Disclaimer: Hakuouki is a visual novel game by Idea Factory. (They make a bunch of cute guys! Drools. So I always look up new series just so I can stare at them~) Hakuouki then was adapted into an Anime by Studio DEEN. And today, the Anime series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America. (I got this information from Wikipedia and I believe the information is accurate. I wouldn't know though!)

Author's note: WAH...? It's been six months since I last updated? HOLY SHIT.

If you are a reader who's keeping tabs on this fanfic, welcome back! :D I hope you still remember what was going on. And if you are new to this story, well... let's be safe and say the next update will take a long while too. Hopefully less than three months. 8D

Enjoy reading!

"Forever" will not keep us connected

Chapter 33

'Kuroro, this is urgent. Momoko and Kiko are founded out. Do your best to lure Kanon here. Lie if you have to. Tell the truth if you have to.'

With haste, Haru was speaking to the boy with her power. She was supposed to enjoy a little stroll with Chizuru around the temple, yet her mind was occupied with the master plan. "I wonder what I should make for lunch," Chizuru was smiling, looking ahead of herself.

Troubled with thoughts, Haru was not too concern of Momoko's life and Kiko's safety. They were with good and kind people, other than the other two Onis with the human men, so Momoko and Kiko would not be harmed. The only thing that concerned Haru was what she was seeing through Kuroro's eyes.

"Haru-chan?" The blond haired Oni blinked her eyes first to bring her mind back to where she was and gazed to Chizuru questionably. "You look pale," Chizuru inched closer, worried.

With a shake of her head, Haru struggled to smirk. Seeing Chizuru beaming afterward caused Haru's heart to drop. 'I don't want to forget about Chizuru,' Haru mentally desired, lowering her eyes to the side. Chizuru called her name, but Haru was too deep into her train of thoughts once more. 'Nor Shinpachi and Chikage-nii-sama… Kuroro, hurry…'

Time seemed to have suddenly moved faster. Everything was not going according to plan, making Haru extremely anxious.

[…^…]

The boy of red eyes stood in a narrow path between trees. His quiet stare was on Yuma, who carried an unconscious Kanon in his arms. This counter occurred merely seconds ago when Yuma had sense the boy's presence. While Yuma appeared to be on his guard, the boy blinked.

"Yuma," Kuroro slightly bowed, eyes on the older man

How did the child know his name? Yuma was puzzled, thus he inquired, "Have we met before?" It was only a while ago when Yuma took Kanon from Souji and the others. And she had not woken from falling unconscious.

The boy was calm as Yuma was. No one was going to attack, so Yuma's shoulders slightly relaxed. "I am the one you were searching for," Kuroro informed. Again, Yuma was still confused, yet something sparked from those words. The red-eyed boy did not smile, keeping an emotionless expression on his childish face. "I am Kuromori Hibiki."

Now, Yuma's eyes widened with shock. "H-Hibiki?" he queried. 'He is Hibiki...? The young man I meant before, the man who I believe will have a way to save Kanon?' Kuroro narrowed his eyes, keeping silent when Yuma realized it.

That was right. The very branch family who left the Kuromori Oni Clan had a strange curse. Hibiki's clan, the ones who married humans, would age backward when they turned twenty years old. And the last time Yuma remembered Hibiki was when he was at the age of fifteen. Now… he had become a child.

"I approach you today for one reason, Yuma," Kuroro decided to tell him. Everything that there was to tell. Stepping forward, Yuma wanted to interrupt him so he could ask the child to save Kanon. However, Kuroro's cold voice stopped him when he uttered, "Kanon cannot be saved. There is no other way. You have to accept the curse that runs in her blood."

Yuma refused that conclusion. "Hibiki, please, there has to be a way," he persisted. Kanon groaned with pain and Yuma glanced to her. She moved her fingers and he gently bent his knees to the ground. Having her sit up, he kept his arms around her. "Kanon?" Yuma called softly.

She tried to open her eyes. Her arms over her round belly made her worried. It seemed to have gotten bigger. If she slept more, it might grow even more. So, she did her best to talk to keep herself awake. "Yuma…?" she blinked, her eyelids heavy. "…Where's Souji?"

Why was that the first thing she asked? Yuma hid his pain and replied, "I will tell you afterward." She blinked once, still struggling to stay awake and think of what happened before she had passed out. As for Yuma, he closed his eyes to take a deep breath. And then his eyes glued to Kuroro. "Hibiki, why did you say Kanon cannot be saved?" He wanted answers now.

Kanon remembered that name Yuma had mentioned before. Hibiki was the person that might be able to help her, right? Keeping her ears opened, she listened to their conversation.

"Because the process can never be alter," Kuroro replied, unfazed with the information he was going to give. "The curse carried too much hate to be stopped. Nothing will save Kanon's life when she gives birth to the newborn."

"There still has to be a way," Yuma's eyebrows furrowed. He was not going to give up. "Your power should be able to—"

"My power does not cancel out the power that comes directly from Kanon," Kuroro interrupted him, using a harsher tone of his voice. Yuma fell silent, staring at him intensely. Kuroro gently raised his left hand and open his palm as a red glow emitted on it. "My power only counters the powers gifted by Kanon and her clan's power. That is simply all, unfortunately." The red glow disappeared and Kuroro lowered his hand returned to his side.

Yuma's eyes were frozen, setting on Kuroro in silence. 'There… still has to be a way,' he could only think. Kanon's life was on the line.

The red eyes never wavered, remaining understanding and composed. "The cycle will repeat eternally, Yuma," Kuroro told him quietly. "No matter how much you try, nothing will change." Yuma continued to appear determined and Kuroro sighed. "Kanon's mother had told me stories of the times they wanted to stop their curse. It was impossible. No one could stop it, no matter how much they all attempted. Every generation tried their utmost."

'My… mom?' Kanon's vision blurred. 'Oh yeah, Yuma had said… Hibiki was a friend to my family.' She remembered as her vision was coming back. The sky seemed dark and the wind dead.

"However, Haru found a way." Yuma glared at the boy and Kanon's eyes opened a bit. "Because Kanon is the daughter who inherited all of her mother's powers, we plan to use Kanon to go back in time," Kuroro slowly explained. "Unlike Ayumu, who inherited both of the parents' power, Kanon's full potential may be more limitless. Even more than her mother."

"Turn back time?" Yuma questioned, narrowing his eyes.

'Really? My power can do something like that?' Kanon wondered, her eyebrows twitching from her body ache. She slightly moved her head, but failed to and Yuma lifted up to her desired position. She breathed heavily from trying to stay conscious and moving herself as she sat up. Though, she had to lean against Yuma for support. "Hibiki," she gradually met his gaze. His stare became soft as she asked, "Turn back time? How and why would Haru know? Didn't she just want to make me suffer?"

Naturally, Kuroro did not hold back from telling the truth. "She and I know most of your power were locked door by door," he said, walking toward them. "She and I are aware of your hatred was sealed as well."

"Her hatred?" Yuma glared, looking at Kuroro curiously.

Kanon was more confused than she ever was. At the same time as Kuroro kneeled down in front of them, Kanon inquired, "Why was my hatred sealed? What's the point? And who would try to...?" Who sealed her hatred?

"Akiko," Kuroro answered, making Kanon surprised. Was it not obvious? "She had the power to seal, do you remember, Kanon?"

"…But why?" Kanon continued to raise questions. "Why would Aunt Akiko… do that…?"

At first, the boy was quiet. His face expression became concerned. Yuma felt Kanon shivering and he glanced down to her to make sure she was doing okay. Then Kuroro inquired, "Kanon, if I say your mother planned all of your suffering from the beginning... would you believe me?"

Her heart stopped for a moment. Kanon was entirely shocked to the core. So many things were thrown at her over the past few days. What else was going to shake her awake? Yes, she believed this boy's words. For some reason, she believed it. 'My own mother…?' she thought, breathing faster. Why would her mother do such a horrible arrangement?

"Because Kanon's full power were sealed, it should have grown much more," Kuroro notified. A power that was bottled up was kept fresh. That was how Kuroro saw it as.

"Hibiki, are you speaking the truth?" Yuma was the one who asked for the silent Kanon.

"I will not offer the many details, time is running short," Kuroro closed his eyes and stood back up. His right hand was on his right hip as he looked down to them seriously. "For a extended time, Haru and I agreed this very intention by Kanon's mother," he clarified. "Deliberately, we desire Kanon to experience pain, loss, and being powerless. All to break her seal of her power as the Time Healer by causing her feel hatred once again. Her will to hate should be able to let her power loose."

"Her seal will break if she feel hatred again…?" Yuma began to glare at him. What kind of messed up strategy was that? He squeezed Kanon closely as if something was going to harm her.

"Kanon may even live if we turn back time," Kuroro informed, moving his eyes to Kanon's pale face. Though, she showed no interest of the topic as her eyes were elsewhere. She was probably still puzzled about her mother. Kuroro softly sighed, "And you may even be able to save your friends, Kanon."

This caught Kanon's attention. She stared up at him and demanded, "What do you mean I will be able to save them?"

"Oh, it seems I had forgotten to mention that one, did I?" Kuroro rubbed his chin. "Then I shall also explain you this too, Kanon." She gulped at his every word and watched as the boy's lips moved, "Those who were saved by your clan… the more they utilize their powers, the more they will disappear without a trace."

It was like a knife stabbed into her heart. Her eyes weakened and she struggled to grab for the boy and shake him for more answers. But there barely was any strength in her. "Disappear, what are you talking about?!" she cried.

"Kanon!" Yuma held her in place. "You are in no condition to—"

"Why would they disappear? I—Ayumu and I saved their lives!" she shouted angrily, her mind becoming more awake now.

Yumeko and Saburo rarely used their powers and stayed alive over a year when Ayumu and her saved them. If it meant Sanosuke and Ryunosuke, who used their powers very often, to disappear, then she would fall apart. And if Kuroro was speaking nothing but truth, then... It was hard not to believe him at this point.

"How would you know if they will disappear?!" Kanon screamed, her knees slamming on the ground, trying to get away from Yuma's strong grip.

"Kanon, settle down!" Yuma raised his voice, yet she still moved about. He held her from behind, his arms around her and both were on their knees when Kanon seized Kuroro's right hand.

Waiting patiently, Kuroro stood there until she calmed down. Her breathing was off and she lost her voice to even mumble a single word in her rage. Yuma's hand gripped on her shoulder and she breathed slower, matching his own.

Kuroro then spoke, "Think about it, Kanon…" She kept eyes on him and he never looked away. Both of her hands held his little hand. "Your clan had saved lives, yet, they died due to the selfish people wanting to leave their side… would you not suppose they would have conquer a country or two by now?" Her expression hinted confusion once more. "For example, Yumeko's power of fire. She would have easily have people obey her if she wished to."

"Then, are you saying…" Yuma was afraid to even ask, but he must. "…that there might have been people saved by Kanon's clan, who may have abused their power they received?"

"Precisely," Kuroro nodded firmly. "However, no one had ever heard of any person out there with a odd power. Do you think it's not strange?"

Finally understanding, Kanon inquired, "Because… they disappeared when they use their powers too much?"

The boy with red eyes nodded again. "Correct."

Kanon was unable to shallow the fact. "…What else can this cursed power do?" she dug deeper into the truth.

"No more than it already is. Although, before they disappear… they have nightmares that tortures them mentally," Kuroro replied, his voice implied with distress. Haru had her own share nightmares, but it only happened recently because of her being an Oni, so it did not affect her until now. "They forget the ones they love most, one by one." Haru had forgotten Kanon and she might not ever remember the human girl ever again.

"Nightmares...?" Kanon mumbled. She begun to distinguish why her mother would do this to her. Perhaps her mother understood this terrible detail that befall to those they saved. Her mother must have desperately wanted to stop this curse in their blood to have to hurt her own daughter today. But… did Akiko know any of this? Maybe she did, maybe she did not.

"I must warn you," Kuroro's voice disturbed her train of thoughts. As her eyes focused on him, he ruefully stated, "I have heard Ryunosuke and Sanosuke begun having nightmares. It is now happening to them. Eventually, they will…"

Her heart broke even more and tears whelmed up her eyes. "N…no…" she covered her face with her hands. Tears fell and she lost her breath.

"Did Haru tell you those men were having nightmares?" Yuma inquired, hugging Kanon tighter. Her body was shivering, causing him to wince.

"Momoko and Kiko are our eyes and ears," Kuroro replied with a glance. "With their minds connected to Haru's, those two often keep their watch on Kanon's friends. That is how we know every move everybody takes."

[…^…]

Everything that was being told to Kanon and Yuma were also coming out from Kiko's mouth. Out in the courtyard of the hospital, Kiko was sitting by the closed room where Momoko was resting. She had already been treated, so Kiko was explaining to those who wanted to know Haru's plans.

The men were all pretty shocked, standing on the grass and facing Kiko. Sanosuke was staring at the young woman with yellow eyes as she kept her gaze to the ground. "We're… going to disappear?" Sanosuke queried, feeling his mouth dried.

"You've got to be kidding me," Kyou sent his glare to the female Oni. "What kind of mess up curse can do something like that?"

"All driven by hatred and love, anything is possible if one wished it enough," Kiko responded, keeping herself calm. 'Lady Haru, why must I answer to these men of the near future?' Kiko inquired, having doubts. She was worried they might cause more trouble if they learned what they were up to. Kiko could not allow that to happen. Kiko wanted to turn back time without trouble. They had come too far to be stopped now. 'I want to see Ayumu-kun again,' Kiko desired, a burning love still had not yet blown out.

Mentally, Haru's voice told Kiko, 'The end is closing in. It matters not if they know now.' Resting her eyes, Kiko continued to feel unease by the atmosphere around her.

Quietly, Hajime spoke up, "You have said your power allows you to see far, yes? Where is Kanon-san then? Is she with Souji? Ibuki?"

"I do not know," Kiko lied, raising her calm eyes to meet his. She looked at him with disrespect since he was the one who harmed Momoko. Even if he was not aware of Momoko, an Oni, having no abilities to self-heal because of Kanon's clan. "I do not wish to use my power for too long. Therefore, I have no idea where Kanon is right now."

Kyuuju could not help but sigh. Hearing all of this was such a burden. What were they supposed to do now? Support Haru? Or just ultimately disappear? None of these were wise options, but what other choices did they have?

A louder sigh came from Sanosuke. He rubbed his face and groaned, "What are we going to do from here?"

"I say we should stick to stopping Haru," Kyou gave out his thoughts to them. Hajime kept his eyes on Kiko as Kyuuju and Sanosuke gave Kyou a look. He smirked, "I don't care if I disappear one day, I rather save Kanon. Like, why the hell should we let her go through such pain? She's just a little girl."

Kiko glared, "You rather save one person than your friends' lives?"

"I seriously don't want Kanon to think sacrificing herself will make me feel better," Kyou sneered. "Besides, all of us would have been fine if Haru never existed. Don't you think so?"

There was murder intent in the air. Hajime could have sworn Kiko would have gone to pick a fight with Kyou, but she remained seated. She hissed out, "Lady Haru, never existing?" Kyou was going to respond, but Sanosuke grabbed his shoulder to nudge him. "It's Kanon's clan that should have never existed. She caused pain to Lady Haru in the first place, even if Kanon did save Lady Haru in the past."

"You should be thanking Kanon that Haru's even alive then," Kyou was smirking.

"Enough, Shiranui," Sanosuke frowned. Kiko appeared to be more offended than earlier. He did not want a fight to break out at a time like this.

Quietly, Hajime said, "We should not be putting the blame on anybody. Not even the Oni who created the curse many years ago." Kyuuju nodded at this and Hajime inquired, "Kiko-san, let us assume Kanon-san does go back in time… how will she be able to change her clan's fate?"

"That…" Kiko's eyes softened, lowering her gaze back to the ground. "That only depends on Kanon's will."

"So," Sanosuke murmured. "That means you and Haru are unsure if it will work out in the end. Right?"

"I believe in Lady Haru," Kiko smiled a little. "I feel she believes in Kanon, even if she no longer remembers Kanon anymore, I will believe in her too."

Kyou rolled his eyes, "You say you will believe in Kanon, yet you women are causing her to suffer so much. What a total joke!"

"Call us selfish if you will," Kiko closed her eyes. She used her power to look for Kuroro and she easily found him with Yuma and Kanon. "We have to cause Kanon pain to break the seal. There is no going back now. Soon, we will succeed. I will be able to see someone again with no fear of myself disappearing. Momoko will be able to live freely once more. Lady Haru will have the chance thank her brother from her heart when she was unable to. And…" She opened her eyes and gave all four men an almost hopeful look. "Everyone you all lost will come back alive again. Isn't that good enough?"

Turning back time and having everyone return. That was too good to be true. Sanosuke weakly chuckled, breaking the short silence. "But we will not be able to remember this present if we do go back in time, am I wrong?" Sanosuke inquired with a pained smile. "History is only going to repeat. No one can stop the cycle of life and death."

Kiko's eyes brightened up, "If time is turn back and Kanon lives, she may be able to remember everything. Lady Haru have also said she should be able to remember as well."

Squinting his eyes, Kyou questioned, "Why only those two?"

She ignored him and instead said, "When time do turn back, Lady Haru can rework history."

"Oh boy, you think they're going to play as Gods or something?" Kyou mocked with a glare.

"I trust Lady Haru."

"Lady Haru this, Lady Haru that. Start thinking for yourself!"

Sanosuke slapped his own face as Kyou and Kiko were starting to argue again. This conversation was not going to go anywhere. Everybody had their own opinions and both sides were decisive in their own stand. 'What will I choose to do?' Sanosuke asked himself, slowly looking away.

"Shiranui, do not bother with her," Kyuuju was telling him.

Kyou snarled, "Then get her a new brain."

Hajime turned in place to walk off slowly. He had the same thoughts as Sanosuke. Feeling hesitant, should they wait out to see what would happen? Or should they go stop Haru and save Kanon right now? Even Hajime himself did not want Kanon to sacrifice herself to save them if she learned of the truth. It was wrong, whether she was going to be alive in the end or not. Everyone's feelings counted.

[…^…]

"Hibiki, take me to Haru." Yuma's eyes snapped wide open when Kanon suddenly decided without any hesitations. She removed her hands from her teary face and Kuroro saw her left eye becoming golden. "I'm going to save them," Kanon determinedly stared at the red-eyed boy. "I will turn back time."

Anything to save Sanosuke and Hajime… Ryunosuke and Kosuzu… Kyou and Kyuuju… Little Fukui… and Souji. Even if it meant she would never get to see them again. At the very least, Saburo and Yumeko might be able to live their lives for a second time.

There was a long pause. Kuroro wanted to be sure this was what she had chosen to do. This was excellent news to Kanon, it seemed, and it relieved her heart. A moment later, Kuroro lightly nodded, "Very well, Kanon. I will take you to Haru." Yuma grunted and he carried Kanon while standing up. "But be warned, Kanon… Haru will have no mercy on you for she truly desires to make use of your hatred to break the seal. Are you certain you are prepared for the worst?"

'What more could she do to me?' Kanon wondered, feeling emptied inside. She lost so many people already.

…Unless Haru planned to kill all of her friends. That just might really make Kanon's world fall apart, making her fall into utter despair.

Thanks for reading!