There was no avoiding this...
Like my prophecy foretold, I am to protect them...
Protect them even if it means death.
At this current moment, I wasn't thinking about the fight I knew I was going to be victorious in...
I couldn't take it anymore, I had to let them all out... I had to...they've been shut in a glass bottle with a corkscrew...
I let a beaming smile slip on my lips and closed my eyes as tears just kept repeating themselves...
"It was fun...knowing what it felt like to have friends, biological and un-biological family, be surrounded by people who care about you, saving, protecting..loving..."
Two other beams of light and energy engulfed me with the other five.
I laughed softly...
"Humans...such intriguing beings..."
-Estelle's P.O.V-
Suddenly...I felt empty.
Despite it being emptiness, this feeling...it is worse than my thirst for blood...
Why was I...feeling this way?
"What's that?" Karr questioned as the large beam of light grew...
It looked like it would explode at any moment, but...it didn't. The brightness just calmed down...until...
...there was no more.
"Elle...you..felt that...right...?" Ryota asked, voice breaking, and I could see a tear slip from his right eye...
He kept staring at the now no-longer cloudy night sky where the light was..and the sun began to peak over the horizon...
While I dropped to my knees, holding in sobs that only came out as—what sounded like—chokes...
This...this was the only thing that could...that could make fall...
-Urd's P.O.V-
I stared at her crumbling state in disbelief...
She, who I thought nothing could bring her down, laid on the debris, crying, sobbing, like a human child that didn't get its way.
I can't say the same for her human companion. He kneeled on the ground, his weapon keeping him up by the hilt, trembling.
"Well..I thought I'd never see the day the previous Queen, laying on the ground, sobbing like a whiney baby," Karr mocked.
I expected her to get angry...but she just stayed there, constantly repeating her actions.
"Hey! What's wrong?!" an approaching voice yelled to which I looked over my right shoulder.
It was a human boy, followed by Bathory and Crowley...?
He became cautious when he saw me and Karr, but got a reassuring pat on the shoulder from Crowley.
He proceeded towards Estelle to which I was about to take a step forward, but Bathory blocked my way.
"He's not a danger..not anymore at least," he spoke..surprisingly, with no smug expression.
"Hey, Sayomi..what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hur—!" The human boy narrowed his eyes at her still weeping and trembling body. "Who are you?"
Suddenly, she stopped...then she lifted her left hand, pointing towards the beam of light that was slowly fading..
"I-I'm af-raid...Yuichiro...I'm..scared..." she uttered.
Afraid? Scared? Estelle? These words she speaks..they're foreign to me...
"What are you talking about, lady?" he asked her crudely.
"That's enough questioning, Yu," Bathory intervened.
The boy stood up abruptly as if realizing something, then gave a few sniffs of the air...
"That scent...it's peaches...just like...!"
Suddenly, he took off sprinting in the direction of where..the scent of peaches began to spread around the area...
I took a few steps towards the fallen Queen who fell down and lost her crown.
"...get up."
She didn't budge...
"I said-"
"Why?"
That befuddled me for a few seconds...but I came up with an answer.
"This is your chance to take the throne from Krul, and rule Sanguinem, as well as our whole race for the better of the future."
"...you..you're one selfish bastard.." she responded coldly, surprising me a little. "As to be expected from an unfeeling, unliving immortal... You talk of the future..yet I don't know if my heart can take being in the present."
"What is the problem?"
She glanced at me with dilated pupils, "My daughter just died...and you don't care, do you?"
I remained quiet for a few seconds before deciding to respond.
"I do-"
"Don't even tell me, Urd," she cut me off, moving her eyes to the human kneeling not far beside her. "..You'd never...understand...various types of love and care humans can give."
"Love and care? It's fickle, deceitful, liars."
"There's so..so, so, so...much more than that. Either we've forgotten completely what our previous lives used to be like or vampires just refuse to let them, those things called feelings and emotions, inside. Why progress in this deteriorating empire...when we can't even have a stable relationship with humans?"
-Yuichiro's P.O.V-
"Sayomi!" I yelled again.
The sun was rising...
I saw something gleaming in the sunlight so I ran towards it...only to find out it's Sayomi's katana.
Skidding on the ground on my knees, I gently brushed my hand against the less sharp side of the blade.
My eyes started to water...
"Come on, Sayomi..you're joking! You're immortal, remember? You're the Angel of Salvation, remember? You're My Seraph!"
Tears slid down my cheeks as I bit my lip...
I wrapped my hands around the hilt, letting my head hang low, "God, please..if there is really a God..bring her back to me... I didn't say it to her..I didn't say "I love you" to her.."
I ignored the multiple footsteps approaching behind me...
"I'm so sorry..I'm so sorry...I should've listened to you," I said while sobbing as I rocked back and forth slowly.
"Yu...?"
I stopped, then looked back over my right shoulder slightly to see Mika.
I didn't say anything to him... What could I say to him in this state?
Mika went around her katana..then dropped to his knees; he shakily reaches out to the blade...
"..Sayo-mi..,?" his voice broke. Mika looked at me, "She's...just asleep, r-right...?"
I tried to make a smile, but the tears made it impossible so I looked down to hide my grimace..but my sobs and tears, not so much...
Hearing a high pitched raspy scream mixed with sadness, I looked back up to see the Estelle woman trying to push away from Ferid.
"LET ME GO, FERID! LET ME GO, DAMN IT!"
She broke away from his hold, then she ran over while stumbling.
She put her hands to her lips, "I...I didn't...mean to... I di-d this..if it weren't for m-me telling her t-to go to Hyakuya Orphan-age..if it we-ren't for me having h-her..i-if I didn't m-meet Ryota...i-if i-it weren't fo-*sobs*—f-for..me n-not dying in Spain th-that ni-ight.."
Before she could fall on her knees, a man I spotted earlier next to her earlier caught her and moved her away from the katana...
"Estelle, don't blame yourself, baby.."
'So..they're Sayomi's..parents...'
"Ryota!" she shouted in sadness as she hugged him tightly. "I-In th-the time of y-your absence..I messed u—*sob*"
"Miss.. Sayo—*choke*...-oko. I'm..sorry," Mika spoke as best as he could without breaking down..
For a moment, she stopped sobbing, but not tearing up...
"It's not your fault, Mika," she said in a high pitched tone, trying not to break down again either. "I-It's mine-"
"Elle, look at me, look at me," the man said repeatedly until she did so. "It's not your fault."
She pushed away from him, holding a vicious look. "Then, who's is it?! Huh, Ryota?! Tell me who I should kill to make me feel b-"
He pulled her back into her arms, "Calm down..."
She kept protesting and pushing until she broke down again.
The man known as Ryota glanced to me, letting a tear slip out of his left eye.
"Yu, right?"
I flinched, "Y-yeah," I said and sniffed.
"..I-...thank you..for..protecting our daughter..as much as you could..."
"..damn it... Damn it, damn it, damn it! DAMN IT! IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!" Mika yelled to himself.
A hand was put on his left forearm. I looked down from the ground to see it was the Vampire Queen, Krul Tepes.
"Mikaela, stop this nonsense. There is no bringing her back," she told him.
He shoved her hand off her and glared, "Don't touch me!"
"You're acting like a child. I-"
"So what?! You don't know how long I've been waiting for this whole damned situation to end for her sake! When she escaped Sanguinem, despite still believing in her being happy for once, I knew she was going to keep fighting! Physically! Mentally! I didn't want that for her! She's been fighting for too long...and look where it got her..." he sobbed the last part out.
I didn't realize the tears in my eyes started back up and multiple drops slid down my cheeks.
Leaning forward, I stood up.
"Yu..." I heard a familiar voice behind me.
Turning around, I saw Shinoa leaning on Yoichi for support. She looked awful: bloodied, soiled, ripped clothes.
She stared at me with concern, then her gaze landed on the ground behind me.
She looked down, "...Yu..I-I-"
"No need," I stopped her. "I think I understand..."
Looking to my left, I saw the fallen buildings, debris, and little fires either perishing or spreading.
I ran in that direction, having a want to just run and not think...
-Mika's P.O.V-
My gaze moved back to Sayomi's katana after seeing Yu run off...
As I stood up, I slid my hand up the blade to the angelic white hilt...
"Soldiers, stand down," the General spoke.
Looking ahead, I saw that he has J.I.D.A soldiers surround us and is approaching me.
He scrutinized the katana... "Are you sure she's not alive?"
I could only nod.
He raised his hand to touch the hilt. Before I could step away, a hand slapped his away.
Miss Sayo-..Estelle stepped in front of me.
-Estelle's P.O.V-
"This is the last piece of my daughter I have! Don't touch it, human! ...Humans..you're all monsters, the true demons!"
"Aunt Est-"
She looked back, "No, Krul! No! Just..no. They need to hear this." She looked at the General. "All of you..corrupted. I don't give a damn how much you try to make up your mistakes and sins, you're more..scary than vampires..even than demons. Hell, God Himself and His capabilities! I thought we could coexist..but I've been thinking wrong for all these years. And look where it got my only daughter! I'll never get her back!" She looked at Shinoa, "And you! You did this because you weren't strong enough to hold back Shigama! Speaking of strength...MAHIRU! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU! SHOW YOURSELF! YOU BROKE OUR PROMISE, B;+C#!"
"Estelle!" Ryota yelled and grabbed me by my arms, pulling me back.
A hum echoed. My eyes moved to Guren, who seemed very alarmed. Hands slid onto his shoulders, and Mahiru's head poked out from behind him.
"I didn't break anything, Estelle. But you seem to be," she said, then approached my daughter's katana.
Mika took a step back from her. "No need to be afraid, Mika." She looked down at my little girl's precious toy, "So..the Savior has fallen... Didn't I tell you 7 years ago, Sayomi? We're the same."
"Get away!" I yelled at her.
Mahiru glanced up at me, "Don't take this the wrong way, Estelle, but...did you not know Sayomi intended to die?"
I decided to remain quiet as I glared her, and she changed her cunning, grinning face to seriousness.
"Of course you knew she intended to die. When she decided that choice, she knew her sacrifice would create an ultimate powerful light that helps and heals any unfortunate situation since she was born. It's how your beloved Ryota came back."
I pushed away from Ryota and turned around to look at him, "..You knew?"
"I didn't..." he said in a bewildered tone.
"Sayo knew the First Progenitor, Rigr, and herself were so powerful that if one of them were to live on, the world would be held down by their power. Stay in that state for a long period of time, and all reason would had left Sayomi..well, what was left of it, except for-"
-Yu's P.O.V-
"Me and Mika are the only ones she could think about," I said aloud to make my presence known.
"That's right, Yu," the older-looking?..Shinoa confirmed.
I went silent after that, staring at the katana gleaming in the morning sun.
'I didn't even..get to say goodbye,' I thought before falling to my knees and on my hands. I looked back up to Mahiru, who held a saddened smile.
"She intended for this to happen for all of us. I would've never been free from that demon if it weren't for her. In Sayomi's soul, she felt and held on to a piece of emotion we, who she felt close or similar to, have. Those emotions combined with what her demon put into her head would've caused another bad end of this world. The only two she'd spare are Yu, the one who kept her going, and Mika, the one who made her feel human for the first time."
"So..what you're saying is...Sayomi took on my burdens with me, each time Ryota and I reminisced about our past..?" her mom asked.
She nodded, "Yes."
Her expression...turned neutral..or cold?, it was hard to read. Wait...Sayo's eyes were that same kind of blank when she came to orphanage...so..she's bottling up her emotions to make it seem like she's, not over it, but...for no one to question her...?'
She turned to Mika, approaching him, grabbing her sword at her waist. I got up on my feet, watching closely to see what she would do...and ready to move forward if she tried anything...
The Vampire Queen stepped in front of Mika, glaring at her harshly. "Stop and think about what you're doing before I rip your arm off, Estelle."
"Elle!" Ryota yelled, walking quickly towards her.
"Miss Estelle!" Mika shouted, taking a step back.
She proceeded to withdraw her sword, pointing it towards Himezuru-sa. It began to glow a light pink color...? and her sword, bright ruby red; engraved silver vines..sucking up blood from Himezuru-sa?!
"Sword, drink my blood," she spoke in a dark tone.
When..every drop of blood floated out of Himezuru-sa into Estelle's, the Curse flame-like symbols spread on her cheeks.
She opened her eyes after seeming to be in pain by gritting her teeth and slightly trembling. She looked at Mika with that same blank expression...
"Keep it. I have no more use for it." She looked down at Krul, "Ashera..should be reincarnated some time soon, he'll have his memories. When he is, I leave it in his and your hands to lead our kind for a while. Do not do anything rash, and especially not to, with, for, the humans by any means."
Turning her back on them, I quickly pat my left side to only feel that Asuramaru wasn't on my belt. 'What the hell...?!'
"Ryota..." she mumbled, stopping in front of Kitsu, where Carmen mounted off of. She looked back, "Let's go home," was the last thing she said before swinging herself onto Kitsu and her taking off into the sky.
-Yu's P.O.V-
He looked up at the sky with a distraught look, "...It's not worth it, honey..not again."
With no more time to spare, Ryota transformed into that big scary python, slithering quickly the way Estelle went.
"...that just happened?" Ferid asked aloud.
"It sure as hell did," Crowley answered.
"I don't blame her for how she feels. If it were my little sister," Kimizuki spoke, looking down at the unconscious girl in his arms, "..I would be more mad as hell than sad, too."
"Krul..." Mika mumbled.
She looked behind her, "I'm fine. Give me that katana, Mi-"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes, "That is an order."
"...I take orders from no one now," he said bitterly, pulling off his cloak, dropping his sword on the ground, and turning his back on her.
"Oo?" Ferid made a sound of interest.
"Mikaela!" she shouted, swiping her arm forward, creating a gust of wind and debris to fly up from the ground.
"Shinoa! Wait!" Yoichi shouted.
Shinoa suddenly lunged herself towards Mika, using her scythe to cover him.
"STOP IT ALREADY!" she yelled. "Everyone feels horrible, right? Some kind of sadness? Guilt? Regret? If so, why do we continue to fight each other, betray each other, get angry at each other, kill each other?! Has no one took the time to say to anyone "We started off on the wrong foot, let's try again."? No one, right? *Chuckle* ..I'm going to be selfish, do you know how I feel about Sayomi's death? She was not just my comrade, but my friend!" Her tears began to fall from her eyes... "Other than Sayo's Mom and Dad, I feel the worst here. One of the reasons she died was because of me not being strong enough, her Mom is right, I'm not strong―*chuckle*―simply because I'm the younger sister of the founder of Cursed Gear! Sayomi could've taken me with her, but she didn't...she even could've saved her own life with the 45% chance she had...but no. She decided, she said to me, "I think".."I think it's time I go now, and you be happy."
Shinoa lost it, falling to her knees, leaning onto her scythe that's dug into the ground, and sobbing.
I stood up, taking of my jacket, leaving me in my white dress shirt. I walked over to Shinoa, draping it around her shoulders.
She kept sobbing and crying, either refusing to speak anymore or unable to do so due to the overwhelming emotions...
Turning away from her, I walked towards Mika. probably with a dejected tired smile, then passed by him, but he caught up with me.
"Where are we going...?" he asked.
"Somewhere, I don't know. You wanted to run away with me, right? Anywhere's fine as we have a place to store Himezuru-sa."
Mika stared at me for a while in thought, then looked down Himezuru-sa, sunlight grazing the blade.
"Let's go back..back to the place where it all began...for us, I mean."
(The War Is Over. I didn't want to end it in fighting and more twisted knowledge because honestly, aren't we all done with the mysteries and clues at this point? Yeah? Yeah. I'm pretty sure Yu and Mika are tired, too. Anyway, I didn't do a poll on what I asked last author's note because I don't feel like it and no one's contacted me through the reviews or my DM about Sayomi staying alive or living forever in memory. So..I thought about it myself and have decided what I'm going to do. The end of this story is near...*sigh* finally.)