Black Moon Rising

Interlude: The Last of Her Kind

Interlude: The Last of Her Kind

One late night, I woke up crying. I couldn't control it. Tears inexplicably poured down my face. I instinctively clung to Suguru, gripping him tight. He jolted awake, mumbling incoherently. "Kaya...? What's wrong?"

I squeezed him even tighter. "Please...don't go. I don't want you to leave...don't leave me alone."

"What are you talking about?" he muttered. "I'm not going anywhere. Are you alright, Kaya?"

"I...I had a nightmare," I stammered. "I was lost in a dark place, and I couldn't find you anywhere...no matter where I went, you weren't there...I was so scared..."

Suguru smiled and held me close, stroking my hair. "It's alright, I'm right here. I won't leave you."

"I...I can't do this," I mumbled. "I was finally getting used to living on Earth, but I know it won't last. I...don't want to fight anymore. All my sisters that I killed...I can see them every time I close my eyes, glaring at me. I only know how to destroy life...I can't do anything else. When Sariel awakens...I don't know what I'll do. How do I fight something so massive, a being that devours everything he sees?"

Suguru held me a little closer. "I don't know either. Your father chose you to battle Sariel, because you have the death sight. He paired me up with you because he knew how vulnerable you were deep down. You're not just a mindless monster meant to kill. Unfortunately...fate chases us regardless of where we run to. The other Tsukihime, and the Initializer...Lord Tsukiyomi sent them to Earth as a test for you. Only one Tsukihime and one Initializer were meant to survive, to continue the Lunarian species. The last surviving Tsukihime would be the only one capable of defeating Sariel."

"So...this was all my father's plan?" I asked. "Of course...he must have told you everything while I was unconscious back then, before we were banished to Earth. I wish I could say different, but...it sounds exactly like something my father would do. I just don't understand...why did he choose them?"

"Angra's electrical abilities were very powerful," Suguru answered. "As a Tsukihime, she possessed the heart of a noble warrior. She believed Tsukiyomi, that it was her mission to survive, to live on to battle Sariel. Sakura and Rayla had already been paired up as Tsukihime and Initializer, so they made the perfect pair as far as reproducing was concerned...but Sakura was expelled by Sariel after she was swallowed. It was the only time a Tsukihime had ever lived after being sacrificed. Her mental state was utterly broken, but her abilities were intact. Her telekinesis coupled with her numbness to pain, as well as having a connection to Sariel, made Tsukiyomi believe Sakura could have had a chance at killing him. But in truth, I think he knew that only you were capable of such a thing. Even if Sariel is gigantic, he has a death point like every other living creature in the universe, and you can see it. No matter how huge or powerful he is, if his death point is pierced, it'll be all over for him. He couldn't regenerate quickly enough to recover. That is why everything happened over this year...to prepare you."

I frowned. "I see...so that's how it is. Those words of love my father told me...they meant nothing. He only ever saw me as a tool. Tell me, everyone back on Lunopolis...they're all dead now, aren't they?"

Suguru paused for a moment. "Most likely. Even if they aren't all gone right now, they won't last much longer once Sariel begins to devour. I don't want to imagine the despair they felt in their final days."

I clenched my teeth. "I hate this! Why does it have to be like this?! I don't want to be a Tsukihime anymore! I just want to be happy!" I cried into Suguru's shirt, drenching it in my tears.

My Initializer didn't mind it. He kept on holding me, stroking my hair and comforting me. "Whatever happens, I promise you, I will always be by your side, Kaya."