Chapter 9.

Where is this place?

Suzuri felt weightless. He could not feel anything except for a faint sweet smelling breeze. It was the scent of Chrysanthemums carried by the midnight air. Suddenly he felt a great sense of sorrow but he could no longer cry for he had no eyes to cry from.

Why does this scent cause me to be filled with so such grief?

It’s alright… Forget about everything… you do not have to suffer any longer… A soothing male voice filled the void. You do not need anyone… You are with me now and forever…

Who are you? Why can I only hear you? Suzuri cried out. There was no reply.

Where am I? Why do you want me to forget? Forget what? Or…

Suddenly a loud scream echoed across the darkness, tearing it apart as bright lights filled the enclosure: “I love you! Now, then and forever!”

Kana! Suzuri suddenly felt a jolt of energy pass through him. I must save her!

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The world was raining fire. Aiseki who had possessed Suzuri’s body was fighting Izumi with such furry that it seemed as though the world was about to end. Locked within a time shield, the destruction within can be erased if Izumi wins the battle. However, her strength was weakening. It became more and difficult to both fight Aiseki and protect Kana at the same time.

“Why do you care so much about whether or not that bratty little girl is alive? If you let me kill her then you can focus all your energy on me.” Aiseki chuckled as he carelessly lobbed a bolt of lightning upon the glowing dome of light that was shielding Kana. Izumi retaliated by hurdling a fire ball towards him forcing him to move.

“Her time is not up. But yours is overdue!” Izumi began to send one fire ball after another trying her best to prevent Aiseki from getting near kana.

“Izumi! Don’t worry about me! Please tell me how I can help! Please tell me how I can bring Suzuri back!” Kana yelled out.

“Worry about your self you idiot! Do you realize that all the suffering Suzuri had to go through for so long was so that he could protect you? Quit doing this selfless act and stay put!” Izumi shouted while trying to doge Aiseki’s attacks.

In truth she realized that she was fighting a losing battle. Aiseki was right; she could not bring herself to fight Aiseki fully, not when he’s possessing Suzuri’s body. Damn it! How did this happen! How could you’ve been so careless Suzuri!

Seeing how he had the upper hand, Aiseki yelled out: “How pathetic you both are. And to think all this effort for what? This is why all of you should just die!”

That being said, Aiseki summon a rain of lightening. There were so many bolts that it was impossible for Izumi to avoid them all. As a final attempt, she willed all her energy towards the barrier around Kana. As the last bolt fell from the sky so did Izumi.

“No!” screamed Kana as the barrier around her faded. She ran towards Izumi. She lay helplessly upon the ground; the blood, trickling from her lips, matched the crimson within her eyes.

“I couldn’t kill him…” Izumi muttered in a weak voice.

“Well, well, well what a pathetic pair… I suppose it’s about time to finish this!” shouted Aiseki as he began to walk towards them. When he was within striking range, he lifted his right hand and was about to release the final blow when suddenly, he froze. His eyes widened. “What? What are you doing! Let go! No!” He screamed. Then, suddenly, his eyes changed from a deep blue to a stormy gray.

“Izumi! I don’t have much time. So please! I beg of you! Kill me now while he’s still trapped in my body! This will be your only chance!”

Weakened but not fatally wounded, Izumi began to pick herself up. “No Izumi! Wait!” Kana cried. Her eyes were filled with tears but there was a smile upon her face: “Suzuri! Is that you? Is that really you?” She began to walk toward him.

“No Kana, don’t come any closer! I won’t be able to hold him much longer…” Suzuri’s voice was firm but it wavered against the weight of Aiseki’s soul.

“It’s alright…” replied Kana. “I’ve had enough. We’ve been separated for far too long and to imagine living without you… I’d rather go with you to the depth of hell than be left alone. Suzuri… I love you!”

Kana lifted her hand and pulled Suzuri towards her and their lips meet for the first time.

Izumi watched as the eons upon eons of missed opportunities slipped by them and now it truly felt as through two infinities had suddenly became one. With tear filled eyes, Izumi lifted her hand. This is what I was supposed to do… My destiny… With one last glimpse at the two ethereal figures, she released all of her remaining energy. With blinding light the two disappeared, but they disappeared… Together.

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Mokushi sat peacefully within her mansion. Izumi appeared before her; although still battered, Izumi knew her external wounds will eventually heal but she felt dead within.

“You have completed your task my child. For that you will be rewarded.” Mokushi’s voice was smooth but firm.

“I do not wish for any rewards. I wish to resign. I wish to no longer be a guardian and forsake my immortal life.” Izumi’s voice was hollow and her eyes were empty.

“You realize, Izumi, that you are asking me to destroy you?”

“Yes.” Izumi replied simply.

“Why?” Mokushi asked.

“Because I do not wish to take loved ones away from each other. I do not want to feel the agony of their loss. It is a burden that I cannot handle anymore.” Izumi’s voice quivered as tears began to fill her eyes.

“You know that’s exactly what he said to me when he was told to retrieve the soul of that young girl Kana.” Mokushi let out a long sigh before she continued: “Izumi, love is a precious thing but what makes love so precious is because it is not something that we can hold on to. It is simply something for us to cherish. When the person is gone love still remains and the soul will continue to thrive as it is moved from one being to another. This is why we guardian’s exist. We carry these precious souls filled with love and place them into a new life. Even though their physical bodies are gone, their soul will still remain as one. You will see, when they are reborn again, they will find each other. That’s what makes love so beautiful because it will transcend all obstacles.”

Mokushi stood up and placed a warm hand upon Izumi’s shoulders and smiled.

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15 years later…

A young man wearing a high school uniform stood by the bus stop. His stormy gray eyes stared nervously at his feet. It was the first day of school and he had just moved to this town with his parents. Suddenly the roaring of the bus engine could be heard as it pulled around the corner and head toward the bus stop. Finally! I thought it was never going to come! The boy let out a long sigh. There were many people around him, suit wearing salerymen, mother’s going to the grocery store, and a few middle school kids. He waited patiently behind everyone to get on the bus. Just as he stepped upon the bus steps he heard a loud shout.

“WAIT FOR ME!” A slender girl with bright red hair and soft brown eyes came bounding down the street. She was running as fast as she could and narrowly missed running into an elderly gentlemen crossing in front of her.

The boy stood in the door well preventing the doors from closing. He stretched out his hand and as the bus started to pull away from the curb, she jumped and caught his hand.

“Phew! That was close!” The girl gasped once she’s safely standing on the bus steps.

“That was quite a run!” The boy commented with a chuckle.

“Oh! You have the same uniform as me!” The girl exclaimed as she looked up at his face.

And when their eyes meet, they both felt their heart quicken and a wave of warmth flooding their souls.

It is exactly as Mokuoshi-sama said…

Izumi watched from afar as the bus door closed.

Their souls will find each other… Because they are bonded by love.

END

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Author’s note:

The story has finally ended… Three and a half years… What a journey! I hope everyone enjoyed it! I may actually make this into a manga so please give me feedback! Also checkout my artwork at Deviantart (just google Deviantart and search for Jinny527)

Thank you for all the support!

JCT