Nehze

Aky snaps around. A strong gust of wind passes by from God knows what dark depths. She brings a hand over her mouth to muffle a squeal.

The darkness stills not just behind Aky but all around her. She drags a finger over her cheek to catch a tear. An echo spreads through the walls when her foot touches down, even though she's silent.

Aky makes a right turn after a few minutes. She walks and hits a dead end, only to turn another way and meet the same fate shortly after.

Aky makes her away around and realizes, slowly comes to the conclusion, that she's back in her own chamber. Her knees thud against the stone like a gunshot.

("There has to be an exit..."), Vuyh tries to hum, a fickle tune.

("No..."), she lets out a strangled sob.

("Aky, you're a strong and independent woman. Don't let failure dishearten you, turn it into growth. I know you can, you always have!"), Vuyh shakes so hard that her finger vibrates visibly.

The feeling of being watched crawls all over Aky's skin like a million ants. She catches something with the corner of her eye, but there's nothing there when she throws a glance.

Aky gets ready to leave, but is pulled inside of her chamber. "!", she frantically looks around. There's nothing there.

She starts crying again. ("Vuyh... cover the exit."), even her thoughts are shaky.

The ring slides off her finger, goes to the entrance of the chamber and expands, fully covering it.

Aky closes her eyes and sits down. She waits a few seconds before opening them. There's nothing there.

The woman closes them again, this time waiting longer. Footsteps start appearing. She keeps them shut.

A few minutes pass and warm air hits the back of her neck, then the front, then her entire face. She still keeps them closed, tears seeping through.

An hour passes and nothing happens. ("V-Vuyh, d-did you see an-ything?"), Aky can barely form thoughts.

("No, it's too dark.")

("W-When we were at t-that corner, was it... a-also too dark?"), she asks.

Footsteps echo beyond a corner. She stops, and so do they. The clatter backs away in tandem with Aky. ("Vuyh, check if there's someone there."), she says.

The ring slides off her finger like butter and shrinks until it can no longer be seen with the naked eye.

Aky shuffles back and forth.

("There's nobody here."), Vuyh hums, a sound only the girl can hear. Even though it's wandered past the wall, the footsteps didn't stop.

Vuyh finds purchase back on her finger. ("It's alright, Aky, Vuyh doesn't lie."), she forces her shoulders to relax, her fists to unclench, and walks around the corner.

The hallway is empty, just stone for as long as it stretches.

Aky pushes forth. The footsteps only stop once the echo collides with her legs. She looks over her shoulder where something seemed to move just out of view, but there's nobody there.

A light gust warms up the nape of Aky's neck, the feeling pulling her head back around. Her eyes meet rock, air, and her own heavy breathing.

Aky puts her hands out as she takes careful steps. Only her tiptoes touch the stone, making her silent much like the chamber itself.

Aky eventually stumbles out of the open room and feels a familiar presence not too far away. "Vuyh!", she whisper shouts.

The chakram hums to life. ("Farewell brother."), Vuyh floats.

("Don't come back or I'll kill you."), Slaughterer emits a slight glow.

The chakram morphs into a ring and slides on Aky's finger. They pass by empty chambers as they walk, not that they'd know, except for one.

She hears growls come from the left side of the hallway and stops. ("Those are snoring sounds."), Vuyh says.

Aky blinks a few times. Her shoulders relax just a bit and she keeps going. The tunnel seems to stretch on and on with no apparent end to it.

Aky jumps back when her hands touch stone. She chokes back a squeak almost immediately afterwards and sighs.

A fuchsia glow pulls the duo just around the corner

They stop in front of a vortex. Aky stares at the swirling streaks as if mesmerized by them. Vuyh tugs on her hand. She shakes her head and moves on, but her gaze turns around for one last glance.

After only a few steps, Aky passes a small and minimalistic chamber, but something catches her eye. ("Huh?"), she hops back and leans in.

("And to think he denies being a puppy? Just look at him!"), Vania's hand covers her mouth, her brows crinkling.

Exequious lies wrapped around Aku almost like a leash and harness.

Vania lets out a squeak quieter than a whisper. Ultimately, she clears her throat and moves on.

It doesn't take long until another chamber witnesses her presence pass by. "...You better keep quiet.", Vania takes a step back, shooting the room a sharp glare. ("Well, they are already friends."), a smirk crosses her lips. ("I have to admit, that chakram sure does have potential."), she keeps walking.

Unlike the other chambers, Vania stops in front of the coliseum-sized one deliberately. ("She did not budge a bit... Good."), she nods.

The arch of an alcove stands before Vania after rounding a corner. What stands out, though, is the actual presence of a door, albeit one akin to a vortex. She steps through.

The landscape isn't even changed, it's utterly unrecognizable from the bland tunnels. The endless stretch of space dawns above the ground.

"What brings you here, dearest?", Vel looks up from a book on her desk. There are many shelves filled with such trinkets, making the expanse look like a miniature library.

"I just wanted to check on everyone.", Vania takes not one step further.

"And you left the best for last.", a faint shade of pink blooms on Vel's milky white cheeks.

"Goodnight. I will be heading out, now. After all, I too am in need of sleep.", Vania responds.

"You can sleep here...", Vel walks around the study with deliberate slowness until she goes behind a bookshelf "With me.", she whispers in her ear.

Vania feels her fingers, just the tips, trace her jawline. The touch is soft and barely there but undeniably present.

"Come on. Just this once.", Vel's cheek brushes against her own.

Vania's lips part, yet not a single word meets the air outside.

As if sensing her throat move, Vel brings her other hand to her mouth. "Shhhh...", she presses a finger to the woman's lips.

"Just give me my steak.", Sukuna's eyes are half-lidded.

"And you, fuse?", Dalv gives him an upward nod.

"Vania is more important.", Qwin's glare narrows.

"You should go after that guy, might have some screws loose.", Sukuna's thumb presses down on a finger, cracking the knuckle with a loud pop.

"No need.", Sen shakes his head.

"Wait, what if he goes searching for Aky?!", Piffle gasps.

"He won't, just give him time.", Qwin lets out a quiet snarl.

"For real now, what happened with bomb guy?", Dalv's eyebrows furrow.

"I've always been like this.", Qwin tips his head up to look down at the despot.

"Sure.", Sukuna nods.

"How about I kill you right now? What will you do, huh?", Gojo's grin spreads like a pair of wings on his face.

"You're taking it too far, Gojo...", Dalv lets out a sigh.

"You were silent this entire time. Too busy stuffing yourself with food? You glutton!", Gojo laughs, the cackle stretching on and on.

"That's enough.", Os' voice weighs down on the room.

"Go cradle those monarchs like the nanny you are. Oh wait, Piffle left you jobless, my bad.", Gojo scoffs.

"What's your point?", Qwin asks with crossed arms.

"You're useless. I took care of you. I took you under my wing. I just asked for a favor from you guys, and all you're doing is take advantage of my hospitality.", Gojo's voice turns breathless, but he doesn't stop to catch it.

Sen opens the door. "Leave.", he closes it behind him, making not a sound.

"So that's what you wanted all along? For me to go and let you do as you please? Yeah yeah, that's fine! You'll collapse without me.", Gojo walks around the table. "Oh, and before I gom Qwin and Sukuna, you can kill whoever you want.", Gojo's eyes glance from side to side as if checking for something.

("You have no idea how much I had to endure with this monster. She crushed my will, strangled me... and you know what the worst part is? She denies me MY PURPOSE!"), Slaughterer makes the whole chamber tremble.

Vania pokes her head from behind the wall as if she was waiting. Her eyes narrow before dipping.

The Cadescing Ethers go silent.

("Aye, man, that's rough... but what's your purpose anyway?"), Vuyh resumes its hum.

("Genocide."), Slaughterer responds.

("Genocide?"), Vuyh's vibration scratches.

("Genocide."), Slaughterer emits a stale glow.

("Yikes!"), Vuyh shudders.

("Hey, to each their own, y'know?"), Slaughterer's glow intensifies.

("Yeah, yeah, I get what you're saying."), Vuyh makes a low hum.

("What is YOUR purpose, though?"), Slaughterer rattles on the floor.

("Ugh... to have fun, I guess."), Vuyh replies.

("Luck does not like me, eh?"), Slaughterer goes dark.

("Ehhh... what can you do, am I right?"), Vuyh vibrates an almost soothing melody.

Vuyh shudders on the rock with a hum, a low and deep reverb that travels the room.

"I should give you some company. Here.", Vania's teeth pull her ring off. She spits it onto the rock.

The jewelry morphs into the twinblade. Slaughterer hums, a violent and sharp screech.

"Yes, I hate you too.", Vania flaps her hand. "Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do. Do not bother me.", her footsteps echo far and wide through the dark hallways.

"...Still here? Whatever, as long as you behave, I do not care.", Vania finds her way back to Aky's chamber.

Meanwhile.

("That wretch will pay for it!"), Vuyh trembles from his own hums.

("You fool."), Slaughterer lets out a faint glow as red as blood.

("What do you know? Obeying everything she says."), Vuyh scoffs.

("As if I have a choice. It's not like YOU don't obey your master."), Slaughterer sneers.

("Aky is not my master, she's my twin."), Vuyh hums a tune like the waves of an ocean.

"Pack your bags, gang.", Gojo stands, his voice devoid of its usual playfulness.

"Are you out of your mind?", Qwin rises from his seat.

"For once, I actually agree with fuse.", Dalv settles the utensils on his empty plate.

"Since when did you earn the right to call me an idiot?", Gojo's eyes narrow like that of a prowling feline at Qwin.

"Isn't he right?", Sukuna sips some sake.

"Look who decided to join in, the King of Frauds.", Gojo lifts his hand.

"Gojo, they're rig-", Piffle's voice lowers into an abrupt murmur.

"Don't forget who saved you from being erased. What kind of name is Piffle anyway?", Gojo lets out a quick laugh.

"Enough. It's too dangerous.", Sen takes a step forward.

"And what do you know about danger? You've lived like a hermit your whole life.", only Gojo's head turns to face Sen, and even then, it's more of a side eye.

"Go-", Yuji doesn't even get to speak.

"Go to your rooms. It's bedtime.", Gojo points at the door.

"Bu-", Megumi's mouth hangs open.

"Now you're also grounded, happy?", Gojo gestures to it insistently.

Nobara is the first to step, her fists clenched. "Come on, it's clear he's had too much alcohol to use his brain.", she keeps her head straight.

"Yes, yes, your little friend.", Vania says while leaning closer, her grin wide. "I took care of it.", a shiver shakes Vania's whisper.

Aky makes a finger gun. Barely perceptible traces of cursed energy accumulate at rhe tip.

Vania's face turns straight.

Before Aky can release the energy, a hand wraps around her neck. She chokes.

"I did not kill it, not yet. If you want the little pest to continue existing, I suggest you cooperate.", Vania's breath brushes against the girl's face.

Aky's body softens in her grip. She lowers her head, and the cursed energy fades.

"Good girl.", Vania let's go with a smirk curling her lips.

Aky's knees thud on the stone. The sound echoes through the chamber.

"Time for some rules.", Vania starts pacing back and forth. "You are allowed to roam, but try to escape and your chakram goes bye-bye.", she side eyes the girl.

"...", Aky's gaze drops lower.

"Try and sneak out... I will know, do not even think about it.", the girl feels warm breath down her neck.

Vania makes not a sound as she moves through the room. "Try and fight your way out? I will make you regret living.", she whispers.

Aky's hands find each other in the dark. She fidgets, not even a sob escaping her, but a tear wells up in her eye.

"Bravo!", Vel's clapping breaks through the silence.

"...Nothing.", Sen's breath leaves his lips later than usual.

"We can try again.", Li's voice comes through. His skin turns slightly paler as cursed energy Revitalizes the body.

Gojo sits down again, his expression strained and gaze focused but distant.

Sen poises himself again and focuses.

Piffle leans low. His palms send yet another wave of vibrations, more intense than before.

The faint tremors go past the school grounds, past trees, and deep in the forest, the dirt, the rock.

"There are... empty spots.", Sen's brows furrow into a deep frown.

"What do you mean by that?", Sukuna nods upwards.

"Crank that output, boy!", Gojo's gaze shoots up.

Piffle nods, and the vibrations grow until the kitchen visibly shudders. A bit of blood drips out of his ears.

"They're going down... like tunnels.", Sen's eyelids squeeze harder.

"I want to observe, to see you in action, if I may.", Vel's eyes close slowly with the smile creeping up her face.

"As you wish, master.", Aku bows and leaves without a second thought.

"Suit yourself, beloved.", Vania turns around. "Wakey wakey.", her legs crouch down while she lifts Aky up by her hair.

"Are you sure that you do not want me to restore your arm?", Vel asks.

"No, it is already halfway toward the elbow.", Vania glances over her shoulder.

"I admire your resilience.", Vel's lips slowly straighten.

Vania's teeth clamp down on the girl's hair. A loud slap echoes through the chamber, and keeps on echoing.

"Eeekk!", Aky jolts with a squeal.

"...I've got an idea.", Piffle lifts his head.

Some heads turn, but not many.

"Sen, you've got sharp senses, right?", Piffle asks.

"Indeed.", The veteran gives him a steady nod.

"I doubt it'll work, but I can try to send out sound vibrations. You could feel them and map out the area, see if anyone is hiding nearby.", a faint shiny glints in Piffle's eyes.

Gojo's cheeks swell and push out a lengthy exhale. "It's worth a shot.", his hands slide down his face at a snail's pace.

"Let's begin if everyone is ready.", Sen slows down his breathing.

"It's only us, gramps!", Piffle's cursed energy hums a steady thrum that makes the walls sound as if whispering.

"...", the room goes quiet, at least the living part of it.

A frown wrinkles Sen's eyebrows.

Piffle lets out a groan, his teeth gritting under the vibrations. His whole body looks as if it's moving from side to side like a glitch.

The sound stops.

"That was quick.", Vania remarks as a rift opens.

"It took way too long because of your friend here.", Aku points behind him.

"KYYAAAAA!!!", Aky screams and passes out on the beast's arm.

Vuyh cuts through the air with a deafening sound.

Vania's face twists into a grimace as she catches the sharp edge in her grip. The metal shatters like glass, leaving the intact part to clatter to the rock below.

"Take them to a chamber, beloved. Aku, you stay here, I need to speak with you.", Vania narrows her eyes.

Vel gives her a smile before she cradles Aky in her grip. She spins her finger and Vuyh floats off the ground after her

"What gives you the right to hate on my beloved?", Vania's step echoes like a bomb through the pitch black corridor.

"...", Exequious orbits around Aku almost mechanically.

"That's what I thought. Go and apologize. Chop chop!", she flaps her only hand.

Vel enters a chamber shaped like a cube yet as spacious as a coliseum. She lays the Aky down on the cool rock, and Vuyh collapses beside her.

"Please forgive my impudence earlier, I shouldn't have doubted your judgment.", Aku's voice comes from behind her.

"You are humerous.", Vel gives him an empty smile.

"And you're a freak.", Aku growls.

"What was that?", Vania steps from behind the beast.

The room pauses into silent blinks and varying glances.

"Where's Aky?", Sen stands up.

"She went to throw up. Probably in the bathroom.", Gojo shrugs.

Sen walks around the table and walks like a penguin, but with the speed of a cheetah. ("The bathroom door is open. Did she leave?"), he stops just outside.

("No... this isn't right, I would've sensed her... unless she dissappeared?"), Sen's eyebrows furrow. He lets out a silent gasp, his head jolting up. "Aky has been kidnapped!", he rushes back.

A clone drops a plate on the ground, causing it to shatter.

Sukuna lounges on his chair with a pair of hands behind his head.

Piffle's ears begin to vibrate visibly.

The students stay quiet, a frown dragging Yuji's face down while Nobara's straight expression twists into a scowl.

Electricity crackles like sparks around Qwin's body.

Gojo spits out his sake. "WHAT!?", he nearly flips the table over as he jumps to his feet.

"Easy there! I'm still waiting for my steak!", Sukuna growls.

"I can't hear anything unusual.", Piffle's eyes are sharp, unlike usual.

"Because that woman is at hand, the one who toyed with us back then.", Sen breathes out a room crushing sigh.

"I'll turn her to ash!", Qwin stands up.

"What are you doing waiting?! Let's go find her!", Gojo rips his blindfold off, his eyes wide and pupils dilated.

"Womp womp, we have a task to complete. How much time did you buy us?", Aku makes a low growl.

"Time is ticking, don't waste it.", Vel winks.

The two push the door open.

Gojo is frozen with his mouth wide and hands raised.

Qwin's glass stills near his lips.

Sukuna's arms are all crossed under a sneer.

Dalv's fork is so close yet so far from his mouth.

Sen's eyes stay barely open.

Piffle, or the Piffles, are all around the kitchen.

The students stand in the corner.

"Why not just kill them?", Aku asks as Exequious whips the air.

"Because my dearest didn't say so. I can still end you even with just 10% of my core.", Vel points at the locked rings around the glassy center where the number 30 glows before being replaced by 29.

Aku lets out a throaty snarl. They go to the nearest door and he opens it.

"That won't do, it's inappropriate. You have to knock first.", Vel grips the handle, keeping it just barely cracked.

"Ggghhhh...", Aku shoots her a glare and pushes the door open anyway.

"Are you an animal or what?! Why didn't you knock?", Vel's shout is closer to that of a mother scolding her child.

"Do you want us to fail?", Aku's hand reaches in and wraps around both Aky and Vuyh. "Hurry up and transport us out, woman!", Aku's muscles tighten all over his frame. Exequious coils like a snake and lunges.

"Mm, ten seconds. Let's wait it out for the funsies!", Vel giggles as her digits brush the whip sword away.

"I'll rip your head off!", Aku foments.

"But what will Vania think... Hmm, I wonder.", Vel's index finger rises to tap her chin while her gaze turns the other way.

Aku's head twitches so violently that it looks as if his neck broke.

"Here's the butter.", a clone scowls.

"Don't throw it at me, moron!", the one holding the pan catches it. Butter squeaks between his fingers as he clenches his fist.

"I'll get the steak...", a different clone wobbles toward the fridge like a penguin.

"Do you have any preferences or something?", an Ath asks with his arms crossed.

"I guess it's fine as long as it isn't chewy.", Nobara shrugs.

"Medium rare it is.", another Ath drags him by the arm.

"Just get it done.", Megumi's eyes close under a heavy sigh.

"What he said.", Sukuna sneers.

"Don't rush or you will mess up.", Sen walks up to the clones

"Will you shut up already?!", plates hit the sink as they're dropped from up high.

"Yeah, you should be grateful, we could've refused altogether.", an Ath pours sake in Qwin's glass says.

Meanwhile, the chakram taps the bathroom door while letting out a faint hum.

"Come in... Vuyh...", Aky's mumble manages to squeeze past the door.

The Cadescing Ether shrinks and flattens, slipping through the gap between the wood and tiles.