Welcome everyone to the final chapter! I'll save my comments for the end. So enjoy.

Chapter 17

Sakaki sat on the old, dusty bed as Tomo flipped through different articles and pictures. Few words had passed between them since arriving. Tomo had been amazed at how the Mihama estate had fallen into ruin. Of course, so had Sakaki when she first saw it in such a state. And to think, we hung out here in high school. Doesn't seem possible. A notebook landed on the bed and Sakaki glanced over to Tomo. "Is that it," she asked.

"Yes, that's everything."

Tomo didn't respond right away. She just fidgeted with some papers and kept checking the photos. She was lost. "You know, I was kind of hoping that these would answer some of my questions." And Tomo released a sarcastic chuckle. "But they just raise more." Sakaki couldn't respond for she didn't know how. "Did Osaka ever come to you? Did you ever see her?"

"No," Sakaki said, a little taken aback. "I last saw her at that graduation party. I didn't know about this until I found Chiyo's journals."

"Why? Why didn't she come to you?" Tomo asked, and Sakaki couldn't tell if it was rhetorical or not. "I mean, she visited the rest of us. Why'd she leave you out?" Sakaki lowered her head. "Sorry," the word came out quick. "Sorry Sakaki. I shouldn't have said that. Even after what Chiyo said, it bothers me." Then slumping back on the floor, Tomo finished, "It's just something you never quite let go of."

"I guess I don't understand," Sakaki said, glancing out the window at that lemon tree. Tomo had noticed it when they entered the room but hadn't really commented on it. The skeletal structure of the branches just creeped Sakaki out. Then looking back to Tomo who at some point had followed Sakaki's gaze out the window, Sakaki said, "This isn't really my place to say, but it sounds like we're all really important to Osaka; despite what's she done. She watched over Chiyo. The way she talked to you, and how she warned you about Yomi . . ." Sakaki didn't know where to go after that. ". . . maybe she was trying to help."

Tomo sighed. She didn't look convinced. "I don't know. I understand what you're saying. But with how she saved Chiyo . . . there's a difference there."

"Yeah I know," Sakaki resigned.

The room fell back into silence. Sakaki had nothing else to add and she didn't think Tomo would either. But Tomo did eventually say, with a small grin on her face, "Thanks Sakaki." Then she stood up and Sakaki finally thought that maybe Tomo would be at peace, somewhat.

However, a loud THUD from downstairs tore their attention off each other and Tomo rushed to the door. Sakaki stood to follow, but her leg was still a little sore from the stair climb. Tomo had already managed to get down the stairs before Sakaki even reached them. But she stopped in her tracks and probably shared the same of look of shock that covered Tomo's face. The front door had whipped open and in the doorway stood Osaka.

Now even though Sakaki had heard about Osaka from Chiyo, and read about her in the journals, and after hearing three different accounts of run-ins with Osaka, Sakaki couldn't believe it. Here she stood in her late sixties with Tomo, and Osaka walked into the house with her eighteen year old body. She truly hadn't aged a day. She still wore her school uniform and everything. The only thing out of place was Osaka's face. Just as everyone else had described her, she needed sleep and she looked miserable.

Osaka wobbled through the house, ready to tip over at any second. Tomo had been so shocked that she just stepped away when Osaka went for the stairs. She clung on to the railing for dear life, and though she had her high school figure, Osaka climbed the stairs with the same kind of difficulty that Sakaki had. Sakaki took a couple steps back. Was it time? Was it finally her turn to be tempted? But when Osaka reached the top and rested a hand on Sakaki's shoulders, she said, "Hey Sakaki-san, long time no see."

And Osaka collapsed into Sakaki's arms. She didn't have a choice but to catch the girl. Half carrying Osaka, she laid the girl down on the bed that she'd just been sitting on. Upon closer inspection, she found Osaka shivering. Sakaki quickly covered the girl up and did her best to make Osaka feel comfortable. Why? She wasn't sure. Everything had just happened so fast. What else was she supposed to do?

Slow footsteps stopped outside the door and there stood Tomo. But she would not enter. Her face unreadable, she said, "What are you doing here?"

Settling in to the dust infected bed, Osaka said, "My time is up Tomo. It's over."

Tomo didn't respond.

"I'm sorry Tomo," Osaka said, and at least to Sakaki, she sounded just like she did in high school. Osaka didn't seem to have that menacing tone that pervaded the other stories. She sounded more like herself, but upset. But maybe that's just me. Sakaki thought as Osaka continued. "I'm sorry about what happened to Kagura and Yomi. I never meant to . . ." But Tomo left. Her footsteps echoed up through the hallway and then disappeared.

"She's probably just cooling off downstairs," Sakaki said, surprised that she was comforting Osaka.

An awkward silence fell between them as Osaka eyed the door. Getting tired of standing, Sakaki grabbed a chair and pulled it up next to the bed. She kind of felt like she was back at the hospital; watching over Chiyo. And she wondered how Chiyo was doing. I hope Tomo's story didn't upset her too much. Sakaki thought as she looked past Osaka. "Don't worry." Osaka's voice had caught Sakaki off guard. "Chiyo's okay."

"How did you . . ." Sakaki began but a strange ruckus from downstairs cut her off and she turned her head towards the door, hearing raised voices. One of them, most certainly Tomo's, "What the hell are you doing? You shouldn't be here!"

And the other voice, "Where is she? I want to see her!"

Sakaki glanced back at Osaka, who merely sighed in disappointment, like she'd been expecting this to happen. Deciding to see what the commotion was about, Sakaki moved from her chair and hurried in the fastest pace her leg would allow, to the stairs. The voices continued to argue.

Tomo shouted, "What are you doing out of the hospital? How'd you get out?"

The other voice, "Where is Osaka? I want to see her."

Sakaki's heart sank when she heard those words. She knew exactly who was down there. And reaching the stairs, her fears had been right. There stood Tomo, holding back a frantic, panicked Chiyo. She stumbled and swayed back and forth, trying to shake Tomo off of her. Sakaki was speechless. Never has Chiyo ever acted like this. "Sakaki," Chiyo had noticed her, "Where is she?"

Sakaki bit her lip. "Osaka's up here." And to Tomo, she said, "Let her go, Tomo. She might as well come up since she's here." Sakaki instantly knew that Tomo hated the idea, but unable to argue with the logic, she nodded.

Showing no more strength than usual, Chiyo clutched the banister and slowly inched her way up the stairs. Fortunately, Tomo followed her up, making sure she would not fall. When Chiyo had finally reached the top, Sakaki breathed a sigh of relief. Chiyo hadn't been on stairs in years. The doctors would never allow it, and they probably would've chewed everyone out if they knew what Chiyo had just done. Wonder if they know?

Sakaki didn't have to point to the door as it was still open. She just helped her longtime friend to the door. When they arrived, Chiyo left Sakaki's arms and lunged for the bed when her feet gave out. Luckily, she'd made it far enough to catch the edge of the mattress and with Sakaki's help; Chiyo was able to sit down on the bed, by Osaka.

Sakaki sat back down in her chair, not knowing what else to do. And she heard Tomo's footsteps fade down the stairs.

Chiyo had wrapped her fingers around one of Osaka's hands. How she could care for someone who's supposedly done so much evil? Sakaki couldn't understand. But then again, why would she be angry? Chiyo was probably one of the first to see Osaka after the fire. And then, Osaka had been in tough shape.

"It's okay Osaka," Chiyo consoled, "I'm here. It's still not too late."

Osaka only looked away from Chiyo, as if she couldn't stand the sight of her friend. Seeming very interested in the wall, Osaka said, "What are you doing here? Why'd you come?"

Chiyo's heart visibly sank in her chest. Her head lowered and Sakaki could've sworn she saw moistened cheeks. Sakaki was about to get up and leave for privacy sake, but Osaka caught her eye with a look that demanded her to stay.

"Please Osaka," Chiyo said, "I can still help you."

"No. I'm just tired."

"Is there anything we can get you," Chiyo asked, still not wanting to give up.

It took several seconds before Osaka even appeared to understand the question. Then she took quite some time with deciding her answer. But when she had, she said, "Could I have some water? My throat is a little dry."

"I'll get it," Sakaki immediately volunteered herself. But then she remembered the house had no running water; not for years. She'd have to run to the nearest convenience store or gas station. But Osaka must've read the look on her face.

"Just use the bathroom down the hall."

Deciding not to argue, Sakaki left the two. As she walked towards the bathroom, she tried to imagine Chiyo's escape from the hospital. How had she pulled that off? The stunt seemed almost impossible, not even Houdini could've done it. The cameras, the people, the safety precautions; not to mention the distance. It's not like the hospital was right next to Chiyo's mansion.

Locating the bathroom, Sakaki stepped inside and found a glass next to the sink. Occupied by bugs, dust, dirt, grime, and host of other unidentifiable things, Sakaki grabbed it and wiped it out with her shirt. A little better, but the shirt just swirled most of the gunk around; like everything had been tossed in a blender. Sakaki tried again, and a little cleaner. "This is probably as good as it gets," she resigned. And she turned on the cold water. At first nothing, then a sprinkle and then a shower, and finally water poured out. How? This place hasn't . . . but hearing the groaning of the pipes, Sakaki filled the glass and just as the water was about to run over, the faucet shut off by itself. The water looked hazy, like something had gotten into it. But with no more coming out, Sakaki couldn't just dump it. "Maybe if I check the pipes, I can . . ."

A scream echoed through the halls and Sakaki almost dropped the cup.

Ignoring the pain coursing through her leg, Sakaki ran down the hallway and back into the bedroom to see what had happened. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Chiyo sat terrified, while Osaka lay in bed with the same look as always. The difference, in the time Sakaki had been gone, Osaka had aged fifty years; at least. Her hair a cobweb white, her skin speckled with wrinkles. Bags hung from her eyes and her eighteen year old body had now become this old, brittle shadow of who she once was. Seeing the glass, Osaka stretched out a bony limb to grab it and Sakaki wished that she'd gone to that gas station.

"Thank you," Osaka muttered, and like the rest of her body, Osaka's voice had crumbled.

Osaka hungrily emptied the glass and satisfyingly handed it back to Sakaki, who couldn't help but notice that much of the grime was now gone. "Thanks Sakaki," Osaka repeated, "Is there anymore?"

"N-No, I don't think there'll be any," Sakaki said, and immediately saw the disappointed look on Osaka's face.

But she brightened up some and said, "That's okay. Maybe I'll just take a nap."

"Are you sure," Chiyo asked.

Osaka nodded. "I'll be okay."

Chiyo nodded, and before she got up, she dug around in her hospital gown and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. Taking the paper, Osaka knowingly opened it and said to Chiyo, "I can't . . ."

"Take it," Chiyo said, ". . . Just in case."

Osaka nodded. Helping Chiyo off the bed, Sakaki guided her towards the door, but stopped when Osaka called her name. Seeing as Chiyo's legs were still quite weak, Sakaki helped her to the door frame where she could hold herself up. Then returning to Osaka, she said, "Did you need something?"

Osaka placed a hand on Sakaki's shoulder. It felt cold, yet soft. She had hardly the strength to keep her grip. "Sakaki. When you leave, close the door."

"Okay."

"And . . . don't open it. Not anyone."

Sensing the time, Sakaki nodded. "I understand."

"No matter what you hear?"

"No matter what I hear," Sakaki repeated.

Happy with her response, Osaka released Sakaki, curled up in bed, and closed her eyes. Sakaki watched her for a few seconds, and then retreated back to Chiyo. Chiyo didn't say a word as to their conversation but allowed Sakaki to help her to the stairs and down. Every few steps, Sakaki couldn't help but glance back up at the door. What was the right thing to do here? She didn't know. And Sakaki had always prided herself in doing the right thing. It's one of the reasons that she took care of Chiyo; though mainly because they were such close friends.

With the stairs finally traversed, Sakaki located Tomo who stood uncomfortably in the living room. Finding a comfortable and sturdy place for Chiyo to sit, Sakaki helped her down. Then she too, found a place next to Chiyo. Tomo didn't stay quiet for long. "Well?"

"She's resting."

Tomo nodded. Then she said, "What about Chiyo?"

"I'm fine," Chiyo said, though her voice was nothing more than a helpless squeak.

Sakaki thought for a minute and said, "We should probably let the hospital know where she is."

Chiyo didn't respond. She probably didn't care. But Tomo nodded. "I'll go," Tomo said decisively, "Let me take care of it."

With no argument, Tomo left the mansion and the sound her car soon drifted down the street.

Lying up in that dust ridden bed, it took Osaka quite some time before she fell asleep. And not having slept in over fifty years, she expected her nap to pass much more smoothly than it did. She tossed and she turned, rolled over and almost fell out of bed. Her mind plagued with a terrible dream, she sat in that cell, the one she had shown Tomo.

Cold cement hugged her body as she cradled herself. The damp odor from the other cells filled her nostrils along with the smell of rotten eggs. Osaka's heart pounded in her chest as her eyes focused on the one thing that accompanied her. The old hourglass sat; the black sand dripping away its final grains into the bottom. "N-No," Osaka whispered, her entire body shaking violently. "No please!" And Osaka grabbed the hourglass, flipping it upside down. But the grains of sand only traveled up into the black mound that defied gravity. Shaking the hourglass, Osaka threw it against the cement wall and watched it bounce. Not even a crack in the glass as the final grain of sand slipped through to the other side.

A loud rumbling bell sounded throughout the prison and Osaka moved towards the door. But it was gone. Her only escape route had melted away and the cold, iron bars had stretched out to take the exit's place. Out in the hallway, people wandered. At first aimless, but then, they approached Osaka's cell. She couldn't make them out right away, but their faces quickly came into focus.

Yomi stood naked, blood dripping out of her wrists; her skin white. Kagura stood next, dripping with seaweed, dirt, and water streamed from her nose and mouth. Then was Tomo, dressed in her police uniform with gun in hand; hate filled her eyes. Chiyo was there too; along with her parents, stab wounds and all. Then more people flocked to the cell, to get a glimpse of her. Osaka recognized every one of them. But none were there to help. Fear flooded Osaka's heart. They were there to watch her die.

Sakaki and Chiyo sat in silence. Neither could say a word to each other. What could Sakaki say? She had never experienced any of what Chiyo or Tomo had gone through. What could she possibly say to comfort her friend? Chiyo must've felt like a failure. From what had been in her journals, she'd tried hard to help Osaka. And who knows what the missing entries would've revealed? Sakaki placed an arm around Chiyo, hoping the gesture would mean something to her friend. Chiyo accepted it. And none moved until after midnight when strange sounds started emanating from upstairs.

At first, the sounds were inconsequential. Could've been anything. Could've been an animal that had wandered its way in. But the noises escalated. So quickly did the noise climb, that it would've been like going mute to full blast on a car's sound system. The mansion's foundation shook in agony from the disturbance. Sakaki didn't know whether or not they should treat this like an earthquake until a new sound started up. A terrible screaming descended onto them. It could've been Osaka's, but it was impossible to tell.

Chiyo was the first to jump out of her chair. And in doing so, she toppled over. Sakaki moved to help her up, but Chiyo had already climbed to her feet and was already making her way over to the stairs. Sakaki followed quickly, remembering Osaka's warning. But by the time Sakaki caught up to Chiyo, the frail girl had somehow climbed up the stairs.

Sakaki caught Chiyo at the door which pounded furiously against the wall, cracking the plaster. Screams and moans of all sorts could be heard inside. More than Osaka was behind that door.

"Let me go," Chiyo demanded.

"I can't," Sakaki argued, "Osaka doesn't want us in there."

"I don't care! I'm going!"

"Chiyo please," Sakaki started but Chiyo ignored her and grabbed the doorknob. It hissed and smoked and Chiyo screamed. But because of the noises from within, her voice was lost.

Chiyo pulled back her hand as flesh flaked off and black burn marks shriveled the skin. Her hand shook. She couldn't seem to stop it. "Oh my God," Sakaki muttered, temporarily in shock. Her mind raced in panic. With the leathery appearance of Chiyo's hand, she'd need medical attention immediately.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Sakaki calmed herself amidst the screams and the shaking of the house and the pounding of the door. For Chiyo's sake, she grabbed the girl and forced her to look her in the eyes. "Chiyo," Sakaki said, and Chiyo looked at her with dampened eyes and small pupils. "I'm getting you something for your hand, and we're getting out of here. Understand?" Chiyo nodded.

"Don't touch anything." Sakaki ran off down the hallway, towards the bathroom where she'd gotten Osaka's water. Her leg throbbed every step of the way. It burned with pain, begging her to stop but Sakaki continued until she'd found the bathroom. Storming inside, the house lurched and Sakaki was almost thrown off her feet. She tore through the drawers, cupboards, and everything until a stack of towels was found. Sakaki grabbed the cleanest one and dusted it off.

Hurrying back with more of a limp in her stride, she found Chiyo exactly where she'd left her. Thank God. Sakaki said to herself as Chiyo only cradled her hand, not even looking up to Sakaki when she approached. And when she'd arrived, Sakaki noticed another sound had started up from within. A deep, rumbling voice which threw curse after obscenity to all who could hear. Osaka's voice had completely drowned in this new sound as the house shifted under their feet once more.

The sounds had frozen Sakaki for only a second. She quickly regained composure and grabbed Chiyo's hand. Wrapping Chiyo's hand in the towel, she finished as fast as she could. "Alright Chiyo. Let's go," Sakaki said. She reached for Chiyo's hand but Chiyo pulled it away. "Chiyo?"

"Sakaki, I'm sorry," Chiyo's voice barely reached Sakaki.

And then Chiyo shoved Sakaki back with all her strength. Sakaki lost her balance and toppled over and onto the floor. A loud crack pierced her ears and Sakaki clutched her leg, groaning in pain. She tried to get up, but the pain forced her back onto the floor. She looked up at Chiyo whose face was wrought with pain. "I'm sorry Sakaki. But I can't leave her like this."

And Chiyo placed her wrapped hand back onto the doorknob. The hissing sound started up again and the towel flaked away as Chiyo writhed in pain. But yet she held firm and Sakaki tried to stop her. In all her agony, Chiyo pulled the door open and Osaka's scream tore through the building.

Everything happened at once. The door repeatedly slammed against the wall, breaking off the hinges. Chiyo froze in place and released a blood curdling scream as blue firelight reflected off her body. Instantly, something from within ripped the scream out of Chiyo's throat and her body crashed against the wall.

"CHIYO!" Sakaki screamed and hurried towards the motionless girl. Another loud cracking noise filled Sakaki's ears and when she looked up, the broken door hurtled towards her. Everything went black.

"Sakaki. Sakaki."

A voice echoed in Sakaki's head and she felt her temple throbbing. Slowly opening her eyes, Sakaki stared at the ceiling. Everything was quiet. But she was still on the floor. Sakaki moved to sit up but was held down; and finally she saw Tomo next to her.

"Not so fast. You've had a small concussion. Just take it easy," Tomo said.

Clutching her head, Sakaki waited for the throbbing to go down. "I'm okay," she finally said and slowly sat up. It took her a few seconds for her eyes to readjust to the light. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon."

Sakaki released the grip on her forehead and glanced around. Mere feet in front of her rested a body, covered up with some kind of jacket. Chiyo. Last night still fresh in her mind, Sakaki reached out to confirm the growing sense of dread in her heart.

Tomo grabbed her arm and pull it back. "No," Tomo said, "She wouldn't want you to see her like that."

Sakaki nodded.

"Can you walk?"

"I don't know. When Chiyo pushed me, I . . ." But Tomo handed her some kind of branch that had the right size for a walking stick or cane. With Tomo's help, Sakaki managed to get back on her feet, and with the "walking stick," Sakaki was able to slowly limp her way around. The first place she wanted to go was the bedroom where Osaka had been. Sakaki slowly walked over the uneven, cracked floorboards. The floor got worse as she entered the room.

The room itself was covered in black ash. The ash drifted through air like thick snow. Everything covered in the black powder; it even crunched under Sakaki's feet. The room reeked of sulfur. But the most noticeable change was the wall. It was gone. Sakaki could clearly see the lemon tree from where she stood, along with big, thick ruts dug up in the ground leading up to the tree. The jutting boards were coated with dirt, leaves, and twigs. And from where she stood, Sakaki could see something blowing around on one of the lemon tree's branches.

After receiving help from Tomo in exiting the mansion, Sakaki maneuvered her way over to where the lemon tree stood. Tomo helped her over the uneven ground and past the ruts. A scrap of paper lay skewered on one of the branches. Tomo managed to pull it free with minimal climbing and handed it to Sakaki. The picture was of all of them, back in high school. Everyone was in it.

Tomo had one look at the picture and said, "She's gone isn't she?"

Sakaki nodded. "I think so."

"Well come on, let's get you to the hospital." Tomo said as she led Sakaki back round the front where an ambulance and several cop cars waited. Sakaki hadn't seen or heard them so she was a little surprised when she'd found them there.

As Tomo guided her through all the people, a black body bag emerged from the house, carried by two officers. "Don't worry about her," Tomo said, knowing how Sakaki felt about losing Chiyo.

The emergency team helped Sakaki up onto a gurney and Sakaki asked Tomo, "What now?"

Tomo thought about the question for a minute and said, "It's over now. There's nothing left." Then Tomo grew silent and with a decisive nod, she finished, "I think I'll travel, and hear the others' stories. I want to know where she's been."

And as Sakaki got loaded into the ambulance, Tomo hurried off. When she returned, she held a large manila folder and climbing into the ambulance, she handed it to Sakaki. "Before I forget, I'm supposed to give you this." Sakaki looked up to ask but Tomo said, "I don't know what it is. I was just told to give it to you." Then Tomo hopped out of the ambulance and Sakaki watched the girl wave as the doors were closed. She watched Tomo until she could no longer be seen.

Opening the folder, Sakaki found the deed to Chiyo's house, and her will; and her signature on the will. After a quick read, Sakaki found everything had been left to her. The house, what was left of the money, everything. It all belonged to her now. Setting the folder and its contents aside, Sakaki closed her teary eyes and fell into sleep; never to hear of Osaka or Tomo again.

THE END

Well, here we are. The story is now finished. And what a ride it has been! First of all, I want to say Thank You to everyone who has read the story and an even bigger thanks to all those who have reviewed. I want to send out a very, very special thanks to my Irish Gothic teacher, without whom I never would have read Melmoth the Wanderer. And a special shout needs to go out to my sister who allowed me to use her name in this story. And to anyone else who may deserve thanks, but just escapes my mind.

Now if you've enjoyed this story, I do hope you will check out the book that inspired it. Though Melmoth is difficult to read, it is definitely worth the effort and is a thousand times better than this.

And now I want to ask one more time for reviews. This is the last chapter so I hope that whether or not you've reviewed before, that you will take the time and give me a few words. Whether you liked it or not, I want to hear your opinion (just don't flame). Did you like the story? Was it hard to follow? What'd you think of Osaka and her OOCness? How were the other characters handled? What could've been done differently? Please review if you can and be honest. I can't tell you how much fun this has been and I hope that everyone has enjoyed the ride. Thank you so much for everything.