I know I said the previous chapter was the last one - and it is - but this is just an alternate ending. This is what would have happened had things gone a little . . . differently. I am going to just let you read and see for yourself. Be warned, though - it is sad, as in bawl-your-eyeballs-out sad. So whip out your tissues and read on.

Alternate Ending

Kiyoko's blade glinted scarlet, reflecting the crimson moonlight as she raised it towards the sky, poised to strike what would be the final blow. No! she cried in her mind, her body refusing to obey her. Under the command of the Shadow Lord, Kiyoko swung the sword against her will. NO! she cried again. ISSUN!

SHUNK!

The deed was done. Kiyoko's sword buried itself deep within Issun's body. It was over. He was dead.

Kiyoko was left in shock, her feelings matching the expressionless face she was made to wear. Through unwilling eyes, she stared blankly at Issun's now lifeless body. Then, an all-new emotion suddenly took hold of her heart. She had no name for this feeling—she had never felt anything like this before—but it consumed her like fire, boiling her blood.

This new emotion gave her a power she never knew before. Fueled by this mysterious, burning, addicting power, Kiyoko shattered the Shadow Lord's curse with ease. Regaining control of her body, she turned to face the Shadow Lord, the fiery emotion burning brighter than before.

"You . . . You monster!" she said, her voice trembling from the intense emotion she felt. In fact, her entire body shook as she screamed, "You did this to him! For that, I will never forgive you!" She charged at him, her thoughts clouded by the emotion she still had no name for. "DIE!"

Amaterasu, still a helpless white wolf, watched the scene unfold from where she lay anxiously, if not a bit fearfully. She barely recognized the girl before her. Kiyoko's face, so delicate, almost always adorned with a smile, was now contorted with rage. Her voice, usually so light and musical, had become a shrill screech as she screamed out her fury. With Kiyoko so furious, it came as no surprise to Amaterasu what came next.

Kiyoko, acting on pure anger and adrenaline, ran her sword clean through the Shadow Lord's body. The body destroyed, the black spirits that once resided within fled, escaping to a place where they would most likely never be seen again.

The Shadow Lord now done for, the moon moved back to its original position away from the sun. Amaterasu regained her powers, resuming her normal form.

After the unexpected rush of energy, Kiyoko was now left with a sense of accomplishment . . . and a sense of sorrow. Issun was dead, but she avenged him, right? Right? Oh, what's the use? She thought. It's my fault. It's all my fault. I killed Issun—me, with my own hands.

The feeling of hope and accomplishment gone, there was nothing left but devastating sadness. Kiyoko felt as if her heart, heavier than a boulder, would crush her. Under the weight of her sorrow, she fell to her knees. The pain she felt deep in her heart hurt so much, she thought that it might kill her. Then she thought that would be better. Better to die than to live without Issun.

"Kill me," she begged. "Just end it all right now."

Amaterasu was taken aback by Kiyoko's plea. "Now, Kiyoko, there's no need to be irrational. Let's just calm down and—"

"NO!" Kiyoko snapped. "KILL ME! KILL ME NOW!"

This was going too far, Amaterasu thought. In an attempt to calm Kiyoko, Amaterasu lightly nipped her.

"OW! That hurt!" From the shock and pain of the bite, Kiyoko regained her senses. "Thanks, Snowflake. I needed that." Kiyoko then looked sadly at Issun's dead body.

Even after the brief nip that snapped her out of hysterics, the pain and the sorrow hit her all over again, this time twice as hard. She looked at her shaking hands, at the hands that killed her love. Tears filled her eyes, and then spilled over, rolling down her cheeks. Drawing closer to Issun, she cried for him, for the life that she herself had taken. Sobs racked her body as she took him in her arms, clutching him tightly. She let out an inhuman howl, wailing his name and apologizing to him over and over again.

After a long while, when Kiyoko had no more tears to shed, she, Amaterasu, and Waka set up a small dedicational shrine to Issun. Planting his sword into the ground, Kiyoko placed his favorite green helmet on top. Kiyoko started to cry all over again while Amaterasu cried silent tears of her own. Even Waka looked a bit sad.

Through her tears, Kiyoko made a promise to Issun, to his spirit, wherever it may be. "Issun . . . can you hear me? I promise . . . No, I swear . . . I swear on my own life . . . That I will never, ever smile again. Not until I can see you again. You got that? Never."

They left Oni Island, never to look back again . . .

I told you it was sad! Please review - and to all the Issun fangirls currently in mourning: Please, I ask that you do not flame me. Do not hate me for killing him off. This is just a product of my twisted imagination, and I mean nothing by it. I myself like Issun a lot (though Waka is WAY better) and again mean nothing by this chapter. Oh, and can you please review?