Bizarre Honkai, a Wife-Chasing Crematorium

Li Mo stared into the abyss of the cave, a charnel house of discarded souls, some lost to hesitation, others to the labyrinthine depths. He couldn't delay any longer.

He plunged into the darkness, the familiar sound of crunching bones underfoot, the air thick with the stench of decay. Eyes opened on the walls, spectral lights illuminating his path, disembodied hands reaching out, grasping, their silent screams echoing through the darkness.

He walked, eyes closed, following a straight line, his mind focused, his body numb.

He stopped, a sudden chill piercing his Bizarre-enhanced form, the absence of his heart a gaping void in his chest. The Bizarre energy quickly filled the gap.

"Raiden Mei, come to me." He reached out with his left hand, whispering her true name, his voice a beacon in the darkness.

Something answered his call.

The Notebook's second page glowed faintly:

[My name is Li Mo. I have paid the price.]

A soft hand touched his.

"Brother…"

The thrice-fabricated Mei appeared beside him, her eyes wide, her hand gripping his tightly.

"Hold my hand. Don't let go. There's no light here. If you get lost, I'll leave you behind."

He led her through the darkness, her hand trembling in his. Was she afraid? Or was it the eyes on the walls, watching them, their silent judgment a heavy weight in the oppressive air?

"Close your eyes if you're scared. I'll get you out of here."

"Mm…" she whispered. She wasn't afraid of the darkness, or the eyes. She was afraid of being discovered, of being revealed as a fake, a copy, a thrice-removed echo of the real Mei, the one who'd sacrificed her soul for his survival. His ritual had failed, and yet, it had succeeded.

"Brother, light!"

Sunlight beckoned.

"Welcome to my world. You can think of it as a parallel universe. There's a Raiden Mei here too. You can't interfere with her life, so you'll stay with me." He didn't care about this world's fate. He needed this Mei, this tool, this weapon against the Bizzare Kiana.

Mei's fear eased, a bright smile blooming on her face. "Okay!" Fake or not, she'd learned that only the present moment was real. Even a fabricated life could hold genuine happiness. And she finally had a family.

As they stepped out of the cave, a familiar voice, laced with disdain, greeted them.

"Welcome back, Li Mo."

He recognized the voice instantly.

"How can you sound so disapproving while saying something so… welcoming?"

Dr. MEI adjusted her glasses, her expression unreadable.

"How many resets?"

"Three."

MEI's brow furrowed. "Three?"

"This hand," he said, raising his left hand. "It gave me an extra reset."

"I see." A Bizarre hand, acquired through unknown means, a story for later.

"Anything else? Like… her." MEI's gaze shifted to Mei, their clasped hands.

"She's mostly human. Her Bizarre side is… dormant. She can stall the Bizzare Kiana."

"Dormant? A dormant Bizarre entity?" MEI's curiosity piqued. "An unusual quirk."

They exchanged information quickly, efficiently, their conversation focused on the mission. MEI understood the situation, the details to be analyzed later.

She smiled, extending her left hand. "Hello. I'm MEI. You can call me Dr. MEI. I'm Li Mo's companion. You will be too, soon."

Li Mo was surprised by her warmth. MEI usually avoided such formalities. Was this special treatment for newcomers?

Mei hesitated, her right hand still holding Li Mo's.

"Is there a problem?" MEI's smile widened, a hint of something sharp in her eyes.

"N-No…" Mei released Li Mo's hand, shaking MEI's hand, a strange sense of… hierarchy passing between them. Like a predator and its prey.

"We'll do the welcome wagon later. Why are you here, MEI? Something urgent? Did you find the ghost in the alley?"

"No. It hasn't manifested. I can't track it until it affects the real world." She glanced at him, then turned away. She wouldn't reveal the truth. The Notebook had told her he'd return safely. And he had. But something felt… wrong.

"I'm here to take you somewhere."

"Where?"

"Dinner."

Li Mo blinked. Not dinner at home, then. Dinner with… someone.

"I need to clear my death accumulation first. I'm not exactly presentable."

MEI smiled, studying him, his bluntness, and the shy girl beside him. "No. You're perfect like this."

He didn't understand, but he followed her, trusting her judgment.

They arrived at an elegant restaurant, its warm lighting and tasteful decor a stark contrast to the ruined city.

MEI leaned back comfortably, Mei fidgeting beside him, Li Mo caught between them.

Across the table sat Kiana and Mei, their counterparts from the real world.