I Hear Voices

"I Hear Voices" (声がキコエル) is the one hundred and eigteenth chapter of the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga series, written by Takaya Kagami and illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto.

Synopsis
Held down physically by his squad, Yu focuses on battling Asuramaru where they cut one another apart. As Yu means to consume him, Asuramaru speaks that he has turned into a monster everyone hates. Reminded of his mom and dad, it is shown that Shikama Doji appeared before Yu in prison to say he would soon meet the one who would give him meaning. Deeming them manipulated emotions, Asuramaru tells Yu to listen for his real family. Shinoa squad beseech Yu to return to them.

Tearful, Yu speaks how his squad are all there for him and he is not alone. After telling Asuramaru that he is back to his senses, Yu adds by the way he has been sane this whole time. Yu bites into Asuramaru, who disappears. Pleased he won, Yu speaks with Mika before him. Mika asks whether Yu is going to betray everyone and bring him back to life even though he does not want that. Rather than do what Shikama Doji, or what Guren says, Yu is going to do what he says. His plan is to protect his family from this world, and Yu asks Mika to help him with that.

Awakening to see Shinoa relieved, Yu says he is sorry, and he is leaving. Blasting out the underground premises, Yu leaves everyone behind.

Characters
List of characters in order of appearance:


 * Krul Tepes (visualized as well)
 * Yūichirō Hyakuya (flashback as a child too)
 * Shinoa Hīragi (visualized as well)
 * Guren Ichinose
 * Asuramaru
 * Yūichirō's father (flashback)
 * Yūichirō's stepmother (flashback)
 * Shikama Dōji (flashback)
 * Mikaela Hyakuya (flashback as a child too)
 * Akane Hyakuya (flashback)
 * Hyakuya Orphanage Family (three members seen in a flashback)
 * Hyakuya Orphanage Director (face unseen but virtually certain, flashback)
 * Mitsuba Sangū (visualized as well)
 * Yoichi Saotome (visualized as well)
 * Shihō Kimizuki (visualized as well)
 * Crowley Eusford
 * Ferid Bathory

Summary
Krul remarks how the injection is still not working, as Shinoa squad members call for Yu to hang in there. With curse marks over his face, Yu is enraged as a demon. Panicking, Shinoa tells Yu to not worry, and attempts to assure him that he will feel better soon. Damning the situation, Guren states this is all wrong and Yu is not like this at all. Words on whether they are Yu's family seem to resonate in his physical body.

Within Asuramaru's realm, a lightning strike coincides with Yu's clash against him. As Asuramaru passes him, two swords are left within Yu, one though his eye and the other stabbed through his chest. Unharmed himself, Asuramaru turns to finds that Yu is able to strike him to the ground. In response to Yu drawing near to him, Asuramaru generates the Asura-Kannon... Infinite Blades... Knot of Fate power. The myriad of swords that are conjured are near Yu. After Yu invokes Mikaela to slice it open, Asuramaru is dismembered, yet he himself is cut apart in the demon realm where their upper torsos both land on the floor.

In trying to reach his lower body, Asuramaru is firm that he is not going to lose here. Grasping him, Yu states Asuramaru is not going to get away and he will devour him. Telling him to die, Asuramaru affirms that Yu has turned into a monster, one that everyone hates, and who does not deserve to live. The words impact Yu and Asuramaru questions if he remembers that is what everyone used to call him.

A memory shows Yu's father holding a knife, with his mother behind him. Yu was a child and remembers his parents called him a devil. When Yu's father declared that a devil's child deserves to die, and his mother agreed killing him was the right thing to do, after that the only thought that crossed Yu's mind was that his life had no value.

Sat alone in a prison cell, Yu felt he was all alone and would always be so. A feather indicated the presence of Shikama Doji who had appeared within Yu's cell. Evidently having registered his concerns, Shikama Doji spoke that Yu should not worry. It would not be long now and soon he will meet the one who will give him meaning.

As children at the Hyakuya orphanage, Mika was playing outside with Akane and other orphans when they saw that the orphanage director had brought Yu along. Mika said hi to Yu. Presently, Asuramaru shouts that those are all fake memories, and manipulated emotions. Ordering him to open his ears and listen, Asuramaru questions if Yu cannot hear his real family. His physical body still held down, Yu has an injection placed into his neck.

The members of Shinoa squad continue to hold him down, where Mitsuba along with Yoichi, then Kimizuki and Shinoa are all involved. As Yu produces demon like growls, his squad call for him to stop. Saying to listen to her, Shinoa says if Yu lets himself go completely berserk then he can never come back. Speaking that they are his allies, Shinoa adds they will listen to whatever he says and do anything he wants. After Kimizuki shouts to the Lt. Colonel, Guren says for them to not worry and the injection is kicking in. Sure that it will work, Guren explains the power of Yu's demon is waning and he is coming back to his senses.

After Guren directs them to keep talking to Yu as he should be able to hear, Yoichi feels it is his fault and says he is sorry at feeling he pressured him. Knowing how important Mikaela is to him, Yoichi speaks how he still pushed Yu to bring his family back to try and assuage the issues at hand. Adding that she did it too, Mitsuba says they should have talked it over. Both Yu's family and Mitsuba's family are important and she feels they needed to talk.

Announcing that they are family too, Kimizuki states Yu even said it. Himself, his sister, Kimizuki affirms they are all Yu's family so he should quit this crap and come back to his senses. As Mitsuba and Yoichi react to his words, Shinoa is crying before cradling Yu in her arms. Requesting that Yu please not go anywhere without her, Shinoa just cannot go on living without him.

While Mitsuba and Kimizuki listen for any updates in Yu's condition, both Crowley and Ferid are nearby observing with Krul as well. In Asuramaru's realm he remains with his hand on Yu's head. As tears trickle down Yu's face, Asuramaru says for him to come and stop this, and adds that he is not alone anymore. If Yu cannot hear their voices then Asuramaru states that he really is just a monster, a puppet that Shikama Doji made to dance to his tune.

The four other members of Shinoa squad are visualized as Yu reflects on how all of them are there for him. As Asuramaru agrees, Yu comments further how he is not alone, not anymore. Adding exactly, Asuramaru asks if Yu is back to his senses, and it is about time. When Yu replies yes Asuramaru pushes him away slightly with the guidance for him to quit this crap.

Yu says sorry to Ashera for wearing him out, who replies he is telling him. The calm dialogue continues with Yu remarking that by the way he has been sane this whole time. Wordlessly looking at him as Asuramaru processes the situation, he asks Yu what. The clarification comes with Yu biting into Asuramaru's neck. As Yu holds Asuramaru and consumes him, shadows appear around the two. Unable to do anything as his hand becomes transparent, Asuramaru thinks of Krul happy in the past before saying he is sorry.

Asuramaru vanishes and leaves Yu as himself without demon-like eyes. His lower body re-attached, Yu is satisfied he did it. Although he won, by himself Yu feels winning is kind of empty and so he invokes his sword where Mika joins him. His head lowered, Mika is not talkative not even after Yu happily asks whether he ate. Noting that Mika looks annoyed, Yu asks if he is mad at him. Confirming yes, Mika has been mad this whole time. Wanting to know if he heard, Yu answers he did. Mika replies he is so going to kick his butt, Yu laughs that he is sorry.

Surmising that Yu is going to betray everyone and bring him back to life, Mika continues that is even though it is not what he wants. With Yu beaming in response, Mika then enquires if Yu is going to blindly follow what Shikama Doji tells him. Denying that, Yu announces he is going to do his own thing. Not what Guren says, neither what Shikama Doji says, Yu mentions he is going to do what he himself says.

Mika wonders whether Yu has a path he wishes to take, and also is curious at what he is thinking. Answering he does, Yu only wants one thing and that is to protect his family from this 'craptacular' world. After Yu requests that he help him with it, Mika ponders it for a moment before they shake hands.

Yu regains consciousness in his physical body to find Shinoa above him. As Kimizuki observes him, and Shinoa is especially pleased he is back, Yu speaks how he is sorry. Forming an impression of what this means, Shinoa tells Yu to not dare say it. Saying it, Yu speaks that he is leaving and a flash upwards indicates that action. Guren and Shinoa shout for him, yet Yu breaks up from the Akihabara underground facility to the surface. Shinoa and Mitsuba stare upwards at what has happened.

Quotes
"Dammit, Yu! This is wrong! This isn't who you are! You aren't like this at all!"

- Guren attempts to speak with Yu who is restrained in a demonic state.

"I can't afford to lose. I'm not going to lose here!"

- Asuramaru is dismembered yet resolves not to lose like this with Yu attacking.

"You've turned into a monster, Yu! A monster everyone hates! A monster that doesn't deserve to live! Remember that, Yu?! Remember what they said?! Before... What everyone used to call you?!"

- Asuramaru reminds Yu of his parents' words to rattle his constitution.

"Yes. Killing Yu is the right thing to do. It's for the best."

- Yu's step-mother agrees with his father that Yu as a child should be killed.

"After that... ...The only thought that crossed my mind... ...Was that my life had no value. I'm alone. I'll always be alone."

- Yu's thoughts in a prison cell after his parents tried to murder him.

"Don't worry. It won't be long now. Soon you'll meet the one who'll give you meaning."

- Shikama Doji was seemingly aware of Yu's despair and joined him in the cage he was in, apprently with the foresight Yu would be taken to the orphanage where Mika was.

"Those are all fake memories! Manipulated emotions! Open your ears! Listen! Can't you hear your real family?!"

- After it is recalled how Yu met Mika, Asuramaru implies it was an arrangement by Shikama Doji and that their connection is not real. To fend off Yu further, Asuramaru attempts to guide him to thoughts of his squad.

"Yuichiro, listen to me! If you let yourself go completely berserk, you'll never come back! We're your allies! We'll listen to whatever you say! We'll do whatever you want us to do!"

- Shinoa implores Yu to return from his demonic state.

"The power of his demon is waning... ...And he's coming back to his senses. Keep talking to him. He should be able to hear you."

- Guren directs Shinoa squad to speak to Yu to help him return.

"Yuichiro! Yuichiro, please! I'm sorry! This is all my fault! I pressured you! I know how important Mikaela is to you... ...But I still pushed you to bring my family back!"

- Yoichi speaks first in trying to contact Yu. Although Yoichi didn't pressure Yu and is faultless, it's an attempt to reason with him rather than have Yu succumb to the demon effects.

"Me too! We should've talked it over! Your family, my family - they're all important! We needed to talk!"

- Mitsuba also attempts to calm Yu.

"Right! We're family too! You even said it! Me, my sister... We're all your family! So quit this crap and come back to your senses!"

- Kimizuki says his family is also Yu's, where before he mentioned Mirai came before the squad.

"Yuichiro... Please... Don't go anywhere without me. I just... can't. I can't go on living... ...Without you."

- Shinoa cries as she holds Yu.

"C'mon, Yu. Enough. Stop this. You aren't alone anymore. If you can't hear their voices... Then you really are just a monster. A puppet Shikama Doji made to dance to his tune."

- Asuramaru holds Yu up as he tries to have Yu embrace his squad rather than follow the First. While Asuramaru himself follows the First, and indeed could be described as a puppet dancing to his tune, he probably says it as he knows Yu would not want to be that.

"All of them... They're there for me. I'm not alone. Not anymore."

- Yu speaks while the squad are envisioned, however the sincere words seem a ruse to have Asuramaru lower his guard (it works).

"Sorry Ashera. I wore you out. By the way... ...I've been sane this whole time."

- Yu gives a display to Ashera that he is back to himself, before revealing his lucidity where he was a monstrous demon before, though one that kept his mind.

"Pwah! Yes. I did it. I won! Boy, winning is kinda empty. Sword..."

- Yu immediately regains his composure, feels great about overcoming Asuramaru, before sitting alone feeling hollow, before moving on at once to engage with Mika.

"Yes, I'm mad. I've been mad this whole time. Didn't you hear?"

- Mika is at first silent before answering Yu, and shares his feelings on his fight.

"So. You're going to betray everyone... ...And bring me back to life? Even though that's not what I want?"

- Mika guesses Yu's intent and what he makes of it.

"You're going to blindly trundle along doing everything Shikama Doji tells you?"

- Mika is concerned that bringing him back to life is what Shikama Doji wants and Yu is acting in accordance with the First's wishes.

"I'm going to do my own thing. Not what Guren says. Not what Shikama Doji says. I'm going to do what I say."

- Yu tells Mika what he means to do, and while he hasn't heeded what the First says, it is a first time Yu is not following Guren absolutely.

"Do you have a path you wish to take, then? What are you thinking?"

- Mika speaks to Yu, without seeing his thoughts to learn the answer.

"I only want one thing. And that's to protect my family... ...From this craptacular world. Help me with it, okay? C'mon."

- Yu's path, speaking the word 'craptacular' and since he will soon leave the squad the protecting family aspect may concern specifically Mika.

"N-no! Don't! Don't you dare say it..."

- Shinoa gathers from Yu's words that he is sorry on what is to come.

Chapter Notes

 * In the previous chapter 117 an injection Guren has is said to be able to suppress Yu's demon. Noted to not be working here, the one injected in this chapter also fails to quell Yu, and so Asuramaru would vanish and additionally Yu would escape entirely.
 * Where Guren is surprised that Yu is acting like this, in chapter 114 "Everyone's Goals" him giving the ultimatum for Yu to choose to restore Mika and be labelled an enemy, or resurrect humanity was not a test of sorts to see how he would react or something to that effect, rather Guren seemed to genuinely believe that Yu would co-operate as he liked.
 * Wielding two swords, Asuramaru stabs one through Yu's left eye, and the other through his chest.
 * Both sustaining heavy injuries in the demon sphere, Yu and Asuramaru don't appear pained by their wounds and are only largely affected by them in terms of mobility.
 * Raising the words his parents said to him, Asuramaru reminds Yu that he was called a monster that everyone hates. Likely not said to warn Yu of the unfortunate direction he is heading down, more likely is it that Asuramaru was psychologically undermining Yu to win this battle.
 * When Yu was taken to a prison cell after his parents' died it is revealed that Shikama Doji visited him there. It is not known if Yu was aware of this as he did not react to the First at the time, and yet it was a memory that Asuramaru was able to access and apparently raise now. Shikama Doji had spoke that soon Yu would meet the one who would give him meaning where Mika is seen in the next panel. While Shikama Doji likely meant this meaning to be that Mika could become Yu's demon and cursed gear, to take over his body, Yu and Mika seem to have made their own different meaning regarding one another.
 * Since it was arranged for Yu to join the orphanage to meet Mika, Asuramaru tells Yu they were fake memories. Almost certainly not meant that the memories themselves are fake as Yu did meet Mika at the orphanage, Asuramaru likely means the scenarios are fake as it wasn't chance that Yu and Mika would meet. The manipulated emotions would also factor into it where they were encouraged to become family as all the Hyakauya orphans were.
 * In regarding Mika as a fake family member, Asuramaru attempts to devalue Yu and Mika's connection. He also seemed under the impression that Yu would accept it as fake and so turn to his 'real' family as Asuramaru referred to Shinoa squad as.
 * Rather than fight him, or try and have Yu comply with the plan to resurrect humanity, of which Yoichi, Mitsuba, and Kimizuki there have family members that could be resurrected, they instead emphasize with Yu and speak to have him return to his senses.
 * Physically, while Yu's demonic facial expression changes in response to certain stimuli, it may be the case that he can only make growling sounds if he is trying to communicate with his squad.
 * In attempting to have Yu regain his senses, Shinoa mentions they will listen and do whatever he wants. Yoichi identifies Yu's focus on Mika and invents that he tried to pressure him into choosing his family as a method. Mitsuba also addresses her family and states she knows Yu's is just as important. Kimizuki propounds that himself and Mirai are also a part of Yu's family. Shinoa then cries that she cannot live without Yu. While means to an end of having Yu return to his senses, there is no reason to doubt how sincerely true the claims are.
 * Asuramaru claims that if Yu cannot hear his squad's voices then he really is a monster, a puppet Shikama Doji uses. For his part, Asuramaru has done monstrous things, continues to follow the First and acts in accordance with his will, and pays little mind to Krul's voice when she tries to contact him. Not only calling Yu what he virtually is himself, Asuramaru sees nothing amiss with his own conduct.
 * In the demon realm Yu begins crying while reflecting how his squad are there for him. Commenting further that he is not alone, Yu completes the act by claiming to be back to himself. After the possibly hardly genuine display, with Asuramaru having relaxed, Yu not only attacks but speaks how his previous psychotic demon state was in fact him acting sane.
 * From a case of one demon consuming another, many long stretching shadows emerge from around those involved. The consumption is similar to that of blood drinking, and the demon being devoured begins to fade away starting at the hand in this one example. Dissipating into a large amount fine white mist that reaches upwards, a notable flash-like detonation is also involved in the disappearance of a demon from their realm.
 * When Asuramaru is remembering Krul he envisions her happy and appearing in clothes she wore as a human in the past.
 * Not appearing right away, Mika awaits for Yu to manifest his sword before revealing he is not happy at what transpired. During the time Yu was fighting Asuramaru, his feelings are shown to be anger at the actions undertook.
 * Reiterating that he does not want Yu to betray his family, neither to be brought back to life, Yu's positive appearing reaction does lean towards supporting that anyway.
 * Since having Mikaela brought back to life is a part of Shikama Doji's plan, Mika is concerned at whether Yu is going to go along with what the First wants. Doing what Shikama Doji wants is something Yu denies right away.
 * Intending to do his own thing, it is a significant departure in conduct where Yu is not going to do what Guren wants.
 * Rather than access his thoughts to see what he is thinking, Mika speaks to Yu as normal to see what he would like to do.
 * After mentioning that the only thing Yu wants is to protect his family, he requests Mika's help with this. Then promptly leaving his squad, that may be to protect them or Yu's version of protecting his family from the world just covers entirely Mika above all others.
 * Prevented from escaping to the upper floor by Krul before in chapter 115: "Choices and Decisions" this time Yu can escape the entire underground facility unhindered and reach the world above.
 * Yu leaves his squad, Guren, the vampires Krul, Ferid, Crowley, and people gathered for resurrection including his and Mika's orphanage family.

Gallery
Manga panels provide a visual overview of the events of chapter 118 with depictions of the characters, Seraph of the End world and scenarios.