p class="MsoNormal"strongspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Chapter 12: "So long, town."/span/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito calmly followed behind Saya and watched her stiffen in shock as she watched Tadayoshi crush Kanako in his arms. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""What have you done to him?" she asked quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I gave him your blood. That's all." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You… did this on purpose!" Saya snarled as she clenched her fists. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito looked on as Tadayoshi began to move towards Saya. "Tadayoshi is half Ancient One, half human," he explained as he watched her dodge his attack. "And you… you are emclosely related/em to the Ancient Ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya leaped backward to grab one of the swords on display. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Perhaps the blind affection you had for him derived from that kinship," he continued while backing away to give the two space to fight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With the katana still in its sheath, Saya could only block Tadayoshi's powerful blow. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"He's controlling you with my blood! Wake up!" she cried out. "Wake up!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Unfortunately, in her attempt to get through to him, she allowed him an opening. Tadayoshi's knee hit her square on the gut and threw her across the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Itsuki stopped behind Fumito. "Sir? Are you sure this is okay?" he whispered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Don't worry," Fumito muttered as he watched Tadayoshi tower over Saya, who lay sprawled on the floor, still reeling from the force of Tadayoshi's blow. "As a human, you'd never stand a chance against her… isn't that right, Tadayoshi?" he said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi's darkened eyes locked onto Fumito's for a brief moment before he transformed into his Ancient form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The only thing Saya could do, as she watched Tadayoshi shed his human form was utter the name she had always called him during the project. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Father," she said weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi didn't hear it – he was gone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The monster before Saya immediately sprang into action, bombarding her with a flurry of attacks that Saya clearly had trouble keeping up with. Fumito watched on with mounting displeasure, as Tadayoshi managed to cut Saya across her thighs and land hit after hit. It was almost as if she didn't want to fight him. emCome on, Saya,/em he thought. The room reverberated with the force of Saya's body slamming against the wall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With one hand wrapped around Saya's delicate neck and the other poised to strike with the katana, Fumito could only grit his teeth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Tadayoshi," he said sternly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya writhed in agony as she struggled for air in Tadayoshi's grip. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fa..." Saya managed to wheeze, "ther…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Tadayoshi." Fumito repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fa…ther."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi didn't move. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"But it seemed to Fumito that the monster had loosened his grip ever so slightly, as Saya swiftly struck him with her katana. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Blood spewed out from Tadayoshi's severed upper arm, like an angry, bloody waterfall. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya struggled to catch her breath as she landed on the floor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito watched her face crease into a mixed expression of worry and remorse. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With tears welling up in her eyes, Saya kneeled beside the fallen monster. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Father!" she cried out, as the monster reverted back to its human form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Bruised and bleeding, Tadayoshi stared blankly at the ceiling then spoke. "Did you… find that which lies… beyond the light?" he asked her weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya bowed her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""It was the first time… I'd ever met anyone like me," he continued. "I wanted to be close… to someone. That's why…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito turned around and walked away. There was no point for him to stay. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"So long, my old friend, /span/emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"he thought style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He knew that the moment Tadayoshi dies, Saya would hunt him down. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She would want answers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She would want revenge./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He hated to disappoint her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He would gladly give whatever she wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"But he couldn't do it now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"There was still so much to do… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The Range Rover was idling at the bottom of the temple stairs. Akane was inside, unaware of the chaos and bloodshed. Hidden away from her mother. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Sir…" Itsuki murmured as the sound of Saya rushing toward them grew louder. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fumito!" Saya bellowed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He smiled and turned to face her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You want to kill me, don't you, Saya?" he said softly as he reached for the talisman in his pocket. Her eyes were blazing, beautiful. It gave him such immense pleasure to gaze at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe was beautiful when she was furious. He loved it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""But I'm afraid that time hasn't come." Fumito showed Saya the mirror talisman before letting it slip from his hand and shatter on the ground. As the Ancient One burst out of the talisman, Fumito slipped inside the waiting car. Yuuka was sitting next to Akane, who was peacefully asleep in her car seat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The Rover pulled away from the site, just as the symphony of gunfire and monstrous roars began. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito smiled at the sleeping child beside him then leaned on the window to get a better look at Akane. "You're the only one who survived," he commented lightly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuuka looked ahead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""So, you want to be Mayor of Tokyo?" Fumito inquired. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She faced him. "That's right. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here playing some ridiculous teenage role."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Oh, don't sugarcoat it!" he teased as the car zipped past the chaos./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I just tell it like it is," she responded curtly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He scoffed and looked out the window as the car drove along the bay. The moonlight made the dark water seem as though it was simply a sea of black diamonds. It was beautiful despite the cacophony of terrified screams and gunfire. Fumito stole a glance at Akane, who remained undisturbed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""How was this summer for you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuuka shrugged. "Fine. Once they're over, you forget them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The rabbit-like Ancient Ones had infested the town when they arrived. Fumito looked out the window to see giant, snowy white paws with sharp stony talons a few feet away from the Rover. He let out a quiet sigh and whispered, "So long, town." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Will you save them, Saya?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Or will you come straight for me?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"What will you do, my dear?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The air was filled with the screams of his players, like a cacophony of birds in a cage being attacked by a predator. There was no escape for any of the people he had brought to Ukishima. Nobody would miss them either, anyway. In fact, this act could be seen as an act of mercy and goodwill. He was ridding the world of parasites who would never really reform when they return to society – they would have just consumed more of the world's resources without contributing much. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito unbuckled Akane from the booster and lifted her out. She let out a thrilled squeak. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You like this sound, darling?" he asked quietly as he gazed upon Akane's sparkling eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuka walked closely behind him as they made their way through the school building. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito couldn't help but smile a little as he turned to his subordinate. The only living member of his main cast. "You've made plenty of memories here, haven't you?" he quipped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Her face betrayed no emotion as they strode forward. "Nothing too memorable," she said curtly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I see," Fumito said quietly as they reached the final stairwell leading up to the rooftop. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He loved watching Saya at school. Seeing her smile, laugh, and get into ridiculous situations with the cast was always a treat that made his heart swell with joy. This version of Saya was now nothing but a distant memory – she was back… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Well, she's starting to, anyway…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito gave Akane a little squeeze as the henchmen flung the doors to the rooftop open. A gust of cold air that carried the distinct, rusty scent of blood blew onto Fumito and the child./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I wish we had more time to let your Mother play, darling. But the plan's changed so suddenly," he whispered before planting a quick kiss on the infant's forehead. "I think you'll get to see her before we leave…" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"It was true. Fumito didn't want the experiment to end so fast. He would have allowed it to go on as long as she wanted. But those greedy, self-centered brats had to ruin everything, he thought bitterly. This whole thing was never for or about them, so what right did they have, changing the trajectory of things? He was right to deny them a second chance at life. Tokizane, those flamingos, that whore… none of them deserved to get what they wanted from him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""The helicopter's ready to take off sir!" the henchman told him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He merely nodded and climbed onboard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Akane was unfazed by the roar of the helicopter's rotors. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I guess the ones I've let lose are too much for her," Fumito sighed as they slammed the helicopter door shut and the pilot began to prepare to take off. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito looked out the window with a glum expression. emI thought I'd see you one last time… /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Then, there she was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"A bloody, furious vision with her katana drawn. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You're here," he said as he placed Akane on Yuka's lap and swung the helicopter door open. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fumito!" Saya roared as she jumped towards the helicopter with her katana ready to slice him in half. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"His clothes fluttered as he stood still, with his gun drawn at his side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"I'm sorry darling/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';", he thought as he lifted the gun and squeezed the trigger in one fluid moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Her blood exploded in front her as the other widened as she registered what had just happened. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Saya," he said quietly. "You don't eat humans. But only because you've been brainwashed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya's undamaged eye stayed trained on him even as she began falling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Do you know what guimauve really feels like?" he asked. "It feels like human entrails."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He didn't know if she heard the last part. Part of him wanted her to, another wished she didn't. She fell into the lake with a huge splash. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I hope one day you'll break free and taste the real thing, Saya." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito tried to keep his eyes on her, even though she had disappeared into the dark lake. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Find me, darling," he said quietly before settling back into his seat and closing the helicopter door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito calmly followed behind Saya and watched her stiffen in shock as she watched Tadayoshi crush Kanako in his arms. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""What have you done to him?" she asked quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I gave him your blood. That's all." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You… did this on purpose!" Saya snarled as she clenched her fists. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito looked on as Tadayoshi began to move towards Saya. "Tadayoshi is half Ancient One, half human," he explained as he watched her dodge his attack. "And you… you are emclosely related/em to the Ancient Ones."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya leaped backward to grab one of the swords on display. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Perhaps the blind affection you had for him derived from that kinship," he continued while backing away to give the two space to fight. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With the katana still in its sheath, Saya could only block Tadayoshi's powerful blow. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"He's controlling you with my blood! Wake up!" she cried out. "Wake up!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Unfortunately, in her attempt to get through to him, she allowed him an opening. Tadayoshi's knee hit her square on the gut and threw her across the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Itsuki stopped behind Fumito. "Sir? Are you sure this is okay?" he whispered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Don't worry," Fumito muttered as he watched Tadayoshi tower over Saya, who lay sprawled on the floor, still reeling from the force of Tadayoshi's blow. "As a human, you'd never stand a chance against her… isn't that right, Tadayoshi?" he said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi's darkened eyes locked onto Fumito's for a brief moment before he transformed into his Ancient form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The only thing Saya could do, as she watched Tadayoshi shed his human form was utter the name she had always called him during the project. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Father," she said weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi didn't hear it – he was gone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The monster before Saya immediately sprang into action, bombarding her with a flurry of attacks that Saya clearly had trouble keeping up with. Fumito watched on with mounting displeasure, as Tadayoshi managed to cut Saya across her thighs and land hit after hit. It was almost as if she didn't want to fight him. emCome on, Saya,/em he thought. The room reverberated with the force of Saya's body slamming against the wall./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With one hand wrapped around Saya's delicate neck and the other poised to strike with the katana, Fumito could only grit his teeth. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Tadayoshi," he said sternly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya writhed in agony as she struggled for air in Tadayoshi's grip. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fa..." Saya managed to wheeze, "ther…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Tadayoshi." Fumito repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fa…ther."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Tadayoshi didn't move. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"But it seemed to Fumito that the monster had loosened his grip ever so slightly, as Saya swiftly struck him with her katana. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Blood spewed out from Tadayoshi's severed upper arm, like an angry, bloody waterfall. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya struggled to catch her breath as she landed on the floor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito watched her face crease into a mixed expression of worry and remorse. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"With tears welling up in her eyes, Saya kneeled beside the fallen monster. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Father!" she cried out, as the monster reverted back to its human form./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Bruised and bleeding, Tadayoshi stared blankly at the ceiling then spoke. "Did you… find that which lies… beyond the light?" he asked her weakly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya bowed her head. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""It was the first time… I'd ever met anyone like me," he continued. "I wanted to be close… to someone. That's why…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito turned around and walked away. There was no point for him to stay. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"So long, my old friend, /span/emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"he thought style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He knew that the moment Tadayoshi dies, Saya would hunt him down. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She would want answers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She would want revenge./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He hated to disappoint her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He would gladly give whatever she wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"But he couldn't do it now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"There was still so much to do… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The Range Rover was idling at the bottom of the temple stairs. Akane was inside, unaware of the chaos and bloodshed. Hidden away from her mother. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Sir…" Itsuki murmured as the sound of Saya rushing toward them grew louder. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fumito!" Saya bellowed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He smiled and turned to face her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You want to kill me, don't you, Saya?" he said softly as he reached for the talisman in his pocket. Her eyes were blazing, beautiful. It gave him such immense pleasure to gaze at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe was beautiful when she was furious. He loved it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""But I'm afraid that time hasn't come." Fumito showed Saya the mirror talisman before letting it slip from his hand and shatter on the ground. As the Ancient One burst out of the talisman, Fumito slipped inside the waiting car. Yuuka was sitting next to Akane, who was peacefully asleep in her car seat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The Rover pulled away from the site, just as the symphony of gunfire and monstrous roars began. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito smiled at the sleeping child beside him then leaned on the window to get a better look at Akane. "You're the only one who survived," he commented lightly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuuka looked ahead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""So, you want to be Mayor of Tokyo?" Fumito inquired. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"She faced him. "That's right. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here playing some ridiculous teenage role."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Oh, don't sugarcoat it!" he teased as the car zipped past the chaos./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I just tell it like it is," she responded curtly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He scoffed and looked out the window as the car drove along the bay. The moonlight made the dark water seem as though it was simply a sea of black diamonds. It was beautiful despite the cacophony of terrified screams and gunfire. Fumito stole a glance at Akane, who remained undisturbed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""How was this summer for you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuuka shrugged. "Fine. Once they're over, you forget them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The rabbit-like Ancient Ones had infested the town when they arrived. Fumito looked out the window to see giant, snowy white paws with sharp stony talons a few feet away from the Rover. He let out a quiet sigh and whispered, "So long, town." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Will you save them, Saya?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Or will you come straight for me?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"What will you do, my dear?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"The air was filled with the screams of his players, like a cacophony of birds in a cage being attacked by a predator. There was no escape for any of the people he had brought to Ukishima. Nobody would miss them either, anyway. In fact, this act could be seen as an act of mercy and goodwill. He was ridding the world of parasites who would never really reform when they return to society – they would have just consumed more of the world's resources without contributing much. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito unbuckled Akane from the booster and lifted her out. She let out a thrilled squeak. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You like this sound, darling?" he asked quietly as he gazed upon Akane's sparkling eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Yuka walked closely behind him as they made their way through the school building. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito couldn't help but smile a little as he turned to his subordinate. The only living member of his main cast. "You've made plenty of memories here, haven't you?" he quipped./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Her face betrayed no emotion as they strode forward. "Nothing too memorable," she said curtly. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I see," Fumito said quietly as they reached the final stairwell leading up to the rooftop. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He loved watching Saya at school. Seeing her smile, laugh, and get into ridiculous situations with the cast was always a treat that made his heart swell with joy. This version of Saya was now nothing but a distant memory – she was back… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Well, she's starting to, anyway…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito gave Akane a little squeeze as the henchmen flung the doors to the rooftop open. A gust of cold air that carried the distinct, rusty scent of blood blew onto Fumito and the child./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I wish we had more time to let your Mother play, darling. But the plan's changed so suddenly," he whispered before planting a quick kiss on the infant's forehead. "I think you'll get to see her before we leave…" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"It was true. Fumito didn't want the experiment to end so fast. He would have allowed it to go on as long as she wanted. But those greedy, self-centered brats had to ruin everything, he thought bitterly. This whole thing was never for or about them, so what right did they have, changing the trajectory of things? He was right to deny them a second chance at life. Tokizane, those flamingos, that whore… none of them deserved to get what they wanted from him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""The helicopter's ready to take off sir!" the henchman told him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He merely nodded and climbed onboard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Akane was unfazed by the roar of the helicopter's rotors. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I guess the ones I've let lose are too much for her," Fumito sighed as they slammed the helicopter door shut and the pilot began to prepare to take off. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito looked out the window with a glum expression. emI thought I'd see you one last time… /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Then, there she was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"A bloody, furious vision with her katana drawn. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""You're here," he said as he placed Akane on Yuka's lap and swung the helicopter door open. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Fumito!" Saya roared as she jumped towards the helicopter with her katana ready to slice him in half. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"His clothes fluttered as he stood still, with his gun drawn at his side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"I'm sorry darling/span/emspan style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';", he thought as he lifted the gun and squeezed the trigger in one fluid moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Her blood exploded in front her as the other widened as she registered what had just happened. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Saya," he said quietly. "You don't eat humans. But only because you've been brainwashed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Saya's undamaged eye stayed trained on him even as she began falling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Do you know what guimauve really feels like?" he asked. "It feels like human entrails."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"He didn't know if she heard the last part. Part of him wanted her to, another wished she didn't. She fell into the lake with a huge splash. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""I hope one day you'll break free and taste the real thing, Saya." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';"Fumito tried to keep his eyes on her, even though she had disappeared into the dark lake. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Sabon Next LT';""Find me, darling," he said quietly before settling back into his seat and closing the helicopter door./span/p