Chapter opening theme: "Fallen Angel" by Molly Svrcina

After visiting Ryuuko in the hospital and making sure Nui was well attended to after school, I put on my funeral dress and took the bus to the asylum where the Mistress as committed. It was a long yet quiet bus ride. Long enough for me to reflect on my memories and thoughts. I was going to confront her about what she did and what she knew. I wanted her to know of how much she destroyed us, especially Ryuuko.

I had to come to turns with the fact that, while the one who gave birth to us, the dreaded Mistress, our mother destroyed our lives. I had remembered it all. I remember when our father left, our mother losing her mind, leaving Rei to commit her, and when our lives were shattered yet again when we came home to find out that Rei committed suicide, leaving her side of the story to be told in her tear-stained diary pages. I remember when we found Ryuuko and how scared she was of us and the light and when Aikurou stepped forward to offer us aid.

I especially remembered how we would now have to live with the sins of her, our mother. Every family has secrets and, frankly, I wish we were different. We had a secret. A little girl was locked in a cage, in dark cellar just for being born, and was virtually forgotten. Oh no, I would not forget those bitter memories. If the Mistress was angel, then she had long fallen from grace and there is no way in hell that she'd even find her way back home again.

I had got there at around 7:00 post meridian and asked for "Ragyo Kiryuuin." I was taken to her room. Unsurprisingly, she was restrained and staring off into nothing. It seems she had dissociated from what her surroundings, much like Ryuuko seemed to. To some extent, despite the harm she caused, I pitied her, yet, the pity I had did not replace the anger I felt. I had a purpose for coming here and, afterwards, I'd be done with her forever.

While she stared off into nothing, I pulled up a chair. I sat quietly next to her for about 20 minutes before saying, " How are you, Mother?" She twitched and looked at me with empty eyes, apparently, I had caught her attention, if it be for a brief moment, as she looked away after. This would begin a long and mostly one-sided conversation. "Rei passed away." I said, idly, almost matter of fact, much like how one would refer to an afterthought.

"..."

"Funny. I figured you'd never answer, after all, you may as well have had a hand in her death."

"Huh...?"

"Oh, yes, she passed away recently and her death was a suicide. She killed herself because of something you did and something she knew."

Her eyes were wider than what they were now and they were looking at me. I may have detected fear in them.

"Yes, that is why she killed herself. She killed herself because she knew you put a little girl in the cellar."

She let out a shriek.

"She killed herself because she saw you put our little sister in the cellar and, because she was too afraid of your punishment for her and our sister, she kept the horrible act a secret."

"..."

"No response. Fine by me, as I would like you to listen. She killed herself because she was overcome with guilt and regret because of your sins. She was afraid for that then nameless little girl locked away, so she kept the whole affair and that girl a secret. The only part she played was being the secret keeper."

"...!"

"She was the secret keeper for something you did. What you did, I should note, I think to be rather unforgivable. It is no wonder you reside here, tied to a bed and staring off into nothing, as you've gone too far down the road to go back to where you came."

She breathed raspily before staring at the ceiling.

"If you were an angel, then you had long fallen from grace. You destroyed lives, I hope you realize."

The faint of tears I saw in the corners of her eyes.

"You destroyed lives beyond any real repair and, fittingly, you've destroyed your own life. You destroyed Rei's with your abuse and a child you wanted to keep hidden. You also destroyed Ryuuko's, the child you never named and kept hidden, by keeping her locked away in a cage in a cellar, allowing her development and growth to become stunted. You didn't just destroy her life, you destroyed ours with your secrets and abuse. You hurt us and you're going to be living with that for the rest of your life."

Tears rolled down her face, as she almost coherently whispered, "I danced with the devil and I'm so ashamed." It was genuine regret, as only she could articulate. I asked her, "Did he mention that you'd have to pay?" to which she whispered, "Please forgive me."

Visiting hours ended and I had taken yet another long ride home. Still, like earlier, it was long enough for me to reflect. I had confronted her and, frankly, I would have to say my anger towards her had dissipated. She did what she did and there was no turning back from it, pretending the impressions could be reversed. Forgiveness would come at a time but there may be no reconciliation, all that has passed and gone. My memories of that woman will always be bitter, yet I had to do what Rei nor the woman herself could do and that was move on.

Chapter Ending theme: "Kalyan" by Fernwood