AN: Finally, finally, it's finished. So little more for me to write of this chapter, but I just couldn't do it. And finally I finished it. Hooray! I'm so sorry for people who have been waiting, but here it is. Done! Thank you to everyone who has read this story, and thank you to people who reviewed and chivvied me on to finish this. I hope you enjoy the ending, and now I am out. Cheers, folks!

Chapter Seven: A Look at the End

The newspaper arrived as usual, and although Akabane usually ignored it, the headlines were something had attracted his interest. It had a picture of the building he had invaded the day before and the story about the murders he had committed. But that wasn't truly what caught his eye. It was the shocked headline that didn't quite seem like it believed itself about the files a source claimed the police found that the people murdered had been tracking and keeping tabs on people with powers. Names couldn't be revealed, but some of the kinds of powers mentioned had Akabane thinking of himself, the ever interesting Ginji Amano, and the dangerous Ban Mido.

Reika was still asleep, the events of the past few days taking its toll on her. It seemed she was recuperating well, though, and Akabane found himself not too concerned with her for the time being. At the moment he was more interested in how the public was going to react to these headlines.

A part of him didn't care; he'd like to see them try and catch him. But now his thoughts wavered slightly when he included Reika in his plans, which both irritated and unnerved him. He put the paper down and wandered into the bedroom, watching Reika intently.

Without thought, a knife slid out from between his index and middle fingers and he began to play with it. It was made of his blood and Reika's blood that had spilled on him when she'd been attacked. His thoughts dissipated in favour of peaceful blankness, focusing solely on hiding the blade in his body and making it reappear elsewhere.

The distraction eventually wore out and he had to look at Reika again. His eyes widened when he saw her eyes were open and watching him.

"Good morning," he said in his eternally cordial manner.

"You put your mask back on quick," she commented, sitting up.

Akabane narrowed his eyes, but said nothing, wandering back to the living room. He could hear her get out of bed and follow him, but deigned not to look.

He stood by the long windows, looking out at the city.

"In all this drama, I haven't been able to contact the boutique," Reika said with a sigh.

"It does not matter," said Akabane, "I shall have to cancel renting the new apartment. It's time for us to leave here."

Reika sighed. It was true. There was nothing here for her, and anything that was would only be put in danger by her connection to Akabane. The boutique would be better off without her and she hadn't been able to go to work because of her injury. And because of everything that had happened, she hadn't got a chance to tell her employer about it. So, she was probably unemployed by now.

"Kuroudo… do we have to leave so soon?" Reika's tone was beseeching, but Akabane felt somewhat uncharitable.

"Yes, we must. The newspaper has revealed some interesting information on myself and others with abilities. Of course, you are welcome to remain behind, though I confess it would be something of a loss."

Reika stood and frowned.

"Kuroudo, don't do this. Look at me. Talk to me. I can feel you trying to push me away."

Finally, Akabane faced her; his face blank.

"My love for you may well destroy you. These recent events have made that abundantly clear."

Reika shook her head and drew closer.

"I knew that a long time ago, and I didn't leave then. Wherever you go, I wish to go too. Should I pack, or are we going to simply disappear?"

She began to smile, and Akabane could feel that desire in his heart stir again. She would be the death of him.

"We do as I do; disappear."


The air was cold and misty. It was just before dawn and Reika had hardly slept since the hostage situation. Her dreams were polluted with the event and the emotions attached to the event. Her dreams also contained the enigmatic man, Kuroudo Akabane and she found herself waking up with a feeling of uneasiness. She wasn't sure what the man was, or if there was anything she could do for him.

She hadn't seen him since the incident, but he'd hardly faded from her memory. Which she couldn't decide was a good or bad thing. Perhaps it was trauma from the hostage situation. Or just gratitude for saving her. Reika prayed it was gratitude.

Her walk to the boutique she worked in was always done in a nervous hurry now. Reika was ready for work in plenty of time, since she kept waking up so early and her place of work was only a ten minute walk. Sometimes she got this horrible feeling that she was being watched, or that the same situation would arise again around the next corner.

Thankfully, no-one revealed themselves and the streets had been empty.

"And anyway," she muttered to herself, "It happened after I left work. I should be afraid then."

Once she got to the store, she was fine. Her employer was aware of what had happened, since it had been splashed on the newspapers the week it had occurred. It didn't help that Reika had practically run all the way to work the day after and had turned up something close to a nervous wreck and consequently spent most of the day in the back so she didn't disturb the customers.

She got through another day better than the one before and headed home on high alert.

The sun was setting earlier since it was Autumn, so it was sitting low in the sky. Reika walked with her back to it, determined to get home as fast as possible.

"Miss Hiroto."

Reika froze. She recognised that voice, the tone of playful cordiality with the hint that it could all turn on a knife edge and become something quite else.

"Doctor Akabane," she breathed, turning around to face the man dressed top to toe in black.

"Yes, you could call me that. I would prefer Kuroudo, though," he said, watching her with interest.

Reika relaxed a little, though was still unsure of what he wanted. Then part of their exchange before he left came to her and she gave a sigh of understanding.

"So you came to have a chat, Kuroudo?"

He nodded and Reika slowly came to walk beside him.

"How have you been, Miss Hiroto?"

Reika grimaced.

"You can call me Reika, you know. And… all right, I suppose," she told him. She didn't know this man and had no intention of letting him know that she was still living in fear of the day a situation like before came up again.

Akabane regarded her with eyes that danced in amusement and Reika suddenly had the feeling he could read minds.

"Is that true, Reika?"

She faltered.

"Of course. You saved me. I have nothing to fear," she stated, becoming defensive. It felt like the man could pick her apart with ease.

"Save fear itself."

He'd struck a nerve and she turned on him, unable to hide the tears beginning to form.

"Is this some sort of entertainment at my expense?" she shakily accused, stepping away from him.

Akabane looked mildly surprised and took a step towards Reika, who stepped back again. Akabane's cordiality was unmoved, despite the shifting in the atmosphere.

"Please do not walk away from me. I have an unfortunate habit of having to finish my conversations once started."

Reika got the terrible feeling he was telling the truth in a twisted fashion. Images of the man who had held her hostage dead flashed through her mind and unsettled her.

"Sorry. I'm just… still adjusting to what happened. It's hard to not be afraid after something like that happens," she carefully explained, approaching Akabane again.

The man had a perpetual mask of geniality, she noticed, even when his words failed to match his expression.

"I will protect you. I doubt there is a person in this area that would attempt anything," he said, once more in a fashion that suggested there was something far more sinister underneath.

"How can you be so sure?" she questioned, intrigued.

They were walking to her house again, Reika uncomfortable arguing in the street. Anyone could turn up and she would find it endlessly embarrassing. So she trotted beside him, since Akabane appeared to have a long stride.

"Oh, I simply sent a personal message to the underground thugs whose territory this is to leave this place alone. And they kindly have."

"W-why did you do that?"

He watched her with an air that he was assessing how much to say before giving her a smile.

"I find you interesting. And I find you holding my interest, despite lacking any power, which is almost unheard of. I cannot explain why you do, so I intend to spend time with you and find out, if you do not mind. It wasn't hard to fend off those underground thugs. They are trash." His face had gone coldly blank towards the end and he didn't meet her eyes. But Reika's curiosity still hadn't been sated.

"Why did they listen to you?" She was on decidedly dangerous grounds.

Akabane gave a small smile that suggested something so much more ominous. Reika wasn't sure whether to be impressed or terrified. She felt like she was playing barehanded with fire.

"Because I am me. And they are them."

The moment he said those words, Reika decided against her better judgement that she wanted to know who the 'me' he spoke of was. And so it began.

Of course, it didn't mean she let him into her house right away. She wasn't quite that trusting of him.

Yet.


They were looking for anything that could be linked to Akabane and destroying it. Luckily, most of the things in their residence was Reika's; Akabane tended to merely possess the clothes he wore. All his weapons resided within him. Reika accepted that his weapons were his most prized possession.

"What do you think we should do with my stuff?" asked Reika as she packed as many clothes and precious things as she could hold in a small suitcase.

Akabane drifted into the room, having shredding all papers and items pertaining to him into the smallest shreds.

"Whatever you like, my dear," he answered, and Reika shook her head.

"Always dodging the question wherever you can," she said, but the way her lips were tugging to smile gave her away.

"It is a carefully cultivated skill."

Reika sighed and decided to pack a small bag of things. Even if Akabane felt he needed nothing, she certainly didn't feel that way. It didn't take long to pack a few basics; a couple changes of clothes, the few sentimental possessions she had, and some things from the bathroom.

She felt a little sad leaving her apartment, but she knew that continuing her journey with Akabane was more important than staying there.

Akabane appeared beside Reika.

"I have dealt with all the offending material. People may be suspicious of this place, but there is no concrete evidence that could be used to follow us."

Reika looked around the apartment, remembering all the things that had happened since she'd got it.

"It'll be strange, but I like the idea of starting again."

Akabane gave her a classic cordial smile.

"Memories can be like good books; there are chapters one enjoys reliving again and again. As long as you have those memories, do you really need to stay here any longer?"

Reika took one last look at their living room.

"I suppose not. I'll treasure it all."

Akabane extended his hand.

"Shall we go?"

She took his gloved hand and nodded.


Their conversations and meetings were slowly building up to something inevitable. The tension between them could practically be seen when they spoke, sitting together. Akabane was always very peaceable, while Reika stumbled over her words. She knew he was aware of the sexual tension between them, but happily ignored it, or somehow put it to one side. Perhaps even he was affected by it, but Reika couldn't see any visible effects. If it was merely an act and he was suffering as she was, she at least wished to possess the same ability to cover the whole thing up. Then she wouldn't have to feel her face become hot every five sentences they shared.

It was strange to see him sitting in her room, quite unperturbed. He stood out in her apartment so much dressed in his full black outfit. He always took his hat off, which seemed to be a matter of decorum for him, and today had placed it on her bare coffee table. His coat seemed to be something he was more reluctant to part with. The only time she could recall him removing it was to dry his shirt that terribly uncomfortable night she'd thoughtlessly offered to dry it on a radiator and he'd revealed the numerous scars on his torso.

The mere thought made her face begin to suffuse with red and Akabane cocked his head, apparently entertained.

"Are you quite all right, Reika?" he casually asked, giving her a wolfish grin.

"O-of course!" she blurted to try and prevent him from enquiring further.

It only seemed to serve to make things worse, as he got up, skirted around the coffee table to sit on her sofa. She got antsy when he was very close to her, and so Akabane had submitted to her wishes for him to sit on the sofa opposite. But that was in the living room. When he came to her bedroom to chat, she had to endure his proximity on the edge of the bed. To try and stop him catching her in her bed, she was consequently going to bed later and later. Reika was sure he was coming to her apartment later each visit just to catch her in bed.

Their meetings went like this; he was usually busy during the day, doing transporting jobs. There were nights he was busy too, so his visits weren't daily. She never knew when he was coming, but she could safely say it would be anywhere from late in the evening to the early hours of the morning. As of late, Akabane seemed to be moving his visits up an hour each time, which she suspected was a result of him coming to her bedroom window, his usual point of entry, to find her in the living room awake. He seemed to enjoy catching her unguarded and having their conversations in her bedroom, which made her more nervous.

"You don't look alright. In fact you look decidedly… flushed."

Oh, he loved to draw her embarrassment out. Anything to entertain him for longer. But could she blame him, when she was being silly? They had known each other for some time now and she still got agitated over his presence.

Reika was jolted out of her thoughts when a gloved hand touched her cheek.

"And you feel rather warm. Are you coming down with something? I am a doctor, you know."

Reika faced him and knew he was teasing her.

"Kuroudo, do you like to watch me squirm and suffer?" she asked, getting annoyed by his mocking of her feelings. Akabane suddenly looked serious.

"No. I like things to happen."

He leant forward and placed a kiss on her neck, and she could feel the blood pound through her carotid under his lips.

Reika was in a state of shock.

"Kuroudo!" was all she could think to say. He sat back to look at her, folding his gloved hands on his lap, and she met his amused eyes with confusion.

"Why did you do that?" she asked. She could still feel where his cool lips had touched. Her pulse was still going wild.

Reika knew what he could be like and what he'd said previously wasn't helping. Did he do that just because he liked things to happen and had calculated that she would probably have an interesting response? Or did he do it because of feelings he was aware she had and shared?

Either way was pretty terrifying.

"Because I wanted to. The air… it's filled with a pall of tension. It's a tension that can be solved quite easily, but no-one dares do it. I did not want to push the matter, but even I have limits, as you just witnessed."

"Kuroudo… I'm sorry. I can't just… do things. I have to work my way up to them."

He regarded Reika for a moment.

"That's a lie. You want to do something, but lack the courage to do it. Your working is flailing. You have no intention of doing anything unless I initiate it. And look what I've just done," his curt tone, with the playful finish made Reika squirm. It didn't help that what he was saying wasn't exactly untrue.

The room was silent and Akabane casually removed his gloves, placing them beside his hat. She watched him curiously and he noticed, giving her another playful smile.

Next, he loosened his black tie, carefully taking in her reaction.

"You're trying to provoke me, aren't you?" she said in a whisper, shuffling to the far side of the sofa. Unfortunately, it wasn't much further across from where she was already sitting.

Akabane gave a nod and removed his tie, placing it neatly beside his gloves. Reika briefly wondered if all his clothes were going to end up on the coffee table before standing up and strolling to the kitchen.

"Are you thirsty?" she called. It was all she could think to do to decorously get away from him.

Reika heard obvious footsteps as she looked for a glass. He wanted her to hear him. She had to ignore it and find a glass quickly. Drinking some water would give her time to think about what to do.

"No, thank you."

His voice was close. She finally found what she was looking for and snatched it up before turning around. Akabane stood at the entrance of the kitchen with his shirt hanging open. He saw her eyes trail down his beautifully muscled and scarred torso before hastily returning to his face and smirked.

"I was getting rather warm," he lamely explained, clearly challenging her to call him out.

Instead she filled the glass she clutched with water and gave a terrible laugh. It sounded like she was about to break down.

"Kuroudo… why are you pushing me?"

He tilted his head for a moment while she gulped down some water.

"Because you don't push yourself. And it is good to test yourself. Otherwise you make no progress, which is a waste of potential."

Reika grimaced. Once again, he wasn't precisely untrue. She didn't push this particular matter because she was afraid. It would be a slippery slope, she knew. Once she took one step with him, her feet would give and she'd just slide, unable to stop herself. And she feared not being able to turn back.

"Kuroudo, you're… a very painfully tempting man," Reika began, putting her glass on the counter, "and I think I might even, well… love you, in a weird way."

His eyes watched her with interest while she pulled herself together.

"I've never been in a situation like this and I'm simply being wary," she concluded.

"I too, have never been in a situation like this. But there are limits to how long one can remain static."

He was going to give her a headache if he kept being rather vague. Reika paused to take stock. She believed she cared quite a lot for him, and he had indicated – in his own way – that he felt not unlike how she felt. She had wanted to be more intimate, but was also afraid. He had indicated – once again, in his own way – that he too wished to be more intimate, but had not pushed himself upon her. Perhaps, she could concede all that was standing in the way was her fear of the unknown. But perhaps he could help her.

"I think I understand. But I… I want control. For a while, until I feel more comfortable, if you don't mind."

Reika told herself that you never know unless you ask. All she wanted was to see and touch until she felt a little more confident.

"Control away. It is something, rather than nothing at all. I welcome it. Do what you will with me. I can only hope I am entertained."

She gave him a questioning look.

"What would happen if you weren't? Would you kill me?" she challenged him, and he gave her the coldest look she'd ever seen from him.

"Never."

Reika shook her head.

"I didn't mean it, I swear. Your entertainment largely seems to be tied to death. Perhaps you're finding a new avenue of fun?"

Akabane softened and considered the matter.

"Perhaps," he conceded.

She drew closer to him now he'd given her control. Tentatively, she ran her hands down his chest. His breath hitched slightly and she smiled. It was reassuring to know that he wasn't going to simply stand there and do nothing. Eliciting reactions made her feel more comfortable, especially since he could do it so easily with her.

Reika slid her hands back up and pushed his loose shirt off his shoulders and down his arms until it fell to the floor. Akabane watched her patiently.

"Are you bored yet?"

"Not at all. Things are just getting started," he said, his eyes locked so intensely with hers that Reika had to look elsewhere. She settled with his chest. The memory of when she first saw the scars that adorned his chest briefly came to mind. She moved a hand to each scar in the order he had done back then. Reika stopped as an idea struck her. She stepped even closer and he placed a kiss at all the smaller scars. She could hear Akabane inhaling, but allowing her to decide what he could do.

"It's all right to hold me."

Akabane immediately pulled her to him, his arms wrapped tight around her. Reika managed to pull back a bit and Akabane ran a hand through her hair. Pausing to look into his eyes, Reika then dipped her head forward and experimentally ran her tongue down the long scar on the left side of his chest. One of Akabane's hands gripped her shoulder, while the other slid behind her neck, the fingers caressing her hair.

"Good?" she asked.

"Very much so," he replied serenely.

"In that case…"

Reika was getting bolder now. The way he had reacted had calmed her nerves. Her hands trailed down his chest to the belt on his trousers. Carefully, she undid it, pulled it out and threw it aside. She didn't care where it landed, though the noise of it knocking stuff over made her wince slightly.

"I've… decided that you can, uh, take some of my clothing off. If you want. It doesn't seem very fair for me to keep standing here fully clothed…" she mumbled. She wondered what it would feel like to have someone else take her clothes off.

Akabane gently caressed Reika's face, getting her attention.

"I would like to."

He reached to the hem of her top and lightly gripped it, giving Reika time to take it in and tell him to stop. She simply watched him, waiting. Akabane smiled peaceably before carefully lifting it up and over Reika's head. She calmly let him do it. Once it had gone, she didn't feel a sudden urge to dive behind the dining room table and hide.

"I feel… okay…"

Akabane's smile stretched to something more genuinely happy than the usual cordial smile he wore.

"Excellent. What next?" he prompted.

Reika considered the matter, her gaze checking over his body.

"Take off your shoes," she requested.

Akabane nodded and complied. He put them neatly by the door. Reika wasn't sure she'd seen a more bizarre sight.

"Now?"

Reika sighed.

"I'm getting tired of deciding."

Akabane raised an eyebrow.

"Can I take that to mean that you are comfortable with me taking part in this?"

She nodded.

"I… I think everything will be all right."

"Excellent."

He smoothly removed the rest of his clothes. Reika baulked slightly, but calmed herself, indulging in her desire and trying to brush aside her nervousness.

Then, in a flash, Reika felt Akabane removing her clothes, but he was too fast to follow or for her to protest. He slowed down and was now holding her close. His eyes studied the kitchen for a moment before hoisting her into his arms. He walked over to the dining table and lay her down.

"Uh," said Reika, "That's going to be cold."

"Then I shall bear the brunt of it. I find the cold delightful," he told her, and pulled her down with him.

Reika finally felt strangely at ease. His cool hands held her securely, and the way he looked at her… it made her feel happy. She leaned down and kissed him deeply, to which he responded with more passion than she'd ever seen in him. It made her grin internally to know that he could demonstrate such emotion. It gave her hope for him and her.

"Kuroudo… thank you for helping me," she eventually said when their lips parted.

Akabane gave her a slightly strange look, but shook his head, and simply kissed her again.

After a while, Reika felt the need to speak again.

"And, well, I really do think I love you."

Akabane's smile was almost predatory.

"Good. I believe I may share your feelings."

And with that, he finally did what he'd been wanting to do for some time.


They were at the edge of the city, on a large hill. It gave a fantastic view of what they were leaving behind, which unsettled Reika.

"Where are we going?" she softly asked and he met her grey eyes with his own. She had such an expression of melancholy mixed with hope that he wasn't sure what she thought. He sighed and turned his gaze away, out over the cityscape below.

"We shall go wherever you wish to go. Away, preferably," he replied with a hint of humour, but Reika became grave, her eyes lowering to the ground in front of her feet.

"We should get away. But could we see where you came from?" Her eyes held something he wanted to push away. He always had the feeling of push and pull with her, and supposed that was how it was always going to be. The revulsion and allure mixed in so not even he could tell the difference sometimes. She tested him every single day, and he hoped that things would work out for the best. Akabane thought on where he had lived a long time ago and a small smile crept onto his face.

"Yes, we could. Admittedly, I am personally not fond of the place any longer, but it would make an interesting trip down memory lane. I suppose I should learn more about the man called Doctor Kuroudo Akabane. But afterwards, we should stay moving for a time. It's lucky my work involves moving about – it should make us difficult to trace. So shall we depart, my dear?"

Reika nodded, her mood brightening considerably. She linked her arm with his and he entertained the action, content that she was happy. As the two left, leaving behind a city filled with memories, both good and bad, they felt themselves become freed.

Finally, perhaps they could make a life together. Reika could accept simply living beside him. For he would always be someone who walked somewhat alone, even surrounded by people. And to accept and live with that was enough.

It would be enough.

& THE END &