A/N: The anime ended fast and seemed abrupt. I wanted to see more. It ended on an unusually light note, given the context of the series, and how dark it was from ep 1- ep 11…I just, I guess I expected a bittersweet ending. I was glad that the last 7 minutes gave a concise idea of what happened to everyone, I just felt that it came too soon.

Anyway, my distaste for the ending aside, it really was a great series. This is just another little one shot, since I like Tokaku so much.

Gamble

The world was full of love.

This had been the only conclusion that could have possibly befallen her after all was said and done. She had searched relentlessly, finding that even while probing her mind and her memories, there was no other answer to have. There was no stronger emotion, not even hate, that could have made so many people act in such dangerous, insane ways. There was no better balm for torn wounds, no better motivation that the love of something, or some one...no matter how sick, twisted, or wrong that love could be...love was the only answer.

It was irrefutable.

She was sure of that now, because fate hadn't been as horrible as she thought. Yet, she doubted that it was pure luck. Someplace, deep down in the depths of all the fighting, there was a clear, solid reason for things ending the way they did. Maybe, it was preordained by the gods, or maybe someone wanted Haru alive…or maybe, those who wanted to kill her didn't have the heart, didn't have the need…didn't have the gut feeling.

Or, maybe they just didn't make the cut.

Whatever the reason was, Tokaku was sure that it wasn't simply pure luck. She doubted that realization was going to save her, from what she was sure to think of as one of the best, and worst times of her life. As it stood, she would never really know what it would mean for Haru to have a safe life, or, to continue to stay friendly with Haru without pretense.

If she were to do those things, rather, since she was going to continue to protect Haru, she found that a part of herself needed to be done away with. A dangerous, deadly part of herself, that so begged to take Haru's life for her own…the part that wondered if Haru really did have some sort of control over the minds of others. The part of herself that screamed in agony whenever it thought for a second that she could have, and almost did, lose Haru for good.

The reasons for that were better left unknown, and she was tired of mind games. Frankly, she was just plain tired in general. She knew her training days were over now. She was done with the class, and she was done with memories she could not change…the fears she could not quell.

The knife drew blood as she clenched it in her hand, and that blood dripped down into the sand without a murmur from Tokaku, who stood at the edge of the empty beach. The waters kissed the land and her bare feet. Without thinking twice, she flung the knife as far as she could, watching it plunk into the water a far distance away.

She was done asking questions, and searching for answers. "Snake eyes." Tokaku said quietly then as she turned away.

From here on out, it was all in how she rolled the dice.