Disclaimer: Hakuouki is a visual novel game by Idea Factory. (They make a bunch of cute guys! Drools. So I always look up new series just so I can stare at them~) Hakuouki then was adapted into an Anime by Studio DEEN. And today, the Anime series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America. (I got this information from Wikipedia and I believe the information is accurate. I wouldn't know though!)

"Forever" will not keep us connected

Chapter 15

Within that instant, Yuma was sure he slice through Ayumu's neck, but then the body disappeared in a blink. The wind seemed to pause in the air and then he felt the returned wind through his face and long hair. Yuma narrowed his eyes as Haru's voice said in his mind, 'Damn it all! Don't let him escape, Yuma!'

Looking over his left shoulder, Yuma let out a sigh. 'He's already dying,' he told her through their mind connection. 'I do not believe it's necessary anymore. We've pushed him enough.' Before she could retort, he added, 'He must have used his remaining power to avoid dying under my blade.' Yuma walked off and head into the darkness to hide himself. His horns disappeared and his form returned back to his human self. 'So, Haru… what is your next step?'

She was quiet and then snickered. 'Oh, you'll see,' she told him. He could tell she was going to enjoy the next one. Whatever it may be, he knew it would not be pleasant. The clouds in the sky covered the moonlight and Yuma gazed up to it quietly. 'Walking Dream,' he relaxed his eyes. 'Soon, that power will cease to exist.' A shame, really. But that was why Haru was bent on doing.

[…^…]

Hajime and Sanosuke stopped their horses as soon as some kind of black light moved right through them and above their heads. Their eyes stared at the black light that expanded down the south and across the sky. The wind was dead and there was no light in the forest. "What was that?" Hajime voiced in the darkness.

Another black light flew by and the wind came back. The moon returned as the clouds drifted. Sanosuke's vision returned in that moment and he glanced around, a bit puzzled. Before he began to use his powers to track everyone, Ryunosuke and Kosuzu suddenly appeared like ghosts before the two men on the horse. "Ryunosuke!" Sanosuke beamed.

"Harada-san?" Ryunosuke looked up to them. Their distances were only a few yards. Kosuzu smiled at the familiar faces in the moonlight. "Where are the others?" Ryunosuke questioned, turning his head back and forth.

"…Ibuki, what kind of power was that just now?" Hajime inquired curiously, his eyes widened a bit. And whose power was it?

While Ryunosuke uttered something through his nose, a bit upset about everything, Sanosuke was looking around as his eyes glowed. He was shocked to see no bandits around. 'Where did they all go?' he glared. Was something bad going to happen?

[…^…]

In the northeast, Yumeko found nothing. Kyou rode his horse behind her and the look on her face never changed when her head kept moving from left to right. She was both upset and worried. Kyou narrowed his eyes, trying to pick up any noises by the bandits. But there was none. Another strange thing was, what was that strange black light that flew by twice?

"Yumeko," Kyou called to her. She stopped her horse and fixed her eyes on him as he moved next to her. "Is something happening?" he asked, looking at her seriously.

She directed her gaze away and she bit her lower lip. "Ayumu mentioned once before…" she murmured. Kyou raised an eyebrow. She closed her eyes and could not stop breathing in and out. She was scared and her hands were shaking. "When he uses his power from his father's side… it would eat Ayumu's life away…"

Kyou stared at her calmly and she opened her eyelids to the ground. "Don't tell me he's going to die soon," Kyou quietly stated. She was silent and she looked very hurt. "Why would using his father's power do that to him?" Or whatever that power could mean.

"…Because a child born in their family are supposed to have only one power," she answered, her voice shaking. "But nobody's body can take two powers at the same time… which was why… or what Ayumu told me…" She could not finish her sentence and she held back her tears.

Another black light glowed and flew above them. Kyou had a vacant expression on his face, but he was in awed. The black light glowed with magnificence and flowed like the wave of radiance. "So… is this Ayumu's doing?" he asked, his eyes back to her. She nodded. "What do you think he's trying to do? What can that power do?"

Yumeko raised her head and felt the warmth of the black light. "…I don't know," she honestly answered. "Ayumu… never opened up and told me about it. Not once." It was like he never trusted her. And she was always bothered by that thought.

[…^…]

Ever since the black light was passing through the area three times, Saburo was staring at the sky. His eyes followed the mysterious glow of the black light. Souji was next to him and when he brought his eyes back down, Kanon and her horse was gone from sight. She was supposed to be in front of them.

"Kanon?" Souji called, moving his horse forward.

"Wha?!" Saburo snapped his head away from the sky. She really was missing. He hurried to Souji and also shouted out, "Kanon-san? Where did you go?!"

Souji grunted and glanced to Saburo. "Let's split up and look for her," he urgently told him. Saburo nodded quickly and they both rushed through the woods to find any traces of her.

[…^…]

Kanon rode her horse up a hill, her hands shaking on the reins. It was a bumpy hill and her horse slowed down. Just after a few more steps, the horse neighed and stopped moving forward on its own will. Without a fight, she rushed to get off of the horse and she ran up the hill as fast as she could. "Ayumu!" she yelled, feeling he was just up ahead. And it was as if he was waiting for her.

The moment she got over the hill and out of the woods, her eyes snapped wide opened at the flowers of field. They were all glowing in black on a small hill. It was like she was in the center of everything and her heart dropped. It reminded her of her home. Her eyes soon realized Ayumu lying on top of the flowers on the small hill and she dashed straight for him. He was on his back and staring at the sky emotionlessly.

"Ayumu!" she slammed her knees into the grass and reached for him.

He raised a hand and she stopped herself from touching him. "…It's fine," he murmured quietly and weakly. "Don't bother."

She pouted and her eyes became watery. "Why did you use our dad's power for?" she touched his hand to hold it with her hands. Ayumu slowly blinked and she lightly glared. "You could have just waited for us!"

"Haru was after me," Ayumu glanced to her. "She must really know about our background…"

Confused, she asked, "What do you mean? What good can it do if she was after you?"

He shook his head and looked at her. The black light emitted from his body and sent out another wave all around them. The light touched her body and disappeared onto her. "Maybe she's afraid of me," Ayumu shrugged with a smirk. "She probably… wants to hurt you."

Kanon glared and set on her ankles. Her brother's eyes were glowing weak. "I don't get it!" she yelled, closing her eyes. "That makes no sense! What did I ever do to her?! What did you do to deserve this?!"

"Kanon… I like the sound of your voice…" Ayumu told her. It must have sounded random. She opened her eyes and he held gripped on her hands gently.

She pouted and a tear fell from her left eye. Doing her best to hold her tears, she shook her head to snap out of it. "Let's go back into the town and find you a doctor," she forced herself to say and moved her hands on his shoulders.

"Listen to me, onee-san," he grunted, pushing her hands away. "There's nothing can save me now… the moment I used father's power…"

"Shut up, I know!" she exclaimed. Her hands fell on her lap and she gritted her teeth. "But this isn't fair! You're still so young! And I'm tired of saying goodbye, okay?! I'm your big sister, but I couldn't even protect you! Do you know how much Saburo and Yumeko would feel if—" His hand grabbed her hand and she shut her mouth. Her heart was beating loudly and she was so scared to lose him. She was not ready yet nor would she ever be prepared.

Ayumu chuckled and stared into her stubborn eyes. "…Do you like my gift of flowers?" he inquired.

Nodding right away, she replied with a few more tears dropping down her face. "It's just like that day," she mumbled. Her shoulders trembled and she took deep breaths. "But I don't want it. I want you to stay with me forever! We're going to get married, remember? To Saburo and Yumeko. Remember?! We're going to have kids and our children would become cousins!"

He rolled his eyes and rested comfortably. "Don't remind me of that silly conversation," he had to snort. She angrily held back her words for him. There was a short moment of silence and he murmured, "After I died… burn my body with Yumeko's power right here." He liked the view of the sky from there. So he desired it.

Kanon glared and retorted, "You can't leave us like this!" She leaned forward and shook his arm. "Ayumu, can't you use your power to keep yourself alive? Isn't that possible?!" He said nothing and she knew it would be too good to be true. She groaned furiously, "You can't leave me, do you hear me?!"

Her voice echoed and the words sharply pierced his ears. "…You'll be alright," he told her and she looked hurt when he said it. He closed his eyes and his hand lost its grip on her hand. "I will… always… and forever… be by your… side…"

He spoke those words as if they were his last. Kanon's eyes widened as his head tilted off away from the sky. Her face saddened and she uttered, "A…Ayu…" Tears ran down her face and she was unable to stop them.

[…^…]

A sharp pain ran through the hearts of Sanosuke, Ryunosuke, and Kosuzu. Hajime looked to them and he saw their shocked faces. "…What happened?" Hajime asked quietly.

"Ayumu-san…" Ryunosuke ran his hand to his chest. The feeling was very unbearable and he felt something snapped his life away. Kosuzu had the same feeling and she closed her eyes and remained quiet. "He's…" Ryunosuke's breathing paused.

"He's gone," Sanosuke finished the sentence for Ryunosuke. His stared at his hands and he was utterly shocked. His power was still there. He could still feel it. But Ayumu was gone now. They were free and they would be able to go wherever they like. Sanosuke grunted and slapped his face in frustration. "We… couldn't protect Ayumu…"

Hajime lowered his eyes and silence groomed over each of them.

[…^…]

Kyou glanced to Yumeko, who seemed dead still and her horse did not move. He saw tears dropping down from her eyes. She did not cry out, but he swore he could hear her heart screaming for Ayumu's name. So he understood what happened and made no noise.

Unable to wipe her own tears, Yumeko stared at her ground and never blinked. 'Ayumu…' she thought bitterly.

[…^…]

Kanon's voice was breaking from the sobbing. More tears streamed down her face. She wanted to call Ayumu's name so much. Because if she kept calling his name, maybe he would wake up. Maybe. Her lips would not stop shivering and her nose felt wet. She sobbed and she rubbed her eyes with frustration.

Unable to call Ayumu's name, she started to scream loudly instead. Maybe if she screamed, her voice could call her brother's name again. So closed her eyes. She kept screaming and breathing and screaming, pressing her forehead down on Ayumu's chest.

The screaming echoed and rung in Souji's ears, who hid at the back a tree. His fingers claws into the tree behind him and he grunted. Kanon was still screaming desperately. Souji's chest begun to feel heavy and he hesitated. Her screams were filled nothing but agony and loss. Biting his lower lip, Souji turned his body and walked around the tree. He was walking, but he increased his pace with each step. His bangs covered his eyes as he stared at the ground and his feet felt heavy. "Ka…" he tried to call her name. But her screams only covered his voice. "Tsk!"

Her screams continued, but she started to have hiccups. Even if her voice was cracking up, she sobbed loudly and wanted to scream one more time. Her hands covered her face, her hands running through her hair roughly. Without warning, someone bumped against her back and wrapped his arms around her tightly. She almost fell forward, but he held her firmly and moved to sit on the ground with her. Kanon stopped screaming and only cried with tears running down her face. She opened her eyes and hiccupped as she turned her head.

Souji's head fell on her right shoulder and he was not able to make eye contact with her when she saw his face. Her body was shaking so much; it almost looked like he was trembling too. So held her tighter. Her tears continued and she sniffed, rubbing her left arm under her nose. And then her hands touched his arms and she squeezed them.

"S…Sou…ji…" His eyes widened and his chest ached. She sobbed and called his name again, "Souji… Souji…" Her fingernails dug into his skin and her head cuddled against his own.

"…I'm here," he murmured. His face carried a pained expression.

Kanon closed her eyes and continued to have hiccups. "Souji…!"

As if he knew what she wanted, he loosened his arms around her. Kanon turned her body and faced him to cry in his arms. She sobbed loudly and her body trembled even more. Souji embraced her as close as possible and his eyes glared. "I'm here," he told her again, using a gentler voice. It was the only thing he could say. This was the only thing he could do. And it simply made him mad at himself. Was there another way to comfort her? Or was this all she needed?

She cried into his chest, her arms around under his arms. Just having Souji there only made her cry even more. And she continued to cry for a long time. Off to the right from the woods, Saburo could only watched them painfully, his heart mourning for Ayumu. And Saburo's heart ached for Kanon.

That moment felt long for every one of them.

[…^…]

Within an hour, everyone reached to the place where Ayumu was. Hajime and Kyou was the furthest from them, keeping an eye on the horses that were their only transportation. Ryunosuke and Kosuzu bowed to Ayumu's dead body, whose face was covered with Sanosuke's ripped kimono sleeves. Kanon was hugging Yumeko with both arms as they both sat by Ayumu, though Yumeko did not hug back. Her eyes were dead and simply stared to Ayumu. Souji and Saburo were standing behind the girls and Sanosuke walked behind the two guys.

"…We should leave now," Sanosuke kindly told everyone. No one responded and Sanosuke closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he said, "Kanon-chan… you said Ayumu wanted his body to be burned here?"

Kanon slowly turned her head to him and nodded. "Yeah," she replied, her eyes were darkened with redness. "Since Yumeko can make fire and control them… Ayumu's body will turn to dust in no time…" As much as she hated to say it, the thought was probably what Ayumu wished. "So… let's get going… Yumeko," Kanon nudged her head to her friend's head.

Ryunosuke and Kosuzu both walked off with their hands holding each other. Silently, Yumeko nodded and patted on Kanon's head. The girls helped each other get up and Saburo walked to them, whispering words of comfort. Souji faced Sanosuke tiredly and inquired, "Sano… do you really not feel the other bandits near by?"

Shaking his head, Sanosuke sighed, "No… It's like they magically disappeared."

"It was Ayumu's other power," Kanon told them. The two men looked to her and she rubbed her eyes weakly. She was putting up a poker face, despite the fact she cried so much. "He can do what he wants with power as if he was dreaming… hence, the word dream. He can make anything happen if he willed it enough."

"That sounds like a very dangerous power," Sanosuke commented gently. And to think the very same powerful ability took Ayumu's life. Sanosuke turned his gaze to Yumeko's back. She was still quiet, as if she lost her voice. And he had yet to see her shed a tear when they all met up here. What was going through her head right now? He was not able to read her emotions from the outside because she was covering it up very well.

Saburo walked to Yumeko and patted on her shoulder. She still quiet and her eyes kept on avoiding any eye contact. Saburo was unable to comfort her, but could only offer a smile. "I'm going ahead then," he said, walking off and around the others.

Souji tilted his head to see if the other two girls were going to go with him. He was not sure how Yumeko was going to use her power, but he remembered how she easily burned up corpses. She was rather ruthless and held nothing back. And then he recalled back to the earlier days when he was in the village. She never used her power around then. Was there a reason why she held herself back until now?

"Yumeko," Kanon tugged her sleeve.

The black haired girl blinked and calmly nodded. "…I'll be there," she murmured. "I… want another moment to stay by Ayumu. Just a little more."

"…Okay," Kanaon said, walking backwards. Yumeko stood where she was and her eyes trembled at Ayumu's dead body. Kanon was sad to see her like that and as much as she wanted to hold her, Kanon walked off to take Saburo's arm. And then Souji went along with her when she and Saburo walked by him.

Yumeko took another deep breath and then Sanosuke's hand rested on her shoulder gently. She let the tears fall and he walked to face her, wiping her tears away with the back of his fingers. "Sano…suke," she mumbled as her voice shook. His hand moved to pat her on her head and he looked at her softly. "The truth is… I wanted Ayumu to be my husband… and I wanted you to be my big brother," she whispered. It was what she really wanted. And now Ayumu was gone. Forever.

"…We're still here," Sanosuke whispered. He attempted to her hug her, but she moved back. "…Take your time. We'll wait for you."

She nodded and turned away. He stared at her back for a moment and then he walked off to give her time as he said. Yumeko closed her eyes and her tears stopped. 'Ayumu…' she thought, keeping her eyes closed.

As the group was together, waiting for Yumeko, Kyou was looking over to her rather uncertainly. "…Are you guys sure about leaving her like that?" he asked loudly. Her back seemed so lonely.

Ryunosuke frowned to him, "She seemed very close to Ayumu-san, let her mourn a while longer."

"She must really love him too," Kosuzu said, lowering her eyes.

"R-Really?" Saburo blinked to her. Kosuzu sighed and nodded. "I… she never said anything like that before…" Saburo looked over his shoulder, his eyes softening.

Hajime then spoke, "Kanon-san… If Ayumu died, are Sano and the others are still able to use their powers?" This question was probably not a good time to ask, but it was needed to be clear.

Kanon nodded, wrapping herself with her arms when she felt cold. "Yeah…" she replied quietly. "And it means they can go as far as they want now…" Her eyes gazed to Sanosuke. "So you can leave and do what you want. There's nothing to hold you back."

"But we're still in this together," Sanosuke assured her. "Haru's still out there. I'll stick around to help you."

Speaking of which, Souji was slightly losing sight of his original goal. He wanted to find Hijikata, he reminded himself. However, Haru was in the way. She was hiding in the shadows and no one knew how she looked like. Souji frowned, "What should we do now? I'm sure Haru will be after Kanon."

Sanosuke narrowed his eyes, gripping on his spear. "And why did they choose to kill Ayumu when he also had the healing power?" he asked himself.

"Yeah, that's really weird," Kyou commented quietly, going up on his horse. 'And there's still no sign of Amagiri.' The unknown were yet to be revealed. They needed more answers and Kyou did not wish to be stuck with these people for eternality.

After a pause, Hajime saw Yumeko had faced to them and she walked slowly. "Time we take off," Hajime said, moving to get on his horse as well.

While everyone did the same, Yumeko stopped moving and her eyes stared at every one of them. When they all looked back to her, she smiled a little and raised both hands. Kanon gasped, "Wait, Yume—!"

Fire blast in between the group and Yumeko. The horses screamed and panicked. Saburo tried to settle his horse down as he shouted, completely shocked, "YUMEKO!"

"Damn it!" Sanosuke cursed, holding onto the reins tightly. The fire did not move and only burned where it was. Sanosuke's horse calmed down first and he looked into he flames. He saw nothing and exclaimed, "Yumeko-chan!"

"Yumeko!" Kanon cried, her voice cracking from screaming the name. A name that meant so much to her.

Her horse stopped struggling and soon every horse settled down. Kyou glared, knowing something like this would happen, but he did not think this was what Yumeko had in mind. Ryunosuke and Kosuzu could only stare at the fire quietly, completely surprised themselves. Souji grunted, glaring at how stupid Yumeko was. Hajime moved his horse forward, but there was nothing else he could do. There was no water nearby, for he could only control water. Not make them out of thin air. There was nothing to help but wait for the fire to died down. The heat reached to their skins and the air felt tainted and dried.

Fire surrounded Yumeko and Ayumu. She went to lie down beside him and rested her head on his right shoulder with her left arm over his chest. She closed her eyes and let the flames gathered closer to the two of them. "I'm sorry, Saburo," she whispered with no regrets. "Sorry, everyone… and thank you." She felt the fire on her skin and her pain were being erased in an instant. Her friends were shouting her name again, the sounds of the flames rung in her ears. "If I do not see you in the afterlife, Ayumu … I am content enough to die by your side in this lifetime," she smiled with fortunate, feeling at peace.

And hopefully peace would reach to her friends someday. She wished it with all of her heart until the flames consumed her consciousness.

Thanks for reading.