Tears of a Dove

XVI: Statim Finis

"In just a matter of a day, I have regained the state of being victorious!" Kazu shouted. "What do you think of that, Yukina?"

Yukina, locked in the basement cellar or Castle Valé, remained silent as she stared at the floor.

"Oh, come on. Not even a word?"

She slowly looked up at him with disgust. "You don't know what's coming for you..." she said, slowly.

Kazu chuckled. "What could possibly be coming for me? How would you know anything?"

"I don't," Yukina became red with anger. "Because of you, I haven't seen the smallest glimmer of sunlight in almost two years! Take a look at what you're doing to me!"

"Ah, silly Yukina. You never had what it takes to be my queen."

"I know our daughter is out there somewhere," Yukina said quietly. "She'll come back for me."

Kazu laughed. "You think that little twig survived? She's dead! She couldn't defend herself even if her life depended on it!"

"I know her strength. I've seen it."

"Quit your lying! You aren't allowed to see anything!"

"I know my daughter better than you know how to run an army!"

Kazu took much offense to that. "Don't you say that to me! And she's just your daughter now?"

"You don't even know her! You want her dead!"

"I want all of you dead!" Kazu shouted. "You're not going to sit there and tell me what to do!"

"I can't believe you, Kazu..."

Kazu pulled a rifle off of a wall mount in the cellar and aimed it at Yukina. "You will believe me! Say you'll believe me!"

Yukina stared at the barrel of the gun and did not speak.

"Say you'll believe me or I'll kill you!"

Yukina did not worry. "You wouldn't."

"Don't you test me!"

"Fine, Kazu. Do what you will," Yukina sighed without sadness. "I know you'll fail. And you'll be standing in the blood of your own family. You'll have to live with that feeling that you caused."

Kazu growled and aimed the gun closer to Yukina, this time, not hesitating to pull the trigger. She dropped flat on the floor immediately. She knew what was going to happen but she wasn't scared in the slightest. She could sense the dark power that has taken control of Kazu and did not fight it. Kazu stared at her lifeless body, panting. "I must press on. I must win this battle!" He quickly ran up the stairs and opened the cellar doors, which took him back up to the burned ruins of Haven Valé. Crawling out of the hatch, Kazu stood up to shout something but stopped when he looked in front of him.

"What... what did you do?" Miku said slowly as she looked at the ashes of her Haven Valé, with tears in her eyes.

"Who are you? And who are..." Kazu stopped and looked at Arwel. "Wait..."

"What did you do?" Miku shouted again.

"How the hell are you two still alive?"

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Miku shouted again, this time, much louder. All she could look at is the large marble dove statue that still stood bright and beautiful.

"How did you get back? Why is your hair shorter?"

"Don't even start, Kazu," Arwel said sharply. "What the hell did you do to Miku's Haven?"