A Mother's Love - Part 3
1957
Born fruit out of the secret love between a businessman from japan and a fortune teller from greece, a girl named Kyoko Asamiya was born in Amagasaki
Kyoko was born a fateful thursday at 5:00 PM, her mother Martha was a know fortune teller that lived in Amagasaki, however rumors had started around her, rumors regarding a frequent client of Martha's fortune telling being who had ended leaving her pregnant during a consult. Kyoko's earlier life was normal, however at the age of 5, Martha started to indoctrinate her daughter into following her steps being a fortune teller, Kyoko surprised her by reading her hand
"I see that a good streak is coming mom..." - Said that young Kyoko reading her mother's hand
"Ah that is good, Kyoko. Not bad for being your second lectur-" - But Kyoko's mother stopped when she suddenly saw her daughter putting a shocked expression almost as if she had seem a ghost
"..." - Kyoko
"What happened, dear? What did you saw?" - Kyoko's mother asked but Kyoko didn't answered
"Nothing, mom... Nothing." - Kyoko didn't told her mother, but what she saw that day was the tragic fate that awaited her mother. However for the young Kyoko Asamiya this couldn't be truth, this was nothing more than a joke and something that wouldn't happen maybe if she didn't told her mother
What Kyoko saw was the announced dead of her mother at the hand of a disease that would hit Kyoko's mom a few years later, Kyoko saw how her earlier premonition about her mother having a good streak of clients and money was truth but it didn't passed long before she saw that what she saw on the hand of the her mother would also became true
4 years later - Hospital
"Mom!" - Kyoko standing in front of the hospital bed of her dying mother tried to tell her regarding what she saw that day, Kyoko now regretted never telling her mother anything about what she saw
"Mom! I need to tell you something." - Kyoko
"Is alright, dear *Cough* I was very careless, I only have myself to blame for this." - Kyoko's mom smiled seeing the face of her daughter trying to calm her but both knew this was the end
"I need to tell you something important." - Kyoko
"Hold it, I think I only have a few seconds left... It is me who needs to tell you something." - Kyoko's mother Martha puts her hand on her daughter's shoulder
"If I die, I want you to return with your father, he is a good man. He lives in the wealthy neighborhood of Tokyo and he will take care of you from now on." - Martha
"But mom, you don't get it. I need to tell-" - Kyoko
*Beep* - But in that moment Martha died grabing Kyoko's hand
"MOM!" - Kyoko cried the name of her mother as the doctors appeared, she was forced to leave the room that day
Without her mother, Kyoko was alone or so was what she thought, remembering the words of her dying mother, Kyoko now was aware that her real father was out there in Tokyo
However, when Kyoko tried to connect with her father, she meet with the image that her father had already made his own life, Kyoko understood that the reason why her mother never told her much about her father was because of how she was born out of an affair between her mother and this man who was a client of her
"(I'm sorry but I don't remember that name, I never meet a woman named Martha!)" - Kyoko remembered the words of her father when he rejected her, not wanting to put his current life at risk by bringing the daughter of his affair
With her heartbroken Kyoko just saw how the man who had created left her there, not accepting her as his daughter
Rejected by her real father, Kyoko started to developt a hatred for people who were part of the high society, she grew up with resentment on her heart... Resentment that lasts until today
A shadow is seem walking towards the attic of the Asamiya house, the strange shadow arrives seeing another shadow tied up to a chair who rises her eyes to look at who has arrived
"..." - The shadow tied to the show rises her head, not other than an older looking Chizuru Kagura of white hair and looking tired
"You're still alive, good! For a moment I was scared I had sucked the life out of you." - Says the first shadow revealing itself to be Kyoko Asamiya
Kyoko removes the tape covering Chizuru's mouth
"Why-Are you doing this?" - Asked Chizuru looking super weakened with a frail tone of voice
"Mhmm... Should I told you?" - Kyoko
"You certainly made a mistake getting your nose where you shouldn't have, Ms. Kagura." - Kyoko
"What are you going to do to me?" - Chizuru was deep down confused and terrified
"Nothing bad... Yet." - Kyoko
"When we first meet, I actually was surprised. I really hate people like you, you high society scum really love to feel yourselves all mighty and better than the rest." - Kyoko
"You all act as if nobody could touch you and carry this air of superiority with yourselves." - Kyoko grabs Chizuru by her chin
"But you... You are different, Chizuru." - Kyoko
"You're not like the rest." - Kyoko removes her hand from Chizuru's chin starting to walk around her
"What do you mean?" - Chizuru
"You actually care about your people, about Tokyo... About others. You're not like the rest of the high society scum I have meet in my life." - Kyoko
"You're not like the rest, hah a millonaire who actually cares about others. Color me surprised." - Kyoko
"When I looked at your memory, I could understand your pain, what this world took from you... You really live with the question of why it was your sister who was taken instead of you." - Kyoko
"That almost makes me regret the fact that I have to kill you, Ms. Kagura. Your story has touched my heart. I even felt we were almost kindred spirits for a moment." - Kyoko sits in front of the old Kagura
"*Panting* Why? Why you want to kill me?" - Chizuru
"First, I can't let you go after what you found. Yes, I killed Nadeshiko, I have no regrets after what she did to me and my daughter." - Kyoko
"And second, I have decided to sacrifice you to bring back my dear husband Taro." - Says Kyoko in such a cold and dry tone making Chizuru feel shivers by the nonchalant attitude of Kyoko
"..." - Chizuru opens her eyes widely
"You can't do that!" - Chizuru
"I'm sorry, is really nothing personal, Chizuru. I really meditated it alot before coming to this conclusion." - Kyoko
"But after alot of thought I realized that I want to recover my family, I was lucky to escape out of the limbo where I was. Now I just need to recover my dear husband Taro and our family will be complete again." - Kyoko
"..." - Chizuru shivered of hearing the nonchalant tone in which Kyoko was saying all of this
"(Athena's mom... This woman is fully decided to sacrifice me, I can tell by the look of her eyes, there's no lies in her mouth.)" - Chizuru
"Of course, that won't happen right away as I'll need alot of ingredients and preparatives before doing the ceremony, I can't also tell my daughter about this, since I want to keep it a surprise for her. Of course, once Taro is back I won't tell her what I had to sacrifice to bring her father." - In that moment Kyoko covers Chizuru's mouth with the tape again
*Hhggg* - Chizuru mumbles
"Shhh! Don't make this harder for me, think about the big favour I'll be making you. You get to meet with your sister in the afterlife and I get my husband back. The two of us will end up winning." - Kyoko
"..." - Chizuru sees how Kyoko leaves the attic, unable to do anything and feeling defenseless at the mercy of Kyoko
"If my calculations are right, you have five days left before I get everything I need." - Kyoko closes the door of the attic leaving Chizuru in full darkness
Some moments later
Kyoko is seem arriving in Chizuru's bike towards a junkyard
"What can I do for you, miss?" - Ask one of the men working in this junkyard
"I came to get rid of this bike, here's 100 JPY. Destroy it, just get rid of it." - Kyoko gives Chizuru's bike to the men working at the junkyard to destroy it
Later that night
"What a tiresome day." - Athena prepares to sleep sitting in her bed wearing her pajamas
*Knock* - But she heards a strange sound from the attic
"Huh?" - Athena
*Knock* - The sound is heard again only to stop suddenly
"(I wonder what was that, I must remind mom that we need to clean the attic, maybe some rats are living there.)" - Athena
Sitting in front of her mirror, Kyoko reads a strange book with a smile drawing in her face
"(I see! Yes, I can get this ingredients between this week and prepare things for friday. The perfect day alongside the perfect hour.)" - Kyoko
Recording Studio - Tokyo - Wednesday
"And our love will burn together!" - Athena finishes singing in the cabin
"And... Is done! Well done, Athena!" - Says the operator of the cabin
Athena walks out of the cabin as she meets with her manager and mom
"How I was, Haruna? Mom?" - Athena ask to her manager and mom
"Oh dear, you were wonderful. Your voice is so lovely, that song was amazing!" - Says Kyoko hugging her daughter
"You're right Ms. Asamiya. That was another great performance, this next disc is going to be a success." - Says a woman of brown hair named Haruna Ikezawa, the manager of the young idol
"That's what I hope, Ms. Haruna." - Athena
"We will see each other thursday, I have to go talk with some acquaintances." - Haruna leaves mother and daughter
"Well, are you still going to take part in the basketball game of your school today?" - Asked Kyoko curious looking at the hour
"Yes, I haven't forgotten about it. We still have time, mom." - Said Athena about to leave
"Oh wait, I need to return this earbud and the guitar pick to them." - Athena points her mother to the group who were waiting for their turn to play in the cabin and let her borrowed this items when she arrived, a peculiar group conformed by a short man of brown hair wearing a blue shirt and white pants, a tall white haired man of red jacket and a red haired woman whose curious hairstyle covered her eyes
"I almost left without returning this to you, guys. Thank you." - Athena gives the pick and the microphone to the guy of brown hair
"No problem, Athena. Nice song by the way, you certainly have a good voice." - Said the man of brown hair called Chris
"You guys liked it? Wow! Thank you!" - Says Athena as the three members of the band nod
"You have talent, have you thought that maybe one day we could collab together? I'm sure we would be unstoppable on stage." - Asked Yashiro with a seductive smile to Athena as her mother just looks at them with a serious and not happy face
"That sounds great actually, guys. But I don't know, I would need to talk about with my manager Haruna, she is the one who does the business." - Athena
"Understandable." - Chris
"Still, think about it Athena. We certainly could use another girl in our band." - Said the red haired woman know as Shermie, as puts her hand in Athena's shoulder smiling at her
"And what would that make us? The CYSA band?" - Asked Athena in a joking tone
"CYSA eh? Not bad! Not bad... Hehehe, I kinda like how it sounds." - Yashiro
"Hehehehe!" - Athena and the CYS band share a laugh together
"Eh, I'm sorry to interrupt you, dear. But should I remind you about your basketball game?" - Said Kyoko looking at her watch
"Ah true! The game, sorry guys I have to go now. Would love to stay and talk some more but I have a game to play." - Athena
"A game? Sounds nice, good luck!" - Chris
"Yeah, good luck Athena." - Shermie
"Bye, good luck on your game." - Yashiro
As Athena waves goodbye to them, Kyoko walks out with shadows on her face
"(What a peculiar group!)" - Kyoko
Osaka High School - Stadium - Some Moments later
"Oh and Athena scores another one for her team!" - Says the narrator of the basketball game as Kyoko is seem clapping with her hands cheering for her daughter
"(That's my daughter!)" - Thought Kyoko as Athena signals to her
The game keeps going on with Athena determined to make her mother proud
"You can do it, Athena!" - Yuki
"Go Athena!" - Kensou
"I wonder why Kyo isn't here, he normally comes to support Athena and our school's team." - Shingo
"He said he was feeling sick. Maybe it was something he eaten." - Says Yuki as Kyoko can't heard but overheard this conversation between her daughter's friends
"That's strange." - Shingo
"Hello, guys." - Kyoko approaches Yuki and the rest
"Oh hello, Ms. Asamiya." - Yuki
"Nice to see all of you here... And where's your boyfriend, Yuki? Where's Kyo? Is he buying some snacks by any chance?" - Kyoko
"He said he felt sick." - Says Yuki a bit sad
"Oh I'm sorry. I hope he recovers soon, he is a good kid." - Kyoko
"He has been acting strange since the last time I saw him on sunday. I don't know what has got to him." - Yuki
"..." - Kyoko
Kusanagi State - Osaka
*Fsssh* - The sound of a shower is heard as a silhouette can be seen inside this shower
*Sigh* - Kyo sighs as he stares at the shower, he can't help but grab his shoulders as alot of conflictive thoughts come to his mind, with the words of Kyoko coming to his mind from the last time
"And Asamiya scores another one!" - Says the referee seeing Athena scoring another poing for her team
"Well done dear..." - Whispers Kyoko seeing the game is about to end in a few more seconds
The clock comes to an end as Athena's team ends up winning the game
Some moments later
Athena and her mom are seeing celebrating the victory on the coffe matic, the coffe shop were Athena's friends Asuka and Maria work
"I knew you were going to win, dear." - Kyoko
"Thanks, mom. I was kinda nervous to screw up things back there." - Athena
"Don't say that, you were magnificent, I bet you inherited that from us, especially Taro." - Says Kyoko looking down as she takes a drink out of her coffe
"Mom, you miss him isn't it?" - Athena
"*Sigh* I do. Being a single mom can be tough." - Kyoko
"I'm sure dad would had like you to restart your life, have you thought about dating someone?" - Athena
"There's no much people that awaken these feelings that your father awakened, I'm not looking foward into getting in a relationship again, dear. My current concern is getting a new job, that's why I have been calling for those interviews." - Kyoko
Athena just stared thoughtful at her mom, it was clear she misses her husband
Some hours later
As the Asamiya family is driving back home, mother and daughter talk some more
"You know, mom. I have been thinking. Maybe we should clean the attic, I have the feeling we may had alot of rats living there." - Athena
"..." - Kyoko reacts hearing this as a drop of sweat falls from her forehead
"Sounds like a good idea, dear. But that can wait, maybe in a few more weeks. I'm going to be really busy this week." - Kyoko
"Well, yes you're right mom. I also going to be super busy this week. Next week should be fine." - Athena
"(Good.)" - Kyoko smiles and feels relief after hearing that
As the two drive back home suddenly Athena feels something strange
*Bsss* - A sound is heard
"Wait, mom! Did you heard that?" - Athena starts looking at the horizon from her side then turns
"Heard what, dear?" - Kyoko
"Huh? AH WHAT?" - Both Mother and Daughter see multiple spheres of energy coming towards the car as this ones impact on Kyoko's car making the car be launch away out of the road with the car moving through the hills rolling
*Crash* - As the car stops on the hill, Athena seeing blood coming out of her forehead awakens with her seeing her mother unconscious next to her with also blood coming out from her forehead
"Mom!" - Athena quickly reactions starting to remove the safety belt from Kyoko, with all her forces Athena manages to break her window and drag her mother with her out of the van
"Ah..." - Athena rolls dragging her mom with her out of the van
Both mom and daughter start breathing as Kyoko coughs finally awakening
"Mom? Are you alright?" - Athena
"I'm fine, dear. Ah." - Struggling a bit, Kyoko manages to get up grabing her back and waist
"What was that?" - Kyoko
"I have a feeling of who could had done this, but we need to be quiet..." - Tells Athena to her mom as Kyoko nods with both moving behind a tree
*Cack* - Steps are hearing approaching the crash zone
"Well, they aren't here. But they can't go to far with those wounds." - Said a voice as two shadows are seeing staring at the damaged vehicle
"(Those voices.)" - Athena talks with her mom using her psycho powers
"(It can't be... These two are?)" - Kyoko
"(The Beart sisters!)" - Says Athena as both daughter and mother see this two shadows searching for them in the forest where the car ended up
"Athena, come out wherever you are! We know you must still be around here, don't force us to burn the entire forest to search you and "Your mother"" - Ninon
"(How do they know!)" - Athena and Kyoko
"Oh that's right, you thought we hadn't heard the news? Don't make this harder. We know you're around here and you can heard us." - Mignon
"At the count of 10, we will destroy this forest if you decide to keep hidding like a coward." - Mignon
"10." - Mignon
"9" - Ninon
"8" - Mignon
"7." - Ninon
"(Mom, return back home. I must face them alone, don't worry. I'll return back safe and sound. Is going to be alright.)" - Athena
"6" - Mignon
"(No! I already left you alone for a big portion of years, I won't run away.)" - Kyoko
"5" - Ninon
"(But mom?)" - Athena
"4" - Mignon
"(We will face them together!)" - Kyoko
"3." - Ninon
In that moment both mother and daughter step out of their hideout
"Well well, look who has consideration for nature at the end of the day. And here we were wondering if you were going to allow us to start a little fire here." - Mignon
"You two must be Linon's children. To think you two followed on her steps and became witches just like your mother." - Kyoko
"So you knew our mother after all. Well this is most interesting, for a woman who should had been dead you look fine. Very alive indeed." - Ninon
"What's your secret, Ms. Asamiya? It is true what we heard, that you somehow managed to escape from death?" - Mignon
"Something like that, unlike the evil witch who killed me that was your mother, it seems I won a second chance. But you two are making a terrible mistake if you think you intimidate me a little!" - Kyoko
"Mom!" - Athena
"You heard that, Mignon? This grandma thinks she stands a chance against us? Oh for a dead woman you sure talk alot, Kyoko... You're certainly the mother of that idiot Athena." - Ninon
"Stop babbling around grandma. You're not as powerful or as smart as your daughter. I hope you enjoyed the moments you got to experience with her, because soon you will return to the afterlife where you shouldn't had escaped!" - Mignon and Ninon charge their magic chi on their hands
"AH!" - Mignon uses a spell summoning this dark spheres that launch themselves against the Asamiya
"Look out, Athena!" - Kyoko jumps alongside her daughter dodging the infernal spheres summoned by Mignon
"Let's go!" - Ninon and Mignon enter inside the forest as the fight continues
"Don't worry, mom. I have an idea, this two won't have the upperhand for so long." - Athena
"Psycho ball!" - Athena throws a psycho ball towards Mignon forcing her to block
*Shhh* - She teleports behind another tree to attack with another psycho ball managing to distract the two sisters
"Grrr! I hate when she does that!" - Mignon
"We need to attack her the moment she teleports to another tree, there!" - With a precise toss, Ninon uses a poison needle to manage to intercept Athena's next location and hit Athena in the shoulder
"ARGH!" - Athena retreats with her grabing her shoulder
"(Athena!)" - Kyoko
"(Don't worry, mom. I'll be fine, is just a little poison...)" - Athena removes the needle from her shoulder as the fight continues with the Bearts walking confident towards the two women
"Any other brilliant strategy, Athena? We want to play with you enough before we kill you and your mother!" - Ninon
Meanwhile
A female shadow is seen running away through what appears to be a park
"Ah Ah!" - The female shadow starts panting feeling tired as another shadow moving like a tiger is seen following her
"..." - The shadow keeps running and running until she trips herself with a rock on the ground, falling and rolling on the park as she looks at the strange pale moon surrounded by the red sky
"ARGH!" - The shadow starts to get up revealing itself to be not other than Chizuru Kagura who is worried
"YOU!" - Chizuru heards a voice familiar to her as she tries to looks at the shadow who has been chasing after her all this time
"..." - Chizuru just stares at the shadow as this one steps closer and closer out of the darkness, she can't help but cry recognizing this form
"Sister... Forgive me." - Chizuru sees the shadow who had been chasing after her come out of the darkness, not other than Maki Kagura sporting the look of a living corpse. Without pupils with emotionless white eyes, no lips on her mouth as the rotten teeth of who was once her sister are seen with saliva pouring out of them and this visible wounds that were recognizable for Chizuru, the wounds that the man know as Goenitz had gave to Maki during the fateful fight where she had loss her life were visible in her torn clothes
"Grrr..." - The creature that was once her sister approaches slowly
"Sister. Maki..." - Chizuru wants to run but being face to face with her sister she decides to not doing it anymore
"Forgive me." - Chizuru
"You!" - The zombified Maki rises her finger pointing at Chizuru
"This is all your fault!" - Maki
"..." - Chizuru gasps in shock as the innocent tone of voice of her sister comes out of the mouth of this creature
"That day... I died because I saved your pathetic life. He got me because you were nothing more than a weakling!" - Maki
"..." - Chizuru
"And now look at me, you got to live as nothing while I rot in hell!" - Maki
Chizuru can't help but feel shivers as the memory of how Maki died comes back to her
"I'm sorry, sister. I should had trained more. I should had been more stronger, at least enough to save you!" - Chizuru
"You were always a weakling and you will be forever one, Chizuru! I throwed my life away to save you, my little pathetic sister!" - Maki
"But the two of us know it should had been you who died and not me!" - Maki
"Yes, it should had been me... Forgive me, Maki!" - Chizuru covers her eyes crying
"Please, Maki! Please forgive me! I'll do anything for you my beloved sister! But all I want is your forgiveness!" - Screams Chizuru between tears
"Feed me!" - Maki
"Huh?" - Chizuru reacts seeing Maki standing in front of her
"You want me to feed you? With what?" - Chizuru
"Feed me with your useless body!" - Maki shows her tongue passing licking her undead mouth making it clear what she wants from her sister
"Yes, yes. My dear sister, take me! I deserve your punishment... Forgive me, Maki! Forgive me!" - Opening her eyes, Chizuru offers herself to her zombified sister as without doubting it Maki jumps on top of her sister starting ripping her to shreds
"I was the pride of our clan, Chizuru! You were never worthy! It should had been you! IT SHOULD HAD BEEN YOU! STUPID LITTLE SISTER!" - Screams Maki ripping her sister to shreds as the screams of Chizuru are heard
"AHHHH!" - Kagura muffled's scream can be heard as she finally awakens in the attic of the Asamiya house
"AH! Ah!" - Chizuru still turned into an old woman realizes it was all a nightmare, the same reccurent nightmare she has always have ever since the death of her sister
"(Maki...)" - Chizuru comteplates the place where she was
"(My body is so frail and old, whatever technique Kyoko used on me is deadlier than anything I had seen before, my bones and body barely answer. If only I had the strength to cut this rope I would be able to escape with the mirror.)" - Chizuru struggles trying to cut the rope that has her tied to the chair
*Crack* - But the only thing she manages to do is fall alongside the chair on the ground of the attic
"(Ah... Is useless! I can't escape with this body, I just not have the enough strength to do it.)" - Chizuru
"(No I can't die here yet. I have to get out of here, I can't give up so easily.)" - Chizuru rises her head gritting her teeth, she still tries to cut the rope as she drags herself slowly
"(I can't give up yet! I must escape! I must escape!)" - Chizuru
"(You were never worthy! It should had been you! IT SHOULD HAD BEEN YOU! STUPID LITTLE SISTER!)" - The words of Maki from her nightmare repeats in Chizuru's head as she keeps dragging herself trying to escape
"(I can't give up yet, I'm the heiress of the Yata. I can't let Kyoko use me as a vile sacrifice!)" - Chizuru
"(Athena must know the truth about her! She is a danger for everyone!)" - Chizuru can only think of her friends as she keeps dragging herself trying to escape
Meanwhile
"ARGH!" - Athena is throw against a tree by Mignon as Ninon takes on Kyoko
"(Athena!)" - Kyoko sees her daughter being attacked by Mignon
"I would be worried for my skin if I was you, idiot!" - Ninon tries to kill Kyoko covering her hand with her magic chi but Kyoko dodges it
"Out of the two, you're the living image of you damn mother Linon!" - Kyoko
"I'll take that as a compliment!" - Ninon punches Kyoko
"Are you feeling tired now, Granny!" - Ninon keeps punching Kyoko again and again, until Kyoko falls on the ground
"Hehehehe..." - However for Ninon's surprise when falling on the ground looking at the sky, Kyoko can't help but laugh
"What is so funny? Has the fear of dying again got to you to the point you have loss your mind?" - Ask Ninon with a smile thinking Kyoko has finally go nuts of the desperation
"No. I'm actually pretty calm. You call me granny yet you're the one here hitting like one!" - Kyoko rises her to look at Ninon in the eyes with her facial features changing for Ninon's surprise as Kyoko's face is looking like the one of a teenager now for Ninon's shock
"What? Your face?! What kind of trick is this? Did you made yourself young again with some trick of what the hell is this?" - Ninon
"Huh?" - When Ninon points at Kyoko with her finger, she is surprised seeing how her hand had changed becoming old and frail, she rises her hand staring at it in detail surprised
"What? M-My hand?! What is this? How?" - Ninon is unable to believe her hand is the one of a old woman
"You should look at yourself now? What is wrong, granny? Do you need me to help you return back to the asylum?" - Showing a terrifict smile Kyoko sees how Ninon touches her face feeling how her face had aged to now look like the one of a old woman
"You damn witch! What did you do to me!" - Ninon screams as she pulls out a mirror only to see herself having been transformed into an old woman
"This is my specialty, psycho extasis!" - Kyoko gets up
"Psycho what?" - Ninon doesn't heard Kyoko well
"Oh don't worry about it." - Kyoko approaches the shaken Ninon who tries to cast a spell against her when suddenly
*Crank* - Kyoko punches Ninon in the face sending her to the ground
Meanwhile
"Die already!" - Mignon summons a strange serpent made out of water attacking Athena with the intention of drowning her, but Athena uses her teleport to appear in mid air throwing a psycho ball to Mignon
Both fighters clash fists again as Athena uses her psycho reflector to return Mignon her own sphere of energy
"Ah!" - Mignon
"Give up, Mignon. You're not winning this!" - Athena
"That's what you think, but my let's see if you survive this!" - Mignon raises her hand as the tips of her fingers start brighting
*Ssss* - A strange sound is heard as the yellow lights on the finger tips of Mignon become brighter
"Seal of the five paths! Die!" - Five lasers come out of Mignon's fingers
"(Argh!)" - Athena jumps dodging the attacks but she is surprised as the lights follow her, not matter how much she moves, the lights keep chasing after her making Athena wonder what she can
"You can run all you want, but you will never escape! Accept your fate!" - Mignon
"Phoenix arrow!" - Athena appears teleporting herself in front of Mignon to attack her with a phoenix arrow
"Useless!" - But Mignon dodges the attack as she sees how her rays approach Athena
"You run out of options Athena, I won!" - Mignon laughs as the rays hit Athena
"argh!" - Athena is hit by the rays as her body falls recieving the many hits from Mignon
*Blamm* - The sounds of the rays impacting Athena call the attention of Kyoko who is seen running towards the place where her daughter is
As the smoke disappears, Mignon sees how Athena is unconscious on the ground
"Is over! I won!" - Mignon smiles
"Athena!" - Kyoko approaches making Mignon be surprised
"What? You managed to-" - Mignon is shocked wondering where is her sister
"Your sister Ninon is sleeping, don't worry. She will be fine, you on the other hand, I don't plan to forgive you for what you did to my daughter." - Kyoko
"As if you were anything to me, you're just a dead woman walking." - Mignon
"Grr... Mother!" - Athena speaks slowly getting up with blood coming from her arms and legs
"Athena!" - Kyoko
"Hmph!" - Mignon
"You really are a damn cockroach Athena! Look at yourself, you're weakened and can't protect anything in this state, yet you still want to fight me? Either you're too stupid or too brave!" - Mignon prepares to finish with both mother and daughter
"I still have enough energy in me to fight!" - Athena goes into her fight stance despite the wounds
Kyoko can't help but be worried about her daughter feeling her chi weak after taking such hit
"..." - Silence dominates the area
"Shot!" - In that moment Mignon raises her hands and so does Athena's
"(Hehehe!)" - Kyoko smiles
"Die!" - Mignon uses her dark sphere but for her surprise her technique comes out as just a small sphere of the size of a psycho ball
"Take this!" - Athena uses her remaining chi charging her technique Crystal Shoot making the sphere of big size be launched towards Mignon
"(What? My attack, it came out as this little sphere! But how? And why suddenly I feel so tired?)" - Mignon wonders what is going on with her as she sees how her hands became old and frail
"(WHAT IS THIS?!)" - Mignon wonders what is going on as she sees Athena's crystal shoot coming towards her
"(I must run!)" - Mignon tries to run but she falls on the ground
Dragging herself back covering herself with her hands, Mignon takes the attack fully
"ARGH!" - Mignon is hit by Athena's attack
Silence reigns in the forest as Athena sees the result of her attack, a unconscious and defeated Mignon
"Huh?¨Strange, I thought she would try to counter it." - Athena is surprised seeing Mignon unconscious looking like her young self again
"..." - Kyoko smiles as she sees the unconscious body of the witch, then she runs towards her daughter
"Mom! You did it, you defeated Ninon?" - Athena
"Let's just said she made a mistake in underestimating me. I might not be a experience fighter like you, but I used to practice Kung Fu." - Kyoko
Both daughter and mom walk out
"Are you sure you want to leave them here?" - Kyoko
"I do, they might be my enemies, but I don't have the heart to kill them." - Athena
"Right now my principal concern is treating your wounds, mom." - Athena
"And what about yours, dear you're literally bleeding." - Kyoko
"I'll be fine!" - Both Athena and Kyoko arrive at where their destroyed van is
"There goes 88750 JPY!" - Kyoko
"Forget the car, mom. At least you're alright." - Athena hugs Kyoko
The Next Day - Asamiya's state
The door of the attic is open as Kyoko is seen entering with a tray full of some food
"Good day, Ms. Kagura!" - Kyoko approaches the old silent Kagura who is still sitting in the same chair tied up
"I brought you some breakfast." - Kyoko starts feeding Chizuru
"(This is humillating... She is mocking me.)" - Thinks Chizuru eating the soup Kyoko brought unable to do anything in this frail and old state
"No I'm not. If I wanted to mock you I would let you to rot here, I want to make your final days to be at least pleasant before I sacrifice you." - Kyoko
"Especially after your attempt to escape yesterday... Ms. Kagura, don't take it personally. Try to see it from a different perspective, you get to be reunited with your sister, I get to recover my husband. Is a happy end for both of us, I got all planned, I even buyed all the ingredients I needed." - Kyoko
"Just two more nights..." - Kyoko
"Anyway, I have a job interview today, goodbye Ms. Kagura." - Kyoko gets up adjusting her formal clothes
"You won't get away with this, Athena will learn from this!" - Said Chizuru
"Don't involve her in this, she will never know I had to sacrifice you to bring her dad back." - Kyoko
"You underestimate your own daughter, she will find me. She will find your secrets even if you kill me!" - Said Chizuru making Kyoko bite her lip
"Heheheh I see what you try to do, you think Athena will find you but right now she has alot of stuff to worry about over trying to find a decrepit woman like you. She won't find you, not even by your chi. Your current chi is so small is almost comparable to the one of an insect, my dear Athena will never know about your death!" - Kyoko
"..." - Chizuru grits her teeth as Kyoko is about to close the door
*Slam* - Kyoko closes the door leaving Chizuru in the darkness again
Athena meets with Kyo and Yuki in the entrance of the school as the day ends
"Kyo! Yuki! You want to come to visit Chizuru today?" - Athena
"Oh, hello Athena. Actually me and Yuki were planning to have a date in the coffe shop, we won't be able to go with you to see Chizuru." - Says Kyo who looks visible troubled even for Yuki's surprise
"Maybe another day, Athena." - Says Yuki who also notices the strange way in which Kyo has been behaving since saturday
"Is ok, guys. Have fun! Say hello to Asuka and Maria for me." - Athena waves to the couple as she goes on her way to visit Chizuru
"(Shingo couldn't come today because of needing to take care of his little cousins and Kensou is sick. I guess I'm on my account today.)" - Athena walks towards the train station in order to go to Tokyo
"(Oh well, after the mess that was yesterday I could use something to distress myself. I hope Chizuru is in a good mood.)" - Athena aboards a train
Tokyo
*Knock knock* - Athena is seem knocking on the Kagura mansion's gate
"Hello?" - Athena knocks on the door of the mansion, only to realize the gate is semi-opened
Athena enters in the mansion's gardens finding it lonely, not one single guard is at view or one of Chizuru's maids or butlers
*Sob* - The sounds of a voice crying is heard as Athena approaches the back gardens
"Haru-san!" - Athena sees Chizuru's loyal butler Haru drinking from a large alcohol bottle on a table in the back gardens
"You... Asamiya!" - Haru gets up all drunk trying to shake hands with Athene but he almost trips
"Oh calm! I got you, I got you!" - Says Athena grabing the drunken butler as the two make their way to the table
"Why are you here, Miss Asamiya?" - Asks Haru all confused and depressed
"I came to see Chizuru, do you know where she is?" - Athena
"..." - Haru doesn't answer
"I don't know." - Whispers Haru
"Excuse me, what did you say, Haru? Is Chizuru sleeping?" - Athena
"I don't know!" - Haru
"I don't know where she is!" - Screams Haru starting to cry punching the table
"..." - Athena opens her eyes widely seeing the frustation in the look of the butler as tears came from his eyes
"What happened.." - Athena puts her hands on Haru's shoulder
"I haven't seen Miss Chizuru in days. All the staff of the mansion have been searching for her around japan, we reported her disappearence since monday but the authorities haven't had any luck, is all so strange. The last time I saw her she was going towards Osaka, not even her bike has been found
"Wait, wait... I didn't know Chizuru was missing. Oh Haru, I'm so sorry. But do you someone had hand behind this." - Athena
"I don't know! The only thing I know is that I can't give up on searching her, I promised to her and Maki's parents in their tombs that I would always look out for the two sisters, I failed Ms. Maki and now I failed Ms. Chizuru." - Haru takes another drink from the bottle
"Stop! Don't drink from this anymore, look at what is doing to you." - Athena takes the bottle away from Haru
"Is the only way I can think clearly, Ms. Kagura... She is like a daughter to me and now she is gone!" - Haru
"She isn't gone, she must be somewhere. We just need a clue, who could had done this?" - Athena
"It must had been those hakkesshu she was worried about or that damn man... Iori Yagami." - Haru
"No wait. Iori is not the type of person to take someone as a hostage... I know it." - Athena remembered something
"(That day when Iori and I clashed our power... He tried to force Kyo to fight with him taking Yuki as a hostage. But Kyo knew well Yagami wasn't the type to hurt the innocent just to get to Kyo.)" - Athena stops to think for a moment as the image of what happened that day she, Kyo, Kensou, Shingo and Yuki went to visit Souji only to meet with Yagami in the road
"(Just like Kyo said that time, isn't his style. Besides, Iori wouldn't do something like that against Chizuru.)" - Athena then remembers something else
"(So that's your story with that man?)" - Asked Kyo sitting with Athena and Shingo to Chizuru after this one had shared her past with Iori Yagami, being the only person who had got a chance to know him before becoming the infamous fighter he was now
"(Yes, there was a time where Iori and I were friends. That was years ago, knowing how he ended up and the type of person he became, I suspect he decided to cut ties with me that day to not hurt me... I suspect that was the case. He didn't hurt me physically but he hurt me right here...)" - Athena remembers the sad expression of Chizuru as she pointed at her heart
"Then if that man couldn't had done it, who?" - Haru
"I don't know. But I promise you Haru that I will find her." - Athena hugs the sad butler trying to give him comfort as she leaves the mansion
Meanwhile - Osaka
"Kyo, did something happened?" - Yuki
"No." - Kyo
"I know somethind did happened, but you're acting prideful all over again. Please tell me what happened, I can help you." - Yuki
"..." - Kyo
"Is complicated." - Kyo
"What is complicated, you have been very distant with us. The last friday I talked to you, you were still normal, you didn't started to behave like this until we meet sunday." - Yuki
"What is wrong, Kyo..." - Yuki
"Is hard to explain, I'm sorry Yuki. I must had let you and the rest worried." - Kyo
"Yes, Athena, Kensou and Shingo are as worried as me. You didn't even showed to Athena's game the other day." - Yuki
"Yes, I should had go." - Kyo
"I-Is can't explain.. But I know I also need to apologize with her." - Kyo gets up
"Look, I know sometimes you can be headstrong but if something is bothering you, you will always count with us, Kyo. We are your friends." - Kyo
After kissing Kyo in the cheek Yuki smiles at him
"And I think Athena also deserves a apology." - Yuki
"(And more than that... She needs to know.)" - Reflecting Kyo finally knew he had to tell Athena something
"Yes, she needs an apology." - Kyo leaves Yuki on his way to Athena's home
Asamiya State
Athena opens the door of her home, seeing her mother hasn't returned for what was her job interview and first day at job.
"(I'm going to leave my backpack, take something to eat and leave to the temple of Master Chin, I'm sure I'll be able to find some clues to where Chizuru is.)" - Athena
As Athena is seeing leaving her backpack in her room
*Crack* - Suddenly she heards a strange sound coming from the attic
"(Must be those rats again, the next week mom and I accorded to clean the attic. I can't distract myself, I need to find where is Chizuru.)" - As Athena was about to walk the stairs down, she heards something again
*Crack Crack* - The noise repeats itself but in a different pattern, Athena is confused as she decides to pay attention staying in silence
*Crack*
"The same sound four times..." - Whispered Athena started to realize something, silence dominated for some seconds until
*Crack* a sound was heard again but it was just a single sound now
"H E." - Athena
*Crack* - Another sound is heard
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* - Three sounds are heard one after another
"crack* - Another simple sound is heard
*Crack* - Followed by another sound
"H E L." - Athena
*Crack* - Another sound is heard
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* - Three loud sounds are heard
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* - Another three loud sounds are heard
"H E L P?" - Athena is surprised when suddenly
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* - Three loud sounds are heard
*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* - Another three loud sounds are heard
*Crack* - A single small sound is heard again
" M E? HELP ME?" - Athena reacted at what was the morse code that could be decipher taking into account the sounds produced by the supposed rats in the attic
Athena runs towards the attic and tries to open it, only to realize the door has been closed with a lock
"(Why would mom put a lock in the door towards the attic?)" - Athena is confused, she uses her psycho powers to break the lock
"..." - Opening the door, Athena enters turning on the lights making her way into the attic Athena is surprised by the image she sees some meters in front of her
*Gasp* - Athena gasps in surprise and shock as she sees in the ground of the attict was appears to be a very old looking woman tied from hands and legs to a chair sporting a black jacket and blue pants, her hair was white as if she was a 70 year old sporting a white band and grabing a metal spoon with her mouth
The woman seeing Athena in front of her drops the spoon out of her mouth with a smile of salvation drawing on her face
"A-Athena." - The woman says the name of the idol with such low energies
"You decipher it! Thank you!" - Says the woman as Athena runs to where she is
"Who are you? How do you know me and why are you here in our attic?" - Athena kneels grabing the weakened old woman asking her some questions
"You don't recognize me, b-because of how I look but let me show you." - The woman grabs Athena's hand putting it on her forehead
Without doubting and full of questions, Athena uses her powers to see inside the mind of the old woman. The surge of memories surprise Athena finally realizing who this person was and how she came here.
"(Heheheh I see what you try to do, you think Athena will find you but right now she has alot of stuff to worry about over trying to find a decrepit woman like you. She won't find you, not even by your chi. Your current chi is so small is almost comparable to the one of an insect, my dear Athena will never know about your death!)" - The last thing Kyoko said to Chizuru is heard in Athena's mind as she comes to finally realize who she is and how she came to end up here
"Chizuru! But how? I can't believe it, mom. Why? Why would she do this to you?" - Athena was confused
"And this woman Nadeshiko... She killed her!" - Athena is paralized horrorised by all the information Chizuru shared with her regarding her mother
"(Mom, did she really wanted to sacrifice Chizuru to bring dad?)" - Athena shivers in shock
"I can't stay like this, I need to get you out of here!" - Moving her head reacting, Athena decides to help Chizuru get out of here
"I wonder if there's a way to make return to your age?" - Asks Athena as she helps the weakened old Kagura walk down the stairs towards the main room
"I-I don't know Athena. You mother has this power to absorb the youth and vital force of anyone... She called it psycho extasis." - Chizuru
"(Now I understand, could this had been the way how she managed to defeat Ninon?)" - Athena
"(The power to absorb the youth of anyone in a psychic way... I can't my mom has such terrifying power.)" - Athena
"I need to take you to the hospital, you will be fine." - Athena
"Athena, she is dangerous... She will know that you freed me when she returns. If she did this to me, what will she do with you." - Chizuru expresses her concerns to Athena
"I'm gonna confront her about this, she is my mother but after what I saw, I'm starting to think something is wrong with her." - Athena and Chizuru arrives at the main room
"Oh believe me, dear." - But then a voice is heard as a shadow gets up from the TV where she was
"Nothing is wrong with me!" - Athena and Chizuru find themselves face to face with Kyoko who gets up from her couch
"Ah." - Chizuru is visibly afraid of Kyoko
"Mother... You returned." - Athena
"Yes, my turn ended way earlier than I thought, I was going to wait for you to arrive from school to ask you if you wanted us to celebrate my new job with dinner. But I didn't expected you would also return earlier today." - Kyoko
"..." - Athena's pupils shake being face to face with her mother
"Can I know what you think you're doing?" - Kyoko
"Mom, I'm going to take Chizuru to the hospital." - Athena
"..." - Chizuru
"Ah, you can't be serious, Athena." - Kyoko
"Mother, you can't do that! I can't believe you want to sacrifice Chizuru to do something crazy like that." - Athena
"You're too young to understand it, dear. Please, just think about it. I can bring Taro back, I know how to do it, I have been preparing for that for the last days. We would be finally a complete family again. And nobody will know." - Kyoko
"Don't do this to me, dear. Goddammit, Athena! In what side are you on?!" - Screams Kyoko
"No, mom. I love you. But I can't let you do this to Chizuru..." - Athena
"That woman wanted to put me behind bars, she wanted to separate us. I had to act and I couldn't allow her to leave, now I can bring your father and my dear husband back... A life for a life but it will be worth it." - Kyoko
"Chizuru isn't worth it, dear. She doesn't deserve your compassion, drop her! Join me and nobody will ever know what happen." - Kyoko
"..." - Chizuru turns to look at Athena who looks down hearing her mother's words
"In what side are you with? Me or that woman who is nothing of you?!" - Kyoko
"Are you really picking her, a completely stranger over me? Your mother! I can bring back our dear Taro, think about it! Our family would be completed again." - Kyoko tries to appeal to Athena's emotions
"Athena! Answer me, drop that woman and act as if this never had happened. Isn't too late." - Kyoko
"I'm sorry mom, I may only know Chizuru for months, but I know she is a good person, I can't let you do that. I can't let you kill her!" - Says Athena with a determined stare looking at Kyoko in the eyes as some tears come from Kagura's eyes
"WHAT?!" - Hearing that from the mouth of her daughter makes Kyoko's blood boil as she grits her teeth
"I may had never meet my father Taro... But I'm sure even he wouldn't agree with this idea, mom... And I know you know it too deep down!" - Athena
*Plassh* - Kyoko in that moment and full of rage throws a sharp looing projectile to Athena who barely manages to dodge it
"AH!" - Athena gasps in surprise as she sees the serious face of Kyoko
"Keep in mind you forced me to do this." - Kyoko approaches Athena and proceeds to slap her with such force sending her back
"You will thank me once later, once we are all reunited as a family!" - Kyoko
"Mother... What happened to you?" - Athena gets up
"I should be the one asking the same question, dear. I can't believe you decided to betray me and for what?" - Kyoko appraches her daughter attacking her with two punches as Athena this time quickly blocks
"A woman who you barely know for months?" - Kyoko attacks Athena again, only for Athena to stop her attack holding her fist for Kyoko's surprise
"That woman is my friend! And I know her well, in fact is you who I realized I didn't know well!" - Athena uses her psycho sword on Kyoko hitting her
"ARGH!" - Kyoko falls to the ground but suddenly disappears for the shock of Athena
"What a big disappoinment you are, Athena!" - Athena feels two presences coming, she turns only to see two replicates of her mother Kyoko surrounding her
"(Is this mother's psycho power?)" - Athena manages to dodge the two attacks from the replicates of Kyoko, only to see another one appearing behind her
"(WHAT?!)" - Having dodged that last replicate's punch, Athena gets a surprise after blinking, seeing what is an enter group of ten copies of her mother standing in front of her
"..." - Athena is visible confused not being able to identify who is the real Kyoko
"Athena! Is a ilusion, the real Kyoko is the one in the left!" - Screams Chizuru with all her forces making Athena quickly attack Kyoko with a psycho ball
"ARGH!" - Kyoko reacts being hit as the other Kyokos just desitentagrate
"Almost!" - In that moment Kyoko appears striking her daughter with two projectiles sending her crash against a forniture
"What?" - Chizuru reacts
"I was counting on you trying to help Athena, Kagura you decrepit old witch! You two haven't realize, I control everything you see here. Everything your minds can percieve is nothing but a creation of mine. I made you see what supposedly was the real Kyoko, Chizuru. i wanted you to help my daughter, because I know how desperate you are to try to survive." - Kyoko
"You may turned my dear daughter against me, but I'll make to end your life." - Kyoko
"You and my daughter my have more combat experience than me, you two might be stronger fighters than what me, a simple woman with only a small knowledge in kung fu is but what's the use of all that experience when you can't move and when I can steal the youth of anyone who comes in contact with me
In that moment Athena sees how her hand becomes the hand of an old woman as well as her face and body start to age for her shock
"I hate using this technique on you, dear. But you leave me no choice. It is over!" - Kyoko approaches Athena with the intention to knock her out
"Once you're out, you will wake up with not memories from this... And we shall be a complete family again, that I promise you." - Kyoko is about to knock her own daughter who looks at her eyes now fully transformed into an older woman
*Crack* - But she is stopped by another hand as both Athena and Chizuru are surprised seeing this figure
"I don't think so, Ms. Asamiya." - Says Kyo being face to face to Kyoko stopping her attack towards Athena
"YOU!" - Kyoko grits her teeth being face to face with Kusanagi
"I heard everything, to think you were planning to do this to Chizuru. To think you're capable of hurting your own daughter!" - Kyo
"Kyo..." - Whispers Athena
"Don't try to act as some kind of hero, Kyo. You have no idea of what you're going against if you dare to challenge me!" - Kyoko
"Oh I'm well aware of who I'm facing, a megalomaniac, manipulative viper!" - Kyo
"Try it! Just try to go against me and I'll make you regret it!" - Kyoko
"Leave Athena and Chizuru go!" - Kyo turns on his flames staring at Kyoko with determined eyes to oppose her
"Hehehehe... You don't have the guts to attack me, should I remind you-" - But Kyoko is interrupted by Kyo delivering a strong hit covered in flames
"I'm not letting you get away with that!" - Kyo
"Argh! Heheheheheh, oh seems like our last interaction really got deep to you." - Kyoko
"Kyo..." - Whispers Athena
"(This technique my mom has, is very dangerous but at the same I think I finally understand, I can reverse the effects if I focus my chi...)" - Athena starts focusing her chi taking advantage of the distraction, she sees how her right hand slowly recovers her normal look
"Take this!" - Kyo uses his orochinagi on Kyoko but Kyoko surprises Kyo when another Kyoko appears grabing him and suddenly more copies of Kyoko appear taking him
"(Ahr! This power, how does she does this. She isn't a member of the yata to be able to create many copies of her, could this be part of her psycho power?)" - Kyo is confused as he attacks the copies of Kyoko sending them to disappear on the ground only for more and more copies to appear
Kyo manages to take down most of Kyoko's copies with ease, suddenly he feels something coming
"ARH!" - Kyo manages to stop an attack incoming from the real Kyoko who tries to impale him with a knife charged with psycho power
"(This brat! How he managed to stop me, how he knew I was the real one?)" - Kyoko
"Your chi, you're getting tired. Your breathing is more intense and your chi is fluctuanting constantly." - Kyo
"Yes, you're right I'm getting tired! But why you're not a good kid and share some energy with me!" - Kyoko uses her psycho extasis power on Kyo
"ARG!" - Kyo screams as he sees his body aging
"Not yet!" - But he manages to keep Kyoko away by covering his body with this flames, the heat and fire makes Kyoko back off as she sees part of her clothes catching on fire
"Damn it!" - Kyoko is frustated as this was the first time someone had managed to counter her Psycho Extasis technique
"You damn brat! You have pissed me off! I'll send you to your tomb, I don't care if you're one of my daughter's friend, nobody will miss you once you're dead!" - Kyoko
"Hehehehe!" - Kyoko being near Chizuru decides to take her as a hostage
"Don't make a step any further, Kyo!" - Kyoko
"Unless you want me to kill Ms Chizuru with a simple charge from my fingers." - Kyoko points two fingers at the head of the old Kagura threatening to kill her
"Chizuru!" - Kyo and Athena scream seeing how Kyoko has taken the Yata as her hostage
"You have lost your mind fully. Give up!" - Kyo stays determined
"No-uh, if you think only because you managed to stop my psycho extasis you have a chance, I'm sorry to inform you that this is the end." - Kyoko
"Just go ahead, try anything funny and Chizuru will get her brains blow out." - Kyoko
"..." - Kyo
"Or you could be a good kid and give up, this doesn't have to be like this, Kyo. I don't want to kill you but I won't hesitate to do it so if you push me to do it!" - Kyoko
Kyo sees how more Kyokos appear standing in the way of the real Kyoko
"(Her powers are very different to Athena but if I learned something from her and her master. Is that not everything you see is always real.)" - Kyo takes off his headband
"What are you doing?" - Kyoko is confused as she sees Kyo tying up his band to cover his eyes, using it as a blindfold
"I already told you that I wasn't going to back off!" - Kyo prepares to run towards Kyoko
"(If I guessed right, none of the things she throws at me are real!)" - Kyo makes his way towards Kyoko as she tries to use her powers to make her fake copies attack him but Kyo ignores them as the punches of the copies pass through him
"(What? He isn't reacting to my illusions! How is he doing this!)" - Kyoko starts becoming desperate as she decides to use her psychic powers to throw some knifes at Kyo
*FSSS* - Guided by the sound of the knifes being throw, Kyo takes another lucky guess and moves to the right, dodging the knifes
"(I can only trust my ears... )" - Though Kyo only guiding himself by the sound of the objects coming towards him jumping and now being almost close to Kyoko
"(Too late, considerate Kagura dead!)" - Kyoko decides to fully kill Chizuru when suddenly
*Pss* - A sound is heard at her left, she is unable to believe as Athena teleports from the place where she was on the ground to run in front of Kyoko taking the old Chizuru out of her hands in a quick moment and running with her
"WHAT?" - Kyoko screams not being able to believe it was her daughter who had saved Chizuru before she could kill her
"I got you!" - Kyo deals a powerful blow to Kyoko who is unable to dodge distracted by the act of her daughter with her recieving the strike from Kyo's 114 Shiki: Aragami
"Argh!" - Kyoko is sended back to the ground covered in flames from the brutal attack that knocks her out
"AH..." - Athena and Chizuru stare at each other on the ground and for Athena's surprise, she sees how Chizuru recovers her youth
Athena turns to look back at her mother who appears to be unconscious
"Chizuru, are you alright?" - Athena
"I am, thanks Athena." - Chizuru is helped to get up by Athena as the two women see Kyo removing his band fro his eyes
"Ah. Ah." - Kyo is seem panting
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, Athena." - Chizuru
"No, I-I don't know what to say anymore." - Athena is visible hearbroken and hurt as Chizuru and her walk to where Kyo
"Kyo, are you alright?" - Athena
"Yes... Forgive me for not be there on your game, Athena." - Kyo
"Ah! Ah!" - In that moment the three fighters are surprised as Kyoko awakens feeling super weak on the ground
"Mom!" - Athena tries to approach only for Kyoko to rise her hand pointing her two fingers at Kyo, Athena and Chizuru
"Ah Ah!" - Gritting her teeth Kyoko is visible angry wanting to attack the three as her finger brights with psycho power
"..." - But suddenly as she stares at the face of her daughter, she can't help but se herself
Kyoko opens her eyes widely as the image of Kyo, Athena and Chizuru makes her remember her own life, seeing her daughter and Kyo as her young self and her husband and Kagura as Linon Beart
"..." - Kyoko retreats her finger back slowly making the three fighters be full of tension wondering what is she going to do
"Mom wait!" - Athena, Kyo and Chizuru are surprised as they see how Kyoko starts pointing at the side of her head
"Take care, Athena. My dear daughter, be strong!" - Says Kyoko with a regretful tone as she charges her finger with psycho power
*BLAMM* - Without hesitation or warning, Kyoko shoots at her head blowing her own brain
"MOM!" - Screams Athena with tears on her eyes seeing the corpse of Kyoko falling back with half of her head destroyed as both Kyo and Chizuru react also shocked beyond belief of what Kyoko had just done
"Ah!" - Chizuru gasps in surprise covering her mouth with her hand shocked
"..." - Kyo stays paralyzed unable to believe what Kyoko did
"MOM! *Sob* Why? *Sob* Why did you do that?!" - Athena falls to her knees as Kagura also falls to her knees hugging her with Kyo looking at the mess that the entire house became during the entire fight
Some days later
The tomb of Kyoko is seen as Athena and her friends are standing with her giving Kyoko the farewell.
"I'm sorry things went this way, Athena." - Says Chin standing next to his student
"I know how you must be feeling." - Chin, Kensou, Yuki and Shingo look down as they know the pain the psychic feels
"I finally got to meet her, one of my dreams was always know from where I had came from. Only to to lose her like that." - Athena
"Athena." - Kyo puts his hand on Athena's shoulder
"I'm sorry." - Kyo
"..." - Athena
"You don't have to apologize, Kyo." - Athena
"iF it wasn't for you, me and Chizuru wouldn't be here." - Athena
"But your mom-" - Kyo
"I know my mom, I know I will never see her again. But I'm grateful for the short time I got to meet her. To be with her. Whatever happened, wherever she is. My opinion on her hasn't changed. I'm glad I got to meet her and I thank her for giving me the life." - Athena
"..." - Kyo can't help but be touched by the words of Athena despite everything Kyoko did
"I just wish things had been different. But her memories and what I got to life with her, for better or worse will stay with me forever." - Athena
"I'm going to miss you, mom. But I hope you and dad can find happiness in the other side. In a way I know why you did this... I will always love you." - Says Athena as she puts a pink pearl on her mom's tomb
"*Sigh* Athena..." - Whispers Chizuru Kagura leaning on a tree in the distance as she sees Athena, Kyo and the rest leaving the cemetary
"(In what side are you with? Me or that woman who is nothing of you?!)" - Kyoko's words come to Chizuru's mind
"(Are you really picking her, a completely stranger over me? Your mother! I can bring back our dear Taro, think about it! Our family would be completed again.)" - Kyoko
"(Athena! Answer me, drop that woman and act as if this never had happened. Isn't too late.)" - Kyoko
"(I'm sorry mom, I may only know Chizuru for months, but I know she is a good person, I can't let you do that. I can't let you kill her!)" - Says Athena with a determined stare looking at Kyoko in the eyes as some tears come from Kagura's eyes
"Thank you." - Whispers Chizuru as she makes her way back to her bike with a sad expression as the tomb of Kyoko is seen fully
"Here lies Kyoko Asamiya 1957-1996. Beloved mother and friend."
The End.