Wow, two chapters in one day! How thrilling!
I wrote this epilogue for the sole purpose of explanation and angst. Oh, and I'm an absolute, full-blown sadist, so no, I'm not sorry. (If you don't understand about Leiko Rin's charm bracelet by the end of this chapter, ask me in PM and I'll try my best to explain.)
Again, if you're interested, I'm writing an OC/AU Black Butler fic. It'll probably be posted later this week, so keep an eye out for it and I'll love you forever.
So, enjoy, or try to.
The week after Kyoya was released from the hospital and he come back to Ouran, Haruhi was already gone. Tamaki told him she had left because the school was oppressive and she needed better educational opportunities, but I know the truth.
I spoke to Leiko Rin on the rooftop the day before Takumi and I were to get on a plane back to Karuizawa. I'm technically not a student here any more, but I had to come one last time. The snow has melted, the fountain, which I can still swear is tinged red, is gushing merrilly. The trees lining the drive are budding lime green leaves.
"So?" I cross my arms, not looking at the redhead standing beside me. She copies my position, her arms crossed, leaning casually over the railing. Having always been one for puzzles, and of course for illusions, I ask, "I didn't quite understand how you got Haruhi to transfer."
"Blackmail," she answers simply. "And threats. I told her that if she were to either call the police or stay at Ouran, I'd find out. The trick to that is to be vague. When did you realize you were wrong about your brother's death all along?"
"The twins helped me," I say choking on my breath at the memory, but shove it down. There's no need feeling emotional in front of this girl. "What are you going to do now?"
"Anything I want," she answers simply, propping her elbow on the railing and her chin in her palm. "We're probably not going to see each other again after this."
"And if we do?"
"If we do, then I'll be neither your friend nor your enemy." She looks at me strangely, a smirk poised on the corner of her mouth. "That all depends on you, Illusionist." With that, she turns around, but I'm not quite down with my questions.
"Wait, Leiko!" I call after her, just as she's opening the rooftop access door. She stops but doesn't turn around. "You always said that death always wins, that she always gets her price. What does that mean?"
"I'd thought you'd have figured that out by now," she sighs. "That guilt you're feeling because you feel nothing, that's her price, Mizuki."
"But, what did I pay in return?" I ask, still confused. Leiko Rin turns around at this point, and unclips something from her leather bracelet. She tosses it across the rooftop, smirks at me, and without another word, she disappears back into the building.
I open my cupped hands, and see the pale, silver-rimmed emerald charm that I was once absolutely captivated by. Knitting my brows together, I turn it around, searching for some kind of clue as to what this means. I flip it over in my hand, fogging the silver with my breath.
How cruel, I think to myself. Impaled on the pin that clips the charm to the leather is a tiny indigo flower.
All at once, Leiko Rin makes so much sense that I almost cry. She gave me what I really wanted and she took in return what really mattered. Revenge and infamy in exchange for my humanity, and in a sense, Kagami.
But that never really made any kind of difference, did it?
So I toss the charm and the flower with it off the roof, and watch with emptiness as it lands with an inaudible ploop! in the fountain below.
X-***-X
Eighteen hours later, Takumi and I are sitting in first class on a jet bound for Karuizawa. His hand is gripping mine tightly and he refuses to meet my eyes, opting to stare solemnly out the window. Next to me, I jump when my cell buzzes as I receive a text. I know the flight attendants warn us not to use our phones, but they can suck it as far as I'm concerned. Shielding it from view with my leg, I open it to see a message flashing from an unknown number. I open it without thought.
Hey. It's Kaoru. I heard you were leaving.
Yeah, I am. On the plane now. Is there something you need? I text back as soon as it registers.
No. Just wanted to say goodbye. The reply is instantaneous.
Oh. Bye, Kaoru.
Bye, Mizuki.
I shove my phone under the bag sitting in my lap when a flight attendant walks by, half hoping it would buzz again, and half praying it won't.
I'm not sure if I feel relieved or disappointed when it stays still.
