Konichiwa, minna-san! Here is the last chapter of this fanfic. I hope you will like it cause I really found this the hardest chapter to write since it's the end? Ahaha, anyway, please enjoy!

Ehm... Enemotou-san? Did I disappoint you so much...? Yeah, I kinda understand it cause, really, the previous chapter was about nothing at all... I'm sorry, all readers!

Chapter 16: Free

Izayoi's P.O.V.

Empty... Everything seemed so empty. The sound of rustling grass, the dark starless sky, everything I perceived seemed so hollow. I felt like I was sinking into nothingness, forgetting everything. I somehow couldn't remember what I was doing here or even why. I didn't mind it though, it was somehow relieving.

"Izayoi-san?" I heard someone calling me. Black rabbit? What was she doing here? What did she want?

"Izayoi, get hold of yourself, please" Another one called. The voice belonged to Kasukabe. Get hold of myself? I was completely fine, calmed down and feeling great. Why shouldn't I?

"I'm completely fine though" I started laughing. I got a bit surprised by my laughter... was it really mine? Cause it sounded unfamiliar.

Smack

A slap landed on my cheek. It was a damn big slap, it hurt as hell. But... I stopped with that insane laugh. Actually, I stopped with all of this mad behaviour. I guess the pain pulled my mind back into body... unfortunately, it threw back also my memories and all answers for my earlier questions.

"Better?" Ojou asked gently. It kinda startled me since she just hit me that hard and now spoke with such a silent and considerate voice.

"Yeah, thanks" I chuckled, not out of amusement but a pure pain of remembering my position right now. "I'm really fine, don't worry" I smiled.

I hoped I just imagined how their face somehow got that hurt expression... I surely just imagined it, cause why would they make a face like that, right?

I lied down on a grass and turned away from them with a single 'Goodnight'. The last thing I needed now were worried eyes fixed at me.

Somehow, I managed to smile before. I was glad for being able to put an act even now, if I couldn't, I would just break down again and make them concerned. And I hated it when I made anyone worry.

So yes, I was fine. Completely and undoubtedly fine, cooled down and thinking rationally. I was... fine.

Then why are you crying, dumbass

I quietly chuckled at my pathetic self and closed eyes. It wasn't late, the sun went down just about twenty minutes ago, but I wanted to sleep. Maybe I was tired because of today's battle with dragon or maybe I just didn't want to think about anything anymore. Just waned to dive into sleep to be freed from this world... even just for a while would be enough.

But falling asleep was a little harder than I thought. I opened eyes and looked at my bandaged right arm. It was interesting... These kinds of wounds didn't hurt me at all but were clearly seen, whereas the wounds inside hurt as hell. Those could burn be from inside out but no one would know a thing. That was kinda wierd, wasn't it?

Well, not that I really wanted anyone to know about it, I despised being weak and pitied. But I was aware of the disadvantages of being strong. For example, not letting anyone see you act a little spoiled or scared, hurt. Not daring to call out for help or confess all sufferings. Not being asked if you are really okay while you are slowly dying inside.

My eyelids started getting heavier and heavier and I found myself falling into a deep sleep. The one that made me forget about pain and sink into that desired 'nothingness' that made all the pain and burden disappear. Even if it was temporarily, it was fine.

I was perfectly fine.

Sharp rays of sun forced my eyes to open and realize that the day has come. It was still a bit early, about six in the morning, I guess? But giving the situation and all those thoughts in my mind, I couldn't bring myself to return to sleep.

I sat up and looked at the three sleeping soundly on grass. Black rabbit was lying right behind me, Kasukabe and Ojou following her. Now I understood what that rabbit once said: when anyone sleep, they looked really cute even though they might be problem child, paranoid worrywart, sadistic commander or friends-obssessed animal girl...

I smiled, I was really glad they were also here, but somehow felt uncomfortable. Maybe because they were about to see my past? But that didn't matter anymore since they already knew about it. Yeah... and we were about to see the most piercing part of my life anyway.

I could never forget the day, even now recalling all I did that time was easy. It started like all others days, waking up, getting ready and then going to school while leaving Aiharu alone at home... defenseless! I was still so carefree, not knowing what will happen next. Just dully sitting on a seat and answering teachers questions. Just trying to withstand a day with stupid children in my class.

A strangely pained chuckle found its way out, making me cover my mouth. I was still grinning behind the hand and losing myself in the memories.

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I got hold of myself and turned back to see who woke up.

It was Ojou-sama, scanning me with her unescapable eyes. She kinda looked like she was thinking whether I was about to act like an idiot just like before or if I went insane with that creepy chuckle.

"Are you going to slap me again?" I smiled, trying to sound normally.

"Should I do so?" she asked, still not letting her eyes of me.

"You sure like hitting me, right? Like, you already did it twice" In a blink of eye, I saw her amused a little.

"Not really, it makes my hand hurt" she sat down next to me with.

"You are up quite early, aren't ya?" I asked, looking up to the azure blue sky with some fluffy clouds.

"You are one to talk," she sighed.

"Force of habit" I talked back.

"What kind of habit would make you get up this early?" the brunette sounded curious.

"I used to go to school, so waking early was necessary if I didn't want to go through hell" I laughed, remembering one day I refused to leave bed.

That time, it was the fourth day I started going to school, so I still wasn't used to it. Aiharu tried everything to make me go, from gently asking me to squirting water at my face. Aiharu then ended up crying and I was forced by myself to go despite hating that place filled with stupid monkeys...

"Interesting..." Ojou said, making me return to present. "I also had to get up early but it didn't become habit"

"Hm..." I absent-mindedly answered, still gazing at the clouds.

A silence befell on us, neither of us knew what to say now. Anyone in our situation would not know what to speak about.

I liked it this way more, I needed some peace and calm to prepare myself for today. I did not intend to show them my vulnerability again, even if I was about to see Aiharu die again. I was determined to remain that strong Izayoi at all cost.

"Will you be okay?" Ojou-sama asked out of blue, also looking up to the endless blueness. I chuckled.

"Of course" was the only thing that could be an answer.

"Good to hear that" she smiled a little reluctantly. "Well, I should wake Yo-san and Black rabbit"

"Yeah" I nodded and watched as she approached the two sleeping girls.

Third person's P.O.V.

A whole hour passed since the four trapped in past woke up. While waiting, not even knowing for what, Izayoi told them everything he could about this certain day.

"Today, my guardian Sakamaki Aiharu will die" he announced while staring at the ground. His friends knew very well that simply thinking about it was painful, not to mention telling them.

"When" Asuka boldly striked, not out of insensitiveness but to make talking to the blond teen easier.

"After I get home. About two o'clock" he answered. "Until then, I was at school and wandering in the city"

"Ehm... Since we already know what Izayoi-san was doing, what about observing Aiharu-san?" A small voice belonging to the blue-haired rabbit asked.

"I also suggest that" Yo joined.

"I-Is that alright? Izayoi-san" Black rabbit asked, uncertain and scared that the blond could lose it anytime.

"No problem, just do anything you want" he sighed. That monotone voice made his friends worry even more.

The three girls were helpless when it came to this topic. They didn't know how to comfort or encourage him. Even asking him if he was really okay, and they knew he wasn't, could hurt him more. So what should they say? Tell him not to worry about it and think about something else? To forget about his past? But how could he do so if he was going to go through that horror again? How could he forget about all of that? Was it even possible?

"In a while, I will leave to school" Izayoi suddenly said with his usual tone, completely denying any thoughts of him not being okay.

"We should hide since we don't want anyone to see us" Yo suggested.

Right after she said that, the four heard the sound of door being closed. They rushed to the closest bush and hid there. They were quite slow though.

"Something's off" Izayoi frowned and suddenly stood up and went toward his past self.

"Izayoi-san! What are you-" Black rabbit stunned when she saw the scene before her.

The little boy just went through Izayoi without noticing anything. It looked like he was a ghost...

"I get it now" the older blond declared and returned to surprised girls.

"How did you know...?" Asuka snapped out of shock first.

"Are you kidding me? Don't forget that it's me we are talking about. I would surely notice if someone was hiding in a bush" he sarcastically smiled. "Did you forget the first day in Little garden when this stupid rabbit was hiding herself?" he pointed a the blue-haired girl.

"That's true" Yo nodded. "So according to what we just saw..."

"It's impossible to anyone here see, hear or touch us" Black rabbit finished dazedly.

"Yeah, so no need to hide" the blond added and gestured them to go to the house.

The next four hours they watched as the brown-haired woman in her thirties did housework. They listened to her beautiful singing while ironing clothes, felt the warmth from her voice and watched her smile when she finished work.

Someone could say that it was pretty boring, but to those four, it was a dazzling sight. They have never seen someone give off so much love and happy spirit. It was like looking at a singing fairy while dancing. Dancing lightly like a very breeze.

When Miss Sakamaki finished her tasks, she started reading her book and that's when the four realized how much time has already passed.

Even though Izayoi was acting naturally, he could feel his whole body shivering. Everything inside him screamed to run and hide from this place, from Aiharu's face. But he couldn't, he was here to find out the truth, not to go to pieces.

"Whoa!" Black rabbit was went toward a table. "The photo..." she exhaled.

The picture she pointed at showed the woman together with small Izayoi on festival. Both of them were wearing yukata and the boy was holding a small sparkling firework while gently smiling.

"It's... beautiful" The other girls said, staring at the lovely photo.

The blond boy also was also looking at it but with different expression. He still remembered that day, it was his first summer festival with Aiharu. That day she made him go despite him refusing to. It was one of the best night, full of laugh and happiness. She even bought masks and played with him games like fishing the small and colorful animals and shooting prices. And lastly, looking at the shining fireworks in the dark sky.

"Izayoi?" Yo called the boy when she noticed the strange face he was making. "Are you al-"

"I'm fine, sorry" he shook his head to cast away those nostalgic memories.

The three girls started exploring the house and all pictures there. All of them were pictures of Izayoi when he was small, smiling and happy. It was such a rare sight for them, seeing their problem friend wear such an affable expression was like finding water in desert... They could never imagine him being like this.

While they were in middle of their research, the blond boy could no longer keep standing and decided to sit next to the woman reading her thick book.

Looking at her with teary eyes, he just whispered:

I miss you

And bend his head forward so that no one could see those drops trickling down from his eyes. How lucky he was that the girls were somewhere in the house, scanning everything in their view and not seeing him remember all those things that made him crave for Aiharu's love again...

Izayoi's P.O.V.

I woke up when someone shook my shoulder. Wait... woke up? When did I go sleep?

"Izayoi-san?" I opened eyes and found Black rabbit with that her worried face.

"What? Can't you let me sleep for a while?" I tried to sound annoyed.

"You have been sleeping a few hours already, Izayoi-kun" I saw Asuka standing behind the blue-haired girl.

"Hell, what?!" I snapped and violently stood up.

"But now that I think about it, nothing happened so we could have let you sleep a little longer" The brunette provocatively smiled. "I guess"

"Thanks for consideration" I sighed and started looking around.

"Where is Kasukabe?" I noticed one of us missing.

"She said she was going out for a little" the rabbit answered.

Go out? Why? Did she sense something? Or was she too bored to stay here? Anyway, it was impossible for her to get hurt since we were all like ghost, right?

"And Aiharu?" I continued on asking.

"She is taking a bath" The bluenette said while pointing in direction of bathroom.

I decided to go out too since the main character in this, as Serene said, show, was now taking bath. I couldn't stand being here again, so when I got a chance to get out of here, I would gladly do so.

It was cloudy, the sun was still shining but not as much as it should at this hour. I knew what the weather will be today. Rain. It will heavily rain just like the heavens were crying. Crying over her death.

I headed toward the forest where I used to go mushrooming. Walking through this old path made me feel calm and yet, it also awakened the wish to return to those days with my dear mom.

I knew this forest very well, I was always exploring it when feeling bored and even rested here. Climbing on trees and watching everything down there was one of the few ways for me to relax.

I lied down under a big tree that provided shadow and thought. What should I do? I was getting kinda bored, just sitting and waiting for the main event made me nervous and unsettled. I could do nothing else though...

Sight... my body was still shivering. I raised my hand and looked at it. It wasn't really noticable, the fear reflected on my body I mean, but as I said... for me, the less is a wound seen, the more it hurts. It really hurts.

I sucked in the air and shook my head. No more thinking about this, I went out to clear mind, not to get depressed even more.

"You sure you can be slacking here now?" I instinctively stood up and take a fighting position as I heard a voice. Recognizing the voice was easy, who else would talk to me now?

"Witch" I snapped while trying to curve my mouth to the usual provocative smile.

"Brat" she reciprocated with an amused tone.

"What do you want?" I straightened and looked up to the gray sky.

"Nothing really, just wanted to say that it's beginning" she chuckled.

"To hell with you" I retorted before running back.

Yo's P.O.V.

This place was similar to mine word but it was more... modern. But there was a complete difference between the people. Those in my world are more polite and kind. The ones here are wierd... they are so closed, unsocial and dark. I could not bring myself to trust them even if they acted as the best people in a whole universe. I just knew that they weren't good and nice, at least most of them not.

While observing residents of this town I found two suspicious looking men. They were much higher than me and looked pretty dangerous. Something inside me, maybe instinct, told me that those guys were about to do something bad so I followed them.

I didn't like it, they were having a disgusting conversation someone they hated. They called that someone 'jerk' and said that he should rot in hell where he came from. Those adults were horrible, even if some kid was rebellious and uncontrollable, it was still a kid! How could they say something like that?!

"That kid will regret being even born" one of them laughed madly. I hated it!

"Yeah, today, he will get what he deserves" the second one took out something from his pocket. A knife.

"Let's teach that monster a lesson, shall we?" they started with that horrible laughter.

Wait... monster? Knife? Today? It couldn't be... right? It couldn't, right?! I had to confirm!

I carried on spying them and got one hundred percent sure. They were talking about Izayoi.

I wanted to stop them, I wanted to kick a crap out of them! I had never felt this much hatred toward someone I just met... How could Izayoi live in this word? Full of those terrible men!

I didn't bother to listen anymore, I somehow ended up imagining how to shut their mouth. Strange, right? For me to even think about anything as violent as that...

Those pigs were walking by an unknown path but I knew their destination. I couldn't do anything though, following and watching was the only thing I was capable of right now. Every step I made was heavier and heavier as I was slowly realizing what was going to be next.

"Bastards" I whispered with a pained voice as I walked behind them. I just wished they would hear my opinion on them.

Two minutes, five, ten and we got to the place. To the house where Aiharu, Izayoi's step-mom was now all alone.

"Shall we go for that brat?" one of them joked... how could they joke about something like that?!

His partner nodded and kicked the doors of the house. I could see the beautiful brunette's shocked face as she realized what was happening. I found myself crying when I realized what was happening.

Izayoi's P.O.V.

Those bastards! These were them, I remembered those rotted faces of Aiharu's murders! I wanted to scream, cry, fight! I just needed to beat them up, I needed to show them what pain is! But I couldn't, I just could stand there and watch with Ojou and Black rabbit.

"Who are you?!" Aiharu shouted while being tied up and pinned to ground. "Let go of me, you-"

"Is he here?" the jerk sitting on defenceless woman called his buddy.

"He isn't" the second one answered as he got down from upstairs.

"Hey, you" that jerk asked Aiharu. "You are Sakamaki Aiharu, right?"

"What do you want from I-kun?!" she struggled.

"I-kun? That's the nickname for that monster?"

"He isn't a monster! You brutes are!" I was forced to look at her furious face and listen to those dolorous words.

"Why would someone like you want to get involved with a monster? I heard you just moved to this town when you adopted him, right? Did he threaten you? Did he do anything to you? You can tell us, we will get rid of him" the one who was standing said.

"I-kun would never fo something like that! Let him be!" she cried out. My heart was screaming at the sight. My whole word was being torn apart again!

"Hm? So you grew attached to him? To a monster?" the one who pinned her down by his own weight started pulling her hair. "Could you be a witch?" he laughed.

"A witch you say?" I hissed while being held by the two girl so that I wouldn't get furious. "You say you she is witch?! She?!" I screamed. I knew that they couldn't hear me but I still wanted to scream out all of my thoughts.

"How dare you hurt her?! Bastards! Aiharu is innocent and pure! How dare you call her witch?! How dare you judge her with that dirty mouth of yours?! Burn in hell, assholes!" I yelled, starting to lose sanity because of seeing my beloved mom being hurt and bad-mouthed.

"Let her go!" I cried out. "Let her... go" This time, I plead.

From here, I already knew what was about to happen. I witnessed this scene from here on four years ago after all.

My past self rushed in as he, or I, heard the desperate cry of Aiharu.

"Who the hell are you?!" he yelled while still trying to catch some oxygen into lungs.

"Ah, our target came" the second one got the smaller me onto ground and threatened.

"If you move an inch, your mommy will die" he pointed at woman in her tears.

"Don't worry about me, I-kun. Please, run!"

"Shut up, witch!"the pig on her shouted.

"What do you want?" the child asked helplessly.

"We want to get rid of you dirty people" the one on me laughed. "Monster and Witch have nothing to do in this world"

"I-kun, ru-" Again, she was shut down by the one on her by hitting her head by a floor.

"Aiharu!" I cried out but felt something sharp and cold under my neck.

"Goodnight, monster" I heard as I realized what he wanted to do. He really wanted to kill me.

Suddenly, Aiharu broke out of the man and bumped at the one who started cutting my skin on neck with her own body.

"This bitch!" the first one stood up and started beating her.

She was adamant, not letting the enemy go and screaming at me to get away. I couldn't leave her there though and froze. I froze as I saw her biting the one with weapon. I almost lost my mind as I heard the sound of a bone being broken.

"Die, witch!" the last blow was sent to Aiharu's head and the dark red liquid was now trickling on a floor.

I heard myself screaming her name over and over, just to see her pale face with so many tears on it. A faint 'run' escaped her mouth.

"You see what you did? It's your fault that she is dead. If you weren't born, she could have lived a normal and happy life. You are the cause of misfortune! You killed her!" They declared and my past self started breaking down.

"You know? Right now, she has to hate you so much! Yeah, she has to despise you so much for ruining her life, brat!"

The kid who was now dazedly listening to their's words and looking at the dying Aiharu was no longer me. This was where the twelve years-old boy stood up and turned into a real monster.

We watched as the broken one approached his enemies and showed his real power. The power to torture people as much as he wanted and then kill them. That was also what he did.

With no light in his eyes, the boy returned to the woman covered in blood and whispered: "Do you... hate me?"

I remembered this. I was desperate back then and all of those words the two bastards told me about this being my fault got stuck in my head. But now... instead of her 'I hate you' that recalled her saying before dying turned into something else.

"I love you"

And I lost it. All my determination to stay strong was gone. I could no longer stand all of this, it was impossible.

Unable to stand, I collapsed on a ground with a pained cry.

Black rabbit's P.O.V.

"Are you feeling better?" I asked, looking at the teen lying on bed.

"Yeah" he whispered while looking at a wall.

A silence befell on us. The 'price for win' was finished and we finally got to return to the mansion. But right after that, Izayoi-san shut himself in his room for a whole day.

"Hey" he suddenly called. "Do you think that... she forgave me?"

I smiled and gently brushed his silky blond hair. "There is nothing for her to forgive" I answered. "I'm sure that she was happiest only with you. It's not your fault she passed out, she sacrificed herself just for her beloved child. For sure, she regret's nothing"

He stayed quiet.

"Aiharu-san was... a great person" I added.

"Yeah, she was" I saw a small smile on his lips and finally got assured. My friend is finally freed from that horrible past.

So, this is it! The end! I'm really happy that you guys were really reading this! So, so sooooo haaapppyyy! Gyah, I suck at writing these kinds of notes, I mean ending words... or whatever. I just want to say that I really love you all for reading this fanfiction, encouraging me and giving me a chance to prove myself. I really, really, truly THANK YOU!

I think that I will start a new fanfiction, but I guess it will take a while to publish it so... Be patient, please? Anyway, I love you all! Sayonara, minna!