Thankless

Chapter 4 pt.2 and Epilogue

Thankless

"I'm moving to America."

Kazune, Lynn and Ryu gasped.

Lynn was going to intervene till Ryu stopped her. He shook his head at her, telling her that they needed to work this out on their own.

Not sure on what to say, Kazune stayed silent.

"I know it's not my fault. When I was 15, I thought it was. Not even the best therapists could make me believe otherwise. For so long I carried that guilt with me. I was always monitored and never had the chance to figure it out on my own, so when I left it gave me time to think. I thought back on whether I may have done something that maybe lead him on or what if I had gone home at the time I was supposed to, and you know what I realized? After going through every possible scenario? It wouldn't have made a difference. I know I didn't lead him on, and I know that had I been home and had him join us, he still at some point would have snapped. Maybe not that night, but he was a ticking time bomb." It was the first time Karin had ever shared that much about Takuya with Kazune.

He was glad she was able to be open with him again, but he hated at the thought that she was only being this open because she would be leaving soon.

"Please don't go..." He quietly pleaded.

Hearing the pain and sadness in his voice was enough to make her question her choices.

"Kazune, I've thought about this for a while now. Where else can I go from here? Where can we go?" She asked him.

Instead of answering her right away, Kazune clutched onto the sides of his wheelchair and started pulling himself up.

Karin got up. "W- what are you doing? Sit down. I know you still haven't completely healed yet."

Ignoring her, Kazune continued to try and get up. It was a bit of a struggle, but after a few more seconds he was able to stand up. He took three wobbly steps towards her.

"Kazune..." Karin couldn't help but begin to tear up. To see him walking towards her, she would be lying if she said it didn't make her feel happy and proud of him.

He placed his hands on her shoulders to help steady himself, and to look closely in the eyes.

"This right here is my promise to you that I'll keep fighting. I'm not gonna let the last time we saw each other define us. I want to be there for you, always. I'm hoping you'll let me."

Karin giggled a little through her tears. He always was quite the cheese puff, but she loved him for it. She wrapped her arms around him, making sure not to hug too tight.

Letting out a sigh of relief that his little speech worked, Kazune hugged her right back.

In the kitchen, Lynn and Ryu were cheering on their friends.

Pulling away, Karin smiled at him. "I'll fight too."

Epilogue

It's been a few months since Karin and Kazune's reunion. Things still weren't back to the way they were, but they were working through it.

Kazune could walk again properly, for the most part. His family had ultimately decided to move back to the mansion, after heavy renovations were made. It doesn't really resemble the mansion it once was.

As for Karin, her promise with Kazune to keep fighting lead her back to finding an apartment back in her old town and getting a job as a teacher since she enjoyed it.

Over time she and Kazune slowly worked on their relationship. They went from supportive friends to something in between that and a relationship. They hung out often but Karin couldn't find it in her yet to visit him at his was currently living at the mansion with Himeka and Micchi. Himeka wouldn't hear any if's and or but's about him living anywhere else.

The relationship between Karin and the rest of Kujyou/Nishikior's was improving as well. They all decided months back to start on a clean slate and so far things have been good.

Tonight Kazune was staying with Karin for the first time in so long. They were a little nervous about it, but they knew exactly what they wanted to do. What they felt they needed to do.

They were laying down in bed, facing each other. Karin scooted over closer to him so he could hold her. "This isn't too weird right?" She asked.

Kazune kissed the top of her head. "Not at all. It's just what I needed actually. What we needed I'd like to think." Karin hummed into his chest out of contentment.

Slowly, they drifted off to sleep.

A few hours later Karin woke up in a fright. She had a nightmare about Takuya. About that night at the mansion. Instead of them all making it to the hospital with at least a possibility of making it, they all arrive to the hospital in body bags.

Karin took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She reminded herself over and over that it was just a nightmare. She laid down again and tried to go back to sleep, but it was to no avail.

Over the next 2 weeks, the nightmares kept occurring and each time they got more and more graphic. It occurred to Karin that the nightmares only happened when she slept next to Kazune.

The last nightmare in particular was quiet gruesome. It was always the same thing with no one surviving. Karin woke up gasping for air. In her nightmare, Takuya had strangled her to death.

She made her way to her bathroom as quickly as she could without waking Kazune up. Turning on the light in the bathroom, she saw her reflection in the mirror. Karin was horrified to see hand marks on her neck. She touched them gently before splashing her face with water.

'You're losing it, Karin...'

When she looked in the mirror again the marks were gone. She had imagined them. She was beginning to hallucinate her nightmares.

She thought back to something Takuya had said to her. How no matter what, a piece of him would always be with her, and he was right.

Being with Kazune reminded subconsciously reminded her of that horrible Thanksgiving at the mansion.

That's when it hit her.

'He won...'

Takuya had taken everything from her. Her family, her sense of security, the love of her life, and now her sanity.

No matter how time would pass, or where she went, she would always be that girl who fell prey to a sadistic wolf.

In a way, he got what he wanted. She will never completely be able to start over.

Karin could hear his maniacal laugh ringing in her ears, as if he were right there with her in the bathroom.

He owned her as much in death, as he had in life.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this short story!