“Satoshi-Nii…” I mumbled, feeling myself swaying. Or was that my vision? I wasn’t really all that sure… “Kari-Imouto?” I felt sickish to my stomach. Like it wanted me to puke, but there was nothing to throw up. “Make the spinning stop…” And my vision went back. No fading this time. No watching myself fall. Just black.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Kari-San?” Daisuke asked me for the millionth time as Satoshi drove us to the old Klein Church. That was where we agreed to meet Kei Hiwatari. Uh… Rephrase. That was where I agreed to meet Kei Hiwatari. I was supposed to come alone, but I’m only fifteen and can’t drive yet, so it was agreed upon that Satoshi and Daisuke would drive me there. “I’m positive. I only have a few questions. That’s all. Why is everyone so edgy about this? He sounded like a nice guy when I spoke with him on the phone…” No one answered. Not even Krad. Then, Satoshi eased the car to a stop in the front of the church. I was about to open the car door when Satoshi reached across the seats and grabbed my arm. “You had better be careful, Kari-Imouto. He’s dangerous. More than you know. Please. Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid.” I nodded. “I promise. I’ll be careful, Satoshi-Nii. Just… You two promise ME something.” The boys nodded, gesturing for me to elaborate. “You two stop worrying so much! I’ll be perfectly fine!” Daisuke nodded slowly and Satoshi sighed exasperatedly. Then he reluctantly released his hold on my arm. I got out of the car and flashed them both a smile before shutting the car door and entering the church.

When I opened the door, I expected to hear my brother’s car drive away. It didn’t. I shook off the sense of dread that filled me as I navigated my way through the many halls to the room we had agreed to meet in. I pushed open the large doors and the first thing my eyes met was the remains of the Toki No Byoushin. I didn’t even notice the magical symbols that covered the room. I sensed Krad smirking, but I ignored it. Big mistake. “It was very nice of you to actually follow my instructions and to show up here alone. My son would have gone against me. He’s so disobedient…”

A tall, brunette man clad in a brown suit and a red tie walked out from behind The Toki No Byoushin. His face held a friendly look, but his hazel eyes held hatred. He appeared to be no older than thirty. He held one arm behind his back. “Well… Not entirely alone. That would be impossible, wouldn’t it. We both know that.” His eyes bore a sadistic glint and I knew he was up to no good. My eyes focused on his arm. “Whatcha got behind your back, Mr. Hiwatari?” I inquired, not showing fear, but showing him that I was onto him. “Oh this?” He chuckled, revealing his arm, and the fact that he held an axe. The same axe from my dreams of Krad’s last memory before becoming a part of me. “I brought it just in case. You never know when you might need an axe.” The tone of his voice sent a chill of fear down my spine.

“I have some questions for you. I hope you don’t mind…” I trailed off as he smirked. “I’m afraid I won’t be answering them, Kari Hikari.” He glanced around the room, then settling his gaze at my feet. I looked down and found myself standing in the center of a magical formation. “It’s now or never, Krad.” I felt Krad smirk again. Finally… His voice held the same tone I had heard countless times in his memories. Cold. Uncaring. Impatient. Sadistic. I screamed as pain expanded from my chest outward unexpectedly. My legs buckled and my knees hit the floor. Hard. It was as if Krad was trying to merely torture me rather than take over. The pain subsided for a moment and then started to grow exponentially. I bit my lip in an effort not to scream, the sweet, metallic taste of blood entering my mouth. I would not give them the satisfaction of a scream.

Wh- Why Krad? I hit the floor and curled up into a ball as Krad’s wings tore through my back, causing a pain that was like someone was forcing fire into my skin and I couldn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t hold back the earsplitting scream it caused. ‘You should have listened to Master Satoshi, Kari-Sama. You were actually ignorant enough to fall into the trap!’ Krad’s voice could be heard in my head and out loud because of the strength of his magic. ‘I have wanted my own body for a very long time, Kari-Sama, and I finally have the opportunity to get what I want for once! All it takes is the sacrifice of someone. The lifeblood of a person. And today, that person is you.’

Out of nowhere, the axe Kei Hiwatari had been holding collided with the base of my left wing, somehow severing it in one hit. I screamed again, my throat raw and almost to the point of it bleeding. He severed the right wing in two swings. Then the tears fell. There was only so much I could and would take. On normal circumstances, I would have fought to the bitter end, but I realized something very important. This was the end. There was nothing left for me. Nothing after this. Only the dark depths of death for me. And then the pain stopped. I no longer felt it. No pain from the bloody wounds on my back. Not the pain of Krad’s betrayal; his tearing me apart from the inside. Not even the sickening feeling of my own warm blood flowing from my back down my neck and face, staining my sky hair crimson. I was numb. I did feel myself relax as I accepted that there was no escape from this. No happy ending for Kari Rei Hikari. That I had made a grave mistake and it cost me my life. The last thing I saw was the door flinging open and the

That I had made a grave mistake and it cost me my life. The last thing I saw was the door busting open and the sickened expressions on Satoshi and Daisuke’s faces when they saw me. The last thing I heard was Krad; the betrayer of my trust. The keeper of my heart and soul. The last scent was blood. Kari-Sama… Krad’s voice sounded truly worried. It faded away as I threw myself into the darkness and oblivion of death itself, ready for it all to end.

What is it in this world I should love?
Myself and my brother…

What is it I should protect?
My life and the ones I love and care for.Even my other half…

What is it I should sacrifice?
Nothing. Life is too precious for sacrifice…