Chapter 29: Aftermath

Synopsis: Things have now reached full circle as the cycle must now come to an end. The point where time had stopped has begun again as the life she has lived has been on borrowed time. Fate demands that only one may stand.

Now at the beginning and end of where this all started, Kaede must now choose. In her decision, will it be a price worth paying?

Reminder: I do not own Elfen Lied or any characters associated with it

"talking"

thoughts


Kaede looked away as she couldn't bare the sight of her.

"Oneesan, is there something wrong?" asked Nyu worriedly. "Did something happen?"

"Stop it . . . ." It felt like pins were being jammed into her side. Her smiling face only added more pain to injury as she still couldn't face the choice in front of her. She then softly pushed Kohta away as she looked into his eyes. "Kohta . . . . do you mind waiting over there for a while?"

His eyebrow perched slightly at her unusual behavior. "Is there something wrong Kaede-chan?"

The horned girl continued to look away. She then looked back with a cheerful expression trying to ease his concern. "No, it's just I want to have a word with my sister . . . . alone".

Kohta knew it was facade. But not wanting to aggravate things, he abided as he moved back towards the sidewalk. "If you need anything, I'll be waiting over there".

Kaede looked back to Nyu trying to act as she always did. "Do you mind if we talk in private?"

The ditzy girl with her usual sunny appearance smiled as she agreed.

The twins then walked over to a nearby log that had washed up onto the beach. They then sat side by side with each other as they looked out to the afternoon sun which warmly bathed the sand.

Although they were alone, Kaede could not find her voice as she still had a hard time accepting the burden she was forced to shoulder.

After being silent for some time, Nyu decided to break the silence as she began to reminisce. "Do you remember the beach oneesan? We always came down here to play after school. I remember how we would always go digging for shells to add to our collection. When we were lucky, we would find hermit crabs running around. It was really funny how that one crab used a soda can as its new shell". She then looked to the sky as she leaned back supporting herself with her arms. "But it was really nice how okaasan would spend time with us during the weekend especially with her busy schedule. I sure do wish those time would come back".

" . .op . . .t . . ."

Nyu looked to her sister. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said stop it!"

Nyu was startled at the outburst, "oneesan?"

Kaede looked towards the horizon as she did not dare to look at her. "You're not really my sister . . . . are you?"

Her eyes bulged before settling down to a saddened one. She then looked down into the sand. "No . . . . I'm afraid not . . . ."

Those words stung as her breathing started to become heavier. ". . . . you knew all along . . . . didn't you? . . . . Why didn't you tell me?"

Nyu shook her head as she continued to look down. "I was born into this world as your sister. However, I was also an anomaly that should've never been. Although not on a conscious level, I was always aware of the truth of what would happen to me. But regardless of this, I still loved you as though you were my sister".

Kaede then looked to her in shock as she continued.

"However I did not have the heart to tell you. You had the chance to start your life over and I did not want to take that away from you".

"But . . . . don't you hate me?"

". . . . ?"

"I caused all of this to happen" as Kaede recalled the memories of her past and present lifetime. "All this misery is my fault. So tell me! How can you say all that and not hate me for what I've done!"

Nyu blinked several times before reverting back to her usual happy demeanor, "because you still cared for me in both this world and the last".

". . . . "

"In the last world, I was created from you as shell for you recuperate from. But even though that was all that I was, you eventually saw me as more than that. Even though you had the chance to reclaim yourself, you chose me to live your life. Now even in this world you did not have to bring me along. You could've lived peacefully here with okassan, but yet you still wanted me with you".

"But I . . . ."

"I was still happy in both worlds. I had the chance to live my life. Although it was short, I still enjoyed every moment of it".

Kaede couldn't believe how unimaginably pure Nyu was. It was true that she cared for her in both of the lives she had lived. But for the life of her she didn't understand why, she had every reason to despise her for dirtying their hands as she was forced to watch as lives ended around her. Even through all of that, Nyu was always at her corner pushing and pulling her to make the right choices. Whenever she became lost, that girl would always be there to guide her back to the right path. Kaede then looked out to the ocean in contemplation. ". . . . What now?"

"That's up to you to decide oneesan" smiled Nyu. "You have the power to shape our destiny to whatever you wish it to be. All you need to do now is decide and things will progress from there".

"But what will happen to you?"

"You already know the answer to that".

Kaede closed her eyes as she saw the future unfold before her. But it was just as her mother had said, and just as she feared. For this world to survive, two of them must now cease to exist. But if that was the case then it was obvious to what she had to do. She then turned to Nyu.

"Oneesan?"

"You have an equal chance in survival as do I and Lucy. The fact is that only one of us may exist. So I will guarantee your survival as you'll now be the original". She then shut her eyes for a moment in thought before reopening them. "I will kill Lucy and then . . . . I will kill myself".

Nyu's eyes widened as her mouth slightly parted. "You can't! I won't allow you to do that!" But before she could make her case, she found herself in a tight embrace.

"It doesn't matter who you are to me" smiled Kaede. "You are special to me and no force in existence will ever change that".

"But you'll die!"

"I know . . . . but I don't really mind it too much. For I had my time in the sun and I really enjoyed the time we shared as sisters. It was a really nice while it lasted. So thank you for being there for me and good-bye as this will be the last time we'll see each other".

Nyu gasped before going into calm as she passed out. With a precise hit, Kaede sedated her as she went limp in her arms. She then held her tighter as she wanted to cry in what was going to happen soon. However that would make saying good-bye a lot harder than it had to be. "But I suppose it's admirable to die for such a cause". She then piggybacked her sister back to the main road where Kohta was waiting for them.

The tanned youth looked on with stupor as the twins approached him. "What happened?"

"She's just sleeping" said Kaede. "But I need you to do something for me now".

"Yeah, what is it?"

Kaede then handed Nyu off to Kohta as he now carried her on his back. "I want you to return to Maple Inn and keep her safe. And no matter what happens, stay there until the peace has returned". She then turned to leave.

"Wait! What are you talking about? Where are you going?"

The pink diclonius stopped moving but dared not to look back. "I . . . . I just have to go finish something. It's something that only I can do. But I promise it'll be over soon. I . . . . just don't want Nyu to interfere as this is something I must do alone".

". . . . Then why are you saying good-bye?"

Kaede's eyes bulged at his statement, but still kept her calm. "What are you talking about? I didn't say anything like that".

"You can't hide your heart from me. Although this is only a feeling . . . . when I look at you now . . . . I feel that I'm not going to see you again. As if you're telling me . . . . you're going to leave us soon".

The horned girl chuckled at his deduction. "Don't be foolish Kohta. You're acting like a child. Although I'm flattered that you'll miss me in the short time I'll be away. But you have Nyu, and she will be by your side. So don't worry because I'll be back".

Kohta's face dropped slightly as he wasn't buying a word that was coming out of her mouth. "Do you promise you'll return?"

Kaede felt a jolt in her system. But she then turned around to face him as she put on the best smile she could. "I promise I'll return".

". . . . Kaede-chan".

She then turned back as she waved her hand. "I'll be seeing you later then". But as she walked away tears could not help but appear, and the further she got the more painful it became.


"Will things be OK?" asked Mayu

"Of course they will" answered Yuka. At this time she was watching over Mayu, Nana and Mariko as they were currently at the hospital. After the attack on the inn, it didn't feel safe to be anywhere else. Whoever they were, they were vulgar enough to attack private property. So it was better off to lessen the chances of them acting directly against them by being in a public place. She then looked to Nana who was currently sitting bedside to her step-sister. "How is Mariko-chan doing?"

"She's resting peacefully. Although, I can't figure out why her presence disappeared again?"

"That's how you found her, right Nana-san?"

The young silpelit nodded to this. She then had an internal chuckle to what she remembered when she found her.


~ Flashback ~

After making their escape, Mayu and Nana ran quickly to find a safe place to stay for a while. But after some distance the young silpelit was forced to a stop.

"What's wrong Nana-san? Why did you stop?"

Nana looked around rapidly until she faced a particular direction.

"Where are you going?"

"I just need to check something out". At this time, it was quite late in the hour as there were barely any people around. However she didn't quite understand why she was feeling her presence here as she was supposed to be back at the inn fighting alongside Kaede.

Now after a bit of running they arrived in the shopping district which appeared to be disserted for the night. But upon arrival they found a three foot crater which completely obliterated that section of the road. "What happened here?"

"Who the hell does she think she is?"

The two adolescents looked up to see a child silpelit sitting on a nearby bench as she was bleeding and quite obviously hurt.

"Are you OK Mariko-chan?" asked Nana.

The girl looked up as she couldn't help but show a peeved expression. "Do I look alright to you?"

"But weren't you back at the inn? How did you end up here?"

"After all the help I gave her, this is how she treats me? She told me to retreat and I refused. But it didn't mean she had to throw me like a football across half the city!"

The two girls couldn't help but give a strained laugh at the way she phrased it. Considering the distance, Mariko had traveled roughly sixteen hundred meters in about three minutes before arriving where she was. " . . . . that has to be a record"

Mariko then glared at them. "You better not find this funny".

"No, not at all" waved Mayu nervously.

"Anyways let's go get you some help" then said Nana. " . . . . I just hope Kaede-san was able to escape" to which the other two agreed in thought.

They then picked the child silpelit up as they moved on to which the rest was history as they would eventually meet up with Yuka who left to find them. After being found, they went to the hospital as they received medical attention for the injured silpelit.

But not able to resist the temptation to ask, "So how did it feel to fly?"

~ End Flashback ~


"Nana-neechan?"

Mariko-chan! Are you feeling better now?"

The child silpelit nodded happily as she smiled towards her.

"Thank goodness" said Mayu

Yuka was glad to see them OK. But her expression went grim as she rubbed the side of arm. A part of her felt something drastic was going to happen soon.


She was now wondering through the downtown district as she slowly approached the final battle. Now whether she was tired or just buying time, it didn't really matter. Simply, she was marching to her death and she could not help but feel despair as the tears would not stop.

Kaede then held herself as she made her way through the area. " . . . . In the end . . . . I couldn't tell him good-bye . . . ." The feeling of leaving Kohta again a second time was too much. Her heart felt completely crushed the first time it happened. But now having to do it again . . . . "It's just too much . . . ." She wanted to at least leave him on a better note, but she knew him all too well. If she were to have told him the truth, Kohta would have followed her right to her death. But she could not bear for anything to happen to him. Even if she did tell him the truth how could she possibly explain everything that had happened? If she did tell, would he forgive her for her crimes? Kaede then shook her head as she didn't want to dwell on the 'what if' of things.

But if it was any kind of consolation, she would still be by his side after this. Although it wouldn't be her at least Nyu will be with him and that is as close of a happy ending that she could hope for considering her situation.

Now nearing the tower, she wanted to at least take the time to recall how she had lived the ten years of her borrowed time. If she had to generalize it as a whole it was the most wonderful decade she could have possibly wished for. She had family, friends, a lover, and overall a very nice life (if you factored out the evil organization that was after her).

As she began climbing up the stairs she didn't feel any regrets for the choices she had made in her life. Although there were many mistakes and stumbles along the way she accepted her faults as now she was ready to face her responsibility.

Now on the roof top, it was time to stare destiny right in the eye.

"It's about time you've made your way up here" said Lucy. She then looked over the rail as she squinted towards a particular sight. "And it would seem you decided to let her live" looking back to her. "So this is the choice you've made huh?"

"It's fine if it came to an end like this. Out of the three of us, Nyu is the only one qualified to live as her soul is still clean of our blood stained hands". Kaede then tightened her fist as her resolve felt stronger than ever. "So let's end this Lucy. I'm tired of feeling guilty over the choices you've made in your life. You decided for yourself what kind of person you wanted to be, and now I will bring this misery to a close".

Lucy stared silently for while until a small smirk appeared which gradually began to grow into an evil smile until shaping into a maniacal laughter. "You've got a lot of guts to say something like that to me. But that will make killing you all the more pleasurable!" In the next instant the entire roof top was blown away twisting and bending the metal as it flattened creating the stage for their final battle.

Kaede easily blocked the initial strike as she stood unfazed by the attack. "I'm not afraid of you anymore Lucy and I'll make sure you fall this day as it's time we both paid for our crimes". She then dashed forward, vectors at the ready, as she sent an innumerous amount at her enemy.

Lucy saw no threat in them as she swatted the attack away.

However that was only a diversion as she cut out a square in front of her flipping it up and dropping it on her other. But before it could even get near Lucy, it was cross-slashed as it landed harmlessly to her sides. The moment it was away, Kaede was no longer in sight. "Where did she go?" She then looked up to see that she had flipped into the air and was now behind her.

"I've got you!" as the horned girl not only threw her fist but every vector she had aiming to rip Lucy apart.

" . . . . too weak". Upon impact, a shock wave was created as Lucy not only caught her hand but every one of her vectors. "This is just too easy" as she then span her around before throwing her right into a metal pillar that was still standing in the area.

However, Kaede managed to dampen the kinetic force as she wrapped herself within her psychic hands which dented the pillar as she fell harmlessly from it. She then stood up a bit shaken at the intensity of the throw. "At this rate I'm going to get myself killed. I need to end this quickly!" Kaede now feeling the need for creativity bundled her vectors together to form a psychic mass in the form of a fist.

But in counter to this Lucy mimicked the same action as she caught the attack while parrying it away. She then slammed the giant vector into the ground leveling another floor of the tower as metal debris shot up as an aftershock.

Kaede dispersed her psychic mass forming multiple vectors again to shield herself. Although she reduced the damage, some shrapnel did penetrate her defense cutting her up slightly. The horned girl then cringed as she glared at Lucy. "How the hell am I supposed to beat her?" It wasn't the fact there was a difference in power. They were both even in that sense, but what divided them was experience and ambition. To an extent, their ambitions to win were even. However Lucy had more experience when it came to killing. Perhaps that was the problem as she was still hesitant when it came to taking life.

If that was the case, she had to let go of who she was to embrace the monster within to kill the monster before her. Kaede couldn't let her morals restrict her from what needed to be done, and for everyone's sake she needed to kill her no matter what. So giving her no room to counter she dashed forward once again as she launched her vectors surrounding Lucy in a three-hundred and sixty degree sphere having each of her psychic hands in maximum oscillation.

"Pathetic" as Lucy repelled her attack to which she sent her own vectors to perform the same act.

Kaede was now forced to play defensive as she enclosed herself in a psychic sphere. But it was too late as one vector got through. "Ahh!" She then fell to the ground as her left arm was now severed from her body. Kaede cringed at the overwhelming pain as blood gushed out from the wound.

"So this is all your resolve amounts too huh?" Lucy approached her as she grabbed the top of her head ready to do her ever so favorite method of death. "Don't worry, I'll give your head to our sister so she'll at least know you tried. But who knows she might actually put up a better fight then you did".

"I'm not done yet!" Kaede defied as she threw dust into her eyes. In that small window of time, she quickly grabbed her severed limb as she ran to a good spot to hide temporarily.

"You're only delaying the inevitable!" Lucy then attempted to search for her telepathically, but came up empty. "Shit! She's hidden her presence". At that irritation she began slicing up any place her opponent could be hiding.

"Damn it, hurry up!" thought Kaede as she attempted to reattach her arm. Her sadistic opponent was quickly drawing closer on her position and at the way things were looking, victory seemed like a most distant thing. " . . . . What am I supposed to do . . . . ?" As she closed her eyes to contemplate, a particular memory came up as this could've been a solution to her problem. "It's too dangerous . . . . But it doesn't matter. I had no plans to survive after this battle".

"I see you've come to face your death now" said Lucy. "Now prepare to die!"

But she was dumbfounded to see her attack easily stopped. Kaede then shot out her own single vector to which arrogantly Lucy tried to stop with one of her own. But to her surprise it didn't stop. "What the hell is up with this difference in power? What is going on?"

" . . . . If it were a battle of skill . . . . you could've killed me easily long ago. But what I don't have in experience, I must overcome you in power".

Lucy looked in surprise to her other's actions. "You couldn't have . . . ."

"I told you that Nyu will be the one to survive. So it doesn't matter what happens to me". Kaede's horns then grew longer and more defined. "This is how much I care for the people around me. People I love. People I cherish. So if it means losing what little time I have left then so be it".

Lucy gritted her teeth as she was now at a disadvantage. For her foolish other had completely released the restraints to her power. Just one of her vectors could easily beat all of hers. "She must already know what the tradeoff is" because in exchange for all that power, the user severely compromises the integrity of their body to which with overuse they will die very soon. "But she'll definitely kill me before I can outlast her". So having no choice in the matter she was forced to break her own limiter in order to survive.

Kaede smirked, "I thought so". Even if she couldn't kill Lucy she could force her to use up what little time she had causing her body to degrade. If time was all she needed then this was a battle she knew she could overcome. "Bring it!"


"Something feels terribly off" said Kohta.

". . . . What . . . . What happened?"

"Nyu-chan! You're awake!"

After washing the weariness from her face, her memory instantly returned at what happened.

"Hey watch it. What's gotten into you?"

The ditzy girl looked around frantically until she zeroed in on the tower. She then looked back to Kohta. "We have to stop her! We can't allow her to do this!"

"Calm down, what are you talking about?"

"Oneesan . . . . oneesan went off to die!"

Kohta stepped back at that statement. "What? What do you mean she went off to die? What is Kaede-chan doing?"

"Oneesan is . . . . Oneesan is . . . ." but before she could finish, the building they stood next to apparently exploded as large chunks of concrete and glass began to fall on them. But lucky for the tanned youth he had his pink angel standing right next to him who shielded them both from the disaster.

Kohta looked up in surprise. "What the hell was that? Was that some sort of bomb or something?"

"No" said Nyu sadly.

"Nyu-chan?"

" . . . . Oneesan and Lucy are currently fighting as maximum power. But because they are fighting as they are, there powers are running amok as the backlash is destroying the surrounding area".

"Lucy? Why is Kaede-chan fighting her? What is going on?" However a large zoom brushed by them as Kohta looked up to see several fighter jets flying right by them. "Is that the J.S.D.F.? Why are they here? What in the world is going on?" He then looked over to his pink companion to see her in a daze. "Nyu-chan?"

"The cycle is now nearing its end" squinting her eyes. "With the appearance of an internal threat the government has sent the J.S.D.F. to pacify it".

"Wait! You mean the Japanese special defense force is being sent to kill them?"

". . . ."

" . . . . no" as he looked horrified at the scene. But it wasn't too surprising considering the situation. Buildings are being blown up all around them, citizen deaths tolling in the hundreds, and no site of this event coming to an end. So the government sending in a military response seemed to be the only logical move. If they did have ties with the Kakuzawa organization then they were definitely not joking around about this as they will bring every bit of firepower they have to destroy the focal point of this threat. "Kaede-chan . . . ."

" . . . . I'm going . . . . I'm going to where oneesan is".

" What?"

"I too have a role to play in all this, and I can't let oneesan face this alone. Please go to somewhere safe until things have calmed down". But as Nyu prepared to walk away she could not take another step as someone had snagged her hand. "Kohta-kun?"

"I can't let you go alone. If that's where Kaede-chan is I want to go with you".

"It's too dangerous" said Nyu softly.

"I don't care! It's not right for her to face it alone like this. I want to be there for her too".

The ditzy girl looked to him before looking back to their destination. She knew it was a bad idea to allow him to come. But he too had his role to play. Knowing how this was all going to end, she wanted him to be there for it as well. "Just stay behind me and I'll keep you safe".


"Just die already!" Lucy screamed as she pressed her attacks harder.

"Just need to last a bit more" thought Kaede as blood began seeping out of her mouth.

With the maximum use of their powers both dicloniuses were reaching their peak of how much their body's could endure. The more they used their powers, the more entropy would build up within them to which point they would literally begin melting due to molecular instability. Of course the most logical thing for Lucy to do was escape if she wished to survive. However she was now caught in a rather intricate trap. If she had tried to run her opponent would easily cut her down and if she fought back then all she had to do was shield herself. Just as problematic were the jets. She had to spend the extra effort swatting them down to which Kaede had no intention of doing as that was the point, and that was to make her burn out first.

"Freeze!"

Kaede looked back, "You idiots! You're being a nuisance! Get out of here!" Along with the jets, helicopters were flown in for the purpose of sending in infantry units. But that was like sending sheep to the slaughter as they were clearly underestimating the situation. As much as she wanted to save them, it was not possible as she was already busy just trying to protect herself.

What seemed like hours of fighting was now drawing to a close as their battlefield was like a site out of a post-apocalyptic scene. Many corpses and destroyed buildings were littered all around them. It was quite a horrid site. Regardless of this, the two psychics were not giving in as soon one will stand and the other shall fall.

"It's already too late for you" said Kaede. "Just a little more and you'll be done for".

Lucy coughed out blood as she could literally feel her skin melting off. She then let out a low growl. "Why? Why do you care for these worthless animals? These creatures are so blind in their ignorance. So why must we as superior beings bow to them?"

The pink diclonius shook her head. "You're wrong about that Lucy. You forget that even with all our abilities we are still like those worthless animals as you so called them. We hate, we despair, and we despise just like them. But we are also capable of good things as well like forgiving and caring for those around us".

"To hear garage like that out of your mouth . . . . it makes me sick to think that we once shared the same body. So tell me, how can you compare us to them when you've experienced firsthand what horrors they're capable of? You've seen their ability to accept change! Do you honestly think a world like this will accept our kind? Wouldn't it be better just to erase them all and start over with a race of our own? So tell me why do you so strongly oppose me? Is what I'm offering so wrong!"

Kaede could empathize with Lucy as she was aware of the horrid things people were capable of. But to generalize like that was not fair because to judge an entire race based on a few bad apples . . . . it just didn't seem right. Perhaps in another lifetime she would have agreed with Lucy, but like in both them she grew to care for them and in turn they cared for her. So she was not going to fail them. "There's nothing wrong in trying to create of world where we can live peacefully. But to sacrifice the lives of billions just to do it, that I cannot allow. For this reason I will stop you!"

Lucy gritted her teeth at hearing the absurdity. "To die like this giving the world to these apes, I'd rather see this world burn to ashes!"

"Like a spoiled brat", but the matter quickly escalated to a new level as her opponent was now performing her insane and final act. In one push Lucy had full intent of ending all life on Earth by pushing every bit of her life force to her powers.

"If I am left with nothing, then I'll make sure neither of you will have anything either!"

Kaede clenched as she tried to contain Lucy. However that was an act easier said than done as the sadistic girl was putting her all behind the intent. "Do you really plan to end this world?"

It was overwhelming as Lucy was projecting an enormous tower of vectors which spiraled out towards outer space. With the power she was projecting alone, it was enough to split the Earth down the middle. At this point Kaede at her current maximum was only holding back a quarter of what Lucy was pushing out.

"It looks like this is the final run . . . ."

In pushing everything she got into her powers, Lucy was slowly turning into sludge as piece by piece of her began to fall off.

Kaede grunted, "At this rate she'll end up killing half the Earth. I have to end this now!" So betting her life on this last act, she poured every ounce of her life force into her powers to match Lucy. Immediately she began to expand her vectors to cancel out the opposition. The horned girl then coughed out more blood as she could literally feel her arms falling off now. " . . . . It's not enough. Lucy is now completely running on instinct . . . . I'll run out long before she does". But she could not afford for any more life to be lost. So quickly going through her options she looked around and saw as claymores that were still in good condition were strapped to the dead bodies of the soldiers. "One of those should be enough to incinerate both of us . . . . Ahh!" Kaede cringed as both her arms had just melted off followed by one of her legs. At this point half her face was about to follow suit. "I . . . . can't give up now!" So pulling whatever amount of willpower she had left, she reeled in the explosive as she held it between her and Lucy. "This is where it ends!"

"Oneesan, wait!"

Kaede's eyes widened as she looked back. "What are you doing here?" as she then spotted Kohta. "Why didn't you take her away from here?"

The tanned youth was speechless at the site before him. With all the power being generated in front of him, the psychic hands that were once invisible were now seeable as it was swinging erratically in front of him. At the epicenter of all this was a hovering corpse on one end and his best friend and lover on other.

"I can't let you do this. This is not your time to die yet" said Nyu.

"Nyu! Stay back!"

"I won't allow this to come to pass".

Kaede then felt an unusual sensation as if something was tugging on her. "What is going on?"

"There is still so much for you to do".

The horned girl found herself in the mental world. But finding herself there, she then saw as a mysterious door had appeared. The door then popped open as several vectors shot out grabbing her and pulling her through the threshold. As she quickly was shot through the hallway of light, Kaede managed to capture a slight glimpse as she saw Nyu move right pass her as she smiled and waved. Finally being pulled to the other side, the door suddenly disappeared as Kaede found herself back where she started. No, that wasn't right. This wasn't her mental world as it felt different then what it was supposed to feel like. So quickly pulling herself back to the physical world, she opened her eyes to see herself standing next to Kohta as she then turned back to see herself still in the middle of fighting Lucy. "Nyu! What have you done?"

"Kaede-chan?" Kohta questioned as he immediately recognized her mannerisms.

"Damn it Nyu! Don't do this! Switch us back right now!" However her sister could no longer respond as her mouth on her original body was no longer present. "Nyu please, I'm begging you not to do this! Give me back my body and allow me to be the sacrifice. You don't deserve to die for my mistake!"

The sisters then appeared back in their mental world as Kaede desperately tried to reenact her sister's mind-body switch, but Nyu resisted the connection as she had her back faced to her.

"Please don't do this. Don't die like this, not in front of me . . . ."

"Oneesan, you should know better than anyone that one cannot redeem themselves through death but through life".

" . . . . !"

"Don't worry, we'll see each other again. This isn't good-bye, but so long for now".

"Please Nyu . . . . Don't die like this . . . . Don't die for my sake . . . . "

"Oneesan, I want you to promise me something".

"I won't listen; I refuse to allow you to throw away your life like this!"

"Oneesan, please!" Nyu then screamed out.

" . . . . !, . . . ."

"Promise me you'll never lose your way again".

". . . . "

"Promise me!"

" . . . . I promise Nyu".

The mental image of Kohta then appeared alongside Kaede. Nyu then looked back. "And oneesan . . . . love Kohta-kun for the both of us". The ditzy girl then showed her last brilliant smile "it was fun while it lasted. So thank you for the good times".

"Nyu!"

Now back in the physical world, Nyu pulled the pin setting the explosive into motion as the internal fuse began to burn.

"Don't!" Kaede screamed. However she could not move to her as Kohta was holding her back. "Let me go! I have to go to her!"

For as much as he wanted to go out as well . . . . he promised 'Nyu' to keep 'Kaede' safe to which no matter what happened he would prevent her from moving from that spot.

"I refuse to die like this!"

Nyu focused her attention back on Lucy as she continued to hold her back. "It's time for us to go now. We were never meant for this world as this was simply meant to be".

"Why? Why do you protect the one who doomed us to this fate?"

The ditzy girl gave a solemn expression as they were now face to face in the mental world. "Perhaps in the next life you'll come to understand".

Lucy dropped to all fours as she couldn't believe this was happening to her.

Nyu then walked towards her as she kneeled before Lucy. "But don't worry, I'll keep you company until then". She then hugged her head. "So don't be scared anymore. You won't be alone this time".

Her eyes widened as tears began to appear.

Now back in the real world the fuse had finally reached its end as it ignited. In one massive inferno, the explosive consumed both Lucy and Nyu vaporizing what was left of them. Kaede raised her vectors protecting herself and Kohta from the blast. But slowly as the smoke cleared, the pink diclonius walked towards the center to see that nothing remained of either her sister or her enemy. She then fell to her knees as overwhelming sadness began to consume her. Kaede held her face as she no longer had the ability to restrict her tears.

Kohta slowly approached from behind. Tears also escaped his eyes as he too could not cope with what happened. Right before him, he had lost someone most dear. But worse, he had no words to speak or actions to take as he couldn't do anything to save her. In addition, there was nothing he could do for the sister that was left behind as saying anything wouldn't be right. He then fell to his knees as all he could do now was hold the distressed girl from behind.

Kaede held his arms as she was desperate for the hurt to go away. As time continued, all the pair could do was cry at the loss of Nyu. She was a sister, a lover, and a good friend. But most of all she was a person that would remain in their hearts for all time.


Several weeks had passed since the tower incident. It was at this time that the existence of dicloniuses had spread to all four corners of the Earth.

There were many reactions to this news. But the more important was the presence of the virus which threatened to exterminate all of humankind.

However this news was quickly calmed as Kurama's vaccine was introduced to the world. This immediately made him and his team world famous as heroes of humanity.

But back to Kohta and his group, Maple Inn was up and running as they were now living there again. With news of Kakuzawa's organization being destroyed, they didn't have to worry about being attacked again. So long as they kept Nana and Mariko's secret that they were diclonius then the public had no reason to bother them.

"How is she doing?" asked Kohta as he walked into the room.

Mayu had finished swapping a wet towel over Kaede's forehead. "I'm sorry Kohta-san. There has been no change".

The tanned youth looked down sadly. After Nyu's death, Kaede fell into a coma to which she has been in a deep sleep since then. But before leaving he knelt down to her side kissing her on the forehead as he then got up to leave.


Kaede sat within her mental world in a catatonic state. During this time, she was watching her memories like a movie as she played certain events over and over again. At this time she was watching a time when things in her life were so much simpler and easy. She then buried her head in her knees. "Why? Why did you have to go?"

"Why what oneesan?"

The pink diclonius quickly looked up and felt like her heart was going to explode in joy. "Nyu! You're alive!" as she got up to hug her twin.

"I told you we'd meet again" smiled the ditzy girl.

Kaede stepped back slightly. "But I don't understand. How is this possible?"

"Isn't that obvious oneesan? We just returned where we should be".

"We?"

A door then appeared which apparently led to another section of her mind. "Is that . . . ."

Nyu nodded, "Yes, Lucy is behind that door".

"She's here! She's in my mind?"

The ditzy girl quickly waved her hands. "You don't have to worry. She can't harm you anymore. But there is something important that must be done now".

"What can that be? We're already sharing one body".

"But we're not one soul yet. We are still three separate individuals in one form".

Kaede then approached the door as she reached for the knob. "So this is the real final test isn't it?"

" . . . ."

" . . . . I see". Upon entering the room she found herself back at her old orphanage where she saw a child version of herself being picked upon by her old bullies. But specifically it was the time when they found her dog and were about to beat it to death. After the dog was killed, her child form killed them all mercilessly. She then looked to Kaede with contempt before exiting to the nearest door. "No, wait!"

But following her through the door, She then found herself on the train to Hokkaido where she saw her child form looking upon a saddened Kohta as he was cradling his dead sister. The girl then looked back to her before running across the hall through another door to which Kaede immediately followed.

Upon entering she then found herself at a mall where her teenage form was being restrained as Aiko was dying on the floor. Her child self looked up to her before running off again towards another door. As she entered it, it led to the facility where she was detained for several years where that version of her looked down to her. Her child form then ran again towards another door which then led to the final battle where she died with Kohta putting a lead bullet between her eyes.

The child then made her way to another door. As Kaede walked through the threshold the door closed behind her. She then examined the room to see her child self sitting in the middle watching a movie of memories of their previous life. The pink diclonius then slowly approached her from behind as she too watched what she was seeing.

" . . . . I see now. You're the real Lucy aren't you?"

" . . . ."

But there was no need for her to say anything as her current appearance told the whole story. "You were the part of me that was still hurting all this time weren't you? The part of me that didn't want to forget the horrors people was capable of so that I wouldn't be vulnerable anymore".

" . . . ."

"But it's OK now. I promise that I won't desert you again and I will accept everything I am as you are a part of me just as much that I am a part of you". She then approached her from behind as she hugged her child form. "You don't have to be afraid anymore as I'll be here for you now".

" . . . . Do you promise?"

Kaede nodded, "Of course, your pain is my pain now and I'll never leave you behind again".

Like a true child that she was, Lucy cried as she felt her burden become significantly lighter. Her body then turned into light as she disappeared right before Kaede. In that instant the horned girl understood everything Lucy has been through in her new life. Simply she was just hurting all this time as she was just trying to survive in this cruel world as she had no one to give her the warmth she so desperately craved.

"I understand, and I'll now make things right. . . . " She then wondered her way back to where Nyu was waiting for her as she was wearing the same smile she always did.

"Are you ready oneesan?"

Kaede nodded as she extended her hand, "until we meet again".

In another flash of light, the horned girl now stood alone in her mental world as now she was a complete being again.


"Kyaaa!"

Kohta ran to the origin of the noise which was coming from Kaede's room. "What's wrong?" but was then surprised to see or the lack of what was there.

"She's gone!" Mayu exclaimed. "Kaede-san is not here!"

"But where did she go?"

The young brunette shrugged as she rallied everyone in the household to comb the vicinity for the currently missing pink diclonius. Even with Nana, she was having no luck in picking up on Kaede's telepathic signal.

Soon the search expanded outwards as everyone prayed that she wasn't going to do something foolish like suicide after the loss of her twin.

Kohta ran desperately around the neighborhood hoping to find her. With the loss of Nyu, he wouldn't know what to do if he lost Kaede too. But after running for what seemed like miles he stopped to take a breather until he heard it. " . . . . Is that Nyu-chan singing?"

He then moved to the origin of the sound to which he started to hear violin playing. "Kaede-chan?"

So following his ears he slowly but surely honed in on the sound until eventually he made his way to the source. There his lover sat on a rock on the beach as she played and sung the song Lilium that was so special between her, himself, and Nyu. Relief immediately washed over him to see that she was OK. He then slowly approached her from behind until he was right behind her. But when he was there, she didn't feel the same as she now felt . . . . different. In the years he has been with her, he recognized her aura. But the girl now in front of him felt like Kaede, but yet . . . . wasn't quite her. "Kaede-chan?"

The pink diclonius turned to face him showing a smile only Nyu would wear. "It's OK now, everything is just OK now".

Kohta unable to stop himself any further closed the gap between them as he held her tightly never wishing to lose her.

Kaede smiled as she returned his affection to which she then kissed him as they held each other.

Now, the world was moving again as her time could progress once more. This time she wasn't going mess up. As long as she keeps her head up and eyes straight, she'll never get lost again and that's the way she intended to keep it.

"Thank you . . . . Nyu".

To be continued . . . .


Author's notes: I'd like to thank everyone who has stayed with this story thus far. So please stayed tune for the final chapter as this will be the end of the Butterfly Effect.

Snowy-Sonya – Yes I'm afraid, the next chapter will wrap everything up for the Butterfly Effect. But after this is done, I'll begin writing the 'patch' stories to fill in the missing blanks that I either didn't have time for or required an 'M' rating to do. So if you're interested please stay tuned.

ShadowKittenMewFan – The manga was good as it filled in a few plot holes left in the anime. But anyways thank you for your critique and I hope you enjoyed your time reading this fic. So please stay tuned for the final chapter.

TURP – Darkest before the dawn is a term generally used in a lot of stories when the story reaches a certain high point of where everything intersects and threats to break, but then comes to a conclusion a moment later. As for your show, I have no idea.

So I thank you all for reading this fic and I further extend my gratitude if you can review it as well, and now I hope to see you all in the final chapter.