What is Haruko doing here and what does she want? Let's find out as the final chapter unfolds.

Oh and it's also a song fic. I don't own it. The song featured belongs to Blue Oyster Cult.

Randall Flagg2

It was Haruko alright. She hadn't changed a bit in her looks. The only difference was that now she carried a different guitar, a Gibson faded SG from the looks of it. But Naota didn't care what kind of guitar she carried. What mattered was that she had returned.

Ever since she had left, Naota had felt this incredible emptiness within him. Haruko was the light of his life, his purpose, his reason to live. Without her nothing mattered. But now she was here and he felt happy again. He had always had a feeling she would come back and she had.

Wait a minute. Why would she have come back? What had Amarao told him atop the Medical Mechanica plant? She doesn't care what happens to you, she doesn't care what happens to anyone. And Haruko had offered to take him with her but a moment or two after she had said that it was better he didn't go because he was, as she had said "still a kid" And maybe the red headed government agent had been right all along. Maybe Haruko didn't care about anything after all. But if that was true, why had she come back to see him?

"Why takkun?" Haruko asked. "Why'd you do this?"

"Do what Haruko?" Naota asked. "Don't tell me you witnessed my… handiwork as well."

Haruko's expression grew dark. "Yes I did takkun. It seems I came here for nothing." she said.

Naota began to be afraid. "What do you mean 'nothing'?"

Haruko smiled the trademark smile which had always seemed to be on her face. "I came back because I wanted to see you takkun. I was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving you behind. I was actually considering taking you with me into the deep unknown. I was actually starting to care about you, but it seems it was pointless."

Tears of rage and shame began to run down Naota's face. "But Haruko… I love you. You can't leave me alone again. I don't have anywhere else to go to. I'm alone! You have to take me with you!" Naota sobbed.

"Shut up you bag of shit." Haruko growled. "Why would I want to take along somebody like you? I admit, I was apathetic and selfish, and I still am, but I'm not a murderer. I only destroy what stands in my way." Haruko pointed an accusing finger at him. "You on the other hand kill for revenge. I do not seek vengeance. I only seek Atomsk. I don't kill because I have a grudge like you."

"Haruko please." Naota wept. "I couldn't help it. They were driving me crazy. They took you away from me. I had to do it. I wouldn't have lasted with them."

"Spare me your tears." Haruko said. The pink haired girl's eyes softened. "I thought you loved me takkun. I thought you cared about me. You even kissed me atop the Medical Mechanica plant." She shook her head. "But now it seems it was all a lie. You're no better off then a common murderer. I thought you were nice, but you were really a monster underneath it all." Haruko sneered.

(All our times have come

Here but now they're gone

Seasons don't fear the reaper

Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain

We can be like they are)

Naota could barely control his crying. Haruko's words had torn his heart into shreds. Originally he was able to live with what he had done, but now he deeply regretted it. He should have seen this coming. Now not only did he not have a home to go back to, but now Haruko truly did not care about him. He had been rejected by the one he loved. The only person he cared about, and now she hated him. All because he had murdered three people who had made his life hell.

Naota's sobs became laughter suddenly. He had finally accepted Amarao's words. Haruko did not care about him at all. And if that were so, then she was no better off then them. If Haruko did not want his love, then she would not have anybody's love. That was how it went.

Naota picked up his bass guitar and brandished it at Haruko. "Haruko?" he asked.

"What takkun?" Haruko asked, growing suspiscious.

Naota raised his guitar back and smiled. "If you don't love me, then I see no reason why I shouldn't kill you. So what do you say? Would you like to settle what we started atop the plant?"

Haruko sighed. "All because you love me. You earthlings never cease to amaze me. Love, vengeance, prejudice, hatred, you kill for so many reasons. It's kind of sad, really."

"Let's be together in Hell." Naota said. He charged towards Haruko with his guitar raised.

(Come on baby… Don't fear the Reaper

Baby take my hand… Don't fear the Reaper

We'll be able to fly… Don't fear the reaper

Baby I'm your man)

Haruko smiled and waited for Naota to rear back. She could handle him no sweat. As Naota brought the guitar down, Haruko swerved to one side, avoiding the attack. Just as she moved however, Naota spun around and gave her a cross swipe with the guitar stick. Haruko grunted and backed away, clutching her stomach. Through her pain, she smiled.

"You've been practicing with the guitar I see, pretty impressive." Haruko chuckled. "But you'll never master it like I did. I've been using guitars for years. You can't match me."

"Haruko, my ex-love, I'm not the immature little boy I once was. I've grown up a bit since our last encounter. I even drink sour drinks and eat curry without a single complaint. I'm different from back then." Naota's expression darkened. "You always dominated over my life Haruko. Always jumping and crawling all over me, saving my life, hitting me with that god damn guitar of yours, all of it! Well now it's my turn to be the dominant one! I'm gonna teach you what it's like to be in my shoes!"

Haruko smiled bitterly. "Bring it on lover boy, bring it on." she said confidently.

Naota charged and swung. This Haruko raised her guitar and parried the blow. Naota recoiled from the block, but quickly swung again. Haruko, quick as ever, swung her guitar again. Both instruments collided with each other making a loud clang. The two of them fought wildly, trading blow after blow like futuristic swordsmen, neither landing a blow on each other. They had both practiced well.

Then Haruko flew into the sky and stopped in mid air. She glowered down at Naota who was looking up with dismay at the sky. Haruko laughed.

"I guess I did underestimate you takkun. But you can't reach me up here. I can fly, whereas you cannot. And from up here I have the advantage."

Naota smiled. "I would be worried if not for one thing Haruko. After you left, a certain somebody came back into my body. A certain somebody whom you were after!" Naota called up.

Haruko's eyes widened. "You... you don't mean…!"

Naota's smile became a ferocious grin. "That's right! Here comes the pirate king!"

Naota closed his eyes and a scarlet red symbol appeared on his forehead. A bright red light began to flash from his body. There was an explosion of red light and when it cleared, Naota had changed. His body was entirely crimson red and his eyes were now simply glowing white circles. He held two guitars, one in each hand. One of them was an Epiphone EB zero, the other a Gibson flying V. They too, were crimson red.

Naota only had enough time to look up before Haruko, a look more terrifying then wrath on her face, charged down towards him. Naota quickly raised both the guitars up and crossed them in a block just as Haruko swung her own.

There was a massive explosion of light and the battle was on.

(Valentine is done

Here but now they're gone

Romeo and Juliet

Are together in eternity…)

Naota rose into the sky and flew like a comet towards the center of Mabase. He almost literally flew this way because a bright red aura had surrounded his body. Haruko was flying after him almost as fast, her body surrounded by a pink aura. Naota knew how much Haruko desired the power he wielded, and he knew that he had escalated the fight by activating it. But he didn't care. They had to settle the score. And this time he would fight back.

"You should've known better then to take something of mine!" Haruko roared, her voice so furious it was almost maniacal. "Allow me to show you what happens to people who stand in my way!"

Haruko reached him just as Naota stopped in the center of the city. With a furious roar, Haruko swung her guitar savagely at Naota. Naota held up one of his own guitars and blocked it. When the two instruments connected, there was an explosion of light and sparks. Immediately, dark windows brightened and people began to rush out of the various buildings to see what was going on.

Haruko swung with such force that she was pulled around in a circle by her own swing. Naota reared back and swung both guitars at her, but Haruko spun her guitar around like a staff and blocked it. Another explosion of light lit up the dark sky. People below screamed in terror, wondering just what was going on. Was this the end of the world? Was it an aerial strike gone wrong? What was it?

Naota swung again with both guitars, and once again Haruko blocked it. Rather then rearing back again, Naota simply stared at Haruko. She stared back, her eyes wild with fury, her lips skinned back in a wolf like snarl. They stood there in the sky like that for some time.

"I wish things could've been different for us Haruko." Naota thought. "We could be together forever. I could give you everything that that blasted pirate lord could. What's he got that I don't? I had you first!"

With another roar, Haruko threw Naota off. Before Naota could strike, Haruko spun around and gave him a hard blow to the side. Naota clutched at his side as pain surged up his body. Haruko smiled and reared back to strike again. Naota quickly flew towards the ground as fast as he could. Haruko followed.

(40,000 men and women everyday… Like Romeo and Juliet

40,000 men and women everyday… Redefine happiness

Another 40,000 coming everyday… We can be like they are)

Naota wasn't quick enough. Haruko caught up with him and swung. Naota raised the EB zero up and parried it, creating yet another blast of light. He was too close to the building and apparently it was not just light that exploded out because the building was almost disintegrated. Naota raised his other arm and launched a counterstrike and for the first time, his aim was true. The flying V struck Haruko in the face. She screamed, more in rage then in pain, and clapped her free hand to her face. Blood had already begun to squirt in between her fingers.

"How do you like it, huh?" Naota thought savagely.

Naota rushed at her. Haruko retreated into a crowd of people. Naota stopped. If he struck at her now, he might hurt, or worse, kill, innocents. He did not want to kill anyone else, only Haruko.

"Stop it. I don't give a fuck about innocent lives anymore. Thousands of people die all the time so why should this be any different?" Naota thought.

Naota charged. He swung the guitars. They connected with Haruko's own.

When the explosion of light cleared, the two of them were surrounded by blood and corpses.

Haruko and Naota charged at each other again. In a flash of light, more blood was spilt. They circled the city and charged again. The more explosions, the more the streets were littered with blood. Soon, most of the populace was either dead, or badly wounded. The streets were soaked with blood, and littered with bodies. But that did not matter to Haruko and Naota. They only wanted each other. To kill each other that was.

(Come on baby… Don't fear the Reaper

Baby take my hand… Don't fear the Reaper

We'll be able to fly… Don't fear the Reaper

Baby I'm your man…)

"I won't forgive you for this!" Haruko screeched. "That power was mine! You can't have it! It's MINE!"

As she yelled, she failed to see Naota fly up at her. Naota struck out with both guitars and caught her in the stomach. Haruko doubled over, but just as Naota prepared another swing, she darted away in a blur. Naota flew after her, also in a blur. They would not stop until one of them was dead. This was war.

Explosions of light began to pop up all over the city. Buildings were leveled and destroyed, trees splintered, and the city shook with the force of two clashing powers.

Soon enough, there was barely anything left of the city known as Mabase. Rubble and telephone poles were strewn everywhere. Trees were splintered and ruined. Even the Medical Mechanica plant had dents in it. Mabase had ceased to be.

And that was only the half of it. Naota had finally pinned Haruko to the ground, standing over her like a hunter would a big kill. It was time to repay her for everything she had done to him.

Naota stomped on Haruko's stomach, hard. She coughed out blood. Naota swung one of the guitars at her and struck her in the face. He stepped off of her and hit her in the side. Haruko groaned. Naota began to pummel her with guitar strikes, hitting her everywhere that he could. Haruko did not even try to fight back anymore. She just lay there, taking the beating of her life.

(Love of two is one

Here but now they're gone

Came the last night of sadness

And it was clear she couldn't go on

The door was open and the wind appeared

The candles blew and then disappeared

The curtains flew then he appeared

Saying don't be afraid)

There was a small flash of light and Naota was back to normal. The crimson red glow covering his body was gone. His eyes and body were back to normal. Only the guitars, which had also lost their glow, remained in his hands.

"I'm going to give you the honor of dying by my human form Haruko." Naota whispered. "You were strong, but everybody has their superiors." Naota raised both the guitars up over his head. "Goodbye Haruko." Naota whispered.

And suddenly there was a sharp pain as the stick of Haruko's guitar pierced his stomach and punctured his intestinces.

(Come on baby… and she had no fear

And she ran up to him… Then they started to fly

They looked backward and said goodbye

She had become like they are

She had taken his hand

She had become like they are)

Blood poured out of Naota's mouth. He fell to his knees. He was losing strength fast. Naota knew he should have kept his guard up. Haruko had a thing for pulling surprises when you least expected it.

"Haruko… damn… you…" he whispered. "I should've won…"

Naota looked up and saw something that he never would have expected. He could not believe this.

There were tears in Haruko's eyes.

"Haruko…" Naota groaned. "Haruko please… don't cry… your not supposed to cry…"

"Takkun…" Haruko whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Naota's vision began to blur. He was dying. He knew it. "Haruko… I still love you…"

Haruko set down her guitar and picked Naota up into her arms. She flew slowly into the sky and leaned forward towards Naota. For the first time in her life, Haruko was not able to live with what she had done. She had killed a child, something which was heavily frowned upon. All because she wanted some stupid power that belonged to an astral phoenix. Did that mean she was no better off then these humans who killed for reasons of their own? She was no better off then Naota now. She was no better off then any of them now.

"I'm not afraid to die Haurko… I'm ready…" Naota whispered. "Just one more thing."

"What takkun?"

"Kiss me, just once more… so I can die happy…"

Haruko hesitated for a moment, but then obliged. She leaned down and kissed Naota on the lips. Naota reached up and hugged Haruko tightly. Naota whispered "Thank you." just as he went limp and his breathing stopped.

(Come on baby… Don't fear the Reaper)

Haruko hovered back down to the ground, set Naota down, and began to cry.

THE END

I don't really have much to say on this, except I'll be getting back to my other stories now. Hope you liked this one. See ya later!

Randall Flagg2