CHAPTER 35

The End of Everything

            Kitai ran through the canyon, going as fast as she could.  The demons all turned to her, not having time to react in any other way.  She was too fast for them.  The ones up ahead managed to notice her before she reached them and began preparing attacks.  However, they never got to fire them.  The other agents were shooting each one before they could.  They were making a path for Kitai.

            She glanced back at them, a slightly grim look on her face.  She didn’t notice when a demon came up in front of her.  She turned just as it began bringing its claws down.  However, it never hit.  A laser pulse raced towards it, piercing it through the chest.  Kitai turned around and saw Tori standing there, his gun poised.

“Keep going!” he shouted.  “We’ll take care of things here!”

“Alright,” she said as she continued on her way.  All of you…please stay alive.  She kept running, heading deeper into the gorge.  She had to find the demon lord, and she knew that Setra would lead her there.  All she had to do was keep running.

“Sir!” shouted a DIA official as he ran into Mike’s office.  The commander looked up instantly, a serious expression on his face.

“What is it?” he asked the man.

“It’s the demons!  They’ve picked up their pace!”  Mike stood up abruptly and ran out the door, followed by the official.  They went to the main control room and to the console.  Mike looked up at it and noticed that the massive swarm of red was already to Orion.

“How much time does this give us?” he asked the official.

“About two hours if they continue at this pace.”  Mike cursed under his breath.  He had told Kitai to finish her mission in two days, but that was only because he thought they’d have five.  Now the demons were within two hours of New Hope.

“What should we do?” asked another of the officials.  All eyes were on Mike.  Mark stood by the door, waiting for his commander to say something.  Mike just stared at the floor, not having a response.  There was no place for them to run to now.  This was it.  New Hope was all they had left.

“I don’t know,” he said seriously.  “I just don’t know anymore.  This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Commander,” said Mark, drawing Mike’s attention.  “We still have options.  We’re the DIA, aren’t we?  We can arm everyman with a weapon.  If the agents can take out the demons on their own, we can too.  I know those monsters outnumber us, but we have to defend this base.  Everyone on this continent and the others are relying on us.  After the demons finish here, they’ll move on and kill the rest of the race.  We can’t give up.”

“Mark…are you really suggesting that we fight them?”

“If that idiot Tori can take out over ten on his own, we can surely do it,” he said with a smirk.  “Who knows?  Maybe the war will end in the next two hours.  Have a little faith in your agents.  Don’t you remember what Setra said?”

“What?” questioned Mike.

“A hybrid like Kitai can become powerful enough to destroy the demon lord.  We need to have faith in her.”  Mike couldn’t help but smile.  Mark had hated Kitai, but now he was talking about believing in her.

“Alright,” he said with a nod.  “We’ll defend this base with our lives, and I’ll put my faith in my agents.”  Mark nodded and then left the room.  There was a lot of preparing to do.  Two hours wasn’t a lot of time, but it was all they had before the demons would reach their base.

Jake and Kaya were blasting at every demon they saw, not caring about what it was doing or where it was located.  They stayed close together, watching each others’ back.  Tori, on the other hand, was slowly straying away from the area.  Despite what Kitai had said, he wanted to follow.  He just needed an excuse as to why he had to go that way.

“I’m going further ahead,” he told Jake and Kaya.  “There are a few demons this way as well.”

“Just don’t go too far!” yelled Jake as he shot down two more demons.  “You know what Kitai said!”

“I know, I know,” he said as he ran off, heading deeper into the gorge.  He ran for a while without seeing any demons, but when he turned a small corner, he came face to face with about twenty.  He poised his gun and began blasting, keeping them away.  However, one slipped past his defenses and raised its clawed hand, ready to lash out at him.

The gorge was beginning to widen the further she ran.  At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to see the other side soon.  She kept going, the fog slowly lifting.  She hadn’t run into a single demon yet, which she found slightly odd.  The demon lord wouldn’t be without a defense, would he?  Then again, according to Setra, he didn’t need one.  The demon lord was stronger than any creature.  However, it made Kitai wonder why he didn’t just kill them all himself.  Why use the other demons?

            She came to a wall in the gorge, a tunnel through it.  She decided to go through.  She needed to reach the other side.  The tunnel was dark, as expected, but it wasn’t very deep.  It didn’t take her long at all to reach the other side.  What she saw shocked her.  She was in a huge, circular area.  She had reached the end of the gorge.  There were huge rock structures everywhere, some making the area seem smaller.  She walked behind one and began to move with caution, trying to remain unnoticed.

“Here’s here,” said Setra, her voice echoing through Kitai’s mind.

“Are you sure?” whispered Kitai.

“Yes.  He should be right up ahead.  I can feel it.”  Kitai began to move slowly, not making a sound.  She quickly moved to another rock formation, ducking behind it.  This one was huge, extending probably for a mile up.  She moved cautiously and peeked over a smaller portion of it.  Her eyes widened, her heart seeming to stop.  By the far wall was a demon, one larger than even the one she had fought at Orion the first time.  Its body was black, its claws whiter than pearl, and its eyes redder than the devil’s.  The very sight of the massive creature made her body tremble.

“My God…” she whispered in shock.

“Keep it together, Kitai,” said Setra.  “You’ll need every bit of focus to take him down.”  The demon lord shifted, his eyes gleaming.  He turned to face the rock formation, and Kitai froze, unable to even tremble.  His eyes were staring directly into hers.  A toothy smirk appeared, his white teeth standing out against his dark body.

“I know you’re there, human,” he spoke, his voice deep.  It was like the voice of the devil, dripping with every bit of hate and arrogance possible.  Kitai’s breath caught in the back of her throat.  She couldn’t speak.  She couldn’t move.  Nothing was responding.  “Why don’t you come out…Kitai Matsuru?”  Kitai’s eyes widened as she stepped out from behind the rock formation.

“You…know my name?” she asked.

“Of course.  A human with your powers doesn’t come around very often.  We all know of you.  I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”  He raised one of his large clawed hands.  “It’s time for you to die.”

Tori was backhanded by a demon, sending him into the wall of the gorge.  His gun was sent flying, smashing against a jutting rock.  That was it.  That had been his only defense.  He simply sat there on the ground, getting to his hands and knees slowly.  He raised his head and noticed that there were about twenty demons a distance in front of him.  Simultaneously, they opened their mouths, the familiar blue glow appearing.  There was no way out of it.  He closed his eyes as the beams fired, waiting for the collision and the pain that would follow.  However, it never came.

            Tori opened his eyes and looked up in front of him.  Standing there was a demon, a chronic demon, to be exact.  It was male and had brown feathered wings and dark hair.  He had his hand extended, dividing the single large beam of demonic energy.  He was keeping it from Tori.  The boy was currently in a small state of shock.  He recognized the figure in front of him, but couldn’t put his finger on it.

“You are…” he said while standing, his legs wobbling a little.  The demon turned to him, his black eyes gleaming, a smirk on his face.

“Come on, Sheeden.  Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already,” spoke the demon.

“Ryden?” questioned Tori.

“Of course.  How many other chronic demons do you know?”  Tori had to smile at that.

“I really owe you for this.”

“Think nothing of it.  You can repay me by helping your hybrid win this war.”  Two things hit Tori at that moment.  Number one, he had promised to stay out of the battle.  Number two, Kitai was not his.

“I thought I told you,” he began.  “Kitai isn’t mine.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” responded Ryden.  “But seriously, help her win this.  There’s something she doesn’t know about the demon lord.”

“What?”

“The demonic energy of the demon lord is unlike ours.  We destroy things physically, but his attacks destroy the soul.”

“The soul?”

“Exactly.  If you’re hit with one, your soul will be destroyed.  It’s a slow and painful process.  After the attack ends, you only have a few moments before your soul shatters completely.  You die…permanently.”  Tori’s eyes widened out of fear.  “You need to tell her before it’s too late.”

“I understand.”  He stood up completely and turned to his right.  “Thanks Ryden.”

“There’s no need to thank me.  Just stay alive, alright?”  Tori smiled.

“You got it,” he said as he began to sprint, heading deeper into the gorge.  Ryden’s eyes followed him.  “Stay alive…Sheeden.  This isn’t a time to be reckless.”  He then turned his attention to the demons in front of him.  “Pathetic.”  He began charging his own attack, ready to fight off his own race for the end of the war.

“Sir!” shouted a DIA official as he ran into the control room.  Mike turned to him, awaiting whatever news he was bringing.  “The demons are just outside of New Hope!”  Mike cursed under his breath.  At this rate, the first base would meet the same fate that the other two had met only a few days ago.  This time, there was nowhere for them to run.

“Sir, what should we do?” asked another official.  Maria came up next to her husband, taking his hand.  Mike turned his attention to the floor.  What should I do?  At this rate, all of us will…

“Commander,” said Mark, walking through the door.  Everyone was now focused on him.  “I gave every official a gun and moved the civilians into the safest part of the base.”

“Alright,” said Mike softly.  Maria squeezed his hand, drawing his attention.

“Have faith,” she whispered.  He nodded to her and turned to his subordinates.

“Get ready men!” he shouted.  “This will be the final battle!  We need to buy our agents some more time!”

“Yes sir!”  Mike hung his head once again.  Let’s pray this works.  I’m counting on you…Kitai.

The demon lord swung his large hand, but Kitai jumped to dodge.  However, he swung his other, backhanding her into the wall.  She cried out as the rocks behind her broke under the force of the blow.  She hit the ground, but quickly got back up.  She launched her own attack, but the demon lord batted it away as if it were nothing.  Kitai’s eyes widened in both shock and horror.  The demon lord swung at her again, backhanding her into yet another wall.  There wasn’t anything she could do.  She wanted to save her secret until she really needed the extra power.  Her hybrid abilities were her only trump card, but she was beginning to think that not even that would be enough to take this demon out.

            Unknown to her, Tori was now coming into the area.  He ran quietly to a rock formation, ducking behind it.  When he peered over it, he could see Kitai fighting with a huge demon.  He was paralyzed by fear the second his eyes fell on the massive creature.

“My God…” he whispered.  Never before had he seen a demon like this one.  It was huge, larger than even the one he had fought at Orion with Kitai.  His eyes soon fell on Kitai as she pushed herself back up.  She was taking in some serious damage.

“Human,” spoke the demon lord, his cold eyes on Kitai.  “Why do you insist on fighting?  Why not let the war end?  Let us win it.”

“Never!” she screamed.  “I won’t let you kill us!  Even your chronic demons want you dead, and I refuse to abandon them!”

“So you are fighting for both your race and mine?  Absurd.  You know nothing, child.”

“I know that this war started because of you!  Killing your own son and daughter…it’s disgusting!”  The demon lord simply laughed.

“A reaction that was expected from a human.”  Kitai clenched her fists and jumped high into the air.  She began to prepare a larger attack, fueled with her anger.  However, right when she was about to launch it, the demon lord swung at her, his large claws cutting her cloak right off.  She dropped the attack and landed, thankful that he had only gotten her cloak.  She was backhanded once again, sending her into the wall and then bouncing forwards, landing hard on the ground.

            From his hiding spot, Tori fought the urge to run to her, knowing he’d only make things more difficult if he did.  He had to stay hidden.  He had promised her that he wouldn’t get involved.  This was her battle.  However, his urge increased when he noticed what the demon lord was doing. 

In the lord’s massive mouth appeared a blue sphere made of demonic energy.  Kitai stood up, her legs shaking a little.  She extended her arm and began to prepare her own attack, determined to at least cancel out the demon lord’s own.  However, he began to laugh at her.  It was a deep, throaty laugh that echoed off the walls of the gorge.

“What’s so funny?” she questioned.

“You don’t get it,” he said.  “You can’t do anything against my power.”

“We’ll see about that.”  He just laughed again.

“Fool.  A physical attack will have no affect against mine.”

“What?”  Her arm lowered slightly, her eyes widening.

“My power won’t destroy your body.  It’ll destroy your soul!  Now human, die!”  And with that said, he launched the attack.  Kitai wanted to move, but she couldn’t.  Her legs were barely able to hold her own weight, let alone move her to safety.  She could do nothing but stand there and stare on in fear as the sphere sailed towards her.

“Kitai!” shouted Tori as he jumped over the formation he had been hiding behind, leaving behind all rational thought.  He ran to her, completely forgetting the promise he had made about staying away.  He had another promise to keep, one that was more important to him.  He sprinted towards her, pushing himself to his limit.  He had to reach her.  He didn’t care anymore.  He didn’t care about the pain, about dying, or about anything other than saving Kitai.  There wasn’t time for him to think of a way to save them both.

            He got within reach and leapt towards her, reaching out.  He used all the strength he had to shove her to the side.  Everything seemed to slow down as Kitai fell to the ground, her eyes on Tori.  He didn’t even have time to touch down on the ground.  The sphere collided with him, devouring him in the light.  He cried out in excruciating pain.  Tears spilled from Kitai’s eyes at the very sound.

“Tori!!” she cried out.  At that moment, the atmosphere changed.

A demon was just about to bring its claws down on Kaya when it suddenly stopped.  In fact, everything seemed to stop.  The demons weren’t moving, but simply looking around.  Kaya stood up and walked cautiously over to Jake.

“Did you feel that?” he asked her, also looking around.

“Yeah, but what was it?  If kind of felt like being shocked.”  The sound of wings against the wind caught their attention as a chronic demon landed on a high jutting rock.  He crossed his arms and extended his wings.

“I see the two of you felt it as well,” he said as they raised their guns to him.  He simply glanced down at them, a calm expression on his face.  “Relax.  I’m not here to cause you any trouble.”

“Who are you?” questioned Kaya.

“My name is Ryden.”

“What was that feeling?” asked Jake as he and Kaya lowered their guns.  Ryden turned his attention back to the demons around him.

“That was the power of Setra,” he explained.

“Setra?” questioned Kaya.  “You mean Kitai’s power?”

“No, I mean Setra’s.  It’s like a change in the atmosphere.  It’s caused by an extreme emotion, something along the lines of fear, hatred, determination, whatever is stronger at the time.  This time, I’m sure demons everywhere felt it.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the demon lord himself was currently paralyzed with fear.”

“But what kind of thing could cause Setra to act like that?” asked Jake.  “What kind of event can draw this powerful of an emotion?”  Ryden didn’t respond, but he did think it over.  He knew that Setra was connected to Kitai.  Her emotions were also Setra’s.  If Kitai was angry, Setra would be able to feel that.  However, what was stronger than all the others?  He racked his brain for an answer, wanting to know why this emotion had paralyzed him for even the amount it did.

“I hope Tori is alright,” whispered Kaya.  “I wonder why he ran off on his own like that.  Kitai told us to stay away.”

“You know Tori,” responded Jake.  “He never does what he’s told, especially when it comes to Kitai.  He’d give up everything for her.”  Ryden listened into what they were saying.

“Everything?” he questioned quietly to himself.  “Even his soul?”  His eyes widened with realization.  He knew that Tori loved Kitai more than his own life…more than his very soul.  For such an extreme emotion to be released, something really drastic had to have happened.

“Sheeden,” he whispered out in fear, catching the attention of both Jake and Kaya.

“Sheeden?” she questioned.  “Do you…know Tori?”  Ryden turned his attention to the two of them.

“I do,” he told them softly.  There was nothing else he could say.  He didn’t want to tell them that the emotion that they had felt was fear caused by the death of a loved one.

A surge of emotion flowed through the demon lord, paralyzing him with fear and shock.  His attack ended, sending Tori flying across the area.  He hit the ground and skidded for a few yards before stopping.

“What is this?” whispered the demon lord, his voice trembling.  “That felt like…Setra.”

“Tori!” shouted Kitai as she got to her feet and ran to him.  She quickly fell to her knees next to him.  His skin was pale, and he wasn’t moving.  Carefully, she lifted his upper body, cradling him in her arms.  She gripped his shoulder tightly and used her other hand to grab his.  His skin was ice cold.

“Tori!” she shouted, shaking him.  There was no response.  “Tori?  Tori!”  Still there was nothing.  Her tears began to rebuild in her eyes.  “Wake up, please!  Open your eyes!  Tori!”  She shook him once more.  “Tori!”  He finally inhaled sharply, his eyes opening halfway.

“Hey Kitai,” he said softly, his voice unable to go any higher.  He forced a smile onto his face and gave a soft chuckle.  “It looks like I won’t be getting my license back, huh?”  She couldn’t respond to him.  Her eyes could no longer hold her tears, now spilling them down her cheeks.

“I…I told you to stay out of it.  I told you not to get involved,” she scolded, trying to keep her voice steady.

“You should know by now that I never listen.  I came here to warn you about the demon lord…about his power.  I wasn’t in time to tell you, so I…”

“Don’t you understand?” she cut in.  “Do you have any idea…what’ll happen to you?  You’ll die…permanently.  You won’t even…exist in the afterlife.”

“I know that.”  Kitai lowered her head, turning away from him.  She released his hand and simply tightened her hold on him.

“Then why?” she asked softly, her body trembling.  “Why did you do it?  Why did you save me?!”  Her shoulders shook with each sob as she kept her head low, avoiding Tori’s eyes.  She suddenly felt his hand against her cheek.  She tensed and turned to face him, their eyes meeting.  He gently rubbed his thumb against her cheek, wiping away her tears.

“I did it…” he began, “…because I love you, Kitai.”  Her eyes widened, her tears stopping.  “I’d rather die than live without you.”

“Tori…”

“Kitai, promise me that you’ll win this, alright?  There are so many people counting on you right now.  You’re the only one who can do this, so please kill him.  Kill the demon lord.  End this war…for everyone’s sake.  Show him what a hybrid can do.”

“But Tori, I…”

“Please Kitai.”  She hesitated, her eyes softening.

“I promise,” she whispered.  He exhaled deeply, closing his eyes.

“That’s good,” he whispered.  “I don’t know what I’d do…if you were…to die.”  His body shook as the simply act of breathing suddenly became difficult for him.  “S-stay alive…Kitai…”  His hand slipped from her face, falling lifelessly next to him as his chest ceased to rise.  Kitai’s eyes were wide as she just stared at him.  He was gone.  He was really gone.  The one person she had tried so desperately to keep alive was now lying lifelessly in her arms.  A fresh batch of tears came to her eyes.

“Tori…” she said in a pained whisper, her tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Pathetic,” stated a deep voice.  Kitai tensed the second it reached her ears.  “Foolish human, giving his life for a pointless cause.  The human race will die the same way he did…permanently.”  Kitai clenched fists, gritting her teeth.

“Shut up!” she hissed angrily at the demon.  “Just shut up!”  She gently laid Tori down on the ground and began to stand up, going slowly.  “I’m sick of your voice.  I’m sick of you.”  She kept her head down while turning to him, her fists still clenched.  “I’ll end this war.  I promised Tori.  I won’t let his sacrifice be in vain.”

“There’s nothing a mere human can do,” laughed the demon lord.  “Your weak and frail human soul will break easily…just like his.”

“I said shut up!”  Her aura soon exploded from her, sending a bone chilling wind through the whole area.  She raised her head, her eyes meeting his.  It was as if she was looking right through him.  “This war will end now!”  Her pearl white wings extended from her back, her nails increasing in length and power.  Her wings grew to a length that nearly doubled their original size.  She flexed her fingers, her eyes narrowing.  The demon lord’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Kitai Matsuru…you’re a hybrid,” he stated.  She said nothing to him.  He quickly began to prepare an attack, launching it only seconds later.  “I won’t let you win!  This war is over!”  Kitai did nothing.  She simply stood there.  When the sphere got within a few feet of her, the winds circling her devoured it, ripping it to peaces.  “How?!” shouted the demon.  “How did you do that?!”

“I’m not about to lose to you,” she stated.  “We will end this pointless war that you began!”  Her aura flared as her eyes flashed to white.  When they reappeared, her cerulean eyes were speckled with an ice blue.  Her cerulean hair took on a silver sheen as she began to look slightly like Setra.

“Impossible,” stated the demon lord.  “Just what are you?”  Kitai simply smirked.

“There’s someone who wants to talk to you,” she stated as she closed her eyes, reopening them to an ice blue.  Setra was now in control.

“Father,” she said to the demon lord.  “It’s been a long time.”  The demon lord’s eyes widened considerably.

“Setra…” he whispered.

“Yes,” she stated, her eyes hard.  “I warned you, father.  I told you what would happen if you started this war, but you didn’t listen.”

“You’re supposed to be dead!”  Setra just smirked.

“I probably would be if it hadn’t been for Kitai.  I owe her my life.  I’m going to repay the favor by helping her kill you.”

“Why are you doing this?  Why are you siding with the humans?!”

“Because unlike you, I’ve seen what they can do!  They aren’t weak like you say they are!  Sure, not all of them are good, but they at least try to get along!  You wouldn’t even give them a chance!  You were afraid of them, so you wanted them killed before they could kill you.  That was your first mistake!”

“What are you talking about?”

“By trying to kill me to heighten this war, all you did was guarantee this encounter!  And by killing Tori, you brought forth your own death!  You created what Kitai is now!  A true hybrid!  You may have had a chance if you hadn’t killed that boy.”  The demon lord said nothing, his body trembling.  “This is it.  Farewell…father.”  She closed her eyes, reopening them to Kitai’s.

“It’s time to end this,” she stated, beating her large wings against the air.  She was soon level with him, her eyes never leaving his.  A blue sphere began to form in front of her, growing quickly.

“I won’t let you win this!” shouted the demon lord as he prepared his own attack.  “I won’t be killed by a worthless hybrid!”  He fired his sphere, but it never reached her.  The winds enveloping her absorbed the energy, adding it to her own sphere.

“You can’t touch me,” she stated.  “I’ll make sure you can never touch anyone again.”  Her sphere stopped growing.  She placed her hands behind it, palms facing forwards.  “It’s time to end this.”

“No!  I’ll never be killed!  This war can’t end yet!”

“This war is over!  Die!”  The sphere erupted into a torrent of pure energy, swirling towards the demon lord.  He was met head on with the energy.  Soon, his whole body was consumed by it.  He cried out in his deep voice as he was ripped limb from limb.  It was pain that he had never felt before.  He was being destroyed.  He was dying.  Was this the pain he had caused the humans?

            The pain soon increased and his cries got louder until he was unable to cry out any more.  His body dissolved in the light.  There was nothing left of him.  The lord of demons was finally gone.  The war was over at last.

“Here they come!” announced Mark as the base of New Hope shook violently.  Everyone was ready for the demons that they knew were coming.  They tightened their holds on the guns in their hands, their knuckles turning white.  Jamie and Maria stood by Mike, who also held a gun.  Every official was in the main control room, waiting for the battle to begin.

            Suddenly, the shaking stopped.  It was dead silent.  Everyone held their breath, waiting for the demons to restart their attack, but it never came.

“What’s going on?” asked Mike, turning to the man at the console.

“They…they stopped,” he said, surprised.

“Stopped?”

“They aren’t moving anymore.  All of them have just…stopped.”  Everyone watched the console.  It was true.  The massive swarm of red was still; not a single dot moved.  Suddenly, the swarm began to leave, heading away from their base.

“What’s…going on?” asked Mark, watching as the red dots slowly moved away from the city.  That was the question on everyone’s mind.  The demons were leaving them without finishing anything.

“What would make them leave?” asked an official.  Mike’s eyes suddenly widened.

“Could it be that…she won?” he asked softly, mainly to himself.  However, those around him had heard.

“What?” asked Mark.

“Did they leave because…because Kitai killed their lord?”  A quiet gasp emanated from a lot of the people in the room, thinking over the suggestion.  Maria smiled to her husband.

“I think that’s exactly it,” she told him.  Mike couldn’t fight back the smile that tugged at his lips.

“It’s over,” he said happily.  “It’s finally over!”  The room erupted into cheers.

Kitai’s shoulder slouched as the light finally faded, leaving nothing of the demon lord.  She slowly descended, touching down gently.  Her wings folded behind her, slowly disappearing.  Her nails shrunk back to their normal sizes as the silver disappeared from her hair, her eyes returning to only cerulean.  Her body hurt, but she didn’t care right now.  She simply stood up straight and turned to Tori.  Slowly, she made her way over to him, limping from the pain in her legs.

            She fell to her knees next to him, carefully lifting his upper body in her arms.  Tears built in her eyes as she pulled him close, his head resting on her shoulder.  She began to cry, her tears spilling from her eyes.  Her shoulders shook with each sob.

“Forgive me,” she whispered.  “It wasn’t supposed to end like this.  Nothing was supposed to happen to you.”  The one person I wanted to protect was the only one I couldn’t save.  She began to cry harder, burying her face in his chest.

“Kitai,” called a soft female voice.  Kitai did her best to calm down as she lifted her head and turned to her right.  Floating in the air only a few feet away was Setra, her body transparent.  “It’s over.  You ended the war.”  Kitai bit her bottom lip.  She didn’t care about the war.  She knew she should feel relieved, but nothing had turned out right.  Tori was dead.  Even if she were to die, she’d never see him again.  He was just…gone.

“I don’t care anymore,” she told Setra as she buried herself in Tori again.  “Tori is gone.  I’ll never see him again.  Nothing turned out right for me.”

“Kitai…there’s still the matter of the wish you made…”

“I don’t care.  Nothing matters anymore.”  There was so much pain in her voice.  Setra closed her eyes, a small smile appearing there.

“You know…” she began, making sure Kitai was listening.  “Healing a broken soul isn’t beyond my abilities.”  Kitai stopped crying, her eyes snapping wide open.  She turned to Setra, who just smiled softly.

“You…you can bring him back?”

“Yes…but Kitai…you only get one wish.  You won’t be able to be normal…ever.  You will forever be a hybrid, but my mind will finally be at rest.  I’ll still be a part of you, but I won’t really be with you.  Make your decision, Kitai.”  Kitai turned her attention back to Tori and gave a soft smile.  His words echoed through her mind.  He had told her that she didn’t have to change.  He liked her as a hybrid.

“There’s no decision to be made,” stated Kitai.  She turned her eyes to Setra.  “Please bring him back.”  Setra smiled.  She had known that Kitai would choose Tori.  There probably hadn’t been a need to even ask the question.

“Very well,” she said with a smile.  “Please move away from him.  This kind of thing is anything but easy.”  Kitai set Tori back down and walked away, waiting for Setra to grant her wish.

            Setra closed her eyes, her body glowing a soft blue.  The same light soon enveloped Tori.  Setra focused her mind, trying to piece back together Tori’s shattered soul.  After a few moments, his skin regained its color.  He suddenly inhaled sharply, air filling his lungs.  He opened his eyes and just lied there, getting used to all his senses again.  It was like being born.  His muscles hurt and his chest burned.  The sound of his heart beating filled his ears, drowning out everything else.

            The light faded, and he sat up, slightly confused.  He soon got fully to his feet and looked around.  He recognized the area, but he just couldn’t put any of it together.  Kitai was watching him, her eyes filling with tears, a smile on her face.

“Tori…” she whispered in pure joy.  The feeling soon overwhelmed her, and she ran to him.  “Tori!”  He quickly turned, just in time to catch her as she ran into his arms.  She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shirt.  “I was so scared.  I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Kitai…what happened?” he asked, confused.  “I thought that…I was…”

“Your wish has been granted, Kitai,” said Setra.  Kitai lifted her head and looked up at the demon, who was now nothing more than specks of light that were slowly fading.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

“Wish?” questioned Tori, looking from the light to Kitai.  He then recalled the conversation he had had with her the night before.  She had mentioned a wish, and she had told him exactly what she would wish for.  Realization soon hit him.

“Kitai,” he said, catching her attention.  He stared right into her eyes.  “Did you…did you use your wish…to bring me back?”  She just nodded to him.  “But I…I thought you wanted to become fully human.  You said you wanted it more than anything, that you’d give up everything to be human.”  Kitai just smiled.

“I guess my priorities have changed,” she said softly, lovingly.  He seemed a little surprised, but he soon became serious again.  He tightened his embrace, keeping his eyes on her.

“I hope you know,” he began, “I meant what I said…about loving you.  I really do love you, Kitai, even if you don’t feel the same way about me.”  He turned away slightly, avoiding her eyes.

“Tori?” she questioned, drawing his attention again.  She threw her arms around his neck, startling him slightly.  She lifted herself up, now standing on her toes.  She pressed her lips to his, surprising him, his eyes now wide.  It didn’t register right away that she was kissing him.  His mind was spinning at the feeling of her lips on his.  Before he could fully comprehend what was going on, she pulled away.

“I love you, Tori,” she told him softly.  “I used my wish on you because I didn’t want to keep living without you.  Your words helped me.”

“My words?” he questioned.

“You told me that you liked me as a hybrid, that I didn’t have to change.  I wanted to be with the boy who said that to me.  I did it because I love you.”  Tori couldn’t suppress his smile.  Hearing those words had placed him on cloud nine.  He bent down and captured her lips, and unlike him, she responded.  It was the most amazing feeling in the world.  His embrace tightened, drawing her closer.  I’ll never let you go, Kitai.  It was pure and simple bliss, and nothing could feel better.

Dear Journal

            It’s me again.  It’s been two months since the war ended and everything is finally returning to normal.  The DIA officials are working on rebuilding Remor and Darude.  People from the other continents are moving out here now that the demons are gone.  I think they all went back to Orion.  And now they have a new ruler.  Can you guess who?  It’s Ryden!  He’s still cocky, but he’s a decent leader.  He stops by occasionally to see how we’re doing.  He’s always saying things to Tori that make him blush, but I never ask about it.

            I’m glad to say that New Hope is in one piece.  I’m back in school again, and my peers are always asking about what I did during the summer.  There’s just not enough time to tell them everything.

            I have a new home now.  The first base is no longer a base.  Sure, the labs, the control room, and the simulator are all still there, but it’s not used for monitoring the demons anymore.  It’s just a living quarters now.  In fact, all the people who didn’t have homes to go back to (like me) are now living here.  Kaya’s parents even decided to come live here.  Mike, Maria, and Jamie are staying here as well, and I’m Jamie’s babysitter whenever the two of them go out for a while.  It’s kind of fun, actually, like having a little sister.  Jake stuck around too, which didn’t surprise me.  He’d miss us if he left.  Oh yeah, and Tori got his license back…but then lost it again after driving his motorcycle into a newly rebuilt wall.  He’ll never learn.  However, I think he got it back today…

            I’m happy to say that everything is working out fine.  I wasn’t sure what the end of the war would be like, but it all turned out for the best.  I can’t hear Setra’s voice anymore, and she no longer appears in my dreams, but it’s alright.  I don’t need protecting anymore.  Besides, there’s someone else who’s already great at the job.  No one could do it better.

The door to the room opened, drawing Kitai’s attention.  In her doorway stood Tori, his arms crossed, a smile on his face.  It was hard to catch him without one.

“Hey Kitai,” he greeted.  “Do you want to go for a ride?”  She smiled and turned back to her journal.

“Give a minute, alright?” she said as she began writing again.  She eventually signed it and closed the small book.  She stood up and walked over to Tori as he uncrossed his arms.  They began walking down the hall together, the same way they had done so many times before.  He was forever leading her somewhere.  However, he reached over and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer.  She blushed and put on a smile, her mind going to the last thing she had written in her journal.  Even though you’re no longer here, Setra, I thank you.  You’ve given me everything I ever dreamed of.  Some would say that this was the end…but I know that nothing ever ends, it only changes.  She looked up at Tori, at the smile on his face.  Thank you Setra…for showing me what matters.  I’m no longer alone, and nothing could feel better.

            She walked through the doors to the garage and watched Tori get on his bike.  She then followed suit.  They left the helmets behind, never having the need to use them.  As they got out onto the streets, they were met with a blue sky and a bright sun.  It hadn’t rained in a while now, and the sunny weather was making everyone feel better.

            Kitai tightened her grip on Tori and buried herself against his back.  The scenery didn’t matter, nor did the feeling of the wind against her skin.  All that mattered was being with the one person she loved more than anything.  It was the one feeling she had craved since the loss of her father, since the death of her mother.  It was the feeling of being whole.  She was finally free of her loneliness, of her pain.  She felt alive.  Open.  Free.  She was happy.  And nothing could feel better.