Author's Note:

[[WARNING - A part of this chapter may not be screen-reader friendly. I just want to make sure everyone's aware. Likewise, other readers are advised to read this in desktop mode. I'm not sure how the formatting will come out, otherwise.]]

Another long wait. I hope everyone's doing well! Things are pretty tense these days, so I hope that this story can serve as a nice place to rest. Also, special thanks to my partner, Mara, for helping with this particular chapter and offering super helpful criticism!

Without further ado, let's get to it!

~ STAGE 25: "Not Supposed To Be Here" ~

[START]

Falling.

Falling.

Down, down, down. Deeper, darker.

Adrift; 'self' became no more than powder dispersed in ink. There was no thought. No control. 'She' simply was and was not. There was no 'being', yet 'she' existed.

Asleep; a half-waking memory washes through her. Voices. Faces. Places. She has been there, and here. But exactly where? The inhabitant of a dream, yet not its owner.

Lucid—Luka East erupted from the abyss, conscious once more. She panted for breath in a place where breath was meaningless.

"Where—what—who—?!"

Her voice was scarcely an echo—'sound' had no meaning in this place. She would have known that already, should have. Panic blinded her thoughts. Luka tore herself from the pooling dark, crawling on all fours as she raised her head to see where she was:

Nothing. Yes, nothing. That was all this was. A black abyss where all began and all would return to. She understood this intrinsically. It took her a moment to realize why.

"Am I…" she panted, "dreaming? No, this is…"

Her mind. Luka had been pulled inside of her own mind; an overdue realization. Her body was elsewhere. The only thing that existed here was a facsimile of her physical form; it being perhaps the only vessel through which she could comprehend the abstract space.

"..." Still reeling, Luka tried to remember what had brought her here. Her waking self had heard something, and then she was here. What was it? A sound? No, a word. A name. "What was it… Damn it, come on, what was—" She strained, and the abyss around her writhed.

She knew what was said; she had heard it so clearly. Why did the thought resist her? Luka pushed harder, and the dark screamed:

"[▃▄▅ ]!"

"Wh—" A voice like scraping metal shattered her concentration. No, wait, a voice? This was her mind, how was—

"[▄] not supposed [▂▂▄▅▃] here. [▅▅▄▄▃▂▂]"

The words were unmistakable. That was someone talking to her. Then it dawned on Luka.

"You! You're the one who keeps sending me these old memories, aren't you!" There was no doubt. Luka was sure of it. "Who are you? Answer me!"

The voice was silent for a moment. Then…

"[▂▂▃▃▄▄] You [▄▄▅] leave."

Luka could only understand a few words at a time, but the intent—that translated perfectly. "'Leave' where, my own head?! You're the one breaking into it! Dropping off visions and leading me on some crazy chase!" A pressure valve Luka hadn't even realized she had in her threatened to explode. "I've almost died three times now! And I'm getting sick of people trying to dodge me when I ask them a question! So, who the HELL are—"

"No."

The word was announced with absolute clarity. Like the voice of a god, it shook the world—and Luka. The core of her being was being gripped and choked out. The dark surrounding her slowly crept up her legs, slowly but steadily swallowing her. She felt it clearly—it was the voice who was doing this.

"[▄▄▅▅] leaving."

Luka could only vaguely grasp the speaker. A woman's voice, laced with a firmness that couldn't be shut out. Even with her brief words, Luka could somehow sense her intent: Luka had heard something she wasn't supposed to hear, and she needed to forget it. Maybe the woman was going to wake Luka up so she wouldn't remember what it was. Or maybe she would do worse, and Luka would never wake up again; cut the trail off completely.

The specifics didn't matter: once again, Luka was being jerked around by shadowy figures who knew everything she didn't. Kicked around as a pawn in some argument she hadn't been around for.

She'd had enough. "Get—" Logic and sense left her, and she grabbed the invisible force that was swallowing her up. They seized up, and Luka swore she felt the voice gasp. "OFF!" Like tearing a thin layer of film, Luka ripped the abyss from herself.

It screamed, only to redouble its efforts. More shadows, an ocean of hands, all fell on Luka in a maddened attempt to drag her back under. The more she thrashed about, the stronger their hold got. For every one she pried away, three more took their place. Eventually, they reached her torso, then her head.

The dark took her, and before it took her senses, she could make out one final jab from the voice:

"[▂▂▃▂▄▄] own good. [▅▄]'m sorry."

'Sorry'. A word that tried to sound so cold, but couldn't hide the faintest hint of warmth. The moment it was said, every theory Luka had been building had coalesced into a single truth. One Luka had been sitting on ever since Kasen posited it to her.

Luka snapped.

With a ferocity that would have silenced even a god, "'SORRY'?!" The dark exploded. The hands trying desperately to take her away were blown away by an unseen force, and Luka's upper body broke free. They panicked, shooting back at Luka. Only to be met with another howling outburst. "Do you seriously think 'sorry' is going to get you out of this?!" Indignation lit a fire in her—the hands that she could only pry from herself were soon being torn to pieces with each violent motion; falling back into the nothing they formed from.

Once the half-assed apology had been sent her way, she had cemented it in her mind: this was her mother. And her mother clearly wanted nothing to do with her.

"You don't want me, is that it? Too afraid to give me a straight answer?" Luka screamed, barreling through every wall of resistance that blocked her path, "You gave that right up a long time ago! Now piss off, AND QUIT FIGHTING ME!"

Her rage exploded, and the void inside of Luka's mind was engulfed in light. Blinding white surged through everything, shutting out any counterargument: a mental flashbang.

Luka stood in that light for a few seconds, until she realized it wasn't leaving. It had completely overridden the inky black abyss she had been standing in. The only thing left was Luka.

"... Okay," Luka wasn't sure it was possible to feel mental fatigue physically, but she was feeling it now. "Let's talk. Spill it. I want to hear everything." She stood, waiting for the formless voice to respond.

Another several seconds passed, but no words came.

"Hello?" Luka shouted. "I said 'spill it'! I know you can hear me!" Nothing. Luka's cries were merely lone echoes in the far reaches of her own mind. "... Damn it, did I cut the signal or something?"

She felt nothing. The presence that was once so overwhelming had completely vanished. Maybe she'd gotten too hasty with that outburst. If she had just dialed it back some, maybe she could have gotten some answers from the stranger.

… 'Stranger'. Mother or not, she was still a stranger to Luka. It stabbed Luka with a complicated emotion. "Forget it." She didn't have time for this. "She clearly didn't want me to think about or remember whatever word I heard. That's as good a reason as any to look into it."

One more time, Luka reached into her memory. She remembered the fight with Suika, its aftermath, and their conversation. Names, she needed names. 'Suika', 'Yuugi', that Rose Bush' character…

'Konngara'. It practically lit up in neon red.

"'Konngara', huh?" Luka sat on it. "Is that your name, or somebody else's?" She tried to search it for any kind of answer, but felt nothing. … No, not nothing. There was something there—it was on the tip of her tongue. A memory, maybe? "Well, only one way to find out."

Luka repeated the name over and over to herself, slowly feeling herself slip away. 'Konngara', 'Konngara'...

Repeating it one final time, Luka immersed.

Konngara damn near breaks my jaw in a single punch.

All I see before it happens is a fist rapidly closing in on my face, and the sharp crack sounds for miles. With a grunt, my body goes weightless, my feet leave the ground, and I spiral onto my back. If I were a lesser youkai, it would've knocked me unconscious in a single blow. But I'm still conscious, and unphased aside from a scrape on my cheek.

"Tch," I rise to my feet, undeterred. "oi, Boss, that was a dirty move."

Both of us are standing atop one of the many cliffsides of our mountain territory. A nice, isolated spot that few youkai frequented. If they did, the sounds of us brawling it out would have been enough to scare them off. The night sky illuminates our battlefield nicely. For 'business', it's rather pleasant.

Across from me, Konngara stands, rigid and immovable as the mountain we're fighting on. "You had time to react." She looks the same as always; robes in hues of red and gray, cracking her knuckles with confidence. Her sharp facial features seem to bore into me, like a tiger sizing up its prey. And of course, from the top of her forehead rests her ever-prominent horn: a protruding spike the color of freshly-spilled blood. A sign of her pride as an oni. "Now quit whining and throw a punch, small fry. I haven't got all night."

I shake off the dirt that's gotten on me. As I do, two other voices off to the side chime in.

"Oiii, kid!" Turning, I see the ever-uproarious Suika Ibuki livening up our fight. Drinking from her gourd as if she hasn't in years, she cheers from atop a small rock that matches her petite, lanky frame. "C'mon, make this good! You got an audience here!"

The other, less familiar participant stands with her arms folded, but I can see her grinning openly. Long blonde hair wild and unkempt, her rust-colored eyes regard me with the same interest one would offer a helpless pup. "Land a hit at least! Unless you ain't got the guts for it, squirt!" Her endless bravado exceeds any other oni, and it fires me up. Only Yuugi Hoshiguma can do this.

"Ha! Don't count me out yet!"

My confidence is unearned, untested. Who am I to Konngara, really? The answer is obvious: a subordinate; a lackey, and she's my boss. But I throw my punch anyway.

I'm barely able to take an inch before a set of knuckles slams into my face.

I can only think to describe her with a question: how could an oni be so calm, yet feral? Her very nature is contradictory, as is her fighting style. Precise and calculated, yet with the ferocity of a wild animal. Her strikes hit me in every weak point imaginable, yet I can't help but compare them to that of a beast trying to maim me. If I wasn't the one she was maiming, I'd take better time to appreciate her craft.

It takes all of my effort to maintain my ground. Attacking is barely an option; each attempt is met with a brutal counter-strike. Each hit echoes like a crack of thunder, and my skull rattles. A human would have likely died ten times over by now, another youkai three. I keep pushing on.

Konngara observes my determination and I see her lips upturn as she parries another hit. "Are you getting punch-drunk?" Her fist rebounds off of my face. "You're hardly blocking any of—" Then, her eyes widen. She realizes. "Ahh, I see."

I only have the next second to shift my stance. My arms form a crossing guard just in time to meet Konngara's plunging straight-punch.

Did I compare the earlier blows to thunder? I did? Then this is comparable to a declaration of hate from Takehaya Susanoo herself. Everything shakes, and I'm certain that if she had directed that blow at the ground beneath us the mountain we're fighting on would have been split in two.

And yet, I stand. The blow sends me sliding backwards, carving a short line of destruction as my feet grind against the ground. I remain standing; my arms maintain their unmoving guard, without a bruise. In fact, there isn't any sign of injury on me whatsoever.

"Ah-ha." Konngara's smile grows, and it fills me with pride to see. "So that's what you've been practicing." I return the smile. "I hope you've been working on more than your defense, because—"

I don't offer her the time to speak. Before she can finish, I'm standing in front of her, both arms raised. She has just enough time to raise both of her arms to block my attack. The instant before I bring them down, I focus everything I have into those arms.

For the briefest of moments, she underestimates me. I underestimate myself. My double hammerfist connects, and we both feel it. The impact transfers through Konngara's block, and the mountain quakes. The ground beneath her feet cracks—Konngara's guard falters.

Time slows. Or rather, my mind speeds up. It's only for a split-second that she'll leave this opening. I can see her surprise at my strength, and it reflects my own. But I don't have time to bask in it. There isn't nearly enough time to capitalize on her opening, not at my normal speed.

So I concentrate. Before the split-second can even fully begin, I'm a blur shooting a solid haymaker at her face. My focus splits, between the motion of my feet and the punch that I'm throwing. Power and speed become equal, and my mind races to maintain them. I can see the opening clearly, and the slowed-down world my eyes perceive show the result plainly: my hit will connect. It's so clear that I'm almost shocked.

Then something impacts straight into my abdomen, faster than I can register it. With my reflexes, my eyes are able to look down—only to see nothing there. Neither a punch nor a kick delivered, yet I feel it all the same. The aftershock alone stops me dead in my tracks and kicks up a fierce wind with it.

I falter, and stumble backwards. Shit. My guard was lowered. As I think that, I look out of the corner of my vision to see one of Konngara's hands curled into a fist. It's aimed in some completely opposite direction to myself. She didn't have enough time to correct her faltering stance, and I can tell her arm hasn't moved very far. It was just a punch towards nothing using the momentum I gave her with my first attack.

So why did I get hit by it? I only have enough time to ask myself that lone question before a red silhouette shoots towards me, claw snatching me by the skull. The world drops, and my head is spiked into the cliffside with a deafening crash. I feel it collapse underneath me, my body going limp. We fall, and I tumble into a black nothing. My vision goes dark for just a few moments.

And then, my eyes open. I'm at the foot of the mountain, and I see Konngara standing over me with a pleased smile.

I can only cover my face and mutter, "Damn it." She had knocked me out. It's her win.

"Seems you're getting the hang of that." Konngara extended her hand. She looked proud.

I take her hand with a sigh, and pull back to my feet. "Meh, it's still a work-in-progress. I can't hold a candle to yours, Boss."

"Hah, not yet, no." She studies me carefully. "You steal that fancy footwork from the tengu? I haven't seen you move like that before."

"Pah. Like I need to steal tricks from them. That's a 'me' special, thanks."

"Real eager to test that ability, aren't you." Konngara laughed. "Seems like there's limits to it, though. You sure sunk when I gave you that jab at the end. Lowering your guard's a sloppy habit."

"Hrm." I could only grumble. She had me there. No matter how potent it was, if it took that much concentration just to keep up with her, then any mistake could mean defeat. "Well, s'not like a human can hit that hard, anyway."

"You'd be surprised."

We'd been separated from the other two who had been watching. Likely, Suika and Yuugi were still up there, waiting for us to come back up to them. I was ready to return without delay, and was already walking off. "C'mon, let's get back up there and go another round. I'm feelin' good about this next one!"

"Just a sec."

I stop. There's a distinct difference to her tone. "Yeah?"

Konngara doesn't respond immediately. It takes until I turn around to face her. "The reason I dragged you out here wasn't just to spar. Truth be told, that was just me testing you for something."

"What's that?" A test? There's a gravity to that word.

"You might be taking my job, depending on how the next few months play out."

I almost fail to process what she's said. My jaw goes slack, and it takes me a moment to remember how to speak. "Your… job, Boss?" I'm not sure which word to emphasize more. "As in, one of the Four Heavenly Kings?" She nods, which only confuses me further. "B-But why? I don't understand, you—"

"Easy." Konngara narrows her eyes, which snaps me from my stupor. "I probably shouldn't be sharing this with you, but to hell with it, I do what I want. You know that new-blood youkai that showed up recently?"

"I heard rumors. Some foreigner with a shady attitude and a weird name?"

"Yeah, her. Heard she changed the name, though…" Konngara shakes her head. "Doesn't matter. Point is, things around here are changing. There's a lot of humans moving into our region, and just as many youkai following them. Things are getting messier every passing day." I can sense the annoyance in her words, and I know they're true. I've been there for the territory disputes and youkai-hunter bouts these last few years have brought. "So, she supposedly put an idea forward to fix that. Haven't been told the specifics myself, but from the gist of it, I know they want some big names around to start making bigger decisions for the whole region."

"So, they're offering you a job?"

"That's about right." Konngara frowns. "Well, more like been bugging the hell out of me with it. You can thank our good friend Ibaraki for that."

For some reason, I'm unsurprised at her mention. "Huh. So that's what she's been doing all this time." In fact, hearing the way Konngara says her name gets more of a reaction out of me—I almost laugh. "Still using just her last name, Boss?"

"Ah, cram it. You know how she is." Konngara sighs. "Damn woman can't help but sink her claws into me anyway she can. I give her an inch, she'll take the whole damn mile. Besides, I'm betting she's probably just lonely anyways. Pitiful woman."

I can tell her words aren't meant with any sort of malice, but trying to describe the emotion behind them was challenging. Konngara only ever referred to her by that name, 'Ibaraki'. Never her first name. That should be an indicator she doesn't like her, but every utterance also carries with it an undeniable warmth. Some part of me feels that it's just too complicated for someone like me to ever understand. The other part thinks they just need a room and some time to work it out. I wisely choose to not voice either opinion.

"Anyways," Konngara clears her throat, "I'm going to be meeting with them in the next few days to discuss some matters relating to this big plan they've got brewing. Real secretive stuff, apparently. Can't imagine it's actually that important." She chuckles. "Really, this is just advance notice. I want to make sure you're ready in case things play out that way. I've still gotta size up my subordinate before she's ready for the big-time, y'know?"

I'm unsure how to respond. On the one hand, the impromptu promotion is certainly something that surprises me. But it also goes against what I can possibly imagine myself as. Me, one of the Big Four? It's a hilariously pathetic comparison; the fight from before is proof enough that I'm hardly ready.

And yet. I am myself. That's enough, for now. I assure myself that I will have all the time I need to sort these feelings out, to understand what this all means. I hide my unease behind a grin. I don't realize yet that it's the last time we'll ever get to talk like this to one another, as our current selves.

"Just say the word whenever, Boss. I, [▅▄▃▂▂] , will answer your call."

Yes. That's who I am… [▅▄▃▂▂] .

[▅▄▃▂▂]...

[▅▄▃▂▂]?

No, that's not right, I'm—

Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I [My name…] Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I [What's my name?] Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I [Say it.] Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I [Just say it!] Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I [▅▄▃▂▂!] Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I Who am I My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [▅▄▃▂▂...! ] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is MyMy name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [I… can't?] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name isMy name is My name is My name is [No, I can't while…] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [Shit!] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [Who are you?!] is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [Who am I?!] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is [Hurts… my head… it—] My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is My name is—

—You.

GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT [That's right.] GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT [You're not supposed to be here.] GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT [You need to get out of here.] GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT [Get out!] GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT [Get out!] GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT

GET OU—

A lukewarm, clear liquid splashed all over Luka's face, and she snapped awake in a fit of sputtering and coughing. Heart pounding, a familiar voice pulled her from her dream. "Suika!" It was Kasen, crying out like a mother scolding a child. She was sitting at Luka's side, and it looked like she'd been fretting over her for a bit. "What're you doing?!"

"What? I woke her up." Standing over her head was a nonchalant Suika, her gourd turned upside down. Still turned upside down, continuing to sakeboard Luka. "Whoop. Sorry." She flipped it upright, sealing its cork back in.

Luka wiped her face, rising uneasily to a seated position. "How… how long was I—?"

"You only just passed out. It was just a few seconds." Kasen replied.

A few seconds? No, that wasn't right. Everything that had happened in her head… Luka held her forehead. It hurt. Everything did, actually. "Konngara…" She still remembered. Good.

At the mention of that name, Kasen went stiff. "... Are you okay? Did you see another vision?"

"Something like that. It's…" She couldn't find the words. Too many things were rattling around in her head at the moment. "It's complicated. I still need some time to process it all." Frankly, what she needed was sleep. A year-long nap. "I think I'm going to head back down… I need to get back home and rest."

Kasen smiled gently. "Why don't you rest at my dojo for a bit before you return? Kume can take you back." Before Luka could politely refuse, the bird was already on her flank, waiting.

"I, uh, don't need help flying now, actually." Luka smiled awkwardly, before floating slightly off the ground. "See?"

"Oh! Good work!" Kasen sounded like a mother congratulating a kid on learning to ride a bike. "Do you know the way back?"

Luka froze. "Oh. Uh…"

"Thought so. Kume."

The eagle bowed his head, flapping both wings before taking off. Watching him go, Luka started to ascend, before stopping to look back to Kasen. "Hey, Kasen,"

"Hm?"

"I'm, uh, sorry about your sister."

There was a brief pause. Kasen's expression went blank. "Y-Yes?"

"Ibaraki. She's your sister, right?" Luka tried to offer a reassuring smile. "I don't really get it, but I imagine it must have been tough for you, having an oni for a sister."

Kasen stammered, seeming unsure of how to respond. Meanwhile Suika looked away and started shaking for some reason.

Luka, however, didn't notice. She was too tired to pay it mind, or question if Kasen intended to follow her. Kume let out a shrill cry, as if telling her to hurry up. "Anyways, bye!" Eager to not keep the bird waiting, Luka took off to the skies with a two-fingered salute. She followed Kume closely, and the bird flew her down into the clouds.

Finally, it was all over with. Luka let out a sigh of relief. Just before she started daydreaming about a warm bed, a thought occurred.

Ah, crap, that's right! I promised Tenshi I'd help evict Suika.

She stopped in midair, sneaking a glance back up to the Heavens above. Kume braked, letting off a confused trill. Luka floated there for a few seconds, before finally making a decision:

... Eh, good luck with that, peach-head.

Without an ounce of shame, Luka continued following Kume down to the mortal realm below.

…

… …

… … …

Once it was clear Luka was gone, Suika burst into an absolute fit of hysterical laughter. "Ohh, oh gods, oh shit, that is GOLDEN! She doesn't even realize it! PPhhahahaha!"

"I-It's not that funny!" Kasen protested, even if this was helpful for her anyway. "To be honest, I was worried for a second that she'd figured it out…"

"How couldn't she?!" Suika cackled. "Yer disguise is paper-thin! I mean, seriously, the 'sister of Ibaraki'?! That girl really doesn't know, does she?"

Kasen frowned deeply at Suika's laughter. It felt just as much at her own expense as it did Luka's. "She isn't wrong. I left the name of 'Ibaraki' behind a long time ago. It's not so much of a stretch to say she isn't me anymore."

"Still, 'sister'? You've gotta admit, it's rich! I mean really, you can't make this shit up!" Suika sighed, finally having pulled all the fun she could have out of Luka's blunder. "Ah, still. Guess that confirms my theory. That girl sure as shit isn't her. That resemblance is frickin' uncanny, though…" A devil-may-care grin. "Can't imagine what that woman would have to say if she laid eyes on you again these days. Think she might've—?"

It was a simple jest, but Kasen wasn't smiling. "That's enough. You don't need to bring her up."

"Sure seems like someone is." Suika popped open her gourd once more and took a sip. "Which brings me to my next question: what's the deal with bringin' Luka to me? I can't see that as just a bout of that natural hermit goodwill."

"..." Kasen found it difficult to answer that question. "To answer that, I should bring something up to you. Someone greeted me on my way up the mountain with Luka. Can you guess who?"

"Mm?" Suika raised an eyebrow, lips pressed to her gourd.

"Yukari. Who, strangely, instructed me to not bring Luka to you."

With that statement, Suika's brow furrowed. Perturbed, she took a moment before swallowing her drink. "That right? The hell's that about?" Kasen shrugged, which earned a rare frown from Suika. "Peh. If that's the case… Fishing around in that old mess is bad taste, even for her."

Kasen couldn't say she disagreed with Suika. The two conversed for a while longer, about matters both current and past, but neither made any meaningful or insightful observations. In the end, it was merely two old friends speaking. Neither had a sure answer for what this meeting meant, nor what it would lead to.

As far as either was concerned, the mystery of Luka East would remain only that. For now.

Author's Note:

I wanted to write something a bit different than normal for this type of chapter. It took a lot of time (and some great feedback) to get to this state, and I would appreciate it if people offered feedback on how it turned out.

With this chapter, we're just about done with the second arc of AaMEL… It feels strange to realize I've gotten this far. About three years ago, I definitely started this story with the hope that I'd get it done. But there's a sort of surreal feeling to actually getting to that point. I'm happy, but also a little anxious since it means I have to actually live up to the image of the story I've had in my head for so long. It's been a long trip, and it looks to be longer still.

For those of you who have read this far, thank you! Seriously! I hope to keep this going all the way to the end. See you all next time for the epilogue to the Youkai Mountain Ascension arc!