12 - 3

Orestes stared at Mary intensely before he asked, "What do YOU want?" Repeating her own words.

ROOM - PRESENT

Mary bluntly answered, "Isn't it simple?" As she closed the flickering scroll and with nowhere to put it, she held onto it and continued what she previously was meant to do and free Takehaya.

Orestes followed behind, trying to convince Mary that there was point in even freeing Zukafu as he said, "But there is no need for you to interfere Takehaya..." Mary ignored Orestes and reached the door. She placed her hand on the door handle and is about to open it. "I'm warning you Mary!" Said Orestes, attempting to sound threatening.

"I'm going to Takehaya!" Said Mary. She then took a deep sigh and said, "And I'm going to tell him how I feel about him."

Mary then opened the door and she was transported elsewhere.

She woke up and found herself in another white room where she instead found someone being trapped within a giant tree bark with their hands and legs having what appeared black vein-like roots connected into him and inside them, she saw dust coming out of his body.

Mary walked closer to the person who was later revealed to Zukafu but his body appeared more boney as his bones were visible and his skin were a mixture of yellow and light green and finally with his eyes appearing grey.

Seeing that it was Zukafu, Mary ran closer to him but then roots appeared from underneath and blocked her path.

With a husky voice, Zukafu said "You shouldn't be here..."

"Zukafu!" Yelled Mary, "Hold on, I'm here to rescue you-"

"Rescue me from what?" Asked Zukafu. "I am where I am suppose to be..."

Calmly, Mary said, "No you don't! You belong up there in the living world with your families and friends! Not in this thing where all you are is just fuel for it!"

"Is that what you think?" Asked Zukafu. "Do you know who I am!?"

"You're Takehaya..." answered Mary.

"LIES!" Shouted Zukafu, his voice echoes. "I AM A MONSTER! A MONSTER--- Who killed Takehaya... And all I do is wear his face."

"That's not true at all!" Said Mary, "You're more than that-"

The roots then force Mary to seperate away from Zukafu but Mary resists and tries reaching to him.

"Takehaya! Please listen to me! You don't have to be alone on this!" Said Mary, "Please come back to us!"

"Stay away!" Yelled Zukafu. "You don't get it do you? I AM THE SON OF IZANAMI!!"

He then ripped himself out of the bark that he was encased him, his body feeling weak and skinny and his body sweating profusely. He breathed heavily.

Mary then became silent after what Zukafu said. Lightly saying, "What?"

"That's right! Look at me! I am the son of the great Spirit warriors Yu Kami and Kotone Shirogami! I was given their blood! I was given their powers! AND I..." in a gentle voice, he said "... messed it all up... I couldn't DO ANYTHING!"

He then knelt down, "I couldn't save Raimei, I couldn't learn... I couldn't---"

Mary looked in shock to who she was witnessing in front of her. What she saw, was a man who felt rejected by the world... For what he couldn't do... And now, she stood in front of a broken man. She slowly walked closer to him but the roots prevented her from coming any closer.

She watched as Zukafu broke down in tears but it felt genuine and not like the time before... She was witnessing the true Zukafu.

"Can I- Tell you something?" Asked Mary. Zukafu lifted his head and looked at Mary. She explained, "I think it's important you know... Please?"

She offered him her hand to hold. Zukafu stood there, staring soullessly at her.

Mary sighed and said, "Very well..." she cleared her throat and said, "Remember the day that I met you? I was with my friends, looking out at the sky... And then fast forward to the day you and I became partners... You were right, I was only out for myself as I seeked for an adventure of some sort... And honestly, I thought you'd just want to live your life as a loner and I respected that... But the more I learned about you, and the things you did... It made me reconsider what I was doing and... I want to tell you how I truly feel as of now... I think you're a remarkable person with an incredible gift Takehaya... And that someone like you has a good heart, no matter how much you say you don't... You reminded me of the heroes I always adored... And it had me wonder... Why do they win... And its because they're willing to put their lives on the line for others and that you want to live in a better world... But the problem about you Zukafu... Is how you drive others away... And its because of that fear."

Mary again offers her hand for Zukafu to hold and says, "And thats why I want to be more than just your friend, Takehaya... I want to live the rest of my life by your side... You're a hero to me and... I love you."

Zukafu could see a tear streaming on Mary's face, and seeing her smile, it was reminding him of everyone who stood by his side, despite how he acted, how he distanced himself with them at times and he looked back to when he was happy with his father and siblings.

"I... I want that too..." said Zuka- Takehaya as he stood up and held onto her hand. The two looked at each other with their eyes shining, showing how genuine their love for each other was becoming.

The roots returned back down to the ground and after doing so, Takehaya pulled Mary close and hugged her. He whispered to her, "You're my beaming ray of hope..." Blushing, Mary hugged him bag. The two then look at each other and embrace a kiss.

On Takehaya's back, the five elements of Lightning, Thunder, Rain, Wind and Sea were now glowing. Mary temporarily glowed as she had a mixture of baby blue and green that then transported onto Takehaya.

YOMI

Naoya and Luna had ran out of ground to flee on. Naoya and Luna hugged each other as it may be their last and as the monster Zukafu was about to land the final attack when suddenly it froze in place.

Luna and Naoya opened their eyes and saw this, they were puzzled but also cautious as what may happen next. Then suddenly, what appeared to be rain appeared from the monster's blank eyes as travelled around in the sky front of them before coming in contact with Naoya and Luna.

They were bewildered as to what happened but then, they felt that their energy was slowly rising back up.

Luna asked Naoya, "Do you feel it? It feels--"

"Amazing!" Said Naoya as he smiled.

Naoya and Luna looked up, their expressions changing as they saw the monster Zukafu having signs of cracks appearing around its body and then WHAM, it shattered into pieces and emerging were both Takehaya and Mary who was in his arms.

The two then landed in front of Naoya and Luna as they were shocked to see him alive.

"Takehaya!" Said Naoya as he jumped to hug him.

Luna followed behind him. She asked, "What happened to you?! Look at you."

Naoya and Luna were at awe upon seeing Takehaya's armour. And they were amazed to see that his eyes were no longer blank and had pupils.

"This is so much for us to take!" Said Luna, still admiring his brothers appearance.

"Can't take all the credit... Thank Mary." Said Takehaya as his voice sounded normal. Luna and Naoya hugged Mary as they were greatly thankful for whatever she had done. "Lets leave the hugging when we get out of here, hold on!"

Takehaya then grabbed everyone and with swiftness, he lept up, escaping the ruins of Yomi and taking them all back to above the living world. Takehaya used his staff to break open the seal and upon arriving uptop, he immediately casted a spell to seal it back up.