12 - The Truth of Takehaya "Zukafu" Kami

Yomi, most of what was left around where the Thing, also known as Zukafu, had destroyed it. Naoya and Luna, still weaponless, were struggling to find ground while the Thing continuously pursued them and with no mercy.

INSIDE THE THINGS MIND

Meanwhile, Mary was met with a being that resembled the younger Takehaya.

She said, "Takehaya?"

"I am... But I am also not the Takehaya that you know." said the glowing child, their voice sounding like a mixture of an adult and a child. They then help Mary up and say, "My name is Orestes... And you are Mary."

"How do you know my name?" asked Mary.

"Simple, it is there..." said Orestes as he pointed at the scrolls further away. "But you seek for Zukafu, am I not wrong?"

Mary answered, "That is true..."

Orestes says, "Then you are fortunate... He within these doors... But unfortunately, you shall not pass."

"Why?" asked Mary.

"Because I will not allow you to..." said Orestes. Suddenly, chains appeared out of nowhere and tried to subdue Mary but failed as she immediately dodged and accidentally collided with the scrolls with one of them landing onto her hand and seeing the chains coming towards her, she opened the scroll, hoping to escape.

FOREST - FLASHBACK 2 - LATER

Mary opened her eyes and found herself in the forest. She stood up and looked around and Takehaya passed through her with a book in his hands.

Mary watched as the young Takehaya arrived in an open field and from above, a swarm of dust fell and formed itself into a monster-like being that strangely resembled the Thing that was once Zukafu, and she could see in his eyes that he didn't appear afraid by the strangers' appearance.

The stranger asked, "Do you have what I requested?"

"Yeah." said Takehaya, "Here." Takehaya handed the book to the stranger.

The stranger took the book and opened it, looking through it thoroughly before slamming the book and saying, "Excellent... and now, I gift you with this!" The stranger transformed itself back into dust, and it abruptly entered through Takehaya's chest and into his heart.

Mary heard Yu's voice from behind as he hastily ran to save his son, but he was too late as Takehaya's body began acting weird. Yu ran to his son but Takehaya pushed him back saying, "Don't touch me!"

And Yu was forced to watch as Takehaya screamed to the top of his lungs as his body began to inflate and explode, leaving Yu in horror. After Takehaya's body exploded, the stranger's body took over and create a new body for Takehaya. After its completion, the thing that was once Takehaya screamed at Yu as it attacked him with no warning.

Mary watched in shock by what she had just witnessed, but it was interrupted as Orestes appeared and tried to apprehend her, forcing her to run.

Meanwhile, Yu was dodging the now transformed Takehaya as he didn't want to hurt his son. Suddenly, Naoya, Luna and Jin arrived and tried to help, but the transformed Takehaya teleported itself towards Luna as it grabbed and threw her towards some trees, enraging Yu.

"That's it!" shouted Yu, filled with anger as he charged up his electrical attack and punched Takehaya towards the rocks but despite the powerful punch, it got up and tried to retaliate but showing no mercy, Yu continuously kicked Takehaya while he moved back and did it again. He continued this until Takehaya grew weak, and he landed one final lightning strike, defeating him.

After the smoke cleared, Yu watched as Takehaya transformed back into his human form. Yu walked up to Takehaya and looked at him and upon Takehaya opening his eyes, he was shocked to see that his eyes were now blank.

Mary, however, was struggling to lose Orestes and closed the scroll, returning both her and Orestes back into the room.

ROOM - PRESENT

Upon returning Orestes commented, "It wasn't very clever to try and use the scroll, especially since it transports EVERYTHING that's in it." Mary dropped the scroll and tried fleeing, but Orestes' chains grab her. Orestes says, "There' no use running Mary... Takehaya is beyond your reach.

Mary struggled as she tried to free herself from the chains, with Orestes saying, "Like I said, Mary... Your efforts are a waste."

"I'm not giving up!" said Mary.

"But why? It's not like you cared about him." said Orestes, upsetting Mary.

"What do you know?!" shouted Mary.

"I know that you deceived him..." said Orestes, "Do you know how hurt he felt during that day?"

"What?" said Mary.

"Allow me to show you." said Orestes as he used the chains to carry Mary to the scrolls at the far back, close to where Orestes said that Takehaya was. "Witness..." Orestes grabbed the scroll and opened it, transporting him and Mary to that day.

CITY - FLASHBACK 3

Orestes let Mary down while keeping her captive as he showed her Zukafu after leaving Mary on that bench that day. The two followed him as he walked further and further away from the past Mary. Mary watched as she could see the sadness on Zukafu, despite his blankless eyes, and it confirmed what she believed as she wondered if that incident ever affected him and seeing it confirmed it for her.

"Just from that expression, you can see how your actions truly affected him." said Orestes.

She was surprised to watch as he lightly shed a tear and seeing this worsened her guilt, but it also made her determination to make things right even stronger. After showing her this brief moment, Orestes brought Mary back into the room where he planned to send her back out to Yomi and what happened to her next wouldn't matter to them.

Orestes said his goodbyes as he concluded, "I'm afraid this is how far you'd have reached as-"

Suddenly, Mary asked, "I want to see Zukafu..."

"I beg your pardon?" asked Orestes.

Mary said again, "I want to see Zukafu! Let me see Zukafu!"

"What if I don't?" asked Orestes boldly. Suddenly, the chains holding Mary broke, shocking Orestes saying, "But that's impossible, how can you-?" He then looked at the ring that was glowing on Mary's finger and realised, "He gave you the ring?! Then-"

Mary walked away from Orestes as he was left stunned. He whispered, "Who the hell are you?"

Mary walked further away from Orestes and made her way to the door, but she suddenly stopped as she found a scroll on the floor that was flickering on and off, urging her to pick it up.