, “So how’s it going, Mitsuko?”
Nekura rolled her eyes, “We’ve both been wondering how your mother is doing.”
Iyashii turned his gaze to the ceiling, “She’s dying.”
Shikyo smiled slowly, “See Nekura, and you were worried he didn’t have the guts. I had faith in you, Iyashii. The Leader will be grateful for your sacrifice.”
Iyashii let out a dry laugh, “Yeah, right.”
“And your family…they don’t know?” Nekura asked, raising an eyebrow, “Not even that worrisome brother of yours?” Iyashii shook his head, and Nekura smiled wrapping her arms around herself, “I guess you’re really one of us now.”
“So how did you do it? I mean Neku and I just…” Shikyo replied.
“I know what you did,” Iyashii chuckled, “You’ve only told me a thousand times. Poison is easier though, a whole lot less messier.”
“You were always good at Potions, but what about when the doctors test her blood?” Nekura asked.
“It disappears once she’s dead…it wasn’t easy, but it works. They will never know it was me.”
“Good! Alright, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m beat,” Shikyo yawned, waving and retreating back upstairs.
“Hm, you can crash on the couch, Iyashii. Unless you want to stay with Shikyo,” Nekura laughed, “See you in the morning.”
With that, she retreated to her own room leaving Iyashii alone in the kitchen. He pulled his wand out and pointed to the ceiling light, “Nox.” The light faded quickly and Iyashii bit his lower lip. His mother was dying…and if his vision was right…she’d be dead by nightfall tomorrow. The plan was working fine, he’d be in the Leader’s good graces very soon.


* = 'thank you'

[Iyashii Mitsuko]

Iyashii awoke to the smell of bacon and toast and groaned. He was not hungry, but the smell reminded him of the home he should be returning to. He sat up straight and stretched, cracking his back in several places with a comforting snap. He growled and got to his feet and strode into the kitchen where Nekura was making breakfast.

“Rise and shine,” she replied, pouring him a cup of coffee. “Black, right?” Iyashii nodded. “Shikyo went to get the Prophet, wants to see if any of us are mentioned.”
Iyashii coughed into his cup and then laughed, “You’re carelessness will be the death of you both.”
Nekura frowned, “As if you walk the straight line? Coming here was dangerous enough, Iyashii. If your family saw you coming here, they would know that you’ve joined us.”
Iyashii looked up at her with a stoic look on his handsome face, then a sinister smile spread on his lips, “Then I would have to kill them all then, right?”
”Even Rin?”
The smile faded, and Iyashii slammed his cup down, “Leave my sister out of this.”
“No, you leave your sister out of this. You cannot protect her from it, Iyashii. She’ll be going back to Hogwarts and then? If you recall what happened in your last year there.”
Iyashii remembered it well, it still made him cringe some nights…others, he was entranced by the power of the destruction. “It won’t be like that.”
“You don’t know---!”
“Like hell I don’t. My sister is not in danger, after this deal with Mother, she’ll see the world differently. The way we do. She’ll join us.”
Nekura laughed, a cold harsh laugh, “She’s a naïve little girl. She’ll be fourteen? She knows no true power! Face it, she’ll be just another casualty.”
Iyashii jumped to his feet and held his wand at Nekura’s pale throat, “One more word out of your foul mouth and I’ll make you wish you were at the mercy of the Dark Lord. Are we clear?”
Nekura’s eyes filled with fear and she shook her head, “Y-yes of c-course.”
Iyashii smiled dangerously, “Good.” He turned on his heel and leaned against the wall, just as Shikyo was entering. Upon seeing Nekura’s terrified expression, he looked to Iyashii, “What happened?”
“Nothing. I was just explaining to Neku-san what would happen if the plan did not go as I say.”
Shikyo raised an eyebrow and turned to Nekura who just shook her head and rubbed her throat. Iyashii let out a manic laugh then folded his arms and watched the two of them. “Relax will you? Hmph, I’ll have to find stronger friends if you both don’t stop acting like scared mice. Shikyo, what’s in the Prophet?”
Shikyo smiled as if nothing happened and threw the paper at Iyashii who caught it gracefully, “Nothing about us. We’re still in the clear, for now.”
Iyashii nodded, “And the mission…while I’m going back home?”
“We’ll scout the area, see who’s around from your old school days, run files on them and see if they’re possible candidates,” Nekura replied, regaining her composure. Iyashii nodded, apparently pleased with the news. He tossed the Prophet on the table and started for the living room, “You’ll send Chirigi with a letter for me. Don’t send an owl, the Ministry may intercept it. We can’t take the risk.”
Shikyo and Nekura nodded in agreement, then Nekura asked, “When will we meet again? Shikyo and I have to go to Sendai on assignment.”
“After the funeral, I mean, if I can even see people with all the grief I’ll be suffering from,” Iyashii rolled his eyes and the other two laughed. “Neku, I’ll be leaving this afternoon. I expect to receive an owl from my father about my mother soon, so it would be best if the two of you were not here. Go into Knockturn and prepare for your trip, by the time you return, I’ll be gone.” They nodded, and Shikyo asked, “And until then?”
Iyashii rubbed his head, “I have a headache…my demons have caught up to me and have sent me a vision.”

[Iyashii Mitsuko]

Iyashii sat in the dark basement, staring at the wall. He could hear the murmurs of his friends upstairs before the slam of the front door. And then…silence. His eyes rolled close and he sucked in a deep breath. There was a rush of wind in his ears, but the room stayed still. He waited…waited…



“Have you heard from your brother?” Kenichi said, pacing the floor. The waiting room was dimly lit, but Iyashii could make out their faces. Kuramu and Rin sat on a bench in silence, while Auntie stood in a doorway, wrenching her hands. Upon hearing their father’s question, the siblings shook their head no. Kenichi cursed loudly, making Rin jump and reach for Kuramu’s hand. Iyashii saw it on her face, she had been crying. “I thought I told you to send him an owl?”
“I did…right after you left, just like you told me,” Kuramu said softly.
“Surely he knows his mother is on her last breaths! We were to all go to the hospital, all of us,” Kenichi growled.
Rin looked at her father helplessly, “Iyashii is sad, too. Maybe he can’t bear to see Mother this way?”
Kenichi let out a angry sigh, “The doctors say she won’t last any much longer…he’ll have to hurry.”



Iyashii’s eyes shot open and he realized he was drenched in sweat. He breathed hoarsely and slowly got to his feet. He knew the scene he has just seen was going to take place in about an hour, so he had time to change before he met them all at the hospital. He felt weak, but he did not have time to regain his composure. Silently, he went upstairs and into Shikyo’s room where he quickly showered and changed into some of his friend’s old clothes. They were a bit big on him, but Iyashii did not care. If he did not hurry, he would not get his chance to say goodbye. He ran downstairs and into the kitchen where he could have enough room.

“God forgive me…” he sighed, before Dissapparating.


[glow=green,2,300]CONTINUED... The Family Ties That Bind Us[/glow]