19

Grave's clawed hand hangs above Shusei's head, ready to strike.

Hotsuma staggers to his feet in an effort to save him but his weakened state prevents him from doing so, "Shit." He sees Grave pull his hand back ready to deliver the killing blow. Shusei unable to pull away braces himself for the attack.

In a burning rage and fueled by panic, instinct took over and Hotsuma chanted, "Burn, dark one."

Suddenly, flames formed at Grave's feet and quickly engulfed him. He screamed more in shock than agony at first.

Tsukumo wasn't kidding about the flames and God's Voice, was he?!

The sudden burst of flames startles Shusei who quickly frees his hand from the blade holding him to the ground. He lets out a scream as the pain courses from his hand through his arm.

Hotsuma stares at what he's summoned in awe but is quickly brought back to the present as he hears Grave's angry, pained screams. Hotsuma hurriedly rushes to Shusei's side, dragging him away from the Opast. Looking at him, he knows the fight can't go on much longer. Shusei had been weak and weary for a long time before the battle and his current injuries have nearly sapped him of his strength.

"We need to trap him…" Shusei pants, holding his bloodied hand to his chest.

"What? How?" Hotsuma's mind reels.

"I can do it. I think…I can remember." Shusei staggers to stand up. He closes his eyes as if in meditation and summons to small blue orbs, each floating above his hands.

"The hell?" Hotsuma says absently, but he is impressed with how rapidly he's catching on and using his abilities.

Almost immediately a large black cage forms around the Opast.

Hotsuma takes a step back in shock until Shusei calls for him to finish Grave off, "Hotsuma, now! Quickly!" Again he summons more flames that engulf Grave and the cage.

Grave curses the two as he thrashes about the cage. Each time he does, the bars of the cage slowly crack. Even in his pain he sees Shusei struggle to keep the cage whole. With all the strength he can muster, he slams his back into the cage, repeatedly.

Hotsuma looks over at Shusei who's on his knees.

"I can't hold him much longer…" He says.

"Just a little more, hang in there!" Hotsuma hears the bars of the cage giving way and summons more flames in hopes it will distract him from breaking free if not killing him.

"It will not end this way!" Grave yells as he breaks through the cage. It disappears and the flames disperse as he saunters towards the two. His body is badly burned and his clothes that were once clean and elegant are tattered beyond recognition, "If I had known it would have been this much work, I would have killed you in your sleep long ago…" He whispers.

"Not so fast!" Tsukumo says as he fires his gun. The bullet passes through Grave's chest. Rather than injuring the Opast it pins him to a large cross, immobilizing him completely.

Confused, Grave looks around and sees the bodies of him familiars, the wolves, lying scattered about, "How dare you hurt them!" He growls, saddened by the loss of his wolves.

"This has been going on long enough." Tsukumo says. He looks to Hotsuma and Shusei, "How are you holding up?"

"Been better." Hotsuma answers at Shuseis side, "You gonna be okay?"

"I'll live."

The four Zweilt stand together ready to finish this once and for all.

"I'm ready to start a new life now. And this time, you won't be a part of it." Shusei says.

"You can say that again." Hotsuma agrees. "Burn."

This time the flames are stronger and burn hotter than before. They consume the Opast, who lets out a shrill scream. He can't break free this time and knows this is the end.

"I have not lost! You and all your clan will die! Reiga grows stronger every day!" He slowly turns to ash, cursing them all with every last breath.

Soon the flames and Grave die.

The four Zweilt let out a sigh of relief. Their weapons disappear and they look after each other to make sure the injuries aren't too severe. When everything appears to be okay, all things considered, the first to break the silence is Toko, "It's over!" She glances at Shusei who looks exhausted, "It's been so long! I'm so happy to see you again!" She hugs him with teary eyes, "Everything will be okay now!"

"Um, thank you?" He says, not sure how to react. He senses she's familiar but is still taken by surprise at her friendliness.

"Easy, Toko-chan, he's hurt." Her brother reminds her.

"Oh, sorry!" She quickly backs off.

"Is everyone okay?" A new voice calls out to the Zweilt.

"Yuki-chan!" Toko calls out shocked, "What happened? Why are you here?"

Yuki runs over to the four with his guardian, Luka, in tow. "Takashiro-sama called me back home early. Luka sensed a battle nearby on our way home, so I wanted to make sure you were all okay." He answers before his attention is turned quickly to Hotsuma and Shusei. Yuki had heard about the two briefly but hadn't imagine a meeting with them would happen so soon, "I am Yuki Giou." He bows to the both of them, "It's so good to see you both."

"He is God's Light, the one we protect." Tsukumo tells them, "And this is Luka, an Opast. He's on our side though." Luka nods in acknowledgment.

Yuki gently reaches out, taking Shusei's injured hand, "Let me help." He says as he rest his other hand on top. A soft glow emerges and Shusei can feel the relief swell into his hand. Soon the pain stops and there is no sign of injury.

Shusei studies his hand in astonishment, "Thank you."

"It's the least I can do. I can't fight like you all can." He smiles and turns to Hotsuma, "You are injured?"

"No, no.." Hotsuma backs away clutching his stomach, unnerved at the thought of healing like that, "It's nothing, I'll be fine."

Yuki seems a little hurt at Hotsuma's dismissiveness, "You're sure?"

"A good night's sleep will be all I need." He responds shyly, "Really."

"Let's go home now. We can talk more later." Tsukumo suggests, "Shusei needs to get settled in his new home."

Shusei looks down to the ground shamed, "I'm sorry. I can't believe I allowed Grave to have done that to me for so long. And to not have known…"

"Shusei-kun, it's not your fault." Toko says.

"Still, it seems like-"

"Shut up, it's all done and over with now." Hotsuma says trying to brush it off, "I don't like these touchy-feely moments anyway." He mutters under his breath.

"Shusei-kun, the van is nearby, let's go home to Twilight Mansion." Yuki says guiding him towards the car, "It'll be a tight squeeze, but we should all be able to fit."

Shusei follows them all to the car, driven by Ibuki whom he is introduced to, "I'm glad to see you are well, Shusei-kun." She says. He nods and thanks her and slides into the van, next to the window.

They all carry on small talk during the drive. Toko talks to her brother and Yuki talks to Luka who rarely speaks back. Hotsuma looks over Shusei's shoulder to look out the window.

"Thank you all for everything. I'll do whatever I can to help you in the future." Shusei says.

Everyone turns to look at him.

"Of course, we are all family." Toko says.

"It'll feel like home again, now that you are back with us." Yuki adds, "It was so quiet around without you and Hotsuma." He laughs.

"Yeah, quiet without the two of you bickering all the time!" Toko adds with a laugh, which triggered a small argument between her and Hotsuma.

The group made small talk, trying to learn more about each other and what they've been through up and till now.

It wasn't a long ride until the van pulled into the driveway of the mansion. Immediately upon seeing it, Shusei felt a wave of relief wash over him. He gets out of the van and looks at the façade of the building taking it all in until Hotsuma comes up beside him.

"It feels right." Hotsuma says to him, "Being here, don't you think."

"Yeah, like everything has fallen into place as it should."

Shusei laughs to himself.

"What's so funny?" Hotsuma asks.

"To think, if you weren't such a pest from the beginning, this wouldn't have happened."

"A pest?!" That's the thanks I get for saving your ass?!"

"Well, it's true, when you look back on it…" Shusei starts knowing he'll get a rise out of the blond.

"If it weren't for me you'd be back in that freak show wasting your life away!"

The two carry on their nonsensical argument while Yuki, Toko and Tsukumo watch on.

"Just like old times." Toko says as she rolls her eyes.

The two continued on as they walked toward the mansion to begin life anew. No longer haunted by the past, they can move forward to become the Zweilt pair they were meant to be.


Welp, this is long overdue.

And I plan on adding a little epilogue as a thank you to everyone who has stuck with me on this story!