Help from the Shadows (Open Novella Contest)

22 (Finale, Jorogumo)

"Urgh..." I rubbed my eyes a bit, trying to get the spots dancing in my eyes to disappear as I sat up in my Lightside. 

"Is everyone all right?" I heard Akino ask out, so I turned to see everyone get up from their positions. 

We were now on the mirage island, which was strange, since I clearly remembered being at Gembu's palace during the battle. Everyone was getting up, so I did the same and joined them at our boat, against which Mister Movien and Ungaikyou were slumped. 

"Has he been purified?" Ayame asked. 

"I have no idea," Mitsue-san replied. "Maybe yes?"

"I think we can only know when they wake up," Chenhua noted. 

"I agree," Rau nodded. 

Just then, a groan came from Mister Movien. His body shifted a bit. 

"Ah, my head's killing me...." Mister Movien opened his eyes, rubbing them a bit as he stood up, looking around the place. "Where am I?" 

"Mister Movien, you alright?" Rau crouched a bit, making eye contact with him. 

Mister Movien stared at him for a while, before his eyes suddenly widened, "I-I remember now! All my horrible deeds! Everything! And it was all because I was too arrogant to see the truth!" He looked a bit hysterical as he went to his knees. Tears began spilling from his eyes. "I'm so sorry everyone!" 

"Hey, hey, it's okay, Mister Movien," Rau gently grabbed his shoulders and made Mister Movien face him. "We've forgiven you for what you did. After all, it wasn't on your own free will, right?" 

"H-Huh?" he looked shocked. "H-How did you know?"

"Wait, hold on, what?!" the Original Quartet looked completely stunned. 

"What are you talking about, Rau-nii?!" Ayame's eyes widened.  

"Simple. The fortuneteller called your Shadowside out, didn't she?" Rau replied. Mister Movien nodded. 

"I owe you all a lot for freeing me from her clutches. How can I ever thank you?" He asked us. 

"What we ask for isn't much, to be fair," Rau shrugged. 

"Rau deserves the right more than we do, though," Chenhua joked.

"True. He is Mister Movien's fan," Akino smiled.

Mister Movien's eyes widened, "R-Really?"

Rau nodded.

"... Huh, I guess I really was the fool in the end..." Tears pricked at his eyes as he curled up a bit. "I'm sorry I didn't match up to your expectations."

"Not really," Rau shook his head. "Being who you are is already good enough on my book. I mean, the best gift in the world for me is to see someone's true self, without any restrictions, even with all their imperfections, doing what they love. And for you, Mister Movien, that's making people happy through your films. But maybe do it properly, like how us humans do it, okay?"

"..." Mister Movien suddenly hugged Rau, tears falling down his cheeks once more.

But this time, it's obvious that it was plainly full of happiness.

/\/\ Help from the Shadows /\/\

As if on cue, a portal suddenly appeared, and a man stumbled out of it. We all blinked, but Akino's eyes widened, immediately recognising him, "Dad?!"

"Yo, Akino, everyone," he greeted back.

Our jaws dropped. THIS IS AKINO'S FATHER?!

To be fair, he didn't look that similar to Akino. Messy wheat hair emphasised his sharp blue eyes, which scanned us as I noted his half-American, half-Japanese look which was kind of rugged due to the double scars on his cheeks and his being in his 40s, like Chenhua. He was wearing a green t-shirt, a pair of light brown cargo pants, and light blue sport shoes.