The council members stand frozen, their minds reeling as they process the revelation. The weight of Mikael's words hangs heavily in the air, and Liam, the first to speak, stumbles over his words. "So then…that means you are also a…." His voice trails off, but the unspoken question is clear.
"Yes, that's correct," Mikael responds, his voice steady and calm. "Like Noah, I am a Junsui demon. However, I am a Karyuhdo and only live off of animal meat and blood. Please, don't look so nervous—I pose no threat to any of you." He offers a reassuring smile, but it does little to ease their tension. "Now, not that I wish to rush you, but time is limited. We need to get the children to the infirmary immediately. I'll handle Noah and bring him there once I've explained everything to him."
Vera, still skeptical, purses her lips. "Excuse me, not to be rude, but just what do you intend to do to our children? You show up here claiming to be a demon and say you can save them, but only with Noah's help. Why do you need him specifically, and what exactly do you intend to do?"
Mikael meets her gaze, his expression serious. "I understand your concerns, Vera, and I promise to explain everything once we're at the infirmary. For now, please trust me—time is of the essence."
Vera hesitates, still unsure, but the desperation in the eyes of her fellow council members—parents fearing for their children's lives—pushes her to relent. She gives a slight nod, signaling her acceptance, and within moments, soldiers arrive to carry the injured to the clinic. The council members follow closely behind, their hearts heavy with worry. Tahno lingers behind, surveying the battlefield littered with bodies and the aftermath of the chaos, his face etched with a mixture of anger and sorrow.
Mikael approaches Tahno, his tone soft and filled with regret. "I'm sorry this happened. I thought I had been thorough in my investigations for any potential threats that might have infiltrated the academy, but somehow, Ouran slipped under my radar. Reapers are rare, and I failed to recognize their energy signature. I saw that they had befriended Noah and were helping him learn more about himself—things I couldn't teach Noah myself because of my promise to stay out of your way. Ouran changed so much from how I remembered them as a child. Sometimes I wonder if leaving them behind was a mistake. If only I'd known they would turn out to be Bakemon, I would have—"
Mikael's words hit a nerve, and Tahno's complacency shatters into fury. "So your so-called child is only worth sticking around for if they're Bakemon, is that right?" Tahno's voice drips with venom as he stands to face Mikael. "So you made it a habit of abandoning kids if they didn't share your precious Junsui bloodline. It all makes sense now, so thank you for filling me in on where I stand."
"Mason, that's not true!" Mikael protests, his voice desperate to reach Tahno. "I thought I was doing what was best by leaving Ouran behind to live a normal life as a human—not because I didn't see their worth. As for you, Mason, it was my father who sent you away. If I had been able to do anything about it, I would've saved you. I would never abandon my own child willingly. As soon as I learned what my father had done, I began my search for you, and when I found you here, I was so happy. Ever since that day, I've been praying that you'd find a way to forgive me and let me be a proper father—"
Tahno's rage boils over, cutting Mikael off. "You're not my fucking father! I had a father, a really good one, and a mother, and even a little sister. I had a family, and I never needed you. But then your kind—those filthy fucking monsters—murdered my family and left me for dead, leaving me homeless and alone on the streets at only ten years old! Where were you then? My parents told me just months earlier about my lineage, but for whatever reason, I was born as a human rather than a Junsui. And you know what? I was glad! I was so happy I was born human because I couldn't stomach the idea of being a monster like that. But once they were gone, I found myself desperate to be one, just so I didn't have to suffer. Do you know what it's like for a kid who'd always been sheltered from the dangers of Hokkaido City to suddenly find himself in the epicenter of its worst slums? It hardened me and made me into the screwed-up disaster I am today! The only thing that gave me strength to move forward was my hatred for you and all your kind. I was determined to be the best damn soldier I could be, even without powers, and prove that I was just as good as my Junsui brothers were. So I trained my body to the most extreme limits, and maybe it was due to my Junsui genes—active or not—but I got strong. I reached a level where I could withstand more than physically possible for most humans and developed the speed and skill of a superhuman. But the fact still remains that I'm completely human. If I'm killed, I'll die, and that fact gives me comfort because I'd never want to live an eternity as a soulless beast. My goal is to eradicate you all for good."
Mikael's face pales as he listens to Tahno's tirade, his heart breaking at the pain in his son's voice. "So you would deceive your own brother and exploit his abilities for your own selfish gain then? For a misleading prophecy that may not even be true? Can you do such a thing in good conscience?"
Tahno's eyes narrow, his voice cold and unyielding. "So what if I am? You're one to talk. You have no right to judge me when you just want to use him too, for an unproven prophecy just the same. The only difference is I'm not trying to turn him into some Great Savior to relive the past and leave him with no say in the matter as it's his supposed 'destiny.' I simply want to help him unlock his full potential so he can face the challenges necessary to secure the weapon that can and will eradicate all Junsui—which is ultimately what he wants too. His desires are directly matched to mine, as he hates the Junsui just as much as I do, maybe more. He too has felt the horror of what they really are—monsters that take away loving families for no other reason than to kill on primal instinct. As for deceiving him, I'm not really keeping it from him. I just haven't told him yet."
Mikael's expression shifts to one of sorrow and concern. "Okay, so perhaps you will tell him. But do you really think he'll still be willing when he learns that if this weapon does what it's claimed to, he will also have to die? Is he willing to sacrifice his own life?"
Tahno's hardened exterior cracks for a moment, revealing the depth of his inner conflict. He knows the answer to Mikael's question, and it's one that haunts him. But his resolve, born from years of pain and loss, doesn't falter. "If that's what it takes to end this nightmare once and for all, then yes—he will. Because like me, he knows that there's no place in this world for monsters like us."
The words hang heavily between them, a stark reminder of the cost of their shared lineage and the path they've each chosen to walk.