Loading User Commands:
[X] Slash the opaque Youmu.

---

"W-w-whaa!?"

In the next second, Vincent is already standing beside the original Youmu. His whole body cries out in pain, but he steels his mind and stays focused. This is his only chance, and there is no other way. He clenches the hilt of his weapon tightly.

"Good bye," he whispers into her ear.

Youmu raises her short blade to block the attack, but her form is poor. Vincent drives his sword down in one swift motion, breaking her blade into two. Her eyes widen as the sword digs deep into her side. Blood pours out of the wound, dyeing the ground crimson under the moonlit night. She tries to speak, but she only manages to gurgle incoherently as she coughs out blood. The transparent Youmu crumples up in pain, then in the next second, it vanishes without a trace.

"I won't ask for forgiveness," Vincent whispers. "Hate me all you want."

"..."

He turns around slowly. Youmu lies on the ground, breathing her last few breaths. Their eyes meet once more. She smiles at him.

"...loved.. you," her lips say silently.

With those last words, her eyes close, never to open again. Vincent stood there in silence. He knew that he did the right thing. He was not sorry. And he would not be tied down by regret. Slowly, he starts walking back to Hakugyokurou. Lady Yuyuko would be waiting for him.

That evening, the blossoms of the cherry trees started to fall.

...

> Program Complete

"-ig brother?" says a familiar voice. "Big brother?"

"Has the subject regained consciousness?" says another.

"N-not yet. I'm trying to wake him up."

Can't sleep. Too noisy. Can't they keep it down?

"He'll be okay, right? He'll be okay if he wakes, Master Ran?"

"Call out if he doesn't get up in five minutes. I'll have to run the safety program to force him back."

Vincent slowly opens his eyes. The bright lights are painful, but he manages to keep them open. He seems to be lying on an unfamiliar bed. There is a small crowd standing around him.

"Chen..?" he whispers weakly.

Without warning, the nekomata girl hugs him tightly. A few tears roll down her cheek as she hold him. Then, he becomes aware of her unnatural youkai strength.

"Aaargh!" he cries out.

"Ha ha ha! That sounds like a healthy cry of pain, if I say so myself," says a red-headed blur that could only be Komachi.

"I've collected the sequence data for analysis. Will this be alright, Master Yukari?"

"That's fine. Send me the summary of the results after dinner. This should be interesting."

"Ara? Is it dinner time yet, Youmu? We have a lot of guests tonight~"

A familiar silver-haired figure nodded silently at the ghost princess. Youmu? Vincent forces himself up and looks around.

"What's... going on?" he asks.

Before anyone could respond, the half-ghost puffs out her cheeks and quickly looks away from him.

"Hmph!"

Youmu is the first to walk away. Komachi quickly goes after her, whispering something he can't hear. A moment later, Yuyuko winks at him before following after them. Ran stares emotionlessly at him for a few seconds, notes something down on her clipboard, then walks away without a word. Chen slowly pulls away and forces a smile before following Ran. Yukari and another person start walking away slowly, though he can hear them talking.

"I guess I win the bet," says the gap youkai.

"Don't know how you talked me into this."

Someone in grey robes grumbles loudly to himself as he hands Yukari a few gold coins.

"I told you he would do it," says Yukari. "He is a hero, after all."

"I knew I shouldn't have come."

"Ah, but you enjoyed it, didn't you~"

The person just shrugs in return.

Vincent blinks stupidly. No one has explained a thing to him, but it seems like the worst is over.

[ ] Talk to Youmu.
[ ] Talk to Yuyuko.
[ ] Talk to Komachi.
[ ] Talk to Chen.
[ ] Talk to Ran.
[ ] Talk to Yukari.
[ ] Talk to the person in grey robes.
[ ] Awaken from this nightmare.
[ ] Custom