Disclaimer – "Default Chapter" saids it all ^^*

The usual characters' thoughts or thought voices in BOLD…enjoy~!

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"When you chose that mortal over your own power—when you let her weaken you and allowed yourself to open up to her—you let go of the grip you had on your black magic.  Its nature does not have room for one whose heart is not hardened and separated from the rest of the world; it does not obey one who cares for others' feelings…or one that longs for those feelings in return!  When you lost your grip on your black magic which had been a part of you, you allowed me to come into existence!"

Feeling the shock the news brought to his other self, Black-Haku charged suddenly, his claws extended and glowing in the red of his enraged magic as he pulled his arm back for the attack that would end the fight—and White-Haku's life…

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~*~ The Day the Dream Ended ~*~

Chapter 14 ~ Resolution: Part 1

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A large silver blade, engraved with the ancient language of the dragons, appeared before White-Haku's upheld hands.  The silver dragon swooped up, his great wings flapping quickly, as he grabbed hold of the glowing silver blade's handle and felt the blade's ancient magic course through his entire body.  For a moment, it was as if the magic was resisting him, testing his limits and his intensions.  Gritting his teeth as he felt the magic prodding him, Haku continued to tighten his grip on the glowing blade as his demonic image also swooped up towards him, coming at him fast with him outstretched clawed hand.  As Black-Haku closed the distance between him and his other self, silver light suddenly blazed forth from the ancient silver blade, momentarily blinding Haku's fake.  Screaming in rage and indescribable hate, Black-Haku stumbled in his flight and dropped, falling blindly.

"Why are you trying to kill me?" White-Haku asked, his voice even and low within the shield of his light.  "Why are you trying to destroy the two worlds—our worlds?"

"Because it never offered me with anything but pain and loneliness." Black-Haku screamed back.  To his surprise and displeasure, a single tear had somehow escaped his notice and was rolling down his cheek, expressing for him the pain which he refused to acknowledge.  Angrily, Black-Haku called on his the deepest part of his magic: he glowed a brighter crimson, the heat of his magic burning off the single tear.

The emotion and hurt behind the demon's short words and action were not lost on the silver dragon.  For a moment, White-Haku could feel the very pain and loneliness that the black dragon spoke of.  Pain began to tear at his head as crimson magic appeared within his circle of silver light, wanting to control his mind.  Haku opened his mouth to scream in his emotional agony, only to choke on the red substance of the seeping demonic magic.  A little voice spoke to him from the red mists as he inhaled crimson magic—and the hatred brought on by it. 

Why do you bother to fight for those who gave you such painful memories?  A voice asked him from within his own mind; red magic filled his vision even as the silver blade in his hand gave off a flash, its attempt to awaken its master failing on the bespelled boy.  You and him are one and the same—you have just as many reasons to destroy this world as he does.  Why don't you join him?  Together, you will become invincible!  You can make those who had hurt you pay back for what they had done!

The red magic continued to flood into Haku's mind, blinding him to all reason and blocking him from even his own magic.  His head throbbed painfully; his every heartbeats seemed to come especially agonizingly.  No… the silver dragon though desperately.  If only he didn't feel so weak!  Haku found himself buckling under the will and force of the hate and loneliness, wanting to fight back but unable to do so.  His eyes began to glow with magic: first emerald, then slowly, mixed in with the demonic red that his other self had drowned himself in.  Haku felt himself giving in to the loneliness he remembered from his past—felt himself giving in to the voice that awoke his painful memories—until a bright pink aura flashed within the darkness of his mind, binding everything with its light.  A smiling Chihiro walked out from within that light, holding out her arms at him.  Looking from her gentle face to her offering hands, Haku smiled in relief as the warmth of the girl's bright pink magic burned away the darkness and doubt within the silver dragon's heart, set in by the crimson magic.  His head cleared; his vision became focused as he saw the defeated red-demonic magic retreat to fuel the one it had already ensnared.  White-Haku gripped his sword once again with confidence, with the image of his beloved girl firmly engraved into his mind. 

Thank you, Chihiro.  The silver dragon thought with a smile.  I won't forget again…I won't forget what you have taught me…what you have given me without my asking. 

I wont give in to the darkness…because I have too much to fight for…too much to live for. 

The events which occurred within the magical circle of light went by unknown to the black dragon.  Unwilling to let his enemy go for awakening his long forgotten memories, Black-Haku sneered suddenly, his red eyes gleaming with evil purpose. 

"But it doesn't matter now, does it?  Nothing matters…not my reason for existing, my reason for destroying, killing…" he yelled at his other self, hidden within the burning silver light.  "Because in the end, I will win—I will be the one who gets what I want, even if you are able to kill me!"

Within the circle of light emitted by the blade and his magic, White-Haku frowned, not understanding the hidden meaning his other self was hinting at.  Knowing that the silence from the silver dragon could only mean that he did not understand, Black-Haku laughed, the cursed sound filling the air between the two dragons. 

"You still don't get it, do you?" the demon allowed himself a half-smiled—a smile neither sweet nor warm.  "I've already told you the answer…weren't you paying attention, my dearest self?  I am you…and so in order to kill me—you'd have to kill yourself too!"

"You'd be just as dead." White-Haku replied calmly.  Somehow, surprisingly, he found that he already knew what his demonic self had said was true.  In his heart, Haku felt a little saddened by his most recent realization—this was to be a battle to the end for him, no matter what the outcome.  Chihiro…   

"But it wouldn't matter to me, would it?  As long as you are dead too!"

The silver dragon closed his eyes within the circle of light which bound him, feeling ancient magic course through his veins, renewing his strength and power, as if he had been freshly charged by the light to guard over the dying world of Majou no Sekai.  Ignoring the cursed sound of his demonic self's laughter and ignoring the consequences of the action he was about to take, White-Haku readied himself to give up everything in order to bring peace to the Majou no Sekai—and the people within it…the people whom he care for.  With his resolve and purpose firmly elected in his mind, White-Haku swung his sword around himself, absorbing the light into the blade, and send it out in a wave of energy after the falling black dragon, commanding the ancient magic to do his bidding.

Black-Haku flapped about wildly in the bone-chilling night air, trying to regain his balance.  Shaking his head violently to clear his temporary blindness brought on by White-Haku's magic blade, the demon opened his eyes in time to catch the white-hot fire of magic bursting forth from the silver blade his enemy held in his hands.  Grinning menacingly, Black-Haku stopped his descend and waited for the fire to hit him with its magic.

He did not have to wait long.  Just as the silver dragon began to wonder why his adversary did not attempt to escape, the light of the silver fire struck its target, earning a scream of agony from its goal.  Searing pain seized Haku as his demonic self was hit with the silvery-white fire. 

Momentarily, it was as if Haku himself had been hit by the same attack that he had unleashed on his demonic self. 

I mustn't think about that right now.  The silver dragon thought grimly as he shook off the sudden pain which had seized his head.  Re-gripped his sword and dropped after his opponent, ready to finish this madness of a battle.  I have to finish what I began…before he hurts anyone else.

Before he decides to hurt Chihiro. 

Closing in on his other self, White-Haku brought his silver blade up, its magic and power unstoppable as he swung, opening a wide gash from the demon's arm, across his exposed chest and down his stomach.  Crimson eyes opened and widened at the sword's touch, glowing with frightening hatred and pain. 

Suddenly, a wide and bleeding gash opened on the physically untouched silver dragon the exact way he had placed it on his fake.  Unable to withstand the suddenness of the pain, Haku's grip slipped even before he had time to react, the ancient sword falling out of his hands as his wound bled freely.

Somewhere below him, White-Haku heard an insane laugh as his field of vision contacted the glowing aura of red magic, expanding with each labored breath he took.

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Grimly, they watched as they drew nearer the glass castle, close enough that the clear castle was now visible to them.  Even from where they hovered, they could see chunks of molten glass scattered about where the main doorway must have been.

At the same level as them, not so far off, a silver light flared, impossibly bright, followed by the steady pulse and glow of a demonic red—the fires of magic continued their battle of wills as they ate at each other, neither giving ground. 

Somewhere within the bright glows of magics, they heard an agonizing scream, followed by another, identical sounding to the one they first heard, from a different part of the air. 

Rin shuddered.  I have a bad feeling about this, the girl thought as she tried not to let her fear show on her face.  So much depended on their success—on Haku's and Sen's success.

But what if… the young woman closed her eyes as she tightened her grip on Zeniiba and Kaonashi.  What if we can't beat it?  What if our combined power—and even Haku's and Sen's power—can't beat this thing?  Will our world really cease to exist? 

What if that…that thing, whatever it is that they're fighting right now as I think…can't be beaten?

She was not given a chance to figure out her answer, however, as their ring of light hit the barrier shielding the glass castle and the air around it.  Try though they might, the barrier was strong and impossible to penetrate—making it also impossible to interfere with whatever that was going on inside.

"This…this is not good…at all." Yu-Baaba said as they tried once again to slam into it with their magics to no avail. 

"The barrier will continue to absorb whatever it is that we throw at it." Kodama said quietly and solemnly, speaking what they all knew was true.

"Then that's it, isn't it?" Zeniiba said just as quietly, sounding more tired and worried than any of them has ever known her to be.  "Whatever created this barrier—and this storm, no doubt—wants no interference in that."  Pointing her fingers upwards, they followed her gaze to the growing patch of crimson in the sky, its magical aura angry and full of hatred.  "It wants to make sure that nothing interferes with its plans…and created this to ward against our magic."

"Then we just have to trust them, don't we?" Kamjii responded matter-of-factly, his old eyes sad and steady in their stare at the invisible battle not far from where they were.

So much depend on you, little one.  Zeniiba thought as she took in the saddened and worried faces around her.  You and Haku both.  Please…help us.  The fate of our world…the fate of your world…now rests in your hands.  Do you know just how important your battle will be to us…and to the future of the rest of the two worlds?

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The light that had blazed forth from Haku and the sword's combined magic as he struck his fake faded; demonic red magic spreading rapidly to replace its former light.  Black-Haku gripped the silver blade with both hands, his eyes burning a deeper crimson as he sneered in victory of obtaining his opponent's weapon.  Looking over to his other self, however, Black-Haku frowned, angered and unsure of why his other self was just staying where he hovered calmly even as he watched his enemy hold onto to his only chance of surviving this fight.  Blood continued their free rampage down both Hakus' chests—both of them covered with the same red blood which flowed within their veins.  Seeing his look and the silence that stretched out between them, both of them motionless and watching the other, White-Haku spoke in a low voice, barely auditable over the roaring of the thunder.

"That blade will not obey you."

Looking up in surprise at the composure and calmness of the tone of voice which replied him, Haku's demon growled, irritated.  Pure red lightening flashed across the sky above White-Haku's head, causing the silvery dragon, although physically unharmed by it, to flinch in pain from the lightning's magic.  The dragons were not far from one another—both of them in range of the other's attacks—and they were now both covered with sweat and blood, exhausted by their fight and the identical wound which they both bore.

"And why is that?  Why are you so sure?" Black-Haku hissed angrily, half-panting as he tried to catch his breath.  Black-scaled wings spread out wider, expressing their challenge.  "If it obeyed you, then surely it will obey also me—after all, I'm the more powerful of the two of us here!"     

"It will not obey you," White-Haku continued, calm moss-green eyes never leaving the other dragon, "because you are corrupted with darkness—and the blade you hold in your hands is a blade made from the light and for the light.  You cannot control it…you cannot wield its power because you do not understand it."

"Don't understand?!" his aura glowed with his words, enveloping the sky in red.

"Kindness, happiness, compassion, care…" Haku's voice softened, gentled as he remembered what he had finally learned from life even as he kept his penetrating gaze on his demonic self, made half-crazy by his own hatred and rage.  "And most of all…love.  Love from those who care for you…and love for those who love you."

"Love." Black-Haku spat out the word, his crimson eyes flashing.  "Love is for fools who do not understand the first thing about life—surviving.  The strongest survive in this world, and the rest perish.  Tell me, what could your wonderful love do for you when everything around you are gone?  When you're forgotten and left to fend for yourself in this lonely hell called life?  Love is an illusion that you have fallen under—and that is why I'm destined to win this battle and carry with me our magics: because I'm not a weak-willed sentimental fool!"

As Black-Haku charged at the silver dragon with the ancient blade, white magic once again burst forth from the silver blade.  Pain coursed through his veins as the blade's magic laid judgment on him, trying to burn through the darkness that he had wrapped himself in.  Black-Haku screamed in fear and pain and dropped the sword, his hands soaked with his own blood.

The sword flew across the distance, hilt first, to the unaffected silver dragon, who had not moved an inch through this entire process.  Panting and raising his head to look over to his other self, Black-Haku let out a full-throated roar as he once again charged at his original, claws outstretched.  Nearing White-Haku, who had taken a battle stance of his own, their magics and shields of magics clashed.  Combined silver, emerald and crimson magic seemed to explode soundlessly, causing both Hakus to lose their balance and begin to fall onto the cold glass roof below them.

They fought as they fell, neither of them gaining an advantage as they tried to kill the other, opened little gashes on themselves even as the sword or the claws touch the other's flesh.  In the empty night sky, flashes of emerald-silver and crimson magics kept exploding on one another on impact, as if the fight was merely a dance for the magic of the sorcerers.  In another flash caused by a clash of their magics, both Hakus were knocked down by the invisible impact and landed to hit the glass roof with a thud, bruised and bloody, their wounds all opened and bleeding.

Swaying as they both got to their feet once again, they spared no time no charging at each other, glowing in their auras as they moved in for the kill, both of them knowing that one more direct contact with either sword or claw—with no one there to stop or that is able to stop either of them—it would be the end to the both of them.

Suddenly, a bright pink flashed on the glass roof, its magic filling every corner of the dark castle, save for the dragons' respective auras, and a feminine voice screamed out.

"STOP IT!"

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Getting excited about the ending???  I know I am~! ^^*  I had intended to make the last chappie well…ONE chappie…but apparently it had other ideas, as you can see in the "Part 1".  (By the time I actually finished my "ending chapter", it was just wayyy too long to post as one single chapter, seeing how the rest of my chappies aren't all 7500+ words long!! ^^;;  But then again…looking back, this chappie really isn't a fair cut since the other one is…*gulps* 5310+ words long…!)  And so, I guess I could say that this chapter provided the setting and the beginning of this fic's ending, and the NEXT chappie will round up everything and give you…an ending~!!

Enough said…as usual, crits, comments and the such are always, always welcomed, no matter how much you have to say 'bout my ficcy :P

~Aqua Sunshine ^^*

ps: wow, a short author's note!!  Arencha proud of me?? n.n