Editor's comments and actions are denoted by [brackets]. Sound effects are written {like this}. (Parenthesis) indicate side notes in the dialogue bubble or the mangaka's note. And finally, italics are thoughts.

Tatsumi, Watari, and Hisoka approach Satomi's underground lab.

Tatsumi: It's this door, isn't it—— Watari-san. Take the other key. ——— Let's go.

{sound f/x pii: beep}

{sound f/x gakon: doors sliding open}

Large doors slide open before the trio.

Watari: Oh—— It opened.

{sound f/x sutasuta: running footsteps}

The trio begins running through the empty halls of the underground lab.

Tatsumi: It looks as though we weren't given fakes. Hurry, let's search for Tsuzuki-san. How is it, Kurosaki-kun... Have you gotten a hold of Tsuzuki-san's location?

{sound f/x kan: footsteps}

Hisoka: —— Yes. Tsuzuki's consciousness is impossible but... if I trace Muraki's remaining thoughts, I think I'll certainly hit Tsuzuki. After all, Muraki and Tsuzuki are probably together.

{sound f/x da: Hisoka's running footstep}

Hisoka: (This way, left.) Muraki's in the deepest part of the research lab——... He's in the Central Area!!

{sound f/x goun: menacing atmostphere}

In the Central Area, Muraki continues wheezing on the ground as he bleeds while Tsuzuki stands above him, still holding his knife.

{sound f/x boto boto: dripping blood}

Muraki: Cough... cough...~... [cough] Ga...~... Haa~ Haa...~... Absurd...!! Why did this sort of thing...~ (Haa~...) U...~...

{sound f/x pota: dropping blood from Tsuzuki's knife}

Tsuzuki: Didn't your grandfather write it in his records? Muraki——... There's times... very rarely... when I came back to my senses for a short time...

Muraki: Dammit... (Sh~...)

Tsuzuki: The periods when I come to my senses will little by little become shorter, and the intervals between when I can awaken will gradually become longer... And just like that, I'd gradually fade out until I couldn't do anything but look... That was the old me... ———— But this time is different!!

{sound f/x gin: Tsuzuki glaring at Muraki}

Tsuzuki: Now, right here, I have just enough time to send you to hell!!

{sound f/x go: Tsuzuki punching the wall}

Tsuzuki: This will be our graveyard!! Muraki!!

Muraki: ku~ku~ku~... Is this what you call you and I committing a double suicide together...

{sound f/x gusha: Muraki clutching his head}

{sound f/x gaku: Muraki shaking}

Tsuzuki: It seems as if you've truly gone mad...

{sound f/x suu: mist slowly gathering around Tsuzuki}

{sound f/x kin: glowing bright light}

Tsuzuki: More than the black flame, a boiling shimmer of air. The heavenly serpent, I ask you to come down and dance. Come forth!!

{sound f/x go: energy burst}

Tsuzuki: Touda!!

Around Shion University, dark energy bursts forth. Muraki clutches his head as Tsuzuki follows through with his summoning.

Muraki: You understand, too, don't you? Tsuzuki-san......... Even if you kill me, your deep sadness—... The instant I saw your photograph... I understood. ...will never be healed. That we are the "same kind"... As a consequence of the genetic manipulation that went against natural reason, we were born with an imitation "life." If you trace the path of things living in chaos's darkness, it's just more darkness.

{sound f/x uuu: howling wind}

Muraki: We can't run...... You... and I.... As for us, we are the proof of the sins that people committed... we are the sons of one who wore the detestable brand on its forehead——

{sound f/x doo: Touda bursting forth}

Muraki: BECAUSE WE ARE THE "DESCENDENTS OF DARKNESS"...

{sound f/x gukua: Touda's roar}

Elsewhere in the complex, the trio of Shinigami continue to work their way to Muraki and Tsuzuki. The hall suddenly explodes around them.

{sound f/x don: explosion}

Tatsumi: !! [coughing] What in the world......

{sound f/x goo: menacing atmosphere}

{sound f/x buwa: further explosions}

Tatsumi: Is it the self-destruct system or something starting?

{sound f/x bikun: Hisoka suddenly collapsing in surprise}

Hisoka: Ahu...~!!!

Watari: (Awawa) !? (Ah~) Boy~!!? (What is it this time~!?)

Hisoka: ——... It's a "summoning"... [panting] This is Tsuzuki's summoning.

Watari: What'd you say!?

Tatsumi: Then, Tsuzuki-san came back to his senses!?

Hisoka: I don't know...... But I feel it... Tsuzuki's consciousness. —— Tsuzuki's... Where are you!? Tsuzuki!!!

{sound f/x doga: giant explosion}

Hisoka: He wants to blow himself up with the research lab...!!! Don't be ridiculous......~~!!!

{sound f/x goo}

Back in the center, Muraki pants in a growing pool of his own blood.

Muraki: Consciousness... is fading...... cold...... is this... is this "death"...... (Huhu) This kind of peaceful death is even visiting me... It's too amusing; I'm crying...... It visits every living thing impartially... (haa~) Ukyou.....~ Please forgive me... I... In the long run, I couldn't save you... I couldn't do anything... for you... I no longer have any place to return to—— ......... (ha ha ha) ...Goodbye... Ukyou......

{sound f/x dododo: loud heartbeats}

The world slowly fades out around him.

Muraki: —— Please...... Please be happy...... For leaving you, please——... Please forgive me......

"A defective, failed work." "A broken marionette." "A soulless vessel." —— Although those things are nonexistent in the place where you sleep......

{sound f/x goo}

Touda in serpent form rises before Tsuzuki.

Touda: ...Are you sure, Tsuzuki...? My black hell fire is a horrid flame of hell that can also ruin you——...

{sound f/x goo}

Tsuzuki: .........

Touda: Of course if it's a double edged sword..... It isn't that you avoided using me.........?

{sound f/x yura: Touda swaying in the blaze}

{sound f/x goo}

Tsuzuki: ——— It's okay, Touda... I really can't ask this of only you... Suzaku and the others follow the agreement...... They'd probably save me one way or another...... But I... don't want to be saved anymore.

Touda: ......... I see.........

Tsuzuki: Tell Souryuu and the others...... that this is... my wish... I could always feel everyone's power close by... I'm sorry I was a poor master. I'm sorry I was nothing but trouble. I want you to please forgive me and... I'm sorry...

{sound f/x goo}

{sound f/x bishi: rubble splintering towards the ground}

{sound f/x meki: rubble falling fast}

Elsewhere, Tatsumi and the others watch as flames begin engulfing the building.

Tatsumi: !?

{sound f/x goun: flames roaring through the walls}

Tatsumi: Black flame——... Impossible, that fire is... Touda's...... [gasp]

{sound f/x dan: Hisoka bursting forward}

Hisoka: There~!! It's Tsuzuki!!! Tsuzuki~!!

{sound f/x ba: Tatsumi leaping to catch Hisoka}

Tatsumi: Wait, Kurosaki-kun!! That fire isn't an ordinary flame!! The temperature of Touda's flame is terribly high!! Even your life is in danger!!!

Hisoka: What are you saying!!! With this kind of fire, soon———...

{sound f/x goo}

Tatsumi: ......... You...... don't truly think that Shinigami are really invulnerable, do you...!?

Hisoka: Huh...!?

Tatsumi: For example, even though you're Shinigami, if the cell damage exceeds the regeneration speed, your body is an ordinary lump of flesh like a normal human...!! In other words, if continually baked by an ultra high temperature flame... we would certainly "die"!!!

(* However, spiritual forms are a whole other story.)

Hisoka: ...... That's... then Tsuzuki...~!?

Tatsumi: There is nothing that we can do... The summons will not listen to anything but their master's orders. He was aware of everything when he used Touda... Certainly he means to kill himself.

{sound f/x goo}

Tatsumi: Tsuzuki-san... I've only known you... for half a century. The way that we parted hurt you over and over again—— I couldn't even have said one kind word... Tsuzuki-san... For you even living now is... hell isn't it...

{sound f/x jari: rubble crunching under Tatsumi's feet}

Tatsumi: The truth is... you hated it...? You... The kind of existence that irritates me... The kind of existence that heals me... I didn't understand how you could deal with it.

Inside of Tatsumi's mind, Tsuzuki smiles at him.

Tsuzuki: Tatsumi...

Tatsumi: "Eternal death"... If that is your wish, we have no right to stop you.

{sound f/x goo}

Tatsumi: ——— Until now, the thing that tormented you... Tsuzuki-san... I didn't know, did I...? With your "death"... please destroy me...

{sound f/x ga: Watari grabbing Tatsumi}

Watari suddenly leaps forward, grabbing Tatsumi by the collar and shaking him furiously.

Watari: Get a grip! Those stupid idiotic things~~!! (I heard you before) You're just going off on those naïve things!!!

Hisoka: (Ah~)

Tatsumi: Watari-san~!! Wha...~

Watari: I understand Tsuzuki wants to die, too... And you want to respect that will. ——— That's all good but...

{sound f/x goo}

Watari: That's... just running away!!!

{sound f/x ban: the wall exploding}

Watari: What do you want to do... you've got nothing to do with Tsuzuki's will or anything...

{sound f/x gugu: Watari shaking Tatsumi}

Watari: What do you want to do, Tatsumi~!!!

Tatsumi: I...

{sound f/x dooo: fire continuing to roar}

Hisoka rushes forward to separate the two.

Hisoka: Please stop, Watari-san!! This isn't the time to be doing this sort of thing!!

Watari: (Don't stop me, Boy~!!)

Hisoka: (Don't get all worked up about it.)

Tatsumi: [cough cough]

Hisoka: ...I'll...go...

{sound f/x goo}

Hisoka: I... don't want to let Tsuzuki die like this... I'm Tsuzuki's partner. In exchange for Muraki...

{sound f/x gyuu: Hisoka making a fist}

Hisoka: For that bastard's life... I absolutely don't want that!!!

Tatsumi: Kurosaki-kun...

Hisoka: Even if he wished it for himself, I can't accept it...! I don't want to accept it!!!

Hisoka runs up to the edge of the wreckage and looks over.

Tatsumi: Kurosaki-kun~!!

Hisoka: I'm sorry! If I come back alive, you can give me any sort of punishment!! But I...

{sound f/x gyuu: Hisoka gathering his determination}

Hisoka: Don't want to have any regrets...~

Hisoka drops off the edge of the wreckage and into the inferno. Tatsumi and Watari can only watch him as he falls.

([near Tatsumi] Blankly.)

Watari: There's nothing wrong with having your own way, Tatsumi. Tsuzuki decided to do it his own way...

{sound f/x goo}

{sound f/x ga: Watari stepping forward to look over the edge}

Watari: We should always carry through with our own feelings!! We can't decide which is right or whatever here and now, right? (Hm?)

Tatsumi: ......... ...True... isn't it... Indeed, my desire. That's—...

{sound f/x goo}

Down below, Tsuzuki waits in the burning fire for his death.

{sound f/x meki: the fire burning faster}

Tsuzuki: Until now, how many people have died for no other reason than because they're connected to me. They all reproached me and then died. Sure there are humans that I don't need on this world——... Existences that shouldn't exist... I don't think I can be forgiven for this but... I'm sorry... Certainly it's better if I'm gone... —— Burn more... Touda...... Let's correct my distortion... Burn... everything away. This eternal life...

Hisoka: Tsuzuki!!! What're you doing, you idiot~!! Come here quickly!!!

Tsuzuki's face snaps up to where Hisoka floats towards him from far off.

([pointing to the tiny Hisoka far in the distance] Here.)

Tsuzuki: Hisoka!?

Hisoka: Can you not move? Wait! I'll come...

Tsuzuki: Don't, go back! You'll die, too!!

{sound f/x goo}

Hisoka: (You stupid idiot) Are you saying I came here to let you die!!

Tsuzuki: (PLEASE STOP~) I... want to die already...

Hisoka: [gasp]

Tsuzuki: Enough already Hisoka———... I've already lived for too long...... Always, always, there's feelings of regret and sin and grief inside of my head, nothing but that... I'm... so tired...

Hisoka stares at Tsuzuki as tears run down his face. Hisoka suddenly leaps forward into Tsuzuki's arms.

Tsuzuki: (Hi~...) Hisoka...~

Hisoka: I won't go back...!! I don't...... want to be alone... again......~

{sound f/x gyuu: Hisoka grabbing onto Tsuzuki's robes}

Hisoka: Because I don't want to lose this... Because this is my most precious thing... I decided long ago...... This is the only place I have to return to... Just right here——— So I won't leave anymore. I won't let go of your hand once more. I'll go with you to the world you're aiming for. Tsuzuki......

Hisoka and Tsuzuki cling to each other crying. Shion suddenly explodes.

{sound f/x go: giant explosion}

That black flame swallowed not only Shion, but the surrounding forests and houses as well. Luckily, there were no casualties, but it was said that those black flames burned just like the raging fires of hell. Later many remains that looked like humans were found in the ruins, and the University's human cloning experimentation came to light——

Elsewhere in the Shoukanka, a shadowed figure speaks to Konoe.

Enma: Konoe...... How is it? The state of Tsuzuki and the others.

Konoe: Yes... Very nearly, Tatsumi was able to protect them by taking them into the space of his "shadows." At this time, they are of course undergoing medical treatment in the Infirmary Recovery Room, still under repair. If they mend his skin, somehow he'll be back to original...

Enma: (Hmm) I'll lose my patience if that beautiful body is allowed to be destroyed... I understand. You can leave now.

Konoe: Yes...~

Enma: ......... The bastard...!! I can't forgive him... Escaping from my leash without leave... Escape from me and where can you go, Tsuzuki... ......Hm~ Foolish... You no longer have a choice...... —— Because this Hell... is the only place where you can return to———

Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27

Manga belongs to Matsushita Youko, Hana to Yume, and Hakusensha, taken from the Yami no Matsuei, Volume 8 manga, ISBN4-592-17408-9. Not like the story makes sense if you haven't read the manga anyway. Romanized and translated into English very badly by Mina-P, with desperately needed help, as always, by Mako-chan. Any comments or corrections can be mailed to Mina-P at Minako@senshigakuen.com.

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