Disclaimer: Disclaimed.

Warnings: n/a

A/N: I have nothing to say about this one. It did whatever it wanted to, and I just allowed it…

Ickiakki, MegamiKarin and fallenxfate: Well, here we are, on the final stretch. Uh… as usual, I appreciate the support :)

Locked in a Cage
25
(You're Powerful)

Where does the power come from? Kirika wondered. Or should I ask… why do we need power?

She had seen Kirio in his best and worst moments: had a fair idea of his greatest fears – what gnawed at him, constantly, although he tried to mask it and pretend it did not exist – and aspirations. There was also who he loved (that was, what type of girl he loved, even if he didn't say it) and why; his motives and views, even though she didn't always agree with them…

There were so many things people never knew of her brother and they judged him unfairly. Even Karin – whom she had come to like – didn't think of Kirio as a person; to her, he was an annoyance who was trying to hurt those dear to her, no matter what the costs.

And maybe they're right, to a degree… but his heart's in the right place…

Kirio wasn't, as children would think, evil. It was a word tossed around far too casually (much like 'hate' and 'love', when they didn't understand) and they never took the time to consider what it must have felt to be in their shoes.

Because they had been caught in an awful predicament, they had to make the first move – Himeka was in pain, too sickly to even leave the house, and the only way they knew to help her involved one Kujyou Kazune…

And yet, despite all the hate he had to face (because he was never one to hide, especially once he had found purpose in his life) Kirio continued to fight against all the odds. Even though, in the end, he lost, she still admired him for everything he had done – although she had been more than willing to help, if only he had just asked.

He was a strong person – with only the wish to help their little sister to fuel him – and, even if she didn't agree with all his views, she knew that was where his power came from. But then Rika came into the picture, and she could only wonder where they were being led to…