The Golden Strands Chapter 53: Let the Monster Fall, a Sailor Moon + Yu-Gi-Oh Crossover fanfic

A/N: So...it's been a while...again. I don't have excuses anymore when it comes to the whack update schedule. Life is crazy. A lot of stuff was going on and I had quite a bit of trouble with this chapter in terms of how I wanted everything to pace itself out. This is pretty much the peak of the story and I want to deliver it well, especially with how long some of you have been waiting for me to get my act together. So, without further delay, let's just dive in. Thank you guys for reading. God bless you all!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Code Geass, or the Fate series are not mine. (And no, I can't believe two extra fandoms got dragged into this mess either but just roll with it.) They belong to their respective owners, and no I am not naming them all. That would take too long.

Warnings: This chapter contains a great deal of emotional turmoil for all the characters involved. There are also many mentions of gore in the early part of this chapter, but it should start to taper off toward the middle. I tried to keep this one a little more tame in that regard since previous chapters just went wild with it. Even so, there's a lot of drama jam packed into this one so...get ready. Once more, thank you all for reading. At times I have to go back and re-read things in this story to finish chapters and...guys this story is rough on the emotions. Holy cow...what have I done!?

Chapter 53

Let the Monster Fall

A terrible snap of bones echoes in the air. An ominous silence follows.

With a huff of irritation, D.D. throws Sailor Mercury's lifeless body to the snow.

As the magic of the sailor form slowly fades, E.E.'s faithful second in command and lover strains to catch his own breath. Even though the Code healed most of his injuries, his energy level is a different story.

Dropping to his knees, he stares at the body of his adversary. Dressed in a simple white blouse, black slacks, and a deep-blue cardigan, Sailor Mercury looks painstakingly ordinary.

Somehow, the civilian attire emphasizes the unnatural angle of her neck, but as large flakes of snow land gently against her cheek, D.D. finally notices her open eyes.

Known as the Grim Reaper to his associates within the Geass Order, a corpse with open eyes was a sight D.D. associated with normalcy. In the early days of his time with E.E., the night terrors after kills were a torment for him. Over time, those dreams came less and less until they finally stopped altogether.

He hasn't dreamed of anything in over a century. He hasn't felt guilt or sorrow for almost as long.

However, D.D. knows with a single glance that this girl's expression will haunt him. It conveys no sense of terror or sadness. Instead her expression is peaceful...eerily so.

"She's practically smiling at me."

Though time was of the essence, D.D. hesitantly brushes his fingers over her eyes, closing them. Her expression remains the same, but the immortal finds comfort in it.

Like this he could pretend she was asleep.

Similar to how he felt dueling Joey Wheeler, he got a legitimate thrill from his battle with the warrior of ice. With every blow exchanged he felt his dusty and worn out heart breathe new life into his dark, bottomless pit of a soul.

In the end...he didn't want to kill her.

But orders are orders. E.E. is the woman he loves. He will do whatever she asks no matter how much he hates the tasks she gives. To safeguard her and help her achieve their ultimate mission was his only reason for living.

And so...

"You have my respect, Ami Mizuno. From one soldier to another...it was an honor."

Having made peace with the cost of loyalty, D.D. redirects his attention to the entrance of the base.

"E.E., I'm on my way."

~A few minutes earlier~

The scene in front of us is almost too gruesome to be scary. Kinda like how some horror flicks go way too far with the gore to the point where it loops around to comedy because the kills have no basis in reality.

And yet...here we are in a scene mirroring one of those cheap scare flicks, except this isn't a movie. The pieces of red mush once belonged to living, breathing people with joys and sorrows like anyone else, regardless of who they worked for.

I tried not to think too deeply about it as I began to guide Serena through the gore. Earlier she'd been the pillar of strength in our journey through Mina's path of blood, but it was easy to see now that it'd been a really good cover for what was actually going on inside her head.

My feelings for Mina run deeper than I want to admit, but Serena has known her for a lot longer than I have. She and the other Sailor Scouts have years of history with Mina, so this radical shift in her mindset and actions probably feels out of left-field for the meatball head.

It's definitely a shock to my system too, but this isn't the first time Mina's walked on the dark side of things. In Duelist Kingdom she worked as an eliminator duelist for Pegasus, the very person holding Yugi's grandpa captive at the time.

Desperation drove her to betray us then. That same emotion drove her back to Japan, drove her to threaten Rei at Tokyo Tower, and drove her to kill the very person she came here to save.

I feel responsible for a lot of Mina's pain when it comes to her mom's death, but I'm starting to think she might have killed her anyway, even if I wasn't a factor at all.

The guilt you feel...is meaningless. I brought you into this situation, knowing the potential danger for you right from the start. At the time, it didn't matter. I wanted...I needed you. To face what had to be done, I needed a reason.

Is that all I am to her? Just an excuse to kill?

Despite our efforts to avoid the gore on the ground, Serena and I both end up stepping in it. I almost slipped once too, but I don't think the meatball head noticed me squeezing her shoulders to keep myself upright. With her hands pressed against her mouth, it's clear she's doing everything she can just to keep herself from vomiting.

She's trying so hard to be strong...

"Just like Mina..."

Biting on my lip, I keep directing us forward and try not to look at the ground too much. The smell alone is enough to make my stomach queasy but I can work around that feeling so long as I focus on taking one step after the other and nothing else. I can get through this. Joey Wheeler never gives up.

But that old mantra I've repeated to myself countless times completely disappears when Serena breaks away from me and plummets to her knees.

"Serena!"

Her hands fly away from her mouth, and in the next instant she's throwing up on the floor. The smell reaches my nostrils but doesn't really register as I kneel down next to her and start rubbing circles along her back. Only a small amount of bile comes out of Serena's mouth, which I take as a good sign initially, but as the seconds tick on, her convulsions get worse and worse.

"What do I do?"

A wheezing sort of sob breaks past Serena's lips and the convulsions have gotten to the point where I have no choice but to wrap my arms around her so she won't hurt herself. Any awkwardness I could have felt in this situation flies out the window the second she rasps out a hollow-sounding wail. It isn't very loud, but the cry holds so much grief that it practically drains me of all my strength right there.

"It's okay," I whisper, pressing my face against her shoulder to alleviate some of that sudden exhaustion. "It's gonna be okay. We'll get through all this somehow."

Serena doesn't say much of anything, but as I hold her my mind wanders to several moments in Pegasus' castle when I held Mina close like this.

"This is the not the time to be thinking about any of that!"

But the memories come anyway as I sit here, holding Serena steady while her convulsions run their course.

One of the first times I held Mina was when she woke up from a nightmare after fainting during Yugi's duel with Kaiba. The next time I held her was out in the rain. That was the moment I promised to help her pay for her dad's surgery. Later that same day, I held her as we kissed for the first time.

That first kiss was nothing like the accidental lip-lock we shared at the festival just a week ago.

In Duelist Kingdom, I kissed Mina because I didn't want her to think of herself as a monster or feel like she had to continue fighting alone. Even back then she was trying to cope with burdens she simply couldn't bear on her own, so that kiss was an offer to share the weight she constantly carried on her shoulders. For a few fleeting moments, I believed we could face anything as long as we stuck together. Betrayals and misunderstandings aside, I trusted her then...and I wanted her to trust me too.

Holding Serena shouldn't bring all these memories racing into my head, and I'm not entirely sure why it's even happening. Maybe it's because they look so similar to each other...or maybe I'm just wishing I could live in the beautiful moments I took for granted.

It hurts to remember her smile.

I'd give anything to see that smile again...to see Mina happy again.

But there's no denying what she's become. Only a monster could do all this...and I...

"I know, Serena," I say after a moment. "It's overwhelming. What Mina has done...it's inexcusable, but...she still needs us."

Don't you hate me?

"We have to help her. We have to..."

Aren't you even the least bit afraid of me after what you just saw?

I never said the words, but maybe Mina already knew what my true feelings were. She's supposed to be the soldier of love, right?

How can you still care about my well-being? I don't understand you at all, Joey. What's it going to take, huh? You just watched me kill my mother for crying out loud...

Now I've seen worse...far worse...and I hate it. I hate it all so much.

And yet...my heart won't let me hate her.

Memories from that horrible night in Azabu Park finally surface in a way that's impossible to ignore. I'm right back there, reliving the moment Mina inhaled so sharply it sounded like she'd been shot through the heart. She fell against me and I embraced her without any hesitation.

I...really did kill her didn't I?

Gritting my teeth I try to will the memories away, but Serena is still trembling. That alone brings back sensations and sounds I want to forget. I feel Mina's arms around me. I feel the dull pain of her nails digging into my skin. I hear her hyperventilating.

Joey...what have I done? There must have been another way? I...I know there was a way to save both of you, so why...why...please...tell me that I didn't actually do this! What monster murders their own mother!?

My breathing is shaky...maybe I'm the one hyperventilating.

Please...tell me I didn't do this...

I don't know when Serena's tremors stopped, just that my own replaced them.

Despite everything...I still...

She turns slightly in my arms. "J-Joey...are you gonna be okay?"

My stomach is in knots, and my chest feels like it's going to cave in when I force an answer out through my teeth.

"No. I'm in love with a murderer."

"Joey..."

Distant footsteps interrupt Serena before she can say anything else, and the sound brings harsh reality to the forefront of my mind. With a sharp intake of breath, I stand up and grab the gun out of my pocket.

"I might turn into a murderer too."

Serena hasn't completely recovered from her vomiting spell yet, so I make sure to position myself between her crumpled form and the swift footsteps growing in volume.

"Who's there?"

The footsteps stop abruptly, and for a few seconds I'm mentally begging for Serena to get up because I don't know what we're about to face. One of E.E.'s leftover lackeys Mina didn't kill? A highly trained assassin? D.D. again? It could be anyone, and I highly doubt anyone lurking down here is friendly. The odds aren't really in our favor with me as the last line of defense. I'm new to the whole gun thing, so if I miss any crucial shots or run out of ammo too fast, we won't make it out of this place.

My fingers tremble around the base of the gun and my brain immediately snaps to the memory of shooting D.D. through the chest. I blink once to shake it away, but I know it'll come back at some point to haunt me.

I don't want to shoot anyone else tonight, but if I'm left with no other options, that's exactly what I'll do.

A lone figure slowly emerges from a tunnel. On instinct I point the gun at the newcomer, but don't shoot right away because it's hard to see. Whoever it is stops moving when I point the gun at them, and after a few seconds of blinking I'm able to make out fiery red hair and a playful smirk in the dark.

Instant relief floods through me.

"Detective Fennette!"

Kara's smirk widens as I lower the gun. "I'm guessing Minako is nearby?"

"GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"BOOM!"

All three of us turn in the direction of the sudden scream and gunshot, but my feet start moving toward the sound before Serena or Detective Fennette can say or do anything, and even when Serena finally calls out to me, I don't stop or look back until I'm standing directly in front of a tall door.

Mina is here.

She's the one who screamed.

But my footsteps halt when I hear a second gunshot, followed by a third.

And suddenly...I don't want to go through that door anymore.

Past this point...there's truly no going back.

Not for me...or for Mina.

Beyond this door is the girl I love and a monster I hate. I'm not sure if those two sides of me can exist at the same time...so that leaves me with a question to answer.

Which side of my heart will survive through this change?

Kara stops on my right side, her own gun raised. "It might be better if you stay out here, Joseph. The scene behind that door will be messy whether Mina fired those shots or not."

"Don't tempt me to run," I think, smiling in spite of myself. "It's too late to run. It's too late to save myself from this."

Serena approaches slowly from my left, but she walks past me before I can truly register her presence. She stops mere inches away from the slightly ajar doorway. The light seeping through the thin space shines along one side of her face. A part of me is struck by how beautiful she is, caught in that ethereal glow, but when she inclines her gaze over her shoulder to look at us, the other side of her face is completely lost in shadow.

Her gaze dims and she exhales slowly.

"Ready?"

Kara gives a nod, but Serena doesn't move right away. Her right eye, the eye I can actually see, settles on me.

She repeats the question without words.

The smile remains on my face.

Truth is...I'll never be ready for what's waiting beyond this door.

It's almost funny. I faced this exact dilemma the day mom and Serenity left. They were outside...getting into the car...and for a moment I just couldn't...

I don't have many memories of my mom. The few I have aren't great.

But one good memory I have is of us washing dishes together. It was one of those things she and I always did together. Sometimes we talked, but most of the time we worked in silence. In a volatile household like ours had been, silence was a beautiful reprieve.

About a week before she left with Serenity though, my mom abruptly broke the silence as we were working on a particularly big pile of dirty dishes.

Joseph, in life you will face difficult problems. Sometimes there won't be any good solutions. When you face these things...I want you to make the best choices you can and never look back. Even if those choices turn out to be mistakes...never look back.

After all these years, I finally understand what she meant by those words. I always thought it was just her way of telling me she was leaving without me, but now those words take on a different meaning.

My mom doesn't have any regrets concerning my dad. She loves him. Even now, I'm sure she still loves him. She may even believe he's still capable of turning into the person he used to be as long as someone is there to remind him that he'd been worth loving once.

And now...here I am hoping I'll still believe in Mina's goodness when all is said and done.

Taking a few steps forward, I place my left hand against one of the two panels. Serena lays her hand on my shoulder for support while Kara remains silent. I don't know what the detective is thinking, but I'm grateful for the silence. It's the peaceful sort of silence I used to share with my mom all those years ago.

For the first time in forever...I miss her.

"Please...give me the strength to face this."

I'm not someone that prays. I don't even know if I believe in any higher beings at all, but right now it helps to think there's someone or something out there listening and lending me the willpower to go through with this final step.

I've made the choice to see this nightmare through. No matter what happens from here on...I won't look back.

"All done?"

In response to Kara's question, I give the large panel a fierce shove.

I know something's wrong the instant Rei's head bounces up from off the stone floor.

A few minutes ago, I would have taken great pleasure in watching my former friend tumble to the ground. Delight would have overtaken my heart at the sight of blood leaking profusely from all her wounds, and upon noticing the shot that had torn through the center of her chest, I would have laughed heartily knowing I'd claimed some form of revenge tonight.

But now...I don't feel any of those things.

If anything, watching Rei sputter and spit up blood makes me sick with terror.

And the main reason why is because I have no idea how this happened.

The gun in my hand...it was pressed against the side of my head when I pulled the trigger. Despite the horrible voice in my mind demanding Rei's death, all I could think about was how I'd failed to save my parents. My crusade for vengeance went so horrendously wrong that I ended up killing Joey on accident, which was truly ironic considering what I'd done to keep him alive.

Everything I did was pointless. And in the end, there's really only one person I blame for it all.

The person I hate most isn't Rei or even E.E.

The person I hate most...is me.

With the gun's barrel pressed against my head, pulling the trigger meant sealing my fate within this tragic tale.

And yet...

I'm still standing here.

Alive.

"What happened!?"

Lowering the gun, I watch Rei press her trembling fingers against a wound along her left shoulder. Crimson liquid rapidly spills over her hand down to the floor despite her efforts. She groans pitifully, abandoning the task of stopping the blood flow as she starts to cough up more of the crimson liquid.

"I don't understand," I think, confusion mixing with the mounting horror of the moment. "I'm the one who should be lying on the floor right now, not Rei..."

Violet eyes slowly meet mine. There's no judgement or fear in Rei's gaze when she looks at me. Instead her expression conveys a sense of deep relief...but why?

"She...she did something, didn't she?"

"R-Rei...what did you..."

The words fade with the sound of a familiar grunt of effort accompanied by the low creak of a door. My eyes drift to that door just as someone steps in.

Everything stops.

"It...can't be...there's just no way..."

For a few fleeting seconds, new rage explodes in me because even after all this, E.E. is still alive! She has to be! That's the only way this cruel hallucination could be here...

But that mentality changes the second my eyes meet his.

"This isn't an illusion."

Relief and shock flood through me in equal measure as I stare at the boy in front of me, transfixed by his presence. I hear Serena shouting and catch a glimpse of the detective we met at the Christmas Ball, but the chaos soon melts from my awareness. All I can focus on...all I can think about is that...

"Joey...he's here. He's really here. I didn't kill him...he's okay."

Breathing was a burdensome task long before this moment, but my breaths halt altogether when Joey's gaze truly settles over mine.

And just like that, everything in my world shatters again.

"He saw everything..."

Just as promised in my letter, I'd left a pile of corpses behind. At no point did I want or expect Joey to follow me down here and become a witness to what can only be called madness. Killing my mother in front of him was a tremendously traumatic experience for both of us, and after A.A. kidnapped me...I couldn't stand the idea of involving Joey in my mess of a life any longer, especially with my mental state at an all time low.

The haze of my mania fades as I continue to stare at my friend, and I feel like a complete idiot for even thinking the illusion I stabbed was actually him. My gut instinct had been right from the get-go concerning that impostor, but E.E. got in my head. She played me for a fool and got the last laugh, even in death.

Despite all my preparations...despite my willingness to simply drop dead after all was said and done...

This scenario is the one thing I didn't prepare for.

There's no mental bubble I can surround myself with because Joey has never been fooled by any of my facades. As much as I hate to admit it to myself...believing I'd killed him was an easier pill to swallow than the horrible nightmare unfolding in front of me.

E.E. put in a lot of effort to break me...

But all Joey has to do is stare at me and my heart caves in.

His eyes showcase so many different emotions at once.

Sadness.

Disappointment.

Worry.

Relief.

Disgust.

Hurt.

Guilt.

Rage.

But one emotion is stronger than all the others.

I never wanted Joey to see me like this. I left that letter hoping he would finally give up on me, but instead he followed me into the depths of a Hell I created. On some level, I should have known he'd come barreling into danger for me. The affection hidden in those warm, brown eyes of his is why I'd been left with no other alternative but to kill my mom.

He loves me. That's why he's here...why he's always fought to stay by my side.

But knowing that doesn't mean I understand it.

After what I've done...after everything I've put him through...

How can he still feel that way about me?

Picture it. December 23rd, 1999.

Two broken people exit a small but popular coffee shop near Azabu Park and begin their trek to an abandoned construction site a few blocks past Tokyo Tower. While sipping at their beverages, they exchange jokes and revisit old memories regarding their shared travels throughout the world.

To any onlooker, Cecelia Ashford and Toshido Aino were a normal couple reminiscing about a time before the impending doom of parenthood.

In reality, the two of them are merely stalling for time.

Toshido in particular seems hesitant to keep moving forward, though not because he's all that interested in protecting himself. Oddly enough, he's more concerned about Cecelia's physical state and whether or not she could actually handle fighting him without harming the child growing inside of her.

His survival instincts tell him not to worry about such things.

His heart tells him to make Cecelia and her child his highest priority.

And so, when they finally reach their destination, Toshido turns to her and says something he knows he shouldn't.

"Cecelia...there has to be a better way than this."

The blonde woman takes a few steps back as her right hand moves to the gun in her coat pocket. "You know there isn't. Not for me. I have to protect my baby no matter what. If I don't kill you, E.E. will surely know I've abandoned the Order." Sighing heavily, she lets her left hand drift to her stomach. "You know why I can't allow this outcome."

Toshido narrows his gaze on her. He makes no move to grab his own gun.

"Toshido...I don't want to kill you but..."

"I never knew my father. He ran out on me and my mother when I was three."

Cecelia pauses in shock, her sapphire eyes widening. "What?"

"My mother raised me on her own," he continues, ignoring the urge to laugh at Cecelia's expression. "It was difficult for her. I wasn't the best kid. I was always getting into trouble. Probably could have benefited from some positive male role models, but my mom wasn't concerned with finding anyone else to love after my dad left."

The woman finally withdraws her gun, but her hold on it is loose.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I'm not sure of the reason myself," Toshdio answers back, smiling sardonically. "I just...don't think a child should grow up without both parents if it can be helped, you know."

Cecelia laughs at this, but the sound is bitter and hollow. "It's not as if I can go back to my husband. He thinks I'm dead. No...Cecelia Ashford is dead. I'm Yumi Tachira now."

Toshido's smile widens slightly. "Well then, Yumi Tachira...would you allow me to remain by your side and raise the child with you?"

Silence overtakes them for a very long moment. Toshido keeps his eyes on Cecelia's. There's confusion in her gaze as well as sadness.

"T-Toshido..."

"You wouldn't have to kill me," he continued, cutting her off before she could say more. "And I can protect you from E.E. I have connections in high places that she doesn't know about." A short chuckle escapes him at the irony of those words. "She never considered me as any kind of threat."

Cecelia smirks slightly at this, but her grip tightens on the gun in her hand. The time for talking is swiftly running out.

"I'm fairly certain the only reason she wants you dead now is because of me, Toshido." She allows herself another bitter bout of laughter, then says, "Perhaps you could protect me from E.E. given those connections you claim to have, but...you can't protect me from myself. I'm my own worst enemy."

"Aren't we all?"

Cecelia lets out a sigh but doesn't answer. Instead she raises the gun toward her friend.

"The time for talking is over," she whispers. "Draw your weapon or die."

Toshido responds by lowering himself down on one knee.

"I suppose I choose death then." He closes his eyes and listens as Cecelia slowly approaches him. When her footsteps stop, he feels the barrel of the gun press against his forehead, but he also feels her tremors through it.

His breathing picks up speed in response to death's chill against his skin, but there's no fear left in his heart.

"Cecelia...it's okay," he says once he hears a soft sob escape her. "I understand. You know I understand. You know that I...that I love you. I've always loved you. This doesn't change that. Nothing will ever change what I feel for you. Whatever you decide is what I'll accept."

Placing his fate in Cecelia's hands, Toshido waits.

The first thing I see once my eyes adjust to the bright lighting is Mina's expression of shock. With a gun in hand, she stands over a gasping, raven-haired girl wearing a red Sailor suit. Serena sprints ahead of me to kneel by this girl...her comrade...her friend.

"Oh my God! Rei! REI!"

Serena presses her hands against wounds on Rei's shoulders and torso, but if the fire soldier answers back, I don't hear her. Kara has strayed from my side too. Within seconds she's muttering a curse and announcing her discovery of yet another body.

That makes nine.

If Rei dies...she'll be the tenth person killed.

But even though my eyes and ears catch snippets of the growing chaos around me, my focus remains on Mina, on the blood covering her from head to toe. Nearly every sound seems to disappear from the room until all I can hear is the raspy sound of Mina's shallow breathing. My own breaths have stopped, and when I finally do take a breath it feels labored...like I've been punched in the chest.

"J-Joey? H-how...can you...why are you..."

Without warning, my fingers start shaking, and only then do I realize I'm still holding a gun in my hand.

"What do I do? What do I do now?"

"I can't stop the bleeding! Joey! Kara! Help me stop the bleeding!"

"It's no use. That shot to the chest is fatal..."

"No it's not!" Serena roared, her voice a guttural mix between despair and hysteria. "R-Rei will be f-fine. S-so will Ami a-and Lita..." she trails off as manic giggles slowly spill from her lips. "I m-made sure of that! You won't die, Rei! N-no one's gonna die. Everything...everything will be f-fine..."

The shaking in my hand intensifies at Serena's words, but I don't say or do anything. I'm paralyzed from shock and Mina is still staring at me like she's seen a ghost.

After another few seconds, I finally manage to speak.

"M-Mina..."

"No," she whispers, taking a step back while dropping the gun that was in her hand. "Don't...please...don't." Tears spring to Mina's widening eyes as some sort of realization comes over her. "I can't...you can't..." Trailing off again, her gaze finally darts to Rei on the ground. Her laborious breaths are barely audible thanks to Serena's giggling. For a few seconds I spare the meatball head a glance and see that Kara is standing behind her now.

Grasping Serena's shoulders firmly, the detective starts shaking her. "Sailor Moon! Get a hold of yourself!"

Rei turns her head slightly to look at Mina. She smiles.

And then...she breaths her last.

My heart drops to my stomach.

"That's ten."

Less than a second later, a violent shock-wave tears through the room so forcefully that it almost sends me flying. Probably would have if I'd been standing closer to the source of that energy. Even without the proximity, I lost my balance and plummeted to the stone floor. Poor Kara was viciously thrown into a wall, and Mina's body slammed into the ground with a harsh slap that immediately sent her into a violent coughing fit, but those coughs were almost completely drowned out by Serena's uncontrollable laughter.

"Hahahaha!" With bloodstained fingers, Serena gently brushes Rei's eyes closed. "I'm really sorry, Rei. It's my fault. All of this is my fault. I forced you to come back one time too many. If not for that...mistake...none of this would have ever happened."

For a split second I look at Mina to see if she's moving any. Right now she's still coughing...and is that blood coming out of her mouth?

"Crap...not good..." the thought trails off when Kara's loud moan reaches my ears. Inclining my gaze over my shoulder, I see the detective leaning pitifully against the wall. She starts to stand up but falls back to the ground pretty much immediately, cursing all the while.

Jumping to my feet, I spare a final glance at Mina then quickly dash past Serena to Kara's slumped form against the far wall.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

"Urgggh...s-stupid...question...you...stupid...m-mongrel."

"Looks like someone else has been talking to moneybags," I think, grasping the detective's shoulders when she tries to stand again. I'm no doctor, but her ankle already looks swollen. It's definitely twisted if not outright broken. To be honest it's hard to tell underneath the folds of this giant floor-length skirt. I don't know why this lady thought it would be a good idea to wear a poorly made ball-gown down here. Maybe she shouldn't be throwing the "stupid" label around.

"Who knew...she had power like that," Kara mumbled, gritting her teeth as I lower her back to the ground. "Ugh! It should come with a neon, warning sign or something!"

Ignoring Kara's attempt at comedy, I glance back at Mina to see if she's on her feet yet. So far she's only managed to get into a sitting position. Serena is still ranting, but she's talking at a volume that's hard to hear from way over here. I'm only catching a couple words at a time, and based on those few words, I have a bad feeling she's about to do something crazy.

"I will end it!" With a violent flick of her wrist, the magic scepter from earlier appears to greet Serena's bloodstained hands. The crystal within it begins to glow shortly after. "Over and over and over again I watch all of you suffer and die! I can't take it anymore!"

"Stop...her..."

My attention shifts back to Kara and I notice the side of her head is bleeding pretty badly, but her emerald gaze is as sharp and piercing as ever.

"I'm too dizzy to move at the moment," she mutters, her gaze sliding to the gun next to me on the floor. "If you don't hurry, Mina will end up dead too."

"But what about..."

"You went through all this to save her didn't you?"

"Didn't I?"

Once more I look at Mina.

Rei told me I could save Mina. She asked me to save her from herself.

"After what you've done..." Serena pauses as the light-show intensifies. "After all that's happened, I'm going to make sure none of you come back! Maybe then...maybe then everyone can finally rest in peace!"

Mina smiles and from that grim expression alone I know she never wanted to live past this night. It's why she's not making any moves against Serena as she prepares to unleash a vicious, life-ending attack.

She doesn't deserve salvation or forgiveness after slaughtering ten people in cold blood. I know it and she knows it too.

But regardless of what's happened, I want Mina to live. I want her to find the strength to overcome the demons that have taken hold of her. I want her to forgive herself, to forgive me, Rei, Serena, and everyone that's hurt her...even E.E.

And what I want most is for us to stay together.

So no matter what...no matter what I have to do...

Rising to my feet with the gun in hand, I take a deep breath and offer up another silent prayer to whoever may be listening. Then, without another word to Kara, I pivot on my heel and walk until I'm standing directly behind the girl who'd been my lifeline through this whole journey inside E.E.'s lair.

Even if those choices turn out to be mistakes...never look back.

With a steady hand, I position the gun behind Serena's head.

Never look back.

A/N: And that is the end of this chapter. I guess next chapter is where the actual resolution for this mess will be. Thought it would be this one. I apologize for the mistake. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter...and don't mind the evil cliffhanger. Muhahahaha! Thank you for reading and God bless you all!

Additional Note: Also, if you guys ever get antsy waiting for updates, feel free to check out my YouTube channel, Lillymu961. I mainly post K-Pop content there now, but every so often I will put together book reviews, music reviews, and even some anime related stuff. So if you ever get curious and want to check out what I got cooking there, please feel free to visit. Many thanks in advance if any of you choose to look at the channel. Anyway, that's all for now honeychildren! Have a fantastic day and God bless you all!