Chereads / Strength of Heart / Chapter 39 - Extinguished!

Chapter 39 - Extinguished!

Kisaiju "What do you want?"

Kanju "T-t-to train."

Kisaiju "Look at you, you can barely speak. You and I both know it's too damn cold for training. Besides why are you asking me?"

Kanju "Why question my motive to get stronger?"

Kisaiju "Considering the fact no one likes me, or do you need more examples?"

Kanju "There's quite literally no one to train with right now."

Kisaiju "So I'm the last resort?"

Kanju "It's not that, I just….what if I said.."

Kisaiju "No, what if I said….. Fuck off?!"

Kisaiju slams his door in Kanju's face and goes back to what he was doing. Just sitting in his room sulking. Just thinking about when Omoi almost killed him.

Kanju " Now what do I do?"

Ziku "Mom how are you feeling?"

Natsumi "Better than yesterday, worse than usual."

Ziku "I told Cayde to go home, can't risk him getting sick."

Natsumi "That's good, you shouldn't get too close either. Don't want you to be sick with me."

Ziku "I'll be fine, I'll take care of you no matter what."

Ziku places his hand on her forehead and smiles. Natsumi turns to look at him. When she sees him, she just starts to cry and quickly turns away.

Ziku "Mom what's wrong?! Are you in pain?!"

Natsumi "No, I'm fine, it's just you look so much like your father. I can't bare it! I miss him so much!"

She just continues to cry, harder and harder. Ziku stands up leaving the room. He thinks to himself that it might be best for her right now if he gave her space. When he closes the door, he falls to the ground and tears up.

Ziku "I miss him too."

Mina "Why don't you leave the house anymore?"

Omoi "I have no reason to."

Mina "What about Ziku? He's your best friend."

Omoi "Me and Ziku haven't spoken in months."

Mina "What happened?!"

Omoi "I don't think he cares for me anymore."

Mina "Ziku?! Not care about you?! I've known him for the longest and that doesn't sound like him."

Omoi "It might not sound like him, but it's definitely what it feels like."

Mina "Only time will tell. A friendship like the one you guys have is special. The strength of your bond will be tested, but no matter what it will always prevail."

Omoi "I hope you're right."

Bokutso "How much longer do you think this snow will last?"

Kotai "Hard to tell, but I hope it's over soon. Missed out on so many months of training because of it!"

Bokutso "When it's all over the first place I'm going is the training grounds. I need to get stronger! Especially since Kame is out there getting even stronger!"

Kotai "Ever since you heard about his departure to train you've been more motivated than ever."

Bokutso "Well duh! He was already stronger than me! He leaves and gets to get even stronger while I'm stuck here with the same strength as before! The gap between us might never close!"

Kotai "I know how you feel, that's exactly how I feel when I think of Ziku. Just something about him that I feel I may never surpass."

Bokutso "And what's that?"

Kotai "His strong personality. The way he is, the way I don't like him but respect him. How much I dislike, but admire him at the same time. That strength he has within is just worth emulating. That's why I don't like him, because I'm strong, I'm independent, I'm confident, but when it comes to him; I find myself trying to match who he is. And as of late it's really annoyed me! Just because of the simple fact that he's younger than me!"

Bokutso "Wow, so that's how you feel huh."

Kotai "It's just something that eats away at you."

Bokutso "Don't worry, we'll surpass the both of them. In both mind and body!"

Senpu "Yo it's been awhile Kanju! How's it going?!"

Kanju "Fine, you want to train with me?"

Senpu "Straight to the point huh? Why is it that you haven't spoken to me in months, and now here you are asking me if I want to train. I've been training by myself this entire time, without you. Without who I thought was my best friend. Just when I think you changed and switched up on me you come back. Why?"

Kanju "I haven't changed, I just haven't approved of you personality yet."

Senpu "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kanju "All someone has to do is mention a girl and you turn into a different person."

Senpu "I've never done that!"

Kanju "As soon as we joined the academy and you saw Yumi, you've been crazy about girls since. We tried training after that, but instead of actual training you try and do more peeping than anything."

Senpu "So that's why you ghosted me? Is it because you're ashamed of me?"

Kanju "You're my best friend, and that will never change. I just wish, for my sake you'd take our training a little more serious."

Senpu "I get it."

Kanju "There's no In between for being a ladies man, and an all out pervert. If it's a habit we have to break I'll be the one to help you!"

Senpu "Thank you, but I only promise to try and be better."

Kanju "I'll take it."

Senpu "When I woke up today, I did not expect a lecture."

Ava "Do you have a sweater I can borrow?"

Aiko "Yeah, sure."

Ava "Thank you."

Ava walks outside and starts to shiver wildly. She walks back in and then looks at Aiko smiling.

Ava "Do you have an extra coat and scarf haha?"

Aiko "Of course."

They both walk outside and still shiver a bit.

Aiko "Umm what exactly are we doing outside?"

Ava "I just wanted to take a walk. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."

Aiko "I don't mind going with you."

They clinch each other's arm to stay close and stay warm while they walk.

Ava "I've never been this cold before."

Aiko "Neither have I, this is the first time it's ever been this cold."

Ava "Are you serious? This isn't your typical weather here?"

Aiko "No, it's usually cloudy. Occasionally you get the heavy raining, but it has never been snow like this. Honestly I'm surprised the blizzard stopped."

Ava "My village was mostly cloudy too, we got the usual winters, but never snow or rain."

Aiko "So this weather is a big change for the both of us?"

Ava "I guess so. Seems to be a lot of things changing recently."

Aiko "Can I show you something?"

Ava "What is it?"

Aiko "Follow me!"

Aiko grabs her by the arm and pulls her all the way to the family tree she planted years back.

Ava "This tree is beautiful! I've never seen one like it!"

Aiko "Yeah I planted it awhile back, I didn't think it would grow this big."

Ava "It's amazing! And it looks so special!"

Aiko "Yeah, I think what makes it special is the fact that everyone was here for its birth. This tree brought us together and symbolizes our friendship."

Ava "Really?! This tree is connected to all of you?!"

Aiko "Yeah, even though some are considered more crude than others, none of us can deny the significance of this tree."

Ava "Wow, wish I could be apart of something this special."

Aiko "You already are, I'm sure everyone else will agree."

Ava "I hope."

Ava smiles as her and Aiko clinch arms again. After they admire the tree for awhile they notice a branch that grows near the top. It makes them both smile as they look at each other and then back at the tree. Before anything else can happen the blizzard starts without warning and provides the harshest conditions for them. They fall to the ground with gusts of winds and snow pushing them away from each other and separating them. When Ava finally stops her body, the amount of pain she's in is excruciating. From all the snow smothering her and the heavy rocks she couldn't avoid. She struggles to move, her body covered in bruises and blood dripping from her face to the snow.

Ava "Aiko! Aiko where are you?! Are you ok?!"

Aiko slowly gets up, but her whole body is shaking. Being in the same excruciating pain. The same cuts and bruises. Aiko starts to cry because she's not used to pain like this. She looks around and can't make out anything. Everything covered in snow, she gets afraid of what's going to happen next. Ava stands to her feet, barely able to move, but pushing herself as much as she can.

Ava "I have to find Aiko."

She limps around, but doesn't know where to go. With everything being covered in snow and it not being her home village, she's completely lost. She wipes her nose, wiping off the blood.

Ava "Blood? I knew it was a bad idea coming here! Hiroyuki how dare you! I'm gonna die here and it's your fault!"

Right when she says that there is an explosion right next to her. The shockwave knocking her down.

Lori "You're right, you will die here."

Ava "W-who are you?"

Lori "I am the blizzard!"

Ava "What?!"

Lori "All of this you see, is because of me!

Ava "You mean this blizzard?! The sickness?! It's all because of you?! Why?!"

Lori "Because he demands it! And I'll do anything to please him!"

Ava "Who? And why do you guys want to hurt this village so much?!"

Lori "Not just this village, but the world!"

Ava "So why are you here now?"

Lori "We need the girl!"

Ava "What girl?! There's no way you mean me!"

Lori "We don't need the likes of you! I'll be glad to kill you if that will make you feel important!"

Ava "Kill me?! I-is this real?!"

Lori "Let me show you just how real it is!"

Lori creates a giant blizzard that pushes Ava back with great force. When Ava flies back she hits a tree that breaks, also leaving her unconscious.

Lori "Is that it? I don't see why he's so afraid of this village."

Lori glides over to Ava's body leaving an ice ramp. She creates two ice blades, crosses them and tries to sever Ava's head. Before she can cut her head, Hiroyuki slides on ice kicking her away.

Lori "How dare you touch me!"

Hiroyuki "How dare you touch her!"

Lori "I do whatever I need to! I only work to please him! Nothing more! Nothing less!"

Hiroyuki "Why Ava?!"

Before he can say anything else Hiroyuki just pauses as he starts to think to himself.

Hiroyuki "It's all my fault! Her life can't be normal now! I brought her into whatever this is! Whatever happens to her is because of me!"

He looks back at her.

Lori creates an ice hammer and hits Hiroyuki with it.

Lori "Don't let your distractions get you killed!"

She jumps and tries to smash his face, but he evades just in time. He locks her arm, smashes the ice hammer, and then pushes off her with his feet. When he's in the air he shoots a bunch of ice needles at her. She tries to dodge them, but she can't dodge them all. Her arm gets cut, her thigh, and then her ear. She stands up straight with both her hands emitting ice. Hiroyuki does the same, waiting for her to attack. Lori creates an ice sword and points it at him. Hiroyuki just gets into his stance.

Lori to herself: "Can he not create weapons? If not this will be over real soon."

She slashes the sword through the air a few times and then pointing it at him again before dashing towards him. When she gets close, Hiroyuki backs up to get some more distance. She keeps coming, trying to overwhelm him with attacks. She slashes left, right, up, and down, but can't hit him. She looks at him in the face to see him with a blank expression.

Lori "How is he so calm and collected?!"

Hiroyuki dodges another attack while also punching her in the stomach. She backs away, falls to one knee and clinches her stomach. She takes a breath, but goes back to attacking. She grabs the sword with two hands and tries to slash downward, but Hiroyuki catches it and breaks it. After breaking it, he elbows her in the face and follows up with a kick to the face for good measure. Lori wipes the blood from her nose and then looks into Hiroyuki's eyes.

Lori "I hate you! I'm going to kill you!"

Hiroyuki "You hate that you can't win."

Lori "I will win! You will die!"

Hiroyuki gets into his stance with ice emitting from his palms. Lori stands to her feet and makes two ice daggers. Before she can make another move, her body starts to vibrate.

Lori "No! Not yet! I have to ki-"

She just vanished and Hiroyuki gets skeptical. He waits a bit, and then looks around. He tries his best to see if it was some kind of trick, but then gets over it. He walks over to Ava and wipes the blood off of her. Hiroyuki picks her up and carries her to the hospital. Meanwhile Aiko lays on the ground struggling to move as more tears begin to fall.

Aiko "Ava! Ziku! Anyone! Help me! Please!"

Aiko continues to crawl on the ground through the snow. Her body starts to get heavy as the snow continues to fall on her slowly smothering her entire body. Before her face gets covered, she looks up and sees legs. She tried to see who it is, but can't lift her head up that high. They bend down and touch her forehead with their finger. All of the snow gets blown away from her and they both lock eyes.

Zaki "You're pretty. Come with me?"

Aiko "Pretty?"

Zaki "Yes, let me help you."

Aiko reaches out to grab his hand. She's very hesitant, so she's moving slowly, waiting for a sign or something to happen so she doesn't have to take his hand. She stops, looks at his smile and then puts her hand back down.

Aiko "I'm sorry! I just don't trust you!"

The smile on Zaki's face fades and instead of holding his hand out, he grabs Aiko's hair.

Zaki "Pretty, but dumb. It would be best if you just came with me willingly."

Aiko "Just leave me alone! Please!"

Zaki "Such a beautiful face, sucks it has to go to waste. But we won't be taking no for an answer."

Aiko "We?!"

Zaki "Or I could take you with me, and we can just be together. Us alone."

Aiko is speechless, obviously this man doesn't care about the age gap between them. He caresses her face and then starts smiling at her again. Aiko gets completely scared and starts to cry.

Zaki "Shhhh, I'll be careful with you."

Aiko tries to let out a scream, but before she can Zaki covers her mouth and jus continues smiling at her.

Zaki "Shhhhh, no need for that. I'll take you with me. Don't worry."

Zaki tries to pick Aiko up, but before he can lift her off the ground, he hears footsteps behind him.

Kanju "What are you doing to her?!"

Aiko "Kanju please!"

Zaki "Quiet!"

Zaki smacks Aiko in the head knocking her out. Then he puts her down on the ground. Aiko's body gets dragged away and when Zaki looks he sees Senpu holding her.

Zaki "Tch!"

Kanju "Senpu hurry! Get her away from here!"

Senpu "Right!"

Senpu tries running, but Zaki appears right in front of him and smiles in his face. Kanju makes a conjuring circle and pulls out a Bo staff. Zaki grabs Aiko, but Senpu grabs his wrist and headbutts him. Zaki just smiles and then kicks Senpu away. Kanju swings his staff as fast as he can trying to hit Zaki, but nothing lands. When they both back away, Senpu puts his foot underground and stretches it all the way behind Zaki and kicks him in the back of the head. Kanju moves forward and then strikes Zaki with his staff. It loosens his grip on Aiko and when he drops her, Senpu stretches out to catch her. Zaki lifts his head revealing his smile as he snaps and then catches Aiko by the foot. As he's smiling he starts to raise his chi. From far away Asuna can sense it and gets confused as to whose it is. Ziku senses it too and wonders what's going on. Zaki's body is emitting large amounts of chi, as his body starts to mimic exactly what Lori's did.

Zaki "Seems I've made a mistake."

His body just vanishes, Kanju jumps back trying to figure out what exactly happened.

Zaki "I take it, I've made you angry?"

Sinitro "Why would you raise as much chi as you did?!"

Zaki "Was just having a little fun."

Sinitro "Asuna sensed you! You didn't capture the girl! And you showed me how weak you are!"

Zaki "Weak?!"

Sinitro "They were just kids! You made our power look like a joke! You and Lori! Both disgraced the power we gave you!"

Lori "I could have handled it!"

Zaki "You're the weakest, so it makes sense why you would get defeated."

Lori "Oh so you were winning your fight?!"

Zaki "Both of them are no where near my power, I was just enjoying myself a little too much. "

Sinitro "Never-mind that! We suppress our chi for a reason! If Asuna would have got involved it would have been over!"

Zaki "Asuna! Asuna! Asuna! You give us these missions, but tell is to never fight Asuna! Just take care of him yourself, since you're so strong!"

Sinitro "He beat me already , the gap in our power is something that will always infuriate me!"

Zaki "So you're afraid of him?"

Sinitro "I am not afraid! You will watch your tone! Know your place Zaki!"

Zaki "Hmph!"

Lori "So what now?"

Sinitro "We wait."

Zaki says to himself "Done with all this waiting, I do what I want. As soon as I get her power, I'm going to kill you!"

Aiko "What happened?"

Kanju "You were unconscious and we brought you here. Who was that man trying to hurt you?"

Aiko "I don't know, I was just with Ava when...Wait where's Ava!"

Kanju "She's here."

Aiko "Is she ok?!"

Kanju "Yeah she's fine. Hiroyuki brought her here earlier."

Aiko "Where is she?"

Kanju "She's in the room across the hall."

Aiko gets up and throws the blanket off of her.

Kanju "What are you doing Aiko?! You're supposed to be resting!"

Aiko "Ava's my friend!"

Aiko struggles to walk with all of her injuries. When she gets to the hall, she sees Hiroyuki leaning against Ava's room door with his eyes closed and arms folded.

Aiko "Oh hey Hiroyuki."

Hiroyuki "Hi Aiko."

Aiko "How's Ava?"

Hiroyuki "She's fine."

Aiko "Did you have to fight the same man?"

Hiroyuki "What man? I had to defend Ava from a woman."

Aiko "Really?"

Hiroyuki "Hmm, this sounds worse than I thought. I have to go report this to Asuna."

Aiko watches Hiroyuki leave. And then walks into Ava's room. Ava is asleep, Aiko goes over to her side and smiles.

Aiko "I'm glad you're ok."

She lays down next to Ava and falls asleep.

Kanju and Senpu just look at them and smile.

Kanju "Well, now we can get back to training!"

Senpu "Or we could lay with them and make sure they stay safe."

Kanju just stares at Senpu with a blank expression.

Senpu "What?!"

Kanju "If I was Kireina, I would have slapped you."

Hiroyuki "Aiko said there was a man that attacked her. When I went to help Ava, I had to protect her from a woman."

Asuna "Hmph, lovers maybe? Or are they siblings?"

Hiroyuki "Can't rule out the possibility of both."

Asuna "Hmm, as crazy as this world is, I wouldn't be surprised."

Hiroyuki chuckles

Hiroyuki "So what are we going to do?"

Asuna "Based on what you told me, they seem to be after Aiko."

Hiroyuki "What about Ava?"

Asuna "They don't want Ava, the woman you fought just wanted someone to kill."

Hiroyuki "I see, so if I wasn't there, Ava could have been dead right now."

Asuna "Yes, don't tell her that. And no matter what we have to protect Aiko. I'm not sure why they want her, but if they're trying this hard we can't allow her to be captured."

Hiroyuki "So what do we do?"

Asuna "I'll take care of it."

Tora "Hey Asuna, Karu said his wife was feeling better. If you still need him to go on that mission with Jiro, he thinks everything should be fine in two days."

Asuna "What?!"

Tora "What?!"

Asuna "Jiro came to me and said they were already leaving! If he's still here, then that means…."

Tora "You let him go alone?!"

Asuna "Him and Aurora both said Karu was going, I didn't think to make sure!"

Tora "I hope they're ok!"

Amatsu "You two and your blue flames are really something! This is fun!"

He smiles and then charges after Jiro, Aurora blocks his attack with her leg and then kicks him away. Jiro follows up with a blue flame burst and connects with a combo. He hit Amatsu so hard he broke his ribs and caused him to spit up blood. Amatsu smiles and then grabs Jiro's face putting it to the ground and dragging him. Aurora catches up to them and then kicks Amatsu's arm breaking it. When he loosens his grip Jiro reverses their position and puts Amatsu's head in the ground. Both Jiro and Aurora back away and wait for Amatsu to get up.

Amatsu "Your flames are fading, you both know you can't keep it up for much longer! Can you kill me before your flames run out?!"

Amatsu smiles, cracks his neck and then burst towards them. He goes for Aurora first because he can tell that she's stronger. His attacks get easily blocked because the blue flames are much faster. Jiro and Aurora both attack Amatsu in sync. Both of them attacking with combos too fast and too strong for Amatsu to block or evade. The synchronization of Jiro and Aurora proves to be too much for Amatsu as his bones are breaking and his blood is pouring. Not once did his smile go away. Amatsu's arms dangle from his body as Jiro and Aurora breathe heavily due to fatigue and drastic chi loss.

Amatsu "Almost at your limits huh?"

Jiro "Doesn't matter, we won't lose!"

Amatsu "But you will!"

Aurora's eyes get wide as Amatsu's body gets engulfed in flames and his aura rises to even greater heights.

Aurora "He.. He's getting stronger?!"

Jiro "What?! How?!"

Aurora "I don't know! He's some kind of monster!"

Amatsu "Monster? No. No. I am a demon!"

When he says this, he takes a step and immediately Aurora's body gets frozen.

Jiro "Aurora! What's wrong?!"

Aurora "Jiro I can't move! My body won't move!"

Amatsu just starts to laugh with his sadistic smile. After his laugh, he cracks his neck again and then goes after Aurora. Jiro pushes her out of the way and catches Amatsu's fist again. This time Amatsu breaks his fist because of how strong he attacked. Jiro and Amatsu begin fighting again and they trade blows back and forth, both of them destroying the area around them.

Aurora "Why can't I move?! What is wrong with my body?! I have to help him!"

Jiro is holding its own faulty well by himself, but as the fight progresses, Amatsu is getting stronger. Jiro knees Amatsu in the chin and when his face comes back down Amatsu is still smiling. He grabs Jiro's head, but Jiro breaks his grip and throws an elbow combo. They both back away and just stare at each other. Then they both create a flame wave and when they collide, the entire area gets destroyed and almost everything turns to dust. Jiro looks around trying to find Aurora as he's breathing even heavier now.

Jiro "Aurora!"

Amatsu "You'll join her soon!"

Kaji "Jiro!"

Jiro "Kaji?! Why?! What?!"

Kaji "Don't worry , I saved Aurora just in time."

Aurora "Why exactly did you come back?!"

Kaji "If I didn't, you would be dead!"

Jiro falls to the ground on one knee and can barely keep both eyes open. His aura starts to flicker like a light. Aurora stands up and stares at Amatsu.

Amatsu "He's almost at his limit, does this mean it's your turn?"

Jiro "Aurora no! Both of you just go!"

Aurora "I can handle myself!"

Jiro "Please just go! Take Kaji and you guys go!"

Aurora's aura is emitted again, but this time it hurts a little. You can see it in her face, since she tenses up.

Amatsu "Not only can you two not hold the ability, it also takes its toll."

Aurora "Shutup! You know nothing about us!"

Amatsu "And yet I know that I will win this fight!"

Jiro "Aurora stop ignoring me and just go!"

Aurora's aura emits even more as her blue flame rises bigger than before.

Aurora "I'm fighting with all I got now! This is where you lose!"

Amatsu "So much power! After I kill you it would have all went to waste!"

Amatsu dashes towards her, Aurora pushes Kaji away as her and Amatsu trade blows. She punches him in the ribs, cracking them. He coughs up blood, but continues to smile. Amatsu backs away and then unleashed a wave of fire. Aurora does the same, the blue flames are overwhelming the regular flames, but Amatsu goes through it all taking the damage, but not caring. Aurora gets shocked to see that he would do that to his body, but leaves her wide open. Amatsu grabs her face and tries to slam her to the ground, but Aurora breaks his arm and then kicks him in the face.

Jiro "She's amazing!"

Kaji "She's losing!"

Jiro "What do you mean?!"

Kaji "You can't feel it?"

Jiro "Feel what?!"

Kaji "Aurora's blows look like they're hurting, but they're actually making him stronger!"

Jiro "How do you know?! How's that even possible?!"

Kaji "It must be an ability of his! I can sense Aurora's strength fading, but his growing!"

Jiro "He's turning his injuries into strength and she doesn't even realize!"

Aurora's seemingly winning the fight, but the more times she lands a hit on him, she gets closer to her limit, but Amatsu gets stronger. Aurora starts to breathe heavy while Amatsu is still smiling. He snaps his arm back into place and then releases his aura.

Amatsu "You didn't realize, but my ember ability turns all the damage I sustain in a fight into strength!

Aurora "Ember?!"

Amatsu "Let me return the favor!"

He gets close to Aurora, she couldn't dodge him as he grabs her arm squeezing it. He smiles and then breaks her arm. Aurora's entire aura just gets diminished, her eyes tear up and she starts screaming. Amatsu throws her to the ground as she coughs up blood and then he kicks her away. After the kick, she was rendered unconscious. Amatsu unleashes another huge wave of fire towards Aurora. When the fire gets negated, Amatsu's face changes. Everything clears up and Jiro is standing in front of Aurora with Kaji holding her.

Jiro "Take her and leave!"

Kaji "What about you?!"

Jiro "There's no point in running, someone has to fight him."

Kaji "You don't have to...."

Jiro "Take her and leave! And don't come back this time! Whatever happens, whatever you feel, don't stop moving!"

Kaji "Jiro."

Jiro "Go!"

Kaji puts Aurora on his back and runs away. He stops and looks back, but then Jiro gets mad and yells at him.

Jiro "Kaji what the hell are you stopping for?! Go!"

Then he releases a wave of blue flames around him and Amatsu.

Jiro "Just me and you!"

Amatsu "A wonderful aesthetic for your death!"

Jiro "I can't lose to you!"

Amatsu "Don't let that power go to waste, join...…."

Jiro elbows him in the stomach.

Jiro "I don't care what you have to say, I'm not joining you or anyone else! I fight for my family and that will never change! Until I die!"

Amatsu and Jiro trade blows again, but this time Amatsu's Ember isn't active. He's just stronger from his fight with Aurora so he's able to match Jiro, even win some exchanges.

Amatsu "We're both almost at our limits! Who will fall first?!"

Both of them keep fighting, and after a few attacks Jiro's blue flames go away and he just smiles.

Amatsu "Your flames have ran out, you are weak. Why smile?"

Jiro "Because I protected them the best I could. Because of me they are safe."

Amatsu "Tch! Humans! Fighting for others! Strength is the only thing that matters and strength alone! Strength in only yourself!"

Jiro "The faith they have in me is my strength!"

Amatsu "And yet you die to me!"

Jiro getsn into his stance for a final round.

Amatsu gets into his as both of their flames are gone.

They both smile, but before they can move Jiro gets stabbed in his chest from behind. He begins to bleed and spit up blood, trying to look behind him, but his eyes are fading and everything's turning dark. He falls to the ground and can barely hear the conversation as it sounds muffled to him.

Amatsu "What are you doing here?"

Naraka "You were wasting time, we need to go back."

Amatsu "Why did you kill him?"

Naraka "Because you showed him your Soku."

Amatsu "So!"

Naraka "The source of our power and you think it's something light?!"

Amatsu "He didn't need to die!"

Naraka "Blame yourself for that! Now let's go!"

Amatsu "Tch!"

Both of them leave through a warp gate. Before they left Amatsu looked back at Jiro.

Jiro "Is this it? I'm so young, my life was barely getting started. Mom, dad, Shizuko, this is goodbye. I love you all."

Marvelle feels weird, she puts her hand on her chest and then runs to the living room. She looks at the family flames, and Jiro's goes out. She drops her glass, and then falls to her knees crying and screaming. Zukiro comes out and asks what's wrong, when he looks at the flames and sees all he can do is comfort Marvelle. He hugs her tight and even has tears falling down his cheek.

Shizuko "Something doesn't feel right, I need to go home!"