CHAPTER 11: Sacrifice

Okay, so I planned to make this chapter longer, but then I lost my USB, so I had to RETYPE EVERYTHING, and I wasn't in the mood to type everything word per word again. Anyway, I would just like to say to you guys thank you for bearing with my late updates. This story is reaching its end. And this has to be the longest chapters I have ever written. Oh, and did anyone notice that Zekuro's father's real name was original Shisoru Okashitawa, but on some point in the story it suddenly changed into Kasuno Okashitawa?

So, anyway, nothing much, just the sad and strange fact everything is going to end. And here's a spoiler, someone dies.

So, just to summarize, I'm almost done. On bad news, I have no idea what do with all these ideas in my head that can't be put here. On the good news, this chapter will answer all your questions. On other related good news, I plan to post an Assassin's Creed or Naruto fanfic. You guys should check it out soon!

Disclaimer: It's about time you knew what I'm gonna put here.

CHAPTER 11: Sacrifice

Chihiro had died.

Last thing she remembered was that Zekuro helped her onto his room balcony and they watched such a beautiful sunset. He even suggested that they sit on one of his shadow platforms, and so she did. She couldn't even remember how, but Zekuro was persuasive enough to lead her to a kiss. She felt an aura surround them as their lips touched, but she felt her tears stream down her face. They fell for Haku, because as she knew she loved Zekuro, she would know that her first love was and always will be Haku. But then, as Zekuro broke the kiss, she felt her body grow numb, and her skin grow cold. She fell towards the cold ocean below, and Zekuro didn't even bother to catch her body.

Her vision faded to black. As she fell, her tears continued to fall too. She whispered "Haku. . . "

And it was the last word she said with dying breath.

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Haku continued to cry as he jumped from the balcony to rescue Chihiro's body. In the meantime, Yubaba was trying to resolve her problems with her staff who were all watching in anxiousness at the bridge and Zeniba was ushering him to stop. He didn't pay heed to her warning and caught her body before it touched the water. He flew upwards back to the balcony and looked at the dead body of his beloved.

Her body was lifeless, and her eyes were closed with tears marked on her face. Her skin was pale, and cold, and her mouth was slightly open, as if she seemed to whisper something. Haku clenched his teeth to prevent any more tears from flowing out, but he couldn't stop it.

Haku slowly stood up and put her body down while Zeniba tended to her. The river spirit looked angrily at Zekuro. Wait, no, "anger" is a total understatement. He was beyond the limits of anger. The Shadow Prince looked as casual as casual could be. He spat out something onto his hand, but it was anything but saliva. It was a glowing yellow aura that sent spirals of gold around him. It spun like yellow ribbons in his hand, and he held it up for Haku to see.

"Was that all you wanted?!" Haku screamed. "You killed the girl I loved just to get her soul? Are you going to torture me for the rest of your immortal life?!"

"Not just for that, Kohaku," Zekuro replied. "She was a human of pure heart, and her soul was the exact soul my father wanted." He held it up again and grinned in triumph. "This is the key to regaining my honor!"

"You just wanted you honor back?! You lied and loved her falsely just for that?!"

Zekuro's grin faded and was replaced by a scowl. "You'll never understand, Kohaku. This wasn't just for me! This is for my mother! I need this so I could prove to my father how badly I want my mother back! If I never got this, my mother would be dead! I love her, Kohaku! I will NOT FAIL MY MOTHER AGAIN!"

The beautiful sunset had faded and dark clouds took its place. The shadows of the sun were even hidden, and its light faded. There was a sudden scream from one of the bath-house employees who went to investigate the small town before the entrance of the bath-house. He came back to the bridge screaming and yelling:

"The Lord of the Dark Realm is here! Kasuno Okashitawa is here!"

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Zekuro floated down before the entrance of the bridge with Yubaba and her scared staff behind him. He held Chihiro's soul in his right hand, and his red eye had been glowing more defiantly ever since he had talked with Haku. Haku, on the other hand, had no choice but to watch this dark chapter in his life unfold. He was behind the Prince, as he said he would hand over Chihiro's soul to his father, or her soul wouldn't be the only one given to Kasuno.

From the stone path that led to the bath-house there was a tall man with pale skin. His black kimono was a perfect fit for him, and a long red cape trailed behind his garments. On his head sat a crown made of black thorns and silver bones braided together. His hair, which was dark blond, covered his aquamarine eyes. In his right hand, he held a long dagger with a black crude hilt with rubies and a long twisted blade.

The man walked up to the edge of the bridge and sneered at the sight of the Prince. "It's been a long time, Zekuro."

Zekuro stayed calm. "So it has been, father." His attention was caught once again with the people walking behind Kasuno.

Behind him, walking with her hands tied, was a woman younger than his father. She had, like Kasuno, pale skin and tall height, and whitish blond hair that was tangled and reached her waist. Some of it fell in front of her left eye, and her right eye was shown to be a bright pink in color. Her dress was another lady's kimono in red, but it was tattered and torn. Her hands were tied together and Kasuno roughly pushed her to stand in front of him. She knelt before Zekuro yet smiled.

"My son," she said, "you've grown so well. . ."

"Mother," Zekuro said with a hint of pity in his voice.

Behind Kasuno were Chiumi and Kesaru, his siblings, who had sad looks on their faces. Zekuro simply bit his lip and stared at them, while they just gave him a shake of a head. They looked at him with defiance and hopelessness in their eyes.

Kasuno played with his dagger by putting its edge against his finger while he clicked his tongue. "I can't believe it has come to this, my son."

"You have no right to call me your son," Zekuro angrily retorted.

Kasuno sighed. "Of course. You did this all for your mother. What sins have you done to acquire the soul of this human?"

"I have lied," Zekuro said as if he was reciting a poem he was made to memorize. "I have cheated, manipulated, and falsely accused. I have gained false trust and have given agony to others."

Kasuno clapped. "My favorite sins. Well done." Zekuro clenched his teeth even more. The King held out his hand. "Now give me my prize, Zekuro, and I shall regain your honor. You will once more become my son and be loved as one. Your mother shall be spared."

Zekuro clutched Chihiro's soul tighter. He knew that whenever his father gave him a choice, there would always be a catch, and he didn't know what it was. He looked to his mother for help, but all Yukiko gave him was a sad shake of the head. Kasuno spoke again saying, "Give it to me, Zekuro, for the sake of your mother."

Zekuro was at war with himself. He wanted to free his mother, be with her once again, and be loved for the boy he truly was, to regain his honor. It was all within an arm's reach. Then again, there was another force telling him to keep the soul, to use it for better purpose, to bring it back. . .

"Zekuro."

His mother's voice snapped him out of his trance, and he looked up to meet her eyes. Yukiko smiled. "Zekuro, you know, you have to choose what you want, not what other people want. You have to stay adamant, son. Stay strong."

The Prince looked at his mother. "What do you mean, mother?"

"Give the soul back to Kohaku. Give it back to the one he loves."

Zekuro was heavily perplexed by this and held the soul closer to his bosom. "Mother, are you blind? I did this all to save you! I acquired the soul to set you free in the first place? And you expect me to give it back? I'm doing this is for you, mother!"

"And I'm doing this for you too, Zekuro, just like I always have." Yukiko smiled a midst the bad mood that encircled everyone. "You know where your heart lies, Zekuro, because love doesn't lie."

Zekuro took a deep breath and stepped forward. He put his hand on his mother's shoulder and said "Stand up," which so she did. He put his mouth to her ear and whispered something as tears fell from his eyes.

"Mother, I. . . I know what to do now. I know where my heart lies. Please stay strong for me, mother. I shall risk my life to save yours." At this Yukiko gasped, so he continued. "I. . . I could . . . do this finally, and save what I love. I could finally become the son you and father wanted. And please, as my last favor from you, tell her that I loved her."

Here, he put Chihiro's soul secretly into Yukiko's hands, where it melted into them, leaving her hands glowing. Zekuro used one of his shadows to cast an illusion, and it decoyed itself as the soul, looking exactly like it. He stepped out to see his father again and gave placed the fake soul eagerly into his father's hands. Kasuno looked at it with glee.

"So?" Zekuro said impatiently. "Aren't you going to give me what I wanted?"

Kasuno sneered. "What did you want?"

"My mother's life spared! My freedom and honor! Where are they now?"

Kasuno laughed and faced his son. "Since when did I promise those things to you, you little brat?"

"I knew it," Zekuro whispered under his breath. Then, louder to Yukiko, "Mother! Run to Kohaku! Take her to a safe place!"

Yukiko immediately burst running to Haku and he, since he was oh so flustered by this, obeyed Zekuro and took his mother into the bath-house. Kasuno immediately knew what was going on and tried to run to Yukiko, but Zekuro pushed him out of the way. His son used his large shadow beings and created dark shadow wings on his back. He picked up his father, who was being carried on the hand, and carried him above the large tumbling sea below.

"You said you were always afraid of water!" Zekuro screamed. "Let's see why!"

"You are not overpowering me again, Zekuro!" Kasuno yelled, and hoisted himself up on Zekuro's back. He turned in the air, and pushed his son away from him as Zekuro continued to struggle. Kasuno was walking on air, and his crude little dagger was glowing with red light. Zekuro felt his body grow numb, and he soon was kneeling down in lack of power. Kasuno walked over to him, his blue eyes now red. Zekuro looked up at his father with adamant eyes.

"I. . ." Zekuro said exhausted, "I will breathe my . . . last breath for . . . for my mother. . . .my mother. . " Then he said to himself, "I'll love you forever, mother. . ." He closed his eyes.

"You pathetic little boy, your mother was nothing for me but a tool to bring you here and kill you. All my life, you were always imperfection, and even now that you face Death, I see no change in you. You disappoint me. You are not worthy to be called my son." Zekuro smiled still despite his father's cold words. Kasuno's heart knew no pity and brought the dagger down.

It struck the flesh of a Shadow Prince.

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Yukiko was in the empty bath-house, crying and weeping while Haku watched her in her pure agony.

"He," she cried, "he risked his life for me. . . "

"Come, lady," Haku said, we should be going to a safer place. We shall give your son a proper burial after all this is done." He bowed his head. "He was a good friend while he lasted."

Yukiko nodded and followed Haku.

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Kasuno didn't know his life would be taken away together with his son's.

Chiumi and Kesaru were standing behind him the moment he had slain Zekuro. The Princess' hand was on Kasuno's shoulder, and she drew it ever slowly towards her forehead. As she did, a dark shadow emerged from his body and followed the movement of Chiumi's hand. Kasuno's body seemed to be drained of life, and then he fell to the sea once the dark shadowy figure was in Chiumi's hands. She cupped the dark essence in her hands and crushed it, turning it into ashes and she cast them away to wherever the wind wanted to take them. Kesaru walked on the air towards Zekuro's body and picked it up. He walked slowly to the bridge and set it there.

"Brother," he said as if he was reciting a prayer, "you have stayed with us in long times. You knew suffering better than any of us. You shall be blessed in heaven, and your name will be known for your great love."

Silence reigned among the people of the bath-house, Yubaba and everyone else. The sky remained as dark as ever, but a smile was still carved on Zekuro's face.