A/N: This is the last chapter of "Juujou's Six". Thanks to all of you, who followed and favourited this fanfic. I am happy I could write another story for you guys!
Chapter 20:
Upon throwing upon the two great doors in front of her, Kanami was greeted with a blood-chilling scene. The room she was in was a large round hall, like an amphitheatre. It was empty, save for two certain individuals. One who was Yukari, watching from up above, her eyes lit with glee. And the other was Hiyori in the middle of the hall, Kogarasumaru in hand. The Mokusa Toji's hair was glowing a vivid blue and floating above her. With her teeth gritted in pain, tears of blood were streaming down her pale cheeks.
"Hiyori-chan..." Kanami gasped.
Yukari's voice echoed around the amphitheatre. "Welcome, Etou Kanami. I see you have come to join the show."
"Release Hiyori-chan!" Kanami shouted.
"Are you sure you want me to do that, Etou Kanami? In the state she is in right now, Karasu can kill not just you but this whole pathetic planet," Yukari said.
Letting out a scream in anguish, Hiyori choked out, "Kanami, kill me! Hurry!"
"Hiyori-chan!"
Putting her hands behind her back, the Origami leader straightened her back. "Go on, Karasu. Kill your little lovebird."
Hiyori only could give Kanami one more pleading look, before the noro in her body began to take effect once again. Her left eye shone with power, as the Mokusa Toji lost control, feeling her limbs move on their own. Pouncing towards Kanami, Hiyori swung Kogarasumaru, aiming for the Minoseki Toji's head. Taking action immediately, Kanami was able to block Hiyori's powerful strike with Oodenta.
From above, Yukari observed the duel like an amused spectator watching two gladiators fight. Due to how fast they were, Kanami and Hiyori looked like two bolts of light speeding across the room—one surrounded by orange noro fire and the other shining with blue lightning. Like the sun and the moon, the two Tojis' power shone with such radiance that they'd catch anyone's eye.
Deflecting another hit from Hiyori, Kanami said, "Hiyori-chan, you can fight against the noro! I know you can; you're strong."
"I can't!" Hiyori screamed. "Kill me—just end my misery."
"Hiyori-chan! There are people who need you," Kanami said, pushing Onimaru against Hiyori's. "You need to live—for them! For me!"
Feeling pressure building up in her head once again, the Minoseki Toji cringed as Tagitsuhime tried to win control of her mind again. "You're not the real enemy, Hiyori-chan. So, fight against the noro! If you won't, then I won't either. Is that what you really want?!"
Through her bloody tears, Hiyori let out a cry of pain, as Kanami twisted Kogarasuaru out of her grasp. This was it. Now, her suffering would end. The noro in her veins boiled with energy, as her blue hair conglomerated into a mass of noro with blue eyes. With one last tearful glance, Hiyori gave Kanami a sad smile, before giving in. She didn't even notice the Minoseki Toji running forward to tightly embrace her.
"Hiyori-chan, I'm here," Kanami choked out. "I'm always here."
"Ka...nami..."
"Kill her, Karasu! Use the power I gave to you!" Yukari yelled.
'This is it, huh?' Hiyori thought. 'Kanami and I are really going to die from power?'
As the last of her strength began to slip away into the darkness, the Mokusa Toji's eyes could faintly make out something around Kanami's neck. It shone with a silver-like gleam. What was it that Kanami once said to her?
'A bird can't fly with only one wing.'
"I need you, Hiyori-chan. Which I why...I'll end everything for both of us."
Through her fading vision and ringing ears, the Mokusa Toji barely heard Kanami's words. Then, she coughed, pain shooting throughout her chest. With hazy eyes, Hiyori looked down to see Kanami had just stabbed her with Onimaru and Oodenta. But that wasn't all... The two okatanas were also going through the Minoseki Toji's body—Kanami had just pierced the two of them at once.
"Ka...na...mi..."
"I'm...here...Hiyori-chan."
With widening eyes, Yukari stepped back in horror as blinding white light erupted from Onimaru and Oodenta. Rays of dazzling brightness shone forth, before enveloping the entire room. Like columns of light, they burst forth into the sky before descending all around the country like shooting stars...
She was dazzling. Dazzling as bright as the sun. Beautiful, yet untouchable. And the only thing she could feel was agony.
'Being powerful is a lonely existence...I want...Hiyori-chan...'
Weakly opening her eyes, Kanami could faintly hear the joys of exclamations from the doctors around her. Some pain-relieving drugs were being slowly pumped into her. Everything felt raw and tender. Over and over again, the Minoseki Toji could hear the doctors saying what a miracle it was. A miracle that her body was resilient enough to survive. A miracle that even with so much noro in her, she was able to remain in control.
'But what about Hiyori-chan?'
In her grogginess, Kanami was only half-aware whenever her friends would visit. Mai, Sayaka, Ellen, and Kaoru also had their fair share of wounds but were less beat-up. They shared new bits of information that the Minoseki Toji barely could register, except for a few key points. About Mokusa winning, Yukari now being in custody, Yuzuki taking her place as the new Toji leader... The only thing that really perked Kanami's attention was the shocking news of Akane and Sana being found dead. The Minoseki Toji's mind would have been preoccupied with what happened to them, but she could really only wonder about one thing.
Not once did Hiyori appear making Kanami fear the worst. If she had indeed killed her, everything was her fault. They were supposed to die together
'Till death do us part...'
When she was finally released from the hospital, Kanami let her feet wander around Kamakura aimlessly with no real destination in mind. For some reason, they led her in front of the Origami Estate once again. From what Kaoru told her, Yukari was being kept prisoner in her own home. Kanami didn't know why she even bothered coming here, but a dull pain in her heart made her continue forward.
Two Mokusa Tojis were guarding Yukari's room. Upon seeing Kanami, they bowed in respect to their new saviour before letting her through.
"I was wondering when you'd come."
With empty eyes, Kanami faced the Origami leader, who was sitting on her bed. Although she had lost against Mokusa and was now awaiting trial, Yukari didn't appear in any way defeated. In fact, she still wore the same sly grin.
"Your little lovebird visited me just a few minutes earlier."
Kanami stared at Yukari with sudden attention, her heart skipping a beat. "Hiyori-chan is alive?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Attempting a double-suicide with Onimaru and Oodenta was a move on your part that I was not anticipating," Yukari said. "Those aradama bombs included."
A frown crossed Kanami's face. "What are you talking about? Kaoru-chan and Ellen-chan said you were controlling those aradama."
"Etou Kanami, do you really think I'd rain down noro bombs on my own forces? Of course, we both know that I have no regrets when it comes to killing traitors. However, those Tojis I sent out were my most loyal ones. Why should I want to destroy my defences, along with the Elite Guards, who I must add are my four best Tojis?"
Kanami could not think up an answer. Was she just pulling her leg?
"And as for those Mokusa Tojis, who do you think was controlling them this whole time? Definitely not me," Yukari said. "If I did send those bombs, I would've made them attack the Tojis on Mokusa's side—not my own."
Then, with a wicked grin, she added, "And isn't it such a coincidence that Sana and Akane have been killed, yet only Yuzuki has gotten out without a scratch?"
Seeing Kanami's eyes widen, Yukari said, "I see you begin to understand now. Yes, Etou Kanami, it was Yuzuki who you really had to fear. Yuzuki, who told me about everything from Mokusa's plots and heist schemes. Yuzuki, who organized the trade of the two okatanas, so that I had an opportunity to capture Karasu. Yuzuki, who sent those noro bombs and noro-controlled forces. Yuzuki, who played everything correctly by winning the trust of me and Mokusa, before betraying us both so that she could secure power. And Yuzuki, who also wanted to control you with noro, ever since you were young, and killed Minato because of it."
With an exaggerated sigh, the Origami leader said, "Yuzuki takes no side but her own. Every one of us was a pawn on her chessboard."
"She intends to take my place now," Yukari added, smiling from ear to ear. "Therefore...I advise you to stop your little lovebird while you can. You know what she is about to do..."
That's right. She did know. Kanami didn't need Yukari to explain any further. She and Hiyori were assassins. This was one last mission they had to complete...
A Week Later...
"A search is still being carried out for the two fugitives, Etou Kanami and Juujou Hiyori, after the assassination of Japan's new Toji leader, Souraku Yuzuki. Police have so far found no clues and..."
Switching off the television, Kanami let out a sigh. Her fingers delicately stroked the ebony locks of her sleeping girlfriend. Although only a week had passed since Mokusa's victory, it seemed like centuries. Lost days of trying to cope. This was no different. Yuzuki's death was just another kill to Kanami and Hiyori. After all, as assassins, blood would forever stain their hands.
Child-like innocence had vanished since their first kill. To figures of authority, they were just instruments made to kill their enemies for the selfish motives of their leaders. Mokusa's victory was no victory of Kanami and Hiyori's.
'Who knows? Someday in the future, Mokusa too might succumb to corruption. This world is full of stupid people, fighting against one another due to their selfish refusal to understand each other's differences,' Kanami thought.
But, at least, until then, she and Hiyori would be together. After all, a bird couldn't fly with just one wing...
A/N: Hope you enjoyed "Juujou's Six"! Although this fanfic was difficult to write, I'm glad I was able to complete it. See you next time! :)