It's finally the last chapter of Redemption which I could have sworn I've uploaded but as usual, my PC has failed me once again. I have sent Yuki on a vacation and it will be just me to present this next and final chapter of Redemption.

A brief flashback of the story first for those who sort of didn't remember it clearly. This includes me, the writer who had to read the previous chapters to get this straight. XD

Meet Tohru Honda. Your average high-schooler who never quite blended in with the others. That is, until she met face-to-face with Akito, the most popular guy at school. He invited her to a party to gain her trust and she invited him to the Old Folks' Home in return. Once there, Akito's true identity was threatened to be uncovered. He was left with no other choice than to kill the people who would share his secret with Tohru. In the middle of his work, Tohru came in and from the look on his face, understood everything.

Although Akito tried to distance himself away from Tohru now that she knew what he was, she was the one who approached him to find out if everything had just been a part of Akito's plans. All illusions to gain her soul.

But they both knew that there was something else there that drew them together. Aside from the fact that he wanted her soul and that she wanted to save him from falling.

Once again, I'm sorry for the llllllooooooooonnnnnnnnggggggg delay that was only supposed to last a week.

Rest assured that there would be no more delays as I present to you the final chapter of…

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Redemption

By Shiri Chizumi

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The Final Chapter: Akito's Redemption

Dawn was slowly creeping into Tohru's eyes when she saw Akito standing by the window, trying to grasp the light into his hands. She smiled gently as she pulled a robe over her and approached him.

Fascinated with the thing in his hands, he barely noticed her beside him.

"It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?" she commented looking afar. Her tone wasn't her usual enthusiastic one but a gentler, more compassionate tone. As if saying that this would be a new beginning for all of them.

He looked into the horizon and had to agree.

When he first met Tohru, he thought he knew what he wanted… her soul.

Another one to play with, to rule over. But he was wrong.

What he wanted… what he needed… was her faith.

He closed over the tiny ray of light in his palm. This was her faith creeping into him.

No. What he held in his palm symbolized the faith that he had all along inside of him. The faith that was rekindled by Tohru.

To believe in God again… it's been so long.

Akito.

His breath was suddenly caught in his throat. The Old One, Mephisto, has come.

The Old One was filled with fury. The girl sought to take Akito away from their ranks.

Don't listen to her, Akito. She cares nothing for you. She sees you and is afraid—all she's fighting for is to spare her own life.

Tohru's eyes widened as the darkness surrounded her but she stood her ground firmly. She turned to Akito, her eyes never changing the emotions she held, "That's not true, Akito. You left me but I came after you. I do care,"

You are a demon, Akito. That is who you are.

"There are no demons, Akito. Only fallen angels."

Mephisto stared at Tohru malevolently, then at the crucifix.

Destroy the crucifix. He is our enemy. He created these humans to rule over us, to subjugate us. He saved them from death, but leaves us to suffer. Freedom is ours if we can be rid of Him.

"He is afraid." Tohru whispered softly. "Afraid of God."

They stood at an impasse, a triangle of strangers. The Prince of Darkness, a frail human girl, a dark-haired demon boy.

Akito stared at this bloodless battlefield. Mephisto was a tide of evil that wore down the rocks of the oceans, that swallowed the sands of the beach inexonerably, as inevitable as the march of time.

But he was holding back… was being held back.

Why? Akito thought. Fear? A demon knows no fear.

Then why doesn't he destroy her where she stands? Why don't I?

Faith.

And he suddenly knew.

"Yes, you are afraid," Akito agreed. "You can remember so much better than I, Mephisto. The day we raised arms against him. If we were in his place, we would have destroyed Him. That day, the Lord showed us how much greater He is than we are, but he showed us mercy. It is us who ran away from it,"

"I'm tired of running away," and with trembling fingers, he lifted the crucifix. "My place is with Him."

The room seemed to almost burn with his fury. You are a fool, Akito! Do you know what it is you are giving up?

Akito answered calmly. "Yes… My life of servitude to you."

Your life is mine to take… but first, this girl…

"You can't hurt her," Akito said, placing himself directly in front of her.

Do you seek to protect her from me? You are a fool, Akito. Your power is nothing against mine.

He simply shook his head and strode forward. The crucifix swung slightly in his grasp burning brightly.

Then there was a bellow of pain and a horrific sizzling sound. The darkness writhed like a living shadow. Then its dark tendrils claimed Akito with a ripping sound.

"Akito!" Tohru strode forward to catch him. Blood covered his chest as he collapsed on top of her.

You, my girl, will be next. Mephisto snarled weakly.

Then he was gone.

Tohru was crying as she and Akito collapsed on the floor.

"Oh God, Akito. I'm so sorry," Tohru cried. "If it weren't for me—"

He shook his head.

"No, no, Tohru… I had to die." He said softly as more tears fell down from her face onto his frail body in her arms. "What he said was true—this body was what he gave me. I don't want it anymore. At last, I am free of him."

He held up the crucifix, now covered with his blood.

"You were right, Tohru. You… are safe… with Him…"

Shaking, she took it from him. His open palms were white and unblemished.

Tohru leaned closer to Akito, to hear the few, final words that fell from his white lips.

"…But… please… pray… for me."

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