Chapter Text
The neon lights of Tokyo's entertainment district cast long, bleeding shadows down the narrow alleyway. Daki stood atop a rooftop, her living obi sashes writhing around her like striking vipers. She sneered down at the intruder—a blonde girl in a school uniform, casually swinging her legs over the edge of the fire escape.
"You look absolutely beautiful when you're angry," Himiko Toga beamed, her cheeks flushing with a chaotic joy. She pointed a massive syringe toward Daki. "But you'd look even cuter if you bled a little. Can I cut you? Just a tiny bit?"
Daki’s eyes narrowed, her Upper Moon crest burning with offense. "A human brat dares to speak to me about beauty? I am the epitome of perfection. Your blood belongs to me!"
A sash whipped through the air, slicing the metal fire escape clean in half. Toga laughed, dropping gracefully through the debris. She used her grappling hooks to swing sideways, dodging a second strike by mere inches. With terrifying speed, Toga lunged forward, her knife flashing in the moonlight. She managed a quick swipe, grazing Daki's cheek.
Toga instantly darted back, holding the knife to her lips, tasting the drop of blood. "Oh? Your blood tastes... heavy. Hot. I want to become you!
"
Before Daki could unleash her blood demon art to shred the girl to pieces, Toga’s body dissolved into a gray, liquid goo. When it cleared, Daki found herself staring at an exact clone of herself—complete with the flowing hair, the revealing outfit, and the deadly sashes.
Daki stopped dead in her tracks, stunned. "What... what trickery is this?"
The clone smiled, but the expression was entirely Toga's—wide, unhinged, and breathless. "See? Now we're exactly the same! Let's go hunting together. We can make everyone we love bleed!
"
Daki stared at her double. The sheer audacity of the girl amused her. A slow, wicked grin spread across Daki's face. "Fine, human. If you can keep up with me, I might let you live as my shadow. But the handsome ones are mine to eat."