Author's Note: Let's see we covered Michiko, Masaomi, and Noriko. And now we're onto Makoto. He's been through so much, boy! But he's got to man up and stop the apocalypse. The poor man wants to be left alone as everything crumbles around him. But Michiko and his own psyche are having none of it. Once again, Facebook saves helped me write this. I did struggle with one part last night, but I managed to pull through. We only have three more weeks until this season is over. I already have what's going to happen next mapped out. I can't wait to get started on next week's halo. For now, enjoy this week's halo.

Halo Twenty-Seven: Makoto:

I have to save her again. I thought by keeping her away from me that I would spare her from this madness. But those bastards from the Tandeki Group are seeing to it otherwise. I gritted my teeth.

Damn it!

It always backfires on me. The harder I try, the more it blows up in my face. I tried to stay out of it. Still, they want to see me suffer.

"You know it's happening again." Michiko's voice echoed in my head. She's the other reason I can't stop. She won't leave me alone. Why can't she see that we've already lost this stupid game?! They are going to win and everyone is going to die again.

But still I have to save my wife.

I never wanted this for her. If I had my way, Noriko wouldn't even know that I exist. She would be a normal teenage girl living a normal life. She'd have her friends and her dreams. Noriko would only have to worry about normal teenage things. Sadly, that is not the hell I live in.

I was reminded of what I needed to do when I dreamt that I saw a corpse. It wasn't Noriko's corpse. I don't think I have ever seen that body before in my life. She looked to be about twenty years old. I remember that I was floating over what looked like a lake. Small red fish saw over her rotting face. Her face was painted up like a death mask. In her arms, she held a small gray cat. Here was the thing: that cat was alive and looking up at me.

Why now? Why after so long was I having that dream? Why can't they just leave me alone?

"She's been taken back to the hospital," Michiko said. "She suffered a breakdown in the subway station on her way here."

"What?" I asked. I felt her glaring at me.

"It's happening again," she said. However, there was something more desperate in her tone. I didn't need to ask how dire things had gotten. She was implying that it would be down to me to fix things. I just don't have it in me anymore.

"Are you just going to run away again?" Michiko asked. I froze. Run away again? I knew was I a coward. But her words still stung.

I… I…

I dropped my head.

"I can't."

I used to be happy. I had a family, a home, a somewhat stable job, and peace of mind. That all vanished after the death of my son.

I still dream about my wife from time to time. It's starting to be more frequent as of late. Last night, I saw her as she used to be. I think we were both in a field. She had on this beautiful black and white kimono as she looked down at the white flowers around her feet. Her hair was down and flowing. A smile caressed her red lips. I remember when she looked like that. It was summer and we had just gotten married. When was the last time I ever saw her that happy?

I realized that I wanted to see that smile again.

You still can.

"Huh?" I lifted my head. The image of the field started to fade around me. No! Come back! I don't want to lose her again. I felt cold. A harsh large light snapped on over my head. I looked up, shivering. I remembered what was coming next.

Izanami sat on her throne made of wood and old bones. She was just as beautiful and terrifying as the last times I saw her. Her white shroud of a dress clung to her body. Her long black hair stood out from her slender pale body. A deep red jewel sat above her breasts. She looked down at me with a disapproving look on her face.

"Why have you not gotten her back?" she asked. Her gaze made me feel so small. I pressed my lips together as I stared at my feet.

"I can't do it."

"Liar."

I jerked my head upward. Izanami's eyes had the look that could kill me if she wanted. I grabbed the sides of my head.

"What else can I do?! Every time I try, it comes back and bites me on the ass! I've watched her die too many times. I've even killed her myself. I'm tired. I can't take this anymore."

"I am tired of your excuses! So you're just going to stand back and let her die again?!" Her voice roared around me. I covered my ears and sank down to the ground. Izanami clicked her tongue.

"Pathetic."

It's not like that, I swear. Tears ran down my cheeks. Izanami sighed over me. She lifted my head. I could see a little bit of warmth in her eyes.

"I know you want to save her," she said. She wiped away my tears with her thumb.

"My husband went to the land of the dead to get me back," she whispered.

"But he failed," I said.

"That isn't the point," Izanami said. "You have to not make the same mistakes he did. You still have time. You have to save her." I started to speak but she placed her forehead against mine.

Suddenly, I vanished into thin air.

"Is there a circle of hell for cowards?" I asked. I know that I have asked that before. I can't remember to whom.

"How are you going to fix this?" Michiko asked.

"I don't know!" I said.

"Is that the best you can do?"

"What do you want me to do, huh?"

"Stop acting like a little bitch! Get your shit together for crying out loud!"

"Wow! When did you get so rude?!"

"I'm just as tired as you are. But I keep fighting. We have to stop this madness again. I want this cycle to end."

"But what's the point? We're never going to win this game. You know that! I know that! Why do you still keep fighting?!" I paused when she didn't answer.

"Because they dragged him into this," she said in a quiet voice. I should've known. It all comes back to him.

"It's too late for him," I said.

"I know that!" Michiko's voice made my ears ring. I heard her clench her fists at her sides.

"We all have sacrificed something to that woman. You gave up your memories, your voice, your ability to feel anything, and your sight. I gave up my adult body and my magic. Your wife gave up her body. Masaomi already ended up giving up his heart. I just don't want him to sacrifice any more just to satisfy their sick game!"

"You don't think I don't know that?"

"Then why won't you fight?"

I didn't have the heart to tell her. She wasn't the only one pushing me to fight though.

There's been a girl who's been haunting me since the day after Christmas. I have never seen her before in my life. I kept seeing her at the entrance to a dead forest. She looked like a normal schoolgirl at first glance. That was until I saw her eyes.

The silver glow made me shiver. Her eyes looked so dead. That girl didn't say anything. She kept her eyes on me. My heart pounded against my chest. I gulped as I stepped back.

"What do you want from me?" I asked. She didn't answer. I noticed a dried skeleton sitting in front of her. I shook my head frantically. No. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.

Her voice came through my head.

Don't let her die.

I froze. "What are you talking about?" She held out her hand. I took another step back. Everything around her looked dead.

I saw her again last night. She still had that dead silver stare. She held out her hand again. That girl still had the same message in my head.

Don't let her die.

This time, she sounded like Michiko. I wanted to run away again. My feet stayed in place. She didn't have to do anything to show me that she wasn't going to let me go.

"What do you want from me?" I heard her voice again.

Don't let her die!

I could've sworn I saw something flicker in her eyes. Almost like she was angry at me for not fighting anymore. I lowered my head.

"I can't."

You have to try. Don't let her die! Her words caught me off-guard. The dream ended before I had a chance to respond.

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"To fight!" Michiko shouted.

"Please! I don't have it in my anymore. I'm tired. I can't do this anymore."

"Bullshit!" What was it going to take? Was she the one sending me all of those dreams? That can't be possible. If it was, she would've done it on day one. So why?

I grabbed the sides of my head. Why won't this loop ever end?

I heard Michiko huff and turn away. Was she leaving? I lifted my head.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm going with Ryugamine-kun to stop this Sonomi girl," she said. "You better get your shit together by the time I get back." I didn't move as she walked out the door.

"She's right, you know?"

Huh? A pair of gracefully ghostly hands brushed against my neck. My spine stiffened. The last thing I remembered before blacking out was a soft whisper tickling my ear. I couldn't make out what the voice said.

I came back to myself when I heard singing. Something inside me told me that I wasn't dreaming. My eyes were blurry at first. Still, I could make out someone in front of me. A hand reached out and touched my eyes. When my vision cleared, I saw a woman staring at me. She started talking to me, but no sound came out.

Are you alright?

I gave her a blank stare. Her small beautiful face looked so familiar but I couldn't place her. Her name is on the tip of my tongue but I can't say it. The woman floated back as I tried to think of a response. It was then I got a better look at her.

Her dull green kimono looked like it was to swallow up her skinny frame. My eyes felt dizzy as I stared at the pale-colored roses on the fabric. I closed my eyes and shook my head. Her long black hair floated around her head. She looked just as pale as the rabbit in her arms.

I made a face at her. "Have we met before?" She stared at me silently. I shook my head. No, of course not. I had a suspicion of what this maiden was doing here. All of the women in my dreams keep saying the same thing. I braced myself for her words to fill my head.

There's something I need to show you.

She placed her hand on my forehead. A jolt shot through my body. A heavy black curtain shaded over my eyes.

A strange image filled my eyes. Noriko was sitting on the floor in front of a skeleton. At least I think it was her. The only dusty bones held out a red rose to her. I didn't know what I was looking at. She looked like she was going to lean in and kiss the skeleton.

"What is this?" I asked. The skeleton kissed the girl who was supposed to be the reincarnation of my wife. I think I've seen this scene before. A pair of ghostly hands rested on my shoulders.

"What is going on here? Is that really her? Is she in danger?" I asked.

Yes, that is your wife. As for her being in danger, this is just the early signs.

"What does that mean?"

How much do you love your wife? Be honest.

I've heard this question before. And I have seen this vision before too. I close my eyes. I know what the answer is. It's always the same call to save my wife from this endless nightmare. No matter how many times I have tried to tell them how tired I am or how I don't have it in me anymore, they keep pushing me to fight.

"Why does that matter?"

I'm sorry?

"It's just going to be the same. I can't do this anymore."

So you are just going to give up?

"I love her but that love is taking all that I have left. The way you keep using my love to push me to be the brave hero all over again isn't fair. The more I try, the more it blows up in my face. Yes, I love my wife. Why do you think I keep pushing her away?"

That's not good enough!

I let out a dry laugh. "It never is, is it?" I should know by now. That devilish woman was taking more and more each time we were forced to come to her. I have tried to quit but those bastards kept forcing me back.

She needs you!

She stabbed her hand straight through my back. I let out a strangled gasp. My vision started skipping around. The skeleton in front of me grew flesh and changed into a wolf. My wife screamed as the beast jumped forward. He bit down on her chest. She looked so much smaller in his grasp. She might as well have been a little girl to that beast of a wolf.

"Noriko-chan!" I tried to scream out to her but my voice wouldn't come out. She was just in my reach but I couldn't touch her. What was this? This has never happened before. That wolf, who was now dressed in a nice suit, pulled out Noriko's heart from her chest. She didn't make a sound as blood ran from her mouth.

"Let me go! What are you doing to her?!" I fought the icy grasp. My feet struggled to maintain ground.

You have to see this!

"No! Get off me! Let me go!" I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to break away from her grasp. I let out a pain-filled gasp as I pitched forward. I ran forward on wobbly legs.

"Noriko!" I ran over to her as the wolf man was eating my wife's heart. I reached out to grab her arm but she and the monster vanished before my eyes. I froze. What just happened?

A door on the other side slid open. I looked up as light slipped into the room. A woman stood in the doorway. I gulped as I got a good look at her nape and her backside. Her black kimono clung to her slender body. She held up a large reddish-pink paper umbrella above her head. The fancy hairpins holding long black hair up in a bun looked familiar.

Wait… That can't be!

The woman started walking away. I jolted back to attention.

"Wait!" I ran after her. When I got to the doorway, she and everything else around me vanished. I was left floating in the darkness. This time, I felt a cold feeling build up in my chest. I started breathing heavily.

"Makoto!"

I turned to see a person in a gray hoodie and jeans standing in front of me. Their face obscured their face. I took a slow step back.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You don't have time! You have to get back and end this!" he yelled. I shook my head.

"I can't," I said.

"You have to. All of this isn't going to go away. It will keep repeating itself. You will have blood on your hands." The figure sighed and dropped their shoulders.

"We're tired of seeing you suffer. I can't stand to see you both in pain anymore. You have to end this and save her from them and herself!"

I stared at them dumbfounded. What was this person talking about? We? You both? This didn't make any sense.

"What are you talking about? Who are you?" I asked.

"You don't have much time! I'm taking you back right now. We can't stay here. It won't be long before they spot us!" They grabbed my wrist before I had a chance to ask any questions. A hazy orange light started to glow from their hand. They said one more thing to me before I vanished again.

"You have to get it right this time. Don't fuck it up."

"Makoto? Makoto?"

My usually darkened vision started to clear up. I could see a person standing in front of me in a blur. I blinked several times. Suddenly, my vision cleared up. A woman with long dark blue hair was kneeling in front of me. She had a concerned look on her face.

"Are you alright?" the lady asked. I stared at her for a long second.

"Michiko?" I asked.

"You can see me?" she asked. I gave her a confused look.

"When did you get so old?" I asked. Michiko frowned at me at first. I thought that she was going to yell at me, but instead she folded her arms across her chest.

"Are you going to help me end this or not?" she asked. I lifted my chin and dropped my shoulders.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" I asked. Michiko shook her head. I sighed and lifted my head. Fine, I will pick up the mantle again.