Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Time Changes Us

When the time for their departure arrived, everyone at Hope's Peak hesitated in saying their farewells. Being several miles apart was no one's personal choice; these were friends who were like family. But the repercussions of bringing the very people who terrorized and killed civilians back far out-weighed the benefits of them re-entering society. Byakuya, Makoto, and Kyoko sat near each other, lost as to how Karen and Hajime figured out a way to work around the consequences. "Didn't we appoint her as the new chief director of Future Foundation?" Hina broke the tension.

"Yes, but that was before she left with the others." Byakuya seized the tapping of his fingers. In the absence of his fiancée, Byakuya became the sole operator of Future Foundation. The organization had been in shambles since the Final Killing Game and without Munakata's guidance, the organization was at high risk of foreclosure. After the variety of large-scale successes, everyone had agreed that Future Foundation was crucial in the revival of society. And it had been. Except being the sole operator of several overseas' branches, in addition to a renewed financial conglomerate, was incredibly taxing to the mind and body. While he would never admit it, Byakuya was exhausted. He wasn't the only one, however, being that Kyoko and Makoto had been working day and night to rebuild the academy and the justice system. Kyoko had spent every moment of daylight with Makoto, going home to arrange emails and phone conferences to rebuild criminal justice and detective positions. But going home was the worst for Byakuya. He had grown dependent on seeing a slumbering, slender woman next to him. The woman who he brewed coffee for every morning, who kissed him before they left for their assigned work, who stayed up late to help with paperwork, and who his heart ached for since the day she had boarded that boat.

Whenever he looked at Makoto and Kyoko, he yearned. As disgusting as the envy and jealousy felt, he was surprisingly happy for the pair. Makoto and Kyoko were diverse, yet a fitting couple. Makoto was optimistic, dense at times, but was overall a caring, passionate man who was devoted to the stoic detective. Kyoko was stubborn, emotionally distant at times, but was intelligent and was equally committed to her work and her relationship. Most of the group were getting tired of waiting for Makoto, or even Kyoko, to ask for the others' hand in marriage. "Earth to Byakuya!" Hina was frantically waving her hand in front of his face.

"I apologize. What were we discussing?" Byakuya glanced around the small group.

"Do you want to greet them at the landing pad?" Kyoko repeated. Byakuya nodded, trying to ignore the deep-rooted concern on their faces.

Karen had her forehead pressed against her interlocked hands, leaning forward, which pressed her elbows into her knees. Their arrival time had been set for just past dusk. The sun had already begun to set, telling her that they were almost back to the mainland. "Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?" Sonia gently brushed Karen's shoulder.

"No. It's just...I think I've pushed him beyond his limits this time." Her mind wandered back to her time in the killing game. After every scream, accident, and dumb decision, she was surprised to find Byakuya still by her side. But spending three months apart with no room for discussion? It was cruelty that she had been blind to until her feet touched the warm beach sand. She had run away. After all the help the others had offered, she had run and left them to clean up the mess.

Hajime reached over, wrapping a hand over Karen's hands. "I'm sure he'll understand. If he experienced what we saw, then I'm sure he'll understand." Hajime had been the one who really pushed Karen out of her comfort zone in confronting her hallucinations of Junko and every deceased student. The pills she was given her first day at Future Foundation had worked for a while. But it wasn't long before her refills outweighed the lasting effects. Two pills turned to four, then to eight. After the Final Killing Game, for the split second that she believed Kirigiri to be dead, Junko's voice had become too much for Karen to handle. Hajime had been the one to instill the habit of telling Junko to shut up. She would wake up in the middle of the night just to yell 'shut up' at the warm night air. "If he were to walk away now, then I don't think he ever cared enough."

"Hajime!" Mahiru slapped his arm.

"No, he has a point." Karen nodded. "But I wouldn't blame Byakuya if he chose to walk away. I've caused him far more pain than necessary. Not just him, but everyone. I was a traitor, a liar." A twinge of pain snapped her out of the self-deprecating trance. "Ow!" Karen reached up to touch her forehead. Nagito had flicked her between the eyes.

"Stop talking about yourself like that. You've spent the last three months struggling, sobbing, and screaming. It's time to stop and face reality. You survived a killing game, the ending of the world, and you're supposed to marry the man you love in the future." Nagito grabbed Karen's hands. "She doesn't control you anymore. Yeah, you fucked up. But you didn't give up. Now, say it."

"I didn't give up."

"All of it." He squeezed her hands.

"I didn't give up. I made dumb decisions, but I didn't give up. Junko Enoshima can't control me anymore." Her chest shuddered with confident relief. Nagito had been her moral support through it all. He had taken nearly every slap and kick, tear and scream, but that didn't stop him from being forceful when necessary (with Nekomaru and Akane's help).

"Preparing for landing!" The pilot's voice relayed over the intercom speakers.

Byakuya paced outside of the car. No one knew when they were supposed to arrive, so every minute felt like they were late. "Remember when you yelled at us for pacing?" Hina puffed.

"It's an abhorrent habit that I can't seem to shake at the moment." The whirring of helicopter blades pulled everyone's attention towards the west. Future Foundation's logo was displayed on the side; the windows had been tinted for protective measures. Byakuya had unknowingly drifted to the front of the small group, patiently waiting for the helicopter to land and allow the passengers to exit. They exited in order of closest to the door, letting Ibuki and Mikan off first. As they exited, everyone rushed towards the greeting group with arms wide open. Karen was the last to step out of the door; her beaming smile was the trigger. Byakuya stepped forward, one faster than the last until he sprinted mere feet to sweep the woman into his arms.

Neither could choose a focal point. Byakuya slowly spun Karen around, taking in every notable difference. His fingers traced the short length of her hair. Her hands traveled up his arms and around his shoulders. "Are you mad at me?" she asked.

Byakuya shook his head, "I can't be. For the past three months I've worried about every worst-case scenario and to have you standing in front of me is the best thing to have happened since you left." He wrapped his arms around her familiar slender frame and breathed in the familiar scent of lavender and honey.

"I really, really hate to interrupt this beautiful moment," Kyoko called out, "but you can continue back at home."

Home, the word was music to their ears. Today had been the most pleasantly eventful in a long time. Tomorrow, however, would be a different story.