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Konami knew what she had to do, there she saw Kazuya was ahead up there and she had to catch up on him. "Come on, let's catch up on him!" Ren yelled, before he ran and slashed the canines--he hated that disgusting mouth even the 'foul' breath. Suddenly, Yifan catch up on him and she grew suspicious of what he was doing by following Ren. “Alright Hyde, let’s do this! Guard me!” Hyde huffed that he despised these kinds of creatures, so he had to guard her. “I hate zombies.”

“Yo, Kazuya's heading inside!”

Rex yelled when he slammed the hammer down to the rafflesia flower, before it could spread distraction for its unpleasant scent from inside. “Heading inside, that means…! He better not doing something reckless!” Ren stared at him, letting them waiting for the right time to jump inside the mouth of the tree. “Konami, Hyde!” Hakuren yelled at them when they reached the thick root part, before tossing her ice blasts towards the moving branches. “C-Catch up on him?”

Hyde frowned at the tree and made a disgusted face when he saw the saliva, Konami grimaced at the sight of the canines when he asked her. “Ugh… we gotta go in there?” he muttered before he shrugged at the sight of it, looking at Konami and carried her in bridal style before waiting for the mouth to open wider. “H-Hyde, we’re going in there… right?” she asked while unsure about what’s inside, he doesn’t care so he end up jumping at the right time and went inside the tree. “Watch out!”

Kazuya slowly sat up on the ground area with strong fragrance of the flowers beneath him, sniffing that he was allergic from any kinds of flowers and heard a scream from behind him. “Huh? Who was that—” he turn around to see Ren crashing on top of him, once again he was on the ground and he hissed in pain when Konami and Hyde fell on him--lastly Yifan fell on them lastly and sat like as if nothing happened. “Ouch… what was that for?!” he whined at them when he released himself from them, standing up and fixed his coat. "Fuck, it hurts like hell!"

Ren groaned as he rolled to the side, rubbing his back painfully while Yifan smoked his cigarette and jumped off from the couple. Konami tried to stand up carefully, almost stumbling forward when Hyde replied. "Don't get inside by yourself, idiot. You literally doing a suicide mission, but fuck it--let's finish this and stop this mess," he explained, brushing the dirt from his attire and scarf. "Also, why are you tagging along?" Konami asked Yifan, watching the warrior monk brushing the dirt as Ren sighed. "Dunno, but now that we're here... we have to get going."

They stopped talking when the rumbling coming from beneath them, they stared at each other and soon it stopped when they continue to walk. “What was that?”

“I don’t know, nor I have any balls to know."

They arrived at the bridge lead to the center of the heart, the sound of the heartbeat could he heard and they have to be quiet. “Do you know the parts of this tree, brother?" Konami asked--seeing him smiled when he rests his gunblade on his shoulder, passing through the bridge and arrived at the ground area. “Yes, it’s the Tree of Lament, usually the tree was the true form of the Darkest Witch of the Centuries. At first I don’t know who that is… until I figured that it was her all along,” he sighed when he had to explain, although it’s not obligatory for him to do so—but he want to let them know. “I don’t loath witches nor wizards in general, I just don’t like some of them that has traits like Naomi.”

Both of them arrived at the center of the tree, heartbeat was getting louder as the goosebumps rose on their abdomens. “This is the heart,” he went disgusted at the blood filling the pool of the tree inside, the scent was nothing but a human blood. “Oh great, there’s a lot of human blood here--I could take it with me in case I’m getting hungry,” Hyde grinned when he kneel down on one knee, cupping the blood with his palm and drank them--it tasted good for him. “Don’t worry, the blood is not poisonous--those are the ones she taken from the lives she killed; majority are… humans.”

Yifan said, before Ren grimaced by the scent and he always gave these kind of bloods to Hyde in case he's hungry--mostly the blood of the criminals. Konami knew she had to take a shower after this mess, she wasn't shocked to see the pool of blood and it seems like they need something to carry these (just for Hyde). Kazuya gulped when he saw the pool of blood, he would swim when it’s a water or swamp—but pool of blood is another story. “What’s wrong? Did you sense something wrong?” Hyde asked and he shake his head, before he laughed nervously. “Nothing, anyways I think we should find a way to stab the heart and…?”

Kazuya paused when he heard the groan of the undead and he turn around, it was here and how did they get here?! Karina swung her sword and slain one of them, Hyde make an X-shaped cut on the other undead on the ground area with his rapier. “What the hell? How did they get here?!” Ren yelled as he stabbed the blade of his Cosmic's Wrath and Samsara Blade on the ground a bit hard, the ice from Kazuya's gunblade began to froze the undead army once the spikes appeared within them and left them dead--before unfreezing the ice for them. “Naomi tried so hard to stop us, but it’s useless so ignore her. I’m afraid not, swimming with blood of her victims was quite unorthodox.”

Yifan commented, before shooting the undead behind him. "Not only that, the cultists are still outside and our friends have to kill them before they could escape--they're the same ones from the ones in the Borobudur Temple," he explained. Hyde hummed when he was observing the beating heart, he was convinced of what to do and he smirked. “You’re lucky we can swim so we’ll help you, let’s finish this Konami,” Konami nodded as she goes to jump and diving in with Hyde joining her, before they head up to the surface. “Come on! You can do this!”

Kazuya thought this was rather unconventional, but he should loosen up a bit so he take off his glasses and folding them; inserting the glasses under his coat. "I can help out too, although the other warrior monks will ask," Yifan spoke, before he dives as well and swimming to the edge. “Fine..." Kazuya replied with a frown before he goes to jump and diving into the blood pool, before he rose to the surface and smelled the metallic scent of the insides. “I should get a shower after this mess, let’s hurry up and stop this!”

Shenlan yelped whens he got caught by the roots and got thrown onto Rex to the ground, the tree was enraged and the pupil of the eye dilating from small to bigger in mixed reactions. “Ah! Watch out!” Kaizo narrowed his eyes when he creates a typhoon from his katana, cutting down the moving roots and he knew he had to make sure they're is safe. “Where the hell is Jillian!” he yelled when he tried to get rid of the zombies, before he jumps and spin-cut the branches. “Jillian and the others are at the cemetery! Getting the potion to break it apart!”

Luka hummed when he stared at the eye that keeping an eye on them, then he got an idea. As the eye was distracted with several defenders except him, he decided to jump in and slash the eye with his scythe. “Take that!” he yelled when he stepped back and saw the tree screeched its mouth, landing on the ground and Kosaka stopped by the sudden roots were out of control. “The eye…” she muttered, looking up at them. Shiro yelped to see Kosaka is here, hoping that she won't harm them. "It's you again!" he yelled, before Kosaka glanced at him and grinned. "Ah... it's okay, I promise I won't bite," she reassured, making Eiko shrieked before she shot the appendages from them. "We promise not to cause trouble again!"

"Relax, will ya? I'm not mad this time, now let's get back to the business!"

The five of them got arrived when they reached the top of the ground in front of the beating heart, despite being drenched by blood and the smell is so metallic for them. "Fuck... this sucks... Jiaheng's gonna kill me if she finds out about this..." Yifan cursed, he knew Jiaheng will scold him for the mess he had. "Riyanda, can you help us out?" Konami asked, her friend nodded as he look up at the beating heart above them. "Yeah, I can. Just tell me and I will do what you guys said," he replied with a smile, before he spat the blood that he almost got choked on from swimming. "I shouldn't have dived earlier..."

Hyde put his folded hands as he squatted a little, before he spoke. "Konami, once you step on my fists--you'll jump upwards and Ren will make you jump higher, okay? From the count of one to three..." he said, Konami prepared herself as Kazuya let him counted, before she ran and stepped on his fists--she jumped and summoned her white katana to slash the barriers and exposed the beating heart in front of them. Yifan saw the cultists entering inside so he casts a spell of his mantra, killing them mercilessly as Kazuya jumped and stabbed his gunblade against the heart.

At the same time when Jillian detroyed the portion by breaking it, there was a pause from the tree--before an explosion began.

DUAR!!!

The blood came out when the tree slowly comes to dying and exploded, all of them avoided the wave that the blood was about to flow down before it morphed through the everlasting vial that made by Kazuya. Yeah, that's for Hyde mostly and some bloods that aren't clean flowing through the city. “Disgusting, we’re going to clean up the mess after this…” Izumo said with a grimace, Kaizo facepalmed and Hakuren scoffed at him as she folded her arms. “I’m afraid all of us have to do.”

Luka and Kosaka jumps onto the rooftop of the other buildings with the others, the bishop wasn’t disgusted and only refrain them with composed attitude. “Oh well, I think this is the end… with cleaning,” Rex whined, seeing the remnants of the undead still there--good thing Jillian has some plans to bring them back to normal.

“There they are!”

Kohaku was panting heavily from the after-effect of the blast, holding his gunblade before he held onto it while kneeling one knee to the ground. Konami was panting as well when she was about to pass out, Hyde keep a hold of her to his side as he was exhausted as well. They were drenched in blood so horribly, after the flooding blood has gone over to the point of flooding them here. Yifan merely smoke his cigarette, before brewing it. "Bing-Bing's going to hate me for this..." he whispered, while Ren spat the blood from his mouth. "You know what? At least we captured these cultists who escaped...'' he pointed out at the chained Dust Cultists, who were squirming angrily that their plan failed.

Few hours later...

“There you are!”

Luka was wearing his main attire rather than his bishop attire, smoking on his cigarette when he came up to her. “Seems like we’re going to celebrate, that’s why I came here--I heard that you also has champagne here?” Kosaka nodded with a smile as her smile turns into a smirk, gesturing her finger at him to come inside. When he saw her gestured her finger he just followed her inside the nightclub then to the bar, sat down in front of the bar counter and look up at Kosaka behind the bar counter. “Michiru, bottle of champagne please,” she snapped her fingers at her, the head bartender gave a thumbs up as she grab one for them. “You’re gonna make a Champagne Party game with that friend of yours?” she laughed boistorously, as if she was joking and she did. “Of course not, we’re celebrating!”

Michiru grinned when she brought the champagne bottle that was opened by her, giggling when she saw the bishop that surprised her. “Hope you didn’t get caught in here~!” Kosaka rolled her eyes after she left for the customers, the nightclub has gotten many people when the incident ended and Jilian has revived the undead and became humans. “Have you drink champagne before?”

Kosaka asked while she’s pouring the champagne on the wine glass smoothly, before she poured hers and he shake his head. “I never tasted champagne before. I tasted wine before during Mass and I thought it would be the same like one,” she let out a shrug with a smile, before looking back at him.

“Who knows? Also cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Both glasses clinked together before they were taking each sip on their own, Kosaka enjoyed the taste as she often drank one but Luka has different reaction. The taste has mix of citrus, peach or cherry flavors because this was a new flavor for his taste buds. “How does it taste like?” she asked, watching him close his eyes for a bit as he opened his eyes from processing the taste. “The taste was quite strange for me, it looks sour and a bit… sweet too.”

Kosaka chuckled when she was spinning her glass of champagne on her hand before drinking them, until that was empty that she has high alcohol resistance. “It is, don’t worry--you’ll get used to it soon,” she said when he finished the drink and place the glass on the table, thinking for a moment before she snapped her fingers. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself? I wouldn’t mind to know you since you’re my friend, and I want to share mine to you too.”

Luka narrowed his eyes with a slight frown, at first he didn’t want to because he has a background that might getting himself distanced. “I don’t know if you like it or not, considering that I don’t have a good past.”

Kosaka tilted her head at him when he said that, she didn’t want to force him to speak as she smiled at him. “I’m all ears, don’t worry about it; I don’t have a good past too--I won’t force you to speak if you can’t do it,” she patted his shoulder gently with her hand, telling him that it should be fine if he wants to or not. “I will not tell anyone, my lips are sealed for you.”

Luka stared at her then he sighed softly, he never tell anyone about this before so this was his first time. “Alright… I was an orphan child who was taken to the church, where I met the Father, who would take me in and take care of me as his own. When I grew up, Father always taught me everything and when I was older enough, Father finally told me the truth of why my parents has gave me up. And he said…” he closed his eyes and remained silent for a while, then he opened them again.

“They didn’t give me up, they were murdered… supposedly they didn’t want to tell me that there is something deadly and powerful within me. Suppose they didn’t want to let me know that my parents were dead, before I was taken to the church. When I asked Father who killed my parents, he look at me with sorrow, and he gave just one word as an answer. You,” Luka look up at Kosaka to see her reaction, when he told her his story. “I killed my parents…”

Kosaka gasped quietly when the last sentence came, but she remained calm that she was willing to listen and he continued with lowering his head slightly. “But that’s not all, I ask what it is and he said; Death, one of the Yaksha who have died that the power core awakened within me.” He intertwined his fingers on the counter tightly, he breathed softly when he elaborated the next. “Death is inside me since I was born. Father told me a story of the people who holds a Death Scythe; a weapon wielded by Death itself, in the past. I heard that when the possessor died, the Death passed on to one another in birth in order to be reborn. As you can see… I am Death’s vessel.”

Luka stared at her in the eyes with serious expression, he said the last sentence with that expression that made her surprised. Kosaka soon closed her eyes for a while, silence came despite the music and she take a deep breath. “Luka… I’m… so shocked by your story but… it’s okay,” she said to him with a gentle smile, holding his shoulder with one hand. “I’m not afraid of you, my fear is not death but… my childhood is the fear and what people thinks of me…” he can finally release his tense when he heard not afraid of him, he was glad to hear that when he listens to her. Everyone whom he trusted has left him when they heard he’s the Death’s vessel, afraid to get near him thinking that the touch will kill them.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kosaka take off her sunglasses without knowing he was there, revealing her silver blade-colored eyes with shimmering purple and white. “People think that I was a ghost, because of my eyes and even myself is not like them… they always think why am I different and that’s because I have something that normal humans doesn’t have… I was distanced by them and had to work hard on my own,” her smile faded when she said that, placing her sunglasses on the counter as she look down at her feet—her hair bangs covered her eyes. “That’s why I always wear sunglasses everyday except when I was asleep… I’m scared that my friends will leave me because of me…”

Luka stared up at Kosaka when her hand fell off his shoulder, he noticed that she is upset and no longer smiling. So he stood up from the chair, leaning forward over the counter as he reached out his hand and held behind her head. Pulling her closer and let her head resting on his shoulder, hiding her expression from other people in public, thinking she would be embarrassed if it was shown in front of people. “Don’t worry, I didn’t see it…”

Luka whispered into her ear which made her eyes widened a little, his voice was so soft that has comforted her and made her calm down. “Cheer up, this is your nightclub right? It should be filled with exciting and enjoyable lives. Not just sadness in here,” he seems to comfort her, still not letting go of her. “Save it until the nightclub is over.”

Kosaka was surprised that her head was pulled to his shoulder, hiding her true self and expression from public eye. This kind of feeling was new to her and why did he comfort her? She should be the one because of his background and she sympathize with him, did her eyes deceive her? The fact that the bishop’s comforting her was the first time he did in his life—and he’ll risk it for her. “I’m sorry for making you see me like this…”

Kosaka tried to hold back her emotions, she didn’t want them to leave just because of seeing her like this and it hurts her. “It’s just; this is something that I never done in my entire life… I don’t know why. All I wanted is happiness and every kind of positive emotions to be poured in here, but I shouldn’t be sad…” Kosaka stated while trying to hide her emotions until he whispered into her ear, it was calm but comforting at the same time. “Don’t worry, just take your time.”

Luka said when he was caressing her head to comfort her, he could feel people watching them that they whispered but he doesn’t seem to be bothered. All he cared is for Kosaka to be able to calm down and get back to her usual self. “I’ll stay here if you want,” Michiru noticed the two which made her worried but glad that Luka was here, she glanced at people who were watching them and she gave them a scowl. They were surprised that she was mad and nodded with a nervous smile, apologizing to her before they left.

Kosaka closed her eyes that she finally had the peace with herself, her height reached his shoulders so she was quite tall than the rest of the girls but actually shorter than him. “I’m fine… although I want you to stay… it doesn’t matter.”

Luka slowly letting go when she came back to her usual self, he couldn’t help but smile when she smiled at him. “Thank you for comforting me, Luka,” she don’t know if she saw him as a friend, but it’s like he was like a close friend and he nodded back with small smile. “You’re welcome, Kosaka.”

Kosaka came to realization that she didn’t wear her sunglasses, she quickly put them on and now went flustered. That was no more because he had seen it even if he said no, she look away from him. “Don’t look at me! I-I had to wear my sunglasses! I can’t let my eyes revealed in public!” her cheeks were red after her eyes are seen, feared that he might think she’s abnormal. “Why wear the sunglasses to hide your true identity?”

Luka asked after she said as she didn’t want him to see both of her eye color, folding his arms elaborating. “Your eyes are beautiful, I haven’t seen them like that in every person I’ve seen. It would be a shame to hide them behind those shades…” he said when he looked through her eyes, it didn’t frighten him at all. The bishop thought it looks beautiful to look at, just like staring into the moon. “Also, please stop wearing them everyday, you shouldn’t damage your sight Kosaka.”

Kosaka know he was right when he said that at the end, but the whole first to second statement was a compliment. “Bishop Oriflamme, I don’t think I can do this even if I tried, I’m aware that I can very stubborn you know—” her eyes widened when he take off her sunglasses out of the blue, her eyes widened that she tried to reach his hand by her knees on the counter. “No! Don’t you dare take it away from me!" she yelled.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

Ren grumbled, sitting with the others while enjoying the fun and now they were outside after they left. "Now cut to the chase, Yifan... did you find some clues regarding Nanda's revival?" he asked, sipping his cup of cocktail. Yifan was patting his sleeping binturong on his lap, he explained with a laidback smile. "After I asked them about their god, they needed 50 days to gather the remnants that belongs to her. They wanted to get rid of anything related to Kuran, even the other gods who were 'part' of his alliance. It may sound selfish for her, but that was her death wish before she got killed because of you. Maybe she still either love Kuran or not, but you? That's a whole different story," he explained the details, narrowing his eyes with stern gaze. "Oh right, they're planning to revive the 'deceased' lineages... do you now the Hebi's and the Kobe's? They wanted to revive them."

Shiro stopped drinking when he heard that, he couldn't bear to face Shūhei who was revived--will he feel happy or not? But, he wanted to move on and feel bad for blaming Konami and Hyde. Even if there's a good and bad memories, it's still not right to revive the ones who died in the past--especially when their intention is filled with malice. Not only that, Eiko didn't want to face Hakusan again and Hakuren didn't want to upset her father Reoh when he saw them in their revival state. "It would be better if we made peace with the past... now that I managed to overcome everything--I decided to face it."

Konami might not like the sound of it, but it would be the best to not dwell too much in the past. As for Hyde? Not gonna lie, he's fucking pissed just by remembering these two. "Shiro, next time..."

"I know, Hyde! I promise I won't do it again, just let me take care of this by myself!"

"You can NEVER change anyone, Shiro."

Hyde scolded him, looks like he's still mad from everything that going on in the past with them. "You should've known that what Shūhei did is wrong--if what Hakusan did is wrong; that brat shouldn't have defended him. He's just too gullible over that kind of thing, and yet... he never changed," he said, narrowing his eyes at him. "Don't you see that I almost died because of him? He took my power, yet Ren bring me back from my near-death experience so I was thankful of him--and when I heard that Konami and Eiko left... now I realized that something is wrong here. I'm aware that all of us has made a mistake before, even Konami herself has it--that doesn't mean some of us are always right."

Ren was surprised at what he just revealed, he saw Konami keep looking away while Eiko tried to comfort her--even Shiro who remained quiet the whole time. "Woah, what the hell is this all about? Family problems or what--" he began to explain, trying to know what made Eiko and Konami look so concerned. "N-Nothing happened--" Konami tried to stay calm and explained, but Shiro ended up blundering it when he accidentally slipped out something. "This is all because Hakusan and Shūhei caused this! But it's fine, we're moving on," he reasoned while turning around.

Kaizo's gaze when them silent, usually when he finds out something is not right--he would give a look of 'explain' for them (not necessarily a smug face look) and he was just like Hyde when he's suspicious of something; but more intimidating. "Wait, what's going on with you guys? Did something happen to you, we're your friends you know..." he asked, raising his eyebrows in concern. "Can you at least show that you care for your comrades, you're going to turn into late-teens for goodness sake..."

Hyde noticed Shiro's anger within himself but he was aware that Shiro shouldn't have had acted like that, Konami frowned in worries for the white-haired student but she didn't mention anything. There's going to be a long battle for revenge, if that's what the remaining cults, spirits, and enemies decided to do. Yifan patted Ren's back after he whispered something to his ear, turns out Yifan can definitely tell what will happen to this fight or revenge as their true rival is going to face them with true plans. The young Indonesian boy furrowed his eyebrows when there's going to be something that even Scions don't know for once, even when they possess more the wisest capabilities and strength to deal with the cult.

"Well... it's about the issues between Shūhei and Hakusan before they died in Phantom Eruption..."

Eiko explained with a woeful tone, sighing quietly. "The reasons why, well..." Hakuren cleared her throat as her white hair swayed a little, she already knew what happened but she didn't want to get involved too much because this is their trouble. "After a certain battle with someone, Hakusan's hair turning from white to black and... he's acting so cold and offensive like when we met him for the first time--he hated everything and he hated himself as well because... he's born in Kobe clan. He also didn't like how Shūhei is caring for him, but... all I know is that Hakusan has a rough past. He missed his first mother, he didn't get along with his father and... he missed his first love too--our friendship somewhat ended because of... that incident when we left the house. Until, the Phantom Eruption comes."

They were shocked at what Eiko admitted and Ren already knew the story too, but didn't say much--he understood when everyone should keep their secrets for them alone, because revealing it isn't probably a good sign. But, holding it back isn't a good sign too and it didn't end well. "I understand about everything that happened, I guess it just changed all of us. Those mistakes that we had been made for ourselves, is something that should've let go... until we saw one of the Vipralopa-class Phantom Beasts. I don't know what's the codename of that creature, but Hakusan was unable to defeat it due to how strong it is... he got killed in front of me and Eiko," Shiro whimpered quietly in sadness, with a bitter smile.

He remembered the moment when he left the house, crying at the loss of his friend's demise after Shūhei got brutally murdered by the beasts who invaded their house. There was a heavy silence and tension as Hyde slowly held back his words and looking down, remembering on how he has been in 'comatose' state when he lost his power and Konami had to shield his hedgehog from from the debris. "Then, we got together again when Ren brought Hyde's power back..." Konami muttered, rubbing her arm. "Sometimes... people said they can accept the truth from people, when in fact--they couldn't even manage to control their own emotions," Shiro snarked quietly to himself, trying to remain himself as he never cry or showed any weaknesses around his comrades, especially Ren--who's the one saving them from the aftermath of the tragedy.

Ren remained silent for a moment, he closed his eyes when Shiro cried to Hakuren's lap for comfort. Yifan sat at the top of the tree and prayed while reading the Heavenly Sutra to protect their area from more invasion, even though he's not a fan of conflicts--he liked seeing the painful look of a Vidyadhara who were suffering from hatred or something else he can't really detect. He looked at Ren when he have som kind of serious gaze, he turned around. 'Time will guide him and it will never stops until they meet, that moment his story... must be fulfilled at any cost...' those vision and visions of late heavenly rulers as Yifan closed his eyes.

"But, we did apologize to each other and reflect ourselves," Hyde muttered, making Ren flinch and he replied. "It's always what you did or your choice in your heart, that's up to you if you want to forgive or continue to hate people."

It took a lot of time for them to answer him, because well... they weren't actually prepared to discuss this shit again. "I was still mad at Shūhei even when he was dead, but he betrayed me... and even Hakusan had the audacity to take your abilities which led to his death because his soul got ripped apart by the Phantom Beast," Konami blurted out, she told them because she couldn't contain it more than them as her tears fell, burying her face to Hyde's shoulder. Hyde didn't mind to wipe the tears out as he let her cry her eyes out, embracing her from the trauma she has. "But, it wasn't Shūhei's fault... he's just too blinded by Hakusan's threats and warnings for him, he didn't... even know what happened to you. To be honest, I just... hate that everything is just as confusing... Shūhei cared for me, not just him. He cared for everyone, but I realized that he defended Hakusan too much and ended up hating Konami for scolding Hakusan."

"Hakusan has rough childhood, though he seems distant and indifferent to everyone and he cannot be convinced because he was that stubborn. But, look at him... he caused everyone's distraught like he was some kind of traitor or something," Eiko commented in woe when she tried to comfort him, sniffing as her tears fell. "Well fuck, why didn't you protect him, Shiro? I thought you were neutral the whole time. Just because he has a rough past, doesn't mean he can destroy everything because he fucking went berserk and just let his older half-brother killing an innocent. That jerk has all the luck, yet Hakusan almost killed me by taking my power like that!"

Shiro growled, sighing heavily and wanted to snap Hyde to not call his late friend 'that jerk' but to think he wouldn't like to admit... Hyde is sorta, kinda, correct on that since. "Y-You... shut your face! The fights and everything were getting insane! Even Ren and Izumo who have so many patience like their friends and kind would still get mad..." Shiro replied, before turning around to face him and almost wants to curse at him if Ren didn't stop. "But... it's true."

"Not everyone is perfect, anyway."

Ren replied, looking at them as he tried his best to be neutral. "It's their free-will and none of us should change their ways, if they want to change--then it's THEIR choice, not ours. Eiko, it's natural if someone unable to love the ones they cared... we did what we can do and so, so we'll just be aware about our choices for what we had done... we can't change them at all, we could move on," he added, before looking at Konami. "Konami, I understand that you just want some peace in this world... but don't try to act self-righteous sometimes, neither that shit happens for all of us that had witnessed it. No one is always the one who always right, so try to tone down a bit," he muttered, closing his eyes with an emotionless expression in a stern gaze.

"Same thing goes for you too... Hyde. No one of us can have the power to change our comrades, and we should be grateful to our own company. You may be the representative of greed, and I know you're not a good one of a kind--so it's up to you if you want to keep it to yourself."

Ren spoke, before he glanced at Shiro with a smile. "Shiro... listen, I understand you have a rough past and losing someone you cared the most is what I used to experience before. Yet, we had to contain our inner strength and try to endure it," Ren walked to him, patting his shoulder. "I understand why you have to lash out to Hakusan and his dad, because everything around him is the reason why your life as a poor orphan become more pitiful. But remember, you're not alone... and I'm sure Hakusan has to face himself one day, but it's his choice of life whether to fix things with your friends or ignore everyone to make himself suffer. Just take it slow... so don't defend anyone who's in the wrong, this isn't primary school but reality. We can't please everyone, not even doing something for self-purpose. But don't resort into doing a revenge or murder--be the person you're proud of," he advised him, in which made Shiro calm down.

Ren was wise enough to separate things like that from his friends, who were just being cautious because they're concern about them. "It is our story after all... and I never said that we cannot choose a side if someone are selfish or a true hero, because that's just how the world is filled with mistakes. Shūhei is kind and caring kid, I know that... but you can't defend his mistakes like that, everything has their own consequences after all."

Konami nodded at him while taking off her glasses and wiping her tears, Eiko put a tissue around her and she knew that both of them were the least to be so emotional, but there's always a possibility if they need the council. "Yeah, you're right... maybe I should calm down..." Hyde muttered, crossing his arms because his sass level isn't high right now to do something like that. "Shiro, we did what we can, but let Hakusan decide for himself... even when he already died with Shūhei--he already reunited with his late-mother which would hopefully ease his mental trauma," Konami said, calming herself and looking up to see the moon in the sky. Hyde scoffed in reaction, but he comforted Konami when she calmed down like the rest.

"My father and I already know about it," Hakuren added, retaining her stern expression. "After he find out about their death, he was struck with emotions of course... he admitted it was his fault for making Hakusan like this. Father also remembered when he had fight with him one day, and during the aftermath of that incident... he still treated Eiko like she was a family to us. Surprisingly, we're not affected by the 'rebirth' and we're no longer becoming a Kobe... maybe the Karma isn't coming or was fixed... after all. But... I still resent those Phantom Cultists who caused misery for us."

Ren wasn't offended and respected them for speaking their minds, only by hearing their reasons and acknowledging their story with Hakusan. So, they began to make peace with each other.

"Now, it's time to face the past--no more turning back."

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