after begging for a chance to be reunited with his girlfriend. This girl seemed similarly entrance by Ubume, unable to escape her poisonous promise of love. The thought that made me shudder was what her future would look like, what would be laid for her.

"She'll.......be okay," Masachika whispers, bringing me back to reality.  "Terrorised for so long....hard to escape the demon's control. It'll......take time. But she'll....recover."

His voice was hoarse with a mixture of assurance, making my eyes sting with tears. Clearing my throat I steady my voice as I push past the tears, "What're you worrying about other people for? I swear, I've got such an idiot for a brother."

Masachika's eyes narrow as if blinded by brilliance. "Hey......Sanemi....?"

"Yeah?"

"Even....when I'm.....gone...." Masachika's voice a little more than an exhalation. "Eat.....Sleep. Try....to get along with people......make sure to live.....your life....."

My jaw clenches more tightly holding the strain building my throat, swallowing my sobs.

"......also please take care of.....Hayami? She........needs someone too...." He spoke her of her name, the way his voice sounded mellow when it rolls of his tongue. ".....you both need each.....other... and......take her.....out for sweets and tea as promised...."

Hesitating for a moment my voice breaks, "Yeah," if he said anything more, I would begin to allow the waterworks to burst open. No, I would scream. Seeing masachika smile up towards me, with no ounce of fear. To me, it was the finest sight in the world. Why did I find it so damn annoying, when really I found it comforting to see. I've only gotten this far because of him, because he was by my side all the way since becoming a slayer. He was the first to see me, thanks to him, I was able to live as a human being again.

Thanks to him, he brought Hayami to me.......

Why did someone so good have to die? Because he'd refused to harm a little girl?  It was too absurd to accept. Dammit! I want to scream and shout to the heavens: If there are any gods up there, help him. Masachika was so much kind than he was. So much stronger. This was a man who go on to save so many lives. He could bring the world happiness.

"It's.......up to.....you now.....Sanemi....Don't die..."

"Masachika,"

"Be.....happy...." slowly the light fades from his eyes, the dread sinking in.

"Masachika!!!!" Clutching onto his body, everything came crashing down upon me as I began to cry and wept ragged sobs from my throat. I didn't care about the pain in my throat, all my anger increased as I cry out for him.

~*~

A FEW DAYS LATER 

Laying within the Butterfly mansion, my thoughts were becoming faded. The breeze drifts by, feeling the slight sting from my fresh injuries. Wrapped in gauze, my breathing uneven from my broken ribs, I drew short puffs of air. The ceiling was a blur in my line of sight, as the sound of distance chatter fills the hallways outside.

Can't they shut up? Whatever, I can't be bothered shutting them up....

The smell of disinfectant fills the room, which was more pleasant than death and rotting corpses. Though I tried to deny many times, that it wasn't true, I needed to accept it. This was who I was. I've seen many deaths, but the more I grew attached to others, the further the pain aches in my chest. 

The door slides open slowly, assuming it's Kocho to come in and console me, I roll my eyes in response.

"Lady Mizutsuki, get back here," Another voice hisses, quietly. A Kakushi of the butterfly house. "You're injured, and Lord Shinazugawa cannot speak properly....so--"

"I need to see him," Her voice fills the room, with gravity in her tone.

The sound of feet hurrying to my side with urgency, as my dull eyes met with heartbreaking dry tears down her cheeks. What alarmed me was the way she looked, from head to toe. Hair disheveled and caked in blood, her face blemished with bruises and scratches and her breath heavy and laboured.

"K-Kumeno....?"

My jaw clenches tightly averting her gaze, "I'm sorry........"

"So it's true........it's really..." her breath was uneven, despite her current state, Kumeno was her main concern. However calloused fingers drift across my throat, feeling how tentatively she was with assessing my wounds. "Are........you okay?"

Those three words left me fighting back those tears again, the stinging sensation lingering.

"Mmph....."

The mattress sinks beside me feeling her hand take mine, lifting it to her chest and gently rubs her thumb over my knuckle. I couldn't be bothered brushing her off, let alone say anything that will rupture what we have. Not now. Not when Kumeno's last remaining words, involved me staying with her. Though I wanted to push everything away, alive or breathing, she was all I had left that I wanted to cling onto.

"I tried........"

The warmth of her provided me a sense of comfort, I though I couldn't feel anymore.

"I know," Her voice came out steady, with her breath regained and her mind clear. "Guess I should've declined my mission, and aided you both instead..."

"No, don't do that--"

"Then what did you want me to do, huh?" She raises her voice a bit, but not enough to ring in my ears. It was like a mother scolding a child. She takes a moment before her frustrations dies, which was different coming from her. "My mission only had cattle and farms ransacked, with low levelled demons.....I could've..."

Taking her smaller hand in mine this time, I held it more securely earning a small sigh.

"....it was only a small slip up, nothing could've changed...." I tried to assure her, cursing to myself in my head over and over. Silence soon creeps between us, while her hand remains in my large one. Afraid to lose her next, not wanting her to go.....not now. 

"His last words?" Her voice barely came out as whisper, my eyes drift back to see her face cleared up but with foggy eyes. The devastation took a toll on her, far more than I've realised it would. I've surprised myself and regretted every moment I was with him, being hostile and aggressive to his patience. I took it for granted.

"He....told me to eat well, and get along with the others," scoffing at the thought, my eyes averting from her own. Slowly I glance towards her again, "He also........wished......." should I tell her? Now isn't the time, it doesn't feel right......

"Wished.....?" her voice hung in the air.

"He.......wished, for you to stay well," I somewhat lied, even though that was partially the truth. 

"Right," her head hung, her bangs covering her eyes and expression. My hand gently squeezes hers with assurance, before glancing back towards her. "Just......get better please? I can't lose someone else, not you........"

This made my eyes slightly widen in surprise, though her gaze remains unchanged. 

"I'll try......."

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