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Chapter 4: Shattered Mask

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What was the point of this. I can't be saved even if I want to.

But I want to be saved! I want to stop lying!

Why should I though? It's not like it would change the fact Kido hates me.

Kano didn't even notice the others were staring at him. Shintaro and Kenjirou just helplessly watched as the blond seemed to gasp for air while trying to hurl everything out of his body at the same time. It had shocked them when Kano suddenly snapped and launched himself for the van's door, fighting off Shintaro who was in his way. Kenjirou was forced to stop the van before there was any serious damage and Kano shoved the HikiNEET aside before he jumped out, running. They chased after him, with Ene sending the distressed report to the gang. Now, standing behind a crumbled form of the world's greatest lair, Shintaro turned to the scientist, silently asking what to do.

Kenjirou, however, didn't know, but he sort of saw this coming. He had known the boy since he and his friends started living with his family. He, Kido and Seto were the first subjects he had met with the monster's Eyes, so he wanted to observe their powers for his research on Kagerou Days.

But he never knew the effects those Eyes have from constantly using them. The ones who obtained them needed time to control if they wished for it. Kido and Seto had been able to keep it in order and only use it when necessary, yet Kano was the only who seek to perfect his usage on them. Even though he hadn't met anyone that used their Eyes constantly before, Kenjirou could now see the side effects from suddenly wanting to stop.

Kano's Eyes and lying were the traits that he grew up with, and he believed he needed them more than ever in order to protect what he had left with his friends. That's what Kenjirou knew. When he used Eyes of Clarity on him a few years ago, he knew he had disabled his Eyes of Illusion temporarily, but when he couldn't do anything at all, let alone speak, it left him a bit awestruck.

After the incident, the entire incident, he decided to see what would happen if they keep using their Eyes on more than an occasional thing. His Eyes didn't affect him, but when he remembered what happened to Konoha, he thought back to the event.

A single shock, along with the Eyes being activated, could cause anyone to lose control, an amateur or a professional was no different. Konoha, even though he was created in order to hold Azami's Eyes for Kagerou Days, was not a full-fledged medusa. After regaining his memories, he even went for a drastic change and attempted to shoot himself as the result.

Kano was just like that, except unlike Konoha, who had his Eyes for only two years at that time, he kept using them for fifteen years for his friends' sake. Kido getting married to his best friend and wanting to admit his biggest feeling were too much of a shock for him. His Eyes wouldn't take it, especially now that the famed liar suddenly wanted to stop.

"You two!" a soft hiss startled the two men to turn around and saw the entire gang with them. Kido's eyes were at its brightest shade of red as she glared at them, anxious for the current situation.

Kenjirou sighed and pushed his glasses up. "Not good. He's fighting himself."

"What…why?" Mary asked in fright.

"You want to stop him using his Eyes too much by giving him the biggest shock to break it. Let's say he is wearing a mask," the scientist lifted his hand up, and acted like he was holding something over his face. "This mask is his lies and Eyes. You can't see his feelings and you can't break it no matter what you do. However, there are times he seemed to not act like himself, right?" The gang all nodded. "Well, that was the only weakness this mask had. And the cause of it," he glanced at Kido, "is making it shatter a little. However it will recover in time since it's not smashed completely."

"That's what we're trying to do. Smash it completely," Kido bluntly stated.

"Yes, but," Kenjirou stared at her as he added, "when you've been hiding something behind a mask for so long and want to dispose of it, wouldn't you be scared? Hiding away his feelings by using his lies is his forte. He's been doing it for more than 10 years. Don't you think suddenly wanting to stop would cause confliction within himself. Even someone who had been hiding away in darkness would be frightened to be exposed to the light." Kenjirou shook his head. "It's amazing how he could keep it up for so long. Normally someone would die from it."

Mary's breath hitched at that statement, making Seto really hard to not punch Kenjirou in the face because that might caught Kano to notice their presence.

However, compared to everyone's shocked looks; Kido's eyes were the widest out of all of them all. She turned to where Kano was; still breathing harshly, body trembling as he tried to shrink away as if being out here was killing him. She caused this. She had the most effect on him and she allowed this to happen. If she wasn't selfish. If she didn't wish for Kano to stop lying.

No.

I have to be selfish.

Kido stepped forward, startling anyone by her decision. "You're still planning to break him?"

Kido turned her gaze on everyone for a second, showing the determination in her eyes, before she continued towards Kano again. They have come so far and this was the best reaction they had gotten out of him, so she couldn't give up now.

If what Tateyama said was true, then right now Kano is alone. Afraid as he is trying to fight off his habit. This is not right. Her hands clenched into fists. I…I shouldn't have done that to him. He helped me and Seto to get our Eyes properly in control, even trying to cheer everyone up as best as he could with his lies. I just wanted him to be honest, but…

…I was just trying to push him away, because I couldn't accept him like that anymore.

Guilt ridden feelings took over her as she tried to breathe. But he's willing to change. He had come this far. And this time…Kido rushed to Kano's side, kneeling down in front of him while her Eyes concealed almost her entire existence.

I will help him to the end!

Even though her Eyes were activated, Kano had a knack of noticing Kido's whereabouts, so he should be able to sense her sooner or later. He better not though, because if he saw her completely now, he might lose it. He was still breathing harshly, but now that they were closer to each other, Kano was mumbling incoherent words under his breathe. He was breaking into a cold sweat, eyes wide in fear as his hands covered his ears.

When they were scared of their powers, they would always huddle against each other to calm the other down. Kido wanted to do that, but if she touched him, her ability would lose its effect. Biting her bottom lip, she whispered to him.

"Kano…"

Hearing his name faintly, Kano slowly looked up. His eyes must be unfocused, as he saw something white and green fluttering in the breeze. He blinked. Was he going insane?

"Kano."

Ah, he must be. There was no way Kido would be here in front of him in a beautiful wedding gown. She should be getting married to Seto right now. Exchanging rings, saying 'I do's, and having their first kiss as husband and wife. Not here with such a sad look on her face.

If Kido is happy…I will be happy.

But…why is she staring at me like that? …She's clearly upset.

I'm just imagining things. Kido is not sad now. If I stop what I am doing now, she would be happy again.

"Please, Kano…" Kido whispered desperately. "You've come this far…I know you can do it…" Kano blinked, not understanding what she was saying. "You've come here to see me, didn't you? You don't want me to marry Seto, right?"

Yes! I don't want you too!

No! I want you to marry Seto! You'd happier with him!

"Don't let your Eyes beat you up like this. This isn't like you! The Kano Shuuya I know can get through anything! No matter how hard it is."

Yes, because that's who I am.

But…I'm not that strong…

"That's why I know you can stop using your Eyes. It's not that hard since you have control over it. Please Kano…drop the mask…"

"I'm…"

The illusion in front of him wavered a bit, but she was still there. "Kano! Please! I'm here for you right now! We're all here! You can get through this! Just say it! What do you want!? What are your feelings!? Why can't you say something honest!?"

Kano blinked at her, he didn't know what to do. His Eyes were burning yet why did they hurt him this time? They were trying to lie, yet they seemed to be searching for something in the illusion in front of him.

"Honest…"

The illusion nodded. "Yes, Kano, what do you want? Do you really want me to marry Seto?"

"I…I…"

Stop it.

A twisted pain went through his heart, leaving Kano gasping breathlessly and double over, clutching his chest. Kido's instinct was to reach out for him but her hands flinched back in hesitation. The blond let out a silent scream, his mask aching and his Eyes burnt horribly.

I do not need to say it. I do not need to be honest.

But…Kido is…

That's not her! She's not here! Why would she be here with me!?

No…that is her…I know that presence anywhere!

I'm lying to myself! I lie to deceive others! Not to myself! This is what I have been doing for years!

Kano clutched his chest and his eyes, screaming in agony as he rolled onto his back, not noticing the mortified screams around him. Kido was leaning over him, her hands on his shoulders as she cried out his name.

No one is here. No one cares if I continue to lie!

No…Kido…did…

That was years ago!

No…Kido…wanted me to stop…wanted me to be selfish…be honest…

I can't stop deceiving now! I have been doing it all my life! I have to do it forever!

No…I can't…I need to stop…I want to stop!

I'm being selfish! If I stop, everyone will get hurt! Kido will get hurt! I have to keep them happy!

No! This is not my selfishness…my selfishness is…

"I don't…! I don't want…" Kano peered through his fingers, and even though it may be an illusion of Kido crying, he uttered, "you…to…marry…Seto…!"

The weak proclamation startled her and everyone who was able to hear it. Somewhere in him, he felt something shattered and letting his heart free. It shook his body from the core, leaving him weak and tired from the struggle he just had. "I'm…not good at…being honest…" Kano found himself saying, but he didn't stop. He continued to stare at Kido above him. "I…don't know…if what I've been doing…was really for your sake…or mine…?" his Eyes were cooling down, and they were wet. Kano didn't believe he could cry when a finger came up to brush away a stray tear away. "It hurts to know…you're…marrying Seto…but it's more painful to know…you hated me…no…you gave up on me…Is this…really my…honesty? What I want…?" he didn't know why but he laughed. It didn't sound like his humorous ones, it was completely hollow. "…I'm a horrible person…to even…fall in love…with you…"

Something soft, yet warm, pressed against his lips. Eyes growing slightly wide, Kano saw Kido pulling back, a smile on her face as tears continued to rain onto her face. Blinking slowly, he lifted his hand up, and felt her grasp it with her warm hand. Staring at him, Kido whispered, "It's alright…everything is okay now…"

Soft murmurs and footsteps caught his ears. He didn't know what was going on anymore. His eyes were getting tired, and the last thing he could do was stare up at Kido's beautiful face.

Ah…no good…I made her cry again…

"Kido…I'm sorry…"

And he blacked out.

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Deceiver: …Did I kill him? I killed him? I think I just killed him. I actually killed someone in a fanfic.

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Relax! This isn't over yet! Of course I didn't kill him! Seesh! Stay tune for the final chapter!