Just a quick reminder that Nanari is Ayako and Monk's little boy that hasn't been mentioned since chapter 5 because he wasn't exactly important, we'll probably see him in the next chapter. Hope you like the ending.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

WARNING!: minimal editing down on this chapter, sorry

Chapter 19: In the End

On Natalia's cue, the windows of the orphanage were flung open. Wide eyed, his jaw dragging on the floor, Ash's expression quickly changed to one of fury as the voices of the children he'd imprisoned rose high. "What are you going to do? None of you can even control your abilities!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, grabbing hold of Natalia's hair in a firm grip, "You little bitch."

Gene's teeth ground in absolute annoyance. He could almost feel the hair follicles ripping from his skull. All he wanted to do at that moment was tear Ash's hand off. He wasn't absolutely sure how Ash was able to touch Natalia since she was only her soul at that moment, but he wasn't going to have that ability much longer if Gene had anything to say about it. "Ash, let her go," he snarled.

Before Ash could say another word, his hand was being ripped from Nat's hair. She fell to her knees, glaring up at his body as he flailed in the air. "Release me!" he roared, shooting daggers at the children. Most shrank back from the windows, but the teens who had promised to protect the little ones continued to glare at him, the other members of SPR and Desi flanking them. Lin had his finger poised in his mouth, the piercing whistle lost in the din of shouting voices. Ayako, Monk and Masako had their hands locked in front of them. John stood off to the side, watching with blue eyes burning with hatred foreign to their usually sweet, forgiving color.

"Hold him! Make sure he can't escape!" Nat shouted to the others, slowly getting to her feet. She watched in utter disgust as the black, voiceless souls began to swirl around his prone figure. "Hold him still if you can." Her voice had calmed as she rose to her full height. Ash was immediately stilled.

"What are you going to do?" Mai asked, stepping towards her friend, keeping her distance from the still form above her head.

"Strip him of his souls," she said simply, "You should step back. I don't know what this will do."

Mai moved to set a hand on her shoulder, but it simply fell through her, her fingers growing numb. "Why do you have to do it? Can't we…" She looked back at Naru and Gene, so alike in such different bodies, and Yasu, concern crossing his features. "…help you? Do you have to do this alone?"

Nat shoulder her head, looking over at Mai with a sad smile. "No, you can't. I'm the only one able to touch the other spirits here, and I don't want any of you getting hurt. Any of you getting hurt. Please, Mai, you're my friend. Just… step back for now. I'll get the twins back, and end this." Her eyes shifting to Desi, she beckoned Mai forward. Leaning close, she whispered, "If something happens to me, make sure he doesn't try to follow. Keep him safe from himself."

"Natalia-" Mai began, but was instantly cut off.

Nat tried to push her, her fingers passing through Mai. "Go. I need to do this quickly. Gene, Noll, I have you full control over my body, alright. Come get her, this will be over soon."

Without question, both stepped forward, taking hold of her shoulders. Gently, they pulled her back to Yasu. They returned, eyes shining with concern for their sister. "Please, be careful. Don't do anything rash. We're here to help," they told her.

Without replying, she smiled. Turning her back, she listened to them move away before beginning. The first scream that ripped from his throat made each of them flinch. The second scream simply filled her with insurmountable pleasure.

Methodically grasping one soul at a time, they were so thick that all she had to do was reach her hand out, letting them brush across her finger, she tore them from their captor. It was like tearing the stitches of fabric. She held each in her palms, staring down at the things that used to be human. Now, she couldn't exactly tell what they were. Once bright and full of light, they were deep greys and blacks, they eyes and mouths simply black holes. They were wisps, only husks of themselves.

Kissing them gently, she let them fall from her fingers, one by one, disappearing before they hit the soft earth beneath her feet.

"Stop!" Ash screamed, his body jerking convulsively each time she took another soul. "Stop, now!" He screamed as if the taking of the souls caused him physical pain. His voice rose wordlessly as she took another soul.

Natalia clenched her teeth, warding off the guilt slowly tripping into her body, turning her blood to molasses, the pain that shot through her body each time she took a soul. "This is for all of the children you've killed, all of the wrongs you've committed, for taking the twins. Bring them back, and I may spare you the rest of this pain," she snarled, emphasizing her words by tearing another soul from him.

"Fine!" he screeched. Tears wet his cheeks, his muscles clenched with tension. His breath exited his lungs in hard, painful gasps, a sob on his lips. "Fine," he whispered.

Her hands stilled, hovering in the thinning mass of souls. She stared at him expectantly, her fingers twitching to take another soul. "Now," she snarled. It was already hard for her to keep her body upright, the pain filling her body making it almost impossible for her muscles to continue functioning.

"Mommy, Daddy, Dad, Uncle Yasu!" The twin's screams had Nat craning her neck to watch them barreling towards her family. They tossed themselves at their legs, wrapping their arms collectively around Mai's, Gene's, and Naru's legs.

Nat smiled softly, warmth filling her chest, not completely banishing the pain. "Thank you," she murmured, turning back to Ash whose brown-green eyes had gone wide in terror. He looked younger than he ever had in his life. She leaned close to him, her lips whispering across his cheek, "That is the only 'thank you' you'll ever receive in your entire life." She tore another soul from him, nearly groaning herself in pain. Her eyes watered, narrowing.

"You promised!" Ash cried, his voice sounding small and childish.

Nat shook her head carefully. "No, I say that 'I may spare you'. I've decided against it."

Mai clutched at her chest, watching her friend slowly destroy her morals and what seemed to be even herself. The bell in her chest rang loudly, telling her that this was going to be the destruction of Nat, not just Ash, but she couldn't unhinge her jaw to allow words through. All she could think was, 'They're going to die.'

Nat was finally at the last soul. The orphans had long ago shrank away from the window, their hands clutched over their ears as the older kids continued to watch. The twins pressed their faces to their parents' legs. Ash was a complete mess, sobbing like the child he'd never been, his body broken and bruised.

"You'll finally get to rest. You'll never hurt anyone, or yourself, ever again," Nat whispered, tears coursing down her cheeks as she reached for the last soul, grasping it gently. "You know, I loved you, and everything could have been okay only if you hadn't been the way you were. Stockholm Syndrome, I guess. But now, everything will be fine."

Ash stared up at her, regret clouding his vision. "Please," he whispered, "Please, don't say that. I'm sorry."

The smile on her lips was miserable as she whispered, "Sorry just doesn't cut it. I'm sorry no one was there to help you. I hope your next life is better than this one." Before any other words could leave his mouth, Nat took the last souls.

His body trembled one last time, his limbs jerking. It only took a moment for him to go still, for the light to fade from his eyes. As his body was laid gently on the ground, Nat fell beside him, fractures appearing across her soul. Light spilled from the cracks, brighter than the sun rising over the horizon.

"Natalia," Mai whispered, stepping forward towards her.

Her friend turned, smiling at her. "I'm so glad I was able to meet you, Mai. I hope you have a long happy life with my brother. Gene, Yasu, I wish you the best of luck. Don't waste my gift."

"What are you talking about?" Mai said, stepping towards her. She reached out, meaning to pull Natalia into her embrace, but she remembered that she couldn't touch her, not in this state. "Can't we… save you?"

Nat shook her head. "Not this time. I was saved once and my soul was attached to his. Now that he's gone, I can't stay. I wish I could, but this is for the best." Her eyes darted up to the windows once more, returning to her face quickly, tears filling their red depths. "Tell Desi that I'm sorry I couldn't love him more. That I'm sorry in general. Tell him not to dwell, to move on and find someone who can love him."

"You should tell him that yourself." Desi was standing behind Mai, watching with saddened eyes as Nat clutched her middle, trying to keep herself together just a little bit longer. A long crack appeared across her face, cutting diagonally over her nose.

"I'm sorry," Nat repeated, the tears falling from her eyes, "I'm so sorry."

Dropping to his knees beside her, Desi leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead as if her were actually touching her. Her eyes fluttered closed, her eyelashes sticking together with her tears. "I hope you're happy in the next world," he whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes still closed, her body finally crumbled into light.

Mai pulled Desi into her arms just as he broke down. She looked over her shoulder at Naru, tears streaming down her own face.

…..

"What are you going to do with all of them?" Naru wondered aloud, watching at the orphans crowded the lawn, shouting and crying and laughing as they ran and jumped over each other. They'd moved Ash's body to the porch, closing his eyes and covering hi broken body with a quilt. "We can't leave them here all alone, and since Ash was the owner, there is no one to take over the orphanage."

"What about the lady Ash had Nat controlling when you were brought the case?" Mai suggested, watching with a small smile as the twins chased the younger children around, playing a forceful game of tag. Her smile turned into a half smile, half frown of confusion when, giggling, Kamin pressing her lips to one of the cheek of a girl around her age. 'Little kids,' she thought with a gentle roll of her eyes.

Naru pointed towards one of the older girls. "That's her. He was just using her to pretend. She's as much in charge as Yasu wears the pants in his relationship with Gene." He frowned. "How did you know that she was possessed when she came to see us?"

"Nat told me while we were in the cage," Mai explained, squeezing his fingers that were interlaced with her own.

"Oh," was all he could say to that, returning the pressure of her hand.

"We could always…" she began.

"Don't say it."

Gene bounced over, a grin spread wide across his mouth, Tamaki riding on his shoulders. "Say what?" he asked, his lips spreading enough to show his teeth. Neither Naru nor Mai had ever seen him so happy.

"That we should take over the orphanage," Mai said brightly, scooping Kamin into her arms as she tore passed, snuggling her nose into the little girl's hair, making her giggle wildly. Rex skidded to a stop beside them, panting happily.

Naru groaned, his eyes finding the ceiling of the entrance. "You said it."

Biting her lip, Mai grinned mischievously. "I did. So what do you say? It could be our side job. It would provide us a home, and Tamaki and Kamin and even Nanari would have children their age to grow up with. Come on, it would be fun. I'm sure everyone would help us run it."

"Mai," Naru growled low in his throat, "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I do!" Mai cried indignantly, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

Pulling her face to his, his pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "Only sometimes," he said sweetly. Mai elbowed him hard in the ribs before bringing him in for another kiss.

"Are you guys going to be the new directors?" the boy Gene had slammed against the wall several days before asked. He watched Mai cautiously, though he looked to Gene in a mixture of fear and adoration.

Looking to Naru with her most effective puppy dog eyes, Naru groaned, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "Yes," he sighed. The boy, Gene and Mai all let out hoots of victory. Sighing, Naru smirked, pushing down his smile as the rest of the SPR team headed over to hear the news.

That's the end of our case! The next chapter will be the epilogue and the last chapter. It was so fun, and even though this story went in no direction that I thought it would, it was still fun to write. I'll see you for the last chapter. It'll be up soon. Thank you everyone who has read and reviewed my story, and who have dealt with my shit since the beginning. I love all of you.