Beginning of the End - Break Through
"What...just happened?" Kohaku stared around at the group thrown into turmoil. "Where did Inukojo go?"
Tsukiakari replied with minimal movement. "It is confirmed: my mother is controlled by the demon, although by how much, I am not certain."
Next to her, Kagome was gasping. "I...am sorry...I don't think...I can…." she kept her shaking hands together for just a second more before dropping them into her lap, short winded. Her body flopped backwards, right into Inuyasha's arms. She looked up at him weakly: "I should have...practiced more…"
He shook his head. "You're doing more than enough," he said as he bent down to brush his nose against her bangs. "You rest - we'll figure something out for now."
"From what I can tell, there are no humans in the area under the spell. We managed to get them all away, past Aneue and Miroku-san." Kohaku offered, still crouched by Tsukiakari. She ceased her spellcasting with a quiet sigh.
"Yet there are hundreds of others who still walk to their deaths," she quietly pointed out. "I have to imagine this entire ward spans a lot of ground.
"We have to help them," Kagome pushed herself back up into a sitting position, waving off Inuyasha's mild protests. "We can't let them die."
"We can't let ourselves die either," Kongomi and Yoihito joined the group. "Besides waiting for Mari, what can we do? She was the only one able to get through."
Inuyasha stood and marched over to Sesshomaru, scowling defiantly at him. "Mari, huh? And who might she be, carrying around Tenseiga? The two of you partners or something? It sure looked that-"
"Be quiet." Sesshomaru stared him down. "Keep up with that line of questioning and it will be your last."
His brother bristled at the comment. "You know, I thought you'd become a decent person recently. With that stunt you pulled earlier and now this, it feels like you're reverting."
Tsukiakari rose, "Inuyasha-san, it is for the best that we do not speak much of her. I saw this with the utmost sincerity and with her wellbeing in mind. She can be trusted."
Inuyasha backed off, but grumbled slightly.
Kongomi watched the interaction with mild irritation. Everyone knows already, right? Why not just tell them too? Although she could not find the energy to gather enough anger to speak up. She still kept Yoihito's hand tightly clasped in her own, almost afraid to let go.
"What if we took turns resting and the others went along the outer edge, knocking anyone out who was too close and carrying them to a safe distance?" Kohaku suggested. "That might be enough to buy Mari some time."
"We can also use that time to keep a lookout for my mother. I suspect the influence of the mind control has brought her to the point where her troops will be activated. There is no doubt that they will converge here first." Tsukiakari pointed out. "Removing the humans we can will also prevent their bloodshed later."
There were no objections. Why would there be? When so much was at stake.
As Sesshomaru headed out in the first group, he could not help but worry a bit about how Rin was doing.
Keeping a careful watch, Rin sprinted at a pace that surprised even her. Yami did not falter once and she was beginning to suspect that Tsukiakari had actually done some sort of leaching spell instead of a veil or cover to spare her Pian's ensnarement. That entire clan - always assuming they knew what was best without consulting those in charge.
There was hardly a thing she could do about it now other than finish her task at hand as quickly as possible to release the poor soul from whom she was stealing life energy. When that lot reaches the other side, I will have some words with them!
Once dusk had firmly made its presence known, she came to a stop. Despite the distance left, it was obvious that she would reach the outer walls tomorrow. Time to let the team know what her plan was and hopefully they could hold on until she eliminated the threat.
A verbal message would be safer against interceptions, but could be deadly if the group was maintaining a stealthy profile. A written message was a bit riskier in transport, but offered more subtle communication at the other end. She rummaged through her sack and pulled out her supplies.
Scribbling out a quick cryptic message she paused. This might be the last time she would be able to get word out. The last chance to say good-bye.
This was the part she wanted to avoid, that she shunned during her time back in the living world. To have to acknowledge the end, the separation, and the parting of ways. A tiny part of her whispered, you owe this to Kohaku. He won't let go otherwise.
She pulled out a second scrap of fabric and began.
Dear Kohaku,
There is not much I can say that has not already been said. That won't stop me from trying...
Her rudimentary piece of charcoal remained suspended while she remained unsure as to what to say.
Do I truly not know what to say, or is it that I really want to be saying words to someone else? She looked the other way as the regrets hedged their way in.
Remain calm. You knew what you were getting into when you stepped through that portal with Inukimi. If you wanted to turn around, you could have at any time. You've planted your seeds, now it's time to reap the results.
Yami cheeped from beneath her collar and she set down her utensil. "Don't worry, Yami. I'll get over it soon. I know it's impossible to send anything to Sesshomaru. If I could, I would say all sorts of things." She smiled.
Stay true to the course. You are doing so well. You have come far and there's only a little more to go before...before… The gnarled roots of self-damnation curled under her ribs.
A drop plopped into her glassy pool of sentiments and reasons, causing a ripple.
Her smile faded.
The ripples grew a bit bigger as the surge of emotions began to pour out of her.
She cried.
Feelings she had held onto for so long that only had small releases over the years came in a flood.
"I wish I'd never met him. I don't care that I'd be dead in a ditch, mauled by wolves. I wouldn't have had to suffer as much. I wouldn't be in pain right now. I wouldn't," her breath hitched as she fought back another sob, "I wouldn't care."
"Kagome and Inuyasha wouldn't have mourned over me the first time. Kohaku wouldn't be in pain again and Sesshoumaru, Sesshomaru…" she trailed off. "He wouldn't have wasted so much of his time. He could have found Tsukiakari earlier. He could have done so much more."
"Still, why can't I let him go?" She wept openly. "I am beyond stupid. Why didn't I tell him the truth? All this time, I was afraid to say goodbye. Yet, here I am in pain because I can't."
What was it about the darkness and campfires that made one want to speak all their secrets? Was it the safety that every syllable would be enveloped in the velvety night, never to see the light of day?
Rustling leaves muffled her cries until she managed to hiccup her way out of misery. She smiled reassuringly at Yami, who crooned with concern.
"See? All I needed was a bit of a weep and I'm fine. I've got a job to do." Timidly, she picked up the charcoal once again. "First, I need to say good-bye to Kohaku. Otherwise who knows what that boy will get up to."
Her eyes were red and puffy, but she kept a determined smile on her face as she finished her correspondences and sent them off with the crow.
As the sun sank low on the horizon, casting the sky into an array of oranges, gold, and blood reds, Sesshomaru returned to the makeshift camp the group had erected not far from the remains of one of the last daiyoukai.
Kongomi's and Yoihito's heads were drooped together, but Yoihito's eyes snapped open as soon as Sesshomaru made his approach. They had gone to work immediately, forcibly dragging humans away from the death trap, only to fall prey to exhaustion late in the afternoon. They claimed the first rest spot, offering to scout during the night.
The captain nudged his queen with a gentle mumble of "it's time". Everyone would be regrouping soon, ready to set up a plan for the next day. If it was even possible to plan to cover such an immense territory, if it was even possible to hold the line while their sole hope inside the barrier did something.
No words were exchanged as Inuyasha returned, carrying a depleted Kagome - not on his back, but asleep in his arms. Her miko training could not have prepared her for the endurance test of a lifetime. Letting her curl up in a bedroll, Inuyasha dropped beside her, his head nodding as he tried to stay awake. These were not the types of demons he was used to fighting.
Finally, Tsukiakari and Kohaku returned from their scouting as the last vestiges of light disappeared.
Kirara shrunk down with a tiny mew and jumped into Kohaku's arms. "The soldiers, they're coming." Kohaku sagged onto a nearby rock. "Aneue and Miroku-san could see the first wave approaching. We've received word from Kouga and the others that the villages have been emptied. The first ones will arrive tomorrow."
Silence fell and filled the air, an oppressive force, closing around them as the shadows stalked amongst the trees.
They needed a plan. Back in the old days, it was merely a matter of tracking down the villain, destroying them before they destroyed everything they held dear, and then going home. Now there were so many fronts - keeping people alive, taking down the bad guy, and all in the face of a well trained army.
And when they failed, it was not themselves who took the brunt of the damage. It was the helpless innocents who walked into the barrier, crying in pain as their life was stolen from them so rapidly that they turned to piles of ash. Each of them had seen those little piles along the perimeter, stacked several inches deep, a constant reminder that they needed to do more.
For the most part, Sesshomaru was able to tune out the misfortunes of war, even one as twisted as this. He was not prone to bouts of empathy, but he did find himself worrying for Rin.
When she was small, he knew where she was - every second of every day. If she so much as tripped, he was prepared to fly to her in an instant. Once she died, he trained himself to ignore the ghosts of paranoia, the voices that reminded him that he needed to be vigilant. He grew accustomed to her absence.
Now that he knew she was back, alive in the world, he wandered back into his old ways.
Was she alright? Was she eating? Was she safe? Where was she now?
"Sesshomaru-sama," Tsukiakari brushed her fingers against his sleeve. "Your messenger."
True to her word, the black bird swooped into the clearing, carrying a few scraps of what appeared to be fabric. It released the strips that fluttered down into Sesshomaru's hand before it settled on his shoulder, claws scratching against his armor.
He unrolled the larger piece.
Target is at the center in a castle. O is assumed nearby. Materials acquired. Will attempt to eliminate both. -M
He passed that on to the rest of the group who took turns reading the message, loath to speak any details aloud in case there were eyes and ears around them.
With his heart beating harder than normal, he spread out the second message, feeling the need for discretion.
Dear Kohaku,
Immediately the scrap was rolled up. Of course he would not receive anything. She did not realize that he knew her real identity. While he admired her tenacity to keep her identity a secret, he could not prevent the pangs of bitterness from dripping onto his heart as he finished crudely rolling the message.
He saw Kohaku rise and he briskly walked over, pausing only long enough to hold out the damned note and roughly hand it over before stalking off into darkness.
Despite his usually calm exterior, irritation was a core component of his personality. Annoyance with his brother, frustration with his own lack of accomplishment, exasperation over young wards who felt the need to prove themselves, vexation that regardless of the amount of control he exerted on his life, it never yielded the results he desired.
He would never fall so low as to say he was upset and he certainly would not stand for being called jealous, although both were apt descriptions.
Under the moonlight, he sought to return to his peace of mind.
"If I could, I would say all sorts of things," said Rin's voice.
Startled, he glanced at the crow perched on his shoulder which had surreptitiously opened its mouth and was keeping perfectly still, despite the lack of sound.
"Rin?" How ridiculous of him, talking to the crow as though she could respond. A small tendril of warmth wormed into his chest to ease away the harsh assumptions from earlier.
"I wish I had never met him."
All the warmth disappeared in an instant.
The words he had badly wanted to hear were the worst he could have imagined. She tumbled over regrets, anguish, and heartbreak. Words he never thought he'd hear. How much did he value his pride that he never noticed the anguish she faced? How dare he put himself on such a pedestal that he had spent years ignoring the signs?
If she truly suffered by his hand, then this was for the best: to go their separate ways.
He waved a hand to dismiss the crow, to stop the sharp blades from digging deeper into his being. He waited for the speech to finally stop: he was not so low as to cut off what were potentially her final words.
"Still, why can't I let him go?"
What?
"I am beyond stupid. Why didn't I tell him the truth?"
What was she saying?
"All this time, I was afraid to say goodbye…"
She wanted to-
"Yet, here I am in pain because I can't."
The crow closed its beak.
Sesshomaru brought his hand down and it passed through the tiny swirling black cloud that remained where the crow was a moment before.
That changed everything.
After reading Rin's note, Kohaku stood, filled with complicated conflictions of the heart, desiring a bit of quiet to reconcile what had happened and what the note meant.
Sesshoumaru swept past him, pausing when their shoulders were nearly touching to hand off a scrap of cloth. "This one is addressed to you."
Kohaku slowly accepted the message and then slipped into the shadows beyond the fire to read the message.
Dear Kohaku,
There is not much I can say that has not already been said. That won't stop me from trying.
I am happy I got to see you again. I am glad that I did not tell anyone else because I would definitely lose the resolve to do what needs to be done.
Once I am gone (again) - don't you dare become a revenged obsessed demon or I solemnly swear that I will come back and drag you to the underworld myself.
He couldn't help but let a tiny snort of laughter escape as he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve to clear his vision.
Kohaku, you were a brother to me and then something more special in these recent years. You have protected me and the people you love in countless ways. Don't stop when I am gone. Protect the people, your people. Use your compassion.
Sayonara.
He tightly clenched the scrap of fabric and words slipped out before he understood what was happening. "Thank you." Tears streamed freely down his face as the whispered feelings escaped him. "Thank you for coming back. Thank you for saying good-bye."
His watery gaze drifted down to the letter, droplets falling around her final words. His mouth trembled.
"Sayonara, Rin."
Kohaku sat in the quiet, listening to the muted conversation at the campfire, refusing to take part. Not tonight. Once the voices faded, he took his chance to sneak to his bedroll.
"How are you feeling?"
Kohaku spun around; caught off guard, he hastily wiped away the freshest set of tears. Tsukiakari sat serenely tending to the fire, the flames turning her hair a pleasant gilded color. He opened and closed his mouth, but each time he tried to speak, more tears threatened to spill down his face.
"There is no shame in grieving the loss of a loved one," she offered. "I think we're in the unique position to say that bidding farewell twice to one we cherish is much harder the second time."
The gates opened and an outpouring of emotion flooded his words and his eyes. He wearily dropped to his knees next to her and cast his eyes into the fire.
"She's gone again and there wasn't anything I could do," he punched the ground next to his feet.
"What could any of us have done? She returned with a mission that she desired to finish regardless of the cost to her. I imagine the decisions she made hurt her as deeply as they wounded us. Especially to those who never realized the truth."
He sniffed, trying to abate his physical grief with little success and indulged in a moment of self pity. "Well, at least his mighty lordship was lucky enough not to be affected."
"Lucky?"
The acute sting in her inflection forced him to stop; her stare was piercing. "You think that Sesshomaru-sama is lucky? He is the one suffering the most."
Kohaku sputtered in awkward humiliation and quieted at the motion of her raised hand.
"He holds her tightly in his heart, he always has. When she passed, there was much wrong with the world and he had no choice other than to press forward. He may not always articulate his emotions, yet he feels the pain just as you or I."
Her smile was kind and at the same time forlorn. "Once he was able to, he traveled across the land, paying respects to every place they had visited. He wanted to cherish the memories they made together."
Kohaku thought back to the yellow sash that had waved vibrantly at the trial field only a matter of days ago. He recalled Rin's expression when she had held the fabric in her hands and looked at Tsukiakari's sad tenderness with new clarity. "You love him."
"Yes, I do. I will marry him, if that is his wish. Nevertheless, I am not blind to the bond that they share. I will also do everything in my power to ensure the mutual happiness of two people I treasure."
"If he loves her so much, why is he letting her go?" Kohaku already knew the answer and so Tsukiakari did not answer him.
"Why does she have to do this alone?"
"Oh," she smiled knowingly. "Perhaps she will not be alone. If you will excuse me." She gave him a slight bow before heading into the trees. He watched beyond the point where her silhouette disappeared.
The moonlight shone through the bare branches, illuminating the frost that was forming on the edges of the leaves.
Tsukiakari traversed without a sound, following in the footsteps that Sesshomaru had left some time ago. She stopped short, catching the luster of silver strands against the deep blue hues of night.
"You are going to ask me how to get you beyond the barrier." It was not a question.
He did not turn to face her. "You want to know how I knew," she said, closing the space between them. "While I might not have the ability to see the future, I am an ardent reader. I hate to admit fault with you, but you read like an open book."
"Is there a way?"
She circled around, forcing eye contact. "Of course there is always a way. But I cannot agree to it; the risk is too great."
"That is of no consequence."
"Even if that risk is to her as well?" With great interest she observed his mental acrobatics, weighing the pros and cons, wrestling with some inner turmoil that barely manifested in his expression.
"Explain."
Hmm, that was new. He'd never asked for details before. She was more than happy to oblige: "If you do this, there is a very high chance that she will be lost forever."
"If I do nothing, she will be lost all the same. I cannot let her disappear - not like this."
Tsukiakari took stock of the man before her. Despite her claim earlier, he was not actually that easy to read. Over a year of constant communication had clued her to discerning certain parts of his stone-faced expressions and she relied on those instincts now.
Eyes marginally wider, brow furrowed a bit deeper, and lips set in a line harder than usual: signs that pointed to a desperate determination he rarely exhibited.
"Fine. Come with me." She beckoned, leading him further away from the group's camp. "What should I tell the others?"
"That I have gone to support her."
"Her meaning Mari or her meaning...?"
"That is not our secret to tell."
"Of course." She picked up the pace, landing them in a quiet spot, almost entirely obscured by thick tree trunks. Looking over her shoulder she gave it to him plainly.
"This will be excruciating and you may not survive. She may also experience pain, there is no means for me to predict entirely what will happen. Will you still proceed?"
"Yes." He was foolish, but she couldn't help but hide a smile. What was love if it wasn't foolish?
"Very well. Step up to the barrier." She slowly moved her fingers to form a spell that she'd not practiced much before. "Once I bring my fingers together, both you and she will be in danger. Your only option is to pass through the barrier as quickly as you can, although even then I am not sure this will work."
"Are you sure you wish to continue?"
"Do not ask again."
"One last thing," she said, her fingertips on the edge of touching. "I would not recommend taking high risks such as the one you took earlier today. The wana seal's powers will turn the world on its head and you cannot trust anyone or anything to behave in the ways you have come to expect. The next time you take such a risk with Ryuushin, you may not be so lucky as to have a Kohaku-san ready in the wings to deflect your miscalations."
At this he flicked his eyes towards her with an annoyed look, with tiny traces of guilt, presumably from having nearly killed her. "Get on with it."
"Ready?" Sesshomaru crouched slightly.
She inhaled to say the next word and he catapulted forward, in motion by the time she announced "Go!". In that instant he was transformed, the most obvious and telling sign was the long ebony hair flowing in the ponytail behind him.
There was nothing Tsukiakari could do as a very human Sesshomaru hit the invisible wall.
Rin rested in her bedroll, eyes closed, seeking only a few hours of sleep before she had to continue on her mission. She had not yet mastered the soldier's art of surrendering to sleep at a moment's notice and lay awake for a time, fragments of half-formed plans poking holes in her confidence.
COME TO ME!
The command from the other night rang loudly in her mind. She covered her ears again, with the knowledge that doing so would accomplish nothing. Over the raucous that only she could hear, Yami's high-pitched chirping and chittering signaled that she was running out of energy.
COME TO ME!
"Get out of my head!" she screamed. "You don't control me!"
With a final exclamation, everything became quiet again. The call faded and order returned, but a moment too late - she had already fallen unconscious
Sesshomaru lay on the ground unable to move as he breathed through the residual echoes of pain.
Tsukiakari had not been in jest when she said it was excruciating. Well, he had decided to do whatever it took: whether that was letting her seal his demon energy, or pushing himself through a spell designed to consume the life force of low-level creatures.
His head lolled to the side as he lifted his sword arm, which was steaming slightly as his regained demon energy went to work on the injuries he had sustained traveling through the barrier. He watched with mild fascination his claws knit back together now that they were no longer flimsy human nails.
That was by far the most reckless action he'd taken in his entire life; it was also the most worthy one: he was freed from one obstacle between him and Rin.
"Sesshomaru-san." Tsukiakari's voice came through muffled.
He rose and examined the rest of his aching limbs. Nothing damaged, not permanently. In a few minutes, it would be as though it never happened. He gave her a nod to confirm that he was in reasonable condition.
"Bakusaiga…" she gestured to his waist with a mournful look. The sheath looked battered and the hilt's ties were frayed. Drawing the sword did not yield a more positive outcome - it was now chipped and rusted, much like the sealed form of Tessaiga.
Surprisingly, he stared blankly at the blade with lucidity. He should have seen that as a possible consequence of his decision; his cousin had tried to warn him that there would be unforeseeable outcomes. He shrugged mildly: nothing to be done there.
He summoned his acid and whip. More primitive and far less effective would have to do for now.
Giving Tsukiakari the slimmest of bows, he turned to walk into the depths of the enemy's territory.
Get out of my head!
Pian excitedly sat up from his meditation as he heard Rin's voice. I found you! He called back in reply.
There was nothing further, but he was already thrown into a frenzy.
She was here - for a split second he had been able to feel her mind clearly. Somehow she had made it beyond his gate. Giddy, he assessed how much energy he had amassed so far and was disappointed to realize that there was a fair bit more time to go before he had everything he needed.
Yet, with an uncharacteristic impatience that surprised himself, he felt so strongly that he needed to find her. The thrill of the chase, that he understood. What he could not comprehend was the sense of apprehension that had started to become entwined with the emotions he experienced when recalling her. The thought was almost foreign.
He shook his head. All of this meditation was simply causing him to go in circles. Surely it must be time to take a bit of a break. If he were able to bring her under heel again, that would certainly alleviate his concerns. If she were by his side, whatever threat he could possibly feel would be eliminated.
It was a pity that in all of the mayhem, she had somehow managed to dispel the blood curse he placed on her. But there were other ways. He regarded the wana seal, the great secret treasure of the inu clan. Experimentation had taught him that lesser beings could not resist the call if they were in range, but more powerful creatures, youkai in particular, were immune.
With a sigh, he slipped the golden trinket back into his robes. The only way to gain control was to bring the seal in physical contact with another. That had worked sufficiently for the pathetic excuse for the leader of the northern clan. It would most likely work again.
He gripped Ryuushin, the sword having returned to his side hours ago. Now that I know you are here, I can find you. The blood lust pulsated in the blade, calling out for her, just as it had all those months ago. Delicately, he let the sword tug on his hand, drawing him in a particular direction.
A midnight stroll never hurt anyone. He chuckled at his own falsehood.
I found you!
Rin awoke with a start. That voice again, the same one that used to haunt her nightmares, the same one that screamed and beckoned a few days ago, to the point where she collapsed.
Get out of my head! She thought back as fiercely as possible for good measure, and rather unceremoniously, there was no response. She froze, carefully checking every one of her muscles, regulating her breathing, keeping tabs on all her senses. Everything was still in her control.
Maybe whatever Tsukiakari had done was still protecting her, that it had temporarily failed. If that was the case, it could happen again. She would need to make do with however much sleep she had managed to get after her unnatural collapse. The time to act was now, in the pitch black of the night.
I need to figure out what to do - and fast. If I succumb to his spell, we'll lose. She glanced at her pack that contained Kongomi's blood. Let's assume the dragon is near the castle, because of course it would be, nothing is ever easy. If I summon the dragon, then there's a chance it might turn on me…
A caw interrupted her thoughts. "One of Sesshomaru's crows?" She held out her arm for the large spiritual bird to land. "I guess you were able to get through the barrier, huh?"
It opened its large beak and Sesshomaru's voice came out.
"I am coming."
Rin frowned. "Oh no you don't. Bird, you tell this to that idiot: This is a suicide mission, a sacrifice I signed up for. This is my job. Stay away and stay out of my way." She shook the crow off her arm and watched it fly south. No one else needed to die. All she needed to do was get the amulet and Ryuushin if she could for that would give the team the fighting chance to end this mess once and for all.
Killing that bastard was definitely a top three, but it wasn't very realistic that she would survive that long to make that a reality.
She hurriedly packed up her things, setting her sights on the castle, a dark silhouette against the hazy moon that gleamed through the shield with only a fraction of its normal brilliance. Traveling at night was normally a challenge, unless one happened to have eyes enhanced by demonic energy. She could not communicate with Jiro in this state, but made a promise that if they were reunited in the netherworld, that she would make her eternal gratitude known. Who knows where I would be right now if I had to do this all in my normal human form?
Then she saw a glimmer, a sparkle, not a hundred feet from her. Hyperaware and heart thudding, she settled into a crouch, creeping stealthily over and gasped.
It was a sigil, a symbol of some kind. She reached out carefully and jerked back as her hand was zapped with a lightning energy. "That can't be good," she murmured.
Backing up a few paces, she drew Tenseiga. If she was right about this, then Pian would know precisely where she was. Or at least where someone was. If she was wrong, then Pian still knew she was and today was the day - the beginning of the end anyway.
She concentrated, letting the blue flames flash against the blade. Revert! A downward swing and the spell circle was covered in fire for an instant before the heat died away, leaving behind nothing but melted snow and dirt.
Did that do anything? Rin quickly whipped her head around. Nothing seemed to have changed. I wonder what that was.
She slid Tenseiga back into its sheath and she bent down to pick up her pack, her shadow covering the ground in front of her. Then she started her march towards the castle.
Wait. Her shadow? She glanced down once more to see there was indeed a shade mirroring her actions on the ground. With mounting anticipation, she examined the sky above her head. Sure enough, at the top of the dome, amidst the hazily obscured moonlight, there was an opening casting the pure snowy light from that celestial body.
"That sigil, it's part of the spell." She murmured. There must be more nearby, scattered about maybe. If she could find them, that would drastically improve their chances of victory.
She set out at a sprint, parallel to the castle, on the hunt. Killing the bastard would have to be content with priority number four.
A/N: Hot off the presses! We are plugging and chugging my friends. Next time we begin the finale - the pieces are in motion and all we need to do is see how this game will end. Let me know what you think!
It will probably take me a bit longer to get to the finale since I need to make sure I haven't forgotten any pieces.
Once we finish RATMW, there will be one final epilogue that is posted separately (the same way Thinking in a New Light is a separate prologue). If you're reading on , I don't have a good way to connect them, so I'll try to post an afterwards chapter on the main story so you know where to find it. If you're reading on AO3, it'll be added to the "Reaching Across the Milky Way" works. I hope to have that epilogue posted by the end of the summer.