Hiyori was happy as she planted flowers around her county home. The sun was shining, and the breeze was just perfect for keeping you from overheating. In the distance, Hiyori could hear the sounds of civilization as cars beep their horns and aircraft flies overhead, but despite all that noise, Hiyori can still hear the birds singing their songs from the trees all around her. Finish up her work and brushing the dirt off of the apron she wore to protect her clothing Hiyori couldn't think of a more perfect day until a car pulled up with a number plate Hiyori will know anywhere and five figures step out.
The colour drains from Hiyori's face as she sees the woman with black hair and red eyes surrounded by her guards. Hiyori knew this day would come and had hoped that when she retired from being an active Toji, she could avoid it but no. Walking towards her with her elite guard right behind her Yukari Origami clearly has no intentions of letting Hiyori skip out on this day. Taking off her apron Hiyori does her best to hide her disappointment and anger for what this woman will make her do as she watches Yukari get closer and closer.
"Hiyori with have finished with the selection process," Yukari tells her before she holds out a file. "Please read over the profile and get ready for the date stated inside."
"Don't I get a say in this?" Hiyori angrily wonders as she takes the folder.
"I know you don't want to do this, but we can't let you families Fifth Layer Jin'I fade away," Yukari says before the first hits of humanity seep onto her faces with her eyes saddening. "I'm sorry, Hiyori, but there is no other way. For the good of humanity, we have to do this."
"Don't you mean I have to do this!" Hiyori bites her tongue and simply nods her head.
"I will contact you when its time," Yukari tells her before she turns and leaves.
"I'm sorry Hiyori," Hiyori looks to see Sayaka looking upset.
"I'm sure Kanami will understand," Kaoru assures her before the two of them walk off after Yukari.
"Kanami," Hiyori whispers her name as she feels her slipping through her fingers and a tear rolls down her cheek.
"I gave half my life, and this is how they treat me!" Hiyori screams in their mind. "I lost my parents, spent months trapped in the Netherworld, and now they also expect me to lose Kanami!" Running into her home Hiyori throws the folder down, seeing a picture of a man only a few years older than her fall out. "They didn't even give me a say on who it was that I am to marry."
Falling down and leaning against the wall Hiyori picks out a silver locket the Minoseki Toji gave her as a retirement present. Inside was a picture of Kanami and Hiyori on one side hugging in a camera both and on the other is a picture Kanami somehow obtained of Hiyori's mother holding her daughter as a baby with a huge smile on her face. Seeing the picture of her and Kanami together and happy Hiyori cries seeing those days will never come again.
"Kanami…" Hiyori sobs. "I'm sorry Kanami…"
Kanami was smiling as she clashed blades with Mai enjoying a good spar with a worthy opponent. Sweat rolls down both girls bodies, and they start to feel out of breath, but neither girl gives in continuing to attack each other with all their might. All around them other Toji of Minoseki Academy watch and cheer them on while behind them one someone watches with a heavy burden placed on her shoulders. With a heavy heart Ema Hashima, the president of Minoseki Academy approaches the sparing girls right as Kanami scores a winning blow shattering Mai's Utsushi with a swift cut across the well-endowed girl's stomach.
"Kanami," Ema calls out, stepping onto up to the two girls. "Can you please come with me to my office."
"I'm not in trouble am I?" Kanami asks, looking worried, but Ema quickly shakes her head.
"No, it's nothing like that Kanami I just need to discuss something with you in privet," Ema assures her before she looks towards Mai tempted to ask her to come along as well, but she decides against the idea knowing Mai will side with Kanami against her on this. "Would you please come with me Kanami."
"Okay," Kanami nods her head still looking worried but as Ema starts to walk Kanami follows her.
Ema feels dread building within her increasing in weight every step the president took towards her office. Even the beauty of her school that Ema has always been proud of and enjoyed looking out at can't take away the burden Ema feels. She knows it isn't going to be easy for her or Kanami, looking over her shoulder Ema knows Kanami will be upset and try to fight back against this decision and it hurts Ema to do this to her, but the school president knows it has to be done. For the good of the world, Ema knows she has to stay strong and carry out her duty even if it does kill her inside to do so.
Stepping inside her office Ema walk around her desk to her sit offering the seat opposite her to Kanami. Taking a moment to prepare herself, Ema looks at the packet of cigarettes on her desk wish to smoke so she can take the edge off, but because of the new smoke alarms, Ema can't even do that without setting them off. Looking at her student Ema wishes, there was another way to do this, but everyone has already looked into it and came up empty-handed.
"How can I hurt her like this after all she's done?" Ema asks herself before taking a deep breath and begin the task she has been dreading.
"Kanami I need you to remain calm and hear me out okay," Ema says doing her best to remain gentle with how she's handling this situation. "First of all, I want to say that I am sorry for this and I wish there were another way, but there isn't, and this is something that needs to be done. I really wish there was another way I really do, but this has to be done Kanami. I'm sorry, Kanami, but you can't date Hiyori anymore."
"I'm sorry, Kanami, but you can't date Hiyori anymore." Those words repeat themselves over and over in Kanami's mind tormenting her as she struggles to process them. Kanami can't think, she can't move she starts to struggle even to breath. Kanami wants to yell at her president. She wants to go to Hiyori and have the Heijou Toji tell her it was a lie and they will be together forever. But Kanami can't do that. She can't do anything but sit there and mutter the question. "Why?"
"I'm sorry Kanami, but there is no other way to do this," Ema tells her feeling her heartbreak at the sight of her student crying. "But Hiyori is the last of her family, and for the good of the world we can't let the Fifth Layer Jin'I passed down through the Juujou bloodline die out."
"Why do I have to crush the saviour of our world," Ema asks herself feeling her own eyes watering at the sight of her crying student.
"Kanami please don't interfere with this," Ema pleas. "I hate that this has to happen to both of you, but there is no other way. Please Kanami let this happen. You can still be friends with Hiyori, but she needs to marry and carry on her family bloodline."
"But what about me?!" Kanami yells making Ema jump at her outburst. "What about my feelings?! What about Hiyori's?! Don't we get a say in this at all?!"
"I'm sorry Kanami, but this decision has already been made by Yukari and approved by the government," Ema tells her. "I'm sorry, Kanami, but there is no other way we can do this."
Kanami doesn't reply and just runs out of the room with tears flowing from her eyes. Ema looks down hating herself for what she just did to the girl. Kanami and Hiyori saved the world, and now she ended up hurting one of the hero's. Taking a photo out of her pocket Ema looks down at the image of Minato and Kagari holding their daughters and smiling together.
"I hope both of you and your daughter will forgive us one day for this," Ema hopes as a tear leaves her eyes and hits the picture.
Kanami runs through the halls nearly knocking over Mai who came looking for her worried about her friend. Kanami runs and runs and doesn't stop even when Mai calls out to her until she is in her room and locks her door. Kanami collapses against the wood of her door and hugs her knees to her chest before she really lets her tears flow. Sobbing into her knees and gently rocking her body, Kanami can barely feel the thud on her door as Mai knocks on it from the other side. To her, the whole world has become numb and colourless without Hiyori in it.
"Kanami are you okay?" Mai asks through her door, but Kanami barely hears her. "Kanami I'm here for you. Whatever is hurting you Kanami you can tell me."
"Hiyori…" Kanami sobs answering her friend as best she can.
"What about Hiyori?" Mai asks. "Did she hurt you?"
"No…"
"Kanami can I come in please?" Kanami slowly gets up and unlocks the door. "Kanami come here." Wrapping her arms around her friend the moment she steps foot into the room, Mai lets her friend cry on her shoulder for a few minutes before asking. "What happened Kanami?"
"President Hashima… she said that… Hiyori and I…" Kanami relays the event that took placed in the president's office between her sobs feeling her heart shatter into smaller and smaller pieces the more she relays to her friend. "She said that… there was no… other choice…"
"I'm sorry Kanami," Mai tells her hugging her friend tighter.
"I'm sorry," Kanami wonders how many times she is going to hear those words as president Hashima words continue to tear her apart. "I'm sorry, Kanami, but you can't date Hiyori anymore."
"How can they do this Mai?" Kanami lets out more tears. "Why can't we be happy after everything we sacrificed?"
"I'm sorry, Kanami," Mai asks. "I will do what I can to help you."
Meanwhile, in a skyscraper overlooking the Tokyo, a young man sips on his beer, enjoying the view as he sees someone approaching him in the reflection of the mirror. Turing to find his father staring at him the young man can't help but smile knowing the news his old man carries.
"So is it done?" He asks.
"Yes," His father answers. "Your marriage has been arranged."
"Great that cutie is too good to be waisted on some carpet muncher," The man smirks.
"Just remember that this marriage is important for our family," His father warns giving his son a stern look. "We have to maintain close ties with the Origami's."
"I know, I know," He replies feeling too happy to take in his father's warning. "I'll do nothing but show my darling Hiyori a good time."
Turning back to stare out of the window again he watches his father leave in the reflection before letting his mind run wild with thoughts and fantasy of what he will do to the girl he is to marry.
"Will she moan like the others or act strong and try to hold those cute little sounds?" He wonders, feeling excited to find out. "I should make sure to recorded, so her perfect little lover will know she is mine when I send her a copy."
Taking another sip of his beer, the man can't wait till he sees her.
AN
With Hiyori and Kanami being forced apart what will happen to the couple now? Will they fight to stay together or fall apart? Keep reading to find out.
I'm sorry this chapter brings nothing but pain to Hiyori and Kanami, but I hope you stay with the story and feel free to comment and let me know any suggestions for the story.