Title: Option II
Fandom: Corpse Party
Rating: PG-13
Length: 370 Words
Content Notes: Reference to (minor) canon violence.
Author Notes: Takes place after a key event in Chapter 1 of Blood Drive.
Summary: Yoshiki asks himself if he should have had a different answer for Ayumi.

* * * *

How am I not dead after that? Not the first time Yoshiki had put that question to himself. The boy in the hood had put him into a concrete wall, and the impact had left a major crater, but ... not a single fracture that he could detect, only bruises that Yoshiki suspected he was going to feel for days to come. Guess the wall took the bulk of it, whatever it was. A spell? No idea. And why is no one coming? I know that made a noise. But his neighbors, normally sociable, did not emerge from their houses. What is happening here? And then ... he remembered where Ayumi and the boy had gone.

Oh, God. And this is my fault. Back to Heavenly Host, and not only had he been unable to stop her, but his attempt to stop her had alienated her from him, perhaps for all time. I should have said ... something. Anything. Instead of just sitting there like an idiot. But he had neither said nor done anything, and the opportunity had been lost. Should have ... held her. Told her it was going to be okay. Told her she didn't have to go back. But would that have changed anything? Most likely not, and he told himself that, but – It would have been better than doing nothing at all! He clenched his fists in frustration.

Okay. Not out of this yet. He forced himself to his feet, only wobbling a little before finding his center of gravity again. If that's where she's gone, then all I have to do is go in after her. He shivered in spite of himself. Again. God, why do I keep doing this? And the question answered itself. She's that important to me. Hell, even if she wasn't, nobody deserves to be trapped there. Nobody. A deep breath. I'll get her out. Might be the last thing I do, but I'll get her out. Just have to find another set of stones, and I'm pretty sure I know where to start looking. He was already off and running.

I'm such a damn fool for doing this. But that did not slow him down.

END.