The battle had been raging on for a good amount of time, and the student council room had been completely destroyed. It was empty, but now, it looked like the kind of thing you'd see at a demolition sight.

The walls were destroyed, the ground was pocked with holes, and the interiors of the building could be seen.

Pipes and electrical units lined the walls.

Flames licked their way up and down, all throughout the room. Whatever was left of the lights barely illuminated the room.

Shindo jumped back, avoiding and spear combo from Greed. Waiting for the right moment, Shindo immediately stuck his spear out into the path of Greed's.

The momentum of the weapon was redirected, and as a result, Greed lost his balance briefly.

Shindo followed that with two slashes of his spear.

Greed used a flame spell to create a massive explosion in front of him and create distance, but it was too late to stop him from getting cut.

Greed's perfect black suit was now covered in dirt, scratches and blood. There were deep gashes at multiple points near his chest and arms. His face was covered in soot and dust, and his previously slicked back hair was disheveled.

Despite that, he stood tall, showing no signs of slowing down.

Shindo on the other hand, showed no sign of having taken any major damage. The dried blood that covered him did not belong to him. it was a mix of Greeds, and the beasts he had slain in the miasmic tear.

Greed placed a hand over the two newest scars that Shindo had given him. He ran his finger through them and then stared at the blood intently.

He then turned to look Shindo in the eyes. "No sign of fatigue. No sign of slowing down. And the hatred in your eyes has yet to leave."

Shindo did not respond to Greed's obvious taunts.

Greed's voice shifted abruptly. Now it belonged to what Shindo thought was an old man. "In my years of living, I have never seen such a monstrous existence."

As this man's voice spoke, Greed's eyes raved over Shindo's body in restrained admiration. Like someone admiring the beauty of a tiger. Strong, but deadly.

"Aura levels that are off the charts. Inhuman strength. Inhuman energy levels. Inhuman everything." The voice shifted to that of a middle-aged woman. As if mimicking the mocking tone that she was speaking with, Greed's eyes narrowed.

Doing his best to ignore the words of Greed's absorbed personalities, Shindo began to use his ability.

Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. That was the name it has been given.

It had been, Mira who had given it that name, right? It wasn't like he hated it. In fact, he liked it.

Although when he had tried to thank her, she seemed really nervous. But that was nothing new.

His ability allowed him to thoroughly analyze a technique and immediately come up with a way to neutralize it.

His eyes glowed a bright red as he activated the ability. Unfortunately, Raiden had spoiled the fun, so Shindo didn't get the joy he always experienced when analyzing a new ability. He already knew that Greed's ability was a vault of some sort that allowed him to store people and inanimate objects.

As his eyes roved over greed's figure, who was wrapped up in a conversation with himself, he made a note of how Greed's body language shifted when he changed personalities. It was small things.

The way he held his hands at his side.

How his eyes narrowed or widened.

The set of his jaw.

It was enough for Shindo to be able to confirm that Greed did in fact take on the personalities of the people he stole. And from the looks of it, they could speak freely from within the body, whenever they did end up in control.

And judging by the way he fought, the way he used Sayako's exact fighting stile, Shindo knew that he could also take on the physical memories of the body as well. That was mainly seen in the proficiency he had in a multitude of weapons.

All of that information, analyzed within a second. With that info, Shindo could confidently come to the conclusion, that the way to defeat Greed's vault, was to kill Greed. That would forcibly eject all of the things inside his vault out of it, via deactivation of his ability through death.

He could have come to that conclusion without using his ability, but he couldn't have been sure if he didn't use it.

That would be easy. Greed was weaker than Shindo. However, there was something in Shindo that hesitated to kill Greed.

It was the irrational part of him. The one that said, if he killed Greed right here right now, and if Greed had really taken Sayako, what if Sayako didn't come out? What if-

However, his train of though was broken off by Greed's voice.

"Shindo. The prince. The ghost of the Miyamoto."

Shindo clenched his teeth together as he heard the two nicknames given to him in quick succession. He hated hearing them so much. He always hid it, but every time he was referred to by those names, the unrest in his heart grew a bit.

Every time he heard Ghost of the Miyamoto; his mind was brought back to that terrible instance with his father. HIs father's fingers around his throat. His father's accusations.

His chest felt like lead, and every breath he took felt like his throat was filled with glass.

The prince didn't get such a visceral reaction out of him, but he still hated it. He hated how isolated it left him.

How much everyone who used it feared him. How the rumors isolated him from people he didn't even know yet.

But still, he decided to pretend that it was fine. Because even though he hated it, it was the truth. That was probably why he hated it so much anyways.

Shindo Miyamoto.

"A monster." Greed finished Shindo's thought out loud. "Even your own classmates fear you. They can't look you in the eyes."

"Shut it!" Shindo clenched his fists, trying to prevent himself from getting riled up over Greed's obvious taunting's.

"Their scared. Of you. Strength is supposed to be the beacon of hope for all. But in your case, it's the shadow of despair." Greed continued to speak, walking closer and closer.

"You make us feel inferior." Greed spoke in the voice of a student.

However, Shindo thought it was this student truly speaking their mind. Kaylee. That had been her name.

"How can I possibly live knowing that no matter how much I try, in the face of someone else, it'd all be rendered meaningless." Another student spoke.

Shindo took a step back with widened eyes. Is this what they really though? Was it really all his fault? What was he saying. Of course it was.

"A monster. The one time I actually felt his aura I nearly had a heart attack."

"I feel bad for those who have to live with him."

"I can't imagine anybody being comfortable around a monster like him."

"They call him the prince for a reason. Even if he acts nice, he clearly thinks he's better than us."

"How could he not have such a gross superiority complex. I'm sure it's so large that he thinks showing us a little bit of niceness will excuse how much he thinks he's above us."

"No!. No that's, that's not true!" Shindo tried to argue, to deny the accusations, but his voice was lost in the sea of hate. The sea of accusations.

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Greed imitated the voice of all of the students inside of his body. He used their voices to assail Shindo. To throw his mental balance off of the ship. To send Shindo careening into a place of mental instability.

To deliver the final blow, he spoke in her voice.

"All that time I spent with him. I didn't want to believe it at first, but now I see it. He's a monster. Thats all he'll ever be."

Greed spoke in Sayako's voice, and the effect could be seen on Shindo's face.

He froze; his eyes widened. His mouth hung open.

Inside of his head, all activity had shut down.

Even she had said it. She was a monster. Shindo had figured that was the reason she ran, the reason they never saw each other again, however, to hear it, to hear her say that herself.

It crushed him.

Greed stepped in front of Shindo and placed his hands on his temple.

He smiled down at the catatonic boy.

"Let's take a look. Inside your head."

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It was the same moment, Repeated again and again and again.

His father's hands around his neck. His fathers shout. His fathers gaze of fear.

He saw the same scene play out in front of him hundreds of times.

It was already engraved inside his soul deep enough, so why? Why did he have to keep seeing it?

Was it because he never took responsibility? For killing his mom? For destroying the Miyamoto household.

He had never met his mom, but when he overheard people taking about him, the only image he could formulate was an extremely kind and caring woman, who at times could get angry.

However, she was loved. By the whole household.

He had heard so many people talk about how in the months leading up to her death, she would talk excitedly about the birth of her new child. How she would lash out at anyone who would dare to disrespect them.

Still, everyone was excited and happy for her.

However, Kohaku would never get to see her son for herself.

Because she was killed by him.

"Was it, because I never apologized? Was it because, I never took responsibility for it? I never-" Shindo's words were cut off by his father's grip tightening once again. "Fix it."

Fix it? What did that mean? How could he fix this? Fix the destroyed Miyamoto household? Fix any of it? It was beyond his grasp. He couldn't do it. It was impossible. Despite all of his strength,

He was to weak to fix this.

Glass shattered, and he was brought to a memory of his that occurred 4 years after Sayako's disappearance.

Shindo had been accepted into Theta magic academy. Of course he had. There was no doubt that he would have been.

After his battle against the assassin, he had not returned to the garden for almost a month. He didn't feel worthy of it.

It was Sayako's place. She was the one who originally cared for it. And foolishly, Shindo's stupid actions had forced her out.

However, after 3 weeks he decided to return. After all, if she never returned, someone needed to take care of the garden.

He was about to walk into the meadow of white-turned red spider lilies when he heard the sound of someone sobbing. He ducked into the shadows to see a man dressed in a coat sitting amongst the flowers.

He was holding a picture in his hands and was sobbing. His wife was also hugging him.

"It was my fault, wasn't it? I was the one responsible?" The mother, who was also crying, shook her head vigorously.

"No, if anything, it was my fault. I was the one always arguing with her. It must have made her feel like she didn't belong home. It must have made her feel like this was the only place she belonged."

The man dipped his head down and his body shook violently with sobs.

"Sayako....I'm, I'm so sorry!"

Shindo's heart dropped. He began to hyperventilate. It felt like someone had dropped a bowling ball unto of his chest.

His eyes widened before dilating.

He breathed in and out, quicker and quicker and quicker.

These were Sayako's parents. Of course. She had been missing for three weeks. of course, Shindo wouldn't have been the only one looking for her. Her parents would have been worried too. They would have wanted to know as well.

Slowly, Shindo crawled backwards. His entire body was consumed by a mind-numbing fear and guilt. He couldn't show his face in front of her parents. It was his fault she was gone. So at the very least he could have tried to say something, but what could he say?

He was a monster. Single handedly responsible for destroying two families.

And so Shindo ran. He ran, far away from that garden. He ran as fast as he could. Not bothering to turn back.

He was scared. He was scared of what he had done. He could never forgive himself.

And so, he ran. And he never returned to the garden after that day.

Suddenly, Shindo felt hands constrict around his throat.

The word turned black, and the ground below him transformed into water. There was only a small light in the center, that flickered on and off.

His father was choking him. Again. But this time, the anger was gone. His father was looking at him with an empty expression.

"Take responsibility." He spoke. "For what you destroyed." His grip tightened around Shindo's neck.

"AGUHH!" Shindo began to choke. He could feel his windpipe beginning to be crushed completely. His vision was blackening around the edges.

"Take responsibility." His father repeated his previous words. "From what you ran from. From the beautiful person you killed. From the kind girl you ripped away from her parents. From the families you destroyed."

Shindo couldn't breathe anymore.

"I- I-" He tried to speak.

"Take responsibility and die."

"I'm sorry-"

Don't you dare apologize!

A voice shouted out. And the world around him shattered into glass.

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A sweet voice that he recognized all to well called out to him, and the world around him shattered.

He opened his eyes. He was back in the student council room. It was completely dark, save for a single lightbulb that was flickering on and off.

He was being strangled. Two strong hands were around his neck, and they were squeezing tightly.

Greed was strangling him.

Shindo could feel the saliva dripping from his mouth, and he writhed, trying to break free. However, he wasn't trying as hard as he could of.

Just like when his father was strangling him, he thought to himself, "What was the harm in just letting go now?"

However, the sweet voice that he heard would not let him die so easily.

"You and your damn apologizing! What are you even apologizing for!"

Shindo looked at Greed in shock. He was speaking in Sayako's voice. Her personality must have taken over again.

"F-fo-augh, for w-ack! what I did. To you."

Shindo fought to get those words out. Hadn't she said it herself? That she had realized he was a monster?

Greeds eyes narrowed in anger, mimicking the anger that was in Sayako's voice as he spoke. "Are you serious! You're really going to let this freak play in your head?"

Play, in my head? Shindo was confused, but Sayako gave him no time to think.

"You believe your responsible for everything don't you? You think that everything that happened was because of you, and the fact that you were born strong? What a self-centered viewpoint! An egotistical one! Now wonder they call you the prince!"

Shindo was hurt. Even she used the title. She called him "The Prince". She said he was egotistical. Self-centered.

"You think you haven't taken responsibility?"

Of course I'm responsible. I killed her. I destroyed the Miyamoto family! Shindo thought to himself.

Just how much do you want? Spending all your time regretting, spending all your time agonizing over it! I know that's what you've been doing. Spending all of your time letting it consume you! And yet, you still want more? To take responsibility for something that isn't your fault?"

No matter how much you try, this one change! it's the truth! Shindo's mind fired back.

Shindo was starting to get confused. She knew? How? It wasn't my fault? What was she talking about.

"But that's fitting. You are the only person who'd be able to do that. You are the prince. The one above other. The one stronger than the rest. And because of that, you will take on that responsibility, because you're the only one with the strength who can. So be selfish. Be self-centered. Do it. Because you are the only one strong enough too."

Shindo's eyes widened. "Do it?" She was telling him to embrace the title of prince. To selfishly take on all the responsibility, to act as if he was better than others. That didn't make any sense. That was what he was trying to avoid.

This strength, it tore everything in his life apart. My mom. Sayako. My relationship with others. It destroyed everything. Why should I embrace it now? It turned me into the monster I am. Shouldn't I just forsake it, let it all go?

"You reject the title of Prince because you view yourself as worse than others. Thats why you hate it. Your strength has isolated you, but only because you've let it."

Because I let it? No, no. It's because I am a monster. I can't. I can't possibly embrace that. I don't. I don't want to!

From now on, embrace the fact that you are strong. Don't let what others say be the end all be all. Create your own image. It doesn't have to be the prince but create an image that you can be proud of. And then, when you find me again, we can share it together."

Embrace it? Find her again? Wha-

"You are Shindo Miyamoto. The ghost of the Miyamoto clan. The strongest. The prince. A monster." Shindo's eyes widened.

"From now on, embrace those titles. Or destroy them. Don't let them isolate you. If it means you take on the mantle, then do that. If it means you destroy them completely, forge something anew, do it. Take them and redefine what they mean if you want. Turn them away from the slurs you see them as now and turn them into the strength you need to carry the burdens you do. Tell yourself that you're the strongest. That you're the best. That you aren't just a monster. That you are someone strong who can save others. Who others can believe in. You are their beacon of hope. Their Prince. Tell yourself that, because it's true!"

"What would you know! You ran! You-"

"Or take them and rip them apart. Cast them to the side. Build something new. Connect. No matter what you choose, I have faith that you will be amazing! And most importantly, don't ever apologize. The world doesn't want your apologies. Don't. Not until you find me again. And then, apologize for making me leave you behind."

Shindo was shocked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She wasn't playing savior. Trying to act all high and mighty. She was telling him to choose.

Take control. Destroy it or embrace it. He was in control now. It was up to him.

At that moment, Greed regained control over his words, however, Sayako's words had already had their effect.

Of course. The answer had been so simple, he just couldn't see it.

He was strong. That was why he was called the prince. A monster. A ghost. A phantom. It was all true. However, he didn't have to let other people define what that meant to him. He could do it himself. He could change the meaning and finally accept the title of Prince. Because he was strong, great, because he was the only one capable of shouldering that responsibility. He could fix the lies that other tried to bring him down with by telling the truth!

I am, The Prince. Ghost of the Miyamoto!

With that, Shindo decided that this would be his choice. He would become the prince. Embrace that title.

Shindo affirmed this in his mind.

Shindo held out his hand in front of him.

Greed stood in silence, wondering whether or not Shindo had still given up.

He smiled.

"Kneel."

Greed was brought to his knees by the sheer force of Shindo's aura.

He collapsed to the ground, unable to even look up.

Shindo looked down upon him, his red eyes glinting in the darkness. Above them, the light bulb shattered completely, descending them into darkness.

Greed began to shake in fear, as Shindo's aura only grew in power more and more. As it became more and more murderous.

"I'll haunt you, even after you die. Even as you burn in hell."