And here we are, folks, the final chapter in this first arc, aka the end of season 1 of the K anime. Thanks to all 12 followers, 9 favorites and 980 readers!
I don't want to say much here, I'll give my full talk down below. In any case, enjoy this chapter!
That day, on the school island, there was a clash unlike any other. Red and Blue attacked each other, again and again, unseen by all excluding the swords that rested above the two's heads, signaling their battle.
It was a day many people would remember for different reasons.
For Mikoto, this was a day, a fight, that he was proud to say was his last. He'd never admitted it out loud, and never would, but he wanted this man before him to be the last thing he saw.
After everything they'd been through, all the fights and the banter and words left unspoken, Mikoto wanted his last sight, his last breath, in this man's presence.
He suspected Leo knew he felt that way, considering how she had eyed his tattooed wrist on more than one occasion when Munakata was around, but it didn't mean anything. After all, not everyone got a free pass at happiness like those of the Marked did.
But Mikoto had lived a good life and if he had to give that life so someone he cared for could live, he'd give it. Besides…he was running out of time and he knew it well. They all knew it, in fact.
But Totsuka's death (for that's what it would be if they couldn't find the King who separated his spirit from his body) had been the tipping point and now, here he was.
He would protect all of them, everyone he'd come to care for (even if he could never get the words out to tell them that), from the Colorless King who threatened to destroy them. He would protect them and potentially save Totsuka.
That was all he could do and even as he attacked Munakata again, pushing aside his words ('All I really want to do is help you…' Those words repeated in Mikoto's mind over and over and he took them as the hidden 'I love you' they were and returned one of his own, even if it sounded more like an insult then Munakata's had), and attacked again in a blaze of red.
This was his last day and he'd go down fighting and protecting those he loved. No matter what it took.
It wasn't very difficult to fight both Fushimi and Yata, in Kuroh's opinion. If they had been working together, as a unit like he and Totsuka were, then things would've been different.
Instead, they attacked separately and, each and every time, they were blocked by either Kuroh himself or by one of Totsuka's projections. Wisely, at least, both clansmen avoided attacking Totsuka herself, considering how important she was to both of them and the fact that she was currently pregnant (something he only knew thanks to Shiro and part of the reason he wanted to do this alone. Sadly, Totsuka was as stubborn as her great-uncle, which was a whole other thought he needed to get used to).
Kuroh paused, however, when Yata and Totsuka both cried out in pain. He could see Fushimi tending to the Red clansman and instead turned to Totsuka.
She was bent inward, her back arching and her teeth gritting in pain.
"Totsuka, what's wrong?" Kuroh asked as he carefully held her arms to keep her standing.
"Mikoto…not much longer…" She gasped and Kuroh turned to the Red Sword of Damocles, still high in the sky, but breaking even more with every minute that passed. The pain seemed to pass, however, and she straightened up. Totsuka clutched Kuroh's arm for support for only a moment before she straightened up. "I'm alright, Yatogami…I'm alright."
"If you're sure…" Kuroh hesitantly said before he turned to the two remaining clansmen. "Haven't you both had enough already? From what I've observed, you're the only ones still out here fighting."
"Yeah, you two need to listen to us and leave. Now." Totsuka added, pushing herself past Kuroh and glaring at the two. "I'm not having you argue like this in a place dangerous enough that you could die here."
"Stay out of this, Mom." Fushimi muttered, almost a reflex if you asked Kuroh.
"Don't talk to your mother that way, Saruhiko!" Yata snapped, as if he said this on a daily occurrence.
"Then, as your mother and as your future mother-in-law," Totsuka snapped, her anger growing. "I want you both off this island. Now."
"Come on, Yata. Let's get out of here. Everyone else has been evacuated." The final remaining Red clansman, Rikio Kuro thought Totsuka had called him, said. Kuroh knew that during the fight, Rikio had been helping the rest of HOMRA, Scepter 4 and the Marked evacuate the students and it was only now, when these two were the last ones here, that he had come to get them.
"That's not true, Mr. Mikoto hasn't left and he'll never leave. He'll never give up!" Yata stubbornly argued all the same.
Kuroh gently placed a hand on Totsuka's arm, seeing her emotions rising even further. With the slightest touch, he held her back and saved both clansmen from her wrath.
Without another word, Rikio picked up both Fushimi and Yata, who both proceeded to demand to be put back down.
"Believe me, it wasn't my idea to do this. But my King is compassionate. Despite the fact that you turned away from him, as his own son, he isn't letting your petty betrayal bother him." Rikio admonished.
His words, somehow, seemed to calm Totsuka as she took a deep breath and turned back to Kuroh as the three left.
"Thank you for stopping me. I probably would've killed my idiot son and his idiot of a boyfriend too if you hadn't done that." She nodded.
"Of course." Kuroh nodded in return.
"Good work, Kuroh." Shiro said as he and Mrs. Saisho-no, his little sister, Carina-floated down to join Kuroh and Totsuka.
"Well, as you can see, they aren't happy about it." Kuroh stated.
"They never are, I had to restrain the two of them the last time they came here together." Carina rolled her eyes. Kuroh could see the resemblance between her and Shiro, now. It wasn't in their features, that was impossible, but in how they acted. There was…an elegance to Carina at the same time that there was a youthful spark in her eyes, that paralleled her brother's own.
"And what happened on your end?" Totsuka asked, obviously asking for her children.
"We took care of things on our end as well; the credit belongs to Neko. And both Kristopher and Anna are in good hands, I promise. They should be with the Red clan when they leave the island, Tatara is watching over them." Shiro smiled at his niece. "Now then, let's go finish this once and for all. Let's save Kukuri."
"No second thoughts? You're sure your plan is solid? That it's going to work?" Kuroh asked, needing to make sure. Yashiro Isana may be a fool at times (most of the time that Kuroh's known him), but he was a fool that Kuroh wanted…to keep around, to protect no matter what. And it was…different from how he had felt about Master Ichigen, when he'd become his clansman all those years ago.
He wanted Shiro safe and to be at his side, for however long Shiro would allow him to do so.
"Well…I'm hoping you'll somehow be able to pull it off, without any hitches." Shiro smiled as he turned away.
"Adi…really?" Carina groaned, seeming to share Kuroh's own sentiments.
"You've regained your memory of being a King, but it appears you're still as irresponsible as when you thought you were a mere student." Kuroh sighed. "You need to act with the self-assured poise and maturity that befits a King."
"Prepare to be disappointed. I don't think I'll ever be your ideal King." Shiro smiled humorlessly.
"Hey, come on." Totsuka spoke up, stepping forward. "Does Mikoto seem like he's my ideal King? No. But I wouldn't trade him for anyone else."
"The same is true for me and Daikaku. He's an idiot sometimes, but he's still the King I chose all those years ago." Carina added.
And then…Kuroh knew what he wanted to do. He felt as if every moment since he first met the boy known as Yashiro Isana had been leading up to this, as if he were always meant to be here…as if this was where he belonged.
Without another word, Kuroh let out a sigh and then knelt on the ground, bowing his head.
"Kuroh! What are you doing?! Why are you bowing to me?! Come on, get up!" Shiro frantically said. Kuroh knew, just by his voice alone, that he was frantically waving his arm and probably blushing as well. But still, Kuroh couldn't-wouldn't-move.
"I ask you to be quiet." He said before he spoke in a softer voice. "Let me do this. May I be permitted to serve a new King, Master Ichigen?" In his mind's eye, he could see his former King, his father, smiling at him and Kuroh couldn't help the smile that graced his face as well as he lowered Kotowari to the ground and lifted his head so his eyes met Shiro's. "I, Kuroh Yatogami, do solemnly swear to devote my life to serve Adolf K. Weissman, the First and Silver King. I shall be his loyal clansman."
The look in Shiro's eyes…Kuroh couldn't describe it, not even if he wanted to. He could see Carina and Totsuka in the corner of his eyes, smiling brightly and widely at him, but he only truly had eyes for Shiro at that moment. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he wasn't scared. He knew he was meant to be here, right here, and he could never be scared when he'd found the place he belonged.
"Hey, lighten up, this isn't necessary." Shiro smiled, his voice and face both soft and his eyes sparkling. He closed his umbrella then and extended a hand to Kuroh. His right hand. "You and I are friends and I know I can count on you to have my back. Come on, let's go."
Without another word, Kuroh raised his own right hand to take Shiro's and as he stood, he could only watch as Shiro's Silver aura surrounded him before flooding into Kuroh, blending with his Colorless aura.
Kuroh could only smile helplessly, an expression Shiro mirrored. They didn't need any other words, not now.
Of course, in that exact moment the thought crossed Kuroh's mind, a sudden pain, like fire, shot up his left arm and he fell to his knees with a gasp, releasing Shiro's hand in order to clutch at his arm.
"Kuroh!" Shiro shouted, worry in his voice.
"I'm fine." Kuroh grunted as the pain slowly ebbed away. It was only then that he became aware of Carina kneeling at his side, her hand glowing gold. No, not her hand, but both of her arms. Her Marks.
"Just as I thought…" She whispered.
Kuroh followed her gaze to his left wrist. There, circling around his arm and past his sleeve, was gold butterflies.
"Y-you mean…Kuroh is…" Shiro stuttered, unable to speak.
"Your chosen Mark, yes." Carina turned to smile up at her brother as Totsuka kneeled in front of Kuroh, smiling at him.
"Well, looks like I should start calling you 'Kuroh', eh?" She-Leoda-smiled.
"But…how? I'm not…I…" Shiro stuttered.
"You mean your body, correct?" Kuroh questioned. "Shiro isn't in the right body, so how is it that my own reacted like this?"
"Because it's not the body that matters, but the soul." Carina explained. "Kuroh's soul has been tied to yours since he was born and now that both of your souls have realized what you are to each other, Kuroh's soul allowed his Mark to form."
"Kuroh, I-" Shiro started to say.
"This doesn't change anything for me." Kuroh interrupted. "We can discuss what this means when this is over and we are both safe."
Shiro was silent for a minute before he smiled, soft and slow.
"Yeah…you're right." He agreed.
"Okay, as much as I know I'm not one to talk, we kinda have a Colorless King to beat, so let's get going." Leoda cut in, though her eyes were soft and Kuroh could read the well wishes in them, as well as the sadness of her own missing Marked.
"Right, of course." Shiro smiled before he temporarily gave his aura to both his sister and his great-niece and the four floated away to deal with the Colorless King.
They floated for some time, Leoda making sure she stuck close to Carina to guide her, when they finally found the Colorless King.
"Hey, you in Kukuri's body, stop making those nasty faces." Adolf called out a second before Leoda threw an entire handful of sunflower daggers. The projection they created was weak, but it gave them the time they needed to float down.
"Shiro…" The Colorless King called, obviously trying to deceive them, before he pulled out a gun (The same gun that hurt Tatara) and shot at them. Without a word, Leoda hid behind Kuroh as Carina hid behind Adolf, allowing their Silver auras to protect the two of them before the Colorless King jumped overhead and landed, looking around for another person to possess.
"Nobody's left. We've evacuated everyone from the island." Kuroh stated.
"Anyone you could easily possess and put in serious harm is gone." Carina added, her own anger stirring. Because this was her student's body that the Colorless King was in, Kukuri was her responsibility and she was still in danger.
"The few of us that are here are too resilient for you." Kuroh finished. Without another word, the Colorless King raised the bag he had and set off the flash bomb within, using it to give him time to run.
As soon as the light cleared, Kuroh, Leoda and Carina gave chase.
The Colorless King shot at them, but Kuroh deflected the bullets easily with his Colorless aura, buying Leoda and Carina just enough time to create enough sunflower daggers and butterflies to send flying at the Colorless King. Leoda's daggers struck Kukuri's uniform, sending her to the ground and Carina's butterflies flew around her, creating a barrier.
Instantly, Kuroh jumped in front of the Colorless King, trapped in the projection as Leoda's daggers faded, allowing him to sit up.
"Kuroh! Don't hurt Kukuri!" Adolf cried as he followed after the three. Kuroh unsheathed Kotowari silently and pointed it at the Colorless King through the projection, his intent clear. "Kuroh!"
"My late Master Ichigen's sword, Kotowari. This is only the second time I've drawn it. Do you understand the significance of that?" Kuroh demanded. "It has been confirmed that you are an evil King, so in accordance with Master Ichigen's last words, I intend to slay you. I know he would never allow an evil being like you to succeed him as the Seventh and Last King. I will make sure of that!"
"Come on, Kuroh, it's me, I thought I was your good friend." The Colorless King said, an obvious ploy to stop them. "You wouldn't want to kill me, it wouldn't be right. You'd feel terrible!" The Colorless King then laughed as if this was a game. "Slay me, you say? Go ahead, I dare you, you baby Marked!" Not one of them reacted at the dig at Kuroh's new status as a Marked. Then, as if a switch was flipped, the Colorless King began to act like Kukuri again. "Don't listen to him, he's kidding, please don't! Mrs. Saisho, please help me! I'm begging you! Please, Kuroh, spare my life!" Kuroh simply raised Kotowari and Carina was silent. "Wait, don't do it! Please! No! Shiro, help me!"
Kuroh prepared to move and both Carina and Leoda noticed the exact moment Adolf's expression changed.
"Kuroh, stop this now!" He ordered.
Just then, Carina's projection broke as if it were nothing, but butter and the Colorless King left Kukuri's body…and entered Adolf's for the third time now.
Instantly, Carina was at his side, catching his body so he didn't fall while Leoda stabled Kukuri's and Kuroh held his stance, Kotowari drawn at Kukuri's neck as a precaution.
"I hate this part, always waiting for his plans to work out." Carina muttered to herself.
"You sound like me when Tatara tries something crazy." Leoda smiled as she gestured to Kuroh to pick Kukuri up.
"Has he always been like this?" Kuroh asked, curious.
"Since before I was born, according to Sis." Carina confirmed.
Just then, Adolf fell back the slightest bit into her arms, obvious exhaustion in his expression as he opened his eyes.
"Well, we had a fifty-fifty chance of success, but I guess it worked out alright." He smiled. Just as he always did.
"Not what I'd call a perfectly solid plan. You could've mentioned that." Kuroh scolded. "You always take big risks with everything, no matter what it is."
"I agree. You're the one with the Sight of Probability and you refused to mention that the plan with the greatest chance of success only had a fifty-fifty chance?!" Carina added.
"Alright, I get it, you're both upset. You can lecture me later." Adolf brushed their words off. "Now, you need to take Kukuri to meet up with the rest of the Marked so Haru can take a look at her."
"What about you?" Kuroh asked.
"Uncle, what are you planning?" Leoda demanded.
Adolf was silent, simply looking back at the clashing Swords of Damocles.
"No! Uncle, you can't!" Leoda cried, realizing what her great-uncle had in mind.
"Are you totally insane!? If you interrupt a battle between two Kings, not even you will emerge unscathed!" Kuroh cried.
"No big deal. Don't forget, I'm the Immortal King." Adolf smiled, looking down. "Now, you all better get going."
"I'm not leaving." Kuroh protested. He wanted to be there, for his King, for his Marked, Carina could see it.
"Yeah, let us help you, Uncle, please, we can't-" Leoda began to add.
"King's orders." Adolf cut her off, his face and voice unusually serious, forcing Kuroh and Leoda to back off. "Anybody who isn't a King will only get in the way from here on out."
Kuroh looked down in defeat, Leoda meeting his eyes head on, before the two of them turned and walked away, frustration obvious in their steps. They knew what it would mean if Adolf didn't come back to them, after all, Leoda especially.
Carina paused before she moved to follow them, laying a hand on Adolf's cheek.
"You better come back to us. She's lost too much already and he is too young to experience the pain of losing his Marked." She softly chastised her brother. "Besides, we need you, no matter how much of an idiot you can be. So…come back."
With that said, Carina leaned in and kissed her brother's cheek, before she turned and began to make her way off the island.
As Shiro watched them all go, his mind drifted. Never before had he thought he'd end up with a Marked to spend the rest of his life with. But now, here he was, descended from the sky with his family, a clan and a Marked all waiting for him to come back to them.
And even though Shiro knew he was most assuredly walking towards an inevitable temporary death, but a death all the same, he had never felt warmer in his whole life as he felt then.
He'd do anything to protect these people he loved, anything. If that included walking to a temporary death, then so be it.
Shiro would do so a hundred times if it meant they would all be safe.
Haru carefully examined each student, using his Sight to determine if there were any irregularities in their vital signs that told of further injury. Rae was at his side, using her own Sight to deduce any irregularities he missed.
Shinji, Tsuki, Hilda and Kazuma, on the other hand, were checking over every student, even if they weren't injured, assuring them that everything was under control and handled. Predictably, the students trusted Kazuma more then they trusted Hilda, but she was still helping, so Haru had no heart to crush his daughter's mood.
He overheard some of the students asking about a girl named Kukuri and shared a look with his older sister.
But then those same students worrying for her realized she must be with Adolf, though they couldn't remember his name, and Haru allowed himself to smile.
He'd always known his uncle as a loner who kept to himself, yet loved with all his heart despite that. To see that love guiding Adolf's actions was one of the things Haru had always wished to see. He'd become a doctor, not just because of his Sight, but because he wanted his actions to be guided by his own love. His mother always said he reminded her of her brother, loving with all his heart and wanting the best for everyone he met.
Haru smiled up at the student he was checking, allowing them to go, before he moved on to the next one.
He'd be seeing his uncle soon, he knew that, and he'd give him the thanks of these students for keeping their friend safe…as well as scolding him for pulling this kind of plan that required Haru's help in the first place. An immortal should not need a doctor, for heaven's sake!
Kristopher sat between Anna and Neko, holding his adopted sister's hand tightly. Daddy…Daddy looked uneasy, even as he tried to smile at Kristopher whenever they locked gazes.
Kristopher had a bad feeling about all of this and he knew Anna felt it too.
But…Mommy and Gram and Uncle Adi and Kuroh were helping, they'd save Miko and Mr. Reisi, they had to!
And yet…somehow, Kristopher knew that not everything would be alright after all this, not with the way Anna was shaking and Daddy was staring at the island and Izzie was punching Saki.
Something was going on at the school island, something he didn't know about. It took every inch of Kristopher to believe that, somehow, someway, this would all work out how it was supposed to.
Himori was quietly standing beside Benzai as Fushimi rejoined them and stared at the island.
His great-uncle was over there, putting himself in danger to prevent another Kagutsu Incident and stop the Colorless King. Himori knew this, he did, but that didn't mean he felt any less at ease about all this.
It wasn't even like he would officially be in the loop after this all came to an end. He was a Blue clansman, not a Gold one. He wouldn't be involved in the plan to help the Silver clan after all this and that saddened him.
But then, Benzai-Yujiro-leaned into Himori's side and he found himself relaxing. No matter what happened, Yujiro, the man he loved, his Marked, would be at his side. And, of course, he would always be able to See when Himori was being self-deprecating and remind him that his role was still important, even silently.
And so, Himori faced the school island, knowing what was coming and prepared to truly begin the long game his grandmother, grandfather and great-uncle had put together when Tatara's soul was separated from his body and Yashiro Isana had appeared.
The last thing Mikoto expected to happen in the middle of his battle with Munakata was for a silver column to appear between them and for the boy in the video-no, this was the Silver King-to interrupt them.
"The guy you're looking for is here. I'm the one." The Silver King said. Suddenly, his face twisted and it was as if another personality spoke instead. "Stop, what are you doing!? He'll kill us! Stop right now! Stop! Stop it! Let me out!" With a groan, the Silver King lowered his head and then met Mikoto's eyes with an obvious effort. "Come on, do it! Only a King can murder a King!"
And Mikoto understood what was happening. The Silver King shared the same blood as Leo and, just like her, was willing to place himself at risk to protect others. He'd trapped the possessing Colorless King in his own body and was fighting to keep control with every breath he took. He needed Mikoto to kill both of them in order to kill the Colorless King.
"Yeah, I'm aware of that. Thanks for bringing him here!" Mikoto smiled. He would do this, he would give his life for Totsuka and Leo and Anna and everyone else. To protect them from this evil King and to get his revenge for taking Totsuka away from everyone who cared about him.
This was his final act as King and Mikoto couldn't be happier that he'd done what he set out to do only twelve days ago.
"Stop! Don't do it, Suoh!" Munakata begged, but Mikoto ignored him and gathered all of his aura.
His hand punched through the chest of the Silver King and his aura burst out the other side, causing an explosion greater then any other Mikoto had ever created in his entire time as the Red King.
Walking back to the station where the Marked and students were, Kuroh suddenly fell to his knees with a gasp of pain just as an explosion came off behind them.
"Kuroh!" Leoda cried, managing to catch him and Kukuri while her grandmother turned to watch the explosion. Quickly, Leoda examined the Silver clansman and froze.
He was clutching his left arm tightly, gasping in pain, tears forming in his eyes. It was the exact same way she had looked only twelve days ago.
"No…" She whispered, watching as the pain slowly faded from Kuroh's face as Kukuri woke up.
"Where am I? What is…Kuroh, what are we doing here?" Kukuri asked, distracting Kuroh from his pain.
Leoda quietly reassured the girl along with Kuroh, when her eyes were drawn to Carina, who was staring at the red column behind them still.
The only word to leave Carina's lips at that time was this:
"Adi…"
It wasn't long after that, that the four continued on their way while the Silver Sword of Damocles vanished behind them.
When the smoke cleared, Mikoto could do nothing but smile. He had done all he could now and it was time for him to go.
He could go at peace and he was glad for that.
He apologized to Munakata, more for causing the pain in his eyes then for any action he'd done.
This was the end and neither of them had any reason to hide their emotions any longer. Mikoto allowed the soft smile he reserved for people he cared for to show on his face and let his bracelets fall back the slightest bit to reveal the gold butterflies wrapped around his left wrist. Munakata seemed to agree with his decision to not hide anything, the pain and grief in his voice palpable. Mikoto didn't want to leave this choice to him, but he trusted no other King to do this.
He would die in no King's presence, but this one. He had sworn that long ago.
Mikoto simply raised his arms to his sides, as if he were on a cross, and prepared for his end, whether it be at the hand of Munakata or his own Sword of Damocles.
It didn't matter to Mikoto which way he went, but, and he knew Munakata would hate him for this, he would prefer to go by his hand then by his Sword. Not only would Carina kill him from beyond the grave if he destroyed her school any more, but he wanted one last moment with Munakata. One last embrace, even if his final words were not for him.
When Munakata's sword ran through him, Mikoto raised his arms in that one final embrace he wanted as his final words left his lips.
"I'm sorry, Anna, but I won't be able to show you that lovely red anymore."
Then Mikoto's eyes slipped closed…and he left.
And one scream, Anna's scream, rang throughout the island that day, heard by every soul surrounding it.
"MIKOTO!"
When Mikoto's Weissman level vanished along with his Sword of Damocles, Fushimi felt a heavy weight rest in his chest.
Mikoto Suoh, his dad, one of the people who had saved him all those years ago…was dead.
He…wasn't sure how he felt about it all, not right now, but he had a feeling that weight wouldn't leave him for quite some time.
His hand reached up and wrapped around his right wrist where the gold butterflies were tattooed, marking him as the adopted son of Leoda Totsuka, Tatara Totsuka, Izumo Kusanagi and Mikoto Suoh.
He may have left HOMRA, but they would always be his parents, no matter how much he denied it aloud.
Knowing one of them was gone, permanently, left a hole in his heart.
Carina stood on the edge of the new crater in her island, watching Kuroh and Neko. She had news for them, news that should reassure them, give them hope when it came to her brother.
She had been glad when she'd seen her brother with people like this, people so loyal and true to their hearts that they might be able to keep her floaty brother grounded.
Now, she needed to give them hope, so they could find that idiot brother of hers when he was ready and drag him back to the ground if they had to.
"Carina!" Kuroh cried as his eyes landed on her after he pulled Neko up.
"Hello." She smiled at them. "I was looking for you two."
"Why? Did you need something?" Neko asked.
"I actually wanted to ask you something, Kuroh." Carina said. "How is your arm?"
"It's fine." Kuroh answered, confused.
"I mean…can you still feel it?" Carina clarified.
"…yes, I can. It's cold, but yes." Kuroh nodded, realizing that this was important, that it connected to Adolf. His right hand unconsciously rested over his Mark. Carina softened at seeing how important it was to him already, with it only being a part of him for mere hours. It was as if he had always had it, had always loved Adolf as he did right now, even if he couldn't put it into words just yet.
"That's good. It means Adi's alive out there." Carina smiled. "If your arm had been numb, like Daikaku's is, that would mean your Marked was dead. So keep those chins up, okay? You'll find him."
"Right! We won't give up, right Kuroh?" Neko grinned.
"Of course. We will find him." Kuroh smiled down at her in agreement.
"In that case, head to this hospital. Leoda and Kristopher will want to join the two of you." Carina smiled softly as she passed Kuroh the address she'd written down.
"No, we couldn't-" Kuroh began to protest.
"My granddaughter owes the two of you for helping Mikoto avenge her husband." Carina cut in. "If her going with you will lead her to the answer to waking Tatara, then nobody will stop her. So please…meet her here and let them come."
"Come on, Kuroh, Krissy and Leoda are fun! They're Shiro's family! And they like fish!" Neko encouraged.
"Very well then." Kuroh agreed, taking the paper. "Thank you for everything, Carina. I promise, we will find your brother."
"I know you will." Carina smiled as the two Silver clansmen left. It wasn't long before Carina turned again and smiled as her own husband approached her. "The plan is in motion?"
"Yes. Daikaku is already moving." Kazuma confirmed as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry you can't come with us."
"Don't be, I have my own job to attend to." Carina shook her head. "Besides, with you up there, I know everything will be okay."
"Doesn't mean I won't miss you." Kazuma softly smiled as he gently kissed Carina's forehead.
"And I, you, meine leibe. But we will meet again, you can have faith in that." Carina smiled softly, wrapping her arms around her husband's neck and gently kissing his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder.
No more words were spoken in that moment, the two just stood there in their embrace, sending prayers of thanks to Mikoto and sending prayers of safety for each other to the gods as snow gently fell around them and the sun set.
"No blood! No bone! No ash!"
As all of HOMRA yelled around her, Leoda smiled and hugged Kristopher closer. Her son had already confirmed that Tatara had vanished, meaning he had gone to meet Mikoto as Leoda's arm was still cold.
This was her time for mourning before she left, her last farewell to one of her best friends. Mikoto had given her a clan to belong to outside of her family, had allowed her despite the fact that she was already a Gold clansman and her joining the Red clan had not even been planned.
This was a clan she and her closest friends had built, a family they had protected and guided for as long as they could. Now…they would be on their own for a while, until the next Red King came and they guided them, just as her father had done with Munakata.
Her smile softened as she watched her Red aura gather on her skin, as it so rarely did, before it focused on her back and lifted away, joining the rest of the Red aura Mikoto had given, leaving only the littlest bit behind.
She stood there for a bit longer, before she grabbed Kristopher's hand and led him away.
They had one final goodbye to give before they left.
When they reached the hospital, Leoda and Kristopher simply stood at Tatara's bedside, Leoda covering his hand with her own.
They didn't speak, not one word, until Kuroh and Neko entered.
The unspoken 'we're ready when you are' caused Leoda to smile as she bent down and kissed her husband's forehead.
"We'll see you soon." She whispered as her son did the same.
At that moment, Leoda reached up to her braid, held together by sweet peas and took the flowers out, allowing her dark green streaked with silver hair to fall freely. Opening the hospital window, she let the flowers fall away and sent her comatose husband a smile.
The time for mourning had passed. Now was the time to act, for both Tatara, Adolf and Mikoto's sakes.
Without another word, Leoda and Kristopher Totsuka joined Kuroh Yatogami and Neko in their quest to find Adolf K. Weissman, also known as Yashiro Isana.
And finally, back at the school island, Kusanagi smiled as the red aura floated in the air and the clan continued to chant.
The grief was tight in his body, but with his daughter in his line of sight, his clan shouting around him and his son watching over from them above, he felt lighter at the moment.
There was only one thought on his mind that whole time, one and one alone:
Do you hear them, Mikoto? When all's said and done, we couldn't have asked for a better King.
And there we are. Season 1 is done.
Translation: meine leibe: my love
This chapter has my whole heart and love for this series poured into it, because I wanted to show everything and everyone in this powerful episode, explore what they were all thinking, even in just the smallest of moments. K is a beautiful anime and this story, truly, is my love letter to it. Everything I did was all to explore a different aspect or to add another layer to see how it affected the characters. It was a lot of fun and, honestly, this was the only chapter where writing Mikoto was easy, because this was the episode where I finally understood him and so I wanted to send him off properly.
Don't worry Mikoto fans! Mikoto may be dead, but he's not leaving this story! Don't forget, Kristopher can see ghosts. You remember all those times Mikoto showed up around Munakata and Anna in season 2? That's what it's gonna be like all the time now. He's still involved, just not...corporeal. I know some of you may not be happy with me for letting him die, but I can honestly not see a way for Mikoto to survive past season 1 and, even if I could, that would cause such huge ramifications that I wouldn't know how to handle (especially in regards to Anna). Besides, don't forget Tatara is still alive and that this series will not end when the anime and Seven Stories does.
That's right, you read that correctly, I plan to go beyond the anime. Everyone will get a happy ending and that's your only hint.
Now, as for this story, it will be going on a hiatus for a bit cause I need to finish writing up the MK/arc 2 chapters. So this will have to tide you guys over for a bit while I finish up, sorry!
In any case, I hope you guys enjoyed this first arc! I've got a lot of plans with all these characters and I can't wait for your guys' reaction to them~! Leave a review to let me know what you thought and I'll be back as soon as I can!
And, in honor of Mikoto...
No blood! No bone! No ash!
See ya,
WolfieRed23.