Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rumi had wanted to come to Celine. She wanted her advice, her words of encouragement, anything really that would prove Rumi’s doubts wrong, that she wasn’t a demon. A curse. A mistake.

Yet, how was she going to expect that she’d end up having blood on her hands?

It was just a sound. One teensy branch she accidentally stepped on. Yet it was all it took for Celine to pull her blade against Rumi.

Rumi didn’t flinch, but inside she was surprised.

Did Celine really expect her to turn on them all this time?

She stared at her foster mother, someone who she idolized her whole life in confusion and hurt. Even as Celine realized who she was, the blade never disappeared, always there at her side.

”Rumi, what happened?”

”They know,” Rumi replied, making eye contact with the woman who raised her. “They found out about the patterns.”

Celine frowned, causing Rumi to wince. She hated disappointing Celine which was why she followed every word she gave her, even if she disagreed with them. Like when she desperately wanted to tell her teammates about her patterns.

”I told you not to tell them.”

”I didn’t!” Rumi shook her head. “We got tricked-“

”You shouldn’t have let yourself get exposed like that,” Celine sighed. “I saw your latest show.”

Rumi gulped, the memories of her previous performance coming back to her, the confusion, the fear, the hurt…

It got worse when she remembered what happened after that. Mira and Zoey raising their weapons at her then the whole conversation with Jinu.

”The Mira and Zoey with me were demons,” Rumi answered. “Although, they did see the performance which was how they found out.

Celine stared at her, expression unreadable. “Then we can still salvage this.”

Rumi smiled. Finally! With Celine’s backing, she can explain to the girls-

“We’ll tell them that it was all just a trick by Gwi-Ma, that the patterns just appeared recently.”

…what?

”But I-“

”That it was a way Gwi-Ma wanted to split the hunters.”

”You said I don’t need to hide.”

”Yes,” Celine approached her, eyes widened and grinning from ear to ear. “Once we fix things.” She placed her hands on Rumi’s shoulders, “You will no longer need to live in fear.”

A small part of her heard something else. The unspoken truth…

She tells you this because you will die when this is over. She does not care for you, the mistake, only that the blood won’t be on her hands when you’re gone.

No, she couldn’t be- Celine wouldn’t-

But as Rumi stared at Celine, she couldn’t help but notice the slight uncertainty in her eyes as she looked at her. She also couldn’t help but notice that her weapon was dropped right beside her, just enough that it was within her reach.

Celine…

She fears you. She wants you gone. 

She wouldn’t. Rumi reminded herself. She wanted the patterns gone.

What’s the difference when it’s a part of you?

…

”Don’t you get it, Celine?” Rumi gestured towards herself. “Look at me. These patterns- it’s all a part of me.”

Desperately, she surged forward, wanting to force Celine to look at her.

”Why won’t you look at me?”

Why won’t she look at her? Why was she staring down at her blade?

”Why can’t you love me?”

”I do love you,” but even as she said it, Celine won’t look at her.

”All of me!” Rumi growled out. Unbeknownst to her, the Honmoon glowed purple. Shocked, Celine looked around, gesturing wildly.

”This is exactly why we can’t show fear, discord, uncertainty, it’s breaking the Honmoon.”

The Honmoon…

The very thing she swore to protect.

The thing that will kill you.

”If this is the Honmoon I swore to protect,” she began, holding her blade close to her. Noticing this, she saw Celine stare at her in shock before schooling her expression, like she always does. With her demonic voice, Rumi spoke, “then I’m glad to see it destroyed.”

She watched as Celine glared at her, before reaching down for her weapon. Tapping into her hidden power, Rumi teleported backward as the spot where she was just in was attacked.

Eyes widened, she stared as Celine swung her blade in her direction. She looked into her eyes only to see determination.

Her right eye barely noticed the tears streaking down Celine’s eyes or the hint of despair in them.

She placed the free hand on her chest, the area where Celine’s blade would have hit if she didn’t teleport. 

Gasping softly to herself, she closed her eyes.

Celine had swung her blade at her.

She plans on killing you.

The woman who raised her wanted her dead.

Show her what you are.

Opening her eyes, she saw Celine running towards her. With a yell, Rumi used her blade to parry her attack.

Strike after strike, parry after parry, the two women fought, trying desperately to end this. Rumi should have known this would be difficult. She had sparred with Celine before, but she couldn’t have guessed that the former hunter would still match her blow by blow, only this time, she wasn’t holding back.

She’s a hunter.

But wasn’t she one as well?

You’re a demon.

Not fully- not enough for her to-

She yelped as Celine hit her arm, blood spewing from the wound. Her shout caused Celine to stumble backward in shock or maybe from the power in her voice.

Rumi looked towards the wound, hand grasping the area as her other hand lowered her weapon to give access. She stared as her hand came up soaked with blood. Looking towards Celine, she saw the glint in her blade as crimson coated and dropped from it.

Her blood… drawn by a hunter’s weapon.

Noticing her staring, Celine lowered her weapon.

”Rumi, listen to me.”

How can she be so calm?

”We can still fix this.”

How can she say those words as if they weren’t as hurtful as the gash she left on her arm?

”You just have to listen to me.”

Why should she when all it did was bring her misery?

”Put the blade down.”

So she can run her blade through her with ease? Rumi growled, eyes glowing gold.

End this mockery.

With a yell, she swung her blade towards Celine, fainting an attack from above. Celine raised her weapon only for Rumi to move the blade down and swing upward instead.

She watched as her blade passed through Celine’s waist before trailing upward and exiting her shoulder. 

She was so busy in watching the damage she caused that she didn’t realize the look of pride and relief that passed through Celine’s face.

Rumi stared as Celine fell, her blade first before her body fell backward.

Rumi couldn’t do anything but stare.

You have done it.

She had killed her.

You have done well.

Tears welled up her eyes as she stared at Celine’s lifeless form.

Namsan Tower. Don’t be late.